Lynne Testoni And Rachel Smith Podcasts

This week we chat with Martin Sully of Snapper Studio. Martin talks about moving to Australia from the UK and how he set up his own networking group in his new hometown of Newcastle NSW. We talk about the power of connections and word of mouth when it comes to securing new work; how to set up a networking group and balancing a freelance life with f…

This week it's just hosts Rachel and Lynne as they share their best-ever tips on how to find work if you are facing a slow patch in this super-practical episode. We get it! All freelancers have quiet times and sometimes all you need are some simple solutions to help you get back into the flow and have the clients or editors come running. We talk ab…

This week hosts Rachel and Lynne chat with columnist and author Kerri Sackville about her writing career. We talk about how being an early adopter on both Twitter and as a blogger helped to launch her career, how she chooses what to share about her life and how she secured both a weekly magazine column and all her five book deals. You can pre-order…

This week on the podcast, we chat with copywriter and author Emma Grey, whose best-selling novel, The Last Love Note, captivated us both. We talk to Emma about how she channelled her grief on losing her husband into her book and how writing works as a cathartic process. The author of five books, Emma shares why this one was different, the process o…

Former freelancer, now agency owner, Mike Hanley joins Rachel and Lynne on the podcast this week. Mike talks about moving from Bondi to Geneva to take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the World Economic Forum and how it helped him grow and develop as a writer and leader. He shares the difficulties of moving his family halfway around the world an…

This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne chat with writer Pip Harry, an award-winning children's author, journalist and copywriter. Pip talks about: all the different marketing channels that a modern author needs to be across how awards make a huge difference to sales (especially with children's fiction) how she juggles writing her novels with jo…

This week on the podcast Rachel and Lynne's guest is accountant Heather Smith. As well as consulting with small business, Heather has created a side hustle as a writer, creating content and writing some successful 'For Dummies' books. She is also a columnist for Acuity magazine. She talks about creating a career that uses her professional knowledge…

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with subeditor, writer and podcaster Leigh Livingstone about creating a successful career as a freelance subeditor (sometimes called a copy editor). We talk about: the role of a modern subeditor where and how she finds her work working with regular clients and maintaining those connections how it gives her a good mix…

This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne talk to freelance writer, podcaster and multi-tasker Lee Tran Lam about food, podcasting and trying to carve out a career as a freelancer, while still doing what you love. We talk about: The need to support young journalists Why podcasting is the future - and how you can make it pay Creating a podcast with…

This week, Rachel and Lynne are talking to publicist, PR mentor and founder of Odette & Co, Odette Barry, about promoting yourself and raising your profile without the ‘ick’. It's a fun conversation with lots of practical tips. We talk about: How to handle networking events as an introvert How and where to show up on social media What it's like ope…

In this age of AI and the associated panic that many writers are facing, content creator and agency founder Brooke Hill talks to Rachel and Lynne about Brand Voice - why it is important and how it can be the differentiator for writers. We chat about: What Brand Voice is Why it can't be replicated by bots How AI can be an effective tool for writers,…

Rachel and Lynne's guest this week – our first for 2023 – is Charlotte Dallison. Charlotte's mantra is Blonde not Beige and she has built a successful career as a writer, podcaster and vintage fashion aficionado. We chat about: How she built her vintage fashion business and used that following to leverage her writing career Using Substack for her n…

So often, we're talking to journalists who've jumped into other related industries, or added other skills to their bow to carve out a portfolio career. But our guest on this episode music and pop culture journalist and author Barry Divola - is refreshingly old-school. Barry chats to us about how he's carved out an enviable career writing for outlet…

This week, Rachel and Lynne are preparing for the holiday break - and we share our best-ever tips on how to manage cash flow, clients and set yourself up for a great 2023. We talk about: Taking on lots of work in November and December to build up a financial buffer Creating an Out-of-Office message for clients Working inhouse to take the pressure o…

SEO is becoming more of a must-have than a nice-to-have skill for journalists, copywriters and content writers. And if you're considering learning SEO or boosting your existing knowledge, this episode is a fascinating one. We chat to US-born Liam Carnahan, an SEO coach and copywriter and content strategist, about his career journey and process of g…

Fans of TV show Offspring will be no stranger to the name of its creator, Debra Oswald - who is a celebrated and highly prolific stage, television and fiction writer. In this episode, we chat to Debra about the start of her career (her first play was broadcast on the ABC when she was just 17) and the varied type of work she does. How does she switc…

Imagine if you could ask your client to record 7 minutes of audio for you on a specific topic - which you could then transcribe and turn into all kinds of written content for them? That's the system copywriter Rananda Rich from The Ink Rat devised, and it's a genius way to save time and get the information you need for client projects, be that a bl…

