Ready to hear what it really takes to turn a lockdown hobby into a full-time creative business?

In this episode I sit down with fellow Croatian podcaster Tia Kozina, co-host of Croatia’s very first true crime podcast with 200+ episodes, Patreon superfans, sold-out live shows, and interactive murder mystery events.

Tia pulls back the curtain on:

• Quitting the day job: the moment she walked away from a 9-to-5, the burnout that pushed her there, and the new pressures that come with betting on yourself.
• Finding the perfect co-host dynamic: why communication (and the occasional brutal honesty) keeps her partnership with Filip rock-solid, and what happens if either of them ever wants out.
• Monetizing in a niche language: from Patreon tiers that “pay the rent” to taking true crime on tour, launching merch, and inventing Croatia's first murder-mystery pub game.
• Turning listeners into a community: how their podcast cultivated die-hard fans of all ages and earned heartfelt messages from listeners who binged their show through chemo treatments.
• The power of starting scrappy: Tia’s no-excuses advice for anyone waiting for the "perfect moment" to launch.

Even if you’re not a podcaster, Tia and Filip’s story will serve as a great reminder of what’s possible even if you’re located in a very small region and even if your first language is understood only by a small fraction of the global population (as is the case with Croatian).

Wherever you’re located and whatever you do, this episode will inspire you to think bigger and embrace the scrappiness.

Enjoy!

Takeaways:

• Communication is crucial in co-hosting to avoid misunderstandings.
• Transitioning from a hobby to a full-time job can be challenging but rewarding.
• Monetization strategies include live shows, merchandise, and Patreon.
• Building a community around the podcast enhances listener engagement.
• Language and cultural context play a significant role in podcasting.
• Balancing humor with sensitivity is essential when discussing serious topics.
• Starting a podcast requires courage and the willingness to take risks.

Here's where you can connect with Tia (and Filip):

• Podcast (in Croatian): YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
• Website (in Croatian)
• Patreon (in Croatian)

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• Let's connect on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• You can donate and support this podcast here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/freelancebusinessunlocked⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you and see you next week!

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