In this episode of Media Empires, Erik Torenberg sits down with Snigdha Sur, CEO and co-founder of The Juggernaut, to discuss the challenges and strategies of growing a modern media company, including content strategy, team development, expanding their audience from 10,000 to over 500,000, and sustaining revenue, while emphasizing mission-driven journalism for the South Asian diaspora. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/2dfa074b-caaa-4105-80b3-c8fa4474f555 _

Greg Raiten, a former lawyer and a co-founder at The Suite, a curated community-based platform for C-suite executives, joins Erik Torenberg to share the evolution of The Suite, from a side project that grew into a revenue-generating model through membership and sponsorships. They also discuss the process of building and scaling community-based businesses, effectiveness of paid memberships, and exploring future community expansion into other C-suite roles.

JT Barnett, a former professional hockey player and also the Founder and CEO of CreatorX, joined Erik Torenberg to share his journey from being the 'vibes guy' in the locker room to becoming an influential figure at the intersection of content and commerce. They also discuss the evolution of social media platforms, future of social media, creator financing, and the role of creators in shaping modern businesses. This conversation was recorded in 2023. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months. RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

Rex Woodbury, Founder and Managing Partner at Daybreak Ventures, and previously a Partner at Index Ventures joined Erik to explore the evolution and impact of the creator economy. They discuss the challenges of monetization for creators, the future of consumer social platforms, and the changing demographics and behaviors of different generations. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.

Michael Girdley, CEO of an 11-business holding company and Sean Linehan, CEO at Exec and Squad join Erik Torenberg to talk about the unique approach to incubating businesses, the importance of leveraging media presence, and understanding the intricacies of modern media and business strategies. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.

Boye Fajinmi, co-founder of The Future Party, a community-based media brand with a daily newsletter reaching 200K subscribers, joins Erik Torenberg to share insights on transitioning from community events to a comprehensive media company, the power of specialized newsletters, and the necessity of diversifying revenue streams. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.

Anuj Abrol, Creator, former Chief of Staff for Justin Kan and ex-McKinsey, and Sarah Wright, head of content at Product Hunt, join Erik Torenberg of Turpentine to discuss building successful newsletters. In this conversation, they trade innovative strategies for creating high-quality content that attracts readers derived from the Turpentine podcast network, the importance of understanding your audience and social network engagement, and whether vertical newsletters can succeed. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.

Byrne Hobart, creator of the newsletter The Diff and Capital Gains, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the intricate evolution of media industries. In this conversation, they delve into the comparative success of print and digital media, the economic transformation of the news sector, the disruption in media landscapes and the emerging scenarios in financial journalism.

Dan Ni, CEO of TLDR Newsletter, a leading modern media company that operates 10 curated newsletters with over 8 million readers, joins Erik Torenberg to talk about the success of TLDR. In this conversation, Dan shares the secrets behind TLDR's rapid growth, the importance of building an audience on your own platform, challenges and strategies of launching new content formats, monetization tactics, and exploring the different niches and media formats.

Austin Petersmith, an entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in journalism joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his diverse experiences in the media and tech industries. He shares his journey at Inside, where he helped grow a remarkable newsletter business, and explores the complexities of user-generated content and niche social networks. In this conversation, they also explore the growth strategies, challenges, and monetization tactics used in scaling Inside to millions of subscribers.

