👽 Aliens have landed. Time to profit

Hey friend,

Today we're unpacking how a broke theater kid with $97 terrorized America, why CBS nearly went bankrupt overnight, and 3 ways to profit from humanity's oldest emotion: fear.

The Story

October 30, 1938. The night America thought it was being invaded by aliens.

While families gathered around their radios expecting to hear dance music, they instead heard: "Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program to bring you a special bulletin..."

What followed was a series of increasingly terrifying news reports about Martians landing in New Jersey and unleashing destruction across America.

As the broadcast escalated, panic seized the nation. People fled their homes, wrapped their faces in wet towels against "poison Alien gas," and called loved ones to say goodbye.

But here’s the catch:

There were no aliens. No invasion. Just a 23-year-old theatre nobody named Orson Welles, desperate to save his failing radio show with a tiny $97 budget.

The aftermath was insane. An estimated 6 million people heard it. Nearly 2 million believed it was real. Newspapers ran over 12,000 articles about the "panic broadcast." CBS faced threats of lawsuits and near bankruptcy overnight.

But the real lesson here isn’t about Martians at all—it's about something far more primal:

Fear sells. And storytelling is its greatest amplifier.

Before Welles, radio was polite and predictable. Afterwards, the news became more dramatic. Commercials more urgent. The entire industry shifted toward exploiting emotional triggers rather than just delivering information.

This accidental discovery—that fear creates immediate action—has since become the backbone of billions in marketing spend. And it’s also where your next opportunity lies.

How To Profit

• The ‘‘Everything Else’’ Audio Empire

The world is drowning in unread text. Books got Audible. Podcasts have Spotify. But what about everything else in between?

1. Create audio experiences of things people are curious about but can never access.

2. Use voice actors to recreate real-life scenarios: boardroom negotiations, therapy sessions, criminal interrogations.

3. Package as exclusive content people will subscribe to monthly.

Example: A Chicago producer launched "Billion Dollar Boardroom" – dramatized versions of corporate takeovers based on public filings. She charges $14.99/month and has 2,300+ subscribers for what's essentially theater without the visuals.

Startup costs? A Reddit post recruiting voice actors willing to work for royalties and $89 for audio editing software.

Pro tip: Focus on experiences that trigger emotional responses. A "Relationship Conflicts" series – realistic couples fighting and resolving issues – will likely outperform everything else by 3x because listeners learn negotiation tactics while feeling less alone in their own struggles.

• History Broadcasts

History textbooks are dying. Experiential learning is the future. And you can own the audio rights to the entire human story.

1. Pick pivotal historical moments people recognize but don't truly understand.

2. Script them as modern breaking news broadcasts with reporters, eyewitnesses, and experts.

3. Add era-appropriate audio effects: telegraph clicks for Civil War, static for Moon Landing.

Example: A history teacher in Portland created "The Fall of Rome: Live Coverage" with field reporters at the city gates and frantic news anchors. He sells licensing to schools at $799 per district and generated $187,000 last year with just 8 historical events in his catalog.

Startup costs? $340 for decent microphones, free Audacity software, and $75 for stock sound effects.

Pro tip: Include period-appropriate commercials between segments. For a WWII broadcast: "This news bulletin is brought to you by Lucky Strike cigarettes – smoke tested, doctor approved!"

• False Alarm Subscription

Welles terrified America with aliens. You can terrify subscribers with anything—and sell them the solution.

1. Create an email newsletter sending hyper-realistic "breaking news" about impending disasters (grid failures, market crashes, zombie outbreaks).

2. Make it feel authentic with emergency formatting, "leaked" information, and urgent tone.

3. After hooking readers with fear, pivot to selling preparation guides, survival gear, and emergency kits.

Example: Surprisingly, we couldn't find anyone doing this at scale yet. With proper execution, this is a wide-open opportunity to dominate an untapped market. Based on affiliate commission rates (40-60%), 10,000 subscribers could easily generate $30,000+ monthly.

The startup costs? Email service ($29/month), disaster templates ($45 one-time), and affiliate partnerships (free to join).

Pro tip: Never openly admit it's fake. Add tiny fine print: "educational simulation." Plausible deniability keeps the fear intact but keeps you legal.

Ask Ace (Q and A time)

While America panicked during the broadcast, Ace sat calmly with his notebook, dissecting Welles' techniques in real time. By morning, he had transformed the chaos into actionable advice for his newsletter subscribers. Here's his response to one of them:

"Ace, how do I make my customers take immediate action?" — Derek from Chicago

Until next time,

Alex

Founder //LZY MNY CLB