The Guidebook

I'm joined this week by Marie Pier Tremblay. Marie is a life coach, bookworm, kinkster, and close friend of mine. She lives in Montreal, Canada, and after completing her dream of thru-hiking the PCT in 2019 she transitioned from freelance illustrator to full-time entrepreneur. Through her work as a coach and the host of the Self-Growth Nerds podcast, she empowers creative weirdos to carve thei...

This week I'm chatting with Johanna Flashman. Johanna is a freelance writer, journalist, and SEO strategist in the outdoor industry. Rachel also runs the website The Freelance Outdoorswoman which shares stories of other freelancers in the outdoor industry. In this episode, we talk about: Johannas started as a freelancer, some of her early challenges and how they were overcome The challenges of...

I'm talking to one of my favourite humans Rachel Ayotte, where we dive into our Pop Club community, her freelancing background, and our thoughts on mindset and self-care around the freelance lifestyle. In this episode, we talk about: Rachel's experience of Pop Club The importance of taking time off and self-care Saying no to work The best bits about freelancing Learn more about Rachel Ayot...

This week I'm chatting with Rachel Dilliplane. Another Rachel! Rachel is a voice-over artist and freelancer. Rachel is super funny, sharing her adventures on her TikTok along with her 2003 Ford E350 Shuttle Bus aks, the Rollsbud Motel. In this episode, we talk about: Comparisons between building a Van and building a business Balancing vanlife and adventure with building your business Her story...

Join me, as I sit down with Austin L. Church , a seasoned writer, marketing consultant, and business coach. Having weathered the storm of a layoff from a marketing agency in 2009 Austin now shares invaluable insights with freelancers and consultants. In this episode, we talk about: Austin's Morning Marketing Habit 6 Levers that will propel your business growth Austin's beliefs on work-life...

This week, I'm joined by my dear friend Sarah Collie . Sarah is a Virginia-based freelance writer for sustainable outdoor brands and horticulture companies. You'll often find Sarah hiking, planning next year's garden, or snuggling her puppy. In this episode, we talk about: Starting a freelance writing business with NO experience Living an intentional and flexible life because of your f...

This week, I have Megan Kitzmiller Bradley on the show! Megan attended Camp Moxie, my bootcamp for new freelance writers in 2021. At the time, she still had a full time job and started her biz as a side hustle during the bootcamp. Since then, she’s launched her own freelance writing business earning $70k in her first year! She’s also been able to take off an entire month for her wedding and make h...

Jenni Gritters is a business coach for freelancers, a mostly retired journalist, and a mom of two. You might recognize her from the podcast she used to host, The Writer’s Co-op. Now, she’s helping freelancers build agile businesses while occasionally writing product reviews for Wirecutter, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and more. She’s an avid adventurer with a three-and-a-half-year-old and a on...

5 months ago, Nick Lafferty quit what seemed like the perfect job for him to start his own business. Nick is a growth marketing consultant and creator of Early Exit Club a newsletter and community for solopreneurs.  We met back when he worked at Loom. He actually hired me as a freelance content writer there. We’ve stayed in touch ever since and it’s been so fun growing together. In this episode we...

Liz is a freelance marketing consultant, business coach for freelance writers, and the founder of MACE writing. She’s been freelancing since 2006.  She’s done so many cool things, like traveling to all 7 continents, living abroad, and becoming a mom.  Liz has been popping’ off on LinkedIn, and I know y’all are gonna love our conversation because it’s chock full of juicy mindset moments that will h...

This is part 2 of a two-part series with Shelbi! Go back and listen to part 1 from last week if you haven't already. Shelbi is a freelance writer, book nerd, and world traveler. She’s traveled with friends and solo both internationally and around the US. In this episode, we talk about travel and money as freelancers: - How to afford travel multiple times a year - Traveling with friends - Trave...

Shelbi is a freelance writer, book nerd, and world traveler. She’s traveled with friends and solo both internationally and around the US. We talked for TWO HOURS, so I’ve split our casual conversation up into TWO episodes! The second episode will air next week. In this episode, we talk about:   How Shelbi got started freelancing Our opinions on low-paying freelance work What really gets our goat H...

