Penny's always been freelance. We chat about when working for free has made a difference (and still can) and how being self employed has actually made being a mum easier (not sure it's ever easy!).

Despite a busy work-life schedule Penny seems really balanced. Maybe that's embracing work into your life. Or maybe it’s ditching the ‘day’ or ‘week’ mentality and instead looking at balance in the bigger picture.

Latasha's YouTube videos didn't just gain her an audience. She gained customers. Both for her social media business and her courses helping other freelancers.

Now, with her Freelance Friday podcast it's happening again.
There's a lot going on - and that doesn't happen unless at some point you stop listening and start doing.

Aussie freelancer Jacob has spent the last few years as a digital nomad. Freelancing on the road. And the plane. And the boat...

Before packing his bags, he packed a lot into building his personal brand. Growing his professional blog from his days as a student. So wherever he is in the world he knows potential clients will find him online.

When Emma became a mum, she also became a freelancer. Trading as Big Bear Creative, she thought she'd get 15 hours of childcare a week and do little bits of work... But her freelance baby soon started to grow and need more attention.

Now, not only is she working four days a week, but her husband has joined the business too. Big Bear got bigger. And so did their plans.

When Prerna’s husband couldn’t work due to ill health, her side project of writing suddenly became crucial for their family.

Over time they realised it had real potential, her husband joined the business, they hired others as ‘Content Bistro’ served up hungry businesses around the world. It’s an amazing story. She had no money, no other options and no fear. And no idea how much her life was about to change.

Are we stronger together?

Paris based freelance designer and art director Jonathan Da Costa thinks so. By collaborating with other freelancers he's managed to take on bigger projects - to grow his business whilst taking time out for his family. 

The title may be unconventional - but so is Kirsty's story and what she does for her client's emails. From counsellor to copywriter via French farm hand.

Hear how Australian freelancer Kirsty discovered her skill, found her niche and figured out the business side. Still taking time for herself, finding wealth in life beyond money.

James should be used to a family business. Before he went freelance as a photographer, he worked for his dad. Now he's partnered with his wife - working from home with the three kids not far away.

Juggling the needs of his customers alongside those of his family. Where your business itself is like another child constantly after your attention as it grows.

After being made redundant Tia Meyers didn't just take her experience of social media and start being freelance. She also decided to take it and grow a community of other freelancing females.

2 years on, we chat about the many lessons learnt both in adjusting her services, getting paid and work-life balance AND from growing a Facebook Group of 8000 members with meet ups globally.

Ron's success as a freelancer stems from talent, hard work, generosity, seizing opportunities and... Instagram. The app is at the heart of it all. Giving him the confidence to be a pro photographer. Finding an audience and community. Bringing him to the attention of big brands and opening doors that he's more than eager to burst through. The power of putting yourself out there and making and taking opprtunities shines through.

Elliot doesn't shy away from making a change in his life. After a string of non-coding jobs, he self-taught himself WordPress and became a freelance developer. From that he built up a successful agency - Raison.

But when fatherhood beckoned he stripped back the pressure of being a boss to freelance once more. More flexibility, more time for his family, more ability to be a specialist. And plenty more to hear about too…

Roxanne is a planner. She plans what she's doing with her business 'by bun' two years ahead. TWO YEARS. And yet she'd never planned to be an artist.

She spent six years in a proper zero-creativity job before realising she could make a living through her art. And she's done that by growing an audience who enjoy her content across various social media platforms. Who support her, both socially and financially. But she realises plans can change, things change. And that's okay.

Ben O'Brien, started out as a freelance illustator and animator, even forming a successful studio. But being creative was usurped by being a manager. So he went solo again and freelancer 'Ben the Illustrator' was born.

Ben tells us about being there for his family, making connections to peers around the world through an awesome survey and whether by knocking on doors or using side projects and social media - making himself unavoidable.

A few years ago Amber felt like she'd failed at being a freelancer. Hear what changed.

What she learned from being back in full time work, how she worked freelance on the side, grew her portfolio, experience, bank balance and most importantly her network.  Because now, in 2018 she can't think of a better time for being freelance.

From working for mega corporations to teaming up with another freelancer to form an agency.  It's been quite a journey for Jenni. Rules or no rules.

