Amelia Hruby: How to Build a Successful Business Without Social Media
“The idea that you have to be on social media to have a successful business is provably false.”
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Hruby, feminist writer and host of the Off the Grid podcast, for a conversation about building a successful business without relying on social media.
Amelia shares her personal journey away from social media dependence and explains how she created a sustainable, relationship-centered business through community, creativity, email marketing, and intentional audience growth outside the attention economy.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Amelia Hruby
01:24 Journey to Feminist Podcasting and Authorship
03:40 Personal Experience with Social Media
07:26 Navigating Business Without Social Media
10:17 Building Relationships Beyond Algorithms
18:24 Reframing Attention: From Scarcity to Ecology
25:29 The Art of Noticing and Attention
27:57 The Impact of Social Media on Creativity
30:30 Navigating the Challenges of Social Media
34:35 Reclaiming Attention and Relationships
38:32 Deciding to Leave Social Media
44:49 Finding Connection Beyond Social Media
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“Leaving social media doesn’t mean you stop marketing, it just means you do other things and figure out what works for you.”
About Amelia Hruby:
Amelia Hrubyis a feminist writer and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy from DePaul University. Over the past decade, she’s been a university professor, a community organizer, and a radio DJ. Now, she is the founder and executive producer of Softer Sounds, a podcast studio that supports women and nonbinary small business owners.
Since leaving social media in April 2021, she’s also launched the popular podcastOff the Grid, where she interviews artists, writers, business leaders and former influencers. Amelia is a platform critic, an AI skeptic, and an advocate for a non-extractive internet. Her new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Mediais out now.
Check out Amelia’s work:
Download Amelia’s FREE Leaving Social Media Toolkit
Get Amelia’s Book: Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media Use code SUNLIGHT for $5 off the book (paperback, ebook, or audiobook version)
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