Substack Growth Mastermind, a new weekly live program on Substack, is redefining how creators engage with their audiences by turning passive viewing into active subscriber-building sessions. Co-hosts Amy Chang and John Toomey, along with producer Soani Gunawan, have designed each Live as a hands-on opportunity for attendees to gain followers, subscribers, and even clients. "We noticed that most Substack Lives are a passive experience for people in the Chat," says Gunawan. "We wanted to improve upon that by making each Live a working opportunity for attendees to gain followers, subscribers, and in some cases clients."
The program's unique approach combines recognition, collaboration, and real-time creation. Each week, SuperStacker Prizes are awarded to members who contributed the best Notes, Articles, Comments, or Restacks, encouraging superior performance of these often-overlooked skills. Audience members then submit their own Notes in the Chat, and during the live session, they like, comment, and restack each other's content, sparking lively discussions. At least one audience Note becomes the focal point for a group mind mapping session using Ayoa.com, where everyone can contribute. These mind maps are later 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.
Attendees' most insightful contributions are added to a draft press release before the program ends, giving them a chance to see their writing referenced by news publications within days. When time permits, the hosts conduct a mini-audit of an audience member's Substack publication to identify growth opportunities. Occasionally, Substack Superstars are invited as guests, and evocative sentences from their Notes and Articles are used as AI prompts for group mind maps.
The implications of this initiative extend beyond individual growth. By incubating and nurturing other writers to host similar live programs, Substack Growth Mastermind aims to build a Substacker Live Network. "We find that live video is the best way to get a potential audience to know, like, and trust you," says Chang. "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." Future plans include a weekly challenge that offers participants ways to build significant growth, with achievements celebrated in the following week's program. A SuperStacker prize will also be offered to creators who help another writer reach Bestseller status.
This model could reshape how creators approach audience building on Substack, moving from solitary publishing to collaborative, interactive growth. By leveraging swarm intelligence and real-time engagement, Substack Growth Mastermind not only helps writers gain visibility but also fosters a community where mutual support drives success. As the platform continues to evolve, such initiatives may become essential for creators seeking to stand out. To join or learn more, visit https://substack.com/@growbyhelpingothers or explore substack.com.
