Being Freelance

Becoming a Freelance Illustrator for Marvel, Disney and DC: Doaly

Sun, 31 May 2026 07:00:00 +0100

How does a creative side project turn into a decade long freelancing business working with the biggest names in pop culture, like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, DC Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures?

All good super-heroes have an origin story. And this interview tells the series of events that took Doaly from working for a company in Birmingham, England, to the front page of comic covers seen all over the world. Signing at Comic-con events. It's quite the transformation.

Tarlochan Doal, AKA Doaly, spent 15 years as a full time in-house web and UX designer. Illustration was the side hustle he did to scratch a creative itch, designing movie posters for films he loved.

Then one Saturday morning, Doaly woke to an email from a movie studio. And his whole script changed.

This episode of the Being Freelance podcast with Steve Folland covers:

- Why he filled his portfolio with the work he wanted to be hired for, and how design blogs and social media got it in front of the right people

- The passion projects that catapulted his career — including a Wonder Woman piece that sold 1,500 posters in a weekend and let him quit his day job

- Using UX contracting to bridge the financial gap in his first year of full-time freelancing

- Building a garden office to separate work from home - because when you love what you do, you'll work all day and night if you let yourself

- How a random 45-minute conversation at a New York convention led to his first Marvel Comics cover

- Multiple income streams across movies, comics, book covers and advertising - so no single client base can sink you

- The weekly phone calls with a fellow designer that serve as his informal co-mentoring

It's one hell of a story. And you might think - well, I'm not trying to work with Marvel, how will this freelancer's story relate to me? But there's so much relatable freelance advice and business tips to be drawn from his experiences.

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EPISODE SPONSOR
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Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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Being Freelance is hosted and created by freelance podcast editor Steve Folland.

Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?

Sun, 24 May 2026 08:09:28 +0100

It's a question Steve Folland gets asked a lot: as a freelancer, is it better to have a company name or use your own?

In this compilation episode, Steve digs deep into 11 years of the Being Freelance podcast archive - pulling together voices from guests including brand copywriter Mark Grainger, branding expert Bhavini Lakhani, copywriter Graeme Piper, illustrator Dan Bailey, social media consultant Alison Battisby, marketing agency founder Ross Simmonds, and more - to try and get to the bottom of it once and for all.

Why some freelancers hide behind a business name - and why that's not necessarily a bad thing
How a company name can shift your mindset and make you feel like a proper business
The practical reasons to avoid trading under your own name: spelling, pronunciation, searchability, and standing out in a scrollable world
When a business name helps you work with bigger clients, organisations, and even government
Why your business name should be future-proof - what happens when you pivot away from the service it describes?
The case for using your own name, and why Ross Simmonds says don't underestimate the power of your personal brand
Why in an age of AI, being a visible human is more valuable than ever
How some freelancers make the best of both worlds - with names like Jessi Illustrates, By Hollie Arnett, and Letters By Julia

Of course, there's no single right answer - but Steve rounds things up with his own take on when each approach makes sense.

HEAR THE FULL EPISODES
You can hear the full freelance stories of these guests by checking out their original episodes.
Simply try these links to open in your podcast app:
- Rebecca Shipham
- Mark Grainger
- Bhavini Lakhani
- Graeme Piper
- Joel Klettke
- Col Skinner
- Dan Bailey
- Alison Battisby
- Mary Cameron
- Louisa Heinrich
- Hollie Arnett
- Ross Simmonds

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Becoming the go-to freelancer in your niche - Jessi Illustrates

Sun, 10 May 2026 09:48:10 +0100

Jessica Hartshorn was trained as an illustrator, but unable to get work as one she went in another direction. Jessica spent the next 16 years working in museums and galleries. But the itch to illustrate never went away.

So she set up a secret Instagram account and started painting again without telling a soul.

Seven years on, she's a successful illustrator, freelancing with museums, galleries, heritage sites and parks across the UK. And her 16 years behind the scenes at the museum? Turned out to be her biggest selling point.

