Dan Li, Ph.D.
@dan-li-o.bsky.social
In academia, merit doesn’t pay — visibility does. I help scholars become visible. | danlio.studio | Also, my Erdős number is 5.
personal site: https://dan-li-o.github.io
personal site: https://dan-li-o.github.io
Pinned
Dan Li, Ph.D.
@dan-li-o.bsky.social
· Nov 6
Most people say "I need a website."
WRONG.
You don't give a keynote thinking "I need clothes."
You think "I need to look sharp and professional. Most importantly, I need to look ME."
This is why fumbling with WordPress/Wix templates gives you clothes but not style.
WRONG.
You don't give a keynote thinking "I need clothes."
You think "I need to look sharp and professional. Most importantly, I need to look ME."
This is why fumbling with WordPress/Wix templates gives you clothes but not style.
14 | An Affair in the Elevator
Reason can only take you so far
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
"Motherhood feels like a slow disappearance—of sleep, solitude, even air. But in that disappearing, something else expands: the number of hearts beating because of you."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
5 | Space
When love leaves no room untouched
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
"Motherhood feels like a slow disappearance—of sleep, solitude, even air. But in that disappearing, something else expands: the number of hearts beating because of you."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
"Meritocracy is an illusion, a myth, a mechanism to trick us working-class apes into working harder for those who can tell good stories."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
13 | The Myth of Meritocracy
Accepting that meritocracy doesn't exist will set you free
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
"Meritocracy is an illusion, a myth, a mechanism to trick us working-class apes into working harder for those who can tell good stories."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
"It takes something special to make New York subway say 'Don’t be someone’s subway story.'"
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
When Does One Become a New Yorker?
Are New Yorkers simply cold-blooded jerks?
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
"It takes something special to make New York subway say 'Don’t be someone’s subway story.'"
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
“When you’re employed, you don’t care about the tangible returns of the work you do. You get paid. That’s all you need to know.”
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
9 | The Work That Doesn’t Work
On the fine line between self-employment and unemployment
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“When you’re employed, you don’t care about the tangible returns of the work you do. You get paid. That’s all you need to know.”
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
"... he lost most of his teeth—toothache after toothache—because it pained him even more to pay to visit a dentist."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
12 | Is Frugality a Scar?
My unsettled relationship with money
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
"... he lost most of his teeth—toothache after toothache—because it pained him even more to pay to visit a dentist."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
November 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
It's hard to make a difference when people Google you and only find Bluesky posts.
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
It's hard to make a difference when people Google you and only find Bluesky posts.
"Jane texted me out of the blue a few days ago.
your due date’s close right how’s it going I’m good thanks how are you how’s the kiddo we’re good she just started kindergarten that’s good"
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
your due date’s close right how’s it going I’m good thanks how are you how’s the kiddo we’re good she just started kindergarten that’s good"
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
10 | Because We Grew Up
From sounding indifferent to being indifferent
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:25 PM
"Jane texted me out of the blue a few days ago.
your due date’s close right how’s it going I’m good thanks how are you how’s the kiddo we’re good she just started kindergarten that’s good"
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
your due date’s close right how’s it going I’m good thanks how are you how’s the kiddo we’re good she just started kindergarten that’s good"
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
"It’s just hard—for working parents, for stay-at-home ones, for all of us trying to do the right thing for our children—even when they’re the ones asking why."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
6 | "Why Do You Like Working So Much?”
A question that echoes across generations — and one I’m still learning to answer.
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
"It’s just hard—for working parents, for stay-at-home ones, for all of us trying to do the right thing for our children—even when they’re the ones asking why."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I don't know what the rest of the US would do when a stranger -- a tall big man -- talked very loudly (almost shouted) at a pregnant woman who's alone. But I know what New Yorkers on a subway did.
This is my favorite essay so far.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
This is my favorite essay so far.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
When Does One Become a New Yorker?
Are New Yorkers simply cold-blooded jerks?
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I don't know what the rest of the US would do when a stranger -- a tall big man -- talked very loudly (almost shouted) at a pregnant woman who's alone. But I know what New Yorkers on a subway did.
This is my favorite essay so far.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
This is my favorite essay so far.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/15-when-do...
11 | The Academic Job Market (updated with tips) nothingbut30.substack.com/p/11-the-aca...
11 | The Academic Job Market (updated with tips)
What I learned when I walked away from academia
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
11 | The Academic Job Market (updated with tips) nothingbut30.substack.com/p/11-the-aca...
"We were in an elevator. I was on my way to my husband’s office on the third floor..."
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/14-an-affa...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/14-an-affa...
14 | An Affair in the Elevator
Reason can only take you so far
nothingbut30.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:43 PM
"We were in an elevator. I was on my way to my husband’s office on the third floor..."
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/14-an-affa...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/14-an-affa...