How to become a Substack Star with Emily Sundberg

Emily Sundberg, author of the Feed Me newsletter on Substack, discusses the business and culture of her enormously influential newsletter with Peter Kafka. Feed Me focuses on New York City business and culture news, including fashion, gossip, and luxury, targeting dealmakers, strivers, bartenders, and billionaires. Emily shares her journey from being the first Instagram editor at New York Magazine to witnessing the girl boss era and venture capital boom, which inspired her to start Feed Me. She also touches on her experience at Apple Park with Tim Cook and her decision to remove selfies from her newsletter due to weird interactions in the city. Emily is considering expanding into audio with a podcast, but wants to remain behind the scenes as a producer.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction, Business Model

Part 2: Career Path, Genesis

Part 3: Voice, Identity, Public Image

Part 4: Content Strategy, Editorial Style

Part 5: Future Outlook, Industry Trends

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Channels with Peter Kafka

Part 1: Introduction, Business Model

Introducing Emily Sundberg: Newsletter Success, Business Model, and Media Attention

Feed Me: New York City Business, Culture, Gossip, and Community

Feed Me's Business Model: Subscriptions, Ads, and a Small Team

The Solopreneur Life: Managing All Aspects of Feed Me and Apple's Compliment

Part 2: Career Path, Genesis

From Fashion Institute to Instagram Editor to Witnessing the Girlboss Era

The Genesis of Feed Me: From Girlboss Fiction to Recognizing Newsletter Potential

From Side Hustle to Full-Time: Trusting Intuition and Greenlighting Ideas

Part 3: Voice, Identity, Public Image

Shaping the Feed Me Voice: Influences, Disconnects, and Becoming the Face

Navigating Public Recognition, Creeps, and the Balance of Personal Disclosure

The J.Crew Trip to Italy: Gossip, Brands, and Influencer Marketing

Part 4: Content Strategy, Editorial Style

Nicotine Pouches, Tucker Carlson, and Walking the Risque Line

Scaling a One-Person Newsroom: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Audio Plans

Part 5: Future Outlook, Industry Trends

Rejecting Investment Offers and the Vision for Feed Me's Future

The Crowded Newsletter Space and Building a Feed Me Universe

Advertising on Menus, Michael Bloomberg's Fish Tanks, and the Story That Needs to Be Told

Bundling Subscriptions, Time Management, and Final Thoughts

How to become a Substack Star with Emily Sundberg

Channels with Peter Kafka

Part 1: Introduction, Business Model

00:37Introducing Emily Sundberg: Newsletter Success, Business Model, and Media Attention

Introducing Emily Sundberg: Newsletter Success, Business Model, and Media Attention

02:05Feed Me: New York City Business, Culture, Gossip, and Community

Feed Me: New York City Business, Culture, Gossip, and Community

06:33Feed Me's Business Model: Subscriptions, Ads, and a Small Team

Feed Me's Business Model: Subscriptions, Ads, and a Small Team

08:17The Solopreneur Life: Managing All Aspects of Feed Me and Apple's Compliment

The Solopreneur Life: Managing All Aspects of Feed Me and Apple's Compliment

Part 2: Career Path, Genesis

10:05From Fashion Institute to Instagram Editor to Witnessing the Girlboss Era

From Fashion Institute to Instagram Editor to Witnessing the Girlboss Era

14:04The Genesis of Feed Me: From Girlboss Fiction to Recognizing Newsletter Potential

The Genesis of Feed Me: From Girlboss Fiction to Recognizing Newsletter Potential

16:37From Side Hustle to Full-Time: Trusting Intuition and Greenlighting Ideas

From Side Hustle to Full-Time: Trusting Intuition and Greenlighting Ideas

Part 3: Voice, Identity, Public Image

19:22Shaping the Feed Me Voice: Influences, Disconnects, and Becoming the Face

Shaping the Feed Me Voice: Influences, Disconnects, and Becoming the Face

22:30Navigating Public Recognition, Creeps, and the Balance of Personal Disclosure

Navigating Public Recognition, Creeps, and the Balance of Personal Disclosure

26:47The J.Crew Trip to Italy: Gossip, Brands, and Influencer Marketing

The J.Crew Trip to Italy: Gossip, Brands, and Influencer Marketing

Part 4: Content Strategy, Editorial Style

29:05Nicotine Pouches, Tucker Carlson, and Walking the Risque Line

Nicotine Pouches, Tucker Carlson, and Walking the Risque Line

32:58Scaling a One-Person Newsroom: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Audio Plans

Scaling a One-Person Newsroom: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Audio Plans

Part 5: Future Outlook, Industry Trends

35:56Rejecting Investment Offers and the Vision for Feed Me's Future

Rejecting Investment Offers and the Vision for Feed Me's Future

37:42The Crowded Newsletter Space and Building a Feed Me Universe

The Crowded Newsletter Space and Building a Feed Me Universe

40:26Advertising on Menus, Michael Bloomberg's Fish Tanks, and the Story That Needs to Be Told

Advertising on Menus, Michael Bloomberg's Fish Tanks, and the Story That Needs to Be Told

43:00Bundling Subscriptions, Time Management, and Final Thoughts

Bundling Subscriptions, Time Management, and Final Thoughts