The Live Free Podcast with Micala Quinn

In this episode of the Live Free Podcast, I’m chatting with Jackie, a mom of five, mini-farm enthusiast, and now a thriving Online Business Manager (OBM) for interior designers. Jackie shares her inspiring journey of leaving behind her 40-hour office job and a home daycare business to finally build the flexible freelance life she dreamed of. After an initial attempt to go through the Live Free Aca...

Hey there, and welcome back to the Live Free Podcast ! I am so excited to introduce you to Britnee—an inspiring mama, former second grade teacher, and Live Free Academy alum. In today’s episode, Brittnee shares her journey from the classroom to freelancing and how she’s built a business that allows her to be home with her two girls. After struggling with postpartum anxiety, unpredictable work as a...

Welcome back! In today's episode, we sit down with Sarah, a former special education teacher who transitioned from the structured world of classrooms to the flexible, fulfilling life of freelancing—all while navigating new motherhood, pregnancy, and the realities of being a full-time work-from-home parent. After spending six years teaching elementary special education, Sarah made her first bi...

In today's episode, we sit down with Ben, a veteran of the audio and music world who spent over 15 years building a successful freelance career across a wide range of creative services — from composing music for commercials and online content to editing podcasts, performing at events, and even designing immersive sound for virtual reality experiences. Ben shares how freelancing in a gig-based...

On today’s episode of the Live Free Podcast, I’m chatting with Rachel — a former teacher who said enough is enough and took the leap into freelancing. Rachel taught for 14 years, but like so many of us, she hit a point where her career no longer aligned with the mom she wanted to be. She shares what finally pushed her to explore a different path, how she found the Live Free Academy during a scroll...

Hey there, and welcome back to the Live Free Podcast! I'm your host, Micala Quinn, and I’m so excited you're tuning in today. In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Liz, an incredible Live Free Academy alum. Liz shares her inspiring journey of how she's been supplementing her corporate income through freelancing over the past ten months. She’s made incredible progres...

Welcome back to the Live Free Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by Brittany Long, an award-winning educator turned freelancer, who shares her inspiring journey of pivoting through various phases of her career and embracing AI to revolutionize her business. Brittany is now an AI trainer who works with ambitious entrepreneurs to automate and scale their business with AI for a regret-free life....

Welcome to the Live Free Podcast! So happy you are here! In this episode, we welcome our very own Staci Mink, a talented copywriter and freelancer, who shares her journey from corporate marketing and PR to running a thriving six-figure freelance business. With over six years of experience, Staci reveals how she transitioned from a traditional 9-to-5 job into a career that offers her both financial...

Welcome back to the Live Free Podcast! I am so excited for this short and sweet episode that will walk you through how to help potential clients who want/need to hire a freelancer but aren’t sure what to delegate. In the last couple of years, I have noticed the growth of traditional businesses and local brick-and-mortar businesses hiring freelancers. This demographic of business owners are general...

So happy to have you here at the Live Free Podcast! I am thrilled to bring to you another student success story! Today, I am chatting with Jenna Dee. Jenna is a former teacher turned freelancer who has found a way to have it all. Jenna transitioned from the classroom to freelancing in less than six months. After signing up for The Live Free Academy in July, she took action and landed her first cli...

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Live Free Podcast! I am so excited to have this week’s guest, Kara Charron. Kara is a growth expert who has over two decades of experience helping businesses grow as a service provider. Now, she has started another business where she is using her expertise to empower women to create intentional, joy-filled lives and businesses. She is also the creator of the Mo...

Happy to have you back to The Live Free Podcast! Today we have another student success story! Maggie joins me to talk about her start as a Tech VA turned web designer.  After moving across the country and needing a career change, Maggie knew there had to be a way to be home with her girls while also earning a reliable income using skills she acquired in her previous job.  She landed a client on he...

Welcome back to The Live Free Podcast!  I am so honored to have you here. Today, I wanted to talk about something I experienced when I first became a mom and something I have been hearing a lot more in emails. What happens when the job you love(d) no longer fits with your lifestyle as a mom? There is a better option through freelancing. You can use your skills, talents, and strengths while having...

