Freelance Feels: Conversations about self-employed life

Freelance Feels with Lucy Watson: Business woman and vegan lifestyle author

It’s another bonus episode! For #Veganuary I spoke to Lucy Watson (yes, THE Lucy Watson!) all about her vegan lifestyle and being a businesswoman in the spotlight.   Lucy – who you may well know from Made in Chelsea – runs several businesses, including a Vegan food company, Feed Me Vegan, and has a new book, Awakenings: A guide to living a vegan lifestyle. She explains how she came to be self-employed, why she loves it, and how a vegan lifestyle helps her mental health.   Is it harder to be a...

Freelance Feels with Leo Cosendai: Meditation master and founder of Third Ear

Sound baths, gongs and meditation - we're diving into a rather alternative freelance life this episode as I speak to Leo Cosendai, a meditation master and sound bath expert who runs Third Ear. Leo has held over 2330 sound baths, and the app is a self funded, creative family affair led by Leo Cosendai (Sound Gong Bath) and his sister Julie Cosendai (Designer), with friends Charles Vila and Julien Rosamund.   Leo came to sound meditation after suffering with acute anxiety since childhood.  S...

Freelance Feels with Millie Gooch: Founder 'The Sober Girl Society'

It's a bonus episode! I speak to Millie Gooch, who founded The Sober Girl Society and now has a book out on Jan 14th 2020, The Sober Girl Society Handbook. We discuss her journey to sobriety, how it affected and affects freelance life, and she shares lots of tips for those looking into mindful drinking and Dry January. Blending memoir with practical survival tips, this empowering self-help book is The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober for the Gen Z and Millennial generations. Millie uses her o...

Sobriety and freelancing with Millie Gooch: Founder ’The Sober Girl Society’

It's a bonus episode! I speak to Millie Gooch, who founded The Sober Girl Society and now has a book out on Jan 14th 2020, The Sober Girl Society Handbook. We discuss her journey to sobriety, how it affected and affects freelance life, and she shares lots of tips for those looking into mindful drinking and Dry January. Blending memoir with practical survival tips, this empowering self-help book is The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober for the Gen Z and Millennial generations. Millie uses her o...

Freelance Feels with Rebecca Seal: Author of 'SOLO (How to work alone and not lose your mind)'

Rebecca Seal is a journalist and broadcaster - you might recognise her name from Channel 4's 'Sunday Brunch'. She's also written a brilliant new book called 'SOLO', all about working alone. She shares advice on how she manages the work from home juggle - including having a partner who also works from home - as well as why pot plants are the best thing you can get for your home office! Find the book in all good bookshops and via her site (where you can also find out more about her work) http...

Freelance Feels with Gemma Bray, AKA The Organised Mum

Gemma Bray created The Organised Mum Method (TOMM) 13 years ago when her first baby was born. Overwhelmed as a new mother her anxiety manifested itself as over-cleaning and she soon found herself cleaning for hours each day. Determined to stop cleaning from taking over her life she sat at her kitchen table and developed a method that took only 30 mins each day, she freed herself from the never-ending to-do list in her head and created a method that gave her cleaning free weekends. You can fi...

Freelance Feels with Tom Chapman, barber and founder of The Lion's Barber Collective

Tom Chapman is a barber with a difference - he's founded The Lion's Barber Collective which supports men with their mental health. In this episode, he speaks openly about how he's worked to help other men open up about their emotional wellbeing, as well as his freelance journey through inspiration from self-employed parents to working in the hairdressing industry. He talks about juggling all his commitments with being a dad, and reveals the key way he gets all his plans and ideas out of his...

Freelance Feels with Maddy Shine: SEO and Visibility Queen

Recorded during the UK's Lockdown#1, this episode I speak to Maddy Shine, who makes it her freelance business to  help you get YOUR freelance business seen! Maddy Shine is a coach who helps ambitious female entrepreneurs get more sales by increasing visibility. Known as the SEO & Visibility Queen, she has helped hundreds of clients get to page one of Google, as she teaches no-fluff strategies that focus on business growth. In 2020 she launched the High Vis podcast, your biz bestie for visi...

