"Media Empires" | The Business of Newsletters, Podcasts, Creators, and Data Acquisition

Tyler Denk, co-founder and CEO of Beehiiv, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss how he came to be a part of building two media empires: Morning Brew and Beehiiv, a newsletter publishing platform which just raised a $33 Million Series B. They also discuss the market potential of email newsletters, ad networks, and successful newsletter strategies across industries. Tyler delivers a masterclass in understanding email and newsletter platforms. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0epyYBAxLeF0PsNagdDJAJ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/company-breakdowns/id1743119197 — LINKS: Beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @denk_tweets (Tyler) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:00) Morning Brew & Beehiiv (03:00) Evolution of Morning Brew's business model (09:49) The genesis of Beehiiv (14:30) Sponsor shout out (16:17) Building a newsletter empire (21:09) Biggest inflection point (25:32) Leveraging newsletters for growth (28:47) Future of Beehive and email monetization (41:36) Fundraising and navigating venture (44:40) Success stories in the newsletter industry (47:47) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

John Yedinak, co-founder and president of Aging Media, joins Erik Torenberg to talk about his journey from the mortgage industry to building a powerful media company focused on the senior care sector. They explore the strategies for building a profitable media company in the B2B sector, the creator economy, and how traditional trade shows are being reimagined to engage audiences more effectively. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Media Empires is brought to you by Beehiiv. Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple — LINKS: Aging Media Network: http://www.agingmedia.com Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @jryedinak (John) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:52) John’s journey from Mortgage Industry to Media Mogul (05:17) Strategies for Growth and Diversification (10:04) Building Vertical Media from Scratch (14:46) Sponsor: Beehiiv (15:56) Team Composition and Investment in Building a Media Empire (18:21) Evolution of Business Media (29:37) Investment and Growth Strategies in the Creator Space (34:41) Data Collection and Monetization (42:24) Leveraging Creator Partnerships for Event Success (46:56) Potential of Paid Communities in Niche Markets (51:10) Podcasting Insights and the Future of Media (54:52) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Craig Fuller, Founder and CEO of FreightWaves which began as a combination media company and data provider for the logistics industry, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of FreightWaves, different media models and their scalability, and shares his thoughts on what the future of AI media will look like. — SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “EMPIRES” for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple — LINKS: FreightWaves: https://www.freightwaves.com/ Subscribe to the Media Empires Newsletter: https://media-empires.beehiiv.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @FreightAlley (Craig) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:15) The Evolution of Freight Waves (03:01) Breaking Down Media Business Models and Monetization Strategies (08:42) Complex Landscape of Media and Audience Engagement (12:35) Sponsor: Turpentine (13:26) Strategic Synergy Between Media and SaaS Businesses (17:27) Underrated Potential of Media Businesses (27:35) Opportunities and Challenges of Niche Media (29:59) Vertical Media Opportunities Across Industries (30:54) Dynamics of Media in the Supply Chain Industry (32:33) Expanding Media Ventures (33:41) Potential for Vertical Media in AI and Crypto (35:39) Critique and Future of Tech Journalism (37:34) Strategies and Challenges of Building a Vertical Media Business (43:06) Importance of Breaking News and Building Credibility (48:48) Evaluating Business Models for a New Media Venture (58:06) Wrap — This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Zawwar Khan, a CPG consultant for creators (Rel Brands), joins Erik Torenberg to talk about his journey from being the youngest brand manager at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, to advising media creators on building their own commerce brands. He also shares some strategies for creators to expand beyond their audience, the potential of creator-incubated businesses, and the future of the creator economy through innovative financing and business models. -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- LINKS: Zawwar Khan: https://www.hellorel.com/ -- X/ TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @zawwarkhan_ (Zawwar) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:49) Zawwar’s journey from Brand Manager to CPG Consultant (05:51) Evolution of Media and Commerce (09:13) Strategies for Success (16:56) Sponsor: Turpentine (17:44) Rise of B2B Influencers and Creator Opportunities (26:32) Potential of Creator-Led Ventures (28:56) Building Brands as a Creator (34:32) Venture Capital Perspectives on the Creator Economy (40:09) The Future of Investing: Venture Studios for Creators (49:25) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Danny Crichton, a Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Head of Editorial at Lux Capital, and former Managing Editor at TechCrunch, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the evolution of TechCrunch+, alternative business models, strategic investments in media, and tips for building a tech media company. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Danny Crichton: https://www.dannycrichton.com/ Lux Capital: https://www.luxcapital.com/securities TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/ TechCrunch+: https://techcrunch.com/techcrunchplus/ X/ TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @DannyCrichton (Danny) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:28) Evolution of TechCrunch+ (01:27) Building a new product, ExtraCrunch (04:50) Challenges of subscription media (06:26) Identifying the core audience (08:57) Exploring alternative business models in media (15:26) Sponsor: Turpentine (16:07) History of TechCrunch (22:00) What worked and what didn't for TechCrunch (29:20) Building a significant tech media company (30:12) Strategies for success (31:03) The need of focus formula (35:32) Challenges of monetizing journalism (37:50) Rethinking media products (51:21) Potential of vertical media (56:30) Wrap — SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple

Dave Nemetz, Founder of Bleacher Report and Inverse, joins Erik Torenberg to share his insights on media business models and the future of the creator economy. They also cover the growth of sports, web3, and B2B media. This conversation was recorded in early 2023 This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Dave Nemetz: https://davenemetz.com/ The Inverted Curiousity Pyramid: https://davenemetz.com/inverted-curiosity-pyramid/ Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/ Inverse: https://www.inverse.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @davenemetz (Dave) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:13) Insights behind Starting Bleacher Report (03:21) Pros and Cons of Subscriptions and Ads (06:12) Funding and Business Models in Media (14:22) Sponsor: Turpentine (15:10) Rise of B2B Media and Future Opportunities (23:03) Strategies for Media Companies (30:17) Innovative Approaches to Supporting Creators (48:02) Wrap — SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. — Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple

Jamie Rawsthorne, formerly of the Zac and Jay show and now a YouTube strategist behind The YouTube Views Machine methodology, joins Erik to explore growth and success tactics on YouTube, monetization, and where he thinks the platform is going. This conversation with Jamie was recorded in 2023 This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Jamie Rawsthorne: https://www.jamierawsthorne.com/ Zac and Jay Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@ZacandJayShorts — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @jamierawsthorne (Jamie) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:26) Jamie’s YouTube story (04:47) Transition from creator to strategist (12:45) The biggest video that went viral (13:20) Sponsor: Turpentine (14:08) Making a big bet on YouTube (20:08) Getting 400,000 views on a video in the first month (24:53) Key to getting a great title and thumbnail (29:12) Exploring YouTube monetization (36:17) From vlogs to business opportunities (40:43) Understanding the YouTuber ecosystem and opportunities for growth (49:11) Wrap SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Jordan Zaslav, COO at Axios HQ, joins Erik to talk about the inspiration and launch of Axios. He shares his key lessons learned along the way and the importance of the smart brevity approach. They also chat about AI's impact on media and the need for companies to adapt. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: Axios: https://www.axios.com/ Axios HQ: https://www.axioshq.com/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @jz (Jordan) — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:48) Smart Brevity Approach (04:12) Key to Axios' Success (06:38) Exploring Axios' Business Model and Diverse Offerings (11:45) Sponsor: Turpentine (16:23) The Axios HQ Product (18:17) What Has Made the Most Money at Axios. (21:11) Challenges of Media Business Growth (25:13) Audience Selection on Digital Media (30:07) Value of Different Audiences (32:28) Post-Internet Challenges and Cable's Future (37:57) Embracing AI in Media: Opportunities and Challenges (41:56) Wrap SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Nathan Barry, Founder and CEO of ConvertKit, joins Erik to discuss the evolution of the creator economy, the ‘billion dollar creator’, the importance of prioritizing long-term equity and adopting a flywheel approach to audience growth, and more. This conversation took place in early 2023 but is relevant and insightful for 2024. This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. — LINKS: ConvertKit: https://convertkit.com/ Nathan & Sahil Bloom’s Agency: https://www.paperboystudios.co/ Nathan Barry: https://nathanbarry.com/ Nathan Barry’s Podcast: Billion Dollar Creator — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @nathanbarry (Nathan) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (00:55) The Evolution of the Creator Economy (03:36) ConvertKit in the Creator Economy (05:26) Power of Attention (08:33) Future of the Creator Economy (16:49) Sponsor Turpentine (17:30) Rise of ‘Business Creators’ (21:30) Newsletter’s Significance in Audience Growth (28:52) Role of Agencies (38:04) Wrap SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

In this conversation, Andrew Sharp, the co-host of Sharp Tech and Greatest of All Talk, shares his journey building a podcast network at Stratechery. He discusses the future of the Stratechery network, lessons learned from the sports media industry, tips for becoming a great host, strategies for podcast network growth, and more. This conversation was recorded in early 2023. — LINKS: Stratechery - Subscribe to Stratechery Plus (https://stratechery.com/stratechery-plus/) to access the subscriber only Stratechery updates and Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Dithering, and Greatest of All Talk podcasts. — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @andrewsharp (Andrew) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (00:55) Basketball Talk (03:00) Andrew's Podcasting Journey (04:40) Transition from Law to Podcasting (06:27) Building the Stratechery Network (07:29) Future of Podcast Networks (09:18) Balancing Passion and Business in Podcasting (11:41) Art of Hosting Podcasts (14:06) Evolution of Podcast Networks (23:49) Subscription Model in Podcasting (27:52) Lessons from Sports Media for Tech Media (33:10) Advice for Aspiring Podcast Hosts (37:57) Wrap SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

In this episode, Erik sits down with Joe Pompliano, an investor, entrepreneur, and one of the fastest-growing personalities in sports, to talk all about sports media and business. From opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sports industry, to athlete entrepreneurship, to the importance of mastering a niche content creation within the realm of sports, this episode is a masterclass in the intersections between sports, digital media, business, and investment. This conversation was recorded in early 2023. LINKS: Joe Pompliano: https://www.joepompliano.com/ Huddle Up on Substack Huddle Up X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @JoePompliano (Joe) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode preview (04:03) The Evolution of Sports Media (06:11) The Power of Athletes in Business (11:59) The Global Reach of the NBA (15:21) Investing in the Sports Industry (20:05) The Potential of Athletes as Entrepreneurs (24:57) The Challenges of Minority Ownership in Sports Teams (26:17) Opportunities to Make Money in Sports (27:54) Content Creation in Sports (29:35) The Role of Agents in Sports (31:52) The Future of Sports Media (33:14) Investing in Athletes (38:47) The Power of Sports Broadcasting (44:01) The Future of the NBA SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

This week on Media Empires, Brian Morrissey, author and podcast at The Rebooting, who was formerly editor-in-chief of Digiday and editor at Adweek, shares insights about the evolving media landscape, shifts in the marketplace, the rise of platforms that enable more independence for creators, the future of ‘micro-media,’ and much more. This conversation took place in 2023, and since recording, Brian's podcast and newsletter The Rebooting launched a private membership tier. LINKS: The Rebooting: https://www.therebooting.com/ X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @bmorrissey (Brian) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (01:58) A journey through Brian’s media evolution (02:47) Building a sustainable media ecosystem (04:02) The role of advertising and subscriptions (10:07) Niche audiences (17:14) The impact of AI on media (20:51) Investing in media (25:29) The power of collective writing (26:52) Exploring high value areas (27:44) Networking is powerful (32:13) The role of experts (34:51) Intersections between tech and media (41:32) Future of media and tech companies (45:36) Being a solo entrepreneur isn’t for everyone (47:24) Potential of VC for creators (48:19) Realities of running a media business SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Megan Lightcap from Slow Ventures joins Erik Torenberg to discuss both of their insights into evolving creator economy and the role of strategic investment in digital creators and entrepreneurs. Megan discusses strategies for investing in creators, leveraging her experience, how to evaluate potential in creator businesses, deal structures, challenges of this new asset class, and how the future of creator financing might unfold. — LINKS: Slow https://slow.co/ — X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @mmlightcap (Megan) @slow (Slow Ventures) — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (02:25) Funding creators (05:52) The art of choosing the right creator to back (07:23) Examples of successful creator investments (15:24) Potential in creators building marketplaces (17:33) Creator investing vs investing in startups (23:25) The concept of creator franchises (25:31) Involving angel investors (28:33) The challenges of investing in humans (31:08) Entrepreneurs vs creator investment (32:59) The creator economy (35:30) The use of funds (45:05) The future of social tokens and NFTs (48:05) The future of in creators SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

This week we’re sharing a conversation with Erik Torenberg and Nathan Baschez , the co-founder of Every Inc. and creator of Lex, an AI-powered writing tool that’s aimed to revolutionize the writing process for writers. The discussion ranges from the nuances and challenges of podcasting, to the impact of AI on content creation, to the business models of various platforms like Substack and YouTube, and much more. This conversation was recorded in early 2023 but still holds numerous insights on the future of digital media and entertainment. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. LINKS: Every Inc. https://every.to/ Lex: https://lex.page/ X / TWITTER: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @nbashaw (Nathan) @every (Every Inc) @lexdotpage (Lex) TIMESTAMPS (00:29) Episode preview (02:17) Nathan's journey in the media industry (02:51) Lessons learned building Every Inc (08:26) The role of personalization in media (15:51) Strengths and weaknesses of the podcasting industry (21:01) The power of niche content on YouTube (22:55) Financing creators (30:25) The Evolution of Media Creation (32:14) Introducing Lex: The AI-Powered word processor (37:32) The Future Workflow for Writers (39:47) Conclusions SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Today we're dropping the debut episode of Request for Startups which features Justin Mares: Founder of Truemed,Kettle & Fire, Surely, and a partner at True Journey Ventures Sean Linehan: CEO of Exec.com, previously VP Product at Flexport Host: Erik Torenberg The conversation maps startup ideas and concepts, including dating apps based on spending patterns, a matching platform for singles, an exclusive dating app with angel investments, Google Maps for market ontologies, a personal trainer for life, Wikipedia by experts, and a vision of WeWork for productivity. What will you build? Upcoming guests on this season of Request for Startups include Aashay Sanghvi, Talia Goldberg, Imran Khan, Qiao Wang, Nick DeWilde, Greg Isenberg, Gagan Biyani, and more. SUBSCRIBE & FORWARD TO FOUNDERS & ANYONE NAVIGATING THE IDEA MAZE. Video episodes on Substack: https://requestforstartups.substack.com/p/receipt-based-dating-reference-checks Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/request-for-startups-with-erik-torenberg/id1728659822 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/739L1LR32QI2XyoZlRh5nv Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1728659822 -- Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:45) Justin's Incubation Processes (04:00) Dating App Based on Spending Patterns (06:40) Yenta (08:22) Exclusive Dating App with Angel Investments (13:16) Google Maps for Market Ontologies (19:07) Personal Trainer for Life (20:57) Wikipedia by Experts (27:01) WeWork for Productivity SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Chris Hutchins joins Erik Torenberg as he explores the intricacies of building and growing a successful podcast. Learn about crucial factors of optimization, tracking growth, choosing platforms, monetization practices including subscription models and content-brand alignments, and more. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. — LINKS: All The Hacks: https://www.allthehacks.com/ — X / Twitter: @hutchins (Chris) @eriktorenberg (Erik) TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:27) Chris's Journey to Podcasting (02:26) The Challenges of Content Creation (04:18) The Power of Podcasting (05:00) The Importance of Creating Content for the Platform (06:32) The Struggles of Social Media Content Creators (09:57) The Future of All The Hacks (11:39) The Importance of Good Content (14:18) The Power of Cross Promotion (20:35) The Importance of Analytics in Podcasting (28:30) The Reality of Podcast Monetization (32:49) Exploring the Idea of Full-Time Creators (33:36) Building a Podcast Network: Challenges and Opportunities (35:03) The Impact of Audience Demographics on Advertising (36:23) The Pros and Cons of Niche Podcast Networks (39:54) Investing in Podcasters (45:21) The Journey of Building a Successful Podcast (47:46) Exploring the Idea of Subscription-Based Podcasts (53:25) The Future of Podcast Ecosystem SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