Hear Jessica, AKA Jessi Illustrates, chat with Steve Folland in the episode of the Being Freelance podcast which covers:

Going from a secret Instagram to an being known as the go-to specialist
How 16 years working inside museums became her unique selling point as a freelance illustrator
COVID as an unexpected turning point: when museums couldn't open
Why she goes to museum conferences and networking events (and is often the only illustrator in the room)
Using a printed pricing list not just to give costs, but to give inspiration as to what she could be hired for
Investing £500 a year in her business - and what that's bought over the years, from a videographer to a badge-making machine
Working with a creative mentor to cut out the work that looked good but wasn't worth the time
Co-mentoring with Jo (a graphic designer from the BF community)
Saying no with a standard copy-paste email - and why taking the emotion out of it makes all the difference

Jessica is part of the Being Freelance Community — come and hang out with Steve, Jessica and plenty of friendly freelancers who get what it's like!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Freelancer BTS - Some things are more important

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:38:20 +0100

New episodes with fresh freelancing stories coming very soon.

But as Jess Bruno said on her episode of Being Freelance: "Content can always blood wait".

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Stop Waiting for Clients. Start Making - Charles Commins

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Charles Commins handed his notice in at his pub management job with no plan and no business.

His partner gave him one month to figure it out. All he knew was that he wanted to love his job.

Seven and a half years later, he's an award-winning freelance podcast producer whose almost entire client chain traces back to one decision: making a football podcast about Northampton Town.

That podcast would act as his show ground and his playground. Testing and ultimately proving to clients that he should be freelancing for them.

Along the way he's had a succession of word-of-mouth freelancing clients, realised his dream of appearing on BBC Radio, and made all of it work around being there for his family.

This episode of the Being Freelance podcast with Steve Folland covers:

Starting It's All Cobblers To Me as a portfolio piece, and how a Northampton Town fan indirectly led to a four-year retainer
Why and how 90% of his work comes through referrals
The "starting from…" pricing approach: why he won't publish fixed rates, and how he edges prices up with each new client
Work-life balance: from pub late nights to home office, to a new baby derailing everything, to finally getting it to 60/40
The never-ending circle of freelance guilt - working, not working, being with family… there's always something to feel bad about
Co-running MIC's Podcast Club with Vic Turnbull - 1,400 members, monthly virtual meetups, and why running a community full of "competitors" is actually brilliant
Launching The Warrington Scoop, a hyperlocal monthly podcast, as a low-lift way to generate local business leads
Co-mentoring with Amy: how a monthly accountability call became one of his most valuable freelance tools
The biggest challenge: not finding clients, but believing work will come when you're in a trough

Charles is part of the Being Freelance Community - come and hang out with Steve, Charles and plenty of friendly freelancers who get what it's like!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Field Trip Fridays and Four Bank Accounts - Illustrator Perryn Ryan

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 17:56:09 +0000

Perryn Ryan didn't set out to become a freelance illustrator.

After a degree in computer information systems (to keep her parents happy), years in tech,, and a long stint in the fashion industry, she eventually gave herself permission to just... draw stuff she liked. Nothing serious.

Then a stranger with a million followers re-shared her work, the enquiries started flooding in, and a freelance illustration career was born almost overnight.

In this episode of the Being Freelance podcast, Perryn talks about:

How a career in fashion taught her to cost properly - including the "invisible costs" most freelancers miss
What happened when she dived into her first illustration brief without a contract, and what she learned from it
Why she approaches every client relationship as a partnership - but with clear limits on revisions, timelines, and communication
Her surcharge system for clients who insist on net 30 or longer payment terms
How her niche grew organically by simply making what she loved - flowing line art, wellness themes, women-focused brands
Why she's stepped back from Instagram and leans on direct outreach to art directors instead
The Illustrator's Business Journal; her writing project sharing business lessons through storytelling rather than how-to lists
Her four-bank-account system for managing freelance finances without the end-of-year panic
Protecting her creativity with time blocks, no weekends, and Field Trip Fridays

Enjoy a story with a few twists, a couple of false starts, and the reminder that every weird job you've ever had is probably preparing you for something.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Chase Those Late Payments - Graphic Designer Laura Whitehouse

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:30:00 +0000

Laura Whitehouse didn’t follow the usual path into graphic design.

While studying archaeology and anthropology (told you) at university, she started designing posters for student theatre shows. At first for free, then for £20 here and there (or sometimes just a pint). What began as a creative outlet quickly became the foundation of a freelance career.

Thanks to word of mouth clients and the help of various mentors, she built skills and confidence.

