Rod Thorn
@rodthorn.bsky.social
I am an adversity alchemist and writer. I transform life's challenges, pain, and struggles into something positive and valuable, like wisdom, strength, purpose, interconnectedness, compassion, and social justice.
substack.com/@rodthorn
substack.com/@rodthorn
Hell Cats, Hell YES!!!
We’ve served our country in uniform. Now we are stepping up to serve again.
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → hellcats.us
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → hellcats.us
December 19, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Hell Cats, Hell YES!!!
Why do I drink a cup of coffee and immediately feel tired afterwards? There’s got to be a physiological explanation.
December 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Why do I drink a cup of coffee and immediately feel tired afterwards? There’s got to be a physiological explanation.
My Christmas Wish
Best wishes to all, and to all a good fight—to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Best wishes to all, and to all a good fight—to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
My Christmas Wish
Remember what I'm supposed to be celebrating
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
My Christmas Wish
Best wishes to all, and to all a good fight—to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Best wishes to all, and to all a good fight—to remember why we celebrate Christmas.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I just read a woman in my town poisoned her husband by making him drink antifreeze.
It’s cold outside, but it’s not THAT cold!
It’s cold outside, but it’s not THAT cold!
December 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I just read a woman in my town poisoned her husband by making him drink antifreeze.
It’s cold outside, but it’s not THAT cold!
It’s cold outside, but it’s not THAT cold!
In addition to writing on Substack, I’m writing for some publications on Medium. Here’s my first piece.
medium.com/another-fuck...
medium.com/another-fuck...
How I Got a FPhD in Swearing
It was a long fucking journey
medium.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
In addition to writing on Substack, I’m writing for some publications on Medium. Here’s my first piece.
medium.com/another-fuck...
medium.com/another-fuck...
Rubio says calibri is a woke font. So he puts it to sleep. Ridiculous.
December 11, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Rubio says calibri is a woke font. So he puts it to sleep. Ridiculous.
For someone who reflects on things and writes about them, I sure don’t like reflective surfaces. Mirrors, glass, fluorescent lights, chrome, bright spinning things, escalators, all overwhelm my senses.
Add in loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of people talking at the same time? Torture.
Add in loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of people talking at the same time? Torture.
December 8, 2025 at 4:18 AM
For someone who reflects on things and writes about them, I sure don’t like reflective surfaces. Mirrors, glass, fluorescent lights, chrome, bright spinning things, escalators, all overwhelm my senses.
Add in loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of people talking at the same time? Torture.
Add in loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of people talking at the same time? Torture.
Here's my newest Substack essay.
I hope you get something out of it.
I know I did writing it.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I hope you get something out of it.
I know I did writing it.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Scarred Sacred
Does kintsugi, the Japanese art of preparing broken objects, apply to people?
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Here's my newest Substack essay.
I hope you get something out of it.
I know I did writing it.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I hope you get something out of it.
I know I did writing it.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Reposted by Rod Thorn
November 30, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Thanks to all for reading and subscribing and spreading the word about my publication. Now. . .EAT UP!
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Have a Compassionate Thanksgiving
Do something nice for someone, and let them do something nice for you.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Thanks to all for reading and subscribing and spreading the word about my publication. Now. . .EAT UP!
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Verizon announced they’re firing 13K employees and fired their CEO.
But their new CEO has a base salary of $1.5M and potential performance-based equity awards of up to $59.5M.
That’s 2X as much as the prior CEO.
An economic system that punishes the many while rewarding the few is unsustainable.
But their new CEO has a base salary of $1.5M and potential performance-based equity awards of up to $59.5M.
That’s 2X as much as the prior CEO.
An economic system that punishes the many while rewarding the few is unsustainable.
November 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Verizon announced they’re firing 13K employees and fired their CEO.
But their new CEO has a base salary of $1.5M and potential performance-based equity awards of up to $59.5M.
That’s 2X as much as the prior CEO.
An economic system that punishes the many while rewarding the few is unsustainable.
But their new CEO has a base salary of $1.5M and potential performance-based equity awards of up to $59.5M.
That’s 2X as much as the prior CEO.
An economic system that punishes the many while rewarding the few is unsustainable.
Maybe Bobby Kennedy Jr can handle this.
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Maybe Bobby Kennedy Jr can handle this.
