Local Media HQ

Local Media HQ is the definitive podcast and consulting resource for entrepreneurs or anyone interested in modern, creator-led local media brands, as well as local newsletters. Host TJ Larkin provides exclusive insights, proven frameworks, and actionable strategies that help local media and newsletter publishers accelerate growth and maximize profitability.

Local Media HQ is a business podcast hosted by TJ Larkin, with 83 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

TJ Larkin hosts Local Media HQ, a business show with 83 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #78

  How to Build a Local Media Business that Scales

  Aug 10, 202648 min

  Local Media Camp: localmediacamp.com (discount code: LOCALHQ) Check out Greetform here: https://greetform.com/ Join TJ Larkin as he interviews David Grant, GM at Blue Engine Collaborative, to dissect what separates struggling local publications from thriving media businesses. David breaks down data from thousands of media organizations, explaining why print mailing targeting high-value zip codes remains an unbeatable ad format and how Facebook's creator monetization features are paying smaller publishers real monthly returns. Throughout the episode, David emphasizes the role of localized storytelling, training dedicated ad sales personnel, and expanding media brands beyond standard editorial into local agency work. The discussion highlights real success stories from publications taking advantage of short-form video, intern talent programs, and experiential community events like dinner clubs and local summits. If you are looking to build or scale a local media empire, this interview delivers straight talk, practical frameworks, and high-impact monetization strategies you can deploy immediately in your market. Guest Information: Name: David Grant Company: Blue Engine Collaborative Website: blueenginecollaborative.com Upcoming Event: Local Media Camp (October 14–16, Durham, NC) at localmediacamp.com (Discount Code: LOCALHQ ) Socials: Instagram: @_austinpowell (Austin Powell, Meta Growth) Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ https://lightbreak.ai Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe Join the Community (Discord): Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With Me For brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalNews #LocalMedia #Publishing #MediaBusiness #Journalism #NewsletterGrowth #AdSales #DigitalPublishing #PrintMedia #MediaStrategy

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  Episode #77

  The Unique Marketing Strategy Home Service Companies Are Missing

  Jul 27, 202658 min

  Check out Greetform here: https://greetform.com/ In this episode of the Local Media HQ show, host TJ Larkin interviews Price Foulger, the creator of Low Tide Local in Northern California. Price shares his journey of launching a local newsletter focused on community events in Santa Cruz while simultaneously building a new roofing business. He explains how he views the newsletter not only as a passion project for community connection, but also as an effective, long-term marketing engine for high-ticket home services. Price walks through his early growth strategies, detail how organic posts on Facebook and Nextdoor brought in thousands of initial subscribers, followed by cost-effective Meta ad campaigns. The conversation covers the balance between short-term lead generation and long-term community trust, as well as how local media brands create "local gravity" that benefits backend business offers. Additionally, Price discusses leveraging technology to streamline operations, including using AI coding tools to build interactive, map-based event calendars for subscribers. The episode provides practical perspectives for local media operators and home service entrepreneurs looking to integrate media with traditional local business models. For more information or to connect with Price Foulger, visit his website at lowtidelocal.media. You can also follow his updates on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @PriceFoulger. Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ https://lightbreak.ai Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe Join the Community (Discord): Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With Me For brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalNewsletters #LocalMedia #HomeServices #RoofingBusiness #SantaCruz #Entrepreneurship #ContentMarketing #CommunityBuilding #BusinessGrowth #LocalMarketing

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  Episode #76

  Transitioning from Instagram Page to Media Company

  Jul 20, 202658 min

  Check out Greetform here: https://greetform.com/ In this episode, TJ Larkin interviews Travis from What's on Goldie to discuss how he built a massive local media presence on Australia's Gold Coast. Travis shares his journey from managing the platform as a side project to quitting his full-time tech sales job to go all-in on his media business. The conversation focuses heavily on how local publishers can leverage organic Instagram growth, integrate automated event calendars, and transition from a simple social media page into a highly profitable, multi-channel local media empire. Travis breaks down the exact mechanics behind his explosive Instagram growth, revealing why unbranded, raw carousels using native Instagram text massively outperform highly polished, heavily branded corporate content. He also discusses his innovative approach to managing local content creators through a custom-built portal, solving the common headache of content creation while scaling up inbound advertising demand from local venues. Additionally, they explore a brilliant strategy for utilizing Facebook group onboarding questions to rapidly grow a high-open-rate local newsletter. Viewers will walk away with actionable insights on monetization, including how to price and structure guaranteed event listings, carousel inclusions, and long-term multi-channel media packages. Travis emphasizes the long-term value of building community brand equity first and leveraging automation tools on the back end to keep operations lean while scaling into new geographic locations. Connect with Travis and check out his work via the What's on Goldie website at whatsongoldie.com. You can reach out directly via email at travis@whatsongoldie.com, follow his updates on Instagram (@whatsongoldie), or connect with him directly inside the Local Media HQ Discord community. Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ https://lightbreak.ai Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe Join the Community (Discord): Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalMedia #InstagramGrowth #LocalPublishing #DigitalMediaBusiness #Hyperlocal #ContentCreatorEconomy #InstagramCarousels #NewsletterGrowth #WhatsonGoldie #MediaMonetization

