Welcome to the Freelance Founders Podcast, hosted by Kate Cervini. Each season, we’ll connect with the most creative minds in the industry to learn about their path to freelance, and what they’re working on (and charging) today.
From independent creatives to business experts and owners, this podcast is the resource for modern-day freelancers, consultants, and studio founders. Join us each week as we chat about everything from charging your worth to designing your own career path.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Freelance Founders Podcast, hosted by Kate Cervini. Each season, we’ll connect with the most creative minds in the industry to learn about their path to freelance, and what they’re working on (and charging) today.
From independent creatives to business experts and owners, this podcast is the resource for modern-day freelancers, consultants, and studio founders. Join us each week as we chat about everything from charging your worth to designing your own career path.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Happy holidays from all of us at Freelance Founders! We will return to your feed with all new episodes in 2024.
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Tori:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Jimi:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Andrea:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Sean:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Libby:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Connect with Sarita:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Bradley:
Let’s Connect:
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:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Jeremy:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear a masterclass from 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.
In this episode, Sean is telling us how he started his company mid-pandemic and what it’s like launching a brand new product into an incredibly competitive market.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Sean:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Becoming a founder is always going to be terrifying. Whether you have all the money in the world or a double digit bank balance, you’re never going to be as ready as you feel like you should be. But that’s the beauty of it all, right? There’s nothing scarier than leaping from the nest, and yet there are few things more beautiful than realizing you’re ready to fly.
Welcome to season two, episode six of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Madison Utendahl, a two time Webby Award winning content director and founder of Utendahl Creative, a multi-disciplinary creative studio powered by female storytellers.
Today, Madison is telling us the biggest mistake that brands make with their social media, the importance of prioritizing yourself, and the power and difficulty in doing nothing.
Some Questions asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Jenn:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to have a successful partnership? Mutual respect, a vision of the big picture, delegation, defined roles… to name just a few elements. But what about when your closest collaborator is also your twin?
Welcome to season two, episode five of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jen and Amy Hood, sisters and founders of Hoodzpah, a collaborative branding and type studio based out of Southern California.
Today, Amy and Jen are talking about the importance of mutual respect, succeeding without a four-year degree, and always keeping the big picture in mind.
Some Questions Asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Amy and Jen:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A morning cup of coffee, journaling a few pages before work, taking time to practice some asanas before bed… are these a routine, or something more? When we approach what might seem like mundane daily tasks with a sense of purpose and intention, we can take them beyond routine and begin to benefit by seeing them as ritual.
Welcome to season two, episode two of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Jenn Tardif, a yoga and meditation teacher, aromatherapist, and founder of the mindful collective 3rd Ritual.
Today, Jenn is telling us about her company and the tools they offer, the difference between a ritual and routine, and how being a mom has affected her daily rituals.
Some Questions asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Jenn:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Giving yourself permission to fail and telling yourself you have nothing to lose makes all the difference when you leave the security of the industry you spent so much time in. But if worse comes to worst, you can always bounce back.
Welcome to season two, episode three of the Freelance Founders podcast. We're talking with Harry Cheslaw and Adil Bouhdadi, founders of Autone.io, a SaaS platform that optimizes inventory management for brands. Harry worked in men's fashion in London and Adil got his start working in fashion in Paris, before they decided to get into tech.
Today, Harry and Adil walk us through what their journey has been like so far, what is next for Autone.io, and they even share the solid advice they would give to someone who wants to start a company.
Some questions asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Adil and Harry:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear Adil Bouhdadi’s tips for fundraising. Adil is the co-founder of Autone, a company that’s reinventing inventory management.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn Adil’s tips:
Connect with Adil:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As founders, we often spend so much blood, sweat, and tears on creating our business that it can be difficult to accept when our time on that particular journey has come to an end. It can feel like the end of an era or even a difficult breakup, but how, exactly, do we know when the time has come?
Welcome to season two, episode two of the Freelance Founders podcast. We’re talking to Amy Fraser, founder of OKREAL, a business dedicated to supporting women in building an indestructible sense of self worth through panels, workshops, online content, and mentorship. Amy is a community builder and storyteller working to give women courage and connection to take charge of their lives.
Today, Amy tells us about her aim of providing a resource of wisdom for women, how she came to realize it was time for OKREAL to wind down, and she shares her advice for freelancers who want to set healthy boundaries and portray confidence in their creative expertise.
Some Questions asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Amy:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As founders, we’re all familiar with the feeling of burnout. Overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, emotionally drained… Unfortunately, it’s become the norm for so many of us to work in this state on a nearly constant basis. It might seem like there’s no way out of the perpetual stress cycle, but there are a few key steps that we can all take to start to mitigate burnout and be our most grounded selves.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. Today, you’ll hear a masterclass on avoiding burnout from Sarita Walsh. Sarita is an entrepreneur and transformational coach working to empower leaders to fulfill their highest professional, personal, and social potential through mindset and behavior change.
In this episode, Sarita is sharing her top three tips for avoiding burnout, reducing stress, and ridding ourselves of habits that aren’t benefiting us—specifically for those of us who are high achieving, type A personalities who are prone to perfectionist tendencies and a reluctance to delegate tasks.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Sarita:
Resources mentioned:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The scariest part of leaving a 9 to 5 and going freelance is the loss of that corporate safety net that so many of us cling to. While taking the leap might not be comfortable, the freedom we feel once we’ve stuck landing is worth every bit of anxiety.
Welcome to season two of the Freelance Founders podcast. On our first episode back, we’re talking to Justin Bridges, a NYC based entrepreneur and fashion photographer originally hailing from Atlanta. He is the founder and CMO of travel start-up El Camino and the owner of Peach Studio, a photo and video rental studio in Queens.
Today, Justin tells us the advice he’d give himself at 20 years old, how he works to set boundaries for himself, and even gives us some financial wisdom through the lens of a former Wall Street trader and current freelancer.
Some Questions asked:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Justin:
Let’s Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To hear more upcoming, real conversations with industry-leading guests, tune in to season 2 of Freelance Founders Podcast, available wherever you listen.
Missed out on the first season? Don't worry! It's not too late to go back and listen to our candid conversations with guests like Jess Tran, Ana Andjelic, Mark Clennon, and Aundre Larrow.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
