Are Substack Newsletters the New Podcasts? Bloomberg Seems to Think So (But That's a GOOD Thing)
Bloomberg sees a problem. I see opportunity. Here's why you should be excited about the Substack revolution.
There’s an interesting Bloomberg article buzzing around.
The writer argued that Substack is following the same path as podcasts – exploding in popularity but lacking proper guardrails and potentially becoming a breeding ground for misinformation.
According to the article, everyone has a Substack now, just like everyone had a podcast 10 years ago. The barrier to entry is virtually non-existent, and Bloomberg seems worried about that.
But I couldn't disagree more.
You see, I don't think Substack becoming the "new podcast" is a problem. It's actually the biggest opportunity we've seen in digital content creation in years.
While the media establishment wrings its hands about "guardrails," what's really happening is revolutionary: the democratization of publishing.
Google searches for "Substack" surpassed "newsletter" for the first time ever this year. Something massive is happening, and it's happening right now.
This isn't just another platform – it's a complete shift in how people create, consume, and monetize content.
And if you've been writing on Substack for even a few weeks? You're not late to the party.
You're actually ahead of the curve.
The Democratization of Content Creation Is Finally Here
Remember the early 2010s when everyone rushed to start a podcast?
A mic, a voice, and a dream was all it took. Sure, most podcasts never found an audience beyond friends and family. But for thousands of creators, podcasting became a career, a platform, and a way to build something meaningful.
Now, we're seeing the same revolution with newsletters.
For decades, having a "newsletter" meant either:
A) Working for an established media company
B) Sending boring corporate updates
C) Creating a hobby project read by 12 people
The barrier to entry wasn't just high—it was a fortress guarded by traditional gatekeepers.
But Substack changed all that.
Just like podcasting democratized radio, Substack is democratizing publishing. Anyone with ideas and the ability to string sentences together can build an audience and monetize their knowledge.
And unlike Bloomberg's concerned take, I see this as a beautiful thing.
We're living in a time where you could literally start writing today and a year from now have a solid side hustle going, earning income from writing about something you actually care about.
And it's not just writing anymore. Substack has evolved into a multi-media platform where you can:
• Add video content to your posts
• Record and embed podcast episodes
• Go "live" with your audience
• Create a paid community around your expertise
The traditional media model required connections, credentials, and climbing a corporate ladder.
Today's model? Just start typing.
5 Reasons Why You Need to Grow Your Substack Newsletter Right Now
Let me put this bluntly: we're in the middle of a gold rush, and the early prospectors are already staking their claims.
While Bloomberg wrings its hands about "anyone can start one" (as if that's a bad thing), I'm watching regular people—teachers, marketers, accountants, and stay-at-home parents—build sustainable income streams and passionate communities through their newsletters.
The opportunity is massive, but it won't stay this wide open forever.
Here are 5 concrete reasons why growing your Substack now isn't just a good idea—it's potentially life-changing:
1. The Monetization Is Unprecedented
Think about this for a second...
Where else can you write something once and get paid for it month after month? Where else can you transform your knowledge into passive income without building complex funnels or mastering paid advertising?
I've been watching creators who started just 6-12 months ago now earning $5K+ monthly from their newsletters. Not from massive subscriber counts, but from deeply engaged audiences who value their perspective.
Look at what happened to my friend Sarah. She was writing HR content for corporate blogs, making decent money but feeling empty. She started a Substack about building better workplace cultures.
Six months in? She's earning more from her 600 paid subscribers than she did writing for Fortune 500 companies. And she owns every word she publishes.
The barrier to monetization isn't just low—it's practically non-existent.
2. You Own Your Audience (For Real This Time)
Let's be brutally honest about something:
Most platforms don't care about you or your business—they care about their business.
I've watched creators build massive followings on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, only to have the algorithm change overnight. Suddenly, their reach drops by 80%, and they're scrambling to hold onto the audience they spent years building.
With Substack, things are fundamentally different.
When someone subscribes to your Substack, you get their email address. Direct access to their inbox. No middleman deciding if your content is "engaging enough" to be seen.
That's not just convenient—it's revolutionary.
Think about what happened last year when Twitter/X imploded. Creators who had spent a decade building audiences suddenly found themselves without a platform. Meanwhile, newsletter writers just kept writing, unaffected by the chaos.