Anthony “Pomp” Pompliano, founder of The Pomp Letter, joins Erik Torenberg for a captivating, wide ranging discussion about modern media dynamics — recorded live in 2022 with special guests entrepreneur Jesse Genet, host of In the Arena Pod and Ryan Hudson, co-founder of Honey. They discuss building social and financial capital, Pomp's biggest lessons, and strategies for leveraging high-profile influence. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.     — LINKS: The Pomp podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pomp-podcast/id1434060078 The Pomp Letter: https://pomp.substack.com/ In the Arena: https://www.youtube.com/@InTheArenaPodcast Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @APompliano (Pomp) @jessegenet (Jesse) @ketau (Ryan) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:49) Diving into modern media and social capital (03:36) Building an audience and business (07:52) Intersection of media and business (12:31) Tipping point in career trajectory (14:40) Navigating controversies and cancel culture (17:27) Sponsor: Beehiiv and Turpentine (19:51) Social supply chain (22:28) Role of values in business (25:25) Employee activism (35:16) Memorable Twitter feud (42:53) Security concerns in the digital age (52:03) Personal experiences with wealth (01:04:50) Request for startups from Pomp (01:11:22) Controversial views and cancel culture (01:17:51) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Matt McGarry, a newsletter expert and the founder of GrowLetter, joins Erik to discuss his newsletter and media insights from his work with The Hustle, Sahil Bloom, The Milk Road, and more clients through his specialized agency. This is a masterclass in newsletter growth, email acquisition, and monetization models. Matt highlights opportunities in B2B and niche markets, stresses the importance of diverse newsletters, and advocates for a multimedia strategy including podcasts. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.     — LINKS: GrowLetter: https://growletter.co/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @JMatthewMcGarry (Matt) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:48) Matt's journey into newsletters (02:36) Agora model explained (07:14) Leveraging paid marketing for newsletter growth (16:40) Sponsor: Beehiiv and Turpentine (18:28) Podcasts vs. newsletters (19:56) Monetization and growth tactics (25:28) Choosing the right niches and monetization models (31:14) Exploring B2B newsletter success (33:20) Challenges and opportunities in media niches (35:51) Local media and hyper-niche opportunities (43:41) Creating a master brand vs. niche newsletters (50:53) Monetization tactics and lead generation (54:28) More about Matt's GrowLetter (58:21) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Noah Edelman, co-founder at The Neuron, a daily AI newsletter that attracted 100,000 readers in its first month, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the AI content space. Noah elaborates on their growth strategies, the unique strengths that set The Neuron apart, and his insights on the future of AI in media. Grow and monetize your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.     — LINKS: The Neuron: https://www.theneurondaily.com The Neuron Podcast: https://www.theneuron.ai/podcast Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @noahedelman02 (Noah) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:54) Evolution of The Neuron (02:47) Strategies for success (05:02) Navigating the AI media ecosystem (07:35) Exploring newsletter dynamics: Types, trends, and tactics (09:35) Expanding The Neuron's reach and impact (15:24) Sponsor: Beehiiv and Turpentine (17:12) Pros and cons of The Neuron's framework (20:07) Creating specialized content for various industry verticals (25:11) Potential of transforming podcast content into newsletters (32:29) Growth tactics and the future of AI in media (35:07) Acquisition strategies in newsletter growth (39:00) Choosing the right platform (41:12) Noah's advice on building newsletters (46:47) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Yossi Levi, founder and CEO of Car Dealership Guy, joins Erik Torenberg to share the evolution from running a Twitter account to establishing a growing media empire with significant influence in the automotive industry. They also discuss the blueprint behind generating 120 million impressions per month, defining their insights advantage, the importance of listening to the audience, and strategies for monetization that doesn't demand compromising the authenticity and quality of content. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.   — LINKS: Car Dealership Guy: https://www.dealershipguy.com/ Car Dealership Guy Podcast: https://podcast.dealershipguy.com/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @yossixciii (Yossi) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:00) Building an automotive media powerhouse (02:33) Future of vertical media (06:54) Navigating the complex landscape of media, trust, and monetization (09:34) Building a news arm (13:32) Evolution of newsletters and content strategy (16:00) Sponsor: Beehiiv and Turpentine (17:50) Collaborating with creators (21:24) Exploring data products and market opportunities (23:22) Event planning for brand alignment (24:38) Applying the playbook to other industries (28:13) Audience composition (30:17) Future of Media: Expert-led and social-first (32:43) Customer feedback and content development (39:09) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Jacob Donnelly, the founder of A Media Operator, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the strategies behind building successful, sustainable media businesses, with a focus on niche markets. They also explore the role of technology and the significance of audience-centric approaches in both the media and events industries, providing a comprehensive overview of current trends and future directions for media entrepreneurs. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.   — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0epyYBAxLeF0PsNagdDJAJ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/company-breakdowns/id1743119197 — LINKS: A Media Operator: https://www.amediaoperator.com/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @JayCoDon (Jacob) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:53) Inside the mind of a media operator (02:33) Vision and strategy behind AMO (10:00) Why Jacob is bullish on media? (11:34) Sponsor: Beehiiv and Turpentine (13:23) Core ideas and philosophies (17:03) Intersection of media and data companies (25:16) Exploring the SaaSification of media (33:06) Future of AI in media (40:24) Media acquisitions and the essence of audience (49:16) Crypto media lessons and audience type (52:25) Art of building a media empire (01:06:30) Business of podcasting (01:22:23) Future of vertical communities (01:26:11) Importance of first party data (01:28:30) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Tyler Denk, co-founder and CEO of Beehiiv, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss how he came to be a part of building two media empires: Morning Brew and Beehiiv, a newsletter publishing platform which just raised a $33 Million Series B. They also discuss the market potential of email newsletters, ad networks, and successful newsletter strategies across industries. Tyler delivers a masterclass in understanding email and newsletter platforms. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months.   — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0epyYBAxLeF0PsNagdDJAJ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/company-breakdowns/id1743119197 — LINKS: Beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @denk_tweets (Tyler) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:00) Morning Brew & Beehiiv (03:00) Evolution of Morning Brew's business model  (09:49) The genesis of Beehiiv (14:30) Sponsor shout out (16:17) Building a newsletter empire (21:09) Biggest inflection point (25:32) Leveraging newsletters for growth (28:47) Future of Beehive and email monetization (41:36) Fundraising and navigating venture (44:40) Success stories in the newsletter industry (47:47) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

John Yedinak, co-founder and president of Aging Media, joins Erik Torenberg to talk about his journey from the mortgage industry to building a powerful media company focused on the senior care sector. They explore the strategies for building a profitable media company in the B2B sector, the creator economy, and how traditional trade shows are being reimagined to engage audiences more effectively. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Media Empires is brought to you by Beehiiv. Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox.

Craig Fuller, Founder and CEO of FreightWaves which began as a combination media company and data provider for the logistics industry, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of FreightWaves, different media models and their scalability, and shares his thoughts on what the future of AI media will look like. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 

Zawwar Khan, a CPG consultant for creators (Rel Brands), joins Erik Torenberg to talk about his journey from being the youngest brand manager at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, to advising media creators on building their own commerce brands. He also shares some strategies for creators to expand beyond their audience, the potential of creator-incubated businesses, and the future of the creator economy through innovative financing and business models. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- LINKS: Zawwar Khan: https://www.hellorel.com/ -- X/ TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @zawwarkhan_ (Zawwar) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:49) Zawwar's journey from Brand Manager to CPG Consultant (05:51) Evolution of Media and Commerce (09:13) Strategies for Success (16:56) Sponsor: Turpentine (17:44) Rise of B2B Influencers and Creator Opportunities (26:32) Potential of Creator-Led Ventures (28:56) Building Brands as a Creator (34:32) Venture Capital Perspectives on the Creator Economy (40:09) The Future of Investing: Venture Studios for Creators (49:25) Wrap

