Ep 387: Can Substack Save Journalism? + Viral Advice for Ignoring Your Phone

The podcast explores whether paid email newsletters can replace failing print media. It begins by examining Paul Krugman's success on Substack, estimating his potential earnings in the seven-figure range. Referencing Nate Silver's experience, the discussion suggests running a successful newsletter requires effort comparable to a full-time journalism job. The podcast estimates around 500 to 1,000 writers are making a good living on Substack, but notes Substack's potential shift towards a stream-based distraction model, similar to TikTok or Instagram, which could undermine quality. The discussion concludes that while paid newsletters show promise, an open-source ecosystem is needed to prevent a single company from dominating the medium.