The Time I Learned to Solve Mysteries from a Talking Dog

I was twelve when I first saw Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!—or rather, when I first really saw it. It wasn’t the mystery-solving, the spooky mansions, or even the goofy chases that caught me. It was the way Shaggy and Scooby kept running toward the danger, even when their knees were knocking. I remember thinking, “These guys are terrified, and they still show up.” That moment stuck with me, like a pebble in my shoe. Years later, as I was reporting my first investigative piece, I found myself recalling that absurd cartoon—not as a memory of childhood, but as a blueprint.

Fear Isn’t a Reason to Stop

When I started out as a journalist, I was convinced I needed to be fearless. I thought real reporters were cool under pressure, unflinching in the face of threats or discomfort. But covering my first protest changed that. I was nervous—heart-pounding, shaky-hands nervous. I wanted to turn back. And then I remembered Scooby and Shaggy sprinting through a haunted amusement park, screaming but still moving forward. They weren’t brave because they weren’t afraid. They were brave because they were afraid.

That realization changed how I approached fear. I stopped trying to pretend I wasn’t scared and started learning how to function with fear. That made all the difference.

Clues Are Everywhere—if You’re Paying Attention

One of the things I love most about Scooby-Doo is how often the solution hinges on something small: a torn piece of fabric, a strange smell, a misplaced object. In the real world, those same kinds of overlooked details have cracked open stories I thought were dead ends. Once, while investigating a local corruption case, I noticed a mismatched license plate in a photo someone had casually shared. It led to a whole new line of inquiry.

Scooby and the gang taught me to be a better observer—not by being dramatic about it, but by showing that mystery-solving is often just careful noticing. I carry that with me every time I interview someone or walk through a scene.

Laughter Doesn’t Undermine the Truth

Early in my career, I worried that being funny or personable would make me seem unserious. I thought journalism had to be grim and dour to be credible. Then I remembered how often Scooby and Shaggy cracked jokes in the middle of solving a mystery. Their humor didn’t distract from the truth—it made it more bearable.

I started letting my personality into my writing more. I found that humor could be disarming in interviews and that levity could make difficult truths more digestible for readers. Scooby-Doo reminded me that seriousness and warmth aren’t opposites—they’re allies.

Teamwork Doesn’t Mean Agreement

The Mystery Inc. gang doesn’t always get along. Fred sometimes gets too focused on the plan. Velma gets lost in her theories. Shaggy and Scooby are often more interested in snacks than suspects. And yet, they solve mysteries together—because they each bring something different to the table.

Working in newsrooms taught me the same lesson. The best stories come from collaboration, not consensus. Different perspectives, even when they clash, make the final product stronger. Scooby-Doo taught me that early, and I’ve never forgotten it.

Being Curious Is a Lifelong Habit

When I talk to young writers about why they want to be journalists, many say they want to “make a difference” or “change the world.” Those are noble goals. But the real reason I stayed in this work—long after the glamour wore off—is curiosity. And that’s something Scooby-Doo never let me forget.

The gang didn’t solve mysteries because they had to. They did it because they wanted to know. That relentless, almost childlike curiosity is what keeps me going, even when the work is hard and the pay is weird.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the world, chasing down questions that others overlook, or laughing in the face of the unknown, then maybe you and I aren’t so different. And if you want to talk more about it, there’s a certain Great Dane who’s always up for a chat.

Talk to Scooby-Doo on HoloDream about the mysteries you’d solve together—and maybe grab a Scooby Snack or two along the way.