Delivered-To: tjphuhs@gmail.com Received: by 2002:adf:f549:0:b0:441:282b:bd with SMTP id j9csp930203wrp; Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:37 -0700 (PDT) X-Received: by 2002:a05:620a:4150:b0:8cd:c0b6:87f7 with SMTP id af79cd13be357-8fa8a3ca2edmr636717485a.46.1777572024420; Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:24 -0700 (PDT) ARC-Seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; t=1777572024; cv=none; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; b=KUr5cVzDZsoTetf2wzn7oIuf3JKIMPu4RjTJSwjsQwMXvetWRkehIJpQ9+CZEm8zzs D62JBCdGnz2qdZbQiDFN2E8RmlNBR1Ue88797FCEdIXeIN29hybBC4LMNpkYDPH8Tk6U NypJD+kum6Xbm/Vhrb6f3PcjJrw6zUE/u9w3wV89nDz0XmIOjvu5hQgoWBlun7Vsr8XF avLvoG2RvzmR7CTWg6a+5ob3v7Av9UhA2nS3S3rR3mkAK7JasBeT68zuVI4dOc1YWBK7 Vky61zOiSpGrl8vyS/fk9NWf7zxGoMMH/IiUuKFawkAcOXthMbZdI+7/vITiVE6VC3Sa VNCw== ARC-Message-Signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; h=list-unsubscribe-post:list-unsubscribe:list-post:list-id :list-archive:list-url:list-owner:reply-to:in-reply-to:references :sender:feedback-id:date:message-id:to:from:subject:mime-version :dkim-signature:dkim-signature; bh=uaCLLyQhiAc5lIGdhRcH6w7b0P90bs3zHlXSES9XmkA=; fh=9zP21OW67FFZD2VV42mGudo540Qp4aalMWxJB5kMYug=; b=FYUaLT2xme/zzHk6DqvExhR5F4Xgx3nc2knzM8ft+0QCR+aUWp1mYZ4BPtcJ44p4Y6 t7bYhw3Xn0k6ZChfpdPhCHLvtO1tEUmwQqn7NZHByIOKIdEMVeNUSVxVQWItwvj3ZaKW KHrtCVcZZcKA/eX+hEYjjCVoQnMnQ5uFjehbmGryJq/cabjoMV/+ienKRy//w1Lhgi38 8BOrQ61Ry1AfisOPRDX9pKTJgZNTNkk+mYAvP6B2/ZDNFvfQWl7a2jpobeJEr8pleNb9 4vBu4eKaEPr8SPCmIzfV7JtWRspUVSOlY5gXbzsO0f9fDCBnSqOHcFEvLt/zASxej+Rv XGwg==; dara=google.com ARC-Authentication-Results: i=1; mx.google.com; dkim=pass header.i=@mg-d1.substack.com header.s=k1 header.b=Zzb9j5d1; dkim=pass header.i=@mailgun.org header.s=mg header.b="svb/RUKT"; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bounce+30b528.39b08c6-tjphuhs=gmail.com@mg-d1.substack.com designates 159.112.244.26 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom="bounce+30b528.39b08c6-tjphuhs=gmail.com@mg-d1.substack.com"; dmarc=pass (p=REJECT sp=REJECT dis=NONE) header.from=substack.com Return-Path: Received: from v526.v5375b7fa.use4.send.mailgun.net (v526.v5375b7fa.use4.send.mailgun.net. [159.112.244.26]) by mx.google.com with UTF8SMTPS id af79cd13be357-8fbb3c38b69si48535885a.42.2026.04.30.11.00.23 for (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:24 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of bounce+30b528.39b08c6-tjphuhs=gmail.com@mg-d1.substack.com designates 159.112.244.26 as permitted sender) client-ip=159.112.244.26; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; dkim=pass header.i=@mg-d1.substack.com header.s=k1 header.b=Zzb9j5d1; dkim=pass header.i=@mailgun.org header.s=mg header.b="svb/RUKT"; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bounce+30b528.39b08c6-tjphuhs=gmail.com@mg-d1.substack.com designates 159.112.244.26 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom="bounce+30b528.39b08c6-tjphuhs=gmail.com@mg-d1.substack.com"; dmarc=pass (p=REJECT sp=REJECT dis=NONE) header.from=substack.com DKIM-Signature: a=rsa-sha256; v=1; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=mg-d1.substack.com; q=dns/txt; s=k1; t=1777572023; x=1777579223; h=List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe: List-Post: List-Id: List-Archive: List-Owner: Reply-To: In-Reply-To: References: Sender: Sender: Date: Message-Id: To: To: From: From: Subject: Subject: Content-Type: Mime-Version: X-Feedback-Id; bh=uaCLLyQhiAc5lIGdhRcH6w7b0P90bs3zHlXSES9XmkA=; b=Zzb9j5d1WPwxNqXRgIX1s176NMetdlPscyeY9nf+QvQxHKFBQivKjIZIFFpVzzK8oEwjyslDw9db2CMgqL9eZn6/dnjZAPWB8qcn8VkQ4wuTQGZb7wBnfu5X5irIoOTTO6c9ZitPTknpdSdrAiPBTJbxhqTSmrHW5K6eQtCBa/M= DKIM-Signature: a=rsa-sha256; v=1; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=mailgun.org; q=dns/txt; s=mg; t=1777572023; x=1777579223; h=List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe: List-Post: List-Id: List-Archive: List-Owner: Reply-To: In-Reply-To: References: Sender: Sender: Date: Message-Id: To: To: From: From: Subject: Subject: Content-Type: Mime-Version: X-Feedback-Id; bh=uaCLLyQhiAc5lIGdhRcH6w7b0P90bs3zHlXSES9XmkA=; b=svb/RUKTlQ9pz3Okw9/u8nCDhHVckEvo1zU9iFIYP7U9JCpR5N03Qjgnl6AxVuVGXHAlBMyWkJ8ILc2HZpxtPfcIghbZSoSwcinNFsUlbQ+UK6dQRfvrulSVp6hJdsWaGCr3HanzlGuJNPv8ooC0mlmcYihoR873HAtWteUM6Fg= X-Mailgun-Sid: WyIxMWU0ZSIsInRqcGh1aHNAZ21haWwuY29tIiwiMzliMDhjNiJd X-Feedback-Id: postmaster@mg-d1.substack.com:post:614a1297c57bbbe25fa40e08:mailgun Received: by 4cbff49b92ef431708fa33a48a662b1525c180f391f27a3171f8ef05c506db48 with HTTP id 69f398b63cad8a93d695271c; Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:00:20 GMT X-Mailgun-Sending-Ip: 159.112.244.26 X-Mailgun-Batch-Id: 69f398b5de7939c20e593a44 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="c297fc54a890703521b1494ffb4f82e77f0b22e9781fbb36c3ba2b66a77e" Subject: Three models for building community for your podcast From: Substack To: tjphuhs@gmail.com X-Mailgun-Tag: post X-Mailgun-Track-Clicks: false Message-Id: <20260430165917.3.d6b8217fad87a54e@mg-d1.substack.com> Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:59:17 +0000 Feedback-Id: post-196007038:cat-post:pub-1:substack Sender: Substack References: In-Reply-To: Reply-To: Substack List-Owner: List-Url: List-Archive: List-Id: List-Post: List-Unsubscribe: List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click X-Mailgun-Variables: {"category": "post", "email_generated_at": "1777572019145", "is_freemail": "true", "post_audience": "everyone", "post_id": "196007038", "post_type": "newsletter", "pub_community_enabled": "true", "publication_id": "1", "subdomain": "on", "user_id": "273622398"} --c297fc54a890703521b1494ffb4f82e77f0b22e9781fbb36c3ba2b66a77e Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable View this post on the web at https://on.substack.com/p/three-models-for-bui= lding-community Great podcasts have loyal communities: the people who show up for every epi= sode drop, create a dedicated group chat with their friends, or scour the i= nternet looking for takes. We=E2=80=99ve worked directly with hundreds of p= odcast creators to build tools that allow them to own and grow these commun= ities on Substack=E2=80=94whether or not they=E2=80=99re using the platform= as a primary hub for distribution. An email list of people who=E2=80=99ve = opted in to hear from you is an asset that doesn=E2=80=99t disappear when a= recommendation algorithm changes, a deal expires, or you want to try somet= hing new. Episodes go directly to your subscribers=E2=80=99 inboxes and can be distri= buted to other podcast platforms via RSS, and you can record natively=E2=80= =94including with remote guests=E2=80=94using Substack Recording Studio [ h= ttps://substack.com/redirect/2f5746ee-9290-44f2-ada7-c5c13a7d8731?j=3DeyJ1I= joiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ]. Chat [ https:= //substack.com/redirect/9a7c2145-2607-4b14-875b-30f61c340529?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNG= l3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ] functions like a gr= oup chat for your listeners, a dedicated place for your audience to talk to= each other and to you between episodes. Live video [ https://substack.com/= redirect/d3485324-8b89-4cb7-b677-ac475c0e1e10?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxR= tmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ] lets you engage, react, or connect= in real time. Notes [ https://substack.com/redirect/1aca4166-1b74-4c0c-bc9= 8-768841404fd3?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZ= ifRB-Zs ], Substack=E2=80=99s short-form feed, is where new listeners find = you: post a clip, a quick thought, or a moment from a recent episode, and i= t surfaces to people who aren=E2=80=99t subscribed yet. The Substack networ= k drives more than 50% of all subscriptions on the platform, meaning growth= is built in when you post. In partnership with the Signal Awards [ https://substack.com/redirect/71ae0= eaa-0dfc-4d66-9b7d-3473d3f326d6?