We chat about the importance of 'systems, systems, systems', taking time for your own creative projects, letting go by using other freelancers, taking time off and the secret to letting potential clients know what it's like to work with you.

Mark's been freelancing on and off for years in between spells in companies, agencies and even running startups.

He's always had side projects. And whether or not they're a 'success', the experience still feeds back into his freelance skills. But now he's bringing his podcasting project in from the side to be centre stage, giving it more 'full time' attention to make it the focus of his business.

Jess knew she wanted to work on her own terms.
What she didn't know, was what a 'virtual assistant' was.

And yet when an opportunity came up to be one, to work remotely and become freelance... she jumped at it. As years went by, the amount of work started to overwhelm her. So she hired her own virtual assistants to help out... and her company Don't Panic Management was born. Everything 'virtual' had gradually become very real.

It feels like Karen is being freelance on her terms.
With her own voice, her own style. Stress free. Quite possibly in pyjamas.

Here we chat about how she got started as a copywriter, how she got started making money from courses helping other writers and how she got finished with trying to be a digital nomad.

Through podcasts Michelle gained the knowledge and confidence to quit the 9-to-5 and start being freelance... and now years later her own podcast Creative Playdate is helping herself and others navigate being freelance, whilst also being a parent.

From starting out, reaching out and figuring it out as a freelance mum.

At the heart of Matt's success are other people. Sure, of course he's good at what he does. But it's the people he's met along the way that have helped him grow himself and his business.

Put simply: the more people you meet, the more chance you have of working with them in the future. Be that fellow freelancers or potential clients. Just keep meeting people!

Tidying her child's room Annie suddenly found a name for a business. With it she found a way to make work fit with family, she found meaningful work in a remote location and found a community of other freelancers to help her along the way. Now all she has to do is find time for herself...

Hear Annie's journey as self-employed virtual assistant 'Hello My PA', becoming one of the freelance heroes.

If you don't take yourself seriously, why would your clients?

South African photographer and digital artist Natalie chats about making connections, passion projects, hiring other freelancers, expanding her services and wrestling with being a workaholic learning when to say 'no'.

'Social Mouth' Sam has a story of reinvention, investment, belief and community.

We hear about the power of Instagram Stories and her Small & Mighty podcast in helping people get to know her. The benefits of a business coach. And the impact that ill health, a dog and a dad can have on your future.

When Dan was made redundant two weeks before his second child was born, he knew failure wasn't an option. He had to make a success of being freelance.

Hear how he's made that happen -  the coworking studio, networking and adapting to a changing world - always learning new skills, reinventing.. and never with his shirt tucked in.

For German freelancer Uli, it all started with sharing. Using Twitter to share and make reality her dream of living and working in London.

Since then she's been sharing work spaces, sharing in communities, sharing thoughts, groups, content, challenges, knowledge and now she shares it with us

Carson has always freelanced on the side. Chasing the cash and the creativity that freelance opportunities would bring whilst still studying or working full time.

He's learned how to find the good clients, set expectations, communicate and avoid work overload (eventually).

Composer Grant Kirkhope has spent the past 20 years not just making video games music, but making a name for himself.

From the lessons and habits learned as an in-house composer, to breaking out as a freelancer in a new country: looking for opportunities, an agent and  a day off.

It may seem like a series of ‘happy accidents’ but it’s a tale of persistence, creativity and professionalism. Doing whatever it takes to get the job.

Winner of the IPSE UK Freelancer of the Year 'Aspire' 2017 for young, up and coming self-employed talent.

We hear a snapshot of how Nisha got started as a photogapher: finding funding (without a loan in sight), and with it, finding community, clients and self belief.

After six months of struggling to get her freelance career off the ground, Lauren started blogging.
Every day. For a year.

It took off. Her diary booked up months ahead with a waiting list of clients for her business Elle & Company.

We chat about using a business coach, content marketing, hiring assistants, evolving a passive income stream and more.

15 years of being freelance has given Jon plenty of thoughts to share. Long term gigs versus variety. Finding other freleancers to set up a coworking space. Freelancing as a dad with babies to when their teenagers.

Portfolio polishing, book writing, conference speaking, side project creating, payment chasing. The guilt. Don't let freelance fill all your spare time. Let some of it be filled listening to this.

