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Artwork for Subversive

Subversive

Phil Carter
Revenuecat
Honeydew
Subscription Apps
Artificial Intelligence
Consumer Subscription Apps
App Retention
Chess.com
Telehealth
Tiktok
Duolingo
Monetization Strategies
AI In Healthcare
Acne
Product Market Fit
Tinder
Ladder
Ai-Powered Features
Headspace
AI In Apps
User Experience

Subversive is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories from the best consumer subscription apps in the world. We'll bring you lessons for how to grow your consumer subscription business, including insights and inflection points that led to exponential growth from leaders at category-defining companies and innovative startups.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes41Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Subversive

Latest Episodes

"If you wait until it's perfect, you're too late."

This was Tyler Denk’s attitude when he took the growth engine he had built as employee #2 at Morning Brew - the newsletter he helped scale to >3M subscribers and a $75M acquisition - and productized... more

Most AI coaching apps are just ChatGPT wrapped in a personality. Raj Singh and Mark Manson built Purpose to prove there's a better way.

Raj, cofounder and CEO of Purpose and previously the founder of GoMoment (acquired by Revinate), explains how the... more

Sam Chaudhary is the cofounder and CEO of ClassDojo, an education platform used in roughly 95% of US K-8 schools and by tens of millions of children across 180 countries around the world. Born in the UK and raised in Wales and Abu Dhabi, he studied e... more

Esan Durrani is the cofounder and CEO of StudyFetch, an AI-native learning platform used by more than 7 million students worldwide. Esan launched StudyFetch in 2023 with his cofounder and childhood friend Ryan Trattner to build an AI tutor that helps... more

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Recent Guests

Sam Chaudhary
Co-founder and CEO of ClassDojo
ClassDojo
Episode: How ClassDojo Built Network Effects to Reach 95% of US K-8 Schools
Esan Durrani
Co-founder and CEO of StudyFetch
StudyFetch
Episode: How StudyFetch Used Creator-Led Growth to Hit $10M+ ARR in 3 Years
Eugenia Kuyda
Founder and CEO of Wabi
Wabi
Episode: How Wabi is Building “YouTube for Software” with a Platform for Creating Mini Apps
Daniel Heintzman
Head of Product at Cal AI
Cal AI
Episode: How Cal AI Hit $50M ARR in 2 Years by Nailing Product/Channel Fit on TikTok
Francesco Polizzi
Former head of core experience at Discord
Discord
Episode: How Discord Completely Redesigned its Mobile Apps
Jack McDermott
Leads mobile growth at ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs
Episode: How ElevenLabs is Building Consumer Apps on its $11B Voice AI Platform
Rik Haandrikman
VP of Growth at RevenueCat
RevenueCat
Episode: Insights from RevenueCat’s 2026 State of Subscription Apps Report
Casey Winters
Co-founder and CEO of SuperMe; growth leader with prior roles at Eventbrite, Pinterest, and GrubHub
SuperMe
Episode: How SuperMe is Building the Professional Network for the AI Era
Sameer Ahuja
President of GameChanger
GameChanger (Dick's Sporting Goods portfolio)
Episode: How GameChanger Became the World’s #1 Youth Sports App

Host

Phil
Host of Subversive

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 43 ratings
  • Must-listen for consumer SaaS operators

    Phil does an awesome job with Subversive. He finds top-tier consumer SaaS operators and actually asks the questions founders care about. Every time I catch myself wondering something mid-episode, he asks it. No fluff, no wasted time, just sharp conversations that get to the core of how these companies really grow.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Philip Pages
    United Statesa year ago
  • Actionable Insights and Tangible Strategies

    Phil Carter's "Subversive" has become an absolutely essential listen for me. This podcast is a masterclass in growth for anyone in the subscription app world. What sets it apart is that it's not just high-level theory; it's packed with actionable insights and tangible strategies from the leaders of the most successful apps out there. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EJC1753
    United Statesa year ago
  • 3D Chess

    As a lowly senior software engineer 🙃, hearing these stories is really helpful. I frequently wish I were given more time to follow best practices and clean up existing tech debt. Those concerns do have long term strategic value. But they have to be weighed against all the Product and Marketing concerns that more directly grow the company. This podcast is a great way for engineers like me to build a greater appreciation for those concerns.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lowlyengineer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love it!