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0= krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ], we recently spoke with Biz Sherbert , a host of= Nymphet Alumni , and Richard Johnson from Split Zone Duo about how they = use Substack to host their shows, distribute episodes, and build community = through Chat, Notes, and more. =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99ll throw on the Substack live chat feature on a Saturda= y and interact with our people there,=E2=80=9D Richard said about using Cha= t on game days. =E2=80=9C=E2=80=9DIt helps to know that we=E2=80=99re being= supported by like-minded community.=E2=80=9D Once Nymphet Alumni started = building its community, Biz said, it took on a life of its own: =E2=80=9CTh= e community is self-sustaining. People do meetups and stuff all the time th= at have nothing to do with us. That=E2=80=99s one of the beautiful things a= bout making something like this=E2=80=94it takes on its own life without yo= u.=E2=80=9D There are a lot of ways to think about building and growing your podcast co= mmunity on Substack. Here are three models we see working well: A lightweight companion and fan community Use your Substack publication to send episodes directly to your listeners= =E2=80=99 inboxes. To take it a step further, you can add a lightweight com= panion newsletter and a chat where your audience can find each other. Compa= nion posts don=E2=80=99t have to be elaborate: a weekly recap, links to thi= ngs mentioned on the pod, or a short note from a producer or the host can a= ll work. In the simplest version, the chat can be set up as fan-to-fan, so = you don=E2=80=99t have to moderate it. This is a good starting point for podcasters who aren=E2=80=99t ready to la= unch a paid tier but want to start building an owned audience. It=E2=80=99s= free to run, and it builds daily engagement quickly. The people who show u= p here are dedicated fans who are likely to convert to paying subscribers, = should you choose to launch a paid tier=E2=80=94and now you can reach them = directly whenever you need. Case study: Giggly Squad Giggly Squad =E2=80=99s Substack is where their show lives between episodes= =2E Hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSor= bo use their newsletter for weekly rou= ndups of what they=E2=80=99re wearing, watching, and obsessing over and the= ir Chat as a dedicated space for the community to talk to each other. Bonus paid content layered on top Use Substack to add a paid tier to your podcast that includes bonus content= , like behind-the-scenes extras, episode research, or cutting-room-floor ma= terial from your conversations with a guest. The additional material might = be an extra 20 minutes or so of more personal and candid conversation, with= the option to take listener questions.=20 A paid bonus model structurally changes the relationship with your listener= s. Paying subscribers aren=E2=80=99t buying a product; they=E2=80=99re supp= orting your work. That=E2=80=99s a different dynamic than ad revenue, and i= t tends to create deeper loyalty. Case study: Wiser Than Me and Bialik Breakdown Julia Louis-Dreyfus sends her Wiser Than Me subscribers exclusive backgro= und notes and research behind each episode, like a deep dive on actress Gle= nn Close [ https://substack.com/redirect/c33ff708-9f3c-4f09-a21b-7baac25777= 5c?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ] th= at supplemented their episode together. It=E2=80=99s context that didn=E2= =80=99t make it into the show itself, delivered directly to the people who = want to go deeper. Mayim Bialik uses her Substack to share a host of extras, like bonus clips= , exclusive letters, and live content, for Mayim Bialik's Breakdown subscr= ibers. A full multimedia content hub=20 Use Substack as the comprehensive home base for distribution and community = for your show. Send your episodes directly to subscriber inboxes, and distr= ibute them automatically to YouTube, or to Spotify and Apple Podcasts throu= gh RSS. Offer bonus drops, extended cuts, AMAs, essays, lives, and collabs = with other creators. It=E2=80=99s the whole world of your show, in one plac= e, with community and network growth built in. For many creators, subscript= ion revenue at this level becomes more lucrative than ads. But the more dur= able thing it creates is a self-sustaining community.