Danny Crichton, a Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Head of Editorial at Lux Capital, and former Managing Editor at TechCrunch, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of TechCrunch+, alternative business models, strategic investments in media, and tips for building a tech media company.This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.—LINKS:* Danny Crichton: https://www.dannycrichton.com/* Lux Capital: https://www.luxcapital.com/securities* TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/* TechCrunch+: https://techcrunch.com/techcrunchplus/X/ TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@DannyCrichton (Danny)—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(00:28) Evolution of TechCrunch+(01:27) Building a new product, ExtraCrunch(04:50) Challenges of subscription media(06:26) Identifying the core audience(08:57) Exploring alternative business models in media(15:26) Sponsor: Turpentine(16:07) History of TechCrunch(22:00) What worked and what didn't for TechCrunch(29:20) Building a significant tech media company(30:12) Strategies for success(31:03) The need of focus formula(35:32) Challenges of monetizing journalism(37:50) Rethinking media products(51:21) Potential of vertical media(56:30) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Danny Crichton, a Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Head of Editorial at Lux Capital, and former Managing Editor at TechCrunch, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of TechCrunch+, alternative business models, strategic investments in media, and tips for building a tech media company. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Danny Crichton: https://www.dannycrichton.com/ Lux Capital: https://www.luxcapital.com/securities TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/ TechCrunch+: https://techcrunch.com/techcrunchplus/ X/ TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @DannyCrichton (Danny) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:28) Evolution of TechCrunch+ (01:27) Building a new product, ExtraCrunch (04:50) Challenges of subscription media (06:26) Identifying the core audience (08:57) Exploring alternative business models in media (15:26) Sponsor: Turpentine (16:07) History of TechCrunch (22:00) What worked and what didn't for TechCrunch (29:20) Building a significant tech media company (30:12) Strategies for success (31:03) The need of focus formula (35:32) Challenges of monetizing journalism (37:50) Rethinking media products (51:21) Potential of vertical media (56:30) Wrap

Dave Nemetz, Founder of Bleacher Report and Inverse, joins Erik Torenberg to share his insights on media business models and the future of the creator economy. They also cover the growth of sports, web3, and B2B media. This conversation was recorded in early 2023This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.—LINKS:Dave Nemetz: https://davenemetz.com/The Inverted Curiousity Pyramid: https://davenemetz.com/inverted-curiosity-pyramid/Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/ Inverse: https://www.inverse.com/—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@davenemetz (Dave)—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:13) Insights behind Starting Bleacher Report(03:21) Pros and Cons of Subscriptions and Ads(06:12) Funding and Business Models in Media(14:22) Sponsor: Turpentine(15:10) Rise of B2B Media and Future Opportunities(23:03) Strategies for Media Companies(30:17) Innovative Approaches to Supporting Creators(48:02) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Dave Nemetz, Founder of Bleacher Report and Inverse, joins Erik Torenberg to share his insights on media business models and the future of the creator economy. They also cover the growth of sports, web3, and B2B media. This conversation was recorded in early 2023 This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Dave Nemetz: https://davenemetz.com/ The Inverted Curiousity Pyramid: https://davenemetz.com/inverted-curiosity-pyramid/ Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/ Inverse: https://www.inverse.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @davenemetz (Dave) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:13) Insights behind Starting Bleacher Report (03:21) Pros and Cons of Subscriptions and Ads (06:12) Funding and Business Models in Media (14:22) Sponsor: Turpentine (15:10) Rise of B2B Media and Future Opportunities (23:03) Strategies for Media Companies (30:17) Innovative Approaches to Supporting Creators (48:02) Wrap

Jamie Rawsthorne, formerly of the Zac and Jay show and now a YouTube strategist behind The YouTube Views Machine methodology, joins Erik to explore growth and success tactics on YouTube, monetization, and where he thinks the platform is going. This conversation with Jamie was recorded in 2023—This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.—LINKS:Jamie Rawsthorne: https://www.jamierawsthorne.com/Zac and Jay Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@ZacandJayShorts—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@jamierawsthorne (Jamie)—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:26) Jamie's YouTube story(04:47) Transition from creator to strategist(12:45) The biggest video that went viral(13:20) Sponsor: Turpentine(14:08) Making a big bet on YouTube(20:08) Getting 400,000 views on a video in the first month(24:53) Key to getting a great title and thumbnail(29:12) Exploring YouTube monetization(36:17) From vlogs to business opportunities(40:43) Understanding the YouTuber ecosystem and opportunities for growth(49:11) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Jamie Rawsthorne, formerly of the Zac and Jay show and now a YouTube strategist behind The YouTube Views Machine methodology, joins Erik to explore growth and success tactics on YouTube, monetization, and where he thinks the platform is going. This conversation with Jamie was recorded in 2023 This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Jamie Rawsthorne: https://www.jamierawsthorne.com/ Zac and Jay Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@ZacandJayShorts — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @jamierawsthorne (Jamie) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:26) Jamie's YouTube story (04:47) Transition from creator to strategist (12:45) The biggest video that went viral (13:20) Sponsor: Turpentine (14:08) Making a big bet on YouTube (20:08) Getting 400,000 views on a video in the first month (24:53) Key to getting a great title and thumbnail (29:12) Exploring YouTube monetization (36:17) From vlogs to business opportunities (40:43) Understanding the YouTuber ecosystem and opportunities for growth (49:11) Wrap

