Here’s the truth no one says out loud enough.

Most people on Substack aren’t failing because of strategy. They’re stuck because they’re afraid to be seen.

* Afraid to say it their way

* Afraid to charge

* Afraid to take up space

We had six Substack rockstars join the Substack 2026 Bootcamp.

These six creators did the opposite.

They showed up as themselves.

And it worked.

* Six different categories.

* Six totally different styles.

I’m making this Substack Rockstar session from this year’s Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp 2026 available to every paid member. Because it’s sooo good.

And yet, the lessons overlap in a way that makes you go…

“Oh. That’s the game in 2026. I think I need to rethink, update, and tweak my Substack newsletter.”

What I love most:

ALL of them made one brave decision again and again.

* To show up.

* To stay visible.

* To be seen as they are.

Here are 26 deep lessons that move the needle you can steal from our LIVE session (available as video and written post).

Want to choose visibility over perfection? Join the Club!

It’s already past 9pm in Germany.

And they say nothing good happens after 9pm.

Still, I think some of the best things can happen then.

The house is quiet.

The kids are asleep.

Outside, it’s dark.

Only in my new studio, you can hear the steady clicking of keyboards.

I’m writing this letter to you.

There’s still confetti on my desk from earlier. Balloons on the floor. I’m in my pajamas, notebook open, filled with presentation ideas for the coming days.

This is what I love about my part-time writing business.

I get to do it my way.

👉And that’s the energy I want to bring into this year’s Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp (Learn the A to Z of Substack in 4 days flat and write your way from inbox to income and your first $1,000 or $10,000).

We’ve got 8 spots left.

GETVISIBLE50

…is live to get 50% off.

📅 January 20–23

⌚ 11:00 AM ET | 8:00 AM PT | 4:00 PM UK/Scotland | 5:00 PT Berlin time

🥳$149 instead of $299.

GETVISIBLE50

…is live.

NEW: There’s now also a payment plan! You can pay in installments.

And in just 24 hours, I’ll announce the next big bonus. Hint. It’s a good one.

But before we get there, let me tell you why this Bootcamp feels different.

And why you should trust me.

Because yes, there are many Substack courses out there. On-demand. From $40 to $800. Some even $2,500 and more.

So who am I to invite you and promise results?

Fair question.

I’ll show you.

WOW-worthy co-hosts

Ellen Scherr - Life Branches

Let’s talk about Ellen Scherr

Ellen is a psychotherapist. A midlife truth teller.

She never thought she’d become a writer.

When she joined the Bootcamp, she was tired of pretending. Tired of softening the truth. But unsure if anyone wanted to hear it.

She started writing honestly. About grief. About rage. About the moment women wake up and realize they are done performing.

And everything changed.

Within 5 months:

* She grew from zero to 17,000 subscribers

* Her writing passed 1 million views

* Her long form posts took off because women finally felt seen

Her inbox filled with messages like:

“This feels like someone finally named what I couldn’t explain.”“I thought something was wrong with me.”

Podcast invitations followed. And now, a major new opportunity is unfolding for her. We’ll share more in the next hours.

From invisible to seen. From pretending to powerful.

🙏 Proud of you, Ellen.

Ellen’s message for you:

Jerry Keszka - Plus 50 Forward

And then there’s Jerry Keszka.

Former scientist. Fashion and beauty industry veteran. Over 50.

Jerry spent years building audiences on platforms he didn’t own.

Until one day, Facebook changed its algorithm.

Overnight, he lost access to thousands of people. That was the moment he decided to stop building on rented land.

He failed 4 blogs. Kept writing anyway. Wrote every single day.

Then it clicked.

Today, Jerry is a rising Substack Business bestseller. A viral Notes writer. And proof that it is never too late to build a life that fits you.

He now helps hundreds of people over 50:

* Earn their first dollar online

* Then their first $1,000

* Then grow from there

🙏 Always cheering you on, Jerry.

Jerry’s message for you:

Your Personal Invitation

Alumni Ellen and Jerry are co-hosting the Substack 2026 Bootcamp with me this time.

As my hubby alsways says:

“This is the dream! If you have co-hosts who are successful and then can show others how they are “doing it”.

I didn’t offer them “just” to become affiliates to recommend my course.

Ellen actively particiapted in the Bootcamp and got results (as so many more).

Plus, for me it’s always about giving you the tools and confidence so you can “dance” through your home that is Substack and just have fun (dancing with others).

So when you step inside our Bootcamp, you won’t just learn from me. You’ll learn from two incredible writers who’ve experienced this transformation.

I even pulled together a video of their journeys.

It’s not the final cut but it’s live on the landing page for you to watch now or here in the post.

So here I am, late at night, with confetti on my desk and my notebook full of ideas.

And here you are, reading this.

I Can’t Help But Wonder

What if this was YOUR moment?

What if you stopped hiding and started sharing?

What if, like Ellen and Jerry, you let yourself get visible?

You don’t need unicorn dust.

You don’t need to “be louder.”

I don’t want you to burn yourself out by adding MORE to dos on your already full plate… it’s to seek out what will work and implement PROVEN strategies that will move the needle and create a profitable, sustainable income!

You just need an EASY 4-steps-PATH-framework, a lovely community, and a little courage to hit “publish.”

👉 That’s what we’ll do inside the Bootcamp. Together.

With…

GETVISIBLE50

…you’ll get 50% Off.

Unbelievable, I know.

We’ve got 8 spots remaining, and in 18 hours, the next huge BONUS drops.

So maybe something good does happen after 9pm.

Take care & goodnight from Germany,Kristina

P.S. Reinvention doesn’t have an expiration date. And neither does possibility. Also if you have a friend, forward this. Special bonus waiting for you if you bring a friend!

P.P.S. Oh and one more thing. I’ve just added payment plans. You can now join in 3 simple steps instead of paying everything up front.

Bootcamp alum and want to join again?

Inside the Bootcamp you’ll see some familiar faces:

I could only reach out to a handful of writers today.

Please don’t feel ghosted when I haven’t reached out to you. This is YOUR invitation to join us for another round as this one is gonna be very different and we’ll cover ALL updates.

Plus, you’ll get access to 2 more amazing BONUSES!

Hey online writing friend,

I’ve got a confession.

I’ve been so busy the past weeks that I couldn’t write long form posts.

Boxes everywhere. Life everywhere. Kids everywhere. Brain nowhere.

But today I’m back at my laptop.

And this feels huge.

For the first time in my life, I’ve got my own creativity hub. My own studio. My own space. Never ever before.

At our old place, my “office” was the attic. Suuuuuuuper hot in summer. And my hubby and I shared one room. Which meant calls, keyboards, sighing, and very polite versions of “are you done yet?”

Now this new house is a real home for my kids. And this room is finally a home for my creativity. Which feels perfectly aligned with today’s story.

Because I want to tell you about my podcast conversation from two weeks back with my Substack Bootcamp alum Ellen Scherr from Life Branches.

She’s a therapist, a writer, a midlife truth teller…

And WOW WOW WOW WOW

Ellen went from basically zero to 10,000 Substack (now already 15,000!!) subscribers in just a few short weeks.

One minute: “hello? is this thing working?”