After six months of working remotely from home on her company, Katy realised she needed company. Eventually she founded a weekly pop-up co-work group called Freelance Folk. And that's who she found.

We also chat about taking on her niche, taking risks and taking the train with a forest of cardboard furniture.

It's our 100th episode! It's taken time to get this far and that's something Swedish freelancer Anton knows all good, long lasting things need. Be it a newsletter, a business, a reputation....

Anton shares his story - through finances, workloads, positioning... mastering freelance. Taking time.

After starting out portraying himself as an agency that covered everything graphic & web design, Matthew's discovered a) his natural niche of web development and b) that clients prefer knowing they're working with an individual.

He's stripped it back: dropped the 'everything' offering, refocused, rebranded and revoiced as 'I'.

Since leaving university Emmeline has been freelance, building her online presence and her business. In 2016 she was named as the UK's Freelancer of the Year by IPSE.

Here she chats about her side projects, making the most of the quiet spells and how she enjoys being every role in the business. Even the accounts.

Rachel always wanted to work for herself.

Once she decided to' take the plunge and make a success of it' there was still plenty to learn, like pricing, getting paid, client relationships and, you know, helicopters.

Hear how she fits work around life, instead of the other way round.

Second time round at freelancing, Colorado based designer Jimmy knew he needed to put himself out there and found a use for Instagram. Since then, people around the world have found him and his work - and he's found his voice.

Hear the lessons he's learned as he set out to diversify his income from band merch to his own products and beyond.

US digital marketer Josh took his skills, took his definition of success and took his passport as he travelled the world on a journey of epic freelancing.

Currently in Bangkok he shares how acting locally whilst thinking globally transformed his business. Doing the little things every day of creating, networking and... living.

After years of agency and in-house experience, Luan stepped out into being freelance. A story of spotting opportunities, maintaining relationships and self development underlines her solo career.

She shares her experience hiring coaches, writing a book, speaking, making courses by herself and alongside LinkedIn - and above all, thinking like a business.

Tokyo based illustrator and painter Tatsuro has been freelance since leaving art college 25 years ago. Working remotely with clients around the world long before the internet made it the norm.

He chats about adapting his style to get the work he wanted, being fine with being a workaholic and the need to look after ourselves. 

In 2000 Jason and (his now wife) Hannah started 'Bouncing Fish'. Working first as freelancers it grew into an agency with a big team, big office and when the decade's financial crash came... a big problem.

Hear how Jason bounced back as a freelancer vowing never to let it happen again. Working from home with his four children (and a Tardis toilet) not too far away - we chat work/life balance, side projects, speaking, writing, a freelancer website and more...

Jess spent the first decade of her career in the corporate world. Branding, marketing and advertising for global businesses.

Now, she's a freelance illustrator, documenting her creative business journey on YouTube as 'Studio Jess' in Austin, Texas.

Hear how she finally made the move into following her passion whilst still drawing on her experience.

Bryce is the freelance writer behind the Clients From Hell blog and podcast... but how the devil did he get to where he is today?

He takes us through the isolation, the daily marketing habit of reaching out and how actually - maybe getting a job with an agency might have been a good idea.

Ran is a designer working amongst the start-up community of Tel Aviv. As part of that he also works on his own start-up and products.

For a year Ran's been documenting his freelance life with a daily YouTube vlog purely for the joy of creating. What really brings him work... is making friends. And a lot of lunches.

Paul shares his journey from agency life, to freelance life... to forming an agency... to losing it... to going solo as The Code Guy and becoming IPSE Freelancer of the Year.

And did we even reach the bit with the digital product yet? Grab a cup of tea (it's what he'd want) and enjoy!

Faye is a radio presenter turned freelance voiceover artist. Borrowing money to build her own studio, she's since built her reputation, her business and now her family too.

With that she's also created 'Freelance Mum' - part of which is networking events where it's okay to bring your kids.

An offer of a freelance project whilst Emelie was still at uni kicked off a 7 year journey. From managing Social to strategising and forming a 'networked agency'. From Stockholm, to Tokyo, to London.

Exploring the world, expanding her business. Learning to not always be 'so available' - there's more to life than work.

