The hottest Community Building Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Underrated ways to change the world

Experimental History • 67383 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Community Building
  1. You don't have to be super rich or super selfless to help the world. Sometimes just being brave and encouraging others can make a big difference.
  2. Building a community and working together is essential. You can accomplish more and create positive change when you have friends by your side.
  3. Getting the right information to the right person is key. Think of yourself as a switchboard, connecting people and ideas to help everyone succeed.

Should Strong Gods Bet On GDP?

Astral Codex Ten • 17413 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Building
  1. Liberalism can support strong communities, even if it doesn't create them directly. Different groups can build their own communities based on shared values without forcing everyone to conform to one single belief.
  2. Many people in modern society seem unhappy with mainstream culture but rarely choose to form tight-knit communities to escape it. Economics and the need for jobs often hold people back from seeking alternative lifestyles.
  3. Wealth can enhance community building, providing resources and options for people. As society evolves, new economic models might enable more people to create their own ideal communities.

Are Social Media Platforms the Next Dying Malls?

The Honest Broker • 54723 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. Social media platforms are becoming less unique and are starting to look and feel the same, just like many malls did. This makes them more vulnerable to losing users.
  2. Just as malls suffered from having too many of them, social media is facing similar issues. People are overwhelmed with options and may start to abandon these platforms.
  3. Both malls and social media platforms attract a lot of unwanted behavior, making it hard to build real communities. They often feel artificial and exploitative rather than supportive.

Now live: Substack Notes

read • 25570 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. Notes is a new space for short-form posts and conversations on Substack.
  2. Both writers and readers can share links, images, and quick thoughts on Notes.
  3. Notes is a long-term project that will evolve based on feedback from users.

Calling All Future Medium Superstars: Medium School Opens Its Doors

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 1059 implied HN points • 20 Jul 24
🚌 Education Community Building
  1. Medium School is a new course that helps people write on Medium and earn money. It's designed to build confidence and make writing fun.
  2. The course is only $9 a month and gives access to a community of fellow writers and helpful resources. It's great for anyone wanting to improve their writing skills.
  3. You'll also get access to a Substack School for extra support on that platform. Both platforms can work together without doubling your work.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

From $147 to $1.5M Writing Online | Interview with Ayodeji Awosika

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 779 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Writing can be a real career path; look at those who have succeeded and learn from them.
  2. Building a strong community and engaging with followers is crucial for success; it's better to be known and have strong opinions than to be ignored.
  3. Having an email list is key to connecting with your audience and making money; start building yours today!

Backstage

Dada Drummer Almanach • 154 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🎶 Music Community Building
  1. Backstage used to be a social, oral space where musicians hung out, swapped stories, and learned from each other, but smartphones and laptops have turned it into an office-like zone of constant productivity.
  2. Hanging out and informal conversation are not wasted time but important, unpaid labor that builds community, transfers practical knowledge, and sustains musical life.
  3. Digital recording and communication tools make sound and musical work more visible and measurable, which shifts how music is made and valued and can hide or devalue much of musicians’ labor.

On Recent Developments at Substack

Welcome to Garbagetown • 2599 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Community Building
  1. Acknowledgement of issues with Substack's management of diverse opinions and policies on monetization
  2. The dilemma of deciding whether to stay on Substack despite hosting problematic content or to leave and potentially lose audience
  3. Concern about the online space being dominated by harmful voices if good actors continually leave platforms hosting problematic content

Calling All Future Newsletter Superstars: “Substack School” Opens Its Doors

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 1139 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🚌 Education Community Building
  1. Substack School is a new resource for anyone wanting to start or improve their newsletter. It's designed to help you connect with your audience and built a loyal subscriber base.
  2. The school offers tutorials on the basics of Substack, along with tips from successful writers. You'll learn how to craft great content and keep readers engaged.
  3. Joining Substack School lets you be part of a community where you can share ideas and experiences with others who are also excited about newsletters.

The Algorithm Next Door

After Babel • 1096 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. Social media platforms like Nextdoor can create fear in communities, making people feel unsafe and distrustful of their neighbors. Instead of bringing people together, they often highlight negative events that amplify anxiety.
  2. This fear can lead to children not being allowed to explore their neighborhoods freely, impacting their independence and social skills. Parents often feel compelled to keep their kids indoors because of the scary stories they see online.
  3. There are better ways to create community connections online that foster trust and safety. Platforms like Front Porch Forum encourage neighborly interactions without the fear-mongering found in traditional social media.

The Hagitude program – now available on-demand

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1996 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Building
  1. The Hagitude program is now available as a self-study, on-demand course after the live yearlong membership program ended.
  2. The program focuses on navigation through menopause, understanding elder women in myth, embracing one's Inner Hag, and passing down wisdom to benefit the Earth community.
  3. The self-study program includes extensive resources like module workbooks, webinar recordings, guest teacher workshops, creative writing prompts, and dreamwork sessions.