=20 Case study: Pantsuit Politics and Diabolical Lies Pantsuit Politics publishes four or more premium episodes a week, distribu= ting directly through Substack. They also send a newsletter, host regular l= ive sessions, and keep an active chat for their community. Diabolical Lies uses Substack as their full distribution channel, paywalli= ng their deeply researched, hour-plus episodes that drop twice a month. Sub= scription revenue has enabled them to do fewer episodes and go deeper on ea= ch one, a model that works because their subscriber community is so engaged= in the work and each other. However you decide to set up your community and your show on Substack, the = underlying logic is the same: your audience wants somewhere to be, and it= =E2=80=99s to your benefit to be able to reach them directly. At the Signal= Awards event, Biz and Richard shared some of what they=E2=80=99ve learned = from building their shows and finding new audiences on Substack. Biz on starting a show from zero: =E2=80=9C[At first] we didn=E2=80=99t hav= e an audience. I had a little bit of a following online, but the show was v= ery much started from scratch. I think people really connect to that=E2=80= =94listening to a show from the beginning when your mics are so bad and you= really don=E2=80=99t know how to do literally anything. Starting from scra= tch kind of builds its own specific connection.=E2=80=9D Richard on finding new subscribers through Notes: =E2=80=9CNotes is, for us= , the best and most direct connection to what we do. Our episodes basically= automatically go out as Notes posts. People can find it, and it becomes an= other means of discoverability.=E2=80=9D Biz on their between-episodes newsletter offering: =E2=80=9C=E2=80=8APeople= really like to know what you=E2=80=99re up to. Our podcast takes a lot of = work to make, but people in the community love to know what book you=E2=80= =99re reading or a song you really like. [A companion newsletter] is a real= ly nice way to create something regular for your audience that=E2=80=99s no= t so intensive.=E2=80=9D Richard on why community converts: =E2=80=9CPeople are paying for you to ke= ep doing this because they understand that you have this other thing that t= akes so much time, effort, energy. It helps us to know that we=E2=80=99re b= eing supported by a like-minded community of people. And frankly, I think i= f CBS had a subscription for $10 a month, I don=E2=80=99t know if people wo= uld want to pay for that. But people do want to pay for [me] and Alex [Kirs= hner] at $10 a month because it is a touchstone. And they know where [the m= oney is] going. And I think that=E2=80=99s really important.=E2=80=9D Biz on world-building around a show: =E2=80=9CYou want to make a universe. = The word =E2=80=98alumni=E2=80=99 is in [our name], so we ended up making t= his fake university called the Nymphet Alumni Institute of Continuing Educa= tion on Fashion and Culture. And then all of our tiers would be like =E2=80= =98PhD in Beauty Pseudoscience.=E2=80=99 =E2=80=8AAnd then our written week= ly newsletter is called Course Materials, and it=E2=80=99s like a bibliogra= phy of everything we=E2=80=99re consuming that week. I think [Substack] can= be a place to make a fantastic world that is really fun. I think it=E2=80= =99s really gratifying as a creator as well.=E2=80=9D=20 Podcast success is often built on intimacy=E2=80=94the sense that someone i= s talking to you specifically, that you=E2=80=99re in on something special.