Writer.
Storyteller.
Software simplifier.
Helping people navigate complexity.
Cover photo by Derek MacDonald
Contact.
By email.
By physical mail.
Derek MacDonald
PO Box 4292
Burlington, VT 05406
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onward.

Me & my work.

I use stories and systems to help people create clarity, trust, and competence.
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-> Daily column.
- Figures, the parking lot's full.
- Brakes! The brakes!! HIT THE BRAKES!
- I don't want to talk about AI anymore.
Read more from the daily column.
-> Newsletter.
- On looking for meaning and those who find it.
- The amount of things we take on is just… totally unrealistic, right?
- What I finally discovered about being understood.
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-> Podcast.
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-> Blog.
- Collecting inspiration while chipping away.
- Discerning what to share and where to share it.
- Discerning what to share and where to share it.
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Features & favorites.

An Overview Of Everything I Publish
Check out my daily columns, essays, and podcast episodes.
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The Most Popular Essay I Wrote In 2025
“What Lonely Men Won’t Say Online (Or In Person)”
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Praise For The Unobstructed Podcast
A top 10% most-shared show on Spotify in its first year.
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