Sharon O'Dea
@sharonodea.com
Consulting, writing and speaking on comms, collaboration & future of work. Cofounder Lithos Partners, DWXS and 300 Seconds. Gym bore. Takes too many photos of Amsterdam.
Pinned
Sharon O'Dea
@sharonodea.com
· May 23
🎉 Big news: I’m writing a book!
Digital Communications at Work is a practical guide for folks managing intranets, apps & comms channels. It’s packed with case studies, tips & lessons from the coalface. Co-authored with @digitaljonathan.bsky.social, published by Kogan Page, it’ll be out in 2026.
Digital Communications at Work is a practical guide for folks managing intranets, apps & comms channels. It’s packed with case studies, tips & lessons from the coalface. Co-authored with @digitaljonathan.bsky.social, published by Kogan Page, it’ll be out in 2026.
That we all lived to see this, a real headline
Multiple monkeys are on the loose in St. Louis. And AI generated images are complicating the effort to find them.
Monkeys are on the loose in St. Louis and AI is complicating efforts to capture them
Multiple monkeys are on the loose in St. Louis. And AI generated images are complicating the effort to find them.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 10:29 PM
That we all lived to see this, a real headline
This is a fundamental problem for government. Crime and immigration are both falling, but people *think* they're both going up, and vote on that basis.
I grew up in London and I'm back there now and I can honestly say that I *feel* the difference in crime rate compared to when I was young. It is very strange to me that Londoners report feeling like the city is dangerous, it absolutely feels safe to me. I like it!
www.ft.com/content/52b0...
www.ft.com/content/52b0...
January 12, 2026 at 10:50 AM
This is a fundamental problem for government. Crime and immigration are both falling, but people *think* they're both going up, and vote on that basis.
Just read John Harris in the Guardian on the collapse of the UK high street - and why Reform is feeding on the wreckage.
It reads like a crime story. So let’s analyse it like TV detectives do:
Means. Motive. Opportunity. 🧵
It reads like a crime story. So let’s analyse it like TV detectives do:
Means. Motive. Opportunity. 🧵
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK’s high streets have reached a tipping point – and Reform will reap the benefits | John Harris
When even Poundland and charity shops are closing, we’re near a point of no return. But there is hope, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Just read John Harris in the Guardian on the collapse of the UK high street - and why Reform is feeding on the wreckage.
It reads like a crime story. So let’s analyse it like TV detectives do:
Means. Motive. Opportunity. 🧵
It reads like a crime story. So let’s analyse it like TV detectives do:
Means. Motive. Opportunity. 🧵
This week’s weeknote is about letting go. Of drafts turning into artefacts. Of things you could keep perfecting forever. Of the comforting illusion of control.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/11/w...
sharonodea.com/2026/01/11/w...
Weeknote 2026/01
Snowy Amsterdam this week (photo: Sharon O’Dea) Amsterdam was briefly hit by snow this week, which meant Schiphol ground to a halt and the city centre instantly transformed into an ice rink —…
sharonodea.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:54 PM
This week’s weeknote is about letting go. Of drafts turning into artefacts. Of things you could keep perfecting forever. Of the comforting illusion of control.
sharonodea.com/2026/01/11/w...
sharonodea.com/2026/01/11/w...
In my former life, I wrote lengthy business cases persuading companies and gov depts that they needed to be on Twitter, and put resources behind doing it
These days I can't see any justification for continuing to use that site. It's supporting THIS, but - crucially - for NO upside.
These days I can't see any justification for continuing to use that site. It's supporting THIS, but - crucially - for NO upside.
Keir Starmer's spokesman says X limiting deep fake images to paid users "simply turns a feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service. It's not a solution.. it's insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence."
Still won't commit to a ban or to stop posting there
Still won't commit to a ban or to stop posting there
January 9, 2026 at 12:56 PM
In my former life, I wrote lengthy business cases persuading companies and gov depts that they needed to be on Twitter, and put resources behind doing it
These days I can't see any justification for continuing to use that site. It's supporting THIS, but - crucially - for NO upside.
These days I can't see any justification for continuing to use that site. It's supporting THIS, but - crucially - for NO upside.
It may be too early to declare 2026 my year, but I just had every Sonos device in my home work perfectly right away, so, you know.
