
Growth In Reverse (Newsletter Growth & Email Marketing)
Growth In Reverse is the must-listen podcast for anyone serious about growing an email list and turning a newsletter into a thriving business. Hosted by Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop, two leading voices in the newsletter space, this show pulls back the curtain on how today’s top newsletter operators actually grow and make money.
Episodes include deep-dive teardowns of the strategies behind the most successful newsletters. You’ll hear how creators like Justin Welsh, Codie Sanchez, Sahil Bloom, and other creator founders are building loyal audiences and turning subscribers into revenue. Learn how they attract traffic, increase conversions, boost retention, and scale without burning out.
Whether you're launching your first newsletter or refining your growth engine, Growth In Reverse gives you proven tactics you can use right away. From onboarding systems and referral programs to sponsorships and paid products, this podcast helps you grow faster and smarter. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start applying what works, tune in and learn how the best are building newsletters that last.
Latest episodes

28 snips
May 14, 2025 • 31min
From Confusion to Clarity: How to Fix an Overwhelming Newsletter
The hosts roast a newsletter about podcast discovery, calling out its design flaws and lack of engagement. They emphasize the importance of humanizing brands and personalizing content to connect better with audiences. Insights on audience segmentation reveal how to boost engagement and ad relevance. Discussions on navigating cluttered newsletters and optimizing design for user experience are packed with actionable strategies. Plus, tips on leveraging surveys for better content and fostering unique subscriber relationships make this a must-listen.

40 snips
May 7, 2025 • 35min
Behind the Scenes of a Free 30-Day Newsletter Growth Sprint
Get an insider's look at a thrilling initiative that drove over 2,600 newsletter signups! Discover how a lucrative $8,000 giveaway fuels engagement and shares insights on combating LinkedIn slump. Delve into the creativity behind structuring prizes to attract a diverse audience and the innovative strategies for boosting referrals. Hear real-time experiments and tactics aimed at enhancing content on Substack and building community connections. Join a vibrant discussion on optimizing welcome emails and maintaining momentum for maximum growth!

29 snips
Apr 30, 2025 • 39min
Steal These 5 Newsletter Growth Levers You Can Start Today
Get 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>In this episode, we’re unpacking five high-performing newsletter growth levers that creators are using right now to grow smarter—not harder.Each tactic comes straight from Chenell's 30 Days of Growth series, where creators shared the exact strategies that helped them attract thousands of new subscribers, improve engagement, and build more loyal audiences. From a clever “four-hour follow-up email” to a Google Doc that helped generate over $1.2 million in revenue, we’re dissecting what made these plays work—and how you can apply them to your own newsletter strategy today. If you're looking for real-world examples, simple execution, and no-fluff tactics that get results, this one’s for you.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhat 30 Days of Growth is and WHY Chenell launched it as a daily pop-up newsletter and podcastJason Resnick’s “4-hour email” strategy that boosted his engaged subscriber rate by 40%Eddie Shleyner's social proof avalanche: how powerful testimonials alone drove conversionsThe comment-to-growth hack that helped Tom Orbach gain over 650 subscribers from one postThe $1.2M Google Doc: How Olly Richards turned a free resource into a massive growth and revenue machineAmy Nelson’s “speaking circuit strategy” and how she gained 1,000+ subscribers from a single virtual eventGROWTH LEVERS & LINKS MENTIONEDGet 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>Jason Resnick's 30 Days of Growth LeverTom Orbach's 30 Days of Growth LeverOlly Richards' 30 Days of Growth LeverAmy Nelson's 30 Days of Growth Lever'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.