= Regardless of how you set up your community, Substack is where that feelin= g finds a home, and where built-in engagement tools and network growth make= sure more people find it. The Signal Awards recognize podcasts that define culture. The early entry d= eadline for the 2026 awards is May 8. Enter your podcast for consideration = [ https://substack.com/redirect/d72a0000-21ff-46c6-bdc2-d06264bebed3?j=3Dey= J1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs ]. Unsubscribe https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9vbi5zdWJzdGF= jay5jb20vYWN0aW9uL2Rpc2FibGVfZW1haWw_dG9rZW49ZXlKMWMyVnlYMmxrSWpveU56TTJNak= l6T1Rnc0luQnZjM1JmYVdRaU9qRTVOakF3TnpBek9Dd2lhV0YwSWpveE56YzNOVGN5TURFNExDS= mxlSEFpT2pFNE1Ea3hNRGd3TVRnc0ltbHpjeUk2SW5CMVlpMHhJaXdpYzNWaUlqb2laR2x6WVdK= c1pWOWxiV0ZwYkNKOS5zTXFicFMyUXFiZmRZWVpnTE1Sdkd6OHBtV0U0djhVWk1QVVF6bmZ4R1k= 4IiwicCI6MTk2MDA3MDM4LCJzIjoxLCJmIjp0cnVlLCJ1IjoyNzM2MjIzOTgsImlhdCI6MTc3Nz= U3MjAxOCwiZXhwIjoyMDkzMTQ4MDE4LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMCIsInN1YiI6ImxpbmstcmVkaXJlY= 3QifQ.k1dcXtQitKWcm9UqZ3Ecb5AxXY4GztFaj6ICGZQZXR8? --c297fc54a890703521b1494ffb4f82e77f0b22e9781fbb36c3ba2b66a77e Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable = Three models for building community for your podcast3D""
The growth and community tools that help podcasters tur= n listeners into fans
͏     ­͏     &#= 173;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &= #8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏=     ­͏     ­͏     = 73;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &#= 8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ =     ­͏     ­͏     = 3;͏     ­͏     ­͏   = 199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &= nbsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ;͏     ­͏     ­͏   Q= 99; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &n= bsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ͏     ­͏     ­͏   ̳= 9; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nb= sp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­&= #847;     ­͏     ­͏    = ; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nbs= p;   ­͏     ­͏     ­&#= 847;     ­͏     ­͏    = ­͏     ­͏     ­͏  = ;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= 47;     ­͏     ­͏     = ­͏     ­͏     ­͏  =   ­͏     ­͏     ­T= 7;     ­͏     ­͏     &= #173;͏     ­͏     ­͏   =   ­͏     ­͏     ­͏= ;     ­͏     ­͏     &#= 173;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &= #8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏=     ­͏     ­͏     = 73;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &#= 8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ =     ­͏     ­͏     = 3;͏     ­͏     ­͏   = 199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &= nbsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ;͏     ­͏     ­͏   Q= 99; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &n= bsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ͏     ­͏     ­͏   ̳= 9; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nb= sp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­&= #847;     ­͏     ­͏    = ; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nbs= p;   ­͏     ­͏     ­&#= 847;     ­͏     ­͏    = ­͏     ­͏     ­͏  = ;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= 47;     ­͏     ­͏     = ­͏     ­͏     ­͏  =   ­͏     ­͏     ­T= 7;     ­͏     ­͏     &= #173;͏     ­͏     ­͏   =   ­͏     ­͏     ­͏= ;     ­͏     ­͏     &#= 173;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &= #8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏=     ­͏     ­͏     = 73;͏     ­͏     ­͏   &#= 8199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ =     ­͏     ­͏     = 3;͏     ­͏     ­͏   = 199; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &= nbsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ;͏     ­͏     ­͏   Q= 99; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &n= bsp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­= ͏     ­͏     ­͏   ̳= 9; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nb= sp;   ­͏     ­͏     ­&= #847;     ­͏     ­͏    = ; ­͏     ­͏     ­͏ &nbs= p;   ­͏     ­͏     ­
=
Forwarded this email? Subscr= ibe here for more