Paddy spent 10 years in agency life working his way towards the top... and then looked down at the view and decided to take a leap into being freelance. He'd grown too far from the actual creativity. He couldn't control what his day looked like. He wanted to grow a beard. A really big beard.

Through dedicated learning, taking action, blogging, networking and, well, working 6 days a week - Superlogoboy is soaring to success.

Hear how Amy went from being the person in town who knew about Facebook... to being a YouTuber, international speaker, video consultant and influencer.  

When Gary Vaynerchuk is giving you a quote for the front of your book - you know you're doing something right.

Having started out as a freelance motion designer, Adrian realised all the things he didn't like about the industry and set out to create a studio of his own that would change that. Putting people and process at the heart of his team's creations.

From there he sought 'passive income', building digital products - Adrian thinks every freelancer should think about doing the same.

Katrin has used life as a freelancer to travel from her native Germany and is currently based in Sydney, Australia. Having founded her own Startups she now treats herself as the product, herself as the Startup.

Katrin shares her journey and lessons learned in her work as a UX Designer and Startup mentor.

Having trained in computer science, Kirk came to realise it was the visual design of software and sites that he most enjoyed. So he rebooted his career - self-taught how to develop as an illustrator, designer and businessman. 

Kirk shares his journey including the results of experiments with working space, social media and pricing.

Femke manages to fit in a lot. Full time work, freelance clients, a podcast, speaking, blogging, conferences, a social life. A cat.

She shares her story: from New Zealand to Amsterdam, forming a 'studio' with her boyfriend,  dispanding a studio with her boyfriend,  growing in confidence, growing an audience. The power of connection. The power of reflection. Making goals. Making time.

In 2010 Andy started a blog exploring his passion for data visualisation. It led to a huge multi-national knocking on his door as his first client and that gave him the confidence to visualise life being freelance.

Hear Andy share his story, discussing the pressures of pricing, knowing when to hire others and the value of writing books on your subject.

When a 16 year old Emma started sharing her artwork on her blog, she had no idea how quickly she'd turn from teenager to freelancer and ultimately from freelancer into 'influencer'! 

Hear the way she's diversified her income, copes with an RSI and shares tips on social marketing (including great success with Instagram Stories).

How does a builder from Jersey end up photographing a future King?

Hear how Matt took the plunge, followed his passion, knocked on doors and took every job that came his way.

Nowadays Matt's joined forces with other freelancers to form a studio that allows them to be creative and take on even more work. His passion for travel and underwater photography still shines through and it's all going swimmingly.

A year before he went freelance, Austin started blogging. Not only did it give him a space to document and reflect on his progress, but it brought him connections that referred him for work. Since then expanding his network through conferences has done the same.

He continues to think big, experiment, grow and develop his business chops.

When Sara went on maternity leave it wasn't just her child that was born. A business was too.

Sara's story shows what can happen when you find and connect with your people, with your audience. Her Instagram followers have given her the ability to quit her 'day job' and follow her passion for photography and writing.

How do you go from having no idea of a career... to becoming Net Awards Developer of the Year? In just a couple of years?!

For Lebanese freelancer Sara it's been a journey of self development as much as anything she's done for the web. Hear her story of learning, sharing, writing, speaking, teaching, creating... and then learning some more.

Paddy left agency life behind to satifsy a craving for creativity and diversity in his work. Dividing his time between home and co-work spaces, between client work and his own passionate side projects, all the time keeping his portfolio fresh.

A freelancer for many years, from magazine junior to TV presenter and wordsmith. Adrian shares his story from Top Gear to top wedding speech writer.

Plus, hear how he invests in Google marketing to get himself found and third party reviews to prove he's worth finding.

Full-stack web developer Louise didn't know any other freelancers... so she started a meetup. From that came confidence, fun, growth, friends, collaborations, work and even a business partner.

Hear how she got started with the event, manages as part of a double header company and stays focused daily.

Freelancing for the best part of 20 years has seen Andrew go from filming anything corporate for money to shooting his passion and creating exactly the kind of content he wants to be known for, finding his own audience and building his own platform.

With 'Walks Around Britain' he can choose his own path and now enjoys the freelance opportunities that find him along the way.

