New Media

Walker Deibel (Buy Then Build) joins Matt and Kolby to talk about how he wrote a category-defining book, built a newsletter to 300,000 subscribers, and used that list to raise $4 million in four hours. They cover his grassroots book launch strategy, why he believes newsletters are the most impactful asset any entrepreneur can build, and his framework for navigating private capital markets as what he calls the "new family office."
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:53 The Shift from Startups to Acquisitions
05:36 How Buy Then Build Changed Entrepreneurship
08:33 Grassroots Marketing and Book Launch Strategy
12:18 Creating a Movement and Defining a New Category
16:15 Frameworks for Exceptional Content
19:14 Writing the Book and Defining Entrepreneurship
22:29 Monetizing the Book and Building Community
29:14 Why In-Person Events Still Matter
35:43 Transitioning from Acquisition Lab to New Ventures
36:59 The Power of Email Lists in Investing
39:33 Building a Private Market Investing Community
43:15 Creating Value Through Direct Investments
46:35 The Economics of Being a Family Office
48:04 Newsletters as the Most Impactful Business Asset
48:59 Where to Find Walker
📌 Resources Mentioned: 
Buy Then Build (book)
Acquisition Lab
Good to Great by Jim Collins
🔗 Connect with Walker Deibel: 
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkerdeibel/ 
Website — https://walkerdeibel.com 
Newsletter — https://wealthstack1.com/

Matt and Kolby break down OpenAI's acquisition of TBPN for over $100 million and what it actually means for media. They dig into why the deal was less about audience size and more about an aqua hire of founders John Coogan and Jordi Hayes, how tech companies consistently use media as a PR and storytelling asset, and what lessons indie creators can take from TBPN's 18-month run to a nine-figure exit.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
05:29 Why the Founders Were the Real Asset
11:03 Editorial Independence Concerns
16:29 The Future of Infotainment in B2B
22:54 Media as a Tech Acquisition Strategy
28:43 Focus on Your Core Thing

📌 Resources Mentioned:
TBPN (Tech Business Programming Network) 

🍿 Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@growletter

Taylor Cromwell (Creator Diaries) joins Kolby to talk about what it actually takes to go from creator to founder — and what makes a media business acquisition-ready. They break down the Starter Story and Salary Transparent Street deals, how to eliminate key-face risk, why IRL events are the next big creator play, and the surprising business Taylor's mom accidentally built in Italy.
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Apply To Work With My Agency 👉 https://www.growletter.com

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Creator Diaries and the Creator-to-Founder Gap
03:44 The Starter Story Acquisition — What Creators Can Learn
05:23 Are Big Companies Still Buying Creator Brands?
07:32 How to Make Your Creator Business Acquisition-Ready
09:45 Key Face Risk — How to Build a Brand Beyond Yourself
13:27 IRL Events and Why Every Creator Should Think About Them
18:21 The Business Models Behind Creator Events
24:12 Scaling Pains — What Creators Avoid (But Shouldn't)
31:47 Taylor's Mom Accidentally Built a Business in Italy
37:21 Where to Find Taylor
📌 Resources Mentioned: Starter Story, Salary Transparent Street, StoryArb
🔗 Connect with Taylor: LinkedIn Creator Diaries

In today's episode, Matt and Kolby dig into what's actually working in audience building right now — fandom vs. impressions, the channels that actually build real community, and why frameworks are the ultimate cheat code for creator brands. Chenell Basilio (Growth in Reverse) joins to talk pop-up newsletters, cross-promotion strategy, and what's next after email. Plus, the guys debate whether Mr. Beast is the next BuzzFeed and what the rise of AI slop means for creators who actually give a damn about their craft.
Want to get your first 1,000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days? Click here: https://www.newsletteroperator.com/subscribe
Watch on YouTube
Timestamps:
00:00 Stardew Valley and the Indie Creator Model 
05:31 Fandom vs. Impressions: What Actually Builds an Audience
10:52 Cross-Promotion Strategy with Chenell Basilio
16:09 Pop-Up Newsletters and Re-engaging Churned Subscribers
30:01 Why Every Creator Needs a Framework
41:17 What's Next: SMS, Live Events, and YouTube
46:55 The Case for Live Streaming in B2B Media
01:02:05 Is Mr. Beast the Next BuzzFeed?
01:12:15 Betting on Emerging Creators
01:17:32 The Culturalist and the Future of Thoughtful Content
🔗 Connect with Chenell: 
https://growthinreverse.com/ 
Chenell's Podcast
30 Days of Growth
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Register here: https://workshop.growletter.com/
I’m hosting a free live workshop THIS Thursday on… The New Media Model: How To Build A Media Business AI Can't Kill
Your business model is under attack by AI and market saturation. The old ways to make money from content don’t work anymore.
This will show you how to fix it in 60 minutes. Plus, break down the “New Media Model” your business can use to get stronger as AI rises (not get replaced by it).
Join us for free: https://workshop.growletter.com/