January 9, 2026 at 12:26 PM
It may be too early to declare 2026 my year, but I just had every Sonos device in my home work perfectly right away, so, you know.
Delighted to see Diary of a CEO is finally getting cancelled over on TikTok.
January 8, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Delighted to see Diary of a CEO is finally getting cancelled over on TikTok.
I can’t see how any public body justifies continuing to post on X. Not only are you supporting this, you’re getting nothing in return as posts are essentially invisible, reach-wise.
January 7, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I can’t see how any public body justifies continuing to post on X. Not only are you supporting this, you’re getting nothing in return as posts are essentially invisible, reach-wise.
I might argue that nicking food from shops when you’re broke is morally justifiable, but we don’t just get to follow laws we agree with and this is a deeply unwise precedent for a politician to set.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Trump was ‘morally right’ to attack Venezuela and seize Maduro, says Kemi Badenoch
‘The legal certainty is not yet clear, morally I do think it was the right thing to do,’ Tory leader says
www.independent.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 5:21 PM
I might argue that nicking food from shops when you’re broke is morally justifiable, but we don’t just get to follow laws we agree with and this is a deeply unwise precedent for a politician to set.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
I got my nails done to mark ten years this week since Bowie gave us Blackstar, and then died two days later and suddenly it was a completely different album.
January 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
I got my nails done to mark ten years this week since Bowie gave us Blackstar, and then died two days later and suddenly it was a completely different album.
Over at the Bad Place, they’re trying to blame the NL New Year Fireworks shambles on immigrants. Of course they are. 🙄
(The people setting off fireworks in the street, and yeeting them under cars, in post boxes, at buildings were - as they are every year - mostly 13 year old boys)
(The people setting off fireworks in the street, and yeeting them under cars, in post boxes, at buildings were - as they are every year - mostly 13 year old boys)
January 3, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Over at the Bad Place, they’re trying to blame the NL New Year Fireworks shambles on immigrants. Of course they are. 🙄
(The people setting off fireworks in the street, and yeeting them under cars, in post boxes, at buildings were - as they are every year - mostly 13 year old boys)
(The people setting off fireworks in the street, and yeeting them under cars, in post boxes, at buildings were - as they are every year - mostly 13 year old boys)
The cognitive dissonance of the public, in a nutshell: people think the pension system is unsustainable, while at the same time complaining it’s not generous enough.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Most Europeans think state pensions will become unaffordable, polling shows
YouGov survey finds many say payments are too low and oppose reforms such as raising retirement age or cuts
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The cognitive dissonance of the public, in a nutshell: people think the pension system is unsustainable, while at the same time complaining it’s not generous enough.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Good morning from me, a smug bastard who kicked off Christmas Day by doing a spin class.
If this doesn’t get me on a hundred block lists, nothing will.
If this doesn’t get me on a hundred block lists, nothing will.
December 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Good morning from me, a smug bastard who kicked off Christmas Day by doing a spin class.
If this doesn’t get me on a hundred block lists, nothing will.
If this doesn’t get me on a hundred block lists, nothing will.
Shout out to the client - a very large company - who asked me to invoice two days ago, and has already approved for payment.
The spirit of Christmas, right there.
The spirit of Christmas, right there.
December 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Shout out to the client - a very large company - who asked me to invoice two days ago, and has already approved for payment.
The spirit of Christmas, right there.
The spirit of Christmas, right there.
Overslept and missed putting the bins out on the last bin day before Christmas. 😭😭😭
December 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Overslept and missed putting the bins out on the last bin day before Christmas. 😭😭😭
Well who could have predicted this?
(Everyone)
(Everyone)
December 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Well who could have predicted this?
(Everyone)
(Everyone)
Yesterday I had to leave M&S empty-handed because they didn’t have anything much in a size 8. My very first time experiencing a Thin Person Problem.
And today I got IDd buying prosecco in the supermarket.
Christmas has indeed come early round here. 🎄
And today I got IDd buying prosecco in the supermarket.
Christmas has indeed come early round here. 🎄
December 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Yesterday I had to leave M&S empty-handed because they didn’t have anything much in a size 8. My very first time experiencing a Thin Person Problem.