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Let's talk turkey. With Thanksgiving coming up, I want my subscribers to know how grateful I am for their support. I'm grateful for anyone who reads my work, but none more so than the people who value my writing enough to subscribe. Thank you.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
The Time A Turkey Tried To Kill Me
When turnabout is fowl play
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Let's talk turkey. With Thanksgiving coming up, I want my subscribers to know how grateful I am for their support. I'm grateful for anyone who reads my work, but none more so than the people who value my writing enough to subscribe. Thank you.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I’m concerned the Epstein files will be scrubbed clean of anything implicating Trump and his allies. This is about accountability. Everyone implicated needs to be held accountable. These women were children and didn’t have anyone to fight for them then. They do have people fighting for them now.
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I’m concerned the Epstein files will be scrubbed clean of anything implicating Trump and his allies. This is about accountability. Everyone implicated needs to be held accountable. These women were children and didn’t have anyone to fight for them then. They do have people fighting for them now.
I was in a coffee shop with a friend today when I saw this small but mighty group of “No Kings” protesters outside. They were getting a lot of support from people driving by.
November 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I was in a coffee shop with a friend today when I saw this small but mighty group of “No Kings” protesters outside. They were getting a lot of support from people driving by.
Here’s my new Wise Ash Substack post.
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Tell Me About A Time You Failed
After many years of interviewing people I’d had enough.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Here’s my new Wise Ash Substack post.
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I’m grateful for your likes, comments, re-stacks, recommendations to friends, and subscriptions. Especially your paid subscriptions, which help make it possible for me to write. Thank you
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
I love the nights where my head hits the cool pillow and I think, “For the next few hours I don’t have to be anything or do anything. Likely no one will ask anything of me and I won’t be expected to give anything to anyone.”
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I love the nights where my head hits the cool pillow and I think, “For the next few hours I don’t have to be anything or do anything. Likely no one will ask anything of me and I won’t be expected to give anything to anyone.”
Tesla’s profit fell 37% in Q3 & they’re firing 14K people, but Musk got a pay package worth $1 trillion.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
November 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Tesla’s profit fell 37% in Q3 & they’re firing 14K people, but Musk got a pay package worth $1 trillion.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
$1T exceeds the GDP of many COUNTRIES, including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina. In fact, it’s more than the GDP of 180 countries.
Our capitalistic system is broken.
Reposted by Rod Thorn
Okay, so I did it. In honor of Sandwich Guy, on what should be the last day of his trial, I figured out the chords. And so, with apologies to the late and great Bob Marley, I banged out this quick and (very) rough rendition of "I Threw the Sandwich." 🤣
November 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Okay, so I did it. In honor of Sandwich Guy, on what should be the last day of his trial, I figured out the chords. And so, with apologies to the late and great Bob Marley, I banged out this quick and (very) rough rendition of "I Threw the Sandwich." 🤣
If the U.S. had a good nationwide rail system I’d never fly.
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
If the U.S. had a good nationwide rail system I’d never fly.
The Dodgers should NOT go to the White House. Just go to the governor’s mansion, see Newsom, celebrate their, and with a parade. #worldseries
November 2, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The Dodgers should NOT go to the White House. Just go to the governor’s mansion, see Newsom, celebrate their, and with a parade. #worldseries
I’d give the MVP to Yamamoto. #WorldSeries
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I’d give the MVP to Yamamoto. #WorldSeries
You may be wondering, what is The Wise Ash? Didn’t he just change the name of his Substack from Things We Carry to Personal Histories? Yes, I did. If you read this Substack essay you'll know why I’m changing it again, hopefully for good.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
What's In A Name?
From Things We Carry to Personal Histories to The Wise Ash
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
You may be wondering, what is The Wise Ash? Didn’t he just change the name of his Substack from Things We Carry to Personal Histories? Yes, I did. If you read this Substack essay you'll know why I’m changing it again, hopefully for good.
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
open.substack.com/pub/rodthorn...
Ancestry.com says I’m 22% Scandinavian on my mom’s side. Her mom was adopted and spent her childhood in Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota where many Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. I see DNA matches of people who also have large % of Scandinavian and I wish I could find her birth parents through them.
Ancestry | Family Tree, Genealogy & Family History Records
Ancestry® helps you understand your genealogy. A family tree takes you back generations—the world's largest collection of online family history records makes it easy to trace your lineage.
Ancestry.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Ancestry.com says I’m 22% Scandinavian on my mom’s side. Her mom was adopted and spent her childhood in Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota where many Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. I see DNA matches of people who also have large % of Scandinavian and I wish I could find her birth parents through them.