Polly Clover joins us today to talk about: That time she bought a one-way ticket to teach English as a foreign language How she became a freelance writer Why she finally quit being a teacher The honesty that turned her from freelance writer to SEO expert How to LEARN Her new SEO Blogging Course How she DOUBLED her rates This episode is chock full of expert tips you can apply to your freelance care...

This week we're talking to Jackie “Dirt Nap” Lastinger, founder of The Girls Trip Adventure Co. The Girls Trip Adventure Co. empowers & connects women through outdoor adventure & travel! It’s a space for women to dip their foot into the world of backpacking and other activities with no pressure or judgment. Their next trips include: the Trans Catalina Trail, Channel Islands NP, and Ala...

Ash Czarnota from Alpine Start Creative joins us today on the pod. She's a small business owner, freelance writer, thru-hiker, and fan of failing forward! Our freeform conversation talks about: what it was like to start her biz (spoiler: she flew by the seat of her pants) how she saved for, prepped her biz for, and went on a thruhike of the PCT what coming home from a thruhike to diving back i...

Controversial take: you shouldn't share your rates publicly. In this episode, find out why! Plus, snag my pricing guide template. Get the Template: The Pricing Guide Template PS Insta is kinda my thing: Find me on Instagram

Your money mindset is foundational to your business. Your money mindset has been cultivated over your entire lifetime. Growing up in a capitalist society, everything has contributed to your mindset – From how your parents handled money to the community you grew up in. A good money mindset can mean making a thriving living as a freelance writer. Leaving your mindset unkempt can lead to a struggling...

This is the most commonly asked niche question I get – can you have more than 1 niche? There’s no hard and fast answer to this question, but my advice is:  For the first 6 months of your business only focus on one niche. Pick the niche that has the most profit potential. 

Welcome back to the Guidebook! We're doing things a bit differently this season. Stay tuned for more...

This week’s episode features Kevin Grooman aka “Spacejam” + I met Kevin through Dylan’s hiker chat (go listen to last week’s episode!). He’s triple crowned and gotten engaged along the way. + In this episode we’re talking about triple crowning; navigating home ownership, a career, and thruhiking all at once; forging a relationship formed in “real life” on the trail; Casa de Luna and Hiker Heaven c...

Dylan Tonkin This episode features Dylan “Pickle” Tonkin + I saw Dylan’s podcast come out at the end of 2018 when I was just under a year into my show. I remember being completely jealous and totally comparing myself to him bahahah I was still so self-conscious about podcasting back then. + Fast-forward to nearly a year and a half later, I decided to kick my ego out and message Dylan on Instagram...

It’s been so amazing to get to talk to thruhikers from other countries this season. You might remember episode 1 of this season with @ ValIsmaili who hiked the Transcaucasian trail. He connected me with @ Leahikes who is an expert thruhiker from Germany. She’s lived and hiked basically all over the world. + In this episode Lea and I got to chat about arranging your life to allow for lots of hiking...

I met AM Fog (aka @ ashermcglothlin ) on the Appalachian Trail in 2018 when we were both making our way Northbound through the Smokies. + Asher is a musician, grad student, and thruhiker. He just released a new EP called “Smothered, Lovered, and Covered” which is available now on his website and will be available on all streaming platforms on July 30th! + This episode is a simple shooting the shit...

Welcome back to part two of my lovely chat with Elina "Tip Tap" Osborne!! + In this second part of our chat we dive deeper and discuss the impact of social media on thruhiking and story telling, the glorification of thruhiking on Youtube, the struggle of telling your own story and Elina's tips on beginning to tell your own, camping alone, and Elina's best cry on trail.  + I hope y'all love th...

This week’s guest is Elina “Tip Tap” Osborne (aka @ elinasborne )! . Oh my gosh, I had such a good time interviewing Elina. We have lots in common and the jokes were flowing!! We talked so much that this is going to be released as a two-part episode. . In this first part of our chat, we talk about loads of things. From life plans to the confidence we found on trail, post-trail grief to the euphori...