How to Listen to Substack Newsletters
Turn your newsletter inbox into a podcast feed
Substack newsletters have exploded in popularity, but keeping up with dozens of writers means more reading than most people have time for. speakeasy converts any Substack post URL into natural AI audio so you can listen to your favorite newsletters during a walk, commute, or workout. The app includes a Substack-specific extraction engine that removes subscription prompts, footers, and other non-article content, delivering a clean listening experience. Once converted, posts are stored in your iCloud library for offline replay. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from the basic setup to advanced tips that most users miss. Whether you're new to text-to-speech or looking to optimize your existing workflow, following these steps will help you get the most out of speakeasy and save significant time in the process.
Steps
Open the Substack post in your browser
Navigate to the Substack post you want to listen to. You can find the post link in your email newsletter or on the writer's Substack homepage.
Copy the post URL
Copy the URL from the address bar. Substack post URLs typically follow the pattern authorname.substack.com/p/post-title.
Paste into speakeasy and convert
Open speakeasy, paste the URL, and tap Convert. The Substack extractor strips subscription notices and footnotes, leaving only the main article text.
Listen and save
Play the audio immediately or save it to your library for later. The file syncs to iCloud so you can continue listening on any Apple device.
Why this matters
Understanding how to listen to substack newsletters isn't just about following a checklist — it's about fundamentally changing how you consume content. Most people spend 2-3 hours daily reading articles, newsletters, and blog posts on their phones. Converting that reading time to listening time opens up hours of productivity you didn't know you had.
The process is simpler than you might think: Open the Substack post in your browser → Copy the post URL → Paste into speakeasy and convert. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature, and you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. speakeasy handles the technical complexity behind the scenes, so you can focus on the content rather than the conversion process.
Common mistakes to avoid
When learning to listen to substack newsletters, there are a few pitfalls worth knowing about upfront. First, don't try to convert everything at once — start with a few articles you're genuinely interested in, and build your listening habit gradually. Second, make sure you're using the right voice and speed settings for the type of content you're converting.
Another common mistake is not taking advantage of speakeasy's iCloud sync. Your audio library syncs automatically between iPhone and Mac, which means you can queue articles on one device and listen on another. This is especially useful for articles you discover on your desktop but want to listen to during your commute.
Advanced tips for power users
Once you've mastered the basics, here are some ways to level up your workflow. Use the iOS share sheet to send articles directly from Safari, Twitter, or any other app to speakeasy — no need to copy-paste URLs. Set up a dedicated listening time each day, and queue articles the night before so your library is ready to go.
Experiment with different playback speeds for different content types: news articles work well at 1.5-2x, while technical or philosophical content benefits from 1.0-1.2x. You can also use speakeasy's voice preview feature to find the perfect voice for each type of content. Many power users maintain separate mental categories — a deep voice for serious analysis, a lighter voice for casual blog posts.
Getting the best results
The quality of your audio depends on several factors that are worth optimizing. speakeasy works best with well-structured articles that have clear paragraphs and headings. Most blog posts, newsletters, and news articles convert beautifully. Extremely visual content (infographics, charts-heavy pieces) may lose some context in audio form, but the text content still converts well.
For the best listening experience, use headphones or earbuds — the nuance in speakeasy's AI voices is more apparent with direct audio delivery. If you're listening through phone speakers, you might miss subtle intonation that makes the experience feel natural. Finally, don't forget to rate and organize articles in your library — this helps you build a personal audio archive you can revisit anytime.
Key takeaways
- The setup process takes less than a minute once you know the steps
- Start with content you're already interested in to build the listening habit
- Use iCloud sync to seamlessly move between iPhone and Mac
- Experiment with playback speed to find your optimal listening pace
- The iOS share sheet is the fastest way to convert articles
Tips
- If a Substack post is paywalled, open it in the in-app browser while logged into your Substack account for full access
- Use the Share Sheet directly from your email client to send Substack links to speakeasy
- Organize your converted newsletters into a listening queue so you can work through them in order
Frequently asked questions
Turn any article into natural-sounding audio. Paste a link, press play, and stay informed while you move.
Coming soon on Android