Until five years on, one of those mentors simply told her: "Just do it".
So she did. She quit. And start freelancing full time

In this episode Laura talks about:

Building a business through word-of-mouth referrals
Gradually increasing her rates after nudges from other freelancers
Showing only certain types of work online to shape perception
Running her one-woman studio Mighty Fine
Why she prefers working with freelancers rather than building an agency
The reality of managing 45 projects at once
Being completely unapologetic about chasing unpaid invoices
Why the financial side of freelancing can be the most stressful part
And the strange phenomenon of people wanting to “just grab a coffee” to pitch startup ideas

Laura also talks about working in film and TV graphics, co-hosting the podcast Opening Credits, and how reading fantasy novels recently helped her switch off from work in the evenings.

It’s a fun and honest conversation about building a freelance business your own way, without necessarily following the usual advice about niches, marketing strategies, or growth.

Sounds like a mighty fine idea.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

How to Find Your Freelancing Niche

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:28:36 +0000

In this short compilation episode, Steve revisits conversations from across 11 years of the Being Freelance podcast archive to explore what actually happens when freelancers specialise in a niche. Full of stories of how these freelance creatives found their niche and the impact it had.

You’ll hear:

THE IMPACT OF NICHING
How specialising can make marketing simpler and sales conversations easier

Why expertise can lead to higher-value opportunities

HOW TO FIND YOUR NICHE
How to choose a niche based on experience, enjoyment or values

Why your niche doesn’t have to be permanent

Featuring insights and stories from James Barnard, Liz Painter, Katie Chappell, Ayo Abbas, Louise Shanahan, Eman Ismail, Estelle Hakner, Ebonie Allard, Hannah Dossary and Stephen Adams.

Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your positioning years into freelancing, this episode might help you scratch that niche itch.

FULL EPISODES for each guest
James Barnard
Liz Painter
Katie Chappell
Ayo Abbas
Louise Shanahan
Eman Ismail
Estelle Hanker
Ebonie Allard
Hannah Dossary
Stephen Adams
Paul Jarvis Q&A

Hosted by freelance podcast editor and video podcast editor Steve Folland.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

When Freelancing Goes Quiet: Getting Proactive with Mark Grainger

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

For years, Mark Grainger’s freelance business ticked along nicely.

Referrals. Word of mouth. Repeat clients.

And then… things went quiet.

In this episode, we explore what happens when the reliable stream of freelance work slows down. And what it really takes to respond proactively rather than panic.

Durham-based freelance brand copywriter Mark shares how he:

- Repositioned himself from a company name back to his personal brand

- Niched by service rather than industry

- Started experimenting with LinkedIn outreach

- Refocused on building more durable business foundations

- Leaned into community rather than retreating

Mark is refreshingly honest about the uncomfortable parts of freelancing, especially business development.

“I have a business, but I’m not a businessman.”

We also talk about lifestyle businesses, pricing flexibility, work-life balance, and why it’s vital to acknowledge the harder seasons of self-employment rather than pretending everything’s fine.

If freelancing has felt quieter lately…
If you’ve relied on referrals and now need a Plan B…
Or if you’ve ever felt uncomfortable selling yourself…

This conversation will reassure you - and might just nudge you to get proactive too.

Go say Hi to Mark on LinkedIn!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Freelancer BTS - What happens when they click?

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:04:30 +0000

This is the first time I've done this as an episode.

A quick behind the scenes of what I'm up to with my own freelancer business - as a freelance video and podcast editor.

If you'd like to go even more behind the scenes, check out my freelancing life vlog on YouTube.

If I'm going to pay for an advert for my services, there's something I need to do first...

And you can do this too.

It's not about a major overhaul of your website.
Instead sit with a fresh cuppa and fresh eyes and see as if you're someone discovering you for the first time.

If someone clicks through on LInkedIn to your profile, what will they find?
Mine is linkedin.com/in/stevefolland

Likewise to your website.
Mine is stevefolland.com

Look at your LinkedIn profile.
Is it up to date for the work you're doing today? Do the links they click out function properly?

Look at your website.
Are the services you want to be known for the most obvious?
Does your contact form work?
Is your blog active or making it look like you've gone out of business?

If you're going to shout about yourself so that people pay attention, make sure what they find is true to you today.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

From Freelancer To Studio - The Power Of Positioning

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:20:03 +0000

Laura has been a professional graphic designer for over 20 years, but her freelance journey began in 2008 after the birth of her first child. With daycare in Manhattan costing more than rent, Laura started piecing together freelance work from home; juggling projects from a tiny dining table in a fourth-floor walk-up.

