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Open Tabs with Josh Allan Dykstra
Josh Allan Dykstra on history's rhyme schemes, learning video at 40-something, and his newsletter.
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Open Tabs is a series under The Weekly Scroll where we peek into what a creator or social media pro has open on their browser, saved in their bookmarks, and stuck in their head right now. Each issue, someone new shows us what they're paying attention to.
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Last but not least in our run of Substackers posting to Notes from Buffer: Josh Allan Dykstra, a futurist and the host of Hello Tomorrow, a podcast and newsletter that takes an optimistic look at the global systems that shape our day-to-day reality, for anybody who wants to build a better tomorrow. His second book, Work Will Kill Us All: An Optimist's Guide to the Future, is out this fall. You'll find him on Substack, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.
So, what’s in your tabs?
Share 3-5 things that are in your tabs, bookmarks, or saved folder right now.
Everything related to Work Will Kill Us All, my new book releasing 11/11!
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Is there a creator or account you’ve been obsessed with lately?
I think Michael Mezz has been killing it lately with his Better Future podcast. Every interview is a slam dunk, and his posts are informative and inspiring. Top-notch work.
What’s one thing that’s been shaping your thinking lately that has nothing to do with social media?
It’s a bit strange to admit, but I never cared about history until I started calling myself a futurist. Now I’m quite obsessed with how historical patterns create “rhyme schemes” that can teach and inform us about how to make a better future.
What’s one thing you’re working through or figuring out in your creator journey right now?
This year has been focused on writing my aforementioned second book, but it was also about starting the Hello Tomorrow podcast, so the cadence and balance between those things was sometimes very tricky.
Also, while I’ve been posting words online for a very long time (I started blogging in 2005), I’ve never really posted video until this year, so that’s been a sharp learning curve.
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What are you posting on Notes lately, and what’s influencing your content most?
I’ve just started cross-posting my image and video content from Instagram and TikTok to Substack Notes to see if the audience there enjoys it. Most of my new content will be centered around the new book, of course!
How does Buffer fit into your process when a new post goes out?
All my content gets delivered via Buffer, except Substack... until now! I post something every workday, sometimes multiple things a day, and generally take one day to batch a month of content at a time into Buffer to make that happen.
The internal crop tool for images is very helpful; I’m always grateful that I don’t have to leave the tool to make a small dimension tweak for Instagram.
I’ve had huge engagement and subscriber growth on Instagram over the past 6 months (500 to 19k), which is exciting, but the time saved by using Buffer is the main benefit for me. If you’re cross-posting at all, this will save you tons of time.
JOIN US IN THE NOTES SPRINT
Josh is just starting to cross-post to Notes to see what the audience there enjoys. If you’re in the same spot, come work it out with us. From Monday, October 26 to November 9, we’re running a free two-week Substack Notes Sprint in Buffer’s Discord. You don’t need a newsletter to join and I’ll be doing every prompt right alongside you.
Sign up here for the setup guide and a short email at the start of each week. Or just hop into Discord anytime during the sprint.
BUILD WITH BUFFER COMMIT
Aaaand, speaking of Discord, if there’s a tool you wish existed for the way you post, Buffer Commit gives you a reason to build it. It’s our first build contest for apps and integrations on the Buffer API, and we’re putting 10% of one month’s profit behind it. That’s $25,600, split equally between up to 16 winners, so each gets $1,600 or more (whispers: there are 16 because Buffer turns 16 on November 30).
Then come say hi in Discord!
That’s it from me.
Until next week,
Tami
Sr. Content Creator
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