The Freelance Founders Podcast

Happy holidays from all of us at Freelance Founders! We will return to your feed with all new episodes in 2024.

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

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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:

• Instagram
• How to Fck Up Well
• Advice column

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:

• Instagram
• Website

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:

• Instagram
• Website
• Sushi Fridays podcast
• Cool Eye Creative

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. 9
• Sonny Seltzer website

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:

• Studio
• LinkedIn

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:

• Website
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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 Magazine
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:

• Website
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.