After a decade in New York, pattern designer Elizabeth swapped the city for the suburbs and a regular job for being freelance.

Despite her industry experience, it felt like starting all over with a new career. In this episode, Elizabeth shares her tips on marketing, diversifying her income streams and making it all with persistence.

After going freelance, Lee went from undervaluing himself and ignoring his family... to building an agency and reclaiming his weekends.

Learning from epic mistakes, facing his fears, nailing his niche and using podcasting to build his reputation and his business.

After starting out as a teacher, Janet made her dream of becoming a national press journalist a reality. Years later, now she's helping small businesses grow and get media attention as a PR coach.

Full of ambition and a think it, do it attitude, Janet shares her story and tips on building a network and community. Taking on hard work, content marketing and more than a few risks along the way.

From agency life to a freelance partnership with his wife that's seen him work with the likes of the UN. Ben's built a successful career on the back of his network and delivering great work.

He shares his experience of controlling growth by steadily oustourcing work and dabbling with the digital nomad lifestyle.

Pippa created a freelance social media business when she saw the need. The need of businesses local to her and the need of her family for her to have flexible hours.

In amongst her story, 'Social Pip' shares her tips for using local or industry niche Tweet Chats to grow your network and business online. Plus we hear how she reigns in potenial growth to stay true to the reason she went freelance in the first place.

Having begun freelancing whilst still at university, Kelly realised if she was going to be doing this for the next 40 years then she needed a plan.

Crowned young IPSE Freelancer Of The Year 2015, Kelly shares great freelance tips and insight as she outsourced, took on an employee, joined trade bodies and more so that her company 'Making You Content' was making her content as well.

There's nothing quiet about this Mouse. Millie's love of graphic and web design is amplified by her passion for business itself.

Millie shares great tips for using Instagram and LinkedIn to grow. Plus, from her base in Sydney, hear how she's built a remote team of freelancers around the world to help evolve 'Design By Mouse' even further.

There's a lot in here: how Ben carved out a name for himself when moving to a new country; how he diversified his offering so he could be location independent and protected for the future; how he developed online training in various forms and uses YouTube for marketing and income.

And yet through it all... with much honesty, isn't always motivated at all.

How do you go from working for a Russian newspaper to creating successful picture books? By getting on with it!

Sarah doesn't wait for things to happen, she makes them happen. Hear how she gets stuck in with communities on and offline, challenges herself, promotes herself and fights the corner for up and coming freelance illustrators too.

What are you still reading for? Hit play, subscribe and just get on with it!

When his band broke up, he learned Flash.
When Flash was killed by Apple (arrrrghhh!), he taught himself After Effects.
When his little girl came along, he started learning how to juggle freelancing and his family.
Now, he's wondering what to learn next.

In this episode Timmy shares great freelance tips on putting your work out there, nailing accurate time and budget estimates and being proactively creative to get new work with old clients.

Alison began in social media at the beginning of social media itself, setting up the first Facebook pages for major brands. From within agencies, she sowed the seeds for a successful freelance career: now managing, training and speaking for a range of clients.

Now those seeds have sprouted Avocado Social. As a brand she's growing in confidence, growing her team and growing her audience. Hear how she markets herself and Avocado to finally enjoy the fruits of her labour.

Kyle built up a successful freelance career for major advertising agencies and the likes of The New Yorker... and then he had kids.

He realised he needed to create things on a bigger scale, that took him on a fascinating journey of trial and error with digital products of various kinds. Now, illustrators around the world create their work using his Kylebrush.com Adobe Photoshop brushes.

Hear how this 'accidental expert' looks ahead, spots opportunity and finds ways to use his illustrative talents to cash in on trends.

Hear how university lecturer 'Mister Phill' reluctantly photographed a wedding... and then another... and then... well, that was seven years ago. He's not a lecturer anymore.

His 'triangular' approach to client acquisition is really worth thinking about for your own freelance business.

As a US military wife, being freelance is a perfect fit. Wherever in the world she might find herself, she has the ability to work remotely with clients to help them build their brands.

Kaye shares really great tips on remote working, branding and how she's used content marketing to make herself seen, understood and to build her business.

How do you go from taking the stage at a small event in your home city to speaking at the world's largest social media conference in the US a year later?