Freelancing wasn’t always smooth. But eventually, after settling in Massachusetts, it clicked.

After a particularly harsh freelance interview left her devastated, Laura made a decisive shift. She stopped calling herself Rizby Designs and became Rizbee Studio instead - a small but powerful change that reframed how clients perceived her work. And how she saw herself and her business.

Laura began positioning herself as a studio, using “we”, and gradually building a trusted team of contractors around her.

Over time, Laura discovered what she truly loved: designing brand systems, particularly for consumer packaged goods in the food and beauty industries. Finding her niche was the next big change.

Laura’s growth has been fuelled by intentional networking. From women-led business groups locally, to major industry expos across the US. Laura shares how she approaches events, follows up thoughtfully, and builds genuine relationships that often turn into work, even if it’s months later.

Laura also shares why she’s invested heavily in her business over the past few years: hiring a business coach (who’s helped her double revenue year-on-year), bringing on a social media manager, fractional CMO, director of operations, CFO, and freelance designers - all while remaining the creative heart of the studio.

Beyond client work, Laura has created something rare: a true client community. Including hosting a client appreciation dinner (first time we’ve heard that on the podcast!). She explains how fostering connection between clients has become a defining part of her business.

It feels amazing the difference defining herself as a ‘studio’ instead of a freelancer has made.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Cold Outreach: What Actually Works for Freelancers

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Cold outreach can often get a freelance business started.
But in this episode I propose even those of us years down the line don't give it the cold shoulder.

When you need to bring in clients, maybe a period of cold outreach, or even a consistent long term pattern of it, could be exactly what warms our business back up again.

Cold emails. Cold calls. Reaching out to people who didn’t ask to hear from you. It can feel awkward, uncomfortable, and very easy to put off.

But again and again on the Being Freelance podcast, freelancers have shared how proactive outreach - in many different forms - played a huge role in getting their business started, or getting it moving again when things felt quiet.

This episode is a little different from the usual Being Freelance format. Rather than a single guest interview, it’s a reflection on conversations with freelancers who’ve taken a deliberate approach to outreach.

You’ll hear how copywriter Adri Kopp refined her cold email process, worked out who she should actually be reaching out to, and set herself daily outreach targets - discovering that volume and timing mattered just as much as personalisation.

You’ll hear how fintech copywriter André Spiteri approached cold outreach as a simple, repeatable habit, deliberately avoiding emotional attachment to individual emails so he could keep momentum going.

Designer and illustrator Iancu Barbarasa shares how sending hundreds of emails wasn’t about asking for work, but about starting conversations - conversations that later led to some of the biggest projects of his career.

The episode also explores outreach beyond email. Sustainability copywriter Raymond Manzor talks about cold calling, sending physical letters with samples, and following up by phone. Standing out simply because hardly anyone else was doing it. Whilst visual storyteller Ashwin Chacko shares how self-publishing a book and proactively sharing it opened doors to workshops, conversations, and paid work.

Alongside the tactics, there’s plenty of honesty about rejection. Most people won’t reply. Some will say no. A few might tell you to get lost. And that’s all part of the process. The freelancers featured here talk candidly about learning not to take it personally, separating their identity from their work, and trusting that being in the right place at the right time often comes from showing up consistently.

What comes through most clearly is this:
Cold outreach doesn’t have to be spammy, pushy, or salesy.

And while outreach often becomes more selective as a business grows, it never completely goes away.

So even if your work mostly comes through referrals, word of mouth, or SEO, this episode is a gentle nudge to ask:
Is there still a place for cold outreach in your freelance business?

Featuring insights from these brilliant freelance guests, whose full episodes you should absolutely check out:

Copywriter Adri Kopp

Fintech Copywriter André Spiteri

Designer & Illustrator Iancu Barbarasa

Sustainability Copywriter Raymond Manzor

Visual Storyteller Ashwin Chacko

Conservation Illustrator Stefán Yngvi Pétursson

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

How Katie Chappell Built (and Unbuilt) a Scalable Freelance Illustration Business

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:13:13 +0000

Katie Chappell is a freelance live illustrator based in the UK - and her story takes some unexpected turns.

After being sacked from a graphic design job, Katie slowly built a freelance illustration career through side jobs, teaching guitar, working in retail, and even becoming a nanny abroad. A 100-day drawing project helped her find confidence, momentum, and visibility - and eventually led her into live illustration and graphic recording.

