DRAFTING W/ V SPEHAR

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In the age of information overload, V Spehar helps the internet sift through the noise — and there’s no shortage of it. As one of TikTok’s most trusted journalists, Spehar reaches nearly four million people a day through Under the Desk News. For younger audiences in particular, their candid, conversational style has made them a defining voice in modern media.

Before stepping fully into the spotlight, Spehar honed their voice behind the scenes, including time as Director of Impact at the James Beard Foundation, where they focused on food equity and supporting women-owned restaurants. The throughline is clear: an ability to translate big ideas into something immediate, accessible and of the moment.

For DRAFTING, Spehar steps away from the screens to share a secret obsession, their go-to podcasts, and what online shopping looks like between them and their wife.

Sending my mom a picture of me in the suit she bought me to wear for my MSNBC hit — I just don’t feel fully confident till I get the, “Wowwww very nice,” seal of approval.

I don't have any liked songs because podcasts are what I use Spotify for. Politics and history are both how I make my living, and how I spend my leisure time. Even the comedy podcasts I subscribe to are news and political commentary shows. Why am I like this?

This is Little. She’s been with me for almost 15 years now, and still looks just like a puppy. She’s a yorkie, who loves shoes and being left alone. She’s the light of my life and was once trained to help with my PTSD, but has long retired now and mostly sleeps the day away in between meals.

We drove to my sister’s house in Connecticut and had Christmas two weeks before the 25th to avoid the rush and stress of doing holidays on the holiday. Worked out great.

In Rochester, it’s always sweater weather. One for me, one for my wife — I’ll let you guess whose is whose.

I am never going to listen to those voicemails, read those emails or return those messages. And the worst part is they’re likely the most important ones — I have this terrible habit of “saving” important messages to respond when I can be most thoughtful, only to never have the time to be as thoughtful as a quick response would have been.

It’s my book — Title still TBD, but the gist is to recognize the 12 core issues we’re facing as Americans. Chapter names like:

War Porn & Camo Kink; How Politicians Fetishize the Military

A Brief History of American Hucksters, Frauds & Fuckboys

There’s a Baby... In a Bar... The Loss of Spaces for Children

Letting Grief Write Bad Policy: How Tragedy Often Leads to Authoritarianism

The book is part reflection on the last 40 years, and part field map to how we get out of this mess and into a steady space. Uncovering history that has been rewritten with several of my intrusive thoughts and personal stories built in to refine the point.

I have a pretty significant obsession with fire. I’m not gonna commit arson or anything, but I always have a candle going and prefer to light the candle with matches, and really only agreed to go camping to be able to build, light and enjoy a fire every night. One time when I was 10 or 11 years old, my friend Rebecca and I accidentally (and on purpose) lit a huge fire in the backyard, which we tried to put out one cup of water at a time. That was a major fail, I ended up singing my bangs off and the fire department had to be called in. No major damage, it was just a bunch of leaves in the middle of the yard, but I did not get an Easter basket that year. Lesson learned: keep your fires contained to candles or camping, and get some therapy for your childhood rage.