Jordan Zaslav, COO at Axios HQ, joins Erik to talk about the inspiration and launch of Axios. He shares his key lessons learned along the way and the importance of the smart brevity approach. They also chat about AI's impact on media and the need for companies to adapt.This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.—LINKS:Axios: https://www.axios.com/Axios HQ: https://www.axioshq.com/—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@jz (Jordan)—TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro(01:48) Smart Brevity Approach(04:12) Key to Axios' Success(06:38) Exploring Axios' Business Model and Diverse Offerings(11:45) Sponsor: Turpentine(16:23) The Axios HQ Product(18:17) What Has Made the Most Money at Axios.(21:11) Challenges of Media Business Growth(25:13) Audience Selection on Digital Media(30:07) Value of Different Audiences(32:28) Post-Internet Challenges and Cable's Future(37:57) Embracing AI in Media: Opportunities and Challenges(41:56) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Jordan Zaslav, COO at Axios HQ, joins Erik to talk about the inspiration and launch of Axios. He shares his key lessons learned along the way and the importance of the smart brevity approach. They also chat about AI's impact on media and the need for companies to adapt. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Axios: https://www.axios.com/ Axios HQ: https://www.axioshq.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @jz (Jordan) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:48) Smart Brevity Approach (04:12) Key to Axios' Success (06:38) Exploring Axios' Business Model and Diverse Offerings (11:45) Sponsor: Turpentine (16:23) The Axios HQ Product (18:17) What Has Made the Most Money at Axios. (21:11) Challenges of Media Business Growth (25:13) Audience Selection on Digital Media (30:07) Value of Different Audiences (32:28) Post-Internet Challenges and Cable's Future (37:57) Embracing AI in Media: Opportunities and Challenges (41:56) Wrap

Nathan Barry, Founder and CEO of ConvertKit, joins Erik to discuss the evolution of the creator economy, the ‘billion dollar creator', the importance of prioritizing long-term equity and adopting a flywheel approach to audience growth, and more. This conversation took place in early 2023 but is relevant and insightful for 2024.This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.—LINKS:ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com/Nathan & Sahil Bloom's Agency: https://www.paperboystudios.co/Nathan Barry: https://nathanbarry.com/Nathan Barry's Podcast: Billion Dollar Creator—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@nathanbarry (Nathan)—TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Intro(00:55) The Evolution of the Creator Economy(03:36) ConvertKit in the Creator Economy(05:26) Power of Attention(08:33) Future of the Creator Economy(16:49) Sponsor Turpentine (17:30) Rise of ‘Business Creators'(21:30) Newsletter's Significance in Audience Growth(28:52) Role of Agencies(38:04) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Nathan Barry, Founder and CEO of ConvertKit, joins Erik to discuss the evolution of the creator economy, the ‘billion dollar creator', the importance of prioritizing long-term equity and adopting a flywheel approach to audience growth, and more. This conversation took place in early 2023 but is relevant and insightful for 2024. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We're launching new shows every week, and we're looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com/ Nathan & Sahil Bloom's Agency: https://www.paperboystudios.co/ Nathan Barry: https://nathanbarry.com/ Nathan Barry's Podcast: Billion Dollar Creator — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @nathanbarry (Nathan) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (00:55) The Evolution of the Creator Economy (03:36) ConvertKit in the Creator Economy (05:26) Power of Attention (08:33) Future of the Creator Economy (16:49) Sponsor Turpentine (17:30) Rise of ‘Business Creators' (21:30) Newsletter's Significance in Audience Growth (28:52) Role of Agencies (38:04) Wrap

In this conversation, Andrew Sharp, the co-host of Sharp Tech and Greatest of All Talk, shares his journey building a podcast network at Stratechery. He discusses the future of the Stratechery network, lessons learned from the sports media industry, tips for becoming a great host, strategies for podcast network growth, and more. This conversation was recorded in early 2023.—We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Stratechery - Subscribe to Stratechery Plus (https://stratechery.com/stratechery-plus/) to access the subscriber only Stratechery updates and Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Dithering, and Greatest of All Talk podcasts.—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@andrewsharp (Andrew)—TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Intro(00:55) Basketball Talk(03:00) Andrew's Podcasting Journey(04:40) Transition from Law to Podcasting(06:27) Building the Stratechery Network(07:29) Future of Podcast Networks(09:18) Balancing Passion and Business in Podcasting(11:41) Art of Hosting Podcasts(14:06) Evolution of Podcast Networks(23:49) Subscription Model in Podcasting(27:52) Lessons from Sports Media for Tech Media(33:10) Advice for Aspiring Podcast Hosts(37:57) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In this conversation, Andrew Sharp, the co-host of Sharp Tech and Greatest of All Talk, shares his journey building a podcast network at Stratechery. He discusses the future of the Stratechery network, lessons learned from the sports media industry, tips for becoming a great host, strategies for podcast network growth, and more. This conversation was recorded in early 2023. — LINKS: Stratechery - Subscribe to Stratechery Plus (https://stratechery.com/stratechery-plus/) to access the subscriber only Stratechery updates and Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Dithering, and Greatest of All Talk podcasts. — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @andrewsharp (Andrew) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (00:55) Basketball Talk (03:00) Andrew's Podcasting Journey (04:40) Transition from Law to Podcasting (06:27) Building the Stratechery Network (07:29) Future of Podcast Networks (09:18) Balancing Passion and Business in Podcasting (11:41) Art of Hosting Podcasts (14:06) Evolution of Podcast Networks (23:49) Subscription Model in Podcasting (27:52) Lessons from Sports Media for Tech Media (33:10) Advice for Aspiring Podcast Hosts (37:57) Wrap