Hear how Ian got seriously social to grow his business.

Freelance writer turned career & life coach Emma takes us through automating her processes, creating online courses, hiring a VA and getting work done as a new mum.

Plenty of freelance tips and a reminder that for all her content creation, it's those referrals that are key. Oh. And eating that frog first thing.

Akash shares the networking tip that speaks for itself after it broke him into the video games industry as a composer and sound designer. From introvert to TED talker, it's game on for Akash and he's winning.

We also hear about mentors, pricing and how he's evolved his business to help other freelance composers as well.

Hear Kaleigh's strategies on using Twitter to find clients, collecting social proof, regularly raising her rates, getting higher quality, higher paying clients and how she ended up writing for Entrepreneur and Inc. No thanks to the cat.

But with 90% of her work remote, how does she cope with the isolation? And what's the danger of being in competition with yourself?

What if the world could watch you while you worked? What if they paid to watch? What if they interacted with you so you didn't feel alone while working? What if they then paid you for work AND paid to watch you?

That's pretty much where Twitch streamer/entertainer/illustrator Austen Marie finds herself. It looks like a lot of fun. But it's definitely still a job. It's a business.

Ben's on a mission to make a difference to global warming and that's what drives his business.  

He's built a niche video content business serving the construction industry, laid the foundations to a membership site by building a successful podcast and aims to build his own house. He's always planning long term, thinking big.

Hear how a journalist with a passion for the outdoors and walking made her own route to being an award-winning Outdoor writer.

With 18 books under her belt, she shares how she's found herself where she is today and the importance of joining a trade guild to her career, skills and sanity.

Redundancy helped push Mike into a freelance career. Since then he's evolved, learned, focused, launched his own products, developed his own personal brand and formed his own design studio... and yet still regularly questions whether being freelance is right for him. Why?

You're 17. One of your stop motion films goes viral. A major TV channel calls comissioning you to make one for them. What do you? Start university as planned, or seize the moment and begin a freelance career?

For Graham, all of his tiny precise filmic movements led to a sudden leap forward.

London agency life was turning Laura into a zombie. Over-long days were filled with meetings and politics instead of being creative.

Now, she's alive again - as a remote freelancer. Out of the rat race, out of the city and into doing the work she loves. Not only could she start her own business, but she could start her family too.

Starting by selling Wordpress themes on Etsy, Kelly now offers an evolving range of branding services in amongst a generous supply of free resources.

From Brazil to a noisy New York City, we hear her story. And a few sirens. And planes. Drowned out by passion for her business.

After leaving the army, Andy soon found he had enough orders for capturing images of bespoke, tailor-made products, lifestyle and more to be a freelance photographer.

He shares his story on making a name for himself, making face-to-face connections and even making his own magazine to create his dream work.

"You have the chance to carve the career of your dreams, so dream!" Amy didn't just settle with regular copywriting gigs. She didn't just settle for speaking/training around the world. She kept 'checking in on herself' and tweaking her career path.

Today she will regularly hit publish on blogs, videos, podcasts and her own 'scalable' income online course - alongside the client work she loves.

Rachel's found inspiration, support, friendship and even clients in the communities she's joined online. Be it through courses she's paid for, Twitter or private Facebook groups she's joined (or started!), she's realised you don't have to freelance alone.

Hear her story: from finding her niche - the wake up call to her business, to finding herself in hospital - the wake up call to herself.

After struggling to find work after uni, with a year of bits, bobs and benefits, Kristian finally found the real benefits of a mentor, working for an established freelancer.

Now, he balances 2 jobs. One with a full time employer, the other: his freelance career. Kristian's experience of breaking out in to his freelance dream is full of ups and downs. Keep an eye out for lots of great lessons. Oh. And a daredevil cat.

Jamie went from gigging musician to composer for TV, film, games and stage.

Here he shares how it's all played out so far: heading back to uni, collaborating over Skype, mangaging his own band, the passive income of library music and how getting his own studio scaled up his work load and kept his home in harmony. Love a music pun. You keeping score?

Hear how Natalie went from the RAF to flying solo as a freelance illustrator.

Along the way she's found her niche, an agent and a dog... but almost not enough hours.

