No Suit, No Broccoli: Escaping Corporate Life with André Spiteri

From finance lawyer in Malta to FinTech copywriter in Edinburgh — André Spiteri’s freelancing story is full of risk, reinvention, and real talk.In this episode, André shares how he went from a corporate job he hated to building a sustainable freelance writing business. He talks honestly about the pressures of starting out, the mindset shift that came with success, and why the freedom of freelancing can sometimes be the hardest part.You’ll hear:Why André quit law and moved to London with no planHis cold-pitching mindset and why, against the usual freelancer advice, he doesn’t follow upWhat changed when he embraced being himself on social mediaHow community and a mastermind group made a huge differenceThe surprising thing he found most challenging about freelance lifeWhat he’d tell his younger self after 10 years in businessIt's a fun, sometimes sweary story of escaping corporate life. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEBen O’Brien, known to many as Ben The Illustrator, returns to share how his freelance journey has evolved since his first Being Freelance appearance back in 2018.From losing all his travel industry clients overnight in 2020, to discovering new income streams through lockdown listening parties, to launching a creative studio with his wife, and literally building a studio with his friends. Ben’s path of adaptation has been found by following his curiosity, being more open that ever to opportunities. Now 25 years into his self-employed life and 20 years as ‘Ben The Illustrator’, there’s a lot of experience for Ben to draw from (making no apologies for the pun).- Finding clients through word of mouth (and why you can’t force it)- Running a print shop… and knowing when to shut it- The joy of building your own studio from scratch (literally)- What AI can’t do (and how human illustrators can stay ahead)- Why sharing your work (not just your services) really mattersBen seems to be a really happy place creatively and with work life balance.And he's rediscovered the joy of doing what he always loved.Available as a video podcast too - Watch Ben here on the site, on YouTube, or Spotify.EPISODE SPONSORED BY FREELANCER MAGAZINEMuch more than a magazine these days  - but come on, who doesn't love sweet glossy pages dropping through your door helping you explore the world of freelancing? Visit https://freelancermagazine.co.uk JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Hollie Arnett was inspired to pursue a creative path. Fast forward to today, and she’s running not one but two brands from Wellington, New Zealand: Maker & Moxie, where she coaches artists and makers on building their own brands, and By Hollie Arnett, where she offers branding and illustration services.High School Hollie would be proud.In this episode, Hollie shares how her journey as a freelancer began as a teenager doing design work for her youth group, how a life coach nudged her into officially launching her business, and the twists, pivots, and passions that shaped her freelance career. We also dive into subscription services, pricing packages, the power of creative communities, her own experiences with chronic illness, confidence issues and ultimately following the joy in what she does. It's a joy to listen to. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE:High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riversideIt’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan  ABOUT THIS EPISODEFrom a young age, Jerel Ramsey was inspired by his father to work for himself. And here we are. In this episode, Jerel shares how he turned his passion for design into a full-time business, Sola, which he runs with his wife from their home in Trinidad and Tobago.Starting out as a graphic designer, Jerel’s journey went from side gigs to establishing a purpose driven creative agency. He talks about how his experience with the Red Cross sparked his desire to work on meaningful projects and how he built a business based on collaboration rather than competition. Building a network of other freelancers to 'co-create'.Staying to true to his father's message to work 'with' people, not 'for' them.Jerel opens up about the realities of freelancing, from finding clients in a saturated market to balancing work and life with his wife, and how their complementary strengths make their business thrive.VIDEO version also available on YouTube and Spotify! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

PODCAST SPONSORED BY: RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan PODCAST SPONSORED BY: PORKBUN: Get a domain name for your website. www.beingfreelance.com/porkbun  ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time around Dee Primett shares her 10 year journey from a side hustle grinding with content mills to becoming a sought-after freelance communications specialist for healthcare and tech brands.Dee got her start writing online while juggling young children, slowly carving out a niche in healthcare content—and discovering a talent for making complex ideas easy to understand. Her freelancing career evolved from generalist blog posts to strategic content and brand communications, fuelled almost entirely by referrals and word of mouth.In 2022, Dee was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. In this honest and inspiring conversation, she opens up about the impact it had on her life and business; from surgery and recovery to reshaping her lifestyle, working patterns, and mindset.She talks about coping with post-cancer anxiety, the huge difference getting a studio space made, building better boundaries, and leaning into what matters most. We also hear about the Female Copywriters Alliance, the vibrant community she founded for women in copywriting, and her growing interest in creating a micro agency model that supports other freelancers fairly.Dee brings plenty of humour, heart, and wisdom to this episode of the Being Freelance podcast which you can also watch with video on YouTube and Spotify. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIcelandic artist Stefán Yngvi Pétursson, also known as Styngvi, shares his journey from working in an ad agency to becoming a freelance conservation illustrator. Inspired by shocking pollution during a trip to Indonesia, Stefán decided to use his creative skills for environmental activism, or 'artivism'. He established a successful freelancing career through Instagram, but more recently has expanded his network and leads via LinkedIn and email outreach. With a growing online presence and support from platforms like Patreon, Stefán aligns his art and business with his values, promoting sustainability, environmental awareness, kindness and positivity. In this chat we explore his passion-driven career and his strategic pro bono work (including a collaboration with a major music star). But whilst it may feel like Styngvi may have found his calling, what to actually call himself is another matter. An ethical designer? A conservation illustrator? A science communicator? How about: a really great podcast guest?Enjoy!00:00 Introduction to Stefán Yngvi Pétursson02:47 Starting the Freelance Journey04:45 Discovering a New Path in Indonesia07:04 Building a Sustainable Art Career10:13 Navigating Business and Outreach18:24 Pro Bono Work and Strategic Collaborations22:54 Freelance Community and Networking24:18 Stefan's Portfolio and Online Presence26:02 Managing Freelance Workload26:59 Exploring New Content Strategies28:22 Balancing Work and Personal Life29:30 2 Truths/1 Lie Game33:42 Life on the Road as a Freelancer34:55 Crafting a Professional Identity38:01 Conclusion and Farewell JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEThis time, we explore both a metaphorical freelance journey and physical one.In 2015 Rebecca decided she wanted to travel whilst freelancing.After building up savings and clients for a couple of years, she headed off to Europe as a digital nomad. Travelling whilst working as a content writer and strategist.At first she did more sight seeing that client work, but as time went on she was ready to switch that balance. To settle for longer - both in terms of location and contracts.Rebecca shares insights on how she made the most of her network for initial clients, and adapted to changing freelance landscapes over the years through platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook groups, and Slack communities. She discusses the challenges and benefits of running a location independent business. (She’s currently settled in Bonn, Germany - but before that spent two years in Turkey!).Plus we hear about the importance of community, developing her freelance business with external help in mastermind groups and with coaches. Plus getting strategic by herself with regular quarterly 'CEO retreats' - taking time out of client work, to focus on what she's building herself. Because even if she's staying put for longer geographically these days, she's definitely still going places. JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside-----ABOUT THIS EPISODEHow does a Welsh schoolboy recommended by a career advisor to become a tree surgeon end up illustrating and animating for some of the biggest media outlets across the globe?Becoming a location independent freelancer, working from London, Lima in Peru, and Barcelona in Spain.Getting known for creating funny content. With a range of satirical dog toys and creating animated videos for some of the worlds biggest podcasts including Joe Rogan and The Rest Is History?Dave shares his thoughts on steering his career in the directions he desires. The importance of meeting people, working in somewhere other than your home, and paying attention to what work you’d like to do and the work that’s no longer coming your way.Available as a video podcast too - Watch Dave here on the site, on YouTube, or Spotify. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: http://www.beingfreelance.com/riverside----ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn this podcast we chat to South African freelancer Yolanda Sissing.From her base in the UK she explains how a near-death experience made her realise filling in KPI reports for a boss wasn’t what she wanted.She’s now found her niche freelancing for purpose-driven clients and shares her strategies for getting clients through networking, content marketing, LinkedIn and Instagram Lives. Yolanda discusses the importance of setting work-life boundaries, leveraging community support, and pursuing long-term goals (if you watch the video version you’ll get to see her actual mood board!). We also get an introduction to the Anti-Social Socialites - the community which Yolanda co-founded to help people uncomfortable with traditional networking. And from that, the power of LinkedIn audio rooms.She might not like small talk, but there's big things to enjoy about this episode.Available as a video podcast too - Watch Yolanda here on the site, on YouTube, or Spotify. Enjoy! JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDERecord high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan. Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside-----------In this episode, Steve Folland interviews Helen Ridley, a freelance illustrator who has carved a unique niche in live event illustration.Helen shares her inspiring journey from studying fashion design to working in retail for over a decade and finally making the leap to full-time freelance illustration during the 2020 lockdown. She discusses the challenges and rewards of building her business, the importance of pitching and persistence once you have a contact, and her success with live portraits at events, including a notable partnership with John Lewis. Helen’s not just pursuing her passion. She’s focussed her freelancing on what’s actually profitable.Helen also delves into her collaborative creative workshops and retreats, strategies for email marketing and PR for freelancers, and the value of community and networking in the freelance world.00:35 Steve Folland's Introduction and Riverside Sponsorship01:21 Helen's Journey to Freelancing04:15 Transition to Live Illustration09:07 Success with John Lewis and Pet Portraits17:14 The 100 Rejections Challenge20:58 Collaborating on Creative Workshops25:49 Unexpected Bookings from Podcasts and Events26:46 The Power of Email Marketing28:10 Balancing Marketing and Live Events32:09 The Role of a Part-Time Job33:49 Promoting Yourself and Winning Awards41:54 Fun Facts: Two Truths and a Lie Game48:48 Advice for Aspiring Freelancers  JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland