🎙 Guest: Naomi Bowden - Brand & Web Designer
Meet Naomi, founder of Howdy Naomi, a bold branding and web design studio helping female founders build personality-packed brands and websites that are unapologetically them.
It took Naomi eight years of part-time freelancing to build the confidence, skills, and savings to take the leap into full-time self-employment.
In this episode, she shares her journey from traditional employment to running her own successful business, including doubling her old salary in her first full year of freelancing.
We cover:
🙋♀️ Bringing more you into your brand to make freelancing easier
👯 Finding friends, building your tribe, and connecting with community
⏰ Balancing freedom vs structure and embracing the freelance lifestyle
💸 How to prepare for going fully self-employed
💰 Confidently pricing your services as a solo business owner
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Host: Zara-Dee – Brand Visibility Mentor
🎙 Guest: Angela Lyons - Graphic Designer
With over 20 years in design and 13 running her business, Lyons Creative, Angela Lyons has built a freelance career driven by kindness, community, and creativity.
What looked like a dream job quickly turned into stress, illness, and burnout. Freelancing gave Angela freedom, joy, and time with her children and the chance to rebuild on her own terms.
Her journey is one of resilience and growth: from envying freelancers to becoming one, from a decade without contracts to confidently running a business with systems, boundaries, and self-belief.
This episode is for anyone doubting themselves or waiting for the “right time.” Angela proves that Success Behind the Scenes isn’t about just getting by; it’s about creating a business and life you feel truly blessed to live.
We cover:
👥 Finding your freelance friends
🤝 Why not to burn bridges
💛 Giving back with kindness + pro bono
📈 From freelancer to business owner mindset
📣 Consistent marketing touchpoints
👂 Listening to your clients
⚡️ Doing for yourself what you do for clients
🎙 Starting a podcast
🌟 Using visibility to beat imposter syndrome
📰 Staying in the know as a freelancer
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Host: Zara-Dee – Brand Visibility Mentor
🎙 Guest: Rachel Shenton - Video Editor
From getting by on working tax credits to buying her house and becoming financially independent through her editing business.
Rachel’s journey has had huge highs and very low lows, and in 2020, she genuinely thought it was all over.
But instead of disappearing, she fought the urge to hide, stayed visible, learned how to market her business, and built a supportive community around her.
Rachel’s story is one of resilience, from hitting rock bottom to turning it around, seeing her business skyrocket, and navigating the challenges of fast growth.
This episode is for anyone riding the freelance rollercoaster, proof that with hard work, determination, and belief, you can make it work.
We cover:
♀️ Succeeding in a male-led industry
🚀 Turning a hobby into a career
💡 Building confidence & independence
⚡️ Managing fast growth
📱 Marketing without following trends
👥 Creating a bespoke service
🌱 Growing a personal brand
👊 Overcoming self-doubt
🤝 Building a team & outsourcing
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Host: Zara-Dee – Brand Visibility Mentor
📍 Website
🔗 LinkedIn
🎙 Guest: Nic Shephard - Personal Trainer
After 13 years in the corporate world, Nic knew it wasn’t the life he wanted. So he swapped banking for balance, helping people find both mental and physical well-being through fitness.
At 33, he moved back in with his parents, rebuilt from the ground up, and created a new path as a personal trainer.
Now with 7+ years in the industry, Nic opens up about the realities of rebuilding, the pressures of self-employment, and why providing genuine value is the best way to win work.
We cover:
🧠 Stress, mental health & balance when your work is full on
💡 How to find exercise you enjoy (so it actually sticks)
⚡️ Pressure vs drive in self-employment
📱 Using social media to win work
👥 Knowing your ideal client inside out
🌱 Building a relatable, visible personal brand
👊 Dealing with comparison & imposter syndrome
⏸ Why switching off is the hardest part
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Host: Zara-Dee – Brand Visibility Mentor
🎙 Guest: Ed Lister - Award-Winning Lighting Camera Operator
With 15+ years of freelance experience, Ed talks about moving to Dubai, starting again from scratch, and adapting to new ways of working.
From filming in 55-degree desert heat to staying in demand in the industry, this episode covers the risks and rewards of freelancing.
