Show notes
What if the future of media isn’t controlled by algorithms or legacy institutions—but by independent voices building directly with their audiences?In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Chris Best, cofounder and CEO of Substack, along with a16z general partners Katherine Boyle and Andrew Chen.We trace the origin story of Substack and its cultural impact, including how it reinvented the business model for independent media. We also explore the evolution of blogging, the rebundling of media, and what the future holds as attention becomes the scarcest resource.Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction03:50 Origins of Substack06:29 The Evolution of Blogging & Media Models09:15 Direct Audience Connection & Platform Independence10:57 Vision for Substack & The Role of Algorithms21:06 Business Models: Ads, Subscriptions, and AI26:10 The Scarcity of Attention & Value of Good Content27:45 Unbundling, Rebundling, and the Future of Media Companies37:12 Academia, Books, and Changing Content Formats44:31 Substack’s Next Phase & Closing ThoughtsResources: Find Chris on Substack: https://cb.substack.com/Find Chris on X: https://x.com/cjgbestFind Andrew Chen on Substack: https://andrewchen.substack.com/Find Andrew on X: https://x.com/andrewchenFind Katherine on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyleFind Katherine on Substack: https://boyle.substack.com/Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
