Local Media HQ

In this episode, TJ Larkin interviews Justin Gordon, the creator of two high-impact newsletters: Just Go Grind and LA Grind. Justin shares how his journey began with a podcast back in 2018, eventually transitioning into newsletters focused on startup founders, investors, and the LA tech scene. He walks us through how he built up an audience of over 20,000 for Just Go Grind and used his unique posi...

In this episode, TJ Larkin chats with Matt Deal, the creator of Eating Baltimore , a growing local newsletter focused on food, events, and community in the Baltimore area. With a background in financial newsletters and wine club marketing, Matt shares how he transitioned into building a hyperlocal media product from scratch. Matt dives deep into his strategies for acquiring subscribers—like using...

TJ welcomes Alec Kremins, Beehive's Partnership Manager and founder of the JLM Scoop, a local Jerusalem newsletter with nearly 6,000 subscribers. Alec shares his journey of starting the newsletter while onboarding at Beehive, how he validated the idea in a new city, and why local newsletters can open doors—even beyond revenue. From sponsor negotiations to delegation and audience building, this...

Feeling stagnant with newsletter revenue? TJ Larkin explains a new path: charge $300 for a half-day, face-to-face crash course on ChatGPT basics, marketed straight to the subscribers who already trust him. The episode breaks down his market-validation call with another publisher, the city-government referral loop, and why timing finally favors beginner AI education. You’ll also hear a mini-tutoria...

In this episode, TJ Larkin reconnects with John Apolinar of Scottsdale Scoop for a deep dive into practical strategies for growing a local newsletter business. They discuss what’s been working for John over the past two months, particularly his high-performing combination of Instagram DMs and in-person networking through the Chamber of Commerce. John breaks down how he tailors quick, engaging Inst...

In this episode, TJ Larkin is joined once again by Landon from Wichita Life—a returning guest and a pioneer in the local newsletter space. They dive deep into the operational side of running a successful local media business, including ad placement strategies, pricing models, and campaign management using simple tools like Google Sheets. Landon shares his evolution from an Instagram account to a f...

Local‑media veteran Kyle Scott joins TJ Larkin to unpack how a tiny beach‑town newsletter ballooned into a 17,000‑subscriber powerhouse—and why owning your audience matters more than ever in 2025. From his Philly sports‑blog roots to mastering Beehive, Kyle reveals the playbook for transforming passion projects into real businesses. He breaks down the forks in the road every publisher faces: stay...

TJ Larkin shares a powerful concept that could revolutionize local newsletter monetization: the negative CAC model. Based on insights from a B2B newsletter called The Assist, TJ explains how strategic onboarding emails with affiliate-style offers can actually earn more than the subscriber acquisition cost in the first week. He illustrates how this could work in the local context using examples lik...

TJ Larkin interviews Ethan Realander about his journey from finance to entrepreneurship through his Rolling Suds power washing franchise and Westchester Weekly newsletter. Ethan shares how he's acquiring subscribers for just 20-25 cents each and his vision for creating multiple revenue streams through these complementary businesses. The conversation covers newsletter design, content creation,...

TJ Larkin interviews Phat Chiem, founder of The 518 newsletter serving Albany, NY. With a background from the Chicago Tribune and Yahoo, Phat combines professional journalism with content curation, creating original stories alongside local event listings. This approach built 2,300+ subscribers in one year without significant ad spend. The 518's distinct branding draws on Albany's history,...

TJ Larkin interviews Phat Chiem, founder of The 518 newsletter serving Albany, NY. With a background from the Chicago Tribune and Yahoo, Phat combines professional journalism with content curation, creating original stories alongside local event listings. This approach built 2,300+ subscribers in one year without significant ad spend. The 518's distinct branding draws on Albany's history,...

TJ Larkin interviews Jas Singh about building the Winnipeg Digest to 25,000 email subscribers and 60,000 social media followers in one year. Jas explains why reels are essential for Instagram growth initially and how a simple landing page optimization cut his subscriber acquisition costs by 50%. The discussion covers monetization strategies, with Jas sharing his approach to selling $10,000 annual...

