The Fastest Way to Turn Your Expertise Into a $1M/Year Business

In this episode, I share an important update about the future of the podcast as we relaunch with a new name and direction. While the show started focused on newsletters and email marketing, the new version will expand into helping you build an independent media, education, or creator business. We'll be covering audience growth, newsletters, monetization, and the strategies behind modern media companies. Subscribe to the video version of the podcast and our YouTube channel here. 

Get the slides and resources mentioned from this episode linked here. In this video, I break down the 5 frameworks that helped my clients generate over $100 million in sales from email. These are the exact strategies top media, education, and creator businesses use to grow their email list, boost open rates and click-through rates, and drive more sales. Timestamps:00:00: Introduction01:16: Framework #1: The MAGIC Formula (turn social followers into email subscribers)15:22: Framework #2: First-Party Data & SMS19:11: Framework #3: The WE-PAC Welcome Email25:56: Framework #4: The Deliverability Detox30:37: Framework #5: The Newsletter FlywheelOther Resources:🎤 Purchase recordings from our conference with speakers like Codie Sanchez, Ryan Deiss, and 15+ more: https://recording.newmediasummit.com/🐝 Looking for the best newsletter and email marketing platform? beehiiv is what I use and recommend: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=matt-mcgarry

Learn more about Uscreen https://www.uscreen.tv/In this episode, I sit down with Allison Yazdian, CEO of Uscreen, to break down how creators can build scalable, recurring revenue with video-first memberships. We cover what makes a compelling offer, how to price and tier it, and the features that drive engagement and retention. Allison shares real examples of creators generating millions through subscriptions, live streams, and community. If you want to own your audience and turn content into predictable monthly revenue, this is a must-watch.Connect with Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonyazdian/Timestamps:00:00: Meet Allison Yazdian (CEO of Uscreen)01:20: What Uscreen Does04:00: How Creators Make Money with Memberships06:00: Big Creators Using Uscreen 09:00: Why Memberships Beat Ads & One-Off Products12:00: What Makes a Great Membership Offer16:00: Free Tiers, Trials & Entry Offers18:00: Pricing Strategy & Benchmarks22:00: Structuring Your Membership Tiers24:30: Must-Have Features (Community, Live, Challenges)27:30: How to Market & Sell Your Membership31:30: Onboarding New Members the Right Way33:30: Reducing Churn & Increasing Retention36:00: One Thing That Improves Retention Fast38:00: Who Uscreen Is Best For + How to Get StartedOther Resources:🎤 Pre-order recordings from our conference with speakers like Codie Sanchez, Ryan Deiss, and 15+ more: https://recording.newmediasummit.com/

Learn more about Ezoic: https://www.ezoic.com/I sit down with Gavin Bechtold (Ezoic) to reveal how publishers, creators, and newsletter operators are leaving serious money on the table by ignoring website monetization. We break down programmatic ads, first-party data, and how sending traffic back to your site can dramatically increase subscriber lifetime value. If you run a newsletter or media business, this episode will change how you think about traffic and revenue.Connect with Gavin directly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinbechtold/Timestamps:00:00: Intro & why website traffic is overlooked05:47: Website vs. newsletter monetization12:50: What RPMs can you actually expect?16:46: Myth busting: Do ads hurt user experience?29:21: How first-party data increases ad revenue36:56: Who Ezoic is a good fit forMore Resources:🎤 Pre-order recordings from New Media Summit with speakers like Codie Sanchez, Ryan Deiss, and 15+ more: https://recording.newmediasummit.com/📧 Join my free newsletter here: https://www.newsletteroperator.com/subscribe

🐝 Join beehiiv here and use code GROWLETTER for 20% off:https://www.beehiiv.com/I sit down with Tyler Denk to break down how he built Big Desk Energy into a 120k+ subscriber newsletter—while still working a full-time job as Beehiiv's CEO. They get tactical on weekly workflow, “night-before / day-after” social promos, email-gated posts, referral rewards that cost $0, and how paid growth (Meta + Beehiiv Boosts) helps scale past 50k. Tyler also shares how he monetizes with sponsors, Boost revenue, and a high-ticket Costa Rica mastermind—and why founder-led marketing and trust matter more than ever in the AI era. If you’re building a newsletter as a side hustle (or scaling one fast), this episode is packed with actionable playbooks you can copy.Tyler's newsletter Big Desk Energy: https://www.bigdeskenergy.com/Tyler's media kit HERE >>Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:59 Building a 120K Subscriber Newsletter on the Side02:01 Managing Time While Working Full-Time07:45 Launch Strategy & Early Growth Tactics14:49 Leveraging Social & DMs for Growth17:38 Scaling with Paid Ads & Beehiiv Boost21:17 Referral Programs That Actually Work29:01 How Tyler Monetizes (Sponsors, Boost, Ads)34:36 $10K Mastermind Strategy41:57 The Future of Beehiiv48:21 AI & The Future of Email55:49 Beehiiv vs. Other Platforms

Traditional online courses are dead. People don’t need more information. They need execution. In this video, I break down why live cohort-based programs are the fastest way to turn your expertise into a $100K+ offer and eventually a $1M/year business. You’ll learn how to craft your cohort in 8 simple steps, even if you have no audience, testimonials, or teaching experience. Get the full guide and next steps here.Timestamps:01:35 Introduction 3:00 Why courses are dead5:25 The execution problem5:48 Why cohorts win7:22 Step 1: Pick the outcome10:45 Step 2: Structure it14:22 Step 3: Homework plan15:06 Step 4: Build the system16:11 Step 5: Gamify + track19:40 Step 6: Track results20:43 Step 7: Scarcity21:22 Step 8: Social proof26:58 Step 9: Cohort outline30:15 Step 10: Build anticipation31:17 Step 11: Always sell, then build31:55 Step 12: Marketing scheduleWant to learn what's working in media right now? New Media Summit brings together 500+ founders in Austin Feb 26-27 with Codie Sanchez, Ryan Deiss, Matt Paulson, and more. Get tickets here!

