Big news for Playing with Fire 🔥🔥🔥

More context, fewer trolls

“When the heart is afire, some sparks will fly out of the mouth,” Thomas Fuller

Today I’m officially launching my new Substack community, “Playing with Fire.” I’ve been publishing in this space for a few weeks to get acclimated, and now I’m ready to send “Playing with Fire” out into the world!

I’m Shannon Watts — a speaker, author and the Founder Emerita of Moms Demand Action, the largest women’s volunteer organization in America. I’ve been called a “summoner of women’s audacity,” and I’m honored to have been named a Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 over 50 Changemaker, and a Glamour Woman of the Year.

After amassing millions of followers on various social media platforms, I realized I needed to find a refuge for deeper, long-form discussions about some of the things I was sharing on increasingly toxic platforms. The threats of death and sexual violence — not to mention the disinformation — on social media are nonstop these days. I see Substack as a healthy and robust alternative to the vitriolic, bankrupt culture of spaces like Twitter.

And, after stepping back this year from the leadership role I held at Moms Demand Action for over a decade, I wanted to create an online community where we can keep sharing and scheming.

My “about” page lays out my vision for our community, so please check it out. Twice a week, I’ll bring you intriguing interviews, interesting insights, actionable advice and probing questions — all delivered right to your inbox. Feminism is at the center of my advocacy and writing, but my posts span politics and policy, popular culture, and whatever else is interesting at the moment. These essays and posts are free!

I’m also working on other perks, including a podcast. To cover my expenses, I’m offering paid subscribers and “Firestarters” (aka, founding members) access to extra benefits, including discussions, interviews and previews of the new book I’m working on. In fact, I’ll be looking to you for your ideas and stories to help me write the very best book possible. Paid subscribers will be able to post comments, and if you think I’m excited to have a way to weed trolls out of my posts you are right (or at least charge them for the ability to troll me)!

The best way to help shape our experience together is for you to be bold and join the conversations taking place in the comments section of each post. But if there’s something you’d rather keep it between us, hit reply and send me an email. I read every one. I’m also still discovering what’s of interest to subscribers, so please drop me a line and let me know. Videos? Discussions? Chats?

You’ll receive updates as they’re published (almost always on a Monday and a Friday). If you can’t find your newsletter, please check your spam or promotions folder and if it’s there, drag it into your primary inbox tab so you won’t miss any future posts. You can also head over to my website and look for me on most social media platforms at @ shannonrwatts.

Now I want to know more about YOU. Tell me about yourself in the comments. If you don’t know where to start, tell me if you believe you have a special spark, talent, or gift and, if so, how did you discover it?

I can’t wait to build this community with you. Hit the share button and invite your friends!