Next minute: phone exploding, notifications flying, people clutching their pearls.

And this freaking bonkers growth explosion didn’t happen because she had a big launch. Or because she gamed the system. But because she kept showing up (and maybe also dancing), talking about the messy middle of life when no one, ZERO people were was watching.

In her words:

“I’m just plugging away, just, you know, still hearing crickets and just keep plugging away. And next thing I know, my phone is like blowing up, lit up from all the notifications.”

If you want the full story, go listen to the podcast episode. That’s teaser #1. There are more coming.

Here are the biggest things I learned from Ellen.

🎁HOLIDAY FLASH SALE: Substack Notes Kickstarter Bootcamp

Want to earn money with Notes? Want to be seen and get more people read your long form stories? Substack Notes is the gate. Learn how to capitalize on it for $129 instead of $299! This is my late Christmas gift to you!

1) Use the exact words your audience is already saying

This is the strongest lesson.

Ellen’s a therapist. She hears the same phrases every single day in her practice.

She said:

“I know what they’re saying. I know what words they’re using. I know what they’re telling me.”

And she doesn’t translate that into fancy writing. She uses it as is.

One line she shared that shows up again and again in her work:

“Many women start with, I’m stuck. I just, I don’t know what to do.”

That’s why her intros hook people instantly.

Readers don’t think, “That’s well written.”

They think, “That’s me.”

2) Write to connect and build trust

Ellen didn’t plan for her post Aging Out of F***s: The Neuroscience of Why You Suddenly Can’t Pretend Anymore to go viral.

She said:

“The title got people to look at it, but I didn’t realize that the content was going to resonate so much.”

And when it did resonate, people shared it everywhere.

She realized:

“It was coming from everywhere. People had posted it.”

Including places she didn’t expect.

“I was a little embarrassed because people were posting it and loving it on LinkedIn.”

Her takeaway is simple.

Make it shareable. Make it human. Make it something people want to send to a friend and say, “Read this.”

3) Practice headlines until your brain learns the pattern

Ellen was very honest about how she learned to write headlines.

She said:

“I would go into ChatGPT and just ask for examples.”

And also:

“A lot of times it just didn’t resonate, but it taught me different words and different things.”

She didn’t copy. She practiced.

Now she mostly uses it like this:

“I’ll come up with a title and say, what do you think about this?”

Also yes, she takes her time.

When I asked her how long one post takes, she said:

“Sometimes two to three hours.”

So if you’re slow, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it seriously.

4) Your overnight success is built on invisible effort

Ellen started writing on Substack in August 2025. She posted long form posts. She posted notes. A lot of them.

And at first, nothing happened.

Her words:

“So all those notes, I was pumping out like three a day and nothing.”

And:

“I mean, you know, maybe three likes or whatever.”

Then her long form post Aging Out Of F***s took off.

And suddenly everything changed.

“But now all the notes that I wrote back when that had no visibility, now people are seeing all the notes.”

Let me share one example with you from Ellen’s Notes feed:

That part really stayed with me.

Effort compounds quietly. Until it doesn’t.

If things feel slow right now during the holidays, it doesn’t mean it’s not working. It might just mean it’s loading!

5) When it blows up, you’ll feel overwhelmed

Ellen was very real about this part.

After the viral post, she said:

“When I went to go post a post right after the one that went viral, I was like, oh, crap. Now what am I going to write?”

She also said:

“It’s overwhelming.”

And:

“I thought I’d have more preparation time to build up to get to a certain level.”

Totally normal.

This is why community matters. Growth is heavy when you carry it alone.

And yes, you can meet Ellen inside the Online Writing Club community. She’s also a Substack Bootcamp alum, which makes this story even better.

If Ellen’s story lit something up in you, go listen to the podcast episode. Then come hang out with us.

I’m back at my laptop. In my own studio. In my own creativity hub. And it feels really good.

PS: If you listen to the episode while eating leftover Christmas cookies and thinking about New Year goals, that’s the way to do it.

If you loved this episode and this post, here are 3 ways I can HELP you even MORE:

1) 1:1 Coaching

Spots are open for January 2026. Grab yours while they’re still there.

2) StackBuddy Substack Notes Scheduler

Schedule your Notes effortlessly. About 15 minutes per week. Visibility without the chaos. I also was visible and got lots of new (paid!) subs via Notes while moving houses, celebrating Christmas and writing this newsletter.

Go get the life-changing, Substack-tastic tool by becoming a founding member

3) HOLIDAY FLASH SALE: Substack Notes Kickstarter Bootcamp

🎁Want to earn money with Notes? Want to be seen and get more people read your long form stories? Substack Notes is the gate. Learn how to capitalize on it for $129 instead of $299! This is my late Christmas gift to you! 🎁

4) LIVE Substack Kickstarter Bootcamp - January 2026

Learn Substack from A to Z. Not only from me, but from WOW-worthy alumni and community members who are already flying on Substack and Notes. Let me know in the comments, chat or via email, if you’d like to join us in January.

WOW! We’ll have an early bird offer of $129 for 4 days flat with me + 10 implementation days!

Done playing nice and ready to be heard? Support an indie writer and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️ Ellen’s story!

Can writing on the internet change your life?

Today’s podcast episode is with someone who proves that it can.

Sean Kernan is one of the most interesting and consistent online writers I know.

He has:

* over 500,000 followers on Quora

* more than 1 billion views on his content

* 100,000 followers on Medium

* part of Yahoo’s Creator Program

* a fast-growing Substack newsletter called Thrive by Sean Kernan with 13,000 subscribers

And here’s the funny part.

For years, before I ever talked to him…

before I ever knew his name…

before I knew him personally…

…I knew him by a nickname many others used, too:

“The son of Quora.”

That name stuck because he answered thousands of questions and became one of the most well-known writers online.

🎉 GRAB YOUR BLACK FRIDAY DEAL

If you want to level up your writing and actually take action, here is what you get right now:

🔥 57% OFF the Notes Bootcamp On-Demand with Sara Redondo, MD, MS and Gail K. Normally $299 — now $129 with the code BLACKFRIDAY57OFF

🔥 50% OFF the Club Membership & Founding Member BonusUpgrade before Cyber Monday, and you’ll also get the Substack Notes Scheduler (StackBuddy), value about $250

The Writer Behind a Billion Views

Now… let’s talk about today’s guest.

And the reason I asked him for an interview about the Substack-Quora-Flywheel, as I call it, is that he’s THE expert!

To give you even more social proof, yes… sometimes an Uber driver recognizes him in the offline world, too, and asks:

“Oh my gosh, are you that writer guy on Quora?”

Sean laughs about these moments and says he doesn’t feel like a celebrity. But still, it happens.

Today’s episode is packed with real lessons for writers who are interested in Quora and Substack, want to grow an audience, and earn from their work. And of course, everyone who loves Sean Kernan’s work!

The Moment Not-So-Glamorous Moment Sean’s Life Changed

Sean shared that he was fed up with his job as a financial analyst. He said:

“I literally dropped my two weeks and I told my boss.”

Then she asked:

“Where are you going?”

Sean answered:

“Nowhere.”

He didn’t want to tell her he was trying to become a writer because he felt like it sounded ridiculous.

