On Fire, Lately — #1

What’s new with On Fire and a few things I’m obsessed with lately

Jan 25, 2026

Hi friends,

I started On Fire two years ago as an excuse to talk to some of the world’s most passionate people and decode what it means to feel lit up in a sometimes flat world. Since then, the project has grown and expanded — as all living things do.

So, I’m starting something new! Consider this the first of a monthly letter series where I share what’s been on my mind and a few things I’ve been particularly obsessed with lately.

This letter marks a mini re-launch of the project. My hope is that On Fire acts as a spark to help you find more passion in your own world, and this new format is designed to do exactly that.

You can expect this letter on the last Sunday of every month. Here is what you can look out for from now on:

Field Notes: Longer, in-depth articles exploring a specific angle of passion (expect these 1–2 times a month).
Dispatches: Short, personal pieces written in a state of inspiration—when I get an idea and just can’t help but write it down immediately.
Conversations: Interviews with passionate people. I’m also experimenting with Substack Live soon, so keep an eye out for those!

A quick note: All On Fire content will remain free for now. In the coming months, I’ll be adding some passion-related guides, tools, and other cool things to the paid subscriber community — I’m really excited about them, so stay tuned.

As always, if you want to support my mission to create a more passion-filled world, I appreciate you so much! Here’s the link to upgrade or subscribe:

Here is a look at what is lighting me up this month.

3 Things I’m Obsessed with Lately

Oliver Sacks: I read my first book of his two months ago (I don’t know what took me so long!). I’m now on my fifth. Talk about passion! From motorcycles to weightlifting to being one of the first in the medical profession to really understand Tourette’s syndrome, he approached every single interest with a ferocious, contagious delight.
Notion: I finally switched from scattered notes in four different programs to putting everything in this digital workspace and my world has been officially transformed. The color-coded databases are the only thing I’ve ever found to help organize my chaos without killing my creativity. Just fantastic.
X-guard: A specific guard position we’ve been working at my jiu-jitsu academy all month. It’s tricky and makes my left leg burn like crazy, but learning the mechanics of leverage here has been a total obsession this month.

3 Things I’m Reading

An Ode to Caring Deeply in an Era of Nonchalance: Love this piece by Brad Stulberg on why it’s important to care. We seem to have a very similar worldview. I couldn’t agree more with this: “Doing big things, let alone living a big life, requires trying hard, risking failure, and caring deeply.”
The Rosie Project: A funny, charming novel that reminds me that I’m not the only person who doesn’t quite fit into the normal world.
On the Move: A Life: I started with this memoir by Sacks, then went onto read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Gratitude, The River of Consciousness, and a biography — And How are You, Dr. Sacks? Next up: Awakenings.

1 Thing I Learned Recently

Professional arm wrestling is a massive world. I had no idea this subculture existed! Apparently, there is a specific training method to protect your biceps (a common injury site). I need to know more.

If you know any arm wrestlers I should interview, please comment or reply and let me know!