How I built a 1M+ subscriber newsletter and top 10 tech podcast | Lenny Rachitsky
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Why did Lenny decide to sit on the other side of the mic and interview himself?
I just sat down on this rock on a substance of some sort. This was as I was starting the newsletter and this phrase of I have wisdom to share coming through me over and over and over. And I was just watching this crazy visualization of some kind of sitting Buddha thing, and that was for three hours. It gave me the confidence that like, okay, maybe I do have things to share.
What do you want to say to our mothers right now? Do you wanna take this back?
My mom just back? Do you want to take that
back? You started your newsletter 2019 and it now has over a million subscribers.
1.2 million.
1.2.
Something that we've talked about a few times is the best stuff comes from actual experience.
People always say if you want to write, read.
The source of the best advice is from practitioners doing the thing for real. At this point, most of my posts are guest posts where somebody's sharing the best thing they've learned in their career.
What do you think you'd be doing right now if you hadn't started that newsletter?
On the struggle bus of startup life probably. And then probably after that failed, I would have joined some company. I can't imagine doing something more fulfilling and interesting. But the visual I always have is the Indiana Jones boulder is chasing me constantly. That's like this treadmill that you're on.
Tell me about uh time you've been really stressed in your business. Well
here's something I've never shared. Today, my guest is my brilliant, incredible wife, Michelle Rial, who turns the table and interviews me. I've had so many people over the years want me to be interviewed on this podcast, and what could be more fun than doing this with my wife? I share things during this conversation that I've never shared anywhere else, including some of the hardest moments from this journey. I get a lot more personal than I've ever been on this podcast. Also, The day this podcast comes out just happens to be my wife's birthday, and she is also about to publish her third book, a children's book, called Charts for Babies, which we chat briefly about. Definitely pre-order it. This was so fun and so special.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why did Lenny decide to sit on the other side of the mic and interview himself?
0:00–9:48
2
What key moments pushed Lenny to start his newsletter and how did he gain confidence?
9:48–18:22
3
How did Lenny know the paywall was working and what impact did it have on his business?
18:22–27:27
4
What is the hidden ‘treadmill’ of publishing a newsletter and podcast episode every week?
27:27–35:40
5
Which sounds trigger Lenny’s misophonia and what are his worst‑to‑best rankings?
35:40–44:20
6
How does Michelle create viral, shareable charts and what makes them so effective?
44:20–52:43
7
What product‑management principles does Michelle apply to parenting and her new children’s book?
52:43–1:00:40
8
What are Lenny’s biggest stressors in business and life, and how does he stay resilient?
1:00:40–1:06:50
Speakers
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OpenAI’s Head of Design: This is the best time in history to be a designer | Ian Silber