Two weeks later, the Quora Earnings Program cut creator payouts.

His first thought:

“Did I just screw my whole life up?”

That moment didn’t stop him. Instead, it pushed him forward. He joined Medium in 2019 and kept going.

🎧 Listen to the Epic Episode with Sean

Click to play and explore the mindset, platform strategy, and the reality behind building a long-term writing career by turning followers into subscribers:

Sean’s Writing Philosophy and Why Momentum Matters

Sean didn’t explode overnight.

“I wrote on the side making no money for three years before I ever started making money.”

For him, momentum mattered more than a single viral moment.

He published every day during the peak, goldrush years of Medium. On Quora, he still posts almost daily. On Substack, he’s active every day on Notes (where he’s often going viral!)

and sends his newsletters several times per week.

I love that he’s turning his followers into subscribers now. Sean is already a Substack bestseller with 13,000 raving fans.

What Writers Miss

Many writers wait for confidence or perfection.

Sean takes a different approach.

In our interview, he shared that writing publicly helped him open up more over time.

At first, he wrote safe things. Later, he shared vulnerable stories about his own life.

Readers responded to honesty.

That’s why Sean encourages writers to publish even if the early results are small.

Meaning grows through action, not waiting.

The Substack-Quora-Flywheel Explained

Sean didn’t plan a system from day one.

But over time, a pattern formed:

* Answer a short question on Quora

* Watch how readers react

* Repurpose on Medium and later Substack (Notes)

* Turn the best ones into full articles/newsletters

* Build audience

* Repeat

This predictable loop helped him publish quickly without burning out.

He often takes one short idea, sees the reader's reaction, and then grows it into something bigger.

Why Quora Still Works

Many writers look past Quora. Sean sees it as a playground for ideas because, as he explains, every topic exists there.

Writers can:

* test ideas

* learn what readers care about

* build skills through short answers

Sean also said Quora gives instant feedback through views and upvotes, which helps writers get better faster.

I also tested Quora for a while when I started writing on Medium. It’s a great platform to repurpose your writing and link to your stories.

Why Sean’s Work Feels Human

As many Club members are interested in AI, I also asked Sean about his feelings.

He shared strong thoughts about AI writing.

He said in our interview, he hasn’t enjoyed the AI writing he has seen and shared that many readers also dislike it. His readers want a human voice and a human experience. That’s why he’s stating his writing is 100% human (maybe except spell check).

To add even more human touch, Sean also records voiceovers for his Substack posts.

He shared with me this helps remind people he’s a real person, not a machine or bot.

Sean wants to keep writing 100% human-driven, stay consistent, and enjoy the work.

He said to me:

“My goal in life is I’d like to just remain a writer.”

If you want momentum like Sean, you don’t have to do it alone.

This is your reminder:

🎉 BLACK FRIDAY DEAL IS OPEN (for a short time)

🔥 57% OFF Notes Bootcamp On-DemandUse code

BLACKFRIDAY57OFF

🔥 50% OFF the Club membership — Notes Scheduler included for founding members if you upgrade before Cyber Monday

You’re closer than you think.

Let’s build your writing momentum and make your next year the year everything starts growing.

Your Turn

* What do you think about the Substack-Quora-Flywheel?

* Would you try Quora?

* Or use it to repurpose what you already write?

* Need more education on Quora? Sure thing! Let me know, and we’ll have a masterclass

Tell me in the comments!

Liked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur, and ♻️SHARE ♻️ this story to help us spread the word

🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Sean’s Newsletter THRIVE. So leave a comment and join the conversation.

This week’s podcast hits a nerve if you’ve…

* ever feel like you’re working your butt off online... and still no one cares?

* …you’re writing post after post and the internet yawns?

* …there are these “Top 1% writers” and somehow they got a secret map you didn’t?

So what even ARE the top 1%?

And what do they know that the rest of us don’t?

* Top 1% solo creator Dan Koe says you need curiosity and courage, “if you want to belong to the top 1%, then you have to let go of fear, following curiosity, test your interests with action, committing long enough to see what sticks.”

* Millionaire writer Tim Denning shares you need boring daily habits stacked like Lego bricks. Tim says in multiple articles, writing success comes from small, repeatable actions done daily and compounded over time.

What if both are missing something huge?

Get to know today’s guest: Dr. Julie Gurner

Executive performance coach. Professional truth bomb dropper. And someone who’s know for NOT sugarcoating anything.

“I think you have to be obsessed with things to get to the top 1%. I don’t think you have to be obsessed to be good, but I think you have to be obsessed to be great.”

When she said this next line, I felt it in my throat.

Like… oh.

So maybe THAT’S why I’m stuck.

Am I obsessed enough?

Join me inside the Online Writing Club and level up your life as an online writer! Psst! Pre-Black Friday Deal! 30% OFF FOREVER!

There’s a reason why the Wall Street Journal called her the “real-life Wendy Rhoades from Billions.”

She’s the owner of the bestselling Substack newsletter Ultra Successful with thousands of raving paying fans who want to learn how top performers think and rise.

and works with the world’s highest performers in tech, finance, and media, and in today’s new episode, she breaks down what separates the top 1% writers from everyone else.

“Rather than looking external at all of those actions, which I think are all very important, I think it really starts with the self and understanding what you have to share with the world.”

That’s not what most writing gurus tell you.

They talk about the same old stuff…algorithms, hooks, AI-power, quantity, virality.

Dr. Gurner talks about clear focus.

“You have to kind of have like, what do you speak about and who do you speak for?”

Most writers never reach that level of focus as they “ engage in what they see as like broadcasting”:

“One of the mistakes that I often see is that people go too broad. So no one, they never get known for anything.”

If you check out Julie, you’ll see that no matter where, wheter it’s on Substack, X or another platform, she’s always talking about the SAME thing!

👉 Listen to the full episode now: If you’ve ever wondered whether you could be one of the top 1%… maybe this is your moment to stop wondering and start becoming.

Inside Today’s Show, You’ll Learn:

* The power of picking one thing and repeating it everywhere

* The mindset traps that stop smart people

* How to write with audacity and stop watering down your message

* The underrated skill that helps you build connection and real audience loyalty

* How to think like top performers and reverse engineer success

* Why your unique point of view is your biggest advantage

* Why engagement beats broadcasting

* And why one troll is never a reason to stop

⚠️Warning: After this episode you may feel a sudden urge to email your list something bold and slightly terrifying. Send it anyway!

I’m Celebrating ONE Year of Podcasting With You

🥳This month, we’re also celebrating something personal: one year of podcasting.🥳

When I started this show, I was a part-time writer with two children at home. I’ll be honest, my life was (and still is!) messy, upside down, and I was wondering how on earth I could find the time to start my own show, and with millions of podcasts out there… who would care!

Pre-Black Friday Sale! I want you to level up your writing. So you’ll get 30% OFF FOREVER to celebrate 1 year of podcasting! Come hang out with me…

I doubted whether I could keep it going. But today, thanks to you and thanks to Linda Lebrun from Substack, who encouraged me to start a Substack-native podcast, we’ve reached 87K downloads and belong to the top 5% of podcasts worldwide.