Shane Brady reveals how he built a local newsletter capturing 25% of his town's adult population. Working full-time, Shane creates compelling content in just one hour using AI and automation to analyze subscriber data and curate more effectively. He shares his monetization strategy that achieved a 90% ad slot sell-out rate for six months, explaining why simple subscription models work better t...

Shane Brady reveals how he built a local newsletter capturing 25% of his town's adult population. Working full-time, Shane creates compelling content in just one hour using AI and automation to analyze subscriber data and curate more effectively. He shares his monetization strategy that achieved a 90% ad slot sell-out rate for six months, explaining why simple subscription models work better t...

Scott Brodbeck shares his 15-year journey building Local News Now, a successful media company with multiple publications in the DC area. He explains the differences between newsletter-first and website-first approaches, revenue diversification strategies, and how automation has been critical to his success. Scott discusses his multi-faceted revenue approach including programmatic advertising, dire...

Scott Brodbeck shares his 15-year journey building Local News Now, a successful media company with multiple publications in the DC area. He explains the differences between newsletter-first and website-first approaches, revenue diversification strategies, and how automation has been critical to his success. Scott discusses his multi-faceted revenue approach including programmatic advertising, dire...

Entrepreneur Trenton Hughes shares how he grew Wilmi Weekly to 10,000 subscribers in Wilmington, North Carolina. In this conversation with TJ Larkin, Trenton reveals why local newsletters should be viewed as strategic community-building assets rather than quick revenue generators, focusing on creating long-term value. The discussion covers content creation, social media acquisition, and brand deve...

In this detailed walkthrough, TJ Larkin reviews Mike's first issue of the Green Bay Buzz newsletter before launch. They examine the newsletter layout, section organization, and design elements while discussing practical improvements. The video also covers Mike's Facebook ad setup, including how to properly configure conversion tracking and avoid common mistakes that waste ad spend. Perfect...

Stop thinking of yourself as a newsletter creator. Start building a local media company. In this episode, I break down why the most successful local content creators are going beyond their newsletters to build complete media ecosystems:-Why your newsletter makes you invisible to 90% of your community-How to build a professional website that drives subscriptions (not kills them)-Getting your conten...

Learn how to capture valuable reader data with post-subscription surveys for your local newsletter. In this video, I break down why surveys are crucial for your business, the most effective implementation methods, and how we achieve an astounding 87% completion rate. Perfect for local newsletter publishers looking to attract advertisers with solid demographic data and tailor content to reader pref...

In this episode, we dive deep with Michael Kauffman, the visionary behind Catskill Crew and founder of Newsletter Ventures. Michael shares his unique approach to local newsletter monetization, revealing how he's built a thriving media business through authenticity, community engagement, and creative revenue streams beyond traditional advertising. From sold-out local events to custom Monopoly board...

In this episode, we dive deep with Michael Kauffman, the visionary behind Catskill Crew and founder of Newsletter Ventures. Michael shares his unique approach to local newsletter monetization, revealing how he's built a thriving media business through authenticity, community engagement, and creative revenue streams beyond traditional advertising. From sold-out local events to custom Monopoly board...

Want to grow and monetize a local newsletter? In this episode, TJ Larkin sits down with Alex from Mount Juliet Buzz to talk about scaling hyperlocal media, the power of video marketing, and the best way to monetize without chasing small ad dollars.   Sign up for Beehiiv here and get a 30 day free trial and 20% off for 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=LeanderScoop1

Want to grow and monetize a local newsletter? In this episode, TJ Larkin sits down with Alex from Mount Juliet Buzz to talk about scaling hyperlocal media, the power of video marketing, and the best way to monetize without chasing small ad dollars.   Sign up for Beehiiv here and get a 30 day free trial and 20% off for 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=LeanderScoop1

Thinking about starting a local newsletter? Billy Howell, founder of Arlington Bagel, spills all his secrets on growing an audience, selling ads, and making local media work for you. We talk about the best platforms, ad strategies, engagement hacks, and the surprising things he’s learned along the way. If you're looking to build a newsletter that thrives, this episode is a must-watch! Sign up for...