We cover:
🌍 Relocating your business overseas
🔗 Tips for building a relevant network
🧠 Mindset: trusting the work will come
📸 Bread & butter jobs that keep you ticking over
✨ Being dependable & human in business
🚫 Ghosting, pencils & not lowering your rates
🤖 Using AI for productivity & organisation
📖 Bonkers freelance stories along the way
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Host: Zara-Dee – Brand Visibility Mentor
🎙 Guest: Robert Lee - Digital Marketer & Founder of Slingshot Digital
📸 Instagram: @slingshot.digital
🔵 Facebook: slingshotdigitaluk
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertlee559
📍 Website: slingshotdigital.co.uk
With over a decade of digital marketing experience, supporting the BBC, NHS, ITV and more, Rob shares an honest take on starting and growing your own business.
We talk about the reality of being your own boss, how lonely it can sometimes feel, and why your past experience is more powerful than you think.
It’s a conversation about business, balance, being a first-time self-employed dad, and why running a marathon feels exactly like building a business.
We cover:
🔍 Niching around what you love
📣 Blending word of mouth with social media
🧠 Mindset shifts for success
✨ Building a brand with personality
📱 Showing up online (without the overwhelm)
✅ Productivity tips that work
🤝 Communication, community & collaboration
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Host: Zara-Dee – Sales & Marketing Mentor for Creative Freelancers
📍 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: James Homer - Filmmaker
📸 Instagram: @hue21video
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/james-homer
📍 Website: www.hue21.com
“I’m just a lad with a camera, tyrna make some progress”
James, founder of Hue21, uses film to raise awareness of social issues like addiction and domestic violence.
In this episode, James shares how determination, saying yes to opportunities, and staying true to your values help build the career you want.
Whether you're starting out or growing your creative career, this episode is packed with advice on trusting the process, staying consistent and focusing on the work you love.
We cover:
🎬 Choosing a career outside the norm from where you grew up
🕺Celebrating the wins with a happy dance
💡Finding aligned clients
💪Turning rejection into motivation
💬 Overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there
🤝Tips for networking with confidence
❤️ The power of film to create change
😍 James’s exciting news!
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
📍 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Leyla Alexander - Graphic Designer
📸 Instagram: @leylaalexanderdesign | @youaretheseauk
📍 Website: www.leylaalexander.com | www.youarethesea.co.uk
From redundancy during maternity leave to building a creative design business on her own terms.
Leyla shares how she found freedom in freelancing and the confidence to be her true self.
✨ Success isn’t about perfection, it’s about creating a life that aligns with who you are and what you value most.
This episode is a brilliant reflection of that journey, reminding us all to do more of what we love.
We Cover:
😍 Making freelancing work for you
🎨 Creating time for what you love
🌊 Growing You Are The Sea & ocean awareness
🤝 Networking that’s FUN
🎙️ Putting yourself out there & saying no to misaligned work
⚡ Taking action without overthinking
💬 The power of community & support
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
📍 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Rob Searle - Visual Media Specialist
📸 Instagram: @searle.visual
Turning something you love into a career isn’t easy. It’s about showing up, sticking it out, and pushing through the tough times.
Rob turned his love for music and culture into a career, facing setbacks and doubts along the way. But quitting? Not an option. When you love what you do, you keep going. No shortcuts.
In this episode, Rob takes us behind the scenes to share what it really takes, self-belief, consistency, and the small steps that bring you closer to success.
What We Cover:
🎥 Turning what you love into a career
🎯 The power of a niche
🤝 Building connections from scratch
❤️ Creating for the love of it
🔥 Burnout & rejection sensitivity
⚡ ADHD: blessing & curse
🎉 Owning success & silencing imposter syndrome
💖 Leading with heart, keeping your head screwed on
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
📍 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Victoria Louise - Luxury Wedding Filmmaker
📍 Website: vlvideos.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @victorialouiseweddings
Victoria Louise, Luxury Wedding Filmmaker, shares her journey into the industry.
From feeling like she couldn’t be herself to building a career where she shows up unapologetically every single day.
She went from her lowest career moments to capturing life’s happiest.
Her story is a powerful reminder that success is what you make it.
Rejection is simply redirection and resilience and self-belief are key to creating your own version of success.
What We Cover:
👨👩👧👦 Building a business that works for you and your family
🎯 Putting yourself out there
🧠 Navigating ADHD & Dyscalculia
🔥 Taking your side hustle full-time
🎨 Importance of freedom and creativity
🔄 Turning rejection into opportunity
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
📍 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Jordan Lee - Director of Photography
Website: www.jordanleevideo.com/
Instagram: @jordanleevideo
This episode we get into the realities of doing your own thing with DoP Jordan Lee, now in his 5th year of freelancing.