In this episode, Erik sits down with Joe Pompliano, an investor, entrepreneur, and one of the fastest-growing personalities in sports, to talk all about sports media and business. From opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sports industry, to athlete entrepreneurship, to the importance of mastering a niche content creation within the realm of sports, this episode is a masterclass in the intersections between sports, digital media, business, and investment. This conversation was recorded in early 2023.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.LINKS:Joe Pompliano: https://www.joepompliano.com/Huddle Up on Substack: X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@JoePompliano (Joe)TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode preview(04:03) The Evolution of Sports Media(06:11) The Power of Athletes in Business(11:59) The Global Reach of the NBA(15:21) Investing in the Sports Industry(20:05) The Potential of Athletes as Entrepreneurs(24:57) The Challenges of Minority Ownership in Sports Teams(26:17) Opportunities to Make Money in Sports(27:54) Content Creation in Sports(29:35) The Role of Agents in Sports(31:52) The Future of Sports Media(33:14) Investing in Athletes(38:47) The Power of Sports Broadcasting(44:01) The Future of the NBA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In this episode, Erik sits down with Joe Pompliano, an investor, entrepreneur, and one of the fastest-growing personalities in sports, to talk all about sports media and business. From opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sports industry, to athlete entrepreneurship, to the importance of mastering a niche content creation within the realm of sports, this episode is a masterclass in the intersections between sports, digital media, business, and investment. This conversation was recorded in early 2023. LINKS: Joe Pompliano: https://www.joepompliano.com/ Huddle Up on Substack Huddle Up X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @JoePompliano (Joe) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode preview (04:03) The Evolution of Sports Media (06:11) The Power of Athletes in Business (11:59) The Global Reach of the NBA (15:21) Investing in the Sports Industry (20:05) The Potential of Athletes as Entrepreneurs (24:57) The Challenges of Minority Ownership in Sports Teams (26:17) Opportunities to Make Money in Sports (27:54) Content Creation in Sports (29:35) The Role of Agents in Sports (31:52) The Future of Sports Media (33:14) Investing in Athletes (38:47) The Power of Sports Broadcasting (44:01) The Future of the NBA

This week on Media Empires, Brian Morrissey, author and podcast at The Rebooting, who was formerly editor-in-chief of Digiday and editor at Adweek, shares insights about the evolving media landscape, shifts in the marketplace, the rise of platforms that enable more independence for creators, the future of ‘micro-media,' and much more. This conversation took place in 2023, and since recording, Brian's podcast and newsletter The Rebooting launched a private membership tier. LINKS: The Rebooting: https://www.therebooting.com/ X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @bmorrissey (Brian) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (01:58) A journey through Brian's media evolution (02:47) Building a sustainable media ecosystem (04:02) The role of advertising and subscriptions (10:07) Niche audiences (17:14) The impact of AI on media (20:51) Investing in media (25:29) The power of collective writing (26:52) Exploring high value areas (27:44) Networking is powerful (32:13) The role of experts (34:51) Intersections between tech and media (41:32) Future of media and tech companies (45:36) Being a solo entrepreneur isn't for everyone (47:24) Potential of VC for creators (48:19) Realities of running a media business

This week on Media Empires, Brian Morrissey, The Rebooting author and podcaster, who was formerly editor-in-chief of Digiday and editor at Adweek, shares insights about the evolving media landscape, shifts in the marketplace, the rise of platforms that enable more independence for creators, the future of ‘micro-media,' and much more. This conversation took place in 2023, and since recording, Brian's podcast and newsletter The Rebooting launched a private membership tier.LINKS:The Rebooting:https://www.therebooting.com/X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@bmorrissey (Brian)TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode Preview(01:58) A journey through Brian's media evolution(02:47) Building a sustainable media ecosystem(04:02) The role of advertising and subscriptions(10:07) Niche audiences(17:14) The impact of AI on media(20:51) Investing in media(25:29) The power of collective writing(26:52) Exploring high value areas(27:44) Networking is powerful(32:13) The role of experts(34:51) Intersections between tech and media(41:32) Future of media and tech companies(45:36) Being a solo entrepreneur isn't for everyone(47:24) Potential of VC for creators(48:19) Realities of running a media business This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Megan Lightcap from Slow Ventures joins Erik Torenberg to discuss both of their insights into evolving creator economy and the role of strategic investment in digital creators and entrepreneurs. Megan discusses strategies for investing in creators, leveraging her experience, how to evaluate potential in creator businesses, deal structures, challenges of this new asset class, and how the future of creator financing might unfold. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Slow https://slow.co/—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@mmlightcap (Megan)@slow (Slow Ventures)—TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode Preview(02:25) Funding creators(05:52) The art of choosing the right creator to back(07:23) Examples of successful creator investments(15:24) Potential in creators building marketplaces(17:33) Creator investing vs investing in startups(23:25) The concept of creator franchises(25:31) Involving angel investors(28:33) The challenges of investing in humans(31:08) Entrepreneurs vs creator investment(32:59) The creator economy(35:30) The use of funds(45:05) The future of social tokens and NFTs(48:05) The future of in creators This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Megan Lightcap from Slow Ventures joins Erik Torenberg to discuss both of their insights into evolving creator economy and the role of strategic investment in digital creators and entrepreneurs. Megan discusses strategies for investing in creators, leveraging her experience, how to evaluate potential in creator businesses, deal structures, challenges of this new asset class, and how the future of creator financing might unfold.  — LINKS: Slow https://slow.co/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @mmlightcap (Megan) @slow (Slow Ventures) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (02:25) Funding creators (05:52) The art of choosing the right creator to back (07:23) Examples of successful creator investments (15:24) Potential in creators building marketplaces (17:33) Creator investing vs investing in startups (23:25) The concept of creator franchises (25:31) Involving angel investors (28:33) The challenges of investing in humans (31:08) Entrepreneurs vs creator investment (32:59) The creator economy (35:30) The use of funds (45:05) The future of social tokens and NFTs (48:05) The future of in creators

This week we're sharing a conversation with Erik Torenberg and Nathan Baschez , the co-founder of Every Inc. and creator of Lex, an AI-powered writing tool that's aimed to revolutionize the writing process for writers. The discussion ranges from the nuances and challenges of podcasting, to the impact of AI on content creation, to the business models of various platforms like Substack and YouTube, and much more. This conversation was recorded in early 2023 but still holds numerous insights on the future of digital media and entertainment.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.LINKS:Every Inc. https://every.to/Lex: https://lex.page/X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@nbashaw (Nathan)@every (Every Inc)@lexdotpage (Lex)TIMESTAMPS(00:29) Episode preview(02:17) Nathan's journey in the media industry(02:51) Lessons learned building Every Inc(08:26) The role of personalization in media(15:51) Strengths and weaknesses of the podcasting industry(21:01) The power of niche content on YouTube(22:55) Financing creators(30:25) The Evolution of Media Creation(32:14) Introducing Lex: The AI-Powered word processor(37:32) The Future Workflow for Writers(39:47) Conclusions This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Today we're dropping the debut episode of Request for Startups which featuresJustin Mares: Founder of Truemed,Kettle & Fire, Surely, and a partner at True Journey VenturesSean Linehan: CEO of Exec.com, previously VP Product at FlexportHost: Erik TorenbergThe conversation maps startup ideas and concepts, including dating apps based on spending patterns, a matching platform for singles, an exclusive dating app with angel investments, Google Maps for market ontologies, a personal trainer for life, Wikipedia by experts, and a vision of WeWork for productivity. What will you build?Upcoming guests on this season of Request for Startups include Aashay Sanghvi, Talia Goldberg, Imran Khan, Qiao Wang, Nick DeWilde, Greg Isenberg, Gagan Biyani, and more.SUBSCRIBE & FORWARD TO FOUNDERS & ANYONE NAVIGATING THE IDEA MAZE.Video episodes on Substack: https://requestforstartups.substack.com/p/receipt-based-dating-reference-checksApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/request-for-startups-with-erik-torenberg/id1728659822Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/739L1LR32QI2XyoZlRh5nvOvercast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1728659822--Timestamps(00:00) Intro(00:45) Justin's Incubation Processes(04:00) Dating App Based on Spending Patterns(06:40) Yenta(08:22) Exclusive Dating App with Angel Investments(13:16) Google Maps for Market Ontologies(19:07) Personal Trainer for Life(20:57) Wikipedia by Experts(27:01) WeWork for Productivity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Chris Hutchins joins Erik Torenberg as he explores the intricacies of building and growing a successful podcast. Learn about crucial factors of optimization, tracking growth, choosing platforms, monetization practices including subscription models and content-brand alignments, and more.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:All The Hacks: https://www.allthehacks.com/—X / Twitter:@hutchins (Chris)@eriktorenberg (Erik)TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(01:27) Chris's Journey to Podcasting(02:26) The Challenges of Content Creation(04:18) The Power of Podcasting(05:00) The Importance of Creating Content for the Platform(06:32) The Struggles of Social Media Content Creators(09:57) The Future of All The Hacks(11:39) The Importance of Good Content(14:18) The Power of Cross Promotion(20:35) The Importance of Analytics in Podcasting(28:30) The Reality of Podcast Monetization(32:49) Exploring the Idea of Full-Time Creators(33:36) Building a Podcast Network: Challenges and Opportunities(35:03) The Impact of Audience Demographics on Advertising(36:23) The Pros and Cons of Niche Podcast Networks(39:54) Investing in Podcasters(45:21) The Journey of Building a Successful Podcast(47:46) Exploring the Idea of Subscription-Based Podcasts(53:25) The Future of Podcast Ecosystem This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

