Stranger's Guide
@strangersguide.bsky.social
Online and in print, we explore how politics, power and culture shape daily life across the globe. Featuring unexpected topics, from the complex and controversial to the intimate and beautiful.
https://strangersguide.substack.com/
https://strangersguide.substack.com/
Pinned
A new chapter at Stranger's Guide
Our work has never been more important and we've got some big plans ahead
strangersguide.substack.com
The world is a messy, beautiful, terrible, fascinating place. Now more than ever, we need a unique approach to storytelling, one that emphasizes nuance and embraces contradictions. So, we are taking our vision for Stranger’s Guide a step further.
strangersguide.substack.com/p/a-new-chap...
strangersguide.substack.com/p/a-new-chap...
"Pidgin English and art have always been intricately linked in Nigeria. Frowned upon in schools as a broken language, it may be the most widely spoken language not yet with a formal orthography, although several have been developed..."
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"Pidgin English and art have always been intricately linked in Nigeria. Frowned upon in schools as a broken language, it may be the most widely spoken language not yet with a formal orthography, although several have been developed..."
Check out this week's Long Read, "A Long Dead End" by Sinar Alvarado from our Amazon guide here on our Substack!
A Long Dead End
The decades-long attempt to build a highway into the jungle
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Check out this week's Long Read, "A Long Dead End" by Sinar Alvarado from our Amazon guide here on our Substack!
“In the future, glaciers will be an alien phenomenon, rare as a Bengal tiger. Having lived in the time of the white giants will become swaddled in a fairytale glow, like having stroked a dragon or handled the eggs of the great auk."
Of Time and Water
In search of the last glaciers
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
“In the future, glaciers will be an alien phenomenon, rare as a Bengal tiger. Having lived in the time of the white giants will become swaddled in a fairytale glow, like having stroked a dragon or handled the eggs of the great auk."
From adult films to OnlyFans, sex work is prolific around the world. This week's Field Guide looks at the power and struggles of sex workers from Vietnam to Iran to the Netherlands. Check it out on our Substack.
A Field Guide to Sex Work
Desire and decriminalization
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
From adult films to OnlyFans, sex work is prolific around the world. This week's Field Guide looks at the power and struggles of sex workers from Vietnam to Iran to the Netherlands. Check it out on our Substack.
Head to our Substack to read this week's Long Read, "Day of Rest" by Amy Yedida Wolfe from our US National Parks guide!
Day of Rest
A Brooklyn Hasidic family heads to the Grand Canyon
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Head to our Substack to read this week's Long Read, "Day of Rest" by Amy Yedida Wolfe from our US National Parks guide!
Check out Maxine Gordon and Ethelene Whitmire's reflections on the Black American Jazz musicians who made Copenhagen their home in the 1960s and 1970s in this week's Vignette here on Substack!
Finding a Home in Copenhagen
When Black American musicians came to Denmark
strangersguide.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Check out Maxine Gordon and Ethelene Whitmire's reflections on the Black American Jazz musicians who made Copenhagen their home in the 1960s and 1970s in this week's Vignette here on Substack!
Check out this week's Fiction newsletter here on our Substack!
Boiuna Moon
Fiction by Mário de Andrade
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Check out this week's Fiction newsletter here on our Substack!
Check out this week's Long Read, "Prisoners of War" by Nataliya Gumenyuk from our Ukraine guide.
Prisoners of War
How conflict changed life for children living with their incarcerated mothers in Ukraine
strangersguide.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Check out this week's Long Read, "Prisoners of War" by Nataliya Gumenyuk from our Ukraine guide.
“Dear revisionists,
Mandela will never, ever be your minstrel. Over the next few days, you will try so, so hard to make him something he was not, and you will fail. You will try to smooth him, to sandblast him, to take away his Malcolm X. You will try to hide his anger from view.”
Mandela will never, ever be your minstrel. Over the next few days, you will try so, so hard to make him something he was not, and you will fail. You will try to smooth him, to sandblast him, to take away his Malcolm X. You will try to hide his anger from view.”
Mandela Will Never, Ever Be Your Minstrel
Musa Okwonga's eulogy for the leader of a nation
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
“Dear revisionists,
Mandela will never, ever be your minstrel. Over the next few days, you will try so, so hard to make him something he was not, and you will fail. You will try to smooth him, to sandblast him, to take away his Malcolm X. You will try to hide his anger from view.”
Mandela will never, ever be your minstrel. Over the next few days, you will try so, so hard to make him something he was not, and you will fail. You will try to smooth him, to sandblast him, to take away his Malcolm X. You will try to hide his anger from view.”
Check out Eimar Ryan's essay, "Good Sports" from our Ireland guide in this week's Long Read here on our Substack.
Good Sports
Athleticism and identity in Irish women's sports
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Check out Eimar Ryan's essay, "Good Sports" from our Ireland guide in this week's Long Read here on our Substack.
School is back in session!
Since summer break has come to a close and students around the world transition back to the classroom, we’re revisiting Melissa Ann Pinney’s photo essay, “School Days” from our Chicago guide in our recent Close Up newsletter.
Check it out on our Substack!
Since summer break has come to a close and students around the world transition back to the classroom, we’re revisiting Melissa Ann Pinney’s photo essay, “School Days” from our Chicago guide in our recent Close Up newsletter.
Check it out on our Substack!
