Jess Lahey
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jesslahey.bsky.social
Jess Lahey
@jesslahey.bsky.social
NYT bestselling author (Gift of Failure, Addiction Inoculation), host #AmWriting pod, mom, sober. Past: NYT columnist, Atlantic, WaPo. Teacher. Vermonter. Prevention works.
A Long October
...and there's reason to believe / maybe this year will be better than the last*
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
An oldie but goodie (the kid in question is now a senior in college):

www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...
Why Back-to-School Night Made Me Feel Like a Bad Mom
Why aren't my kids playing sports or learning the cello? A case study in Pressured Parents Phenomenon.
www.theatlantic.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
So many scams targeted at writers! I almost got got so here's a run-down of what to watch out for.

The Scammer's Guide to Writers
open.substack.com/pub/amwritin...
The Scammer's Guide to Writers
Sorry, Colleen Hoover did not read your book. Here's how not to be a mark.
open.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
FREE virtual presentation on substance use prevention in kids! We will laugh, there will be no fear mongering, and I will share lots of ways in to conversations that don't make you feel oogy, hopelessly uncool, or preachy.

gpsparentseries.org/events/jessi...
September 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I'm all Porter Robinson Cheerleader vibes today while making welcome videos for a couple of schools I'll be visiting this fall to talk Gift of Failure and Addiction Inoculation (but mostly a combo of the two).
September 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
There's great wisdom I want you to hear from some people with experience. Read this post featuring  @jesslahey.bsky.social & others learn how adults do this and what they can do instead. https://bit.ly/LDblog154x

 #CollegePrep #ADHDParent #2e #Parents #twiceexceptional #ParentingTips #Dyslexia
The Importance of Transparency in College Preparation for Students with Disabilities - LD Advisory
Well-meaning adults may prevent students with disabilities from developing the self- knowledge they'll need to self-advocate and self-manage at college. Learn how they do this and what they can do instead.
bit.ly
September 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This week on the #AmWriting podcast, Sarina & I interview a new favorite author of ours, Tess Gerritsen! We talk about her process, switching genres, and finding a new series right there in her backyard in mid-coast Maine.

amwriting.substack.com/p/writing-th...
Writing Thrilling People & Places: Jess and Sarina talk with Tess Gerritsen
Jess and Sarina talk with thriller author Tess Gerritsen about constructing fictional worlds and the people who live there
amwriting.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Someone asked about my most-recommended (work-related) books. Here they are, feel free to recommend others in the comments!
August 21, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Want to know more about bringing me in to your community to speak on Gift of Failure or Addiction Inoculation topics? This post is for you!

jesslahey.substack.com/p/why-yes-id...
Why, yes! I'd LOVE to speak at your school!
It's about time for me to head back out on the road and your town could be next.
jesslahey.substack.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I have the best job ever. I teach kids, parents, communities abt substance use, help parents & schools let kids fail & struggle & learn from it.

Most of all, help kids feel seen, heard, known & supported for who they ARE, not what we want them to be.

For more:

www.jessicalahey.com/speaking-2
Speaking — Jessica Lahey
www.jessicalahey.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I’m watching the work of my mentors - Dr. Bob Delong, Dr. Cathy Wilfert, Dr. Sam Katz, and N.C. State Rep Marcia Morey - undone by this administration and I hardly know what to do with this grief but write and fight.

open.substack.com/pub/jesslahe...
Bob, Marcia, Cathy and Sam
They paved the way here and will continue to point the way forward
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
Looking for a beach read? 
 
Now is a great time to learn from @lllewis.bsky.social, @ellenbraaten.bsky.social, @jesslahey.bsky.social,  & others.

See my rec' book lists on Amazon (https://bit.ly/ECHAmazon) & @bookshop.org (https://bit.ly/ECHBookshop)

#ParentingBook #ParentingTeens #CollegePrep
July 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
After years doing the #AmWriting podcast, & many more being interviewed on other people's podcasts, I've compiled the top five rules for being a good podcast guest plus a few crazy tech snafus that can happen (ask me how I know).

amwriting.substack.com/p/five-thing...
Five things podcast guests need to know
Media training 101 for podcast guesting
amwriting.substack.com
June 19, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My niece checking in from the protests in ARKANSAS!
June 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
Let's all be the rain on this motherfucker's parade.

#NoKings #NoKingsDay
June 14, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I'm in an Authors Against Book Bans town hall right now and overwhelmed with gratitude for all the hard work to protect the right to read. So much progress has been made and yet so much work is yet to be done!

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com
Authors Against Book Bans
Our Mission Statement We are Authors Against Book Bans. We, a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators, stand united against the deeply unconstit...
www.authorsagainstbookbans.com
June 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
NEW FROM CBO: brutal distributional analysis of House GOP "Big Beautiful Bill"

On avg the bottom 30% of households get poorer under the GOP bill

Avg gets little - and are worse off if you include tariffs

This'd be the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in a single law in history
June 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I love talking about substance use prevention in kids through the lens of competence, self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and helping kids feel as if they deserve to take up space in the world just as they are. Thanks to Anna Donaghey and the Big Drink Rethink podcast.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
June 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
It's a three-box day at SCOTUS, mean we're expecting up to 6 decisions today. Opinions coming at 10.
June 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
June 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
June 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
We feed you.
They hunt us.
June 11, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
“Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying the action is needed to restore faith in vaccines.”

www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r...
Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the CDC.
www.statnews.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Jess Lahey
Today marks five years since George Floyd was killed by police. Our June 22, 2020 cover “Say Their Names,” by Kadir Nelson, illustrated how Floyd’s murder embodies the history of violence inflicted upon Black people in America. nyer.cm/UmfefJw
May 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM