Navigating Platform Dependency

This chapter examines the impact of platform dependency on creators amid the recent TikTok ban and how Substack has positioned itself as a viable alternative. It highlights the transition of creators, particularly a political reporter, to Substack, showcasing the benefits of audience ownership and subscription-based income for fostering deeper relationships with their fans.

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In a world where attention is fragmented and algorithms rule the content landscape, Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie are taking a radically different approach with Substack. Rather than chasing clicks, Substack focuses on a simple yet powerful idea: creators should own their work and make money directly from their audience through paid subscriptions. With over 5 million paid subscriptions and tens of millions of active readers, Substack has turned this model into a transformative force in media.

In this episode, Chris and Hamish unpack how they’re reshaping creator economics, navigating AI’s role in creativity, and enabling a new era for writers, from serialized fiction to short-form video. Their bet? That if content adds real value—whether it educates, entertains, or helps people earn—audiences will pay for it.

In our conversation, we explore:

• How Substack grew from a simple newsletter tool to a multi-format media platform with 5 million+ paid subscriptions

• Why the "soul connection" between creators and audiences is becoming more valuable in an AI-dominated world

• The inside story of Substack's clash with Elon Musk and how it ultimately strengthened their platform

• Why the ceiling for great writing and culture might be much higher than we're currently imagining

• How Substack's subscription model creates dramatically better economics for creators than ad-supported platforms

• Chris's "grand unified theory" for how AI will influence content creation and consumption

• Why their short-form content isn't just a "sticky trick" but a pathway to deeper engagement and discovery

• The future of traditional prestige media brands

• Much more

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Thank you to the partners who make this possible

Vanta: Automate compliance and simplify security.
Brex: The banking solution for startups.
WorkOS: The modern identity platform for B2B SaaS.

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For a full transcript of the episode, please visit: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/the-substack-playbook

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Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(05:27) An overview of Substack and its current scale

(06:53) The origin story of Substack

(19:20) Finding the first believers

(24:17) Successful fiction on Substack, and why there’s potential for much more

(29:09) The different mediums available on Substack

(32:27) How Substack’s feed differs from social media

(37:33) The clash with Elon Musk and Twitter/X