The Freelancer's Teabreak

It's the last episode before a well-earned summer break! I'm swapping the mic for some quality time with my son before he starts secondary school, because some moments matter more than deadlines. There'll be no new episodes in August, but I'll be back in September, refreshed and ready to go.
Before I go, I want to hear from you: video episodes or audio only? Weekly, fortnightly, or monthly? Any guests or topics you're dying to hear covered? Drop me a message on Instagram (@emmacossey), pop into the Facebook group or Discord, or email hello@emmacossey.com . I'm genuinely listening and can't wait to shape the next chapter with your ideas.
Enjoy the summer, and see you in September!
This episode has been lovingly edited by Alicia at The Admin Den (and the wonderful Sarah has brought you the blog and Youtube), helping busy podcasters like me sound their best without lifting a finger.
Alicia Cornell is a Virtual Assistant and Business Support specialist, based in Berkshire with over 14 years experience in improving business systems to truly work for the people using them. Alicia founded The Admin Den to support mothers running small businesses because she's one herself, and she knows exactly what kind of chaos that particular combination brings. The Admin Den team offers hands-on VA support, email marketing, social media content and takes on specialist projects (including CRM integrations, automations and training sessions) for businesses that need an extra expert pair of hands allowing clients to spend less time on admin and more time on the parts of their business they love.
Connect with Alicia! Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Newsletter | Get her free, printable Summer Holiday Planner which helps small business owners map out the school holidays without losing their business, or their mind, in the process.
Timestamps:
0:00 Freelancers Tea Break: Welcome & Introduction
0:18 August Summer Break & Podcast Changes
0:31 Freelancing as a Parent: School Transitions
1:18 Access to Work Funding Cuts for Neurodivergent Freelancers
1:43 Future Format: Video Podcasts for Freelancers?
2:22 Community Feedback: What Freelancers Want
2:46 Thank You & See You in September
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Fancy starting a podcast but the thought of buying a mic, learning fancy software, and building a whole "studio" fills you with dread? Good news, you might already have everything you need in your pocket. This episode is a quick, happy little discovery about a hidden feature on the iPhone that could save you time, money, and a fair few headaches if you're thinking about recording audio.
We're talking about the humble Voice Memos app and its secret weapon: Studio Voice, which cleans up your audio and strips out background noise like magic, plus a built-in transcript feature. Whether you're recording on the go, don't have space for a full tech setup, or just need a low-effort way to get your voice out into the world, this one's proof that great content doesn't need to be perfect, just real. A lovely little tip for anyone dipping their toes into podcasting.
Timestamps:
0:00 Freelancers Tea Break: iPhone Podcasting Hack for Freelancers
0:17 iPhone 16 Voice Memos Studio Voice: Record Podcasts Without a Studio
0:42 How to Use iPhone Studio Voice & Transcripts for Podcasting
1:51 Why Imperfect Audio Wins: Authentic Podcasting for ADHD Freelancers
2:20 Accessible Freelancing: Podcast From Bed With Just Your Phone
3:09 Start Podcasting Today: iPhone Voice Memos Setup for Freelancers
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Quick one this week, but it might just be the best piece of freelance advice you'll ever get. Ever said "I'll have it to you by Friday" when nobody even asked for Friday, then spent the next few days low-key panicking? Yeah, us too. In this episode, we're talking about why that little habit of overpromising (and the scramble that follows) is quietly sabotaging your chances to actually impress your clients.
The fix is refreshingly simple: underpromise, overdeliver. Give yourself a bit more wiggle room than you think you need, and suddenly you've got the breathing space to do brilliant work, hit deadlines early, and leave clients genuinely wowed instead of just... satisfied. It's a small mindset shift with a big knock-on effect, and one you can start using today. Short, sweet, and worth writing on a Post-it.
Timestamps:
0:00 - My Best Freelance Advice Intro
0:25 - Find Your Freelance Community: Join Our Discord Server
0:44 - Under Promise Overdeliver: The Best Freelance Business Strategy
0:58 - Overpromising & Underdelivering: The Freelancer Trap to Avoid
1:55 - Give Yourself Wiggle Room: Deadline Tips for ADHD Freelancers
3:02 - How to Wow Clients: Managing Results & Expectations
3:16 - Final Takeaway: Build a Sustainable Freelance Career
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