This direct relationship with your audience isn't just about stability—it's about freedom. You can:
• Communicate directly without algorithms blocking your reach
• Take your audience with you if you ever decide to move platforms
• Build genuine relationships instead of chasing engagement metrics
• Control how and when you monetize
In a world where platforms rise and fall with increasing speed, owning your audience isn't just nice—it's necessary.
And the sooner you start building that owned audience, the better positioned you'll be when the next platform collapse inevitably happens.
3. Creative Freedom Like You've Never Experienced
I spent years writing for corporate blogs and media outlets.
Every piece had to be approved. Every idea had to fit the "brand voice." Every article needed to check all the right SEO boxes.
That's not writing—that's filling in Mad Libs with industry jargon.
Substack offers something entirely different: true creative freedom.
Here, you don't answer to editors, algorithm changes, or corporate guidelines. You answer only to your readers. And what I've discovered is that readers don't want polished corporate speak—they want authentic voices and real insights.
On Substack, you can:
• Write exactly what you're passionate about
• Experiment without getting "feedback" from 12 different stakeholders
• Develop your unique voice without watering it down
• Combine formats (writing, audio, video) based on what works for you
• Test ideas directly with your audience instead of guessing what works
This freedom isn't just liberating—it's addictive.
Remember when blogs first appeared and suddenly anyone could publish their thoughts? Substack is that revolution 2.0, but with built-in monetization and distribution tools.
What would you write if nobody could tell you "no?” What knowledge would you share if you didn't have to fit it into someone else's content calendar?
That's the question Substack lets you answer. And the creators who are answering it authentically are the ones building the most passionate (and profitable) audiences.
You don't need permission to be interesting. You just need to start typing.
4. Career Opportunities That Extend Far Beyond Your Newsletter
Consider this: A newsletter isn't just a newsletter.
It's a portfolio that never stops working for you. It's a credential nobody can take away. It's proof of your expertise that's visible to the entire world.
I've watched this phenomenon unfold over the past year. Creators who consistently publish on Substack aren't just building subscriber lists—they're creating new career trajectories.
Here's what happens when you build a successful Substack:
• Media outlets start reaching out for quotes and expert commentary
• Conference organizers invite you to speak on panels
• Companies approach you about consulting opportunities
• Book agents and publishers take notice of your built-in audience
• Industry leaders start referencing your ideas and perspectives
Publishing consistently in a specific domain doesn't just build an audience—it builds authority. And authority is the most valuable career currency in an increasingly unstable job market.
Think about it from an employer's perspective. Who would you rather hire: the person with a standard resume or the person who has demonstrated their expertise to thousands of engaged readers?
In a world of layoffs, AI disruption, and economic uncertainty, having a platform that showcases your thinking is the ultimate career insurance policy.
This isn't theoretical. I've seen writers land six-figure book deals within months of launching newsletters. I've watched creators transition from corporate jobs to full-time content creation. I've seen consultants double their rates because their newsletters positioned them as thought leaders.
Your newsletter isn't just content—it's a catapult.
5. Building a Community That Powers Your Growth
Picture this: You're sitting at your kitchen table, coffee in hand, when a notification pops up.
Someone just paid $10 to read your words. Then another. And another.
Or, someone decides to jump on your recorded masterclass with another $50 notification.
This isn't just validation—it's transformation. From hobbyist to professional. From "aspiring writer" to "paid creator."
That first paid subscriber changes everything. The moment you make your first $1 from writing, you’ll never go back.
But the real magic of Substack isn't just monetization—it's community building.
Unlike traditional publishing, where readers are passive consumers...
Unlike social media, where engagement is often shallow and fleeting...
Unlike corporate content, where connection is sacrificed for conversion...
Substack creates genuine, meaningful communities around ideas and expertise. I've seen it happen in real-time:
Writers hosting weekly "Notes Boost" sessions where they support each other's work
Readers becoming collaborators and eventually launching their own newsletters
Paid communities that evolve into mastermind groups and real-world friendships
Subscribers finding jobs, partners, and opportunities through newsletter connections
This community aspect isn't just nice—it's a growth accelerator. When your readers feel connected to you and each other, they don't just read your content. They evangelize it.
