Episodes
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Happy holidays from all of us at Freelance Founders! We will return to your feed with all new episodes in 2024.
Let’s Connect:
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Breakups—they’re never easy. But what about when it’s not with a friend or lover, but with a business partner or even a cofounder? The complicated mess of emotions, resentment, and legal concerns can make the split all the more painful.
Welcome to season three, episode six of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Tori Lazar, advice columnist and creative leadership coach at How to Fck Up Well.
Today, Tori is telling us all about growing up in the hospitality industry, the benefits of working with a cofounder, and what really happens when that business relationship stops working out.
Some Questions Asked:
What were your financial fears around going freelance? (05:01)What’s your big tip for somebody that is looking to go freelance? (10:43)What was the benefit of having a cofounder and what was the hardest part of having a cofounder? (18:44)Can you share some of the values of How to Fck Up Well? (31:35)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
About Tori’s career journey (00:23)Tori’s pricing structure when she first started freelancing (15:09)Some of the pain points around being a business founder (26:49)What the idea of ‘failure’ means for Tori (37:55)Connect with Tori:
InstagramHow to Fck Up WellAdvice columnLet’s Connect:
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Episodes manquant?
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One of the most intense parts of a freelance journey is when you find yourself becoming the person in charge. For many of us, this can be an uncomfortable and disconcerting experience. It’s only when we remind ourselves the reason we’re here to begin with that we can put aside those feelings and step confidently into that leadership role.
Welcome to season three, episode five of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jimi Drosinos, a London-based photographer, director, and cinematographer.
Today, Jimi is telling us about his complicated origin story, the surprising reason it’s so important to invest in equipment, and he’s getting real and honest about his rates.
Some Questions Asked:
Can you take us through your career up to date? (00:19)How did you approach opening your own studio? (05:37)What’s your creative approach with clients? (15:02)What inspires you to keep you motivated? (21:36)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Jimi went from computer science major to international photographer (00:34)Jimi’s strategy for pricing his services (10:34)About Jimi’s experience directing his first film (17:20)The advice Jimi would give his 20-year-old self (26:09)Connect with Jimi:
InstagramWebsiteLet’s Connect:
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Career highs and career lows… whether we’re still stuck in the corporate grind or we’ve made the leap to full time freelance, we’ve all experienced them. The key? Never let those lows stand in the way of getting back to it and reaching your next peak.
Welcome to season three, episode four of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Andrea Pascual, a Toronto-based fashion designer and founder of her own eponymous clothing brand. She is also the founder of Cool Eye Creative, a brand strategy and graphic design studio that builds trustworthy brands for diverse founders.
Today, Andrea is telling us about her inspiration behind starting her own fashion line, how she prioritizes her mental health, and the advice she’d give her 20 year old self.
Some Questions Asked:
Can you take us through the journey of your career? (00:14)What was your inspiration behind starting your own fashion line? (03:26)Could you tell us a little bit more about the fundamental values that you built Cool Eye Creative on? (09:44)What has been your career high and your career low? (11:40)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How the COVID-19 pandemic affected Andrea’s career trajectory (01:40)What Andrea found most challenging about starting her own label (04:34)How Andrea sets boundaries for herself in order to maintain a work life balance (15:48)How Andrea started her two businesses without investors (17:48)Connect with Andrea:
InstagramWebsiteSushi Fridays podcastCool Eye CreativeLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Freelancing can often feel like nonstop networking—like your life depends on it. But the fact is, it’s all about building your proverbial rolodex. Once you’ve established those relationships, opportunities can come from the most unexpected places.
Welcome to season three, episode three of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Sean Sutherland, founder and creative director at Studio No. 9, a New Jersey based design consultancy firm. Sean also recently founded Sonny Seltzer, a beverage company offering pre-packaged tequila sodas.
Today, Sean is talking about building up a freelance network, the power of choosing a name, and the intricacies of working with a team.