Col quit agency life to be his own boss. As you'd expect, he's very deliberate about selling himself; here he shares his experiences of SEO, content marketing, pay-per-click and even finding media opportunities to get yourself known.  Plus how he turns down work to keep his hours down and his 'lifestyle business' where he wants it.

After a career freelancing behind the scenes in TV, Olly Mann has found himself in the media limelight. Found? Or put himself there? Olly's a writer for major publications, a national radio presenter, TV panelist and part of the podcasting elite. But how did all of these doors open for him? Not without knocking. And then pushing all of Olly Mann through.

After a year of the podcast Being Freelance... what's that 12 months actually been like being freelance for our very first guests?

In this, the second of two special end of year episodes, Steve Folland chats to CSS consultant Harry Roberts and illustrator Jessica Morgan. Their challenges, their changes, their epiphanies, their year being freelance.

After a year of the podcast Being Freelance... what's that 12 months actually been like for our very first guests? In this, the first of two special episodes, Steve Folland chats to photographer Tom Miles, designer Liz Elcoate and audio producer Chris Hollis. Their challenges, their changes, their epiphanies... their year being freelance.

Without Instagram would Jordan be shooting for some of the coolest fashion brands and bands around? A great mix of passion, talent, social media and social life has been the focus of his career.

The question is: if you're a creative freelancer can you afford not to be 'social'?

Canadian copywriter Joel Klettke is focused on results. When it works for his clients it's working for him.

This chat has a crazy amount of useful freelance tips in it as Joel shares thoughts on using a personal name vs a company one, what makes his freelance site stand out, how he came to be a TEDx speaker, networking, growing the business... and all of this whilst being the best looking man in the world.

Over 25 years of being freelance for acclaimed TV exec Jacqui Moore; this is like a box-set of experience to binge on. As well as diversifying her career to Live Events and consulting, she also helps mentor others in the industry, keeping pace with change and with New York.

She trained as a Linguist. Worked as a Translator. Dreamt as an Illustrator. Eventually Landysh brought them together: co-founding Lingvistov, a Skype based language service which also allowed her illustrations to speak volumes too, so much so they've now become a product of their own.

JavaScript developer Remy's been freelance for nearly a decade and has never pitched for business.

Hear how his side projects bring him clients, plus great thoughts on being a freelancing dad, the story behind his Full Frontal conference and how he found having staff and an office simply wasn't everything he'd dreamt it would be.

5 years after redundancy abruptly introduced her to self employment, exhibitions designer Rebecca Shipham was named IPSE Freelancer Of The Year.

Ahead of National Freelance Day 2015, a year on from her coronation, we hear how she succeeds in her niche, deals with isolation, finds confidence in trading as a company and how the win has allowed her to give back to the next generation of creatives.

Tim designs and develops for local SME clients in his home city of Minneapolis. They all come thanks to the work he puts into establishing himself as a digital marketing authority both with blogging and podcasting. All that whilst refining his trade with work in an agency.

Tim shares great insight into building a successful website for yourself as a freelancer.

Both Franky and her husband are self employed. How do they make it work for their young family?

Hear how Franky's blog 'Love Audrey' gave her the confidence and the connections to go freelance, how she balances work and kids and why it's important to question what it really means to be successful. Pass the biscuits!

Tim is a freelance storyteller. As a BAFTA nominated film maker, video creative and script writer, he sees 'side projects' as investments in his business: producing work you love should draw people you'd love to work with to you. This... is his story.

Louisa trades both as herself and as her company Superhuman Limited, travelling from her homes in Berlin and London to make a difference across the digital world.

A long career from startups and agencies to big corporations and even governments has given her great insights to share so hopefully we won't freak out. But will she?

Ian designs logos as a freelance side project, but by using social media has carved himself out as an industry authority.

This online brand means all of his work is generated by inbound enquiries. Worth geeking over.

Janet quit her job in the US to travel the world.

After finding herself she started finding clients as a freelance designer focused on e-books.

From the slums of the Philippines she's emerged as the E-book Queen. Now back in the States, she's switched the advice of monks for mastermind mentors. Listen up: it's quite a journey!

How do you become a leader in digital strategy? With 20 years experience as an employee, company director and freelancer who's figured out how to make his business work for his lifestyle.

