This week Francis is joined by Michael Kauffman to discusses his journey in building a local newsletter business, Catskill Crew. He shares insights on audience engagement, growth strategies, and the importance of branding in the creator economy. Catskill Crew: https://catskillcrew.com Newsletter Club: https://thenewsletter.club 00:00 Building a Community-Led Newsletter 05:57 Local Relationships Are Crucial for Newsletter Success 12:29 Building Businesses Around a Local Newsletter 14:28 Why You Must Begin With Organic Growth 17:50 The Importance of Branding and Identity 24:41 The Internal Desire to Create 28:55 Building a Sustainable and Authentic Revenue Model 38:43 The Local Holding Company Model 41:50 Revenue Breakdown and Business Structure 43:12 The Importance of Community Engagement 47:12 Financial Realities of Starting a Newsletter 50:48 The Newsletter Club: A Community for Creators 53:41 The Future of Local Journalism #podcast #creatoreconomy #newsletter