What’s changing in newsletters, email marketing, and the creator economy — and how do you grow, monetize, and scale in 2026?In this FREE online event, 8 industry experts share 15+ data-backed predictions on newsletter growth, email deliverability, audience development, and media monetization — plus actionable strategies you can apply immediately.🎤 Featuring: Tyler Denk (beehiiv), Matt McGarry (GrowLetter), Robin Re (Industry Dive), Greg Van Horn (Launch Potato), Nathan May (The Feed Media), Max Bidna (Growth Daily), Chris Miquel (Audience Bridge), and Daniel Bustamante (Ship 30 for 30).If you’re building a newsletter, email list, or media business, this event will help you create a clear, tactical plan for growth in 2026.Timestamps:1:00 Speaker Introductions3:06 Tyler Denk18:20 Greg Van Horn29:10 Nathan May 44:07 Robin Re55:50 Chris Miquel01:08:10 Marketing Max01:22:57 Daniel Bustamante1:36:56 Matt’s Takeaways 1:38:20 New Media SummitBonus 1: Use code 'NEWMEDIA' and receive 20% off Beehiiv.Bonus 2: FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days.Bonus 3: Our New Media Summit promotional discount has ended — however, you can still save $400 by purchasing today with early-bird pricing.👉 Grab your ticket to New Media Summit.New Media Summit is where today’s top speakers, media founders, newsletter operators, publishers, and marketers come together to share real tactics and build meaningful connections — and many of the experts in this event will be there. February 26-27

This episode is a complete 15-part breakdown of how to sell your first digital product from scratch. I walk through how to choose the right product, validate demand, and price it for maximum conversions. You’ll learn why you don’t need a huge audience to make real money. I also cover launch strategy, promotion timelines, and common mistakes that kill first launches. If you’re a creator, founder, or newsletter writer aiming for your first $1k–$10k launch, this is for you.Watch the full episode on YouTube linked here.Watch my monetization masterclass here.FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days >>Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Selling Digital Products01:09 Building an Email List for Success03:48 Understanding Your Audience's Needs06:08 Types of Media Products06:50 Pricing Your Product 08:15 Your Tech Setup10:26 Overcoming the Need for Testimonials11:31 Navigating Sales Without Being Salesy12:25 Mastering Copywriting13:56 Promoting Your Product Effectively15:29 Establishing Credibility as a Seller16:48 Your First Launch18:26 Refunds and Customer Concerns19:14 Creating a Minimum Viable Product20:04 Validating Your Product Idea20:53 Running a Pre-Sale for Your Product

In this video, I break down why so many people hesitate to start a newsletter— and why that fear once held me back too. You’ll learn the biggest advantages of launching one, from owning your audience to building a scalable, high-profit media business with multiple revenue streams. I also share my full journey, including early failures, the lessons that changed everything, and how my newsletter eventually grew to 50,000+ subscribers and a multimillion-dollar business. By the end, you’ll understand not only why a newsletter can transform your income, but also how it accelerates your skills, opportunities, and long-term growth—no matter your starting point.FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days >>Timestamps:00:00 Overcoming the Fear of Starting a Newsletter00:55 The Value of Owning Your Audience04:03 Low Startup Costs + Big Income Potential07:31 Scalability and Major Business Potential09:18 Multiple Revenue Streams You Can Build12:02 Building Skills Through Publishing15:07 The Right Motivation for Starting a Newsletter18:45 Personal Journey, Failures & Lessons Learned22:05 Taking Action: Launching Your Newsletter

In this Q&A, we discuss the future of media and why newsletters, YouTube, and podcasts will dominate. Matt shares his MAGIC Framework for converting social followers into email subscribers. We discuss Beehiiv’s newest features, including dynamic content, native analytics, and its ad network. The Q&A also covers paywalls, reader behavior shifts, and the biggest newsletter design mistakes. Finally, Matt explains how to know when you’ve hit content–market fit and when to use paid acquisition.FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days >>Timestamps & Questions:00:00 Introduction00:48 What do you think the future of media will look like?04:39 How do you drive traffic from a discovery platform to your newsletter?11:01 How do you recommend utilizing paywalls and gated content?13:29 What’s the best new Beehiiv feature for smaller creators?16:05 How do you know a discovery platform is working?16:53 How should you utilize dynamic content?19:08 Should Beehiiv integrate better with Shopify?20:00 Does this put pressure on Kit and Substack to evolve?22:03 What’s the most underrated moat a newsletter can have?23:12 How will reader behavior change overtime?25:01 How will B2B newsletter evolve?26:38 Advice for someone sitting on an idea for 6 months?28:32 How do you know when you have audience market fit?30:04 When should you run paid ads?31:53 What are the biggest design mistakes you see?