Music: cat therapy by L.Dre

Sarah Fay and I focused on how people are using Substack right now, especially the temptation to treat Notes like another social feed to optimize and post constantly. 

We talked about slowing that reflex down and prioritizing email subscribers instead—saving strong ideas for newsletters, reposting things from Notes into emails so subscribers actually see them, and measuring success by retention rather than public subscriber counts. The emphasis was on engagement, keeping people on the list, and treating email as the primary channel rather than chasing visibility inside Substack itself. 

We also covered practical approaches to writing, video, and business models on Substack. That included writing in a way that feels natural, publishing without waiting for perfection, and getting comfortable sending work to small groups before larger audiences. 

On the business side, we talked about proximity, like keeping most work public while charging for closer access through Zoom calls or live discussions, and using Substack as a tool that supports existing goals rather than becoming another platform to manage. We also discussed live video formats, replays, YouTube workarounds, and treating Substack as a professional practice without overcomplicating the model. 

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And check out her new album here: https://oliviarafferty.bandcamp.com/album/typical-forever

This episode is from a Substack Live we did on March 10th, 2025, where we discussed Chuck Marshall's nonprofit, GIG: The Art of Michigan Music, which he started to showcase and support the visual artists involved in the Michigan music scene.

Chuck also talked about Life in Michigan, the website and newsletter he runs with his wife, Brenda, which focuses on local beer, music, and travel in Michigan.

They discussed their move to Substack for their newsletter and the positive, more community-focused experience compared to social media.

Finally, we touched on the thriving local Michigan music scene, the abundance of talented artists, and the role of curation in helping people discover new music - because new music is great!

Sean R Reid was a guest on one of our recent Escape Pod Zoom calls, and he dropped the phrase “artfully cacophonous,” which led to some good laughs!

He talked about all the toys and other fun items he collects, and I was reading the part of Austin Kleon’s ‘Show Your Work’ where he talked “Don’t be a hoarder,” and I’m so glad Sean isn’t hiding his fun decor - I think you’ll appreciate this interview!