Newsletter & Email Growth: Growth In Reverse

“If you spend 80% of your time making incredibly good content, you probably only have to spend 20% marketing it." In this special episode, we’re bringing you Chenell’s conversation with Darrell Vesterfelt, VP of Growth at Mighty Networks, for a recent Creator Summit. In the chat, Chenell talks about why she started a newsletter — and why she chose a newsletter — way back in December 2022. Chenell and Darrell also dive into the art and science of growing a newsletter from scratch — from picking a topic you’ll never get bored of, to building relationships that fuel growth, to deciding when and how to monetize. If you’re looking for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the most well-known newsletter growth strategists thinks about audience building, this episode is loaded with ideas you can apply immediately.>>Get 30+ video lessons and ideas for optimizing your newsletter: https://growthinreverse.com/vaultKEY TAKEAWAYSWhy passion for your newsletter topic is a wildly underrated growth leverHow Chenell leveraged “content-led growth” to get early tractionThe commenting strategy that landed her first subscribersWhy treating your social profile like a landing page mattersThe balance between high-quality content and active marketingHow to use “cryptic teasers” to generate curiosity before publishingThe biggest mistake she made with social posting frequencyWhy she didn’t run Facebook ads for Growth In Reverse (and when she would)The simple poll that landed her first paid sponsorHow she would structure a paid newsletter if starting todayLINKS MENTIONEDMighty NetworksDarrell Vesterfelt on LinkedInChenell's first Deep Dive on Mario Gabriele @ The GeneralistAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“During my last year as a CFO, I made more money from my newsletter and podcast than my full-time job."  — CJ Gustafson, Mostly MetricsWe sit down with CJ Gustafson, former tech CFO and now full-time creator of two newsletters—Mostly Metrics and Looking For Leverage—and a podcast called Run The Numbers. CJ is masterful at taking financial and business concepts and making them wildly entertaining. CJ shares how he went from consulting and private equity to running a high-revenue content business, why he thinks about content like product development, and the systems he’s built to keep ideas flowing. If you’ve ever wondered how to blend expertise, humor, and growth strategy into a newsletter people can’t stop sharing, this episode is packed with insights.PS - We recently hosted CJ in the GIR Pro community where he shared more BTS of his newsletter 👀🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSHow CJ built Mostly Metrics into a leading finance newsletter with personalityThe unusual career path that prepared him for creating content CFOs actually readHow CJ uses humor (and dog pics) to make complex topics approachableHow he's building out the “media mullet” business modelHow CJ replaced his CFO salary with newsletter and podcast revenue—and why it happened faster than expectedCJ's revenue streams that drive a multi‑six‑figure media revenue engineHow he uses AI and transcripts to mine hundreds of hours of interviews for writing ideasCJ's favorite—and most important—newsletter metricThe single biggest growth hack for his podcast audienceHis daily creative routine for producing high-value content without burning outLINKS MENTIONEDMostly Metrics newsletterRun The Numbers podcastLooking For Leverage newsletterCJ on LinkedInAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“You don’t need to create for everyone. You need to create for the people who value you most — and they’ll carry your newsletter further than you think."  — Matt Johansen, Vulnu.comWe sat down with Matt Johansen, creator of the Vulnerable U newsletter (nearly 30,000 subscribers), to unpack how he’s grown a must-read in the cybersecurity space. Matt has successfully transitioned from working in the cybersecurity space to running a newsletter + content agency business. So we wanted to learn exactly how he's done it. Matt shares how he combines industry expertise with personal storytelling, why B2B creators can command a premium, and what’s working for him across newsletters, sponsorships, and short-form video. If you want to learn how to grow and monetize a niche newsletter, this one’s for you.PS - Matt is not only a brilliant video & newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSHow Matt grew to over 30,000 subscribers in under 2 yearsHow he's crushing short-form video content for his newsletterHow he monetized through sponsorships and built an agency alongside the newsletterThe strategy behind his short-form and long-form video contentHis approach to setting boundaries with sponsors while maintaining audience trustHow he leveraged industry presence & experience for early newsletter tractionWhy and how he’s adding a paid newsletter subscription tier Tips for avoiding burnout as a solo creator juggling multiple content platformsWhy platform-specific editing matters for short-form video successLINKS MENTIONEDVulnu.com (Matt's website)Matt's socials: Instagram || YouTube || Twitter || LinkedInBuy Back Your Time by Dan MartellAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“This is the underrated growth strategy every newsletter should be using.” What if every subscriber could turn into 10 more?In this episode of the Growth In Reverse podcast, Dylan and Chenell unpack one of the most underrated newsletter growth levers: referrals.They explore how to turn one subscriber into ten, without even needing a full-blown referral platform. From embedding share prompts into your welcome sequence to clever ways to incentivize email forwarding, this episode is packed with low-lift, high-impact strategies that help creators build a referral flywheel — even without a tech stack.No matter our ESP, get some new ideas and actionable tactics to boost growth using your most valuable asset: your existing subscribers.