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[This is a replay from our conversation with Sam Vander Wielen from September 2025]
“All roads point to the email list." — Sam Vander Wielen, Sam's Sidebar
In this episode, we interview Sam Vander Wielen—a lawyer-turned-creator who has sold over $9M in legal templates with a 50k-subscriber newsletter.
Sam shares how her motto of "All roads point to the email list" has helped her earn over $9M in total revenue since starting her business in 2017. And she's done it with a small team and a replicable funnel strategy most creators could copy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Why she decided to walk away from strategies that “should” work — and what happened after
- The $100k turning point that reshaped how she runs her business
- How she blends storytelling with practical education to keep readers engaged
- How her newsletter fuels her entire content ecosystem
- What creators misunderstand about legal protections (and how to fix it)
- Why she believes the boring stuff is actually the growth engine
- The platform she almost abandoned — and why she came back stronger
- Her advice for creators chasing growth but ignoring long-term sustainability
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What is Growth In Reverse: Newsletter & Email Growth?
Growth In Reverse is the must-listen podcast for anyone serious about growing an email list and turning a newsletter into a thriving business. Hosted by Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop, two leading voices in the newsletter space, this show pulls back the curtain on how today’s top newsletter operators actually grow and make money.
Episodes include deep-dive teardowns of the strategies behind the most successful newsletters. You’ll hear how creators like Justin Welsh, Codie Sanchez, Sahil Bloom, and other creator founders are building loyal audiences and turning subscribers into revenue. Learn how they attract traffic, increase conversions, boost retention, and scale without burning out.
Whether you're launching your first newsletter or refining your growth engine, Growth In Reverse gives you proven tactics you can use right away. From onboarding systems and referral programs to sponsorships and paid products, this podcast helps you grow faster and smarter. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start applying what works, tune in and learn how the best are building newsletters that last.