This week, Erik Torenberg sits down with Mario Gabriele, founder of The Generalist to delve deep into the evolution of The Generalist, as well as discuss fascinating insights around the tech writing ecosystem, niche publication opportunities, NFT experiments, and the essential role a community can play in growing a media business.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:The Generalist on Substack: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/—X / Twitter:@mariogabriele (Mario)@thegeneralistco (The Generalist)@eriktorenberg (Erik)TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Introduction(01:45) The Generalist Empire: A Deep Dive(03:38) The Tech Writing Ecosystem(06:38) The Evolution of Tech Analysis(07:31) The Future of Tech Analysis(10:02) The Challenges of Scaling a Publication(13:04) The Evolution of The Generalist(16:50) The Importance of Community in Content Creation(23:25) The Business Model of The Generalist(26:23) The Future of Content Creation(39:35) The NFT Experiment(43:58) Lessons Learned and Future Plans This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In this episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Adam Ryan, the CEO of Workweek, for an insightful conversation on Workweek's business and media strategies, the transformation of digital media in the B2B sector, the potential of podcasts, their approach towards working with established and emerging creators, and much more.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Workweek: https://workweek.com/Perpetual, a podcast by Adam Ryan: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qYQQirnkYzgLy0W1JrhrE?si=c8fe88148c8a469dApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perpetual/id1611806982—X / Twitter:@AdamRy_n (Adam)@workweekinc (Workweek)@eriktorenberg (Erik)—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102TIMESTAMPS(0:00) Intro(2:10) Opportunities in media investments.(6:48) Different waves of B2B media(8:42) Evolution, insights, &opportunities of B2B media(12:50) Comparing content production(15:05) Market segmentation & real purchasing power(18:55) Early strategies(20:25) Workweeks' media and business strategies(26:20) The creator financing ecosystem(27:03) Focus on long-term(28:25) Individualized deals for creating satisfaction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Today's episode is a special one – Erik Torenberg and Greg Isenberg discuss the future of B2B creators, monetizing media and the venture of Turpentine on Greg's podcast “Where It Happens.” Erik shares his vision for 'audience in a box' services, explores how channels can be expanded for creators, the future of niche B2B creators, and the importance of building infrastructure that facilitates growth. Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Where It Happens with Greg Isenberg:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-it-happens/id1593424985Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aB0v6amo3a8hgTCjlTlvhTwitter/X:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@gregisenberg (Greg)@_trwih (Where It Happens Podcast)—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102–TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro/Episode Preview(01:44) Rise of the B2B Creator(04:39) The Power of Podcasts(09:17) B2B Niche Selection(16:48) The Future of Media Monetization(19:41) Value of Data in Media Businesses(26:52) Role of Producers in the Creator Economy(30:01) Diversification in Business(33:36) Co-ownership and Partnership(35:01) Leveraging Existing Platforms(40:01) Challenges & Opportunities of the Creator Path(47:45) The Evolution of Business Goals and Metrics(51:06) Exploring New Business Ideas(56:26) The Future of San Francisco and the Tech Industry This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In today's episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Robert Leonard, creator of The Investor's Podcast Network, to discuss all angles of building a podcast network, from vertical integration, the best titles, monetization strategies, quality vs quantity, and much more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:The Investor's Podcast Network: https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode Preview(01:09) The Investor's Podcast Network(03:02) Difference Between a Media Company and a Podcast Network(05:23) Creating Niche Tech Vertical Podcasts(07:41) Sequencing New Shows(09:59) Monetization(13:16) Structuring Podcast Feeds(25:42) Newsletters as Revenue Stream(28:34) Working with Hosts(33:49) Evaluating White Space and Opportunity for New Shows(38:35) Working with Hosts in Podcast Networks(41:37) Focus on Quality(43:32) In-House vs. Outsourcing(46:23) Turning cost centers into profit centers(47:18) Considerations for partnerships and ownership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In today's episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Hunter Hammonds, CEO of Assembly, a venture studio for creator-led businesses, to discuss the evolution of co-founders, the potential of creator-led B2B businesses, Hunter's strategies behind building multiple agencies, and more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Late Checkout: https://www.latecheckout.studio/—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:14) The start of Assembly(04:59) Strategy behind building multiple agencies(07:15) Future categories and expansion plans(10:57) Why creators partner with assembly(14:21) Structure and growth of Assembly(19:15) Division of labor in a hold co-model(25:04) The future of Assembly and vertical integration(30:13) Potential of B2B creator-led businesses(33:03) Future of the creator-led hold co-model(38:55) Shared services of Assembly(44:12) Building businesses with creators(45:11) Rapid growth and artificial limitations(47:35) The importance of iteration—X / Twitter:Hunter Hammonds: @_hunterhammondsErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMedia Empires: @mediaempirespodTurpentine @turpentinemedia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In today's episode, Romeen Sheth, CEO of Metasys, joins Erik Torenberg and Sean Linehan to discuss the intersections between Ai and service business, vertical software, and much more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:Late Checkout: https://www.latecheckout.studio/—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(03:12) Intersection between AI and service businesses(08:30) The rise of cashflow businesses(13:12) Opportunities in offshore labor & AI(19:26) Building an automation consulting firm(25:30) Carta for non-venture companies(29:20) GLG & Tegas space(45:04) Opportunities in vertical software(46:24) Building a business around PE due diligence(47:47) Understanding the diligence process(51:25) Using a media company as a wedge(53:21) Leveraging lists & data from media companies(54:47) Challenges of recording and maintaining knowledge—X / Twitter:Romeen Sheth: @romeenshethSean Lineman: @seanlinehanErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMedia Empires: @mediaempirespodTurpentine @turpentinemedia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