🙏🏼🙏🏼THANK YOU!🙏🏼🙏🏼

I Wanted to Quit, but Didn’t

There were days I recorded episodes with dirty hair, a crying toddler in the hallway, and a voice note in my head screaming:

“You’re not good enough. Who do you think you are?”

But then, I’d get a message from a writer asking,

“How can I become one of the top writers?”

And that’s why this episode hits so hard.

Because Julie doesn’t sugarcoat it.

“No one can beat a person who never gives up.”“You just have to believe in yourself that if you just keep doing it, you’ll figure it out.”

She calls out the fear we all feel when we put our words out into the world:

“Putting it out there in the world is risky. There’s a lot of risk. And people are not always so nice. But if that’s the worst, can you manage that? One jerk is worth it. Ten jerks is worth it.”

Joining the Online Writing Club is worth the risk! Take the plunge and get 30% OFF as Pre-Black Friday Deal as THANK YOU for 1 year of podcasting

That’s the mindset that builds careers.

👉 Tune in here to hear Dr. Gurner explain how to think, act, and perform like the top 1% of writers.

Most Suggest Doing MORE, This Won’t Save You!

Dr. Gurner doesn’t tell you to write MORE. From my own experience I can tell you, this can’t be the cure.

She tells you to see yourself differently.

“I think that most people don’t really see that they can be top 1% at something. And to me, you carry the secret around with you.”

She reminds us that what comes easy to us—our natural perspective, our lived experience—is what others value most.

“We overlook the easy stuff. But that’s the stuff that people would love to learn and learn more about.”

Being real is what counts.

“Audacity for a writer looks like saying the things that you truly want to say. Sometimes we are too tender with our words. When we are a little unvarnished and a little more straightforward, it’s when people really can ingest the impact of what you have to say.”

If you say: I want to learn that! Join the Club and get 30% OFF TODAY!

That’s the truth few will tell you, as they sell their templates, proven framworks and systems. But in the end, if you want to join the top 1%, you have to stop writing like everyone else.

I see this with so many community members. They learn from me and others. Then they evolve, spread their wings and fly. Do their own thing and offer their own tips, tricks and frameworks.

👉 Sooooo, listen now — this conversation could change how you think about writing forever.

Is Obsession Healthy or Dangerous?

We’re one year in, and this show has become a space for honest conversations about creativity, growth, and what it really means to be a (great or top 1%) writer.

I’m deeply thankful for every listen, every share, every note of encouragement.

Now, I’d love to hear from you:

* Do you think obsession is healthy—or dangerous?

* Are we losing our edge by trying to be “nice” with our words?

* Can a writer really reach the top 1% without being obsessed?

Obsessed with writing, growing your email list, and growing your audience? Me too! Get 30% OFF TODAY. Celebrate with me 1 year of podcasting.

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Let’s make this next year even better—together.

🎧 Listen to “How to Join the Top 1% of Writers with Dr. Julie GurnerYour next level starts here.

🎁One more thing! If you leave a review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐on Spotify or Apple, take a screenshot, send it to me to get a surprise 🎁

Here’s how I can help you even MORE:

* ⭐Calm Your Stack (FREE tool) Hide the annoying column on your Substack homepage. Free tool built by my husband.

* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) Find collab partners in 30 seconds. No excuses. Free.

* ⭐Substack Notes Kickstarter Bootcamp with alums and Notes rockstars

Sara Redondo, MD, MS and Gail K. NOW as on-demand course + Q&As with yours truly!

* ⭐ VIPer Let’s level up your Substack (1x 1:1 + StackBuddy access + WhatsApp fast lane access + discounts on Bootcamps

* ⭐1:1 Coaching

Liked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story and help us spread the magic.

🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Julie’s Newsletter. So leave a comment!

They’ll tell you it’s too late.

Too saturated. Too hard to stand out.

But here’s what they don’t know:

Over 90% of podcasts are inactive!

That means you’re not walking into a crowded market, you’re stepping into wide open territory.

So if that little voice inside your head keeps saying,

“Maybe it’s time to share my stories.”

This is your sign.

It’s time!

But I get it…the tech, the recording, the editing, the platforms…it’s a whole bear to handle.”

However, a podcast is a great way to become known for something.

So if you say:

* ✅I want to start a podcast!

* ✅I want to get paid for telling my stories!

I’ve got you covered!

Not only with today’s podcast session, but also with my invite to…

👉 Join the first “Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp” with me and Dr. Colin Gray (starts Nov 17!)

He’ll walk you step-by-step through launching a show that builds trust, grows your audience, and yes, makes you money.

The “Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp” OPENS its doors! Go from “no clue” to “Substack podcast & visible on all major platforms” in 4 days flat!

We’ll help you get up and running ASAP, so you can start seeing downloads turn into loyal listeners who become subscribers and buyers.

➡️Think minimal production.

➡️Think time-saving guides, frameworks, templates.

➡️Think how to leverage Substack as a home for your podcast and promotional vehicle

🤫Psst! With…

EARLYBIRD

you’ll get 55% OFF!

It’s a Whole Bear to Handle

You’ve got the ideas.

The stories.

The energy.

But the tech? The editing? The fear of sounding awkward? The pressure? That’s the stuff that keeps most people stuck.

Not you. Not anymore.

Because today, we’re breaking down how to podcast the easy, human, no-overwhelm way—with Dr. Colin Gray from Scotland.

He’s a 7-figure podcaster, entrepreneur, founder, teacher, speaker, and dad of two.

He built his wildly successful podcast, PodCraft, and helped thousands of podcast starters, including those using The Podcast Host and Alitu, go from “uhh… where do I start?” to “oh wow, people actually listen to me now!”

He uses something called the PATH framework—a simple roadmap for launching your podcast like a pro and growing an audience.

All so you can build your authority, deepen trust with your audience, and grow your revenue with sponsors, brand deals, or your own offers.

🎧 Want To Listen To The Show?

Can’t wait to share this incredible interview with you. Enjoy the show, which now has 87,000 downloads! Thank you, guys! 🙏🏻

🎙️If you say, “Kristina, let me listen to the show!”…

…now you have the chance to listen to the interview.

👉 You can listen to the full episode right here:

But first… let’s talk about what’s REALLY going on in the world of podcasting right now.

The Truth About Podcasting in 2026

People love to say podcasting is “dead” or “AI slop.”

But here’s the thing: you can’t fake voice, tone, or connection.

Not for 30 minutes straight.

As Dr. Colin Gray told me:

“Yeah, there’s a lot of people being quite fearful … it was something absolutely crazy like that … people are saying …podcasting, it’s now just AI slop like blogging … but I think there’s a lot more to read into that … podcasting is going to be one of the mediums that’s protected a lot from AI slop because it’s so reliant on knowing the host … it’s so much harder to fake that over half an hour or an hour than it is to just write a blog post or a short video.”

That’s the point. Podcasting is human.

It’s voice, tone, connection. You can’t fake that (yet).

While everyone else is worried about AI, you’ll be building something AI can’t touch:authentic trust with your audience.

And about that “saturation” myth?

There are around 4 million podcasts total — but only 300 to 400 thousand active ones. That’s fewer than most YouTube channels or blogs.