And today I got IDd buying prosecco in the supermarket.
Christmas has indeed come early round here. 🎄
And today I got IDd buying prosecco in the supermarket.
Christmas has indeed come early round here. 🎄
Ok so there’s deffo something wrong with his right hand
December 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Ok so there’s deffo something wrong with his right hand
It is December 17th and I’m aboutto start my Christmas shopping.
Can any correspondent report a slower start? Anyone holding out for the 23rd?
Can any correspondent report a slower start? Anyone holding out for the 23rd?
December 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It is December 17th and I’m aboutto start my Christmas shopping.
Can any correspondent report a slower start? Anyone holding out for the 23rd?
Can any correspondent report a slower start? Anyone holding out for the 23rd?
Ten years ago this week, days before Christmas, I quit my job with nothing to go to.
This is the first of three short reflections on leaving when staying becomes untenable.
📖 Part 1 - The Break: sharonodea.com/2025/12/16/t...
This is the first of three short reflections on leaving when staying becomes untenable.
📖 Part 1 - The Break: sharonodea.com/2025/12/16/t...
The Break
This is part one of a three-part series reflecting on ten years of self-employment — what led me to leave my last employed role, what came after, and how I now think about work, identity, and chang…
sharonodea.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Ten years ago this week, days before Christmas, I quit my job with nothing to go to.
This is the first of three short reflections on leaving when staying becomes untenable.
📖 Part 1 - The Break: sharonodea.com/2025/12/16/t...
This is the first of three short reflections on leaving when staying becomes untenable.
📖 Part 1 - The Break: sharonodea.com/2025/12/16/t...
I appreciate this will get any future ESTA refused, but that ship has now sailed I think, so…
My expectations of that man were already at rock bottom and yet somehow he still manages to be that bit more of a cunt. Genuinely shocking, and after all these years that‘s really saying something.
My expectations of that man were already at rock bottom and yet somehow he still manages to be that bit more of a cunt. Genuinely shocking, and after all these years that‘s really saying something.
December 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I appreciate this will get any future ESTA refused, but that ship has now sailed I think, so…
My expectations of that man were already at rock bottom and yet somehow he still manages to be that bit more of a cunt. Genuinely shocking, and after all these years that‘s really saying something.
My expectations of that man were already at rock bottom and yet somehow he still manages to be that bit more of a cunt. Genuinely shocking, and after all these years that‘s really saying something.
Fun (not for me) fact: when I was a kid I had an operation done backwards by a trainee ophthalmologist at Moorfields. My mum vaguely recalls the surgeon being "an Arab fella".
So there's a non-zero chance I might technically have been Assad's first victim.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
So there's a non-zero chance I might technically have been Assad's first victim.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Assad family live in Russian luxury as Bashar ‘brushes up on ophthalmology’
Family friend, sources in Russia and Syria, and leaked data help give rare insight into life of dictator’s reclusive household
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Fun (not for me) fact: when I was a kid I had an operation done backwards by a trainee ophthalmologist at Moorfields. My mum vaguely recalls the surgeon being "an Arab fella".
So there's a non-zero chance I might technically have been Assad's first victim.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
So there's a non-zero chance I might technically have been Assad's first victim.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Lots to agree with here. I ditched Twitter - and the sizeable audience I had there - because I realised that not only did it no longer bring me joy, but that tweets either disappeared into the void, or led to a volley of abuse. And that's simply not what I want to spend my time on.
also - apols for the shameless self-promotion - as I wrote recently, I'm not sure I buy "oooh you need constant adversity online in order to be a good writer" - I think I've become better at my job since quitting the Getting Shouted At factory, actually! youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
December 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Lots to agree with here. I ditched Twitter - and the sizeable audience I had there - because I realised that not only did it no longer bring me joy, but that tweets either disappeared into the void, or led to a volley of abuse. And that's simply not what I want to spend my time on.
How do I nominate the guy slamming the off button for een lintje? 🎖️
Truly the hero the Amsterdam Metro needs.
Truly the hero the Amsterdam Metro needs.
December 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
How do I nominate the guy slamming the off button for een lintje? 🎖️
Truly the hero the Amsterdam Metro needs.
Truly the hero the Amsterdam Metro needs.