Some Questions Asked:
Can you take us through your career up to date? (00:16)What’s been the most rewarding part of starting your own agency? (08:52)How do you market yourself to find new work? (11:57)What made you decide to get into the beverage industry? (22:52)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Sean went back and forth between the freelance and corporate worlds (02:03)About Studio No. 9, Sean’s newest freelance venture (06:56)Sean’s process for approaching new projects (17:32)The importance of keeping long-term connections (21:24)Connect with Sean:
Instagram Studio No. 9Sonny Seltzer websiteLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Many times on the freelance journey we can feel like we’re hitting a wall… Growth feels stagnant and opportunities seem scarce. But it’s in moments like these that the community we surround ourselves with is so important. Often, just leaning on others in the same boat can give us enough inspiration to break through.
Welcome to season three, episode two of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Libby Connolly, a Chicago-based creative director and founder of Studio Libby Connolly.
Today, Libby is telling us about being a small business owner without a business background, crystallizing her goals, and why client communication is so important.
Some Questions asked:
When you went freelance, what was your strategy to build a network? (01:23)What has been your biggest challenge going freelance? (04:02)How does understanding the psychology of a brand influence your work? (11:05)How would you measure success for yourself? (13:06)What are some of your goals for your own design studio? (15:11)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Libby got into design as a career (00:33)Libby’s process when it comes to getting started with a new client (06:52)Why Libby once canceled a client contract (11:49)The advice Libby would give her 20-year-old self (19:10)Connect with Libby:
StudioLinkedInLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Even when we know from day one that a job isn’t for us, it can feel impossible to quit. Whether it’s the coworkers, the culture, or the benefits, letting go of that security and community takes an enormous leap of faith.
Welcome to the season three premiere of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Sarita Walsh, an entrepreneur and transformational coach working to empower leaders to fulfill their highest professional, personal, and social potential through mindset and behavior change.
Today, Sarita is telling us about how her creative background influences her coaching role, how it took her seven years to quit her design job, and how she learned how to say “no” to protect her boundaries.
Some Questions Asked:
How did you begin to pivot into coaching? (05:11)What are some tips for those who get overwhelmed with burnout? (11:25)How did you know how to price yourself as a creative and now as a coach? (16:53)Where should someone start if they're interested in getting a coach or exploring coaching? (20:23)Have you ever had a moment where you wanted to quit? (21:56)In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Sarita made the leap from graphic design to coaching (00:58)For Sarita, clarity is created through action (06:05)Self first is not selfish (13:44)How Sarita worked for free when she was just starting out in the coaching world (19:18)Connect with Sarita:
WebsiteInstagramLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Welcome back to season 3 of the Freelance Founders Podcast, hosted by Kate Cervini. This season, we’re connecting with the brightest minds in freelancing to bring you their path to independence, their favorite part of being a founder, and how they learned to value their work.
You’ll hear from leading voices like Sarita Walsh, Tori Lazar, Sean Sutherland, and Jimi Drosinos on everything freelance. Join us weekly this fall, wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Leaving the sense of security behind when entering the freelance realm can be the toughest thing about making the leap. But sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of becoming our own boss, we forget that we can make a slow transition instead of diving head first.
Welcome to season two, episode eight of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Bradley Carbone, partner and managing editor at Sneeze Magazine.
Today, Bradley is telling us about using a “real” job as a safety net before going freelance, cultivating a solid reputation, and putting in longer hours on the work that he loves.
Some Questions asked:
Can you take us through your career? (00:17)What advice would you give someone new to the freelance world on how to dive in? (04:57)What do you think is the biggest mistake that creative freelancers make? (11:38)What has been your career high to date? (18:13)What are some boundaries you've set for yourself to maintain a healthy work life balance? (26:38)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
What Bradley found hardest about building his own network (02:28)About Bradley’s transition going from Adidas to working full time on Sneeze (08:40)Where Bradley’s values came from (15:24)The advice Bradley would give his 20-year-old self (25:20)Connect with Bradley:
Sneeze MagazineInstagramLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When we start off as freelancers, it can feel impossible not to say yes to everything. When you’re not sure when and where your next paycheck is going to come from, taking everything you’re offered feels like the safest possible option. But living that lifestyle can create a vicious cycle of burnout, resentment, and subpar work… the trick is to learn from those who have been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale.
