Substack Success: Next-Level Strategies
Three Live Sessions to Elevate Your Voice, Grow Your Audience, and Build Momentum
July 28, August 4 & 11, 2025
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Facilitated by Debra Engle & Julie Gammack, with guest instructors from the front lines of Substack success
Are you ready to go further with your Substack?
You’ve launched your publication—or maybe you’re still shaping your voice—and now you're asking: What’s next?
Join us for Substack Success: Next-Level Strategies, a three-part advanced training designed for alumni of our previous class or others with a Substack already in motion. This live, interactive series is your chance to get personalized feedback, explore advanced tools, and learn directly from writers who are using Substack in creative and powerful ways.
What You'll Gain
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Live feedback on your Substack—see what’s working and where you can grow
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In-depth strategies for using Notes to increase reach and build community
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Podcasting on Substack—from informal Zooms to polished audio series
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Clarity on metrics and how to interpret them meaningfully
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Storytelling craft that keeps readers coming back
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Insider advice on partnering with traditional media
Session Breakdown
Session 1: July 28 – What’s Working + How to Use Notes to Grow Your Audience
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Welcome and check-in: What have you built so far?
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Guided feedback on participant Substacks
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Deep dive into Notes and how to use them
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Q&A and live coaching
Session 2: August 4 – Podcasting Your Substack
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Explore different podcasting formats: casual Zoom calls, edited audio episodes, and hybrid models
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Live panel: Julie Gammack and members of the Iowa Collaborative share how they’ve built podcasts on or around Substack
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Real talk about tech, storytelling, and keeping it sustainable
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Optional hot-seat feedback on your podcast idea or episode concept
Session 3: August 11 – Craft, Metrics & Media Partnerships
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Phoebe Howard on narrative craft, reading metrics with purpose, and negotiating partnerships with legacy media
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Guided look at participants’ Substack stats and next-step strategies
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Final round of feedback and live coaching
Ready to Grow?
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This course is for graduates of our Substack Success class in June, and for writers who are actively publishing a Substack column.Whether you want to grow your list, refine your voice, launch a podcast, or make media connections, you’ll walk away with the tools and confidence to move forward.
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Spots are limited to keep the sessions intimate and interactive. We recommend registering early to reserve your place.
Meet Our Faculty
Debra Engle is a bestselling author and mentor to hundreds of writers navigating Substack and the publishing world.
Julie Gammack writes The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative and hosts live community calls that keep readers coming back.
Phoebe Howard is a seasoned journalist and narrative storyteller whose work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, and Gannett newspapers across the country.
Guest instructors include podcast producers, media pros, and Substack standouts who bring a variety of voices and approaches.
Standard Registration: $397
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Access to all three live sessions (6 hours of instruction)
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Real-time feedback on your Substack
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Access to guest instructors and live Q&A
Optional Additional Coaching:
Offered as a separate add-on for $300.
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Two 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Debra, Julie, or a guest instructor (schedule after registration)
Story Summit Membership subscribers receive this class at no additional cost. Just register and the discount will be applied automatically. Please make sure you're logged in to receive the discount. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
A Peek at Our Past Virtual Classes
