Defy Drift: The Signals I’m Watching in 2026

Emotional capitalism everywhere. AI outpacing governance. Motherhood as a battleground. Communications in a fragmenting media landscape...

My dearest Calling the Shots friend,

According to my ChatGPT Wrapped, this year, “I built meaning through strategy, owned the narrative, and turned press releases into philosophy.”

But if I’m being honest, the most meaningful moments of my year were the quiet and uneventful ones: reading through A–Z dog names in the index section with my four-year-old; channeling my inner Mel Robbins and giving my tween the pep talk before his archery competition, debating the societal ramifications of AI with my engineer-turned lawyer husband. Long walks in the park. Eating good butter.

1.FAV pasttime 2. Direct 3. Archery 4. I feel seen by my 4 yr old 5. aforementioned good butter 6. hosting fds 7. I know so many dog breeds now 8. don’t be 心不在焉 9. Important words of 2025 according to my Gen Alpha (sans 67, because parents ruined it)

The moments I return to most are the ones I spent alone with myself—journaling, reading books that strengthen my mind with no obvious payoff for work, no immediate utility…