Jordan turned redundancy into an opportunity, proving the power of:
✅ Taking action
✅ Tapping into your network
✅ Trusting your skills & believing in yourself
What We Cover:
🎬 In-house vs. freelance after redundancy
🚀 Creating your own opportunities
💡 Jordan’s 3 biggest business lessons
🌊 Riding the freelance wave & backing yourself
🎉 Celebrating wins—big & small
⚖️ Finding balance in the madness
📂 Why admin & organisation really matter
🎧 Freelancers, this one’s a must-listen!
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Dave Hackney - Filmmaker & Founder of The Digital Cortex
Website: thedigitalcortex.com
Instagram: @davehackney | @thedigitalcortex
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidhackneythedigitalcortex
From mechanical engineering to IT, and now 10 years in film, Dave Hackney shows how the left brain’s logic and the right brain’s creativity can work in perfect harmony when you lean into your superpowers and focus on the work that truly interests you.
Listen in to hear how Dave created his own version of success over the last decade and what’s next for his business.
We cover:
🤝 How to build a strong network and high-performing teams
🧠 Navigating neurodiversity in business
🦸♂️ Leaning into strengths & seeking support for weaknesses
💡 Mastering the art of choosing your battles wisely
🎨Balancing corporate with creativity
🧘♂️Importance of mindfulness, rest and switching off
📊 Using time tracking and data to make smarter, strategic decisions
💪 Staying focused and fueled with drive in your work
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Jo Higgs – Graphic Designer
Instagram: @johiggscreative
Facebook: facebook.com/Johiggscreative
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joanne-higgs-6591b94a
“The only reason I’ve been able to do it is because it’s all I want to do”
In this episode, Jo Higgs shares her journey from feeling “left on the scrap heap” after taking time out to raise her children, to building a business doing what she loves most.
With passion and determination, Jo shows that when your business is an extension of you, you overcome any challenges and create success on your own terms.
Episode Highlights:
🎯 Breaking free from stereotypes
🗣 Sharing your story and embracing who you are
🤹♀️ Balancing parenting with running a business
📲 Growing your business through social media
📈 Tips for marketing yourself with confidence
🚀 Putting yourself out there without fear
💡 Returning to work: practical advice
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Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Josh Couchman – Founder & Creative Director of AnotherWay® Digital 📸Instagram: @itscouch & @anotherway.digital
🌐 Website: anotherwaydigital.co.uk
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/itscouch
After over a decade in the Leeds agency scene, Josh started his own business following a life-changing diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.
That wake-up call led him to ask:
“What do I really want to do?”
His journey from chasing titles to chasing freedom shows how a shift in perspective can inspire bold choices and a life aligned with your core values.
Listen to how he stepped out to live life on his own terms.
Today, Josh helps creative businesses consistently secure the projects they love through branding, websites, and social content.
Episode Highlights
🎨 Advice for young creatives
💰 Building multiple income streams
📞 Overcoming outreach fears
🎯 Niching for clarity and confidence
👨👩👦 Working with family or friends
🩺 How a diabetes diagnosis shaped his outlook
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⭐️ Leave a rating or message me with your feedback
🎙 Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
🌐 Website: zaradeecoach.com
📸 Instagram: @zaradeecoach
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙 Guest: Victoria Steele – Marketing Consultant & Bearhat Founder
🌐 Website: bearhatmarketing.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/victoria-anna-steele
Employee to Freelancer to Business Owner in 6 Months.
After 12+ years in marketing, Victoria left full-time work to start her own business—all while navigating life as a new mum.
In this episode, Victoria shares her journey to creating Bearhat Marketing, the highs, the lows and how to redefine success on your own terms.
We cover:
🚀 Stepping out on your own
😕 The realities of building a business
💪 Building determination & a resilient mindset
✨ Pushing through the setbacks
🤝 Relationships over pushy sales
🎯 Understanding your ideal client
📣 Tips to market yourself
👩👧 Balancing business and parenthood
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⭐️ Leave a rating or message me with your feedback
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙Guest: Alistair Macdonald - Filmmaker & Electronic Musician
Website: www.curlewfilms.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aimacdonald
10 years into a high-pressure law career, Alistair realised he was stuck in a job that left him stressed and miserable.
Driven by a desire to create, he reinvented himself, diving into filmmaking and music.
