253: How to Grow Your Email List with Easy Events (No Burnout Required)

If you're tired of hustling for every new subscriber or drowning in launch mode, this episode is your fresh new strategy. We're diving into how you can host low-lift, high-impact events that grow your email list without the stress.

I sat down with Michelle Pontvert, my go-to expert for “easy events,” to talk all things bundles, summits, and out-of-the-box collaborations. Michelle shares how to attract aligned subscribers without the overwhelm, by leaning into minimalist formats that are intentional, powerful, and surprisingly simple to pull off. From email-only events to private podcast summits, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas you can implement right now.

We also dig into what makes a collaborative event truly work—for both you and your guest contributors—and how to make it a win-win so your list (and reputation) grow at the same time.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between bundles and summits—and when to use each

• Why hosting your own event can 10x your email list growth

• How to design a “minimalist” event that still gets major results

• Unique event formats you’ve probably never considered (but should!)

• Michelle’s favorite low-lift collaboration strategies

• How to create a win-win experience for your contributors

• Tips to turn new subscribers into long-term fans and buyers

Whether you’ve hosted events before or you’re just starting to think about it, this conversation will change the way you see audience growth. Tune in—you’ll leave with a dozen lightbulb moments and at least one new idea to try in your next quarter.

🎧 Hit play and let’s make email list building easy again.

Mentioned in this episode:

Where to find Michelle: Website

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Transcript

[00:00:00]
Welcome to the Creator's MBA Podcast, your go-to resource for mastering the art and science of digital product entrepreneurship. My name is Dr. Destini Copp, and I help business owners generate consistent revenue from their digital product business—without the need to be glued to their desk, constantly live launching, or worrying about the social media algorithms. I hope you enjoy our episode today.

[00:00:25]
My special guest today is Michelle Pontvert. Michelle is your easy events expert and lover of low-lift strategies to grow your business without overstretching your limited time, energy, and capacity. Michelle, thank you so much for joining me today. I am super excited about our conversation because we’re going to be talking about something that I personally am very passionate about.

[00:00:50]
But before we get into all of that, can you tell the audience just a little bit more about you and how you help people?

[00:00:56]
Michelle: Thank you so much for having me. I've been looking forward to this chat! Basically, I help people put on online events—summits, bundles, and other collaborative ways to grow your audience by borrowing other people’s audiences. I help you collaborate and create a bit of a fuss around your brand so people get excited and want to join your email list.

[00:01:22]
I have a background in film production and also worked as a wedding planner, so I’ve got lots of planning experience. I feel like the planning and creativity really come together in the way I approach my events.

[00:01:36]
Dr. Destini: You were a Hollywood set decorator, correct?

[00:01:39]
Michelle: I used to do all the beautiful sets behind the scenes. My favorite credit was on Parks and Recreation. I put together a market stand for one episode and got to be on the backlots of LA—it was a really fun time. But it feels like a different life these days!

[00:02:10]
Dr. Destini: That does sound like fun. Now I want to jump into today’s topic. One of the things I always tell my audience is never take your foot off the gas pedal when it comes to growing your audience and email list. And what I love about our conversation today is that we’re going to talk about doing that through events.

[00:02:35]
We’re specifically talking about the attract stage of the Creator’s Growth Flywheel. This is a stage you always need to be focused on. So Michelle, walk us through the different ways we can use events to do that.

[00:02:51]
Michelle: When we think about events, summits and bundles are the two most popular. Basically, we’re pooling together experts to share valuable content—either exclusive to the event or paid products for free or a low cost.

[00:03:14]
It’s a great way to introduce yourself to new audiences. Not only are you reaching your own audience, but also the host’s and every other participant’s audience. It gives you a quick burst of exposure.

[00:03:38]
You can either be a participant in an event—like sharing a free product or lead magnet—or you can be the host. And the benefit of hosting is that you get to keep everyone’s email who signs up.

[00:04:20]
Dr. Destini: Let’s really focus on hosting these events. I’ve hosted bundles and summits in both my personal brand and in Hobby School. There are pros and cons. It can be a lot of work. But I know you focus on what you call easy events. Can you explain what that means?

[00:04:44]
Michelle: If the traditional event is maximalist, I’m the minimalist. We strip back the bells and whistles—no communities, no live elements—and focus on the content. Do less, but better.

[00:05:05]
We often get more targeted leads that are better aligned because we’re specific. And because it’s low-lift, we as hosts can be more present to build relationships.

[00:05:50]
I also love experimenting with different formats. I do audio-only summits uploaded to private podcast feeds. It’s personal, intimate, and works great with storytelling. I also do email-only events, roundtables, and implementation-style challenges.

[00:07:10]
Dr. Destini: I love all the options you gave! My brain was going crazy. I’ve done audio summits and roundtables, but email events are something I haven’t explored. Is that kind of like an email takeover?

[00:07:30]
Michelle: Kind of! It’s like a themed email series, but instead of you writing everything, you bring in collaborators to contribute exclusive content. You send one email each week or so, and your audience gets a complete experience.

[00:08:00]
Dr. Destini: That’s definitely going on my 2026 list. Now, let’s talk about making these events a win-win. In Hobby School, we had so many people opting into speaker gifts that websites were crashing!

[00:08:22]
How can we make these events great for attendees and collaborators so people want to work with us again?

[00:08:30]
Michelle: The biggest key is clear, respectful communication. Make it easy for collaborators to understand what’s expected and when. Build relationships, not just transactions.

[00:09:00]
Also, don’t over-complicate things for attendees. Make it easy for them to access the event, the gifts, and your content. I’m a big fan of being generous—give longer free access instead of locking everything down. That leads to better long-term relationships.

[00:10:00]
As a host, you get to decide how your event works. Keep it small or make it big—but always remember, you don’t have to do it the “traditional” way. You’re in charge.

[00:10:30]
Dr. Destini: Michelle, thank you so much for sharing your brilliance today. Before we go, can you tell people where they can find you—and I believe you have a free gift too?

[00:10:45]
Michelle: Yes! You can find me at michellepontvert.com. I also have a private podcast called The Backstage Pass where I share behind the scenes of how I run my business. My free gift is a fun, film-themed quiz that helps you figure out which type of event is the best fit for your goals and capacity. It’s eerily accurate!

[00:11:20]
Dr. Destini: I’ll drop all those links in the show notes. Thank you again for joining me today!