Substack Growth Mastermind, a new weekly live program, is redefining how creators engage with their audiences on the publishing platform Substack. Co-hosts Amy Chang and John Toomey have designed each session to be a hands-on working opportunity, where attendees actively build their follower and subscriber bases rather than passively consuming content. The program is not formally associated with Substack itself, but it leverages the platform's features to foster growth through community participation.
According to program producer Soani Gunawan, most Substack Lives are passive experiences where viewers watch experts talk without any chance to create during the session. "We wanted to improve upon that by making each Live a working opportunity for attendees to gain followers, subscribers, and in some cases clients," Gunawan says. This shift matters because it addresses a common challenge for creators: turning audience engagement into tangible growth. By making each session interactive, participants can see immediate results from their efforts, which can be more motivating than traditional passive webinars.
The program employs several tactics to drive growth. Each week, SuperStacker Prizes are announced to recognize members who contributed the best Notes, Articles, Comments, or Restacks from the previous week. These awards encourage superior performance of skills that are often overlooked but are invaluable for creator growth. During the live session, audience members submit their own Notes in the Chat, and then like, comment, and restack those of other creators. This leads to lively discussions and amplifies reach through reciprocal engagement.
At least one Note from an audience member becomes the central topic for a group mind mapping session using Ayoa.com. Everyone in the Chat can comment on and add to the mind map, which is then posted to the program's social media and website. Submissions that can serve as prompts for AI tools like Claude Artifact, GPT, Gemini Gem, or Perplexity Space and address one of the UN's 169 Sustainability Indicators can earn a Hero Award. This integration of AI and global goals adds a layer of purpose and innovation to the growth process.
The most insightful contributions are added to a draft press release before the program ends, giving participants a chance to see their writing referenced by news publications within days. This not only validates their efforts but also provides valuable exposure. If time allows, the hosts conduct a mini-audit of an audience member's Substack publication, identifying areas for modification to ensure future growth. Occasionally, Substack Superstars are invited as guests, and evocative sentences from their Notes and Articles are used as AI prompts for the group mind maps.
The producers plan to incubate and nurture other writers who want to mount similar live programs. "We find that live video is the best way to get a potential audience to know, like, and trust you," Chang says. "And the way we do it makes it fun. So we want to support as many people as possible to conduct these types of shows for their own subscribers and clients. We want to build and promote a Substacker Live Network." This ambition could lead to a broader ecosystem of interactive live shows, empowering more creators to grow independently.
Future plans include a weekly challenge to help participants build significant growth before the next program, where their achievements will be celebrated. A SuperStacker prize will be offered to creators who help another writer reach Bestseller status. For more information, join https://substack.com/@growbyhelpingothers. To apply to be a participant or guest, write to admin@aibrainstormcreator.net. To find out about the Hero Award, see theheroaward.net. To learn more about Substack, visit substack.com. Substack Growth Mastermind exists to help newsletter and blog creators build their presence through the power of swarm intelligence.
