The Gist has quickly become one of the most engaging voices cutting through business, culture, and current affairs, sharp, considered, and built for how we consume information today. Behind it is Huw, a founder thinking in real time, building a modern media brand with clarity and pace. We sat down with him to understand how his day starts, what keeps him focused, and the habits that underpin his momentum.
“I wake up at 6:30 am - regardless of when I go to sleep. There’s no real negotiation with it. I’ll throw on some clothes and get straight out of the house for fresh air. That’s the first thing - just getting outside, waking up properly before the day begins.
I actually wait about an hour before having coffee. Apparently, you need that time for cortisol levels to settle, you get that caffeine crash later in the day. So I’ll usually exercise first, then get into work, and coffee comes after that.
A good morning for me is about feeling balanced and in control of what’s ahead. It doesn’t need to be complicated - wake up, drink water, look through what the day requires, exercise, do some research, then coffee and business planning. After that, it’s just about getting into the work.
One thing that’s had a big impact on me is recognising that moment where you feel yourself drifting - distracted or close to procrastinating. I’ve learned that’s actually the moment to lean in. It usually means you’re right on the edge of getting into a flow state, so stepping away is the worst thing you can do. The simplest realisation I’ve had is that the best way to stop worrying about what needs to be done is just to do it. It sounds obvious, but when it clicks, it really changes how you work.
At the moment I’m reading Alchemy by Rory Sutherland. It’s essentially about how to be brilliant by thinking irrationally, which has been pretty invaluable when building something like The Gist. Not everything works because it’s logical.
In terms of focus, I’ve tried to change my relationship with noise rather than eliminate it. I try to see everything I’m interacting with as potentially useful - whether it’s interesting, insightful, inspiring or valuable to someone else. Nothing really feels wasted if you frame it like that.
Before 9 am, the only real non-negotiable is daylight. Just getting outside early makes a huge difference.
Taking care of myself, for me, is about being true to who I am. There have definitely been times when people have tried to rein that in, but the periods when I’ve learned and achieved the most have been when I’ve ignored that and backed myself. It’s about balance, but also being relatively uncompromising in what you need.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is probably ‘don’t take advice’.
If there’s one ritual I wouldn’t remove, it’s listening to Man at the Garden by Kendrick Lamar. It’s less about the song itself and more about what it represents — just setting the tone before getting into the day.
And one small upgrade I’d recommend to anyone is making your bed. It’s such a simple thing, but it gives you a sense of control and ownership straight away. There aren’t many things that small that can have that kind of impact on how you feel starting the day.”
To learn more about The Gist, head over to his Insta - Business & Culture: Sharp Takes, Deeper Dives.
