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Susan Kuenzi's avatar

Loving this interview.

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Michael Simmons's avatar

Awesome Susan! Out of curiosity, what parts of Hamish's responses most resonate with you?

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Susan Kuenzi's avatar

I enjoyed hearing his perspective on the philosophy of Substack from the beginning. I like how they want to nurture writers and a vibrant community. I appreciate they aren’t all about power and control (and censorship) but how they want to facilitate and nurture the growth of writers. The analogies he used were good. They profit if writers profit. It’s a healthy model I think and I thought he was a likable person. I had never heard him talk before.

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Yuri Bezmenov's avatar

Fantastic interview - very helpful to have timestamps and AI summaries too.

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Michael Simmons's avatar

Thanks for the feedback on the time stamps Yuri, and I'm happy you love the interview. Out of curiosity, what parts of Hamish's responses most resonate with you?

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Ulysse Diary's avatar

❤️

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Stella Chibuike-Ezike's avatar

I have just watched this recording and I would like to extend a big thank you to Michael and Tom for creating such an enriching experience with Substack Campfire.

The conversations and insights have been incredibly valuable, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. There was so much takeaways and I will attempt to highlight them all:

One of the key takeaways for me from the interview with Hamish was the emphasis on the direct relationship between writers and readers.

This shift from platform-centric to audience-centric engagement is a game changer. It makes every interaction feel like a genuine 1-1 conversation, bringing readers closer to authors in a way that’s both personal and impactful.

His description of Notes as a subscription-generating machine also resonated with me. He said Notes isnt just a tool; it’s an investment in the future for everyone involved in the Substack ecosystem—writers, creators, and readers alike.

I also really loved the analogy of Substack:Other Platforms and Tesla:Gasoline Powered Cars. I think that was spot on and highlighted the innovative and forward-thinking nature of Substack.

I’m particularly excited to see how the concept of unbundling will evolve in the coming years.

Overall, what struck me most was the genuine sense of connection and value that Substack fosters. It’s clear that this platform is designed to create a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved, and this interview only reinforced my belief that Substack is the place to be.

I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and hopefully I can be partake fully in the Substack Campfire 2.0.

Another part that really stood out to me was the discussion around courage. Hamish's statement on not needing all the talent or courage in the world—just enough to take the leap and bet on your vision—was incredibly empowering for me in particular.

Just today, I was having a discussion about courage with my girls. We were at the pool for our swimming classes (I will post a detailed note on this later. 😊)

The conversation around personal memoirs and storytelling also hit home for me. I’ve always been a very private person, with little to no digital footprint until late last year.

But Substack has given me the space to share my personal stories in a way that feels authentic and safe. It’s been a refreshing and liberating experience, and I’m so thankful for that.

Thank you again for creating this incredible space and for the continued support and inspiration. I’m excited to see what the future holds for all of us here on Substack!

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