They share it with friends. They forward your emails. They restack your posts. They bring new people into your world.
The most successful newsletters aren't just publications—they're movements. And movements grow exponentially while lone voices often plateau.
You're not just building a readership. You're building a tribe.
The Window of Opportunity Won't Stay Open Forever
You're likely wondering...
"If Substack is so great, why should I rush? Can't I just start whenever?"
That's exactly what creators thought about:
Blogging in 2007
YouTube in 2012
Podcasting in 2015
TikTok in 2020
And those who waited? They're still playing catch-up.
The Bloomberg article that sparked this post revealed something crucial: Google searches for "Substack" surpassed "newsletter" for the first time ever in 2025 according to Google Trends data for the United States.
This isn't just a statistical blip—it's a seismic shift in how people think about content.
But here's what history teaches us about these platform explosions:
Early Phase: Low competition, high organic reach, massive opportunity (← You are here)
Growth Phase: Competition increases, best practices emerge, niches get claimed
Maturity Phase: Saturation occurs, growth requires significant investment, early winners dominate
The math is simple:
Starting today means competing with thousands of newsletters
Waiting a year means competing with millions
When I relaunched this Substack back in 2024, I had no idea the direction it would go. Just a little over 6 months later, it’s grown to nearly 7000 subscribers. However, it wasn't from some magical hack—it came from recognizing the opportunity and acting on it quickly.
These stories aren't rare exceptions—they're becoming the new normal for creators who understand the current landscape.
The question isn't whether Substack will continue growing. The question is whether you'll be part of the first wave that rides it to success.
The Opportunity Is Right In Front of You
If you've been writing on Substack for even a few weeks, I've got news for you.
You're not late. You're ahead of the curve.
Let that sink in for a second.
Most people don't recognize transformative platforms until they've already matured. They wait for validation, for proof, for the perfect moment to jump in.
And that moment never comes.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is today.
Every day I see messages from people saying:
"I wish I'd started sooner..." "I can't believe how fast my audience is growing..." "If only I'd known this was possible..."
These aren't just words—they're regrets from creators who hesitated while others took action.
While traditional media continues to consolidate and contract, Substack is expanding. While social platforms make it harder to reach audiences without paying, Substack is doubling down on organic discovery.
We're living in a unique moment where:
Starting costs nothing but time
Growth can happen remarkably quickly
Monetization options are built directly into the platform
The ceiling for success keeps getting higher
Consider this: some of today's most successful newsletter writers started with zero subscribers just 12-18 months ago. They weren't experts in newsletter growth. They weren't famous. They simply understood the power of consistent publishing on an emerging platform.
What they knew then, you know now.
The difference is they acted on it.
📌Accelerate Your Success with Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass
Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this.
Starting a newsletter is easy. Growing it to meaningful income? That takes strategy.
I've spent the past year studying what actually works on Substack. I've analyzed hundreds of successful newsletters, tested countless growth tactics, and distilled everything down to a repeatable system.
What I've discovered is that most newsletter writers make the same mistakes:
They focus on metrics instead of connection
They wait too long to monetize
They try to be perfect instead of consistent
They write what they think people want instead of finding their authentic voice
They bounce between strategies instead of following a proven path
The writers who break through aren't necessarily the most talented. They're the ones with a system.
That's why I created the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass.
Inside, I break down exactly how to:
Position your newsletter to stand out in a crowded landscape
Build an audience even if you're starting from zero
Create monetization streams from day one
Leverage Substack's ecosystem for maximum growth
Develop a consistent writing habit that doesn't burn you out
This isn't theoretical advice. It's the exact system I've used to build my own newsletter and help hundreds of other writers grow theirs.
If you’re ready to start growing your newsletter this year, join us in the masterclass below:
The marketplace of ideas has never been more open. The potential for impact has never been greater. And contrary to Bloomberg's concerned take, this democratization of publishing isn't something to fear—it's something to celebrate.
You don't need anyone's permission to start building something meaningful. You just need to take the first step.
I'm loving it here. I think you nailed it with this post. 👍
The echoes of unlived dreams live at the intersection of time and ambition - Leyla
https://open.substack.com/pub/failing2succeed/p/chasing-shadows-a-life-unlived?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=10h1vt