Being Freelance

From an overworked designer posting “a visual diary” on Instagram to running a multi-stream creative business, Itzel Islas has built a freelance life entirely on her own terms.After almost a decade in apparel design, she started illustrating for fun - and quickly realised people loved her colourful, playful style. “Little by little I started creating art… and then I started getting clients through it.”Today she runs YAY Itzel, blending branding work, her online shop, Patreon sticker club, brand partnerships with Adobe and Wacom, murals, workshops and even organising pop-ups, all rooted in her Mexican culture. “I’m just chasing whatever is fun for me.  And if it sounds fun, I’m all in.”She talks building a business organically, finding clients who share her values, and why being authentic is her biggest asset. “I’ve always seen everything I do as a big package of what is my business and how I sustain myself as an artist.”Hosted by freelance podcast and video podcast editor Steve Folland. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou'

Freelance market research consultant Katie Tucker shares how being intentional - with her time, energy, and choices - helped her build a freelance life that truly fits. From walking away from a corporate job for a family adventure to launching her freelance business Product Jungle and writing excellent business book Do Penguins Eat Peaches?, Katie opens up about patience, priorities, and the reality of balancing work, parenting, and wellbeing. You can watch the video podcast of this episode on Spotify or YouTube.In this episode we cover: The leap from corporate to freelancing after a family gap yearHow writing Do Penguins Eat Peaches? helped shape her businessBalancing client work with parenting and self-careWhy understanding your customer starts with asking better questionsThe power of patience, pricing, and permissionPlus ,we discover the one market research mistake that freelancers and small business most often make. Make sure you catch it. Find Katie Tucker at https://www.productjungle.co.uk/Get Katie's e

From choreographing dance routines and directing a TV show at a South African megachurch… to running her own freelance business - Lineo Kakole’s journey into branding was anything but traditional.When no one would hire her after she quit her job, Lineo started sharing passion projects on Instagram. From there, she built her creative identity design studio, Get Ready With Me, around beauty, strategy, and intentional living.But freelancing wasn’t always smooth. Burnout forced Lineo to rethink everything - from how she planned her day to how she tracked her emotions. Her solution? Turning to her 16-year-old self for guidance. Her high school self packed a lot in without burning out, how did she do it?Paper planners. Quarters, not just years. Dance breaks. Report cards. Slowing down. Now she does client work just four focused hours a few days a week - and she’s built a business that truly fits her life.In this episode, Lineo shares how she:- Built her freelance brand from scratch with no client experience- Discov

When Jess Bruno left her corporate job in marketing, to help with managing her chronic illness - she had no idea freelancing was even an option. It was her mum that made her realise all the free marketing advice she was giving to her friends should be worth paying for.The next time they called asking for help, it would cost £25.Since then, Jess has built a six-figure freelancer business.And what's more, she's built it on her terms: around her health, around surgeries, around grief. The past five years has packed in a lot for Jess. And we pack a lot into this episode:- How chronic illness shaped her business model- Rebuilding from grief, surgery and burnout — twice- How she grew her business without posting perfect content- The shift from doing it all to coaching and strategy- Why her content converts, even with 30 likes a post- What Netwerking is, and why it’s worth every penny (even in the red)- How she’s planning a sustainable new version of her businessIt’s bold, honest and brilliant — just like Jess.--Hos

From finance lawyer in Malta to FinTech copywriter in Edinburgh — André Spiteri’s freelancing story is full of risk, reinvention, and real talk.In this episode, André shares how he went from a corporate job he hated to building a sustainable freelance writing business. He talks honestly about the pressures of starting out, the mindset shift that came with success, and why the freedom of freelancing can sometimes be the hardest part.You’ll hear:Why André quit law and moved to London with no planHis cold-pitching mindset and why, against the usual freelancer advice, he doesn’t follow upWhat changed when he embraced being himself on social mediaHow community and a mastermind group made a huge differenceThe surprising thing he found most challenging about freelance lifeWhat he’d tell his younger self after 10 years in businessIt's a fun, sometimes sweary story of escaping corporate life. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreela

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEBen O’Brien, known to many as Ben The Illustrator, returns to share how his freelance journey has evolved since his first Being Freelance appearance back in 2018.From losing all his travel industry clients overnight in 2020, to discovering new income streams through lockdown listening parties, to launching a creative studio with his wife, and literally building a studio with his friends. Ben’s path of adaptation has been found by following his curiosity, being more open that ever to opportunities. Now 25 years into his self-employed life and 20 years as ‘Ben The Illustrator’, there’s a lot of experience for Ben to draw from (making no apologies for the pun).- Finding clients through word of mouth (and why you can’t force it)- Running a print shop… and knowing when to shut it- The joy of building your own studio

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Hollie Arnett was inspired to pursue a creative path. Fast forward to today, and she’s running not one but two brands from Wellington, New Zealand: Maker & Moxie, where she coaches artists and makers on building their own brands, and By Hollie Arnett, where she offers branding and illustration services.High School Hollie would be proud.In this episode, Hollie shares how her journey as a freelancer began as a teenager doing design work for her youth group, how a life coach nudged her into officially launching her business, and the twists, pivots, and passions that shaped her freelance career. We also dive into subscription services, pricing packages, the power of creative communities, her own experiences with chronic illness, confidence issues and ultimately following the joy in what she doe

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Jerel Ramsey was inspired by his father to work for himself. And here we are. In this episode, Jerel shares how he turned his passion for design into a full-time business, Sola, which he runs with his wife from their home in Trinidad and Tobago.Starting out as a graphic designer, Jerel’s journey went from side gigs to establishing a purpose driven creative agency. He talks about how his experience with the Red Cross sparked his desire to work on meaningful projects and how he built a business based on collaboration rather than competition. Building a network of other freelancers to 'co-create'.Staying to true to his father's message to work 'with' people, not 'for' them.Jerel opens up about the realities of freelancing, from finding clients in a saturated market to balancing work and life with

PODCAST SPONSORED BY: RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan PODCAST SPONSORED BY: PORKBUN: Get a domain name for your website. www.beingfreelance.com/porkbun  ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time around Dee Primett shares her 10 year journey from a side hustle grinding with content mills to becoming a sought-after freelance communications specialist for healthcare and tech brands.Dee got her start writing online while juggling young children, slowly carving out a niche in healthcare content—and discovering a talent for making complex ideas easy to understand. Her freelancing career evolved from generalist blog posts to strategic content and brand communications, fuelled almost entirely by referrals and word of mouth.In 2022, Dee was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. In this honest and inspiring conversation, she opens up about the impact it had on her life and business; from surgery and re

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIcelandic artist Stefán Yngvi Pétursson, also known as Styngvi, shares his journey from working in an ad agency to becoming a freelance conservation illustrator. Inspired by shocking pollution during a trip to Indonesia, Stefán decided to use his creative skills for environmental activism, or 'artivism'. He established a successful freelancing career through Instagram, but more recently has expanded his network and leads via LinkedIn and email outreach. With a growing online presence and support from platforms like Patreon, Stefán aligns his art and business with his values, promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, kindness and positi

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time, we explore both a metaphorical freelance journey and physical one.In 2015 Rebecca decided she wanted to travel whilst freelancing.After building up savings and clients for a couple of years, she headed off to Europe as a digital nomad. Travelling whilst working as a content writer and strategist.At first she did more sight seeing that client work, but as time went on she was ready to switch that balance. To settle for longer - both in terms of location and contracts.Rebecca shares insights on how she made the most of her network for initial clients, and adapted to changing freelance landscapes over the years through platforms like Li

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEHow does a Welsh schoolboy recommended by a career advisor to become a tree surgeon end up illustrating and animating for some of the biggest media outlets across the globe?Becoming a location independent freelancer, working from London, Lima in Peru, and Barcelona in Spain.Getting known for creating funny content. With a range of satirical dog toys and creating animated videos for some of the worlds biggest podcasts including Joe Rogan and The Rest Is History?Dave shares his thoughts on steering his career in the directions he desires. The importance of meeting people, working in somewhere other than your home, and paying attention to what wor