Things really took off during the pandemic, when Katie adapted quickly to online events and found herself booked solid. At one point, she scaled the business into an agency-style setup with salaried staff and 24 illustrators on the books.

On paper, it looked amazing.

In reality, it nearly broke her.

In this episode, Katie talks honestly about scaling up, scaling back, pricing, niching, marketing, work-life balance, and the moment she realised something had to change.

We also get into the practical stuff: working with a virtual assistant, setting clear prices, and why “make work, share work” is still the foundation of her marketing.

Katie is part of The Good Ship Illustration - an education and community space for illustrators, that she founded with two of her friends. If you enjoy Katie on here, do check out The Good Ship Illustration podcast!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

How These Freelancers Work ON Their Business All Year

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

As freelancers, it’s easy to spend most of our time in the business - delivering client work, meeting deadlines, keeping things ticking over. But if we never step back, time has a habit of running away from us. We can be swept along on a current of what people ask us to do, not thinking about if it's where we want to be heading.

This episode is a little different from the usual Being Freelance podcast format. Instead of a single guest interview, it’s a reflection on conversations with freelancers who consistently make time to work on their business - not just once a year, but regularly.

You’ll hear how different people approach this in their own way:

Some take themselves off on solo business retreats - sometimes to a hotel, sometimes just to a different room in the house — with no client work allowed. Others hold quarterly CEO retreats, stepping away from day-to-day delivery to review what’s working, what isn’t, and what they want more (or less) of.

One even does a 'Weather Report', seeing what's on the horizon for their work, personal life, creativity, and the wider world - treating their business like something that moves in seasons.

What they all have in common is this:
They don’t leave their freelance business to chance.

Regular reviews help remove mental load, bring clarity, and often make client work feel more enjoyable - because you’re no longer carrying half-finished thoughts about marketing, pricing, direction, or next steps in the back of your mind.

You’ll also hear a very practical reminder: if you want thinking time, you usually have to put it in the diary first. Two or three hours, a half day, once a month or once a quarter - it all counts.

This episode isn’t about grand five-year plans or fancy frameworks. It’s about creating space to ask better questions:

Is this still working?

Am I enjoying this?

Is this profitable?

Is this taking me where I want to go?

Because freelancing doesn’t have to be something that just happens to you. With a little regular reflection, you get to design it - deliberately.

Featuring the insights of these fantastic freelance guests, whose full episodes you should totally check out.
Follow these links for their podcast conversations.
- Writer Rebecca Rosenberg
- Designer Brennan Gilbert
- Writer & Editor Melanie Padgett Powers
- Voiceover Emma Clarke
- Market Research Consultant Katie Tucker

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
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Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Graphic Designer & Illustrator Itzel Islas

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:51:32 +0000

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 COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

I’m Not a Machine - Freelancing Balance & Bandwidth with Katie Tucker

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

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 year
How writing Do Penguins Eat Peaches? helped shape her business
Balancing client work with parenting and self-care
Why understanding your customer starts with asking better questions
The power of patience, pricing, and permission

Plus ,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 excellent business book: https://amzn.to/4hQ60bh

---

Hosted & produced by freelance podcast editor & video creator Steve Folland.

EPISODE SPONSORED BY FREELANCER MAGAZINE

Much more than a magazine these days - but come on, who doesn't love sweet glossy pages dropping through your door helping you explore the world of freelancing?

Visit freelancermagazine.co.uk

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Slow Down - Lineo's Intentional Freelancing

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:30:00 +0100

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

- Discovered her niche through joy, not just opportunity

- Designed a unique way of tracking emotional productivity

- Learned to value her unconventional career path

- Built market access beyond South Africa — into London, Sydney, Berlin and more

Lineo reminds us: No one’s chasing you.
You don’t need to be 'Forbes 30 Under 30'.
You just need to design a freelance life that works for you.

----

Hosted & produced by freelance podcast editor & video creator Steve Folland.

EPISODE SPONSORED BY FREELANCER MAGAZINE

Much more than a magazine these days - but come on, who doesn't love sweet glossy pages dropping through your door helping you explore the world of freelancing?

Visit freelancermagazine.co.uk

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Surgeries, Grief, & a Six-Figure Business - Jess Bruno

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0100

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 business

It’s bold, honest and brilliant — just like Jess.