44 snips
Apr 23, 2025 • 48min
The Cross-Promo Playbook: Strategies That Actually Work (Without Wasting Time)
Get 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>We're diving into one of the most underrated growth strategies out there: collaborations and cross-promotions. Whether you're building a newsletter, launching a podcast, or growing a YouTube channel, collabs are one of the most high-leverage plays you can run — and we break down exactly how to do them right.We get into real-life examples, from simple newsletter swaps to co-created content that drives thousands of subscribers (even when you're the smaller creator). We also talk through common mistakes we’ve made, what to watch out for, and how to build a repeatable system that makes these partnerships easy and effective. If you're feeling burned out by social algorithms or just want more control over your growth, this one’s for you.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy social platforms aren't cutting it anymore—and why we're bullish on collaborationsThe basic newsletter swap (and why it's still effective)Creative cross-promo formats beyond the typical swap—articles, email courses, and moreThe Alex Garcia x Pat Walls YouTube/article collab that brought in thousands of subscribersWhy adjacent audiences are the sweet spotThe myth of audience size: why alignment > numbersChenell's horror story: zero subscribers from a 4K list cross-promoCo-created content: The powerhouse play that helped Maja Voje go from 3K to 15K subsCJ Gustafson’s “quadruple stack” strategy that gets him paid + subscribersHow to keep collab partners happy (especially if things don’t go as planned)The no-BS guide to tracking your collab resultsTools, systems, and blurb templates that’ll save you time and headaches DEEP DIVES & LINKS MENTIONEDCJ Gustafson's Mostly Metrics Deep DiveMaja Voje websitePat Walls Deep DiveAlex Garcia Deep Dive'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.

39 snips
Apr 16, 2025 • 41min
The #1 Thing These 3 Newsletters Got Wrong (and How to Fix It) — Newsletter Roasts Vol. 2
Get ready for a fiery roast featuring three newsletters! Each one struggles with clarity, audience targeting, and effective onboarding. Discover how a European products newsletter misses the mark on credibility. Dive into the challenges faced by an AI-focused newsletter, where the messaging might be too complex. Lastly, a procrastination-themed newsletter raises questions about engagement and focus. Tune in for valuable lessons on optimizing content, refining audience strategies, and enhancing overall newsletter impact!

46 snips
Apr 9, 2025 • 26min
How “IV Content” Fuels the Fastest-Growing Newsletters—to 50k and Beyond (NMS Talk)
Discover the key to skyrocketing newsletter growth: invaluable content. Learn how the 'IV Content' framework can transform your strategy by prioritizing quality over gimmicks. Explore categories of content that drive engagement, featuring insights from successful creators. Creative collaborations and audience involvement emerge as secret weapons in building community and credibility. Get inspired by standout examples and innovative techniques that make newsletters share-worthy and subscription-worthy. Elevate your newsletter approach significantly!

64 snips
Apr 2, 2025 • 46min
From 40 Followers to $1m: Dave & Marsden Kline Built a Creator Business in 3.5 Years
Discover how Dave and Marsden Kline transformed their lives, building a million-dollar creator business from scratch. Explore the rise of Marsden's LinkedIn following as she took the lead in strategy and content creation. They share lessons on pivoting from SEO to social media and the power of authentic content amid an influx of AI. Learn about their creative process, the role of community building, and the tech tools that keep their endeavors lean and effective. A captivating journey from 40 followers to a thriving business!

123 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 44min
One man. One newsletter. One Million subscribers: How Lenny Rachitsky did it.
Lenny Rachitsky's journey to one million subscribers reveals the power of quality and exclusive content. His strategic use of guest posts and innovation transformed his newsletter landscape. The podcast discusses how leveraging multiple platforms, like podcasts, enhances reach and engagement. It also highlights the importance of dedication and the puzzle-like nature of content creation. Lenny's focus on broader themes, organic growth tactics, and community connection are inspiring takeaways for aspiring creators.

20 snips
Mar 19, 2025 • 35min
Brutally Honest Newsletter Roast: What Works, What Doesn't, and What to Fix
Listeners can learn from a live newsletter roast, featuring a deep dive into a subscriber's landing page. The hosts discuss crucial elements for better engagement, including layout improvements and the creation of personalized welcome emails. Insights on audience segmentation are shared, alongside recommendations for enhancing social media profiles. The importance of authentic storytelling in boosting engagement is emphasized, along with best practices for branding and presentation. Don't miss the tips on optimizing newsletters for higher subscription rates!

58 snips
Mar 12, 2025 • 42min
The Future For Newsletters: Biggest Lessons from the Newsletter Marketing Summit
The discussion dives into the evolving landscape of newsletters beyond just email. Highlights include how podcasting and video can strengthen audience trust and the importance of deep-dive content. AI's impact on content creation is explored, along with strategies for building community and reducing social media dependency. The value of personal touch and patience in growth strategies is emphasized. Lastly, a new segment invites listeners to submit their newsletters for a fun 'roast' to enhance quality and engagement.