In today's episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph, to discuss all things data business like building around products, selling horizontal data, second party data sharing, and much more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.—LINKS:SafeGraph: https://www.safegraph.com/—RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102—(00:00) Episode Preview(01:09) What ties Auren's businesses together(03:00) The importance of market share and declining CACs(03:39) Challenges & types of data businesses(05:00) Selling horizontal data(05:40) People, places, organizations, and products(10:12) Methods for sourcing and verifying data(14:48) Potential of building data businesses around products(16:21) The nuances in recommendations for people and products(26:46) LinkedIn's success and disappointments(33:09) Windfall data and net worth(34:27) Reputation and bias(37:32) Challenges & potential for social recommendations(42:10) Improving the user experience of LinkedIn(47:12) Crossbeam & second party data sharing(49:14) DSL Co-op & aggregating general ledger data(50:41) Building a reputation database(51:50) NDA network(53:01) Software businesses masquerading as services businesses(55:24) Incubators & structuring ownership–X / Twitter:Auren Hoffman: @aurenErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMedia Empires: @mediaempirespodTurpentine: @turpentinemedia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Media Empires is back for another season. In today's episode, Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout, a holding company for businesses powered by community, joins Erik Torenberg and Sean Linehan, CEO at Exec, to discuss multipreneurship vs solopreneurship, building value around community-based products, requests for startups, and much more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--LINKS:Late Checkout: https://www.latecheckout.studio/--RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(00:55) Welcome + Intro(03:00) What is a multipreneur?(08:50) Understanding Greg's empire(13:08) Promo: The Riff(14:10) Where does Greg hope to take the AI community?(19:53) On Late Checkout and where it's going(36:40) Greg's request for startups(48:00) Calling all nerds!(48:35) Wrap—X / Twitter:Greg Isenberg: @gregisenbergSean Lineman: @seanlinehanErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMedia Empires: @mediaempirespodTurpentine @turpentinemedia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Today's episode is with Michael Mignano, co-founder of the podcasting platform Anchor, and venture capitalist at Lightspeed. Riverside.fm is a presenting sponsor of Media Empires. Go to https://creators.riverside.fm/MediaEmpires and use code MEDIAEMPIRES for 20% off individual plans.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coIn this episode, Michael and Erik discuss the demand, personalization, analytics, and whitespace for audio content. This is the Season 1 finale for Media Empires. Stay tuned for Season 2 and check out Turpentine's other shows, like Moment of Zen, Upstream, Turpentine VC, Econ 102, and more.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--LINKS:Lightspeed: https://www.lightspeedhq.com/--RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozUpstream: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamTurpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVCEcon 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:58) Democratizing audio(06:24) Anchor's success point(11:49) Don't just distribute, define(16:04) The demand for audio content(20:45) Analytic limitations(28:30) Personalization(31:30) Creator funding models(37:18) All roads lead to TikTok(39:27) A.I. working for the consumer?(44:16) Making NPCs(45:16) What media businesses need to do(47:18) Mid-sized social networks(50:56) New social network for only audio?—X / Twitter:Jason: @MignanoErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMedia Empires: @mediaempirespodTurpentine @turpentinemedia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Erik sits down with Jason Yanowitz, the co-founder of Blockworks, an events and crypto-media company, as well as the host of the podcast Empire. Riverside.fm is a presenting sponsor of Media Empires. Go to https://creators.riverside.fm/MediaEmpires and use code MEDIAEMPIRES for 20% off individual plans.In this episode Jason and Erik discuss podcast networks, trust in the media world, building audiences, and much more.Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:01) Evolution of BlockWorks(03:35) Categorizing types of crypto information(05:12) Where the revenue comes from(07:13) Blockworks in five years(09:07) Building media companies in fresh ways(15:55) Building in fast-growing spaces like crypto and AI(20:05) Psychedelics podcasts and newsletters(21:33) B2B events businesses centered around creators(24:30) Investing in multiple channels(28:00) Niches make riches(31:26) Essentials in events(33:57) Content or sponsorship first?(35:20) The dirty secret of the conference business: Bigger is better(38:10) Building, growing, and maintaining multiple feeds(43:36) Long term business values of podcasts(45:00) YouTube is essential for podcasts(46:30) Newsletter Models(48:46) Finding white space in crypto media(52:32) Trust in Media(54:25) Perseverance & good teams will win (56:48) Building an executive team for a media company(58:35) Advice for growing media companiesLINKS:Blockworks: https://blockworks.co/X / Twitter:Jason: @JasonYanowitzErik's Twitter: @eriktorenbergMusic Credit: L1U1KU2OUDVEVMON This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com

Erik sits down with John Coogan, co-founder of Lucy and creator of @JohnCooganPlus, a YouTube channel with over 300,000 subscribers that documents highlight moments in Silicon Valley.Riverside.fm is a presenting sponsor of Media Empires. Go to https://creators.riverside.fm/MediaEm... + use code MEDIAEMPIRES for 20% off individual plans.In this episode John and Erik discuss the monetization on YouTube, understanding algorithms as a creator, and the value of content on various platforms.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Founding a business is just the tip of the iceberg; the real complexity comes with scaling it. On 1 to 1000, hosts Jack Altman and Erik Torenberg dig deep into the inevitable twists and turns operators encounter along the journey of turning an idea into a business. Hear all about the tactical challenges of scaling from the people that built up the world's leading companies like Stripe, Ramp, and Lattice. Our first episode with Eric Glyman of Ramp is out now: https://link.chtbl.com/1to1000TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(02:39) Why John started his YouTube channel(04:04) What's the value on YouTube?(07:01) Monetization(09:16) Evergreen vs News content(10:45) The Packy Model(12:44) Audiences on YouTube(14:29) How to help your video do well(19:04) Newsletters(20:54) How the algorithm can work in your favor(24:26) Separating channels(27:24) Are niches better?(30:18) The future of YouTube(31:49) John's content evolution/philosophy(37:46) Experimenting then filtering with content(45:34) Twitch's value(49:00) What can be built on top of YouTube?LINKS:Lucy: https://lucy.co/John Coogan Plus on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnCooganPlusX / Twitter:John: https://twitter.com/johncooganErik's Twitter: https://twitter.com/eriktorenbergMusic Credit: RJQQIL7L6K8BBVRE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mediaempires.substack.com