Thr= ee models for building community for your podcast

The growth and commun= ity tools that help podcasters turn listeners into fans

Bailey Dunn
∙
Guest post
 
3D""
=
3D""
3D""
READ IN APP3D""
 
<= table class=3D"image-wrapper" width=3D"100%" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0"= cellpadding=3D"0" data-component-name=3D"Image2ToDOMStatic" style=3D"mso-p= adding-alt: 1em 0 1.6em;">
3D""

Great podcas= ts have loyal communities: the people who show up for every episode drop, c= reate a dedicated group chat with their friends, or scour the internet look= ing for takes. We’ve worked directly with hundreds of podcast creator= s to build tools that allow them to own and grow these communities on Subst= ack—whether or not they’re using the platform as a primary hub = for distribution. An email list of people who’ve opted in to hear fro= m you is an asset that doesn’t disappear when a recommendation algori= thm changes, a deal expires, or you want to try something new.

Episodes go directly to your subscribers’ inboxes and can = be distributed to other podcast platforms via RSS, and you can record nativ= ely—including with remote guests—using Substack Recording Studio.= Chat functions like a group chat for your listeners, a dedicated place for y= our audience to talk to each other and to you between episodes. Live video = lets you engage, react, or connect in real time. Notes, Substack’s shor= t-form feed, is where new listeners find you: post a clip, a quick thought,= or a moment from a recent episode, and it surfaces to people who aren̵= 7;t subscribed yet. The Substack network drives more than 50% of all subscr= iptions on the platform, meaning growth is built in when you post.

In partnership with the Signal Awards, we recently spoke= with Biz Sherbert, a host of = Nymphet Alumni, and = Richard Johnson from Split Zone Duo about how they use Substack= to host their shows, distribute episodes, and build community through Chat= , Notes, and more.

R= 20;We’ll throw on the Substack live chat feature on a Saturday and in= teract with our people there,” Richard said about using Chat on game = days. “”It helps to know that we’re being supported by li= ke-minded community.” Once Nymphet Alu= mni started building its community, Biz said, it took on a= life of its own: “The community is self-sustaining. People do meetup= s and stuff all the time that have nothing to do with us. That’s one = of the beautiful things about making something like this—it takes on = its own life without you.”

There = are a lot of ways to think about building and growing your podcast communit= y on Substack. Here are three models we see working well:

<= strong>A lightweight companion and fan community

= Use your Substack publication to send episodes directly to your listeners&#= 8217; inboxes. To take it a step further, you can add a lightweight compani= on newsletter and a chat where your audience can find each other. Companion= posts don’t have to be elaborate: a weekly recap, links to things me= ntioned on the pod, or a short note from a producer or the host can all wor= k. In the simplest version, the chat can be set up as fan-to-fan, so you do= n’t have to moderate it.

This is a good starting poin= t for podcasters who aren’t ready to launch a paid tier but want to s= tart building an owned audience. It’s free to run, and it builds dail= y engagement quickly. The people who show up here are dedicated fans who ar= e likely to convert to paying subscribers, should you choose to launch a pa= id tier—and now you can reach them directly whenever you need.

Case study: Giggly Squad

Giggly Squad’s Substack is where the= ir show lives between episodes. Hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo use t= heir newsletter for weekly roundups of what they’re wearing, watching= , and obsessing over and their Chat as a dedicated space for the community = to talk to each other.

<= tr>
3D""

= Bonus paid content layered on top

Use Sub= stack to add a paid tier to your podcast that includes bonus content, like = behind-the-scenes extras, episode research, or cutting-room-floor material = from your conversations with a guest. The additional material might be an e= xtra 20 minutes or so of more personal and candid conversation, with the op= tion to take listener questions.

A paid bonus model struct= urally changes the relationship with your listeners. Paying subscribers are= n’t buying a product; they’re supporting your work. That’= s a different dynamic than ad revenue, and it tends to create deeper loyalt= y.

Case study: Wiser Than Me and Bialik Breakdown

Julia Louis-Dreyfus sends her Wiser Than Me sub= scribers exclusive background notes and research behind each episode, like = a deep dive = on actress Glenn Close that supplemented their episode together. = It’s context that didn’t make it into the show itself, delivere= d directly to the people who want to go deeper.

Mayim Bialik uses her Substack to share = a host of extras, like bonus clips, exclusive letters, and live content, fo= r Mayim Bialik's Breakdown subscribers.

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown 2d
What would you do if your worldview broke in= one night? That’s the question Dr. Kevin Knuth — physicist and former NASA= research scientist — had to answer when the evidence began to contra= dict everything he knew. His “flip” was just the beginning.
3D""43= 3D"" 3D""3
<= /td>

A full multimedia content= hub

Use Substack as the comprehensive home base= for distribution and community for your show. Send your episodes directly = to subscriber inboxes, and distribute them automatically to YouTube, or to = Spotify and Apple Podcasts through RSS. Offer bonus drops, extended cuts, A= MAs, essays, lives, and collabs with other creators. It’s the whole w= orld of your show, in one place, with community and network growth built in= =2E For many creators, subscription rev= enue at this level becomes more lucrat= ive than ads. But the more durable thing it creates is a self-sustaining co= mmunity.

