What You’ll Find Here, and Why It Matters

Where journalism meets conscience … and sometimes poetry.

I'm Lee Chottiner. I'm a journalist, an editor, and a poet. I've spent most of my life chasing stories — sometimes across state lines, sometimes across kitchen tables.

This Substack is a place to keep doing that work — not on assignment, not for clicks, but just because the stories are out there, and I want to tell them.

You'll find:

• Stories to make you feel, think, or smile

• Commentary on American and Jewish life

• Reflections on politics, culture, and identity

• The occasional poem, when the moment calls for it

These won't be hot takes. They'll be thoughtful ones.

If you've followed my work in Louisville, Pittsburgh, or West Virginia, welcome back. If you're new here, I'm glad you found me. Either way, feel free to subscribe. No algorithms. No paywalls. Just writing that is worth your time to read.

Thanks for being here. I appreciate it.