Freelance Feels with Rachel Spencer: Journalist and media consultant specialising in pet brands

Rachel Spencer is a freelance journalist writing for national newspapers and magazines in the UK, specialising in animals and the pet industry.   In 2020 she launched a membership programme for pet business owners teaching them ways they can win media coverage and stand out online.   Time to talk all things pet! And how to perform a freelance pivot...   Rachel  is the founder of award winning The Paw Post pet blog (https://www.thepawpost.co.uk/) and lives in Newcastle Upon Tyne with her rescu...

Freelance Feels with Rob Law: Founder of Trunki

Welcome back to the podcast! It's Season 4 and we're kicking off with a fantastic episode, where I speak to Rob Law, founder of Trunki. Rob speaks about his journey creating the product and brand, the rejection he experienced on Dragon's Den and how he also manages Cystic Fibrosis alongside his work and family life. Rob's new book,  65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the odds in life and business tells the extraordinary success story of entrepreneur Rob Law - designer and inventor of the Trunk...

Freelance Feels with Nat Scroggie: Freelance small animal vet @thisvetruns

For the final episode of season 3, I speak to 'freelance' vet (AKA locum vet) Nat Scroggie, all about her work before and during lockdown. She shares her challenges - including office politics and dealing with pet owners during lockdown - as well as how she manages to find a work/life balance. Nat blogs at This Vet Runs (https://thisvetruns.com/) and also writes on mental health in the vet profession. Find Nat at http://www.thisvet.co.uk/ 

Freelance Feels with Sue Belton: Leadership coach and author of 'Change your life in 5'

This episode I talk to leadership coach Sue Belton. Sue swapped life in news broadcasting and documentary making for coaching. She talks about anxiety and depression, leading to voluntary redundancy and moving to the freelance life.   We talk about working through your relationship with money as a freelancer, and how a buffer buys you more than paying the bills. (She has advice on building a buffer, too!)   Talking about the work word of the moment – pivoting – as well as the dream of a ...

Freelance Feels with Gavin Oattes: Motivational keynote speaker and author of 'Life Will See You Now'

This episode I speak to Gavin Oattes, a motivational keynote speaker and author – he shares how he began his career as a primary school teacher, and now has four books to his name including his latest, ‘Life Will See You Now’.   We talk about loving freelance life and the wobbles that come, tempting us to get a so-called ‘normal’ job…. and how we as freelancers have a responsibility to take charge of our freelance happiness and goals – including how we set goals, and how that goal setting ...

Freelance Feels with Hannah Read-Baldrey: Founder 'MakeBox+Co.' crafting subscription

This episode I speak to Hannah Read-Baldrey, co-founder of craft subscription service MakeBox+co. Hannah speaks from the heart about her journey to setting up the company – a segue from freelance to company owner – a trigger warning here as we discuss baby loss. Her co-founder is her husband, and we talk about running a business with your partner, crafting as a coping mechanism for loss and for wellbeing, as well as lots of tips for standing out as a business. Hannah shares insight from h...

Freelance Feels with James Withey: Author of 'How to tell depression to p*ss off' and founder of The Recovery Letters

Welcome to Freelance Feels, the podcast for humans who work for themselves. This episode I speak to James Withey, founder of mental health project The Recovery Letters, and author of new book How to Tell Depression to Piss off. He shares how he moved from working in addiction as a counsellor to writing, and how being a freelancer has actually helped with balancing mental health challenges. James has amazing advice from personal experience in mental health services and his own journey for ...

Freelance Feels with Sarah Haywood: Luxury wedding planner

This episode I speak to luxury wedding planner Sarah Haywood, who also has her own TV show, The Wedding Fixer. Sarah talks about the impact on the business since the pandemic – going from her best year ever to knowing she’ll trade at a loss. Employing lots of freelancers is part of Sarah’s working world, and we talk about the wedding industry during and after the lockdown, managing client expectations and increased anxiety during the pandemic, as well as exploring the pros and cons of pivo...

