Big Technology Podcast Newsletters and The Culture Wars — With Substack CEO Chris Best
Jul 14, 2021
Chris Best, CEO of Substack, shares insights on the transformative journey of his newsletter platform that's shaken up traditional media. He discusses Substack’s role in navigating online speech and censorship, emphasizing its potential as an alternative to conventional journalism. Best explains the rise of newsletters for direct audience engagement, addressing challenges like consistency and reader loyalty. He also tackles the dynamics of venture capital in digital communication and hints at the future of independent media in our evolving landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Substack's Rapid Growth
- Alex and Chris Best last spoke in person at Best's apartment, which also served as Substack's HQ.
- Two years later, Substack has grown from a three-person team to a $650 million company.
Defund the Thought Police Tweet
- Chris Best tweeted "Defund the thought police," sparking controversy.
- He later deleted the tweet, reflecting on the unproductive nature of Twitter discourse.
Substack's Non-Neutral Stance
- Substack doesn't view itself as neutral, supporting free press and reader-writer control.
- They see this stance as crucial, contrasting with platforms emphasizing censorship.