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSThe absolute best time to ask subscribers for referrals (and why most miss it)A surprising strategy a deliverability expert recommends to get more sharesHow one subtle tweak in your welcome email can 10x word-of-mouth growthThe low-effort email trick that gets people to forward your newsletter“Send this to your plant bestie” — why hyper-specific asks perform betterWhy sharing via social might outperform traditional email referralsThe hidden moment after a lead magnet download you should be capitalizing onA single click that triggers a referral follow-up (without any tech stack)The tiny line at the bottom of your email that can quietly drive growthA one-referral incentive so clever, readers feel compelled to shareLINKS MENTIONED Get The Growth Vault — a vault of newsletter growth strategies with templates and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Tyler Cook (Email Deliverability)Dan Oshinsky's Growth LeverThe ShareLinkGenerator (Dan Oshinsky's "mailto" tool of choice) Aakash Gupta's GIR InterviewAli Abouelatta's GIR Deep DiveShaan Puri's Viral Post FrameworkAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“I waited to launch my paid newsletter until I had a solid strategy and felt like I’d earned it.”  — Tom Orbach, Marketing IdeasTom Orbach of MarketingIdeas.com — which recently crossed 44,000 free subscribers and over 500 paid subscribers in just the first few days after launching his paid tier — joins Chenell & Dylan to share the exact playbook he used to grow his newsletter and launch the paid version. He became a Substack bestseller within a day of his paid launch! And he did this all while working a full-time job.You'll learn how he engineered a wildly successful Product Hunt launch, and why he delayed monetization for nearly two years. We also dive into the tools he uses, the psychology behind his launch strategy, and how Substack's built-in network helped supercharge his growth after turning on his paid tier. Whether you're at 500 subscribers or 50,000, this episode is a tactical goldmine.PS - Tom is not only smart marketer & newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSTom shares how he started the newsletter and bought the domain marketingideas.com after selling a viral tool.He explains why he invested in a ".com" domain instead of going with a cheaper optionWhat publishing his first newsletter edition to a waitlist of 1,000+ felt like—and why publishing early and often matters.Balancing a full-time job with weekly publishing.How his job fuels his content.His top growth levers (including one that helped him gain over 7,000 subscribers).Why he waited nearly two years to launch a paid tier.How he designed the offer to feel premium and "non-calculable."Behind the scenes of Tom’s nine-day email launch strategy that brought in 500+ paid subscribers.How Tom reinvests revenue into experiments, gear, and ads to continue scaling.The emotional pressure of going paid—and how he maintains quality content and subscriber trust.Building community and micro-launches as the next phase of his newsletter growth.LINKS MENTIONEDMarketingIdeas.comTom on LinkedInAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>Get Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“$250k is when growth changes. It’s when you need systems. You usually can’t do it solo.”  — Matt Gira, The QuarterMatt Gira joins Chenell & Dylan — in person — to share how he went from building underwater drones to launching The Quarter: a newsletter that deep dives into how founders grow bootstrapped businesses to $250K. This is an interview, but also an impromptu coaching session with Matt as we help him figure out how he can grow his newsletter faster and get it in front of the right audience.We talk content strategy, growth experiments, and the surprising data he's uncovering along the way.PS - Matt is not only an up-and-coming newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy $250k is the key milestone for bootstrapped foundersHow Matt turned a niche data set into a powerful newsletter growth leverHow he grew his newsletter to 1,200+ subscribers without chasing viralityCollaborations, events, and the tour that could 10x his reachThe power of being early, scrappy, and generous in your creator journeyHow Matt reverse engineers founder journeys from YouTube to written contentThe role of YouTube, LinkedIn, and in-person meetups in his growth flywheelStrategies he’s testing now: content swaps, data licensing, servicesLINKS MENTIONEDThe Quarter (Matt's newsletter)The Bootstrapped ReportMatt on LinkedInKit's Craft + Commerce conferenceChenell's Deep Dive on CJ Gustafson of Mostly MetricsAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“I love unsubscribes. Don’t be here if you don’t want to be here.”It is insanely easy to subscribe to a newsletter—and even MULTIPLE newsletters all at once.But is that a good thing? Should newsletter creators be more choosy when determining who signs up? We're diving into one of the most overlooked and under-discussed aspects of newsletter growth: friction. Specifically, how adding friction—rather than eliminating it—can actually improve subscriber quality, open rates, and monetization.This one’s a must-listen if you’re growing via referrals, recommendations, or paid ads—or if you’re cleaning your list and still not seeing better open rates.