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to bring back the Student Success Story Series! Today, you are going to get to meet Kerry Komarov. Kerry is a former middle school teacher of 10 years turned entrepreneur and Creative Business Strategist. Kerry was able to resign from teaching by exceeding her income goals, working 20-25 hours a week. She made this shift while taking care of a toddler and a newborn. If...

Happy Monday! I am so excited to share with you this 2 part series brought to you by Natalie Gingrich over at the Ops Authority.  Natalie gathered some of the top leaders in the freelance and service-based industry to reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025.  Today you will be listening to Part 2 where we chat about what is coming ahead in 2025 and what we expect the landscape to look like for free...

Happy New Year and welcome back to the podcast! I am so excited to share with you this 2 part series brought to you by Natalie Gingrich over at the Ops Authority.  Natalie gathered some of the top leaders in the freelance and service-based industry to reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025.  Today you will be listening to Part 1 where we chatted about the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2024. We co...

Hey guys! Happy Monday! In today’s episode, I'm chatting with Kaitlin Christensen about how she built a flexible freelancing career while managing motherhood and narcolepsy.  Kailyn has a background in marketing, but her medical condition, narcolepsy, forced her to leave the traditional workforce. After being a stay-at-home mom for five years, Kaitlin was eager to find something flexible that...

In this episode, I’m chatting with Renee Herren, who transitioned from a 10-year corporate career to freelancing after being laid off. With a husband who works crazy hours as a chef and two toddlers at home, Renee was drawn to the flexibility of freelancing. While her journey wasn’t fast—taking four months to land her first client—once she did, things quickly snowballed, and she landed three more...

Hey guys! Happy Monday! Today, I’m chatting with Tana Goosic, who transitioned from working 40 hours a week to working just 40 hours a month—all while replacing her income and working from home with her babies. In this episode, Tana walks us through how she got started freelancing, the niche her ideal client works in, and how she lands clients through the OTO job board, direct outreach, and referr...

Dawne, a former labor and delivery nurse of 18 years, made the leap into freelancing in November of 2021. Within just a week of enrolling in the course, she landed her first client, and by January of 2022—only 12 weeks later—she was able to quit her nursing job entirely. Now, Dawne works 20-25 hours a week, makes 53% more than she did as a nurse, and enjoys the freedom and flexibility to live life...

Hey there! Happy Monday! Today we’re chatting with Jenelle Rawlins, a former ELA teacher who launched her freelance business and replaced her income while teaching full time. Jenelle enrolled in the Live Free Academy in November 2023, spent December going through the course, and by January 2024, she had landed three clients through a monthly Land Your First (or next) Client challenge! Jenelle shar...

Hey there! In today's episode, we're catching up with Hayley Lame, a former school counselor who took a huge leap last spring by quitting her job before reaching her income goal. Fast forward a few months, and she’s now fully booked, replacing her previous salary while working just 20-25 hours a week! Hayley originally shared her story back in June on Episode 290 , and today, she’s back...

Hey there! Happy Monday! In today’s episode, we chat with Chesney, who went from enrolling in Live Free Academy to quitting her job in just 90 days! Chesney's freelancing journey is nothing short of inspiring!  After enrolling in April, she landed her first two clients within a month during our "Land Your First (or Next) Client Challenge" and by July, she had quit her job. Now, she...

In today’s episode, we’re featuring Tiffany, a seasoned freelancer who has been working with social media influencers for SIX years! As a stay-at-home mom of three, Tiffany has turned freelancing into a stable, long-term career that fits her family life perfectly.  When Tiffany first started, she was earning an extra $2,000 a month working part-time hours. That extra income made a huge difference...

Hey guys! Happy Monday! This week, we’re celebrating a major milestone – 7 years of helping moms like you find flexible ways to work from home.  In today’s episode, I’m recapping some recent success stories from Live Free Academy students and giving you an inside look at what it’s like to be part of the program. I’ll walk you through how I can help you build your business and the support you will...