What happens when you're freelance... and you keep getting distracted by cool permanent jobs passing you by? When you're a bit over the hustle, and want to go back to the 9-5 - even for just a year or two? It happens, as we talked to Joh Leggatt about in this recent episode. So, for a bit of a follow-up from that, we're talking to career and interv…

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with copywriter and ghost writer Annie Reid about her career writing copy for the architectural, design and property industries. She shares how she finds clients, how she started in her niche and what she loves about writing the words in beautiful coffee table books. Find Annie at https://atrium.media/ Connect with u…

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with launch copywriter and psychotherapist Kirsty Fanton about 'social proof' - what it is, why it's an important (and powerful) part of your marketing efforts and how to get it. An inspiring and informative discussion. Find Kirsty at https://www.kirstyfanton.com/ Connect with us Rachel's List for job-seekers: www.ra…

True crime podcasts are hugely popular - but who's behind the scenes creating the episodes we can't help but go back for again and again? Meet Gemma Harris, a podcast scriptwriter who specialises in true crime. In this fascinating episode, we talk to Gemma about: + her criminology degree and psychology and how helpful it is to her in her work + how…

The usual lead magnet writers and marketers are familiar with is some kind of deal or download customers receive in exchange for opting in to your email list. But could a quiz funnel do a much better job? Quiz and email strategist Melissa Payne knows so, and in this fascinating episode she talks to us about: her career journey and how she moved fro…

If there's something freelancers know all about, it's the humble side hustle - which could be a passion project separate to your work, or something connected to your work that enables you to use your skills to make money in a new way. In this episode, we talk about: what a side hustle is small side hustles vs scalable ones when a side hustle become…

Have you ever found yourself just not engaged with your freelance business anymore, sick of the hustle and the invoice-chasing - and dreaming about taking a permanent 9-5 job? Joh Leggatt did - and in our latest episode, she talks to us about why she left her successful freelance business behind to take a full-time role with Forbes Australia. It's …

In this episode, we delve into the successful freelance journey of creative director Hieu Nguyen, who moved from a busy print publishing career in Australia to working in New York and starting his own design agency. Find out about: + Hieu's early years, including coming to Australia on a boat from Vietnam + How he got into graphic design and some o…

Continuing on with our successful freelancer series, we're chatting to journalist and editor Grant Jones, a former TV producer and newspaper section editor who now runs his own content agency and communications company. He’s also cowritten the recent book, A Caring Life: What fifty years in nursing has taught me about humanity, compassion and commu…

Many experts say podcasting is still in its infancy for brands, but they're waking up to the huge potential benefits of audio content and using it to connect with their customers. In this episode, we talk about why journalists and content writers are in a great position to offer podcasting as a service to clients - and why it's a good time to upski…

This week Rachel and Lynne chat with successful freelancer Martina Donkers, who is a specialist grant writer. In an inspiring talk, Martina shares her story about finding her niche, how grant writing works and why she loves being a digital nomad - all from a hammock in regional Western Australia! You can connect with Martina via her website: http:/…

If you're as Mad Men-obsessed as we are, you're probably keen to know how copywriting on the agency side differs from, say, what other types of copywriters do. (And if you're like Lynne and Rach, that may mean sitting at home, writing everything from web copy to lead magnets.) So we're getting the goods from agency copywriter Damien Whelan. We ask:…

If you're setting yourself up to write copy or content for clients, it may be tricky to figure out the most important templates you need to have in place and why. These will be things you'll learn about, tweak and hone as you go, but in this episode we save you time and hassle by distilling it down to five templates we recommend you have from the s…

This week's guest on the podcast is the talented Claire Isaac. Currently working as Editorial Director of TV WEEK and WHO on a maternity contract, Claire divides her time by filling in senior roles for long-term stints and writing for a variety of magazines and content agencies including Medium Rare, New Idea, the Big Issue and more. She talks abou…

Ever wanted to work with agencies? Lynne goes it alone this week with guest and agency owner Renee Francis, who talks about how freelancers can secure agency work, why she likes working with freelancers and the skills you need to secure good paying work. Renee's agency, The Bubble Co, is here: https://thebubbleco.com.au/ Connect with Renee via Link…

The pandemic may have changed the way we work forever, says Dr Marcus Bowles, Rachel and Lynne's guest on the podcast this week and he feels freelancing might be the way of the future. In this thoughtful and far-ranging discussion, he chats about the careers of the future and all about micro-credentials and why they are important. Prepare to be ins…

