The Newsletter Is Expanding!

First off, thank you.

Thank you for reading, subscribing, and supporting this newsletter. It’s been just over three months since I launched NERD GATE Southeast, and it’s already had a huge impact on my life.

Now I want to share how you’ve played a role in that and what’s coming next.

I’ve left my 9-5

Earlier this month, I officially stepped away from my full-time job to focus entirely on building this newsletter and the content that surrounds it.

This has been a dream for a long time: to tell meaningful stories that highlight the creativity and nerd culture that make our local area so special. The support I’ve gotten since launching NERD GATE Southeast has given me the confidence to take the leap.

So once again, thank you. I wouldn’t be doing this without your encouragement and belief in what I’m building.

What’s next for the newsletter?

With more time and focus, I’ll be able to offer a lot more. Here’s what you can expect:

• More written stories about events, creators, and small businesses.

• More video content on the new NERD GATE Southeast YouTube channel.

• A better premium experience for paid subscribers, including early access to videos, events master list, and a growing community.

Let’s dive into each:

More stories

The original goal for this newsletter was to provide event details—what’s happening, where, and when. But I’ve also wanted to go deeper with feature stories on creators, businesses, and fan communities. Now I can finally make that happen on a regular basis.

More video content

Making videos has always been one of my biggest passions, but it’s also one of the things that takes the most time. I’ve got two videos already filmed and waiting to be edited, and now I finally have the time to bring them to life.

These videos will live on the new NERD GATE Southeast YouTube channel, and I’m excited to add a visual layer to the stories you read here.

Premium upgrades

Now that this is my full-time focus, sustaining it financially is essential. Paid subscribers are a huge part of that, and I want to make sure you get real value in return.

Here’s what I’ll be adding for paid subscribers over the next couple of weeks:

• Early access to new videos.

• A master list of all events featured in each year’s newsletter issues.

• An archive of cork board community posts.

And as the community grows and we gain some critical mass, I also plan to start:

• A private Discord server.

• Meetups at local events and conventions.

• Creative project collaboration opportunities.

Let’s go on an adventure

I’m incredibly excited about this next chapter, and even more excited that you’re a part of it.

Got thoughts or ideas on what you’d love to see more of? Just hit reply! I read every message, and I always appreciate hearing from you.

Live long and prosper,

– Matias