How To Build And Profit From A Community

Day One • 559 implied HN points • 06 Apr 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Attract customers/clients before creating a product/service - build an audience first based on what interests them
  2. Community-driven model involves letting the community guide content creation and product development
  3. Engage with others in your niche, teach as you learn, and listen to community problems to build a successful community

Reflecting on 2025 + Reader Survey | #318

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 115 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Prioritized family and creative projects over chasing business growth; spending lots of time with a young child was the year's highlight and brought real joy.
  2. Betting on a premium hardcover and direct-to-reader sales paid off—about 325 copies sold and the launch covered much of the upfront cost, making future sales mostly cash flow positive; expanding store bundles and collectibles looks promising.
  3. The business kept operating but felt like treading water with lower income year-over-year, so the plan is to simplify, experiment with formats and the community, and take a mini-sabbatical to regain focus and momentum in 2026.

The Recovering Academic in 2023

The Recovering Academic • 970 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Community Building
  1. The author shares their journey of leaving academia and dealing with grief, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and community in the recovery process.
  2. The plan for 2024 includes more thought pieces on higher education, collaboration to build community, original memoir and poetry sharing, and interviews to explore interesting life stories.
  3. Despite challenges, the author looks forward with anticipation, focusing on personal growth, gardening, and embracing individuality in their writing journey.

I don't want to leave

Men Yell at Me • 589 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Community Building
  1. Joy and community are important parts of queer life, even in places that may seem unwelcoming. It's vital to share stories about happiness, not just struggles.
  2. Building connections with others creates a support network that makes life better for everyone. Living close to friends fosters a strong sense of security and belonging.
  3. Staying in a challenging environment can be an act of bravery and commitment. It's about making a place better for those who can't leave and working together to rebuild what's important.

In awe of InVision

Product Identity • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. InVision is shutting down, marking the end of a significant era in design tools. Many people feel nostalgic about what InVision contributed to the design community.
  2. Despite its financial struggles, InVision played an important role in shaping design culture and education. It connected designers and provided valuable resources.
  3. The story of InVision shows that a company can have a lasting impact on its industry even if it doesn't succeed as a product. Building community is often more valuable than just providing tools.

How I Made My First Million Online

Day One • 479 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Choose a platform that fits your content format and engage with your community to build a loyal following.
  2. Creating products/services should revolve around solving your community's problems, listen to their struggles and offer solutions.
  3. Consistently create quality content, engage with others, and focus on helping people to build a successful online brand.

For February: 50% off Subscriptions, 50% off DRM-Free Downloads, Lifetime Subscriptions available

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 1148 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. You can get a 50% discount on yearly subscriptions this February, making it only $2.25 a month.
  2. There’s also a 50% off deal on DRM-free downloads of all videos, so you can watch them anytime, anywhere.
  3. If you want lifetime access, you can buy a lifetime subscription for $200 during this month, which supports independent tech journalism.

An Illustrated Guide to Rain Harvesting

OK Doomer • 106 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Community Building
  1. Rain harvesting can be done without special structures. You can adapt existing items like sheds for collecting rain.
  2. It's important to get feedback during projects. This helps improve the work and shares useful knowledge with others.
  3. Future topics will include bugout bags to help people prepare for emergencies. Different sizes and packing tips will be covered.

Notes on SubStack These Days

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 338 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. Substack thrives on community engagement. When users get involved by sharing feedback and suggestions, it keeps the platform vibrant and active.
  2. The success of Substack isn't just about technology; it's about the writers and readers who contribute their ideas and critiques. Their participation helps shape the platform's future.
  3. Balancing free and paid subscriptions is essential for growth. A healthy free audience can convert to paying subscribers, which is crucial for lasting success.

The Lunduke Journal is moving exclusively to Locals

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 4595 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. The Lunduke Journal is moving exclusively to Locals for a better user experience and to consolidate their content in one place.
  2. Locals offers unique features like community discussions, live video streaming, and an events calendar for subscribers.
  3. Subscribers transitioning from Substack to Locals can easily create accounts and access all content from The Lunduke Journal.

The Ghost in "Dylan's Ghost Story"

Letters from Fiddler's Greene • 609 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Community Building
  1. Telling stories with no clear resolution can keep an audience engaged, even if it lacks a traditional ending.
  2. Modern media often presents entertaining narratives that ultimately unravel, leading to self-referential gibberish and a lack of satisfying conclusions.
  3. Nostalgia for a past era, like the 1990s, is often rooted in a desire for the hope, community, and optimism that characterized that time.

Tech Tree Updates and Similar Projects

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 305 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. The Historical Tech Tree has gained popularity, attracting over 50,000 visitors, and is being actively improved with new features and technologies.
  2. Community engagement is key to the project's future, so a Discord server has been created for fans to connect and contribute.
  3. There are several other interesting tech history projects, highlighting a recent surge in visualizations and analyses of technology's evolution.