So no, you’re not too late. You’re early!

“People often say that podcasting is saturated, but it’s actually far smaller than video or blogging … there are only about 4 million podcasts in total, and only around 300 to 400 thousand active ones … so it’s a tiny number and actually one of the least competitive spaces.”

So if you start now, you’re not too late.

And you don’t need a million listeners. You need the right ones.

The PATH Framework — Your Shortcut to Clarity

Based on decades of experience, Colin built a unique framework called PATH.

It has helped thousands of new podcasters launch and grow. It’s simple, human, and proven.

Here’s what Colin shared with me:

1. Purpose

“A lot of people who start a podcast actually don’t really know the purpose. It’s just a hobby … But often that purpose is a real driver behind your show….Do you have a concept for a podcast that actually stands out?”

Your why is everything.

* Do you want to grow your brand?

* Build community?

* Sell your book?

Say it out loud. Own it.

2. Audience

“Audience is the big one. Like audience is where it all comes from…Who is it you want to attract based on your purpose?”

Colin recommends to speak to ONE person. Not “everyone.”

Because when you talk to everyone, no one listens.

3. Topic

“With a podcast … often it’s about a problem, a question, an issue that that audience has….If you know your audience well enough, you probably know the biggest problem … the biggest question … the biggest issue that they have right now….Design a season … say 10 or 12 episodes … around that question.”

* Ten to twelve episodes.

* One theme.

* One question.

Simple. Focused. Powerful.

4. Hallmark

“How am I going to bring my own angle to it? …The hallmark … like what’s going to make it stand out?…One is angle … So it could be like my own background … A lot of the content we create … the angle I have on it is coming from a teacher’s background. … I structure all of our podcast episodes as lessons … I give a wee intro … I do some examples and I do the homework at the end of every one.”

* What’s your flavor?

* Your style?

* Your thing that makes listeners go, “Yep, that’s totally Kristina (insert your own name)”

Why Substack Is the Perfect Home for Your Podcast in 2026

Substack lets you host your podcast, run your newsletter, and grow your audience, all in one place.

No juggling platforms. No stress.

As Colin says in our interview:

“Substack is obviously great for growth in terms of newsletter subscribers … If you are a podcaster who wants to run a newsletter alongside … it’s great because you can grow that newsletter … you can bring people to your podcast that way as well…What I love about Substack … you get some type of engagement … Even if you have the feeling you’re talking to the void … there is definitely one person out there who might be listening to every podcast episode.”

Just you. Your mic. Your message.

And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

I Went From Zero to Top 5% Podcaster

I started my Substack podcast as an experiment, as Linda Lebrun, an insider at Substack, recommended it to me during one of our conversations in 2024 (I’ll share more soon).

I’m thankful for this little nudge as this small step was definitely in the right direction!

The results were mind-blowing!

I went from zero downloads to more than 1,000 per episode in the first 7 days. That’s so crazy.

If that’s not proof it’s possible, I don’t know what is.

Since I’m doing this part-time, I've produced (only) 30 episodes in 14 months.

My tip:

“Do yourself a favour and take the time to listen to the show so you can eliminate the fear of the unknown from the equation.

Because even a small step in the right direction can make a significant shift in your life and writing business.”

So taking inspir-ACTION is crucial.

That’s why…

Here’s your ACTION plan (or homework 🤫)

* Write your one-line purpose.

* Name your dream listener.

* Pick one burning question for Season 1.

* Add your unique spin.

* Grab a USB mic.

* Record your first 10-minute “pilot.”

* Publish it on Substack and ask your audience one question at the end.

That’s it. You’re rolling.

Ready? Let’s goooo!

Join the Substack Podcast 101 Bootcamp with Dr. Colin Gray (starts Nov 17!)

In just 4 days, you’ll go from “no clue” to “Substack podcast, live and visible on all major platforms.”

🤫Psst! With…

EARLYBIRD

you’ll get 50% OFF!

You’ll learn how to plan, record, publish, and grow your podcast on Substack, without burnout or tech overwhelm.

We’ll lay out what it takes to start, maintain, and profit from your podcast.

If you’re still reading this, here’s your sign:

* You’ve got the voice.

* You’ve got the story.

* Now go share it.

The only thing missing is the record button.

Your future listeners are waiting.

See you in the Bootcamp,

P.S. You don’t need a million listeners. You need one who cares.

Need help with your podcast?

* ⭐1:1 Coaching (3 spots left for 2025!)

* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) no excuses! My husband

Patrick God built a tool for us to find podcast guests in no time (without paying any money to book). We’re now 290+ collab-interested people from Substack.

* ⭐The Substack Podcasting 101 Bootcamp doors are OPEN! It’s time to (finally) get you on the mic and launch or level up your pod

Liked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story so more people like you can read it.

I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, no problem.

But if you stick around, I want to tell you a little story.

A few days ago, I was curled up on the couch scrolling through Substack Notes with a cup of tea in one hand and a toddler climbing my leg. And there she was. Witchy author and magical fellow mompreneur BREANNE ✨ RANDALL.

To be honest, I didn’t know her. But I saw she was rising fast in the #Education category on Substack.

I read some of her posts and though to myself

“I want my Club members to meet BREANNE ✨ RANDALL !”

🥳UPDATE: Today, Bre became a Substack bestseller with 100 paid subscribers. Congrats, Bre!🥳 In the DMs she told me she’s still looking for an email from Substack, but until then we can go with this:

✨To get her some more, 2 READERS CAN WIN 365 days of Bre magic! Win a paid subscription to Bre’s newsletter Alchemy Era™.

How to win? Listen to the pod, leave a comment and share this podcast episode with your friends.✨

Pssst! As we’re celebrating 1 year of podcasting, you can also meet Bre and all her practical magic on Wednesday, November 5th at…

🕓 15:30 UK | 10:30 ET | 7:30 PT | 16:30 Berlin

…inside the inner circle of The Online Writing Club.

Our Biggest Dreams Live In The Hearts of The People Who Raised Us

When I was little, it was my (grand)dad who bought me a journal and asked me to start writing the moment I could hold a pencil in my hands.

Michael Lim’s grandma always said to him: “Travel while you’re young”. And he did!

💡Here's my conversation with Michael about building a soulful one-person writing business.

Now Bre’s another perfect example of what it means to keep showing up when no one believes in you (yet). and you don’t feel seen.

Of how sometimes our biggest dreams live in the hearts of the people who raised us.

“One day I’m going to see you on the New York Times list,” her late grandmother said to her.

She was her best friend.

Since Bre’s a goal-getter, she said:

“Okay, I’m going to take the deal.”

But before that?

500 (!) rejections in a decade.

500 No’s.

Even more than comedian Kevin Hart!

One small press finally offered her a $4,000 book deal.

As she had no money for ads or other bigger promotional activities, she knew she had to do her own marketing and build her own audience.

So she started posting on Instatgram and TikTok in the cracks of time.

This magical episode is the behind-the-scenes story of how she “made it”.

How Bre went from 0 to instant NYT bestseller (her grandma was right!) as a debut with 11,000 preorders as a promise to the woman who cheered her on.

From 0 to 7M Monthly Views (!)