Welcome to season two, episode seven of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jeremy Raskin, an LA-based art director & graphic designer.
Today, Jeremy is talking about the experience of having a freelance trial period before deciding to go full time, the feast-or-famine nature of freelancing, and the creative process behind his work with some of his biggest clients like Ariana Grande and Halsey.
Some Questions asked:
What’s the draw for you for a full time position versus being freelance? (03:14)What did you find was the hardest part of freelancing? (07:08)What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to pricing their services? (10:30)Where do you see your career going in the future? (20:03)How did you approach your financial strategy when you decided to go freelance? (21:58)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Jeremy’s career and how he got where he is today (00:21)Freelance ≠ commitment issues (05:14)How Jeremy realized he was underpricing his services (09:11)What it was like for Jeremy to take his creative process on set (18:09)The advice Jeremy would give his 20-year-old self (20:50)Connect with Jeremy:
WebsiteInstagramLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear a masterclass from Sean Sutherland, founder and creative director at Studio No. 9, a New Jersey based design consultancy firm. Sean also recently founded Sonny Seltzer, a beverage company offering pre-packaged tequila sodas.
In this episode, Sean is telling us how he started his company mid-pandemic and what it’s like launching a brand new product into an incredibly competitive market.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Some of the biggest challenges Sean faces on a daily basis (00:42)Sean’s hope for Sonny Seltzer (01:24)How Sean wears every hat at Sonny (01:40)Connect with Sean:
Instagram Studio No. 9Sonny Seltzer websiteLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Becoming a founder is always going to be terrifying. Whether you have all the money in the world or a double digit bank balance, you’re never going to be as ready as you feel like you should be. But that’s the beauty of it all, right? There’s nothing scarier than leaping from the nest, and yet there are few things more beautiful than realizing you’re ready to fly.
Welcome to season two, episode six of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Madison Utendahl, a two time Webby Award winning content director and founder of Utendahl Creative, a multi-disciplinary creative studio powered by female storytellers.
Today, Madison is telling us the biggest mistake that brands make with their social media, the importance of prioritizing yourself, and the power and difficulty in doing nothing.
Some Questions asked:
Can you tell us about your career path and how you got where you are today? (00:27)How did it feel to win two Webby Awards and be featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list? (09:50)Do you have any tips for the younger generation when they begin their careers in this industry? (14:31)What tips do you have for attracting dream clients? (20:21)How were you able to feel comfortable bringing on a full time team? (24:13)What advice would you give your 20 year old self? (35:16)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Madison got into social media and content production through her work at Refinery 29 (03:52)A little more about Madison’s all-female design company, Utendahl Creative (18:53)About Madison’s new side project, Her Name Is (29:13)How Madison got interested in investing in young companies (31:28)The boundaries Madison has had to set to achieve work/life balance (36:33)Connect with Jenn:
InstagramUtendahl CreativeLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What does it take to have a successful partnership? Mutual respect, a vision of the big picture, delegation, defined roles… to name just a few elements. But what about when your closest collaborator is also your twin?
Welcome to season two, episode five of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jen and Amy Hood, sisters and founders of Hoodzpah, a collaborative branding and type studio based out of Southern California.
Today, Amy and Jen are talking about the importance of mutual respect, succeeding without a four-year degree, and always keeping the big picture in mind.
