Through my work hosting The Unstarving Musician podcast—where I interview independent musicians and industry professionals about building sustainable creative careers—and writing Liner Notes, a biweekly newsletter for independent artists, I keep coming back to the same insight: the artists who thrive are the ones who find authentic ways to connect with their audience and share their expertise.
After 75 editions of Liner Notes and over 330 podcast episodes, this insight has led me to two new projects I want to share with you.
Photo by Engin Akyurt
Expanding to Substack
I’m now sharing insights on Substack about creativity, the music industry, and what I’m learning from podcast guests about building creative careers. While I’ll be sharing many of the same insights on Substack as in Liner Notes Insider (the paid tier of my newsletter), the platform’s design and features allow me to create more exclusive content and dive deeper into topics that matter to independent artists (and followers of my music).
The move to Substack isn’t about abandoning what we’ve built—it’s about expanding the conversation and reaching more creators who can benefit from these insights.
Updated Podcast Startup Course
I’ve also updated Podcast Startup, a course I created to help people launch their own podcasts. The latest update specifically adds a new section on video podcasting fundamentals that won’t overwhelm beginners or require expensive gear.
Why am I mentioning this? Because I keep meeting musicians and other creatives who want to deepen their connection with fans, share their knowledge, or build their personal brand. Podcasting has become one of the most effective ways to do that.
The video component is growing rapidly, but most advice makes it seem more complicated than it needs to be. The new section shows you how to test video with just your smartphone, so you can see if it works for your goals without a major investment.
Whether you want to share your musical knowledge, interview other artists, or create more meaningful content, podcasting might be worth exploring.
Why These Projects Matter
Both the Substack expansion and the course update feel like natural ways to share what I’m learning from our Unstarving Musician and Liner Notes communities. They represent the same philosophy that drives everything I do: helping independent artists build sustainable, authentic careers by connecting with their audience and sharing their expertise.
The landscape for independent musicians and other creatives continues to evolve. These platforms offer new opportunities to reach people who need to hear what we have to say, whether that’s through a newsletter, a podcast, or any other medium that feels authentic to you.
Keep making music and art that matters.
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