I’m starting a fresh Substack under my own name. Yes, another Substack. At this point, I need a diagram explaining where everything goes. I probably need that more than you do.
The Monetizer is for business. Academy of AI is for AI. The Queer Agenda covers LGBTQ+ news and politics. This one is where I want to be a little more personal.
I spend a lot of time explaining how to start a newsletter or make money on social media. I enjoy that work. Well, I love making money. But there’s more I’d like to talk about, and it doesn’t always fit neatly inside a tutorial.
So I’m making this my main publication on Substack. If you want to keep up with me, this is the place.
I’m Levi Chambers, by the way. You may already know me from Substack or a video that landed in your feed. You may have absolutely no idea who I am. Let me fix that.
I’m Levi From Rimrock, Arizona
I grew up in a double-wide trailer in Rimrock, Arizona. I’ve mentioned that before when talking about my business, because it’s part of how I got here. The short version leaves out quite a bit, as short versions tend to do.
I studied film at Arizona State and professional writing at Northern Arizona University. Later, I got my MBA at USC. Fight On! Film, writing, business: looking at that list now, I suppose my current collection of projects makes some sense.
My career has included work with The Advocate and Out, and founding Pride.com. Today, I’m the founder and CEO of Rainbow Media Co. Our brands include Gayety, Pride, LGBT, and LGBTQ.
I’ve built multiple seven-figure online businesses. I teach people about newsletters, content, and digital products because I’ve made money doing those things. I have opinions about them, too. You’ll probably notice.
A lot of my work lives at the intersection of business and LGBTQ+ culture. I care about the stories we get to tell. I also care about paying for the work that makes those stories possible. Running a media company involves both, sometimes in the same conversation.
The Work I’ve Done
I’ve earned money from online content, including social media, since 2013. I’ve built paid newsletters, created courses, and worked on brand partnerships with some of the biggest companies in the world (Netflix, Lexus, McDonald’s). I’ve won some awards and was named to the Out100. I was the host of the Pride Podcast for five years (go listen to my History of Queer Pirates episode; it’s one of my favorites). And even with so many projects under my belt, I still find it exciting when something I’ve made turns into something people want.
You might have seen me talk about earning money while I’m at Disneyland or on a sailboat. I do love that part. I also know what had to happen before the money arrived: the publishing, the audience building, the selling.
It’s easy to put a number in a caption. Explaining what produced it takes longer. That’s usually the conversation I want to have, especially with someone trying to build an income of their own.
For example, a paid newsletter means making something people want to keep paying for. You need an idea for the next issue, and the one after that. You need to care whether readers are getting what they came for. The payment notification is fucking great, but there’s still a newsletter to write.
I want to share more of those details here. The choices behind a project, what I’m trying, and what I would do differently. There are plenty of decisions I’m still making.
Why I Want a Personal Publication
You may remember my business newsletter as The Letter or The Millionaire Letter. It’s now The Monetizer. This publication starts fresh, and I’m keeping my own name on it. That should save us at least one explanation later.
I want somewhere to write about whatever I’m thinking through without immediately turning it into a course lesson. Sometimes I’ll be testing an AI tool. Sometimes I’ll be considering a business idea or wondering whether a project deserves more of my time.
I also want room for life outside work. I live in Lake Arrowhead, California. I love travel and Disneyland. I have an African grey parrot named Sookie, and there’s more to my day than checking a revenue dashboard.
Being part of the LGBTQ+ community shapes all this, too. It affects the work I care about and the communities I spend time in. It’ll show up in the writing because it’s part of me.
My plan is one free letter a week. I’ll write about business, money, AI, creativity, and the things I’m learning along the way. Expect shorter posts and conversations on Notes between letters.
What I Am Working On
Here’s the quick version of the diagram I apparently need.
Rainbow Media Co. is my company. We run queer media brands and social communities, including Gayety, Pride, LGBT, and LGBTQ. Our work includes entertainment and culture, publishing, and brand partnerships.
The Monetizer is my business publication. I write about growing an audience, creating things to sell, and earning from online content. If you want to spend more time on the mechanics of making money, start there.
Academy of AI is where I teach people how to use AI. I explain tools and workflows with examples you can follow. I use AI in my own work and care about making it understandable.
The Queer Agenda covers LGBTQ+ news, politics, and issues affecting our communities. It’s another way I can put my publishing experience toward work I care about.
I also teach two courses:
Substack Bestseller Academy walks through launching, growing, and monetizing a newsletter. It covers choosing a niche, finding readers, creating content, and building a paid offer.
Facebook Monetization Masterclass explains eligibility, original content, and the different formats that can earn on Facebook. It also covers the metrics to watch and how to organize a weekly publishing routine.
I’ve linked everything so you can explore whichever subjects interest you. You can also stay right here and follow along as I work on them.
What Are You Building?
I’d like to know who’s reading. Maybe you’ve started a newsletter. Maybe you’re thinking about a business and haven’t told anyone yet. Maybe you’re here because we both spend an unreasonable amount of time thinking about Substack.
Tell me what you’re working on, or what you’d like to change. Leave a comment, or reply if you’re reading this by email. You don’t need a polished pitch. I’d much rather hear the version you’d tell a friend.
And if you want the next letter, subscribe below. I’m looking forward to having a place where I can share more of the whole picture. There’s quite a bit I want to write about.
Find Me Elsewhere
You can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X, and LinkedIn. I’m also on Substack Notes as @levichambers.