When exited founder Daniel Rowntree approached me to help create his High & Dry Newsletter—a fresh take on the alcohol-free and psychedelic industries—I couldn’t have been more excited.
As someone already intrigued by alcohol-free living and the growing conversation around microdosing and performance-enhancing substances, I saw this as a unique opportunity to merge my personal interests with my professional expertise.
Why High & Dry?
Daniel’s vision for the newsletter was clear: deliver sharp, insightful commentary on two emerging industries with massive potential. The alcohol-free movement is reshaping how people socialise, while psychedelics are at the cutting edge of performance, mental health, and wellness. It was essential to create a newsletter that matched the innovative spirit of these fields while reflecting Daniel’s high-energy personality.
Leveraging experience and innovation
With a background in assembling newsletters for clients and producing corporate communications in previous roles, I had the tools to make High & Dry a success. However, Daniel’s openness to experimentation—particularly with AI—brought an exciting new dimension to the process.
How we made it work
To create a newsletter that’s both compelling and efficient, we combined traditional editorial practices with cutting-edge technology. Here’s a closer look at our approach:
Strategic Use of AI
- Tailored Prompts: We don’t rely on generic AI commands. Instead, we use highly specific prompts designed to align with the latest industry insights.
- Training in Tone of Voice: The AI is trained extensively on Daniel’s tone of voice using a rich dataset, ensuring that every piece of content feels authentic and aligned with his brand.
- Ongoing Refinement: This isn’t a “set it and forget it” system. We continually refine the AI’s output to improve accuracy and consistency.
Thorough Editorial Oversight
- Every edition of the newsletter undergoes review by two human editors to ensure accuracy, coherence, and a seamless narrative.
- All research is conducted upfront to ground the newsletter in credible, up-to-date information.
Original Visual Design
- Unlike the written content, which incorporates AI tools, the artwork is 100% original. AI-generated graphics didn’t meet our quality standards, so we partnered with designers to create visuals that reflect the newsletter’s vibrant and forward-thinking ethos.
Results and impact
Since its launch, the High & Dry Newsletter has experienced significant growth, with subscriber numbers increasing by X% (specific metrics can be inserted). The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from Daniel’s network, which includes industry insiders and thought leaders. This reception has validated our efforts and encouraged us to continue evolving the newsletter.
What sets High & Dry apart?
- A fresh, original voice that reflects Daniel’s personality and enthusiasm.
- High-quality content that blends AI innovation with human expertise.
- Consistently engaging insights into two rapidly growing industries.
Lessons learned
This project reaffirmed the power of blending human creativity with AI tools when done thoughtfully. It’s not about replacing people but about leveraging technology to streamline processes and unlock new possibilities.
Final thoughts
Working on High & Dry has been a rewarding experience. Together, we’ve created a platform that informs, inspires, and pushes the boundaries of what a newsletter can achieve in niche markets.
