🌀 Quick Update from the Future Kandas
So… funny story. Just 24 hours after hitting “publish” on this post, I had a plot twist. I’m not moving my email list to Substack after all. Turns out, what felt like the right move yesterday is already a “meh” today.
That’s the beauty of being a real, live human running a microbusiness—we get to change our minds and course-correct out loud.
The blog post below still holds value (and Substack is a great platform for podcasters), but as of today, I’m switching to Kit (formerly ConvertKit). More on that later.
Thanks for rolling with my ever-evolving digital life.
Why Substack Popped Back Into My Life
Right in the middle of the April 2025 Ultimate Blog Challenge, I felt a huge nudge to engage on Substack. Funny thing is, I created a Substack account nine months ago and then promptly did nothing with it—not even subscribe to anyone.
A Workshop That Shifted My Perspective
Lately, I’ve noticed some of the newsletters I already enjoy reading have migrated to Substack. Then yesterday, I attended a Substack workshop hosted by a female podcasters group I belong to. That’s when it hit me—whoa, I’ve been missing out!
Content Ownership Matters More Than Ever
As someone who strongly believes in owning her content, this realization struck a chord. This blog you’re reading right now? It belongs to me. But just over a year ago, the blog I’d poured over a decade of work into was hacked. All my content was lost—thank goodness for the Wayback Machine!
Breaking Up with Social Media and MailChimp
In the spirit of reclaiming and future-proofing my work, here’s what else I’ve been up to. I made a conscious decision earlier this year to scale back on social media. I removed most apps from my phone and installed Newsfeed Eradicator on Chrome. And after years of using MailChimp’s RSS-to-Email feature to deliver weekly podcast newsletter updates, I’m saying goodbye—MailChimp is discontinuing the service. It’s time for a MailChimp alternative that aligns better with how I work.
Why Substack Works for Me as a Podcaster
Enter Substack. It’s more than a newsletter platform. It’s interactive, social, podcast-friendly, and offers monetization through paid subscriptions. Best part? It’s currently free (though they do take a cut of paid subs). Substack for podcasters makes it easier than ever to deepen audience connections.
Here’s what else has been going on:
- I host a top-rated podcast called Gratitude Geek—it ranked #1 in Sales and Entrepreneurship this month on GoodPods.
- I stopped producing YouTube Shorts because they weren’t delivering results. That freed up a lot of creative energy.
- Often, I cut great content from podcast episodes to keep them under 45 minutes. Now, I have a place to share those gems.
How I’m Using Substack Moving Forward
Rest assured, this blog isn’t going anywhere. It’s staying right here, just the way you love it.
Here’s how I plan to integrate Substack into my workflow:
I’ll be moving my weekly podcast newsletter to Substack and migrating my MailChimp list by the end of June. I’ll also be offering Substack-exclusive content, including behind-the-scenes peeks and bonus episodes. Eventually, those bonus episodes will be part of a paid subscription.
Join Me on Substack!
If you’re already on Substack, I’d love your support! Follow @KandasRodarte and subscribe to Gratitude Geek.
And if you’re publishing on Substack too, drop your link in the comments—I’d love to check it out.
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