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/ 

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 portfolio career, we go into values, what they mean and how to try and define yours.

Sue’s book, change your life in 5, is out now - find out more and follow her via her website at www.suebelton.com

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 can affect what we do and how we feel in business.

There’s chat on the love/hate of social media and having competition as a freelancer, as well as dealing with anxiety.

Find Gavin at https://gavinoattes.com/

This episode was recorded in July 2020

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 her experience of running the business in lockdown, and how her children are the inspiration for her craft designs.

This was recorded in June 2020

Find Hannah at www.makebox.co/ and www.instagram.com/makebox.co/

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 those of us who struggle with the highs and lows of freelance life, and he also talks about self-praise, celebrating the ‘little wins’ and why he likes to wear unusual socks.

This was recorded in June 2020

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 pivoting, and being careful not to move too far from your own core services and diversifying for the wrong reasons. Oh, and the reality of working on self care when you’re a busy freelancer!

This was recorded on the first of July 2020

Find Sarah at https://www.sarahhaywood.com/

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!)

https://www.sarahtownsendeditorial.co.uk/survival-skills-for-freelancers/

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 well as revealing an unusual concept - virtual co-working.

Find IPSE at https://www.ipse.co.uk/ and Freelance Corner at https://freelancecorner.co.uk/news

Follow Jess @JessFreelance

It's also the first birthday of Freelance Feels - woo hoo!

Why not celebrate by rating and reviewing the 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 before you settle on your new ‘freelance’ or extra freelance ideas. Helen talks about why she set up a podcast what she’s learned from it and we chat about online networking, too.

This was recorded in May 2020.

Find Helen at https://www.helencroydon.com/ and her podcast at https://www.themediainsider.fm/

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 https://tovaleigh.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tova_leigh/?hl=en

If you like the podcast, please do rate and review it! 

I've added an explicit warning sticker as there's a little bit of swearing in this episode, but not much!