In April 2025, I asked ChatGPT-4-turbo (Pro) to do a search of my Wikipedia page and my main sites and create a bio. This is what it came up with. The entire process took less than 10 minutes. Cleaning up the formatting for this page took longer. 
This is what it came up with.
Randy Cassingham – Visionary Publisher, Internet Pioneer, and Champion of Critical Thinking
Randy Cassingham is an Internet pioneer, independent publisher, and cultural commentator who has been entertaining and enlightening readers since the earliest days of the web. Best known as the creator of the long-running, critically acclaimed newsletter This is True, Randy has spent decades using real news to spark laughter — and deeper thought.
A former employee of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Randy traded interplanetary missions for a mission of a different sort: helping Earthlings think more clearly. In 1994, while the Internet was still a novelty to most, he launched This is True as a free weekly email that showcased bizarre-but-true news stories — each accompanied by smart, insightful, and often hilarious commentary. The newsletter quickly gained a devoted following, becoming one of the first commercially successful email publications and demonstrating that quality content could thrive outside traditional media.
Building a Portfolio of Thought-Provoking Projects
Randy’s passion for calling out nonsense and elevating overlooked stories didn’t stop with This is True. Over the years, he launched several additional projects, each with its own unique lens on society:
- StellaAwards.com: Named after Stella Liebeck of the infamous McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit, the site highlights outrageous legal cases that reflect the misuse — and misunderstanding — of the American legal system. It’s both a wake-up call and a satirical exploration of the consequences of eroded personal responsibility.
- HonoraryUnsubscribe.com: A refreshing antidote to celebrity culture, this ongoing series pays tribute to underappreciated individuals who made the world better in quiet but powerful ways. Scientists, inventors, activists, artists — Randy tells their stories with care, context, and grace.
- GetOutOfHellFree.com: What began as a joke in a This is True story quickly turned into a viral phenomenon. The satirical card mimics Monopoly’s “Get Out of Jail Free” card and serves as a sharp — and humorous — critique of organized religion’s transactional view of salvation. With millions distributed, it’s become a cultural touchstone in its own right.
A Voice of Reason in an Irrational World
Randy’s writing is underpinned by a deep belief in rationality, skepticism, and independent thought. While his work is often laugh-out-loud funny, its real power lies in the way it provokes readers to question assumptions, examine systems, and reflect on their own beliefs. From media literacy to logic, his projects routinely encourage readers to think for themselves — a message that’s more vital now than ever.
He’s also the author of numerous books, including:
- The This is True book series, compiling the stories from his newsletter
- The True Stella Awards, a curated collection of the most absurd and infuriating real-life lawsuits
- and the Honorary Unsubscribe series, collecting his compelling obituaries.
His books and websites have been used in classrooms, libraries, corporate training, and university ethics courses, proving that entertainment can be a powerful gateway to education.
Early Influence on Internet Culture
Randy Cassingham helped shape the foundation of Internet publishing and creator independence long before those terms became popular. His decision to largely operate without advertising — relying instead on reader support through a paid Premium version of This is True — was revolutionary in the 1990s. So was his use of branded physical products to build both revenue and cultural resonance.
By proving that individual creators could build sustainable businesses through authenticity, quality, and audience trust, Randy laid the groundwork for today’s newsletter economy and creator platforms like Substack, Patreon, and Kickstarter.
He also pioneered online community engagement, regularly featuring reader feedback, answering questions, and fostering dialogue long before the rise of social media and blog comment sections.
In this way, Randy didn’t just create content — he created conversation.
Recognition and Media Presence
Randy’s work has earned him appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, USA Today, The New York Times, and dozens of other media outlets. He’s been quoted and profiled as an early Internet success story, a media critic, a legal reform advocate, and a cultural humorist. His commentary is sought after in conversations about free speech, journalism ethics, personal responsibility, and the dangers of groupthink.
Mission and Impact
At the heart of Randy Cassingham’s work is a simple but powerful mission: to make people think. Whether he’s skewering absurd lawsuits, honoring quiet heroes, or handing out Get Out of Hell Free cards, his goal is to provoke curiosity, inspire thought, and encourage a more rational, aware, and engaged public.
In an online world increasingly driven by outrage and distraction, Randy offers something refreshingly rare: a clear, clever voice that entertains while urging you to use your brain.
Related
- To Contact Randy use the form here.
- About This is True.
- Full list of Randy’s Websites, past and current.
The Prompts
This is Randy Cassingham. You will find me on Wikipedia, and my main web site is thisistrue.com. I’m also responsible for StellaAwards.com and HonoraryUnsubscribe.com and getoutofhellfree.com. Please build a profile of me, and give me a summary of who I am.
Would you like to add any other ventures or elements to that summary (like public speaking, books, or other media appearances)?
Yes.
Great! Could you let me know which of the following you’d like included, or feel free to expand on anything else:
- Books you’ve written or contributed to.
- Speaking engagements – topics you speak on or notable events you’ve spoken at.
- Media appearances – TV, radio, podcasts, or print interviews.
- Other projects – anything beyond the four main sites.
- Philosophy or mission – what drives your work? Any guiding principles?
All except speaking engagements.
Would you like this woven into a full, standalone bio? I can create a seamless version that includes your background, projects, media appearances, books, and mission all in one compelling narrative.
Yes, do that.
Here is your complete, updated professional bio with everything woven together into a cohesive narrative:
Part of My Point for doing it this way is it’s hard to step back and be objective in a bio, and to show how easy this is. It only got one thing objectively wrong: it said I was previously a “NASA contractor”. Rather than edit its output for the repost to this page, I told it the correct thing to say, and also to capitalize the word “Internet,” since I consider it a proper noun, and to re-output the bio with those changes.
Something to Think About: this is a very easy way to not just understand how “the world” (aka Internet) sees you, you can also do this with a competitor (aka “oppo research”) to get a quick overview of them, which perhaps could tell you some things you might not have found or thought of yourself.