The Doc Web

escape the algorithm • 718 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🎭️ Culture Community Building
  1. A doc created can easily transition from a private space to a public domain with a simple click of a share button.
  2. Google Docs is more than just a word processor; it forms a unique, vast network known as the 'Doc Web' with subtle yet powerful publishing capabilities.
  3. The widespread accessibility and simplicity of Google Docs as a publishing tool can challenge traditional power dynamics and lead to unconventional forms of expression and shared knowledge.

Getting better at 𝕏

André Casal's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. To grow your audience on X, try following big accounts in your field and engaging with their posts. This way, you can gain followers by sharing your thoughts and support.
  2. Using SEO tags can help more people find you on Google, which is a smart way to increase visibility for your business.
  3. Creating a community for your product can foster discussions and improvements, even if it feels a bit empty at first. It's a great way for users to connect and share ideas.

Federated Ecovillages & Steps Towards a Modern Cybersyn

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 609 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Community Building
  1. Decouple from the capitalist system by creating alternative systems like free housing collectives and community land trusts.
  2. Build federated ecovillages and interconnected communities to share resources, knowledge, and create a cooperative network.
  3. Use modern technologies and community databases to work towards a modern Cybersyn system for fair distribution of resources and fostering collective autonomy.

Things I'm Learning

Notes in the Margins • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Celebrating the good days loudly is important as they outweigh the bad days.
  2. Following your joy leads to creativity resurfacing, and you'll find relief in doing what you want.
  3. As a solopreneur, facing challenges alone can be tough, but building a community for support makes the journey fulfilling.

The Myth of Hyper-Growth: Successful Startups Follow Quadratic Hypergrowth, Not Exponential. | VC Remote Jobs

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Successful startups often experience quadratic hypergrowth rather than exponential growth.
  2. Understanding the quadratic growth model is crucial for predicting and controlling growth in companies.
  3. To sustain growth, companies must launch new products into new markets, leading to a variety of quadratic growth curves over time.

Grow: How Wendy MacNaughton builds community with her 30 Days of Drawing practice

Substack • 747 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Community Building
  1. Wendy MacNaughton believes drawing connects us to our curiosity and creativity. She wants everyone to see how drawing can help us learn about ourselves and the world.
  2. Her '30 Days of Drawing' event creates a fun and supportive space for people to draw together. It helps participants let go of perfectionism and focus on enjoying the process.
  3. The community she has built emphasizes ongoing connection, where members motivate each other even after the drawing event ends. This sense of belonging is crucial for maintaining their creativity.

World-building IRL

box. • 839 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Community Building
  1. Building real-life communities matters because our actions can influence the world around us. It's important to focus creativity on improving our everyday lives.
  2. Great people are often right where you are; don’t just look for them somewhere else. Investing in your current community can lead to amazing connections.
  3. It's crucial to keep the energy positive and focus on the experiences of those who show up. This creates an inviting space that encourages others to join in next time.

Sowing seeds, delving deep

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 938 implied HN points • 29 Oct 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Building
  1. The author discusses the significance of deepening and discovering oneself during the dark winter months, drawing parallels to seeds growing underground.
  2. The author shares exciting news about being awarded the Roger Deakin Award for her upcoming book on motherhood and nature, highlighting the impact of maternal influence on belonging.
  3. The author presents opportunities for engaging in conversations around women's experiences in the second half of life through podcasts, memberships, and art, encouraging exploration and connection.

Michigan Ecosystem Builders List

Midwest Humble • 35 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
💼 Business Community Building
  1. Community building is about people and partnerships, not just physical spaces. Events and hubs make that work visible and create momentum.
  2. A wide network of local leaders, meetups, accelerators, and coworking spaces across Michigan are actively supporting founders, creatives, and tech communities. They provide mentoring, programming, and connection points that keep the ecosystem growing.
  3. The region needs a more cohesive strategy to align hundreds of organizations and amplify their work so companies have reasons to scale and stay. Better coordination will help momentum lift the whole ecosystem.

New Year's hangout for subscribers!

Disaffected Newsletter • 299 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎙 Podcasts Community Building
  1. There will be a live hangout for subscribers on New Year's Eve after the show ends. It's a chance to celebrate together.
  2. Subscribers need a paid subscription to join the hangout on Discord. They will get an email with the link to the chat.
  3. The event is a way to thank subscribers for their support and to connect with them on a special occasion.

Be the Star! Get a Special Shoutout as Reward for Sharing Kristina God’s Newsletter

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 379 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Community Building
  1. Sharing a newsletter can help build a community and increase engagement. Engaging with readers makes them feel appreciated and involved.
  2. Newsletters should provide clear value to subscribers by fulfilling their needs or interests. This can include answering questions or offering insights.
  3. There are incentives for referring new subscribers, like shoutouts on social media. These rewards encourage people to help grow the newsletter.