Now, 12 years later, he's an award-winning filmmaker, electronic musician Bobus, and runs crazy mountain marathons! 🏃♂️
Alistair’s story proves it’s never too late to rewrite your version of success and chase what truly matters. 👊
We cover:
🎵 Getting in front of a crowd after 30 years
🎥 Shifting from law to filmmaking
💡 Overcoming imposter syndrome
🔥 The courage to make a life change
🏃♂️ Addiction to running
👉 Being a present father and a good human
💭 Life, success and mistakes
🎲 The role of chance and timing
If you enjoyed this episode:
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⭐️ Leave a rating or message me on Instagram or LinkedIn with your feedback
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙Guest: Natalie Potts - Business Strategist & Messaging Mentor
Website: www.nataliepotts.co.uk
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nataliepotts/
Insta: @nataliepottsstrategist
YouTube: @nataliepotts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/natalie.potts
After nearly 20 years in the corporate world, Natalie got her dream promotion and felt nothing.
That’s when she knew something had to change.
Hitting rock bottom sparked a transformation, leading her to turn her life around.
Discovering a love for personal development and utilising her leadership skills, Natalie went all in on building her own version of success.
Now, as an award-winning coach and mentor, she helps others do the same, guiding them to achieve their business dreams.
We cover:
👉 Loving what you do (it’s everything)
👉 Escaping the corporate rat race
👉 Mastering the boring stuff
👉 Being intentional with your time
👉 Prioritising well-being to show up for others
👉 Taking steps toward the life you want
👉 Believing in yourself (because who else will?)
If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow to stay updated!
Know someone who’ll find it interesting? Share the conversation!
Your feedback means a lot—leave a rating or drop me a message on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙Guest: Deryn Carr - Creative Director & Founder of Grit Pictures Ltd.
Website: https://grit.pictures/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deryncarr/
Insta: @grit.pictures.ltd
Meet Deryn, who shares his journey from employee to freelancer to founding Grit Pictures Ltd., one of Yorkshire's lesser-known yet more formidable production companies.
Grit is built on four pillars: Built Reet, Heart & Soul, Talk Straight, and Don’t Flap—reflecting Deryn’s approach to life and success.
At 13, Deryn was told to go into retail—he’s glad he didn’t listen to that advice! He turned his childhood passion into a career where he now gets “paid to play.”
We cover:
👉 Going from solo freelancer to building a team
👉 Feeling like a lone wolf creative
👉 Finding your niche and leaning into vulnerability
👉 Only working with those who make you feel stupid
👉 The power of a clear vision
👉 Family influence and what money means to Deryn
👉 Creativity as both a gift and a curse
👉 Balancing business with being on the tools
If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow to stay updated!
Know someone who’ll find it interesting? Share the conversation!
Your feedback means a lot—leave a rating or drop me a message on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
🎙Guest: Tom Williams - Founder of Fourandthree
Website: www.fourandthree.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fourandthree/
In this episode, we meet Tom, founder of Fourandthree, a freelance 3D product creative, 11 months into his solo journey.
Tom’s mission is simple: make cool stuff for cool people, no matter what it takes.
We explore the risks and rewards of going solo, how to shape your own version of success, and the new level of freedom he’s found along the way.
We cover:
👉 Figuring it out as you go
👉 Reclaiming your time
👉 ADHD: strengths and challenges
👉 Facing fears around risk
👉 Defining your niche
👉 Letting go of what doesn’t work
👉 Advice for going solo
👉 Embracing the “free” in freelance
If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow to stay updated!
Know someone who could benefit? Share this conversation!
Your feedback is appreciated—leave a rating or reach out on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Appreciate you tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
Want to share your story? Send me a message—I’d love to hear it!
🎙Guest: Jose Marcilese - Motion Designer
Website: www.josemarcilese.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/marcilese_motion_graphics/
With a passion for travel and a deep love for freedom, meet Jose Marcilese, a Motion Designer from Argentina, now based in the UK, carving his path in the creative world.
In this episode, Jose shares powerful insights on the importance of self-belief and how building a resilient mindset can help you pursue and achieve your biggest goals.
We explore:
👉Building a mindset that fights for your goals
👉Society's perception of failure
👉Creating your own privilege
👉Using sales skills to advance your career
👉The culture of instant gratification
👉True meaning of freedom and happiness
👉Allowing time to fail
👉Advice for starting over
👉Being you, being kind
👉How travel changes your perspective
If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow to stay updated!
Know someone who could benefit? Share this conversation!
Your feedback is appreciated—leave a rating or reach out on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Appreciate you tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
🎙Host: Zara-Dee – Marketing & Mindset Coach
Website: www.zaradeecoach.com
Instagram: @zaradeecoach
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaradeecoach
Want to share your story? Send me a message—I’d love to hear it!