Savvy writers and freelancers all know that it's who you know, not what you know! A solid contact book is a huge asset for journalists, copywriters and content writers and this week Rachel and Lynne talk about how to find and nurture your contacts - and how to organise them so you can find the right expert at the right time. This podcast is sponsor…

This week - the end of our financial year - Rachel and Lynne talk about fatigue. Ever since we spoke to Madeleine Dore about the cult of productivity, we've been mindful of not ignoring our fatigue levels and trying to be kind to ourselves. We recognise when we're at our best and when we're just pushing through to feel a bit ahead the next day. We …

Building a personal brand may sound a bit 'ick' to some writers, but it is a vital marketing tool for your freelance business. Branding expert Emma Lovell takes the awkwardness out of branding with her fun and practical approach. She is Rachel and Lynne's guest on the podcast this week, showing why creating your personal brand is important and how …

We're long-time fans of Madeleine Dore, a writer and interviewer who's spent five years asking creative thinkers how they navigate their days on her popular blog Extraordinary Routines (and podcast Routines & Ruts). And in this episode, we chat to Madeleine about what she's learned from the project and the book it inspired: I Didn't Do The Thing To…

After a successful career in high-profile magazines, including as editor of the Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine, writer Kayte Nunn turned her hand to commercial fiction. Now with seven books published, she shares her journey with hosts Lynne and Rachel talking about making a living doing what she loves and why writing novels is all about the long g…

Marketing expert Therese Tarlinton is all about partnerships - so much so that she wrote a book about it! Her book, SWAP - Marketing without Money, helps small businesses, including freelancers, develop partnerships and relationships that allow everyone to grow. In this episode, she talks with Rachel and Lynne about: What marketing managers need fr…

After a request from listener Jules, Lynne and Rachel talk about how to secure your first copywriting clients. We share our top six tips on how to start and build your own writing business. We talk about building a network, optimising digital marketing, branding and developing your website, why you shouldn't be fussy, being prepared and professiona…

This week, Rachel and Lynne return to their occasional series of interviewing successful freelancers, with their chat with Lucy E. Cousins, who specialises in health and wellness and has her own successful content agency, Remedy Content. Lucy shares her journey in magazines and journalism, as well why she focuses on evidence-based science in her he…

Procrastination is an age-old problem - particularly when you work for yourself. This week, Rachel & Lynne share their tips on how to get work done. Links to apps and ideas mentioned in this episode: Brene Brown talking with James Clear on her podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FCDXnrrXo9d7VTTX7bi4E Atomic Habits https://www.booktopia.com.au…

Imagine spending your days coming up with recipes, baking and taste-testing and photographing your creations for your blog. Sound good? How about making a living out of doing that? Well, that's just what Jess Holmes from SweetestMenu.com does with her days - after a career as a copywriter and content designer for brands such as Flight Centre, Intui…

Are you a print journalist considering making the leap into government communications? In this episode, we chat to Lisa Thomas, who worked on a number of glossy mags (including Vogue Living) before jumping ship to work in a number of leadership roles in the private and public sector. Lisa is currently the Director of Communications, Engagement and …

Do you get a horrid feeling in the pit of your stomach when your clients aren't happy - or when they come back with multiple changes? This week Rachel and Lynne talk about dealing with negative feedback and criticism. It is something that happens to all of us! We talk about learning from mistakes, repairing relationships and how to not take everyth…

This week on the podcast Lynne and Rachel talk to Sue Bell, who is organising a festival for freelancers in her home town - Launceston, Tasmania. Rachel is a keynote speaker at the event and it's got some great speakers and events as part of the 3-day event in June 2022. Sue talks about why she thinks having a community is important for freelancers…

We continue our successful freelancer series with guest Rashida Tayabali, a copywriter and indie author who started her career in marketing but found her passion in writing copy. Rashida shares the ins and outs of her business journey, including: + Why she decided to niche into working with women business owners + What choosing a niche has done for…

Life's too short to work for clients who pay you peanuts, make you miserable, refuse to respect your boundaries - or give you work that's just not a good fit for you. If you're getting that 'pit of dread' in your stomach when you see the client's email pop up in your inbox (or their name come in on your phone), it's time to assess whether you shoul…

Successful freelance writer Campbell Mattinson talks about how he secured the perfect gig - wine writing. In his chat with host Lynne Testoni, he also shared: How he copes with the delivery of 30 bottles of wine a day The changes in wine writing over the years How he finally published the novel that had been in his bottom drawer for 30 years How ph…

This week, Rachel & Lynne chat with successful freelancer Emma McMillan about creating quality website content that brings results. We chat about: What is different about writing for websites Whether it's a good niche to be in What key elements that people forget to include in their websites How to price website content Emma's website is https://ww…