Channels with Peter Kafka
Matt Yglesias on the election, Substack success and the great unbundling
Oct 2, 2024
Matt Yglesias, a former Vox.com writer and current creator of the successful Substack Slow Boring, discusses the state of media and politics with refreshing insight. He shares his thoughts on navigating a policy-light election and the rising disdain for media across the political spectrum. Yglesias dives into the challenges of running a three-person business making $1.4 million yearly, examines the impact of Trump on political narratives, and reflects on the evolving landscape of independent media and subscriber retention.
48:25
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Quick takeaways
- Matt Yglesias has successfully built a profitable independent media business with Slow Boring, highlighting the potential of Substack for niche content creators.
- The podcast underscores the troubling trend of election discourse prioritizing personalities over policy, frustrating those advocating for substantive discussions.
Deep dives
Monetization Success in Political Media
Matt Iglesias has successfully transitioned from working with major media outlets to managing his own sub-stack, Slow Boring, which currently boasts around 18,000 paid subscribers. This transition has provided him with a substantial annual income of approximately $1.4 million, showcasing the lucrative potential of independent political media. By focusing on delivering valuable content and engaging with a dedicated audience, he has demonstrated that one can build a prosperous business despite the challenges of operating in a saturated media environment. This shift illustrates a growing trend where independent voices can thrive financially while maintaining journalistic independence.
