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.
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?
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!
Substack, and all the other Internet content platforms as well, are relentlessly destroying scarcity on an industrial scale. To see where this is headed consider the example of air.
Air is crucially important. Without air, we die in just a few minutes. But because air is available everywhere for free, there is no perceived scarcity, and thus we don’t value air, but take it for granted.
Substack and the other platforms are attempting to sell a product, media, that citizens of the modern world are already drowning in. That can’t go on forever. And so we are reminded of how business on the Internet has worked from the beginning.
Get in to a fad early.
Build like crazy.
Get out early.
Just as earlier enthusiasm for Twitter and Facebook has been converted in to the chant “Twitter and Facebook Suck!” that will happen to Substack too. Here’s hoping that the founders of Substack are able to cash out before that happens.
Loving this interview.
Awesome Susan! Out of curiosity, what parts of Hamish's responses most resonate with you?
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.
Fantastic interview - very helpful to have timestamps and AI summaries too.
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?
❤️
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!
Perceived value is based on perceived scarcity.
Substack, and all the other Internet content platforms as well, are relentlessly destroying scarcity on an industrial scale. To see where this is headed consider the example of air.
Air is crucially important. Without air, we die in just a few minutes. But because air is available everywhere for free, there is no perceived scarcity, and thus we don’t value air, but take it for granted.
Substack and the other platforms are attempting to sell a product, media, that citizens of the modern world are already drowning in. That can’t go on forever. And so we are reminded of how business on the Internet has worked from the beginning.
Get in to a fad early.
Build like crazy.
Get out early.
Just as earlier enthusiasm for Twitter and Facebook has been converted in to the chant “Twitter and Facebook Suck!” that will happen to Substack too. Here’s hoping that the founders of Substack are able to cash out before that happens.
Everything in all of reality is temporary.
On the Internet, everything is temporary faster.