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Adding some context to this: Rascal's membership peaked in January this year at around 2500 subscribers. This was due to our 1$ sale in December where around 300 people signed up. But ever since then, it's been a steady decline... (1/x) bsky.app/profile/rasc...

We've lost around 250 subscriptions in the last 6-7 months — that's around 10% of our total size, which is a lot. It also *feels* like a lot, sitting around and watching that line going down day after day. In 2025, we were talking about raises and in 2026, we were talking about pay cuts. (2/x)

We haven't talked really ever talked about this because it seemed like a bad idea, both in a professional (feelings are unprofessional) and a personal sense (feelings are hard). We wanted it to be about the work! But the work and the subscriber number started to be completely disconnected. (3/x)

The work could be better. We're very clear on that! But better is a partially a function of time and resources, which we didn't have. That's really what this is about: can we reverse the doom spiral? can we inject some more resources into the team and chase "better"? (4/x)

(PS: If you think there's something we could be doing differently, our emails are on the site. We're always open to having a conversation!)

Since you opened this door, let me ask a, maybe, uncomfortable question here. You tried to make a business out of this, right? Begging people to become members might help in the short term, but I'd like to understand, if you can explain it, why you think this is not working. 1/

Maybe it will lead to a difficult answer to accept, but at the end of the day, if people are not willing to pay for what you do, begging them to become your clients doesn't make a lot of sense professionally, imho. What is missing in your product? Why you think you don't have a market?

Do you have an exit survey when people unsubscribe, to ask why they're unsubscribing? That'd be useful to have, if not. People ending their subscriptions might not be a reflection on Rascal per se, but due to folks trying to save money as the cost of living creeps up.

To be honest, I considered ending my Rascal sub a few days ago. I think you're doing good work, but it's rare for me to actually read any of it (which is nothing personal – I just don't have the bandwidth for it) and I'm trying to save a bit of money.

I've been considering it, too. I agree it might be worth working out why people (un)subscribe. For me, I enjoy the written content and the Reading Club podcast but I never listen to the Rascal Radio Hour, and it feels like written content is declining while audio content is increasing.

Also, if I do have to cut supportive subs, I'm generally going to cut the ones for companies before I cut the ones to individual creators, because I usually perceive them as being more stable. I think it's good to talk publicly about your finances to dispel that notion!