Thanks to the growing rate of freelancers today—by 2028, there will be over 90 million freelancers in the U.S. alone, making up over half of the entire workforce—a rising podcast genre is also gaining momentum: helping freelancers improve their writing and business.
Since the pandemic, I’ve dove deep into these podcasts to not just learn more about the profession I chose but also to recognize what freelance writers are seeking these days. They want rich advice laden with examples of real-world success, as well as on-the-ground insight on what makes a strong writer today. It’s not just about being a skilled writer, these podcasts suggest, but you also need to build a resilient brand and strategic enterprise.
After culling through the many podcasts offering advice to freelance journalists and content marketers, these are my top three favourites, in no particular order:
What journalists Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters have created with this excellent podcast is nothing short of remarkable. Each episode delivers on their promises to give listeners actionable advice they can bring to their freelance writing careers, whether the theme is on attracting more clients or the politics of asking for raises or clarifying direction of where you want to go as a writer.
The hosts, who bring their experiences to each ep, also interview journalists who can shed light on what jumpstarted and sustained their careers.
Go-to episode: Creating a Sustainable Business Structure
Especially useful for journalists, Longform profiles an experienced reporter every episode, whether they freelance or work full-time for a publication. These in-depth episodes can be revealing and educational, teaching listeners about the struggle to break into reporting and dishing out what worked for writers hunting for the next great gig.
In countless episodes I’ve been schooled on why investigative reporting can be so exhausting, writers have to determine if that form of reporting is worth pursuing. Through several interviews, Longform also taught me the importance of dogged pursuit of the story, from the brainstorming stage to pitching the right editor to compiling the research and interviews before tackling the story.
Not every journalist’s origin story will be relevant to your interests, so if you’re not into NBA reporting, for example, you can skip the Mirin Fader episode.
Longform can yield tasty nuggets of knowledge and writing advice that can resonate with anyone looking for immediate inspiration. I especially liked what essayist Hanif Abdurraqib said in a recent episode:
“I learn from hearing my elders tell stories. There’s an inherent knowing of yourself as a vessel for narration who also has to—is required to—hold the attention of others at all costs. And that’s essentially what I’m trying to do. The broader project of my writing is almost a constant pleading of: Don’t leave yet. Stay here with me for just a little bit longer.”
Go-to episode: #470—Abe Streep
While on hiatus now, Deliberate Freelancer courtesy of Melanie Padgett Powers has been one of my favourite podcasts on the freelancing life. Thanks to the breadth of content, DF gets down right to the inside-baseball tactics to strengthen a writing business. With a stress on business strategy over writing tips, this podcast has been invaluable to me when I look at my marketing plans and client relationships.
Few freelance podcasts have the kind of finance and organizational advice that DF offers, so I’m often listening to each new episode as soon as it drops (and I usually reserve that only for Heavyweight and Sara Silverman’s cast). Similar to Writers’ Co-op, Powers also interviews successful writers from a variety of fields, but for me the journalist-heavy episodes speak most to what I’m trying to do in my career, although some of you might appreciate the interviews with content marketers looking to make six figures in that industry.
Go-to episode: How and When to Say No.
Get inside my motivation behind writing and performing my solo show Jewnique, and why I Read more
What do unforced errors in tennis have in common with our work as professional writers Read more
I'm not being hyperbolic when I say every creative person should read Neil Gaiman's Art Read more
A question I often get is: How do you hustle to get those freelance gigs? Read more
When I first began working as a journalist, I was worried. I had spent years Read more
How did I become a full-time freelance writer and theatre artist? Here's an abridged version...