From scratch, Bre cracked the code on what Gary Vee calls interest media (social media is dead!):

Free platform. Free attention. Free content. Free momentum.

In 2.5 years Breanne Randall built:

* 650,000+ followers

* 7 million monthly reach

And her key to it all?

Hooks + Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic

We can learn soooooooooooooo much from her, especially about failing… hard.

I want to learn from Bre in the LIVE masterclass! And also want to access all the confetti- and WOW-worthy replays from LIVEs and masterclasses from Evelyn Skye to Justin Welsh, indie publishers and big creators and dreamers. As we’re celebrating 1 year of podcasting, you’ll get 40% off!

🎙️In Today’s Episode, You’ll Learn

* How to turn rejection into fuel: Bre shares how she faced over 500 rejections, stayed relentless for 10 years, and finally became a New York Times bestselling author as an underdog.

* How to build an audience with emotional connection, not ads: Breanne explains how “hooks, not plots” helped her grow from zero followers to hundreds of thousands. Think Taylor Swift and someone would say: “It feels like one of Taylor’s songs..”. Would you read it?

* How consistency beats virality: Bre reveals why posting often and showing up daily matters more than chasing one viral moment.

* How to market your work with heart: From hand-addressing 500 envelopes to treating every reader like a friend, Breanne shows how to sell without losing authenticity and while homeschooling her kids.

✨Ask Bre Anything LIVE: Join Us Inside the Online Writing Club

Want to ask Bre your own questions?

“I started Alchemy Era because I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to be an author in today’s world. Writing the book is hard enough and then comes publishing, and suddenly you’re told you also need to be a marketing expert, a content creator, and a full-time cheerleader for your own work. It’s… a lot.”

Join us LIVE inside the Online Writing Club Inner Circle where we’ll meet Breanne on Wednesday, November 5th at…🕓 14:30 UK | 9:30 ET | 6:30 PT | 15:30 Berlin

Give her an hour and Bre will teach you how to make your publishing and marketing dreams come true.

🔮7 Personal Highlights From My Conversation With Bre

1. “Tomorrow could be the day.”

Breanne stayed hopeful through ten years and hundreds of rejections. Her mindset was about showing up, believing that each new day could be the breakthrough.

In her head she heard her late grandma’s voice saying: “One day I’m going to see you on the New York Times list”

2. “I had to separate my worth from my work and recognize that just because someone is rejecting my work does not mean that they are rejecting me.”

Bre learned early that rejection doesn’t define who you are. Detaching your identity from your output is the only way to keep creating through failure. Many now hire failure managers to experiment and do things differently.

So why not fail more, as Bre did?

3. “It’s not about that. It’s about the consistency. It’s about the repeatable actions.”

Going viral didn’t make Bre’s caree, consistency did. She built her audience one small post, one small action at a time.

4. “Using a hook is going to be the way to create your ideal audience.”

Instead of trying to summarize her books, she crafted emotional hooks like “Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic.” Hooks connect faster than plot summaries ever could.

5. “Nobody’s going to care about something as much as you care about it.”

Her marketing worked because it came from her heart. Breanne didn’t wait for her small publisher to care more. She took full ownership of her success.

Amen to that!

6. “I hand addressed each envelope for the first 500 people who pre-ordered.”

Personal touches turn readers into fans. Breanne’s handwritten notes built a community around her work which left a lasting mark.

Lots of time goes into manually DMing readers (I can tell!), but this shows it’s worthwhile. It’s rough though not having an automation.

7. “One post can change the entire trajectory of your life.”

Bre’s story is a reminder that effort compounds. Every post, every connection, every act of showing up can be the one that changes EVERYTHING.

Bre Answers 4 ✨✨✨✨Community Questions

1. What do you think about Substack, and why did you move here?

“I think that Substack is incredible because it gives you this opportunity to be able to connect with your audience in a completely different way. (…) You get to share your thoughts, your journey, your feelings, and it’s all in one place where people actually want to read. (…) I wanted a place that felt calmer than social media, where I could write and connect without worrying about algorithms.”

2. Why do you post so often on social media though?

“It’s about the consistency. It’s about the repeatable actions. (…) I will post four or five times in a day on TikTok. (…) It is just all about repetition, honestly. (…) It’s about the touch points of somebody seeing my video and thinking, “Oh, that sounds good.”

Then I keep posting about it.They see it a third time, a fourth time.They think, “Dang, you know what? I’m going to get that.”

So I just kept posting every day with variations on the hook.

3. What are the three types of posts you rely on most?

“POV clips, slideshows, and then memes and quotes. (..) I think the seven second videos with a POV style work in particular because statistically, you’re going to get (…) a higher response rate if you show your face.

4. Who made your creativity hub, your office space?

“My office is 200 feet from the house. (…) I have my office here. And this is where I am for, you know, most of every day. (…) My husband built it all for me. (…) Yes, this is love. Absolutely.”

🫵🏻Your Turn!

Alright, alright, alright…your turn.

* What’s your big dream right now?

* What’s that thing you keep saying you’ll start… but haven’t yet?

Or let’s make it fun:

* Tell us your favorite Gilmore Girls scene.

* Or be honest…what’s the hardest part about marketing your work?

No wrong answers.Just drop it below. 👇You never know who you’ll inspire.

And If Bre’s Grandma Could See Her Grandkid Now?

She’d probably just smile and say,

“I told you so!”

As Bre shared on Notes:

LET’S MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

With excitement and a little witchy sparkle,

Here’s how I can help you even MORE:

* ⭐Calm Your Stack (FREE tool) Hide the annoying column on your Substack homepage. Free tool built by my husband.

* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) Find collab partners in 30 seconds. No excuses. Free.

* ⭐ VIPer Let’s set your Substack up for success and make you a bestseller (1x newsletter audit, quarterly 1:1 + StackBuddy access + discounts on Bootcamps

* ⭐1:1 Coaching

Liked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story and help us spread the magic.

Let’s make Bre’s grandma proud, together.

🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Bre’s Newsletter. So leave a comment!

Hey, quick heads-up.

I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, no problem.

But if you stick around, we’ve got something fun to celebrate 1 year of podcasting with the Online Writing Club show… 🎉 Engagement Prizes!

You can win a FREE subscription to Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer’s paid newsletter TextHacks.

👉 To enter: leave a comment, review, share this podcast on Notes, and/or forward it to a friend.

Why This Episode Is Sooooo Special

I’m excited, for the first time ever, to introduce a fellow non-native writer friend from Berlin in Germany on the podcast! Germany is my home country.

I know many of you actually enjoy our German accent, so we’ll call that a bonus for us. And we’re in good company: Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), or Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of the Dead). And if we count Austria, there’s Christoph Waltz and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Not bad company to share an accent with.

In my heart, I feel more like an international. But it’s still extra special to spotlight someone who’s building something groundbreaking in the German-speaking world.

You love video? Here’s the video interview!

Meet Today’s Guest: Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer

Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer is a Berlin-based journalist and consultant.

She has spent the last years editing and shaping hundreds of texts for the internet, and more precisely, for the smartphone. First as Head of top-tier magazine ZEIT Campus ONLINE, then as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of watson.de.