Freelance Feels with Sarah Townsend: Copywriter and author of 'Survival Skills for Freelancers'

This episode I speak to Sarah Townsend, a copywriter who has just published her book Survival Skills for Freelancers. We delve into burnout, having 'lots of mini bosses' as well as outsourcing and, of course, looking after our mental health. Find out why Sarah is a fan of the Ampersand, as well as her advice if you want to write a book, too. Find Survival Skills for Freelancers on Amazon, Kindle, or via her website (Where you can also find out more about hiring her as a copywriter!) http...

Freelance Feels with Jess Hayden: IPSE and Freelance Corner for National Freelancers Day 2020

It's another bonus episode! To celebrate IPSE's National Freelancers Day 2020, I spoke to Jess Hayden from IPSE and sister website Freelance Corner. We talk about how freelancing is like being a student, whether virtual networking and socialising could - and should - continue post-lockdown, and whether freelancers were prepared for the work from home life we now live. Jess is also a freelance rugby writer, and offers tips for self care and protecting your mental health during lockdown, as ...

Freelance Feels with Helen Croydon: Thought Leadership PR and Media Insider podcast

This episode I speak to PR and fellow podcaster Helen Croydon. From beginning her career in accountancy, she went through roles as a journalist, author and PR, and now specialises in helping individuals get themselves out there in the press and raising their profile for her company Thought Leadership PR. Helen talks about saying goodbye to one ‘freelance’ and embracing another, but using the skills from the first to help you go forward, as well as the benefits of trying out a few new things...

Freelance Feels with Tova Leigh: Content creator, comedian and author of F*cked at 40

Welcome to season three of Freelance Feels, the podcast for humans who work for themselves. We kick things off with a chat with Tova Leigh, a content creator, comedian and who has recently published her book F*cked at 40. Outspoken and hilarious on Instagram, Tova shares what it's like creating content during lockdown as well as juggling self-employed life alongside motherhood. We explore life as a freelancer post-40, and why being assertive is a key part of freelance life. Find Tova at h...

Freelance Feels with Chris O'Sullivan from the Mental Health Foundation

Welcome to Freelance Feels, the podcast for humans who work for themselves. This is a bonus episode to mark Mental health awareness week 2020, which runs from May 18. The theme this year is kindness, and I was lucky enough to chat to Chris O’Sullivan from the Mental Health Foundation, which founded and runs the initiative. Kindness is on all our minds right now, during the coronavirus pandemic, and one of the week’s themes is to be kind to ourselves, too. Chris talks about his own mental h...

Freelance Feels with Hilda Burke: Psychotherapist and author of The Phone Addiction Workbook

It’s the final episode of season 2 and I chatted to Psychotherapist and author of The Phone Addiction Workbook, Hilda Burke, about our relationships with our smartphones and screens, especially during lockdown. Hilda shares practical advice for anyone wanting to change their amount of phone use – now and in the future (yes, it includes turning your phone off before bed time!) – plus zoom fatigue and adapting to her business going completely online during coronavirus lockdown. Hilda works w...

Freelance Feels with Nicola Slawson: Journalist and founder of The Single Supplement newsletter and community

This episode I talk to Nicola Slawson, a journalist who also writes a weekly newsletter, The Single Supplement. We talk about living alone, being single and being freelance all at the same time, the joy of writing a newsletter and what they might bring to your career. Nicola shares about her work with Press Pad, an initiative that helps find accommodation for trainee journalists on internships. This is a great chat for anyone who is considering a newsletter and wants inspiration! It might...

Freelance Feels with Julia Buckley: Fitness trainer

It's another bonus episode! I talk mental health and exercise with trainer Julia, who is running weekday online workouts during the coronavirus lockdown. She shares her insight on why we should try exercise right now, how to get started and the positives of being out in the fresh air every day. Julia worked in local radio and at the BBC before moving into personal training, which is now her main 'freelance' and she's got loads of positive advice on exercising. Find Julia's workouts at htt...

