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Artwork for Being Freelance

Being Freelance

Steve Folland
Freelancing
Work-Life Balance
Networking
Copywriting
Social Media
Illustration
Community Building
Marketing
Entrepreneurship
Podcasting
Design
Podcast Production
Email Marketing
Do Penguins Eat Peaches
Covid-19
Graphic Design
Voiceover Industry
Client Management
Social Media Marketing
Market Research

Freelancing? Being boss of your own life and business can be tough and isolating. But it can also be totally rewarding. Pick up tips, advice and strategies on how to make it as a freelancer, an solopreneur, as the owner of your own independent business - by hearing other creative freelancers share their experience.

Hosted by fellow freelancer Steve Folland. Serving the world's self-employed wit... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes366Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipCareersBusiness

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Artwork for Being Freelance

Latest Episodes

Zoe East has never had a proper job. A work experience placement at a big TV channel that felt old-fashioned and sexist put her off the traditional route before she'd even graduated, so she went freelance instead and never really looked back. That wa... more

YouTube

French creative Émilie Chen had what she calls her dream job: senior designer at The National Theatre in London, working on posters she'd dreamed about since university. Years later though, it had turned sour in the studio, her mental health took a h... more

YouTube

Adrian’s been a successful freelancer for 21 years. But in the past 7, his definition of framing success has changed.

For the last seven years, Adrian has also been an unpaid carer for three immediate family members. He talks honestly about what tha... more

YouTube

Melissa  spent over a decade in PR & Comms. She was good at it but she was drawn to the ocean.

So she started pitching dive magazines on the side, moved to Mozambique to volunteer with a marine conservation charity, and when the pandemic sent her ho... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Zoe East
Freelance filmmaker operating in Leeds
Opal Video / She Who Dares Wins (collaboration)
Episode: Chase the Happiness: Meaningful Freelancing - Filmmaker Zoe East
Émilie Chen
Independent art director and designer, founder of Ladies Wine & Design London
Independent / Ladies Wine & Design London
Episode: The Recipe Is Always the Same: Reach Out, Follow Up - Émilie Chen
Adrian Ashton
Enterprise consultant and unpaid carer
Independent freelancer and unpaid carer
Episode: Freelancing as an Unpaid Carer - Adrian Ashton
Melissa Hobson
Freelance marine science and conservation writer
The Ocean Writer Ltd.
Episode: Her Niche Is Fishe - Becoming The Ocean Writer - Melissa Hobson
Bhavini Lakhani
Branding expert
B81 Design
Episode: Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?
Graeme Piper
Copywriter
Drop Cap Copy
Episode: Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?
Joel Klettke
Copywriter / Brand builder
Klettke Digital / Brand
Episode: Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?
Col Skinner
Marketing / PPC consultant
Profoundry
Episode: Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?
Louisa Heinrich
Founder / Branding
Superhuman
Episode: Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?

Host

Steve Folland
Host of the show; active facilitator of freelance-focused conversations and community building.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 274 ratings
  • Share-worthy content

    This is one of those rare podcasts I share with friends. High quality content - real stuff not aspirational fluff! Steve is a great interviewer who gives his guests space. Love the 3 facts quiz at the end of each episode, always ends on a high.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cornwaller
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • THE BEST podcast for freelancers

    Every episode has gems from the guest to help you with freelance life. You could be a new or long time freelancer you will enjoy listening to Steve and his guests. I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lyonking 2k22
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A staple for EVERY freelancer

    Finding the podcast made my freelance world feel a lot bigger…and funnier. I’ve loved listening to how other freelancers navigate business and the challenges that come with it, and I’ve learned so much too. Steve is a brilliant host and brings laughs to each episode, something I don’t get enough of from biz podcasts. Love the 2 truths and a lie game at the end. Many a time I’ve forgotten myself and shouted out my guess mid-walk. Bonus is the incredible community from the BF pod. Couldn’t be wit... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kayleigh_hall
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Amazing Podcast and Community!

    An invaluable resource for freelancers everywhere, whatever you field you work in. Listening to others who have made the leap was instrumental in giving me the courage and impetus to make the same jump myself. Now as a freelancer for 5 years I find the Being Freelance online and in-person community a great resource and a friendly hub for connecting with other BFFs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Johnny Regis
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Steve talks to a wide range of freelancers about their journeys. They also play the game Two Truths and a Lie each episode. Steve organizes in-person events for his Being Freelance community, and his warmth shines through on the podcast too.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    beckym
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the host's approachable interview style and the variety of freelancers featured.
The community around the podcast is highlighted as a meaningful benefit for listeners.
The show is consistently practical, avoiding fluff and sharing real-world tips.
Guests are described as relatable, with useful, actionable guidance for freelancers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Recipe Is Always the Same: Reach Out, Follow Up - Émilie Chen
Q: How did you start transitioning from a dream job to freelance work?
I started taking small steps while still at the National Theatre, saving money, and meeting freelancers who could guide me; then I reached out to people I had met through networks and events, which gradually led to paid freelance opportunities.
Chase the Happiness: Meaningful Freelancing - Filmmaker Zoe East
Q: How did you get started being freelance?
I started straight out of university, moved away from a traditional TV path, and began by doing varied photography and video work while networking at events and co-working spaces, which eventually led to a focus on meaningful charity and heritage projects.
Freelancing as an Unpaid Carer - Adrian Ashton
Q: How did you first get into freelancing, and when did you decide to combine it with caregiving?
I was recruited into a freelance role by an enterprise agency after a planned move south for a non-existent job, which led me to pursue self-employment as a way to keep working while managing caregiving duties. The turning point was realizing I could deliver contracts as a freelancer and build a reputation through word-of-mouth.
Becoming the go-to freelancer in your niche - Jessi Illustrates
Q: How did you start getting work as a freelance illustrator while in a museum role?
I focused on niche alignment—aiming for museums and galleries, attended industry events, and used a secret Instagram account to test work before revealing it publicly, which eventually led to a big mural commission and a clear path into freelance work.
Stop Waiting for Clients. Start Making - Charles Commins
Q: How did you land your first freelance podcast client?
A friend connected me to a potential client, and I demonstrated capability by producing a sample podcast for them, then built on that initial success to secure more work.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Being Freelance

What is Being Freelance about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pragmatic look at freelancing across creative and professional fields, with episodes featuring illustrators, designers, writers, and podcast creators who share how they built sustainable solo businesses, found their niches, and balanced client work with personal projects. The show emphasizes practical tips on pricing, outreach, personal branding, and community support, often mixing actionable advice with candid reflections on income, contracts, and work-life balance. Noteworthy is the recurring focus on niche positioning, transparent revenue streams, and a warm, approachable host style that helps listeners feel part of a broader freelance community.

Where can I find podcast stats for Being Freelance?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Being Freelance. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Being Freelance and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Being Freelance get?

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What are the audience demographics for Being Freelance?

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How many subscribers and views does Being Freelance have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Being Freelance has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Being Freelance?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Being Freelance:

1. Doing It For The Kids
2. The Futur with Chris Do
3. The Good Ship Illustration
4. Building your Brand
5. What Did You Do Yesterday? with Max Rushden & David O'Doherty

How many episodes of Being Freelance are there?

Being Freelance launched 11 years ago and published 366 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Being Freelance?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Being Freelance?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Being Freelance from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Being Freelance?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Being Freelance. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Being Freelance?

Recent guests on Being Freelance include:

1. Zoe East
2. Émilie Chen
3. Adrian Ashton
4. Melissa Hobson
5. Bhavini Lakhani
6. Graeme Piper
7. Joel Klettke
8. Col Skinner

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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