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy the "low friction" mindset can lead to worse subscribersWhat happened when Chenell got aggressive about cleaning her listBackend vs. frontend friction: which is better and whenBuilding a false double opt-in to retain more good subscribersWhy double opt-in purgatory can kill 20–40% of your growthHow paid ads can inflate list size but tank your qualityForm fields, first names, and checkbox tactics that workThe danger of creating “unsubscribe friction” (and why you shouldn’t use it)What Dylan includes in every single broadcast to improve list healthCreative ideas like gated quizzes, segmenting checkboxes, and engagement-driven welcomesLINKS MENTIONEDWorkweekbeehiiv Creator NetworkKit Creator NetworkChris Hutchins → AllTheHacks.comAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“The real value wasn’t in the keynotes—it was the dinners, the hikes, the casual connections.” – Dylan Redekop, first-time C+C attendeeDylan and Chenell reflect on their time at Kit's Craft + Commerce email newsletter conference for creators in Boise. But this episode isn’t just a recap — it’s a deep dive into what made the conference unforgettable: the people, the ideas, and the big shifts in how creators are building authentic businesses. From mastermind dinners with Pat Flynn to keynote takeaways on AI, content strategy, public speaking, and creator community, they unpack what creators should actually focus on in 2025.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSThe irreplaceable power of in-person connectionThe difference between “insanely valuable” vs “insanely frequent” contentWhy mastermind-style events create outsized ROIHow to use AI without burning outThe importance of crafting your personal “what do you do” introCreator identity and the fight with impostor syndromeContent strategy lessons from Sam Vander Wielen and Amanda GoetzPat Flynn’s “lean learning” growth loop from 0 to millions of YouTube subsHow to run better meetups and create serendipitous opportunitiesWhat Craft & Commerce nailed — and why you might want to go next yearLINKS MENTIONEDKit's Craft + Commerce creator conferencePat Flynn's Deep Pocket Monster YT ChannelSam Vander Wielen's websiteAmanda Goetz's websiteUltraspeaking (Tristan de Montebello & Michael Gendler)Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

"Every time I try to be an expert, I lose readers. When I’m just me, they stick around." – Jesse J. Anderson, Extra Focus newsletterFor the first time ever, Chenell & Dylan have recorded LIVE, in-person podcast episodes!  Coming at you in-person from Kit Studios in Boise ID, Chenell & Dylan connect with Jesse J. Anderson—better known online as ADHD Jesse—to uncover the evolution of his successful newsletter, Extra Focus. Jesse's grown Extra Focus to over 70,000 subscribers and a combined social following in the hundreds of thousands. Jesse shares the real, raw, and often hilarious truth about building a brand and business around ADHD while balancing a full-time job and raising three kids.We talk through the early days of posting atomic essays in Ship 30 For 30, stumbling into virality, learning what content resonated (and what didn’t), and how he’s navigated massive growth across platforms like Substack, Instagram, and YouTube. Whether you're managing life with ADHD or not our chat with Jesse is full of valuable insight into newsletter growth, business, and some brutal honesty.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSJesse’s unexpected entry into content creation through Ship 30 for 30The signal pointing him towards doubling down on ADHD contentHow he built a massive newsletter while working full-time and raising a familyLessons learned from running paid newsletters, courses, and planning a thriving ADHD communityWhat led to his viral Instagram and Twitter growth, and Jesse's simple content repurposing strategyThe emotional rollercoaster of getting laid off and turning that moment into a creative breakthroughWhy authenticity matters now more than ever in a post-AI content worldLINKS MENTIONEDAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsJesse’s Newsletter: ExtraFocus.comJesse on: Instagram | Twitter | BlueskyShip30For30.com (←affiliate link)Recorded in Kit Studios, Boise IDCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