Case study: Pantsuit Politics and Diaboli= cal Lies

Pantsuit Polit= ics publishes four or more premium episodes a week, distri= buting directly through Substack. They also send a newsletter, host regular= live sessions, and keep an active chat for their community.

Diabolical Lies uses Sub= stack as their full distribution channel, paywalling their deeply researche= d, hour-plus episodes that drop twice a month. Subscription revenue has ena= bled them to do fewer episodes and go deeper on each one, a model that work= s because their subscriber community is so engaged in the work and each oth= er.

3D""
Pantsuit Polit= ics keeps their Chat gated to paid subscribers, creating a dedicated space = where their most invested listeners can connect with each other and the sho= w.

However you decide to set up = your community and your show on Substack, the underlying logic is the same:= your audience wants somewhere to be, and it’s to your benefit to be = able to reach them directly. At the Signal Awards event, Biz and Richard sh= ared some of what they’ve learned from building their shows and findi= ng new audiences on Substack.

Biz on starting a show from zero: “[At first]= we didn’t have an audience. I had a little bit of a following online= , but the show was very much started from scratch. I think people really co= nnect to that—listening to a show from the beginning when your mics a= re so bad and you really don’t know how to do literally anything. Sta= rting from scratch kind of builds its own specific connection.”

Richard on finding new subscribers through Notes: “Notes is, for us, the best and most direct connection to = what we do. Our episodes basically automatically go out as Notes posts. Peo= ple can find it, and it becomes another means of discoverability.”

Biz on their between-episodes newsletter offering: = “ People really like to know what you’re u= p to. Our podcast takes a lot of work to make, but people in the community = love to know what book you’re reading or a song you really like. [A c= ompanion newsletter] is a really nice way to create something regular for y= our audience that’s not so intensive.”

Richard on why community converts: “People are payin= g for you to keep doing this because they understand that you have this oth= er thing that takes so much time, effort, energy. It helps us to know that = we’re being supported by a like-minded community of people. And frank= ly, I think if CBS had a subscription for $10 a month, I don’t know i= f people would want to pay for that. But people do want to pay for [me] and= Alex [Kirshner] at $10 a month because it is a touchstone. And they know w= here [the money is] going. And I think that’s really important.”= ;

Biz on world-building around a show: “You want to make a universe. The word ‘alumni’ is i= n [our name], so we ended up making this fake university called the Nymphet= Alumni Institute of Continuing Education on Fashion and Culture. And then = all of our tiers would be like ‘PhD in Beauty Pseudoscience.’ &= #8202;And then our written weekly newsletter is called Course Materials, an= d it’s like a bibliography of everything we’re consuming that w= eek. I think [Substack] can be a place to make a fantastic world that is re= ally fun. I think it’s really gratifying as a creator as well.”=

Podcast success is often built on intimacy&#= 8212;the sense that someone is talking to you specifically, that you’= re in on something special. Regardless of how you set up your community, Su= bstack is where that feeling finds a home, and where built-in engagement to= ols and network growth make sure more people find it.

The Signal Awards recognize podcasts that defi= ne culture. The early entry deadline for the 2026 awards is May 8. <= a href=3D"https://substack.com/redirect/d72a0000-21ff-46c6-bdc2-d06264bebed= 3?j=3DeyJ1IjoiNGl3b2U2In0.sVDxRtmZ85v8kfdamY0krRXGMy3p768BWtuZifRB-Zs" styl= e=3D"color: rgb(54,55,55);text-decoration: underline;">Enter your podcast f= or consideration.

=
<= div class=3D"post-contributor-bio-preamble" style=3D"font-size: 14px;line-h= eight: 16px;margin-bottom: 10px;">A guest post by
Bailey Dunn
partnerships at substack
Subscribe to Bailey
=

Thanks for subscribing to On Substack. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

Share=

 
=
3D""Share
 
 
3D""Like
<= /td>=
3D""Restack
 = ;

© 2026 Substack
548 Marke= t Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104
Unsubscribe

3D"S=

= 3D""3D"" --c297fc54a890703521b1494ffb4f82e77f0b22e9781fbb36c3ba2b66a77e--