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  Episode #75

  Earning $100k+ Running a Local Media Brand Part Time

  Jul 13, 20261h 2m

  In this episode of the Local Media HQ Show, host TJ Larkin sits down with Andrew Smith, the founder of Huntsville Explorer, a hyper-local media brand based in Huntsville, Alabama. Andrew shares his journey of transitioning from a planned statewide blog network to running a hyper-focused city newsletter that currently boasts over 25,000 subscribers. The conversation breaks down the mechanics of local media monetization, organic and paid audience growth strategies, and how to effectively build authority within a specific geographic market. Andrew details the exact operational numbers behind Huntsville Explorer, revealing how the brand brought in $55,000 in revenue through the first six months of the year with a target of crossing six figures annually. He explains how he leveraged Facebook "Page Like" ads early on to build a massive 50,000-follower baseline, which served as a crucial psychological tool for establishing legitimacy with local business owners. Additionally, the episode covers the logistics behind his upcoming event, the Huntsville Food Fest, demonstrating how live events can generate substantial profit margins while providing free marketing opportunities for community restaurants. Listeners will walk away with actionable insights regarding local business outreach and advertiser psychology. Andrew explains why targeting companies with dedicated marketing budgets is vastly more efficient than selling to tightly run small businesses, and how naturally featuring brands before a pitch changes the sales dynamic. The episode emphasizes the necessity of automated low-ticket options for smaller local entities to protect your time while scaling your operations. The best place to reach Andrew is via email at andrew@hsv-explorer.com (or andrew@hsvexplorer.com) or by sending a direct message on the Huntsville Explorer Instagram account, where he remains highly active monitoring community outreach. Check out Greetform! https://greetform.com/ Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ https://lightbreak.ai Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe Join the Community (Discord):Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With MeFor brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalMedia #NewsletterGrowth #HuntsvilleExplorer #HyperLocal #DigitalMarketing #MediaEntrepreneur #FacebookAds #AudienceBuilding #LocalAdvertising #BusinessAutomation

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  Episode #74

  How From Boise Reached $200k+ a Year Part 2

  Jul 7, 202634 min

  Welcome to Part 2 of our masterclass with Marissa Lavelle, the founder of From Boise. In this segment, host TJ Larkin pushes past basic business theories to uncover the exact day-to-day operations, hiring systems, and backend frameworks that keep a six-figure newsletter running smoothly. If you have ever wondered how to step back from micromanaging your brand and actually delegate tasks to a team, this half of the conversation is for you. Marissa delivers a literal blueprint for recruiting raw talent right out of local university sales clubs, specifically highlighting her experience with Boise State University graduates. She reveals her exact commission structure—detailing why a $500 monthly base pay paired with a 25% commission rate creates the perfect incentive model for a new sales rep. Marissa discusses the critical necessity of setting up a clear two-month grace period to allow team members to properly populate their pipeline without overwhelming immediate pressure. Beyond hiring, Marissa details how she organized her entire workflow history into a dedicated onboarding system using Notion. By integrating tools like Google Docs, Notion, and Canva, her team can independently create content and seamlessly coordinate with corporate partners. She also provides an actionable strategy for client retention, explaining how to format clear sponsor "impact reports" that automatically lock in recurring advertising renewals. Guest Information: Connect with Marissa Lavelle and check out her hyper-local newsletter via the official website at fromboise.com. You can follow their local community updates on Instagram @from.boise or check out Marissa's business insights on LinkedIn and Instagram under Marissa from Boise. To explore the specific branding and in-person outreach strategies discussed in this episode, you can connect with her sales contractor, Leslie E. Johnson, on Instagram @leslie.e.johnson. Check out Greetform! https://greetform.com/ Build your own local media business: https://localmediahq.com/ https://lightbreak.ai Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: https://www.localmediahq.com/subscribe Join the Community (Discord): Connect with TJ, share ideas, ask questions, and be part of a growing creator & media community 👉 Join here: https://discord.localmediahq.com/ Follow My Journey Twitter/X: https://x.com/TJLarkin23 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.larkin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlarkin1 Website: https://tjlarkin.com/ Work With Me For brand partnerships, sponsorships, and business inquiries: tj@localmediahq.com #LocalMedia #NewsletterBusiness #EmailMarketing #FromBoise #HyperLocalNews #MediaMonetization #SalesContractors #OnboardingSystems #CreatorEconomy #BoiseBusiness

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Recent guests on Local Media HQ. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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