Freelance Feels with Jennifer Hines: Illustrator at ABCTypography

Jennifer is the creative brains behind the Freelance Feels podcast logo! We first 'met' on instagram and then in person at IPSE's National Freelancers Day, and she chats to me about networking, reaching out to new clients using good old snail mail, as well as how she's coping during Coronavirus lockdown by cooking pizza from scratch and thanks to the company of her two dogs. Jennifer is an illustrator and lettering artist and her work is vibrant and fun - she can even do you a pet portrait!...

Freelance Feels with Adeel Amini: TV producer and founder of The TV Mindset

This episode was recorded just before Easter 2020, with TV producer Adeel Amini. Adeel went viral earlier in 2020 after he posted an article about his experiences with mental health and working as a freelancer, and he’s very honest about his feelings on freelancing and how much help freelancers get in the industry. You can read his piece here https://medium.com/@adeelamini/on-the-border-of-34-a5154326cd9 He’s aiming to change things with his platform The TV Mindset, and talks me through hi...

Freelance Feels with Alison Grade: Author of The Freelance Bible

This episode, which was recorded in late March 2020, is with Alison Grade, author of new book The Freelance Bible. We unpack the working from home feels – when you’re a freelancer, and if it’s new to you as someone who is normally office based, and how working from home is like the first day in a new job and takes time to adjust. Talking about how to value yourself - not just what you charge but the value you bring to a customer, too – we look at how to maximise your down time if you are i...

Freelance Feels with Shahroo Izadi: Behavioural change specialist

Shahroo Izadi who is a behavioural change specialist, author of The Last Diet and The Kindness Method and does a lot of public speaking at wellness events. We met at an event called What the Health and I was so pleased Shahroo had time to chat to me about everything from freelance exercise and eating habits to the concept of a 'have done' list. You can find Shahroo at  https://www.shahrooizadi.co.uk/ and on Instagram @shahroo_izadi Note: This was recorded pre government advice to stay at h...

Freelance Feels with Ed Goodman: Founder of 'Freelance Heroes'

I spoke to Ed Goodman for a special bonus episode during the coronavirus pandemic to discuss his platform Freelance Heroes, as well as finding balance when working from home, how we define success and how it's ok to shout about the wins as well as the losses. Ed shares his isolation survival strategy and also talks about his work as a social media trainer. You can find Freelance Heroes on Facebook (look for the group not the page) and @FHChat on Twitter where they do a weekly Q&A

Freelance Feels with Rebecca Jones: Owner of Chateau De La Ruche boutique B&B

Bonjour! Welcome to this international episode where I spoke to Rebecca from her Chateau in France - she and husband Tim are two of the stars of Channel 4's Escape to the Chateau DIY and she shared their journey to setting up as a freelance couple, the highs and lows of leaving 'real' life behind (she's never worked so hard!) and the joys of running a boutique B&B. Find the chateau at https://chateaudelaruche.com/ and the new series of ETTC-DIY is on Channel 4, with old episodes on More 4. ...

Freelance Feels with Lizzie Penny: Co-founder of Hoxby Collective

Lizzie co-founded Hoxby in 2015, and brings together a team of remote freelancers through a unique way of working. She talks about using slack for business, heated blankets, fitting in exercise, defining ourselves as freelancers and remote working - and the need for it - during Coronavirus. Find Hoxby at www.hoxby.com and @hoxbycollective 

Freelance Feels with Zoe Perkins: Events planner at Vodka on Toast

Welcome to season 2 of Freelance Feels: The podcast for humans who work for themselves! To kick things off, I spoke to Zoe Perkins, an events planner, about her amazing organisational skills, making the leap to freelance and the joys of travel for work. Oh, and how she loved (loved!!) doing her tax return! You can find Zoe at www.vodkaontoast.com and @vodkaontoast  

Freelance Feels with Rosie Mullender: Lifestyle journalist and copywriter

Want lots of great advice on pitching as a journalist? Rosie has it! She's freelance following jobs at Cosmopolitan, where she worked for 9 years, and the Co-op food magazine and shares the idea of a pitching spreadsheet, the tenacity it takes to find new editors and email them as well as how she makes time for a proper home-cooked lunch and juggling work/life balance. Find Rosie at https://www.rosiemullender.co.uk/

Freelance Feels with Andy Cope - Dr of Happiness!

