The LetterStack Podcast

What does it really take to build a profitable local newsletter network? In this episode of The LetterStack Podcast, Renga sits down with TJ Larkin, founder of multiple community-focused newsletters across the U.S., to uncover the secrets behind starting, scaling, and monetizing local newsletters.TJ shares how he grew from 2 neighborhood newsletters to 13+ across the country, serving tens of thousands of engaged readers, and what makes local newsletters a powerful business model in 2025.You’ll learn:How TJ got started in Austin suburbs and expanded nationwideWhy local events, restaurants, and new business coverage drive the most engagementThe content framework that keeps readers hookedBest subscriber acquisition tactics (Meta ads, growth hacks, giveaways)Smart monetization strategies for local newsletters (ads, sponsorships, directories)How to partner with local businesses and even launch spin-off venturesWhy directories, family events, and community engagement are the next frontierWhether you’re planning to start your own hyperlocal media business or just curious about the future of newsletters, this episode is packed with actionable insights.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Why local newsletters matter01:10 – Meet TJ Larkin & his journey into local newsletters03:22 – Starting with Austin suburbs & early lessons04:42 – Expanding via partnerships & scaling up05:20 – How the Scoop newsletters curate content07:20 – Why suburbs are underserved & full of opportunity09:00 – Events, restaurants, and positive news as content pillars12:17 – What’s the best time to send local newsletters?14:08 – Subscriber acquisition: Meta ads, giveaways & growth hacks18:34 – Monetization beyond ads: agencies, packages & cross-selling22:00 – Local directories & why they’re an untapped opportunity24:35 – Sales hacks: free listings & podcasts as entry points25:42 – How big is the Scoop network today? (13+ newsletters, 60K subs)27:20 – Behind the scenes: operations, content & ad campaigns28:59 – Advice for starting hyperlocal/niche newsletters33:00 – Using surveys & segments to niche down later34:20 – Offline opportunities: local events & meetups36:58 – Where to find TJ: Local Newsletter Insider Check out TJ’s work at www.localmediahq.comSubscribe to LetterStack for more deep dives with newsletter operators: LetterStack.co

Ready to turn a travel side-project into a full-time, six-figure newsletter? In Episode 5 of the LetterStack Podcast, Renga chats with Chris Cerra, founder of RemoteBase and Digital Nomad Trip Reports, about bootstrapping a lean media empire (and why he runs it under the delightfully named Mad Banana Media).What you’ll learn:How Chris went from a niche UK tax job ➜ remote-work globetrotter ➜ newsletter founderLaunch playbook: 112 Slack-group subscribers on day 1 → the slow grind to 10 K+Free vs Paid vs Sponsorships: why he swings the “revenue pendulum” toward sponsorsPlatform wars: Mailchimp pains, Beehiiv migration hacks and running two ESPs at onceContent ops: sourcing Airbnb-style long-stay deals and crowd-sourcing trip reportsBuying a small list? Chris’s real-world micro-acquisition story (and what he paid)The “banana” brand strategy & his 3-tier consulting offer (audit, strategy, email-doctor)Starting today: Chris’s advice for building the next RemoteBase in 2025–26Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & name pronunciation (it’s Chera!)02:12 – Life before RemoteBase: from marketing grad to tax-tech desk job03:54 – First taste of remote work (2016) and the travel itch05:27 – Launching RemoteBase inside a Slack community (112 subs day 1)07:42 – The very slow road to 1 K & why that was OK09:09 – Quitting the day job: part-time → “burn the boats”12:24 – ESP saga: Weebly → Mailchimp → Beehiiv (free first, paid later)15:14 – Free list vs RemoteBase Premium numbers & revenue split17:17 – How long-stay deal curation actually works (team, tools, “magic”)22:35 – Trip Reports: community-generated content + list micro-acquisition28:05 – What is Mad Banana Media & the “Email Doctor” service?34:03 – Chris’s playbook for new creators: start organic, engage 1-on-1, keep it fun👉 Subscribe to LetterStack for operator-level interviews on building, monetizing, and scaling newsletters.🌐 Explore RemoteBase deals → remotebase.co🍌 Mad Banana Media consulting → madbananamedia.com📩 Digital Nomad Trip Reports → tripreports.remote-base.co#newslettergrowth #digitalnomad #remotework #RemoteBase #Beehiiv #MadBananaMedia #LetterStackPodcast

Hitting the primary inbox (not spam or promotions) is make-or-break for every newsletter and cold-email campaign. In Episode 4 of the LetterStack Podcast, Renga sits down with Anthony Baltodano, founder of Mission Inbox and a decade-long deliverability expert, to unpack the exact tech and tactics that keep your emails landing where they belong.What you’ll learn:Email Deliverability 101 – why SPF, DKIM & DMARC are the “carrier, wax-seal & security guard” of emailHow to warm up domains (and why skipping it tanks reputation)Plain-text vs HTML: balancing design with inbox placementThe hidden risks of cheap domain registrars (and why you should move DNS to Cloudflare)Tools Tony recommends for beginners (Beehiiv + MailReach) & for scale (Mission Inbox)Weekly health checks: simple placement tests that take 10 minutesReal-world horror stories: platform outages, blacklists, and how to dodge themTimestamps00:00 – Intro & why deliverability matters02:33 – Tony’s background: SDR → deliverability consultant → Mission Inbox05:35 – What actually happens after you hit “send”06:56 – SPF, DKIM, DMARC explained with a “letter & seal” analogy11:32 – Copy, links & images: how content triggers spam filters15:54 – Why Apple & Yahoo open emails before users do18:45 – Domain warm-up: what it is and best tools (WarmE.io, MailReach)23:10 – Domain reputation factors: registrar, age, blacklists30:38 – Affordable starter stack: Beehiiv + placement testing35:30 – Tony’s 3-step deliverability checklist for creators👉 Subscribe to LetterStack for more operator-level interviews on scaling, monetizing, and protecting your newsletter business at letterstack.co.🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss an episode! Check out MissionInbox.com to explore Tony’s deliverability infrastructure platform.