This week, Erik Torenberg sits down with Mario Gabriele, founder of The Generalist to delve deep into the evolution of The Generalist, as well as discuss fascinating insights around the tech writing ecosystem, niche publication opportunities, NFT experiments, and the essential role a community can play in growing a media business. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. — LINKS: The Generalist on Substack: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/ — X / Twitter: @mariogabriele (Mario) @thegeneralistco (The Generalist) @eriktorenberg (Erik) TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:45) The Generalist Empire: A Deep Dive (03:38) The Tech Writing Ecosystem (06:38) The Evolution of Tech Analysis (07:31) The Future of Tech Analysis (10:02) The Challenges of Scaling a Publication (13:04) The Evolution of The Generalist (16:50) The Importance of Community in Content Creation (23:25) The Business Model of The Generalist (26:23) The Future of Content Creation (39:35) The NFT Experiment (43:58) Lessons Learned and Future Plans SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

In this episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Adam Ryan, the CEO of Workweek, for an insightful conversation on Workweek's business and media strategies, the transformation of digital media in the B2B sector, the potential of podcasts, their approach towards working with established and emerging creators, and much more. We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. — LINKS: Workweek: https://workweek.com/ Perpetual, a podcast by Adam Ryan: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qYQQirnkYzgLy0W1JrhrE?si=c8fe88148c8a469d Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perpetual/id1611806982 — X / Twitter: @AdamRy_n (Adam) @workweekinc (Workweek) @eriktorenberg (Erik) — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/moz Upstream: https://link.chtbl.com/Upstream Turpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVC Econ 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102 TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Intro (2:10) Opportunities in media investments. (6:48) Different waves of B2B media (8:42) Evolution, insights, &opportunities of B2B media (12:50) Comparing content production (15:05) Market segmentation & real purchasing power (18:55) Early strategies (20:25) Workweeks' media and business strategies (26:20) The creator financing ecosystem (27:03) Focus on long-term (28:25) Individualized deals for creating satisfaction SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Today’s episode is a special one – Erik Torenberg and Greg Isenberg discuss the future of B2B creators, monetizing media and the venture of Turpentine on Greg’s podcast “Where It Happens.” Erik shares his vision for 'audience in a box' services, explores how channels can be expanded for creators, the future of niche B2B creators, and the importance of building infrastructure that facilitates growth. Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. — LINKS: Where It Happens with Greg Isenberg: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-it-happens/id1593424985 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aB0v6amo3a8hgTCjlTlvh Twitter/X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @gregisenberg (Greg) @_trwih (Where It Happens Podcast) — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/moz Upstream: https://link.chtbl.com/Upstream Turpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVC Econ 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102 – SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. _ TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro/Episode Preview (01:44) Rise of the B2B Creator (04:39) The Power of Podcasts (09:17) B2B Niche Selection (16:48) The Future of Media Monetization (19:41) Value of Data in Media Businesses (26:52) Role of Producers in the Creator Economy (30:01) Diversification in Business (33:36) Co-ownership and Partnership (35:01) Leveraging Existing Platforms (40:01) Challenges & Opportunities of the Creator Path (47:45) The Evolution of Business Goals and Metrics (51:06) Exploring New Business Ideas (56:26) The Future of San Francisco and the Tech Industry

In today’s episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Robert Leonard, creator of The Investor's Podcast Network, to discuss all angles of building a podcast network, from vertical integration, the best titles, monetization strategies, quality vs quantity, and much more. Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. — LINKS: The Investor's Podcast Network: https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/ — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/moz Upstream: https://link.chtbl.com/Upstream Turpentine VC: https://link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVC Econ 102: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102 SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (01:09) The Investor's Podcast Network (03:02) Difference Between a Media Company and a Podcast Network (05:23) Creating Niche Tech Vertical Podcasts (07:41) Sequencing New Shows (09:59) Monetization (13:16) Structuring Podcast Feeds (25:42) Newsletters as Revenue Stream (28:34) Working with Hosts (33:49) Evaluating White Space and Opportunity for New Shows (38:35) Working with Hosts in Podcast Networks (41:37) Focus on Quality (43:32) In-House vs. Outsourcing (46:23) Turning cost centers into profit centers (47:18) Considerations for partnerships and ownership