    Absolutely loving this podcast! The first three episodes have been awesome—thank you so much! I’ve been looking for more content dedicated to subscription apps, and this show is a fantastic addition. RevenueCat’s podcast was the only one I knew of before, so I’m thrilled to have another go-to source now.

    The sound quality is top-notch, which makes such a big difference. Poor audio can be a dealbreaker for me, but here it’s clear, crisp, and easy to listen to.

    I also really appreciate the depth... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hanna Grevelius
    Swedena year ago
  • Valuable insights

    I appreciate the combination of great storytelling and actionable insights that I can apply to my own work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ALSC_Reviews
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong, actionable takeaways and sharp questions from founders.
Great for listeners seeking practical lessons to apply to their own products.
High-signal conversations focused on growth for consumer SaaS and subscription apps.
Sound quality and depth of discussion are consistently praised.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How StudyFetch Used Creator-Led Growth to Hit $10M+ ARR in 3 Years
Q: What is Honen and why partner with Nvidia?
Honen is a course-creation platform for internal company training; Nvidia's partnership positions AI literacy and workforce-ready content at scale, signaling a long-term strategy to future-proof education and work with a trusted industrial partner.
How StudyFetch Used Creator-Led Growth to Hit $10M+ ARR in 3 Years
Q: How did you scale the creator program, and why is volume important on platforms like TikTok?
Starting with a few internal videos going viral, we expanded to hundreds of creators to maintain a steady stream of content; volume reduces risk of underperforming videos and helps build a brand-wide presence that supports both branding and performance goals.
How StudyFetch Used Creator-Led Growth to Hit $10M+ ARR in 3 Years
Q: What was the insight that led you to build an AI tutor that actually helps students learn instead of just giving answers?
We talked to many students and found that understanding concepts and keeping up with changing materials mattered more than simply saving time; the AI should guide learners through mastery with personalized paths and varied modalities.
How ClassDojo Built Network Effects to Reach 95% of US K-8 Schools
Q: How did you balance monetization with preserving teacher trust and the organic growth flywheel?
We prioritized the long-term interests of kids and families, kept the core experience free, and introduced affordable, optional features (ClassDojo Plus) that funded continued development without disrupting the learning experience or relying on hard paywalls.
How ClassDojo Built Network Effects to Reach 95% of US K-8 Schools
Q: What was the moment you knew you had product-market fit?
Early signals showed rapid teacher adoption without paid acquisition, but the true signal came after deeper analysis showed a core group of teachers who actively engaged families at home, turning a mostly in-school tool into a family-inclusive, multi-player experience that boosted retention and led to sustainable growth.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Subversive

What is Subversive about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on rapid-growth consumer subscription apps, exploring growth flywheels, product design, monetization, and go-to-market strategies from founders, growth leaders, and product chiefs. Episodes frequently dissect platform dynamics, AI-enabled products, onboarding, and scale—often with practical takeaways for building sustainable subscription businesses. Notable strengths include founder-focused stories, data-driven insights, and a clear emphasis on growth mechanics that apply across consumer SaaS, marketplaces, and AI-native networks. It's especially useful for listeners who want actionable lessons from category-defining apps and emerging platforms, with a consistent focus on how to achieve scale without sacrificing product qu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Subversive?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Subversive:

1. Sub Club by RevenueCat
2. Training Data
3. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
4. David Senra
5. Uncapped with Jack Altman

How many episodes of Subversive are there?

Subversive launched a year ago and published 41 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Subversive?

Recent guests on Subversive include:

1. Sam Chaudhary
2. Esan Durrani
3. Eugenia Kuyda
4. Daniel Heintzman
5. Francesco Polizzi
6. Jack McDermott
7. Rik Haandrikman
8. Casey Winters

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