So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt

One of the biggest challenges facing copywriters is how to increase their income without increasing their workload. There are only so many hours in the day, and if your income is tied to client projects and an hourly rate, sooner or later, you'll hit the ceiling of what you can earn per day. So what's the alternative? In this solo episode, Bernadette shares some of the most valuable lessons she un...

Would you like to be paid to tell other people's stories?  Would you like to learn the systems and processes behind ghostwriting someone else's book?  Would you like to help business owners, founders and thought leaders share their wisdom, build their personal brands, and leave a lasting legacy? In short, would you like to become a ghostwriter? If so, you're going to love this episode of...

If you’ve ever wondered why your email marketing isn’t converting, or why “join our newsletter” doesn’t inspire anyone to join your newsletter, this episode will change how you think about email completely. Today, I’m joined by Australian copywriter and ghostwriter Katia Spies, who’s built a highly profitable niche by creating a sequence known as Education...

If you want to learn how to build a successful business, it pays to speak to someone who has seen hundreds of businesses fail. James Stewart is an insolvency expert. Wait, don’t leave! He’s actually very interesting, and I’ve invited him on specifically for a few reasons. Firstly, if you want to learn how to succeed in business, you need to know how and why businesses fail. Secon...

What if success isn’t about scaling up… but about scaling back? In this episode, Sara Howard shares the real story behind closing her writing agency of 18 years and returning to solo work, on purpose. We discuss what’s happening in the industry right now, why there’s more copywriting work than ever before, why this is the year of the freelancer, and how writers can stay re...

If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast but wondered, “What would I even say?”, this episode is for you. Anthony Perl has spent 35 years mastering the art of communication. From building one of 2UE’s highest-rated midnight-to-dawn radio shows to founding Podcasts Done For You, Anthony now helps business owners turn their expertise into influence. In this podcast, we...

Janine Allis isn’t a copywriter, but if you run a copywriting business, or any kind of business, this conversation will resonate. In this episode, Janine talks candidly about what underpins long-term entrepreneurial success: doing the right thing by the business, keeping out the wrong people, learning the hard things you don’t want to do, building a culture and asking the questions oth...

Justin Kabbani is an AI strategist, educator, former agency leader and one of the smartest voices in Australia when it comes to making AI useful . In this conversation, we dive into the real-world side of AI: the failures, the breakthroughs and the new techniques to make using it so much simpler. We explore how to use AI to write better content, get found on ChatGPT, create better prompts and buil...

In this episode, Lucy Durack, star of Wicked and Legally Blonde , and Elise McCann, star of Mamma Mia and Matilda , talk about how Hey Lemonade grew from two friends swapping pep talks into a motivational app featuring scripts written by some of Australia’s greatest creatives. This episode provides the inside story of how this app got built, funded, written and brought to life by two of Aust...

Nat Kringoudis is a one-woman media magnate, and her topic is women’s health and wellness. She’s got a podcast, a masterclass, a clinic, an online shop, a series of bestselling books, a popular blog, a slew of brand deals, and she helps thousands of women feel better about themselves. It’s a winning formula that has seen her win a stack of awards and become an influencer with rea...

If you haven’t already tried the sneakers from Rollie Nation, you should. They are light as a cloud and as colourful as a piece of art. The founder is Vince Lebon, one of the most innovative entrepreneurs working in Australia right now. With over 20 years of experience and award-winning collaborations with brands like Adidas, Asics, and Foot Locker, Vince has got his finger on the marketing...

Via her popular weekly column for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Kate Halfpenny is known for speaking her mind, having an opinion and sharing it with the public.   And now she’s written a book about her life, marriage, mental health – and the toll her husband’s drinking took on all of it.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll get to hear the in...

Would you like to become an influencer? Would you like a step-by-step playbook for how to get that career up and running? If you’ve ever wanted to monetise your passions and turn your knowledge into profit, this is the episode for you. Kat Moses is the founder of MGMT, one of Australia’s leading influencer talent agencies. She manages many of the big names in Australia and knows what&r...

It seems like everyone has got a podcast right now, but few know how to turn their podcast into a content empire like Glen James. Glen started out life as a financial planner, and when he realised what impact he was making on people’s lives, he decided to scale up his business and use podcasting to reach more people. Podcasting is just one pillar in his content empire, but if you’re in...

Josh Piterman is no stranger to pressure. As the only Australian to play both the Phantom in London’s West End and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, he knows what it’s like to perform at elite levels and what it takes to keep showing up when your inner critic won’t sit down. Now also a coach, author, and podcast host, Josh shares how mindset, breathwork, meditation and self-...

Without a doubt, hiring staff is one of the hardest, yet arguably, the most important parts of building a business. Whether you’re hiring a Virtual Assistant to update your database or hiring a CEO to run your business, getting the right team together is critical. A few know better how to put a team together than Meahan Callaghan, the current Chief People and Culture Officer at Red Bubble (n...

What if your side hobby could land you on the set of How to Train Your Dragon or in the same room as Timothée Chalamet? That’s the wild reality for Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane  – aka the Macfarlane Brothers –  two self-taught filmmakers whose short-form videos have clocked more than 500 million views online. Starting with a childhood curiosity and a second-hand...

We’ve all heard about the TikTok video that goes viral for no apparent reason or the unsuspecting tradie who becomes an overnight sensation off the back of one post. Well, it turns out there’s a method to that madness, and the one with the keys to unlocking that method is Michelle Melky.   Michelle is the Global Creative Director of a marketing agency called Amplify. They rep...

If you’ve ever wondered what digital marketing really is, and how you can leverage it to generate more traffic, more leads, and convert more sales, this is the podcast for you. There are lots of digital marketers out there, but few have the depth, skill, and knowledge that Ben Fewtrell has. As the owner of Digi TLC, he’s run campaigns for a huge range of clients and has got the digital...

In this episode, Bernadette chats with Penelope Cannata, SEO Content Strategist at StudioHawk, about what it really takes to get found online right now. Penelope unpacks the biggest mistakes businesses make with SEO copy, how to write for both humans and algorithms, and why brands need to double down on trust, quality and purpose if they want to stay relevant in AI-powered search. With 6+ years of...

AI might be dominating headlines, but when it comes to getting found online, Google is still king. In this episode, we’re cutting through the hype and getting back to basics - because no matter how fast AI evolves, knowing how to write an SEO blog that ranks is still essential. To walk us through it, I’ve invited back Matt Farmer - former student, long-time SEO content strategist, and...

In this episode, we chat with Kieran Browning, a consultant with deep expertise in operations and digital marketing. If you’re a copywriter struggling to scale, feeling overwhelmed with client work, or battling endless revisions, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you streamline your business. In this episode, you’ll discover: The biggest bottlenecks copywriter...

Starting a copywriting business is exciting, but navigating the financial and legal aspects can feel overwhelming. From choosing the proper business structure to understanding tax obligations, there’s a lot to consider.  In this episode, Andrew Nicholls, an experienced finance expert and business advisor, breaks it all down in a way that’s easy to understand. Whether you’re...

Steven Lewis is one of the most experienced copywriters working in Australia today and was one of the world’s first web copywriters. Yes, he’s that old, but in a good way because he’s been around and he knows what works and what doesn’t.  Steven is a master of writing emails that get noticed and creating content that connects and converts.  In this episode, Steven...

Grant writing is a highly lucrative skill, and the demand for skilled grant writers has never been higher. If you want to master grant writing, attract clients, and confidently charge for your services, this podcast episode is for you. In this episode, Elaine Abery of Unravelling Red Tape shares her invaluable expertise in grant writing, advocacy, and working with government organisations. Whether...