Today’s conversation takes us from Chicago into Seth Godin’s blog post Working for Advertisers.
Seth’s challenge? Stop chasing ads and start building something people are actually willing to pay for.
We unpack that idea with:
Holly’s early career selling national radio ads and how content decisions were often shaped by advertisers.
Daniel’s hacks on New York Times subscriptions and what their model teaches us about value.
Why building for users—not advertisers—gives you more freedom and better long-term sustainability.
Lessons nonprofits (like charity: water) offer about balancing the “donor story” with the needs of the end user.
How we’re applying this in Get Mom Ready, by leading with a paid community instead of just chasing free eyeballs.
It’s a lively back-and-forth on ads, subscriptions, sponsorships, and the big question: who are you really building for—advertisers or your actual users?
👉 We’d love to hear your take: Do you agree with Seth? Are there moments when advertising is the right play? Drop us a comment and join the conversation.