And she jokes about her time in the newsroom with this line:

“I want to apologize to everyone I ever tortured with my favorite sentence: Let me read this out loud to you.”

Also, she turned a side project into one of Germany’s largest newsletters about writing.

Her German-language newsletter TextHacks has grown to more than 18,000 subscribers.

Also, she belongs to the top #29 bestsellers in the Substack category International!

She monetizes in two familiar ways:

* A paid subscription tier.

* Advertising slots.

But what really sets her apart and why she won this year’s Inbox Award for Innovation and Revenue

from our mutual friend and newsletter expert Dan Oshinsky , is her third revenue stream which is a model no one is using (yet! because NOW you can capitalize on this!):

👉🏻Licensing her newsletter content to companies, just like a photographer licenses their photos!

If you say: I love this Club and Anne-Kathrin. I want to meet her, subscribe and also get accee to the Substack Beginner Course (as annual member). BONUS: All paid subs will get access to The Substack 12 Months Content Calendar (worth $57 for FREE)

Here’s how it works:

* German businesses buy old issues of TextHacks.

* Others pay Anne-Kathrin to personalize an issue specifically for their employees.

* These companies then redistribute the content — often inside their own internal newsletters.

The results?She’s already signed 4- and 5-figure deals ($30,000 in Q1 alone), all from content she originally published for free.

In my opinion, this move is bold, brilliant, and proof that there are always new ways to think about what your words are worth.

ℹ️ I think it’s a nice addition to Anna Wharton's approach to get her posts that people already paid for in newsletters and get FREE Money. Syndication is one form of licensing.

Anna Wharton, HERE’S our podcast episode on getting your newsletter posts in magazines and newspapers.

Can’t wait any longer and want to listen to the full conversation?

Meet Anne-Kathrin Live Inside the Club: Master AI Text Hacking and Licensing

📅 Wednesday, October 8🕓 16:45 Berlin | 15:45 UK | 10:45 ET | 7:45 PT | 01:45 Sydney (Oct 7)

Inside this members-only session, Anne-Kathrin will:

* Share how she built her revolutionary licensing model that’s already landed 4- and 5-figure deals and made her $30,000 in the first quarter of 2025.

* Show us how she as a journalist and course instructor writes and text hacks with AI and why it matters for speed, clarity, and creativity.

* Explain how she combines journalist-level precision with AI tools and hacks to make writing sharper and more engaging.

You’ll also have the chance to ask her your own questions in the Chat and Q&A.

Replay of Master AI Text Hacking and Licensing with Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer will be available!

7 Highlights From My Conversation With Anne-Kathrin

✅ The Licensing Model That Changes the Game“I’m selling the articles that I’ve already written to companies who then send out those as kind of an internal newsletter… I already made like 30,000 euros just with the licensing model this year.”

✅ Tripling Her Prices Thanks to TextHacks“I tripled the prices. I can choose with whom I work just because of my newsletter.”

✅ Why Sharing Beats Growth Hacks“My newsletter has grown just from sharing. There is no big secret growth hack. It’s just people like it, people feel educated, people share it with their friends and with their colleagues.”

✅ The Ego Trap in Writing“The best hack for a newsletter writer and every writer is like, take back your ego. Most people are writing for themselves… but if we really want to sell something, educate people, we really have to think on what should other people learn and then put that at the top of the article.”

✅ Storytelling? Sometimes Overrated“I think storytelling is a little bit overrated. I educate people in a snackable content format… I think the most important thing in writing is: do you have something to say? Is what you say really a clever thought?”

✅ The Challenge of Paid Content in Germany“People in Germany are not very willing to pay for content. They got a lot of free content on the internet for a very long time. So you have to have like a really specific model to make them pay.”

✅ Thinking Internationally About Growth“I feel like if I’d have the same newsletter in English, I’d probably have between 50 and 100,000 people.”

Anne-Kathrin Answers Your Community Questions

Q: How do I get more readers without spending on ads?Anne-Kathrin: “My newsletter has grown just from sharing. There is no big secret growth hack. It’s just people like it, people feel educated, people share it with their friends and with their colleagues.”

Q: What if I struggle to get people to pay for my newsletter?Anne-Kathrin: “People in Germany are not very willing to pay for content… so you have to have like a really specific model to make them pay. That’s why I have not just the paid subscribers, but different income streams that work for me.”

Q: Do I need to use storytelling to succeed?Anne-Kathrin: “I think storytelling is a little bit overrated. I educate people in a snackable content format. Sometimes I share a little bit about myself, but not a lot. The most important thing in writing is: do you have something to say?”

Q: How do you keep writing consistently without running out of ideas?Anne-Kathrin: “The content from the newsletter is actually coming from those workshops… But also I’m writing a newsletter episode and then I’m like, oh, that’s a great idea. I should include this in my next workshop. So it’s kind of a full circle moment.”

🫵🏻Your Turn!

* If you could license one piece of content you’ve already written, an article, a newsletter post, or a post on Notes, which one would it be, and why?

Share the link in the comments for us to check out!

I think licensing is such an exciting model and I know so many of you are eager to learn how to write with AI, grow your newsletter faster, and become better writers.

That’s exactly why I’m thrilled Anne-Kathrin will be joining us live inside the Club next Wednesday. Don’t miss it!

Join the Club, meet Anne-Kathrin, learn how to write with AI, hack your texts so more gonna love it and get access to the Subsatck Course for Beginners (annual members!) + ALL subs will get the Substack 12 Months Content Calendar (worth $57 for FREE!). See you inside!

With excitement,

Here’s how I can help you even MORE

* ⭐Calm Your Stack (FREE tool) to get your zen back on Substack to hide the annpying column on the left on your home feed. Thansk to my hubby

* ⭐StackBudy Collaborations (FREE tool) no excuses! Patrick built a tool for us to find collab partners in no time.

* ⭐1:1 Coaching

Liked this? Support an indie publisher and part-time mompreneur and ♻️SHARE ♻️this story so more people like you can read it.

🙏🏻1 person can win FREE access to the paid tier of Anne-Kathrin Gerstlauer’s TextHacks!

Hey, quick heads-up. I know a lot of you skim (no judgment) and maybe just want to listen instead of reading. If that’s you, that’s fine.

But… if you stick around, we’ve got something fun: ENGAGEMENT PRIZES!

🅱️3 readers can win FREE access to the paid tier of Karen Salmansohn’s The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served. Everyone who’s leaving a comment, sharing this podcast on Notes or forwarding this to a friend can win!

Plus, with the code

KARENFRIEND

you’ll get 40% off The Substack Notes Bootcamp (and Karen will hopefully join us there too).

So now let’s talk about today’s guest.

Today’s podcast guest is behavioural change expert and bestselling author (2M books sold!) Karen Salmansohn.

Karen doesn’t shy away from the truth:

“So, you’re alive. Congrats. Now what’s your game plan?”

Her mission is simple: to help you dust off your “Someday” goals and build a life that’s more than wake, work, and worry.

She calls herself a Middle-of-Life Doula (and sometimes a Beginning-of-Life Doula too). Her work is about mortality awareness as fuel.