Some Questions Asked:
Can you take us through your careers? Where did you start and where are you now? (00:13)Do you have any tips on how to price out services for people just starting out in freelance? (14:12)What was the biggest challenge when you started Hoodzpah? (17:57)What’s the biggest challenge people face when they go full time freelance? (26:42)What are some boundaries you have set for yourself to maintain a healthy work/life balance? (36:42)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
What it’s like to be sisters and business partners (01:55)How Amy and Jen built such a major client roster (07:20)A bit about Amy and Jen’s course for freelancers (23:47)What advice Amy and Jen would offer their 20 year old selves (33:02)How Amy and Jen approached their financial strategy when they first started Hoodzpah (39:26)Connect with Amy and Jen:
HoodzpahHoodzpah on IGFreelance, and Business, and Stuff—the CourseFreelance, and Business, and Stuff by Amy Hood & Jennifer HoodLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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A morning cup of coffee, journaling a few pages before work, taking time to practice some asanas before bed… are these a routine, or something more? When we approach what might seem like mundane daily tasks with a sense of purpose and intention, we can take them beyond routine and begin to benefit by seeing them as ritual.
Welcome to season two, episode two of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jenn Tardif, a yoga and meditation teacher, aromatherapist, and founder of the mindful collective 3rd Ritual.
Today, Jenn is telling us about her company and the tools they offer, the difference between a ritual and routine, and how being a mom has affected her daily rituals.
Some Questions asked:
Was there ever a moment when you wanted to quit in your career? (00:43)What are some of the rituals you practice every day? What does a day in life look like for you? (08:19)What would be your top three tips for someone who is looking to create a morning or evening ritual? (13:16)What advice would you give to your 20 year old self? (16:45)How did you approach your financial strategy when you decided to start your own company? (20:15)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Jenn’s biggest inspiration in starting 3rd Ritual (02:24)How Jenn balances mom life with self-employment (11:26)Where Jenn sees her business going in the future (14:32)The boundaries that Jenn sets in order to maintain her work/life balance (18:03)Jenn’s advice for anyone looking to start their own company (24:43)Connect with Jenn:
Instagram3rd RitualLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Giving yourself permission to fail and telling yourself you have nothing to lose makes all the difference when you leave the security of the industry you spent so much time in. But if worse comes to worst, you can always bounce back.
Welcome to season two, episode three of the Freelance Founders podcast. We're talking with Harry Cheslaw and Adil Bouhdadi, founders of Autone.io, a SaaS platform that optimizes inventory management for brands. Harry worked in men's fashion in London and Adil got his start working in fashion in Paris, before they decided to get into tech.
Today, Harry and Adil walk us through what their journey has been like so far, what is next for Autone.io, and they even share the solid advice they would give to someone who wants to start a company.
Some questions asked:
How did your career start? And where are you now? (00:55)How did you both know you wanted to start a business together? (07:41)What has your journey been like thus far? (15:26)What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? (23:37)How did you approach your financial strategy when you decided to start Autone.io? (26:45)What is one piece of advice you have for someone starting their own company? (30:22)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Harry and Adil's biggest shock in leaving the corporate world (04:43)What type of business Autone.io is (11:08)The biggest challenge while growing Autone.io (20:40)What Harry and Adil think is next for Autone.io (22:45)The importance of asking 'So what?' (31:30)Connect with Adil and Harry:
AutoneLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear Adil Bouhdadi’s tips for fundraising. Adil is the co-founder of Autone, a company that’s reinventing inventory management.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn Adil’s tips:
#1 Have a compelling narrative#2 Get your valuation right#3 Be patientConnect with Adil:
LinkedInAutoneLet’s Connect:
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As founders, we often spend so much blood, sweat, and tears on creating our business that it can be difficult to accept when our time on that particular journey has come to an end. It can feel like the end of an era or even a difficult breakup, but how, exactly, do we know when the time has come?
Welcome to season two, episode two of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Amy Fraser, founder of OKREAL, a business dedicated to supporting women in building an indestructible sense of self worth through panels, workshops, online content, and mentorship. Amy is a community builder and storyteller working to give women courage and connection to take charge of their lives.
Today, Amy tells us about her aim of providing a resource of wisdom for women, how she came to realize it was time for OKREAL to wind down, and she shares her advice for freelancers who want to set healthy boundaries and portray confidence in their creative expertise.