How much should you actually be charging as a freelancer? Spoiler: there's no magic number, but there are some brilliant guides out there to help you stop plucking figures out of thin air. This episode is your cheat sheet to finding out what other freelancers are really charging, so you can stop guessing and start pricing with confidence.
We're rounding up the best places to snoop on industry rates, from YunoJuno's annual guides to LondonFreelance.org's brilliantly nosy "what I was actually paid" submissions, plus IPSE, Reddit's Freelance UK threads, and a handy calculator to get you started. There's also a timely nudge about the gender pay gap in freelancing (yes, it's a thing here too) and why doing a bit of local research matters just as much as national averages. Come for the numbers, stay for the confidence boost, and if you've still got questions, the community's waiting for you on Discord (link below to join).
Links from the episode: YunoJuno, Londonfreelance.org, IPSE, Reddit Freelance UK, and Sally Farrant's Pricing Calculator
Timestamps:
0:00 How Much Do Freelancers Earn? Podcast Introduction
0:21 Freelance Pricing: Why There's No 'Perfect' Rate
0:40 Freelance Rate Guides: Where to Find Reliable Data
0:57 YunoJuno Industry Guide: Freelance Rates by Sector
1:25 LondonFreelance.org: Anonymous Freelance Pay Reports
2:08 IPSE: not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the self-employed.
2:30 Reddit: Freelancer Community Resources
2:41 Freelance Gender Pay Gap: Why Women Charge Less
3:22 How to Research Freelance Rates in Your Area
3:42 Freelance Rate Calculator: How Much Should You Charge?
4:04 Join the Freelancer Community (neurodivergent friendly!)
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business

Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to freelance successfully" manual and you're just winging it? This week's episode is here to tell you: you're not alone, and that glossy six-figure freelance life you see on social media is mostly smoke and mirrors. In this episode, I get honest about what freelancing actually looks like right now: quiet quarters, wobbly income, and all.
Inside, you'll get practical, no-fluff tips for riding the ups and downs: how to spot your own seasonal patterns, simple automations to make saving painless, and gentle reminders to keep marketing yourself even when business is booming. Whether you're just starting out or you've been freelancing for years, this one's a warm, reassuring pep talk with your feet firmly on the ground, plus a peek inside the Freelance Business Lounge if you fancy some proper community and support along the way. It includes twice-weekly calls, Tuesday accountability, Voxer support, and bundled courses/trainings all for £30/month.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction: Freelancing Reality for ADHD & Neurodivergent Freelancers
0:54 Social Media vs Real Freelancing: The Truth About Freelance Life
1:50 Freelance Income Dropping? Why You're Not Alone in 2024
2:10 AI & Freelance Jobs: Impact on Copywriters & Graphic Designers
3:27 How to Plan Your Freelance Income Calendar Year Round
5:12 Pivoting Your Freelance Business When Old Strategies Stop Working
5:58 Why Inconsistent Freelance Income Is Normal (And How to Handle It)
7:02 ADHD Freelancer Money Tips: Automation, Savings & Pension
8:08 How to Keep Marketing When Freelance Work Is Slow
9:30 Freelance Business Lounge: Community for Freelancers
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Bluesky
Email: hello@emmacossey.com 
Come join us in the free Freelance Lifestylers Facebook group
Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.
Join the Freelance Lifestyle Discord Community: https://discord.gg/RKYkReS5Cz
Order my book: The Freelance Lifestyle: Your Friendly Guide to Starting a Freelance Business