Curious why top newsletter creators obsess over their subscriber data? In this episode of the LetterStack Podcast, we dive deep with Niklas Wenzel, founder of MegaHit and the Audience Doctor newsletter, to reveal how understanding who’s on your list can transform your newsletter into a revenue machine.What you’ll learn:Why knowing your subscribers is CRUCIAL from day one (not just when you’re “big”)Scrappy (and free!) ways to collect and enrich your newsletter data—before you can afford fancy toolsHow data leads directly to higher ad sales, better sponsorships, and even new product ideasReal examples of creators doubling their ad rates and landing high-value sponsorsHow to use first-party data, surveys, and smart outreach to create new revenue streams—starting with as few as 1,000 subscribersWhen to invest in newsletter data enrichment tools like MegaHitThe right mindset for early-stage creators: why 1-on-1 conversations are still your growth superpowerPractical tips to avoid “AI for everything” traps and keep quality at the heart of your newsletterAbout our guest:Niklas Wenzel is the founder of MegaHit, the tool that top B2B newsletters use to unlock the true value of their audience. He’s helped names like CJ Gustafson (Mostly Metrics) grow and monetize through better subscriber insights—and now he’s building the Audience Doctor newsletter to share his strategies with you.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro to LetterStack Podcast01:25 – Meet Niklas Wenzel (MegaHit, Audience Doctor)05:16 – Why subscriber data matters for creators of ANY size10:34 – Easy ways to collect & enrich your list (even without paid tools)15:54 – Demo: What “enriched” data looks like (dummy data)18:45 – The link between data, ad sales & sponsorship revenue21:12 – How to reach out to your best-fit sponsors24:32 – When to start monetizing: 1K, 5K, or 10K subscribers?27:27 – Expanding to events, info products, and more29:55 – How to (and when not to) use AI in newsletter growth33:18 – Outro & where to find Audience DoctorSubscribe to LetterStack for more episodes with the world’s best newsletter founders and operators.Check out audiencedoctor.com for more actionable tips from Niklas!Megahit - https://www.megahit.appAudienceDoctor - https://www.audiencedoctor.com#newslettergrowth #datastrategy #newslettermonetization #MegaHit #AudienceDoctor #LetterStackPodcast

Are you struggling to grow your newsletter beyond those first 1,000 subscribers?  In this episode of LetterStack, we sit down with Nathan May how to use newsletter advertising to scale your newsletter. Nathan is the founder of Feed Media, the growth agency behind The Rundown, The Neuron, Bootstrap Giants to name a few!Before we forget, subscribe for more such episodes at LetterStack.coNathan shares hard-earned lessons from consulting and scaling newsletters from zero to hundreds of thousands of engaged readers. We break down:When should you start running paid ads for your newsletter?The mindset & math behind profitable paid subscriber acquisitionBudgeting: How much to invest before seeing real resultsChoosing the right ad networks: Meta, Reddit, and beyondThe best ad formats for early-stage creators (including UGC & AI-powered content)How to research copy that resonates with your audience (using Reddit & Quora!)Case studies and real-world examplesWhether you’re still searching for audience-content fit or ready to test your first campaign, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you scale smarter, not harder. Don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert interviews and growth tips for newsletter creators, and check out Feed Media to connect with Nathan May!#newslettergrowth #newslettermarketing #paidmedia #feedmedia #ugc #aiads00:00 Intro & Nathan’s background05:26 When to start using paid media10:30 Paid ads for early newsletter growth14:41 Budgeting & burn rates17:15 Winning ad formats & UGC21:50 Researching copy that converts24:30 AI UGC: Hot takes27:11 Would Nathan do it differently today?32:08 Closing advice & how to connect with Nathan

Sebastian Lindner and Chevy Cassar grew Web3Daily, a daily crypto and web3 newsletter, from 0 to 55k in the span of 28 months. Learn how the Web3Daily team grew their newsletter to eventually getting acquired by The Milk Road, one of the biggest newsletter brands in the web3 space. Renganathan Padmanabhan talks to Sebastian to understand their newsletter journey, from their origins in building products to making the newsletter content a product in itself. He also unpacks what it takes to build a crypto newsletter with trust and integrity in an ecosystem which is riddled with scams and misinformation even in 2025.Learn from Web3Daily and more such successful content creators at LetterStack.co, the one and only destination you need to head to create, grow, and build a successful newsletter business.Learn more: letterstack.co