What actually moved the needle going from ~100 to ~1,000 subs in a slow niche (Stoicism/philosophy)?

Not looking for generic “post consistently” advice, more curious about niche specific stuff. Philosophy/self improvement is crowded but also slow burn people don’t impulse subscribe to a guy talking about Marcus Aurelius the way they might a prank channel. For those in adjacent niches (self help, philosophy, mindset content) was there an identifiable moment or change that actually accelerated things, or was it just linear grind? Curious whether to keep doing more of the same or if there’s a lever I’m not pulling.