With great thoughts on work/life balance Paul also shares how he built up his incredible personal brand through content marketing with podcasts, videos, blogs, books... Hear what it's like creating and living in Boag World.

Samar Owais arrived in Dubai. She knew her husband. She knew she could blog. What she didn't know, she's learned online, investing in courses that hone her writing and business skills.

With great tips on working with clients in multiple time zones, plus the power of remote mentors and guest blogging.

Data Designer Stefanie has exhibited at top galleries, spoken at conferences around the world and designed book covers for heroes, but it's her passion projects that she does on the side that really make a difference to her success.

Includes great thoughts on creating your own work space and appreciating the value of yourself.

How do you go from being a locksmith to the voice of Radio 1?
From house entries to House heroes?

As a voiceover and in demand audio imaging producer to the world's biggest DJs, Stevie's business took off but he had to figure out how to run a business too.

And when it all went a bit Pete Tong, he found help in a mentor.

Passionate about video production, at the start of the millenium Neil soon grew from being a freelancer to being a company owner.

But when the recession hit he realised being good wasn't enough.

He needed to be marketing his business. Having laid everyone off he set about growing again, but this time with lessons learned...

Danny Margulies quit his job.
Next he wrote 'how to make money writing' into Google.
Two days later he had his first client on freelance marketplace Elance.

Ebonie's successful Virtual Assistant business led to a very Real breakdown.

Hear how that became her 'breakthrough' as she retrained as a coach to other self employed 'misfits'.

Includes great insight into building a business via social media/blogging/email list.

Olly Newport's a 20 year old camera op/video editor who has never been anything but freelance.

Faced with a future of high univeristy fees he chose to take a film making passion into a freelancing career instead. It's been a steep learning curve in business.

Fraser Davidson is a BAFTA award winning director, animator and designer. He's been staff, he's been freelance and now he's a year into co-founding a company. From side projects to dream projects. Crafty and candid tips in here whatever field you work in.

Casey doesn't just take pictures, he takes every opportunity to build his connections and that builds his business. From local newspaper snapper to having leading entreprenneurs and even royalty in the frame.

Kimberly balanced a successful blog with a full time job until the time was right to start officially being freelance.

With great advice on blogging, diversifying your income, selling yourself and making and keeping an eye on your goals.

Due to the nature of the TV/film industry, Sam's never had a 'proper job', so with over 15 years of freelancing under her belt has plenty to share on staying afloat financially.

Plus in recent years she's been balancing ambition with starting a family and doing something you love around those that you love.

Front End Web Developer Barry McGee on stepping out from the BBC and being freelance. Barry's experiment with paying for 'promoted tweets' to find himself work is a fascinating new technique to land his CVs on the desks of decision makers. But did it work?

Hear how Liz went from pension advisor to banking on a freelance career for her future.

It's not enough to be a passionate freelancer, you need to be a business person and this episode includes cracking thoughts on: payments, contracts, commanding respect and finding a niche.

Motion Designer & Creative Editor Stu Denbigh took a step back to move forward.

He chats about the importance of continually improving, finding a mentor and cash-flow - all part of being freelance for 10 years.

Nicky Woodhouse went from TV researcher to self shoot/edit freelancer following David Cameron for 3 years creating Web-Cameron.

She's now grown her business Woodhouse TV using other freelancers. This episode includes her thoughts on finances, portfolios and the benefits of different work environments such as hot desking v hiring a full office.

CSS Wizardry's Harry Roberts went from secure staff job to in-demand consultant and international speaker. Great tips on self marketing, the importance of your own site's language to getting hired and the difference in being a freelance consultant.

Hear how Gema went from secondary school teacher to TV host, channel announcer and voiceover, then self-styled her own direction as a craft blogger.

Includes: finding your specialism and not letting finances run the show.

Oh, and her dog.

Once a journalist for radio stations he switched to supplying them with jingles.

His strategy of creating an 800 strong mailing list to launch his business has had a huge effect.

Hear illustrator Jessica Morgan, drawing on her experience of being freelance: starting out; freelance sites; pricing; getting paid and restricting your hours.

Tom Miles, a photographer for the likes of Men's Health with over 20 years of being self employed. With awesome creative tips; pricing; portfolio and connections.