Hosted & produced by freelance podcast editor & video creator Steve Folland.

EPISODE SPONSORED BY FREELANCER MAGAZINE

Much more than a magazine these days - but come on, who doesn't love sweet glossy pages dropping through your door helping you explore the world of freelancing?

Visit https://freelancermagazine.co.uk

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

No Suit, No Broccoli: Escaping Corporate Life with André Spiteri

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:29:24 +0100

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 plan

His cold-pitching mindset and why, against the usual freelancer advice, he doesn’t follow up

What changed when he embraced being himself on social media

How community and a mastermind group made a huge difference

The surprising thing he found most challenging about freelance life

What he’d tell his younger self after 10 years in business

It's a fun, sometimes sweary story of escaping corporate life.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

20 years freelancing as Ben The Illustrator

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0100

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

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Ben 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 from scratch (literally)

- What AI can’t do (and how human illustrators can stay ahead)

- Why sharing your work (not just your services) really matters

Ben seems to be a really happy place creatively and with work life balance.
And he's rediscovered the joy of doing what he always loved.

Available as a video podcast too - Watch Ben here on the site, on YouTube, or Spotify.

EPISODE SPONSORED BY FREELANCER MAGAZINE
Much more than a magazine these days - but come on, who doesn't love sweet glossy pages dropping through your door helping you explore the world of freelancing? Visit https://freelancermagazine.co.uk

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Your Handy Dandy Brandy Gal: Hollie Arnett

Mon, 26 May 2025 06:00:00 +0100

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

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
From 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 does. It's a joy to listen to.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
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Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

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Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Collaborating, Not Competing - Jerel Ramsey’s Freelancer Story

Mon, 05 May 2025 06:00:00 +0100

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

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

From 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 his wife, and how their complementary strengths make their business thrive.

VIDEO version also available on YouTube and Spotify!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
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Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

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Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Communications Specialist Dee Primett

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0100

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 EPISODE
This 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 recovery to reshaping her lifestyle, working patterns, and mindset.

She talks about coping with post-cancer anxiety, the huge difference getting a studio space made, building better boundaries, and leaning into what matters most. We also hear about the Female Copywriters Alliance, the vibrant community she founded for women in copywriting, and her growing interest in creating a micro agency model that supports other freelancers fairly.

Dee brings plenty of humour, heart, and wisdom to this episode of the Being Freelance podcast which you can also watch with video on YouTube and Spotify.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

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Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Using Creative Skills For Good - Conservation Illustrator Styngvi

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0100

Icelandic 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 positivity.

In this chat we explore his passion-driven career and his strategic pro bono work (including a collaboration with a major music star). But whilst it may feel like Styngvi may have found his calling, what to actually call himself is another matter. An ethical designer? A conservation illustrator? A science communicator?

How about: a really great podcast guest?

Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction to Stefán Yngvi Pétursson

02:47 Starting the Freelance Journey

04:45 Discovering a New Path in Indonesia

07:04 Building a Sustainable Art Career

10:13 Navigating Business and Outreach

18:24 Pro Bono Work and Strategic Collaborations

22:54 Freelance Community and Networking

24:18 Stefan's Portfolio and Online Presence

26:02 Managing Freelance Workload

26:59 Exploring New Content Strategies

28:22 Balancing Work and Personal Life

29:30 2 Truths/1 Lie Game

33:42 Life on the Road as a Freelancer

34:55 Crafting a Professional Identity

38:01 Conclusion and Farewell

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

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Freelance Freedom: How Rebecca Rosenberg Balances Work and Wanderlust

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This 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 LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and Slack communities.

She discusses the challenges and benefits of running a location independent business. (She’s currently settled in Bonn, Germany - but before that spent two years in Turkey!).

Plus we hear about the importance of community, developing her freelance business with external help in mastermind groups and with coaches. Plus getting strategic by herself with regular quarterly 'CEO retreats' - taking time out of client work, to focus on what she's building herself. Because even if she's staying put for longer geographically these days, she's definitely still going places.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
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Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
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Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

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Animation Director Dave Anderson

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:10:00 +0000

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 EPISODE

How 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 work you’d like to do and the work that’s no longer coming your way.

Available as a video podcast too - Watch Dave here on the site, on YouTube, or Spotify. Enjoy!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance.
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!
The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Antisocial Socialite Yolanda Sissing

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000