“Life is short. And when you realize you don't have like 700 bonus years stored away in a drawer somewhere, and if you want to do something, you've got to do it now, it lights a fire under your tush. It's about the ripples you leave.

If you share freely of yourself, you will leave a very big ripple. But if you don't share fully of yourself, then a very small ripple will be left behind.”

That’s the heartbeat of her new book, Your To-Die-For Life.

Psst! If you order her book, you’ll also get a FREE gift from her (I’m not an affilate. Just love her book, although I almost died reading it, but you’ll hear more in today’s pod).

As Karen shared in our interview:

“(…) Start off writing your own eulogy (…) We write five-year business plans, but we don’t write a mission statement for our life. Aristotle said: if you want to live a good life, you have to imagine who you want to be on your deathbed. Begin with the end in mind and then reverse engineer it.”

How I Found Karen Salmasohn

This all started with an article she wrote: Death is Like Getting Laid Off from the Best Job Ever published in The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served.

Tribe member and viral Bootcamp alum Patricia Ross (86yo!) shared it.

It hit me so deeply that I reached out right away to ask for an interview.

Only later did I realize how wildly successful she is.

* 1M followers on Facebook

* 30,000 Substack subscribers

* Featured on Oprah, CNN, Psychology Today, and the New York Times

Even Deepak Chopra praises her writing style:

So the numbers and the praise didn’t drew me in.

It was that personal essay and the way it made me stop, think, and want to bring her to you.

Funny thing: in our conversation, we didn’t talk about social media at all. (I know, you expected something different from me.)

Instead? We talked about me falling off the hammock while reading her book… and (since I almost died)… death. Or actually… life. Your life.

🎙️ Can’t wait any longer and want to listen to the full conversation?

The Marble Jar That Stopped Me in My Tracks

I interviewed her from my attic at the West Coast oif Germany, while she was sitting high up in a sleek skyscraper in New York City.

But if you look closer at her window shelf, you’ll notice something unexpected…

Karen bought 432 marbles and two glass jars.

Jar #1: The Future → all 432 marbles went in.Jar #2: The Past → empty at first.

Each month, she transfers one marble from Future to Past.

Visual and nforgettable. That’s from her book, too.

Love my podcasts? I’m an indie part-time publisher. Your support is the heartbeat if this newsletter. You’ll get everything I can give: writing classes, live classes, weekly Q&As, community access, FREE Substack & Medium course for beginners and sooo much more

Join The Live Writing Workshop With Karen: Write With The End In Mind (& Euology)

📅 September 23🕘 4 PM Berlin | 3 PM UK | 10 AM ET | 7 AM PT | 12 AM Sydney (Sept 24)

Inside the members-only session, Karen will

* share her writing process,

* why “writing your eulogy” is her favorite exercise, and

* how you can use it to create your most meaningful work with “the end in mind”.

You’ll also have the chance to ask her your own questions in the Chat and Q&A.

Replay will be available!

Mortality Awareness: The “Live Now” Button

Karen calls mortality awareness your Live Now Button.

“Being mortal means there’s no time to dawdle, so start now & learn how to use death as a life hack!”

It sounds heavy, but research shows that reminders of death don’t depress us. They inspire us.

* People get more generous.

* They procrastinate less.

* They choose kindness, courage, and authenticity.

For writers it’s gold. Every “someday” you delay is really a “no” to your dream. Mortality awareness reframes that.

It whispers, Do it now.

Want to meet Karen live for a writing class? Join the Online Writing Club. Become a better writer and grow your list with Kristina God, #25 Education worldwide, marketing pro, mompreneur and indie publisher.

7 Highlights From My Conversation With Karen

✅The Identity Trick That Makes Habits Stick

“Your identity is the puppet master for your habits, not the other way around. Frank Sinatra sang Doobie Doobie Doo, but he’s a backwards personal development author. It’s be doobie doobie doo. First you have to own the identity to do the habits. And you’re more likely to do the habits if you own that as your identity.”

✅Seven Core Values That Erase the Regrets of the Dying

“I realized there were seven core values that if you do them, you will not die with the top regrets of the dying.A = Authentic.B = Brave.C = Curious.D = Discerning.E = Empathic Love.F = Fun.G = Grateful.”

✅Why Humor Helps Us Handle Hard Things

“Studies say humor helps to free up your mind. One group got to watch serious videos, the other funny videos. Then they got puzzles to solve. The group that watched funny videos were better at problem solving because it loosens up your brain. Humor and playfulness are meditation on steroids. They help you deal with difficult topics better.”

✅Sloppy Copy Beats Perfect Chapter One

“I believe you have to get sloppy copy. Just get it out there. And then go in and polish it. And when you polish it, a lot of people start at chapter one. Just start at chapter 11, start at chapter two. Otherwise the front of the book starts off strong and then it’s all over the place.”

✅Why Karen Designs the Cover Before Writing the Book

“I do the cover of a book while I'm writing it. And now it's more easy for people to do that — you just go on Canva. It kind of gets me feeling like it's a book. And then that motivates me.”

✅The Secret to Books Readers Actually Flip Through

“Even if you don't have illustrations in your book, people still are visual without even knowing they're visual. You need to have short paragraphs and bullet points or single sentences. Make the page feel visual… so it feels like it's going to be easy to read. If your book has large paragraphs and somebody sees it in a bookstore, it's going to accidentally communicate, ‘This is a hard book to read.’”

If you say: I LOVE that Kristina is bringing me all these amazing authors, dreamers and makers! Why not join the Club as a member. As an annual member you’ll also get access to ALL paid perks & the LIVE with Karen.

Karen Answers Your Community Questions

Q: How do I deal with procrastination?Karen: “Saying I don’t have enough time is like the adult equivalent of ‘the dog ate my homework.’ You do have time. You’re just not prioritizing it.”

Q: What if I get stuck trying to write perfectly?Karen: “I believe you have to get sloppy copy. Just get it out there. And then go in and polish it.”

Q: How do I figure out what really matters in life?Karen: “Nobody’s going to read your Google Calendar at your funeral. And nobody’s going to read your LinkedIn profile at your funeral. You know what they’re going to do? They’re going to tell stories that have to do with your core values.”

Q: What if I feel like I’m just drifting?Karen: “The main one I recommend in the book is to start off writing your own eulogy… Begin with the end in mind and then reverse engineer it.”

Karen Reminded Me of Something Simple But Profound

“Writing your eulogy now helps you live the life you truly want, today.”

That’s why she’s teaching this writing class. And that’s why we gather in the Club…to write words that last, and to live more alive in the process.

See you (and Karen!) in class.

Take care,

P.S. Don’t forget: Order Your To-Die-For Life now and get a FREE gift. (No affiliate)

P.P.S. 🅱️ As an indie publisher, your feedback is a spark that keeps me going. Drop a comment to share your thoughts + win an engagement prize! 2–3 people can win FREE access to the paid tier of Karen Salmansohn’s The Stand Up Philosopher: Weighty Musings, Lightly Served

P.P.P.S. For some extra love 🔁, re-stack (share) this with a friend who might need to hear Karen’s message today! 🔁

Plus, with the code

KARENFRIEND

you’ll get 40% off The Substack Notes Bootcamp (and Karen will hopefully join us there too).