"Podcasting isn’t a shortcut to growth—but it’s a hell of a way to deepen relationships." – Chenell BasilioWhat can happen when you commit to a weekly podcast for six straight months? You're about to find out. Chenell & Dylan pull back the curtain on the Growth In Reverse podcast—sharing the behind-the-scenes of what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we’ve learned along the way.We get real about the numbers: subscribers, downloads, YouTube stats, and more. Plus, we chat through the very real question—should newsletter writers even start a podcast? You’ll hear our honest take on the ROI (or lack thereof), and the surprising benefits that go beyond metrics.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSReflecting on 6 months of consistent podcasting and what kept us goingWhy podcasting isn’t a fast-track to newsletter growth—and what it is great forThe powerful trust-building impact of being in your audience’s earsOur top-performing content and what formats resonated mostHow YouTube fits into our podcast strategy and where Shorts fell flatLessons from other creators like Jay Clouse, Lenny Rachitsky, and Aakash GuptaEasy ways for newsletter creators to test podcasting without going "all in"LINKS MENTIONEDAsk us a question or submit a topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsThe Pour Over podcast (on Spotify)Riverside.fmMatt Giovanisci (MoneyLab)Jay Clouse's YT ChannelLenny Reaches 1M Subscribers (past GIR episode)Lenny Podcast (YT Channel) Check out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“You can pretty much do anything on Substack—which is good and also makes me nervous.” – Chenell BasilioWe've seen a wave of creators flocking to Substack over the last month and couldn’t help but wonder... what’s really going on here? In this episode, Chenell & Dylan unpack the why we believe this migration is happening. Are creators just chasing the next shiny thing, or is Substack genuinely offering something new and powerful?We dive into the benefits, red flags, and the not-so-obvious consequences of going all in on the platform. We cover how Substack is evolving from a newsletter tool into a full-blown creator ecosystem, and whether that’s a blessing or curse—or a bit of both? If you've been thinking about launching (or leaving) a Substack, this episode is your guide to making an informed decision—minus the hype.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy big-name creators like Justin Welsh, Dan Koe, and Jay Clouse are experimenting with paid Substack newslettersSubstack’s Creator Fund and how it might be influencing the migrationWhat makes Substack’s all-in-one platform appealing—and the tradeoffs you make using itOur concerns about data control, platform dependency, and reachHow recommendations and native distribution can supercharge growth (but also create subscriber quality issues)Whether Substack’s 10% revenue cut is worth it for smaller vs. larger creatorsSubstack’s limitations when it comes to API access, segmentation, automation, and list hygieneHow we personally use Substack (or don’t), and what we’d do differently if we started newsletters there todayLINKS MENTIONEDChenell on SubstackDylan on SubstackSubstack's Creator Fund announcementCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

"I thought this would grow my list. It did—but the real win was something else entirely." — Chenell Basilio on her 30 Days of Growth experiment.In this special episode of Growth In Reverse, Chenell & Dylan break down the whirlwind that was Chenell's 30 Days of Growth experiment. What started as a simple idea to improve my cross-promotions quickly snowballed into a full-fledged daily popup newsletter, complete with giveaways, podcast episodes, and a ton of valuable insights.We dive into the gritty details—from the unexpected chaos of daily publishing and coordinating with 30 creators to the strategic plays that made the campaign a success. I also share the raw numbers, what I’d do differently, and how this experience has reshaped my approach to newsletter growth and content creation.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy Chenell launched a 30-day pop-up newsletter to improve cross-promotion tactics—and how she pulled it off in just two weeksThe exact structure and format she used to keep each daily edition short, tactical, and engagingThe referral system that brought in 20% of new subscribers and why the private podcast feed became a surprisingly powerful incentiveWhat worked and didn’t work with cross-promotion strategies, Substack distribution, and leveraging LinkedIn newslettersHow Chenell handled massive reader engagement, including 200+ thoughtful replies to a single welcome emailLessons learned about launching under pressure, collaborating with other creators, and building a flywheel from contentThe future of the 30 Days of Growth content—and how others can repurpose similar efforts for their own growth campaignsLINKS MENTIONEDCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchTools mentioned: Senja, Tella, Viral Loops RightMessage (via Brennan Dunn)Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

Get 30 proven newsletter strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>"There is a strong, undeniable correlation between the number of emails you send and the amount of money you make." — Olly RichardsIn this episode, Chenell & Dylan chat with Olly Richards — the founder of Storylearning.com and now a fast-growing personal brand — about exactly how he grew his personal brand from $0 and 0 audience to $1.2m and over 18,000 subscribers in 18 months. From his early days as a broke jazz musician to building a multi-million dollar language learning business, Olly walks us through the evolution of his business brain, the intentional pivot into mentorship, and the role of his newsletter in scaling it all.We go deep into his email strategy, the content philosophies behind his newsletter, and how he leveraged high-leverage, low-effort marketing techniques to build a loyal audience — and then turn that audience into over $1.2m in revenue. If you’re building a business around your newsletter or thinking about launching a premium offer, you’ll want to hear how Olly layered mentorship, digital products, and events to create a flywheel that fuels itself.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSOlly’s transformation from language teacher to seven-figure business mentorThe origin and impact of his now-famous 118-page Google DocHow that doc helped him attract 18,000 subscribers and generate $1.2M+Why brand is the ultimate “cheat code” in an AI-driven worldHis email newsletter philosophy — from long-form essays to raw, daily thoughtsThe tools and cadence he uses to stay consistent (and inspired)How he structures mentorship, masterminds, and digital products into a scalable businessThe 60/20/20 revenue breakdown that funds his growth flywheelWhy most creators are missing the fundamentals of internet marketingThe one skill Olly believes every creator must learn to build a sustainable businessLINKS MENTIONEDGet 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>OllyRichards.coOlly's NewsletterOlly's 118-page Case Study (Google Doc)Olly's Courses (incl. 7 Figure Marketing Stack)Chenell's Growth Lever featuring Olly StoryLearning.comWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | BlueskyDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

Get 30 proven newsletter strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>"Faceless brands are forgettable. Put your name on it. Make it human."In this episode, Dylan and Chenell are back for another Newsletter Roast! Get out your marshmallows 🔥 This week we're roasting a newsletter all about podcast discovery. The Find That Pod newsletter promises to help readers uncover the best shows out there, but does it actually do that? We go deep into what’s working and what’s not. We share actionable insights for creators looking to grow and monetize newsletters. Especially those targeting broad or interest-diverse audiences. Whether you're a newsletter writer, a podcaster, or someone just trying to better connect with your audience, this roast is packed with lessons on simplicity, specificity, and the power of personalization.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSThe challenge of curating content when the niche is too broad—and how to fix itWhy segmentation is essential for better subscriber engagement and ad relevanceHow the thank-you page is an overlooked goldmine for audience dataHow to think about ad placement and user experience in email designIdeas to improve personalization with surveys and click-based taggingWhy humanizing the brand with a face and story makes a differenceInspiration drawn from other successful content platformsHow to evolve a side project into something scalable and sponsor-friendlyLINKS MENTIONEDGet 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>Find That Pod newsletterPodcastNotes.orgRaycastRightMessage.comWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | BlueskyDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

Get 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>"This might be the most fun I've had growing my newsletter." — ChenellAnd here's how Chenell's doing it.We're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how 30 Days of Growth is going—and how we’re planning to make the most of the final stretch! With over 2,600 signups already and a massive giveaway in motion, this mini-launch is becoming more than expected… but can it be even bigger?In this episode, Chenell & Dylan break down what’s working, what could be better, and where we’re focusing our energy in the back half of the campaign. We get into the growth levers we’ve pulled so far—like cross-promotions, private podcast feeds, and Substack experiments—and brainstorm ways to maximize reach and increase referrals. It’s a total fly-on-the-wall session, so you’ll hear the real-time ideas, dilemmas, and strategies we’re exploring to keep this momentum going.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhat 30 Days of Growth "pop-up" newsletter is and how the idea took shapeThe $8,000+ prize giveaway and how it’s fueling referralsWhat’s working so far: referral stats, private podcast feed, and community responseThe LinkedIn engagement slump and what we’re testing to fix itRe-engaging on Substack and using it as a second distribution channelOptimizing the welcome email and sharing page for better conversionsIdeas for bonus incentives: mini audits, workshop invites, and shoutoutsUsing testimonials, carousels, and short experiments as additional contentDiscussing the future: paid product potential and post-campaign plansLINKS MENTIONEDGet 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>Senja.ioTella​RightMessage​HelloAudioJustin Moore’s ​Brand Deal Wizard course​ 'Antisocial' Newsletter Growth Course waitlistWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | BlueskyDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.