School Days
Celebrating the students in Chicago's public schools
substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
School is back in session!
Since summer break has come to a close and students around the world transition back to the classroom, we’re revisiting Melissa Ann Pinney’s photo essay, “School Days” from our Chicago guide in our recent Close Up newsletter.
Check it out on our Substack!
Since summer break has come to a close and students around the world transition back to the classroom, we’re revisiting Melissa Ann Pinney’s photo essay, “School Days” from our Chicago guide in our recent Close Up newsletter.
Check it out on our Substack!
Check out our new Fiction newsletter here on our Substack!
King of the Tyrant Lizards
Fiction by Malerie Willens
open.substack.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Check out our new Fiction newsletter here on our Substack!
Check out this week's Long Read, “Chicago’s Other Mob Story” by Hillel Levin from our Chicago guide!
Chicago's Other Mob Story
The Don you've never heard of
open.substack.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Check out this week's Long Read, “Chicago’s Other Mob Story” by Hillel Levin from our Chicago guide!
Check out Sean Jacob’s essay, “Olympique de Marseille” from our Mediterranean guide on the football team that is the face of modern France in this week's Long Read here on our Substack.
Olympique de Marseille
A football team is the face of modern France
strangersguide.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Check out Sean Jacob’s essay, “Olympique de Marseille” from our Mediterranean guide on the football team that is the face of modern France in this week's Long Read here on our Substack.
In an increasingly interconnected yet often isolating world, the value of real friendship continues to grow. The United Nations recognizes July 30 as International Friendship Day while some countries such as the US and India dedicate the first Sunday of August to celebrating friendships.
A Field Guide to Friendship
Chosen families across the globe
open.substack.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In an increasingly interconnected yet often isolating world, the value of real friendship continues to grow. The United Nations recognizes July 30 as International Friendship Day while some countries such as the US and India dedicate the first Sunday of August to celebrating friendships.
Check out this week's Long Read!
Dead and Kicking
Writer's haunts—and haunting writers—in Moscow
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Check out this week's Long Read!
The photographer, Gohar Dashti, is known for operating in a space between reality and fantasy. At first glance, the scenes seem mundane, but a close look will show the tail of a giant mythical beast lurking.
Volcano
Gohar Dashti's photo essay about the dangers that lurk
open.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The photographer, Gohar Dashti, is known for operating in a space between reality and fantasy. At first glance, the scenes seem mundane, but a close look will show the tail of a giant mythical beast lurking.
In honor of Juneteenth, we're sharing reflections and history that show how this holiday came to be and continues to evolve—both in the US and beyond in this week's Field Guide.
A Field Guide to Juneteenth
Stories of Juneteenth
open.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 6:05 PM
In honor of Juneteenth, we're sharing reflections and history that show how this holiday came to be and continues to evolve—both in the US and beyond in this week's Field Guide.
The Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans has been in the news for weeks due to the daunting prison break of 10 inmates. The press has been riveted by the story of inmates removing a toilet and sink from a cell and cutting steel bars in order to escape through a rectangular hole in the wall.
Slow Time
Katy Reckdahl on getting by in the Orleans Parish Prison
open.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans has been in the news for weeks due to the daunting prison break of 10 inmates. The press has been riveted by the story of inmates removing a toilet and sink from a cell and cutting steel bars in order to escape through a rectangular hole in the wall.
Eleven years later, the speech stands as a striking example of courage in speaking truth to power, and the unpredictable paths of progress.
June 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Eleven years later, the speech stands as a striking example of courage in speaking truth to power, and the unpredictable paths of progress.
Around the world, many countries honor their national flag in June. June 14 is Flag Day in the US, a celebration of the adoption of the nation’s red, white and blue banner in 1777.
A Field Guide to Flags
Stories behind the symbols
open.substack.com
June 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Around the world, many countries honor their national flag in June. June 14 is Flag Day in the US, a celebration of the adoption of the nation’s red, white and blue banner in 1777.
Over the last month, we have published new works from Syria, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Africa and New Orleans. As the US seeks to disengage from the rest of the world, we are determined to make space that explores new perspectives and embraces cultural complexities.
Passport: Spring Flowers
Recent highlights and 5 favorite things!
open.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Over the last month, we have published new works from Syria, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Africa and New Orleans. As the US seeks to disengage from the rest of the world, we are determined to make space that explores new perspectives and embraces cultural complexities.
Today we’re publishing Niq Mhlongo’s essay, “What Was Lost” about Johannesburg, in all its messiness, all its loveliness and all its history.
What Was Lost
South Africa from a different lens by Niq Mhlongo
open.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Today we’re publishing Niq Mhlongo’s essay, “What Was Lost” about Johannesburg, in all its messiness, all its loveliness and all its history.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States, highlighting the importance of educators nationwide and the vital role teachers play in shaping future generations.
A Field Guide to Teachers
From chalkboards to change makers
open.substack.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States, highlighting the importance of educators nationwide and the vital role teachers play in shaping future generations.
When Pope Leo XIV ascended to his new position last week, numerous battling factions quickly claimed him. Among them, were two powerful longstanding rivals: the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
Pope Leo & Chicago's Team Allegiances
Scott Simon's ode to the Cubs
open.substack.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
When Pope Leo XIV ascended to his new position last week, numerous battling factions quickly claimed him. Among them, were two powerful longstanding rivals: the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.