[Start Here] Welcome to Unobstructed
Rethinking how you move through the world. Join readers from over 37 countries who believe reflecting on small, but meaningful, moments can create enough clarity to become unobstructed.
Unobstructed is a multi-media literary publication sharing stories that help people navigate daily life with more clarity and agency.
What we publish aims to reveal things, not prescribe them.
Said differently—this is a place where we purposefully leave room for interpretation. Join readers from over 37 countries who believe reflecting on small, but meaningful, moments can create enough clarity to become unobstructed.
What is Unobstructed about?
Some of what you’ll find here:
Reflections and insights on agency, grief, and creativity.
Conversations about overlooked and misunderstood challenges keeping people stuck.
Prompts for improving critical thinking, confident decision-making, and self-efficacy.
Bonus resources and recommendations.
Masthead
Derek MacDonald — Director of Editorial Strategy
Contributors
Rachael Sink — Co-host, The Unobstructed Podcast
Caleb Walker — Contributor, The Unobstructed Podcast; Breaking Trail.
Columns
Kickturn — a daily column on pivots, patterns, and new perspectives.
Unobstructed — weekly stories on rethinking how you move through the world.
*Breaking Trail — monthly essays on using agency to test what’s possible.
The Unobstructed Podcast — monthly conversations on clarity and agency.
*COMING SOON
Publishing frequency: We send daily, weekly, and monthly newsletters. Paid subscribers have access to all content.
Contact: hello@theunobstructed.com
COMING SOON: subscriptions for print editions.
Why Unobstructed?
Hey, I’m Derek MacDonald. I started Unobstructed after 15+ years in marketing, software systems, outdoor education, and leadership development.
Formative years spent as a wilderness guide and snowboard instructor showed me that stories—not explanations—are what help people navigate fear and uncertainty. Turns out, launching software products and leading someone up a mountain aren’t that different. Both get easier when you stop trying to act like you know everything and start listening instead.
I didn’t understand what people meant by, “if you don’t schedule a break, your body will do it for you.” And then I crashed. Hard. So I admitted defeat and tried following the “less is more philosophy.”
Because doing less is actually the answer. It creates the space for:
Days that don’t involve red-lining your nervous system.
Sleeping at normal hours, for appropriate lengths of time.
Life outside of work to enjoy with friends & family.
That’s what Unobstructed is about: recognizing patterns and removing roadblocks. And how to untangle them while you keep things moving.
Challenging your mindset.
Sharpening your skills.
Making decisions with clarity.
There’s nothing better than the “ah-ha” moment when someone realizes they can do something. Excitement like that can be life changing. So I’m not big on stepping in and doing things for them. But I do care a lot about helping people succeed. And I’ll always offer a hand while they figure it out.
Here are a few reads to start with:
Here are a few listens to start with:
How Unobstructed works:
Free subscribers get weekly field notes on navigating the small, but meaningful, moments of daily life, as well as monthly podcast episodes.
Paid subscribers get bonus resources each month that range from tools and exercises, to curated links of the stuff I use to reframe my own story. You can upgrade anytime.
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What a life and story Derek! I have so many questions...I think I need to interview you.
You're my hero role model Derek,and I love being on podcasts connecting, especially as the Unmuffled MindShift Mechanic and Plumber 🤗