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this podcast we chat to South African freelancer Yolanda Sissing.From her base in the UK she explains how a near-death experience made her realise filling in KPI reports for a boss wasn’t what she wanted.She’s now found her niche freelancing for purpose-driven clients and shares her strategies for getting clients through networking, content marketing, LinkedIn and Instagram Lives. Yolanda discusses the importance of setting work-life boundaries, leveraging community support, and pursuing long-term goals (if you watch the video version you’ll get to see her actual mood board!). We also get an introduction to the Anti-Social Socialites - the co

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------In this episode, Steve Folland interviews Helen Ridley, a freelance illustrator who has carved a unique niche in live event illustration.Helen shares her inspiring journey from studying fashion design to working in retail for over a decade and finally making the leap to full-time freelance illustration during the 2020 lockdown. She discusses the challenges and rewards of building her business, the importance of pitching and persistence once you have a contact, and her success with live portraits at events, including a notable partnership with John Lewis. Helen’s not just pursuing her passion. She’s focussed her freelancing on what’s actually profitable.Helen also delv

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside----------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE In this episode, Xavier Buendia shares his journey from Mexico City to Brighton, and more importantly from the world of hospitality as a sommelier to a career as a successful freelance photographer.Xavi discusses the importance of people skills, marketing consistency, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. He highlights both the financial benefits and creative downsides of having routine retainer clients; his pivot when COVID and Brexit hit the food industry he’d relied upon. And his recent experiments with hiring a very human PR and using AI – both to help his business in different ways.00:00 Introduction to Xavi Buendia02:04 Xavi's

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside----------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE In this episode of the Being Freelance podcast, host Steve Folland interviews Kate Taylor, a seasoned podcast producer and founder of the Feast Collective.Kate discusses the highs and lows of her 20-year freelance career, emphasising the importance of personal relationships and trust in bringing word of mouth work.She shares the journey of starting the Feast Collective to combat the isolation and stress inherent in freelance work, fostering a supportive community for audio professionals. Very much a sense of not seeing your peers as your competition. It's an interesting taking on freelancers working together and growing together.Kate also

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside----------- ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE Hear how Dave Officer, a freelance graphic designer got started and finds clients in this episode of the Being Freelance podcast hosted by Steve Folland. Dave shares his late leap into freelancing, discussing the challenge of overcoming the urge to procrastinate by consuming endless information. Discover how Dave transitioned from a steady job to pursuing his passion later in life, using creative networking strategies and leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn to build his brand. If you're wondering if LinkedIn video can bring you work... yes it can. Dave is the proof. But how is he doing it? Stand out. Bit that bit different to t

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEAngela shares her 12-year journey as a freelance graphic designer. And her approach to business has dramatically evolved so there’s plenty to share.Initially focusing mostly on magazine design work and raising her young family, the past four years have seen her embrace networking, community building, and new opportunities through social media and in-person events.Angela discusses how joining communities like Being Freelance, Digital Women (where she won Graphic Designer of the Year) and working on Freelancer Magazine as art director opened new doors and helped her overcome initial reluctance to put herself out there. She emphasizes

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEThomas Kemeny shares his journey from agency copywriter to successful freelancer, highlighting how he transitioned only after establishing a strong reputation in the advertising industry. After working long stints at agencies, Thomas didn’t want to climb the career ladder and become a manager. He wanted to be doing the creative graft.Working alongside an art director partner, Thomas discusses how they maintain separate businesses while frequently collaborating. He explains the benefits of working with both agencies and direct clients, noting how each environment offers different learning opportunities and approaches to creative prob

EPISODE SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside.See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelance business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.Use this link to help support the podcast or go to beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------ABOUT THIS EPISODEDespite initially getting the cold shoulder from cold outreach, Hazel soon found her niche creating purpose-driven work, particularly around feminist and social issues.A viral social media post early in her career led to work with major clients like Netflix, though she discusses the anxiety that came with sudden exposure.Hazel opens up about managing the rollercoaster of freelance life, including how she handles quiet periods - even training as a face painter as a backup plan. She discusses the evolution of her business, from client work to running an online shop, painting murals, and publishing a book.The conversation delves into t