Andy Cope spent years studying happy people and now delivers keynote speeches and training - he talks about the idea of pronoia (as opposed to paranoia), destination addiction, where we're always thinking 'I'll be happy when...' and how we need a 'to be' list as well as a 'to do' list. Find him at www.artofbrilliance.co.uk on Twitter @beingbriliant and instagram @artofbrilliance

Freelance Feels with Louise Goss, founder of The Homeworker Magazine

Louise founded the Homeworker Magazine, which explores everything to do with working for yourself - from home! It's an online magazine with a print edition, too. She talked about the decision to found the mag, as well as the balance of using your living space for your office or business, as well as the concept of a 'to-dont' list. Find her at https://www.thehomeworker.com/

Freelance Feels with Bec Evans, author of How to Have a Happy Hustle

For the final episode of 2019, I was joined by Bec Evans, founder of Prolifiko - a writer's mentoring company - and author of How to Have a Happy Hustle - and we talked about setting goals for the new decade, how to choose and pursue a side hustle, the love/hate of LinkedIn and moving out of London for a new life in Yorkshire and how that's helped her freelance feels. Find Bec at https://www.happyhustlebook.com/ and https://prolifiko.com/

Freelance Feels with Steve Folland, founder of Being Freelance

It's almost Christmas and it's the first male guest for Freelance Feels! Steve - who runs two podcasts and a Facebook community alongside his day job as audio and video producer - talks about being positive, insurance and Christmas party feels as well as juggling life, work and parenthood over a mince pie. Find Steve at www.beingfreelance.com and @sfolland. 

Freelance Feels with Amy Nickell - broadcaster and journalist

It's party season! So we put the biscuits to one side and had a glass of wine. Amy is a broadcaster and journalist as well as author of Confessions of a Single Mum. She's often on telly, and is very honest with her feelings. We talk about being your own cheerleader and the 'pitch abyss' (AKA Professional Ghosting). Find her on social media @solo.mamma

Freelance Feels with Lisa Piercy, founder of Radish

This episode I travelled down to Brighton to speak to Lisa, who founded Radish, a womenswear label, two and a half years ago. Lisa talks about her inspirations, challenges, the joys of travelling to LA for work (and why work travel isn't just a jolly!) as well as why freelancers still mop their own floors.

Freelance Feels with Caroline Corcoran, author of Through the Wall

Bringing the freelance feels to a fiction thriller is all in a day's work for author Caroline, who shares her experiences of freelance life from moving out of the 'big city' of London, finding your freelance tribe and the realities of 'freelance maternity leave'. Through the Wall is out now in bookshops, on Amazon, Kindle and Audible.

Freelance Feels with Felicity Cloake, Guardian food columnist

Writing recipes for a living might sound easy but for Felicity Cloake - columnist with the Guardian and New Statesman, it can involve a lot of feels. She talks cycling, croissants and how she didn't call in sick when she had chicken pox. Felicity's book One More Croissant For the Road is out now. 

Freelance Feels with Marianne Power, author of Help Me!

Author of self help memoir Help Me! Marianne Power talks networking, 'reaching out', walking to clear your mind and why we all need to pick up the phone more. Oh, and why Hob Nobs are a reliable biscuit! Help Me: How self-help did NOT change my life, is published by Picador. Find Marianne on Instagram @marianne_power_writer

Trailer: Freelance Feels - the podcast for humans who work for themselves