Some Questions asked:
What has your career looked like? And where are you today? (00:22)Why did you decide to go out on your own and start OKREAL? (04:00)How do you think communities play into our world today? And where do you see communities evolving over the next few years? (09:27)What are some ways you help the OKREAL community build self worth and resilience as we work towards finding fulfillment in our own careers? (16:42)What advice would you give to your 20 year old self? (27:46)How did you approach your financial strategy with OKREAL? (31:38)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
That Amy’s time at her business, OKREAL, is coming to a close (02:35)The values that Amy shares with the OKREAL community (07:31)Some of Amy’s biggest challenges when launching OKREAL (14:36)Where Amy’s career is headed now (24:32)Some of the boundaries Amy has set for herself around work/life balance—and how she still has a long way to go (28:35)Connect with Amy:
InstagramOKREALOKREAL on IGLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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As founders, we’re all familiar with the feeling of burnout. Overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, emotionally drained… Unfortunately, it’s become the norm for so many of us to work in this state on a nearly constant basis. It might seem like there’s no way out of the perpetual stress cycle, but there are a few key steps that we can all take to start to mitigate burnout and be our most grounded selves.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear a masterclass on avoiding burnout from Sarita Walsh. Sarita is an entrepreneur and transformational coach working to empower leaders to fulfill their highest professional, personal, and social potential through mindset and behavior change.
In this episode, Sarita is sharing her top three tips for avoiding burnout, reducing stress, and ridding ourselves of habits that aren’t benefiting us—specifically for those of us who are high achieving, type A personalities who are prone to perfectionist tendencies and a reluctance to delegate tasks.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
How burnout is defined (00:44)Many of us have habits that are so ingrained that we keep doing them even after they’re no longer benefiting us (02:21)The time-blocking method can be used to create a better work-life balance and space for ourselves (03:17)Sarita’s tip #1: Slowing down to speed up (05:35)Tip #2: Focus on your most important work (06:50)Tip #3: Make better, more informed decisions for your future self (08:57)Connect with Sarita:
WebsiteInstagramResources mentioned:
Time blocking visual templateLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The scariest part of leaving a 9 to 5 and going freelance is the loss of that corporate safety net that so many of us cling to. While taking the leap might not be comfortable, the freedom we feel once we’ve stuck landing is worth every bit of anxiety.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. On our first episode back, we’re talking to Justin Bridges, a NYC based entrepreneur and fashion photographer originally hailing from Atlanta. He is the founder and CMO of travel start-up El Camino and the owner of Peach Studio, a photo and video rental studio in Queens.
Today, Justin tells us the advice he’d give himself at 20 years old, how he works to set boundaries for himself, and even gives us some financial wisdom through the lens of a former Wall Street trader and current freelancer.
Some Questions asked:
What was your biggest adjustment going from a corporate atmosphere to freelancing? (03:58)What are three tips for freelancers who are looking to start preparing for their retirement? (09:19)Do you think the trend of remote workers going globally nomadic will continue to grow? (19:39)How did you approach your financial strategy when you decided to join your co-founder in El Camino? (33:57)What is one piece of advice you have for anyone who is starting their own company or looking to be a co-founder? (35:53)In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The biggest mistake people make when they start freelancing (04:58)Why you should start building freelance clients before quitting your 9 to 5 (06:33)The inspiration behind El Camino, the travel start-up that Justin co-founded (16:00)What Justin sees as the future of El Camino and why they aim to continue catering to women (24:08)Why locking in on that thing that gets you up in the morning is a major key to career success (26:37)Connect with Justin:
InstagramEl CaminoPeach StudioLet’s Connect:
WebsiteLinkedinInstagramHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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To hear more upcoming, real conversations with industry-leading guests, tune in to season 2 of Freelance Founders Podcast, available wherever you listen.
Missed out on the first season? Don't worry! It's not too late to go back and listen to our candid conversations with guests like Jess Tran, Ana Andjelic, Mark Clennon, and Aundre Larrow.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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