THE PODCAST with Annelise Worn

There comes a point in business where doing more stops being the answer. You’re booked and busy, but the role you built the business on is no longer the role that will grow it. It’s more than just a role shift. It’s a complete identity overhaul. And it can feel surprisingly uncomfortable! In this episode of The Podcast, I’m sharing a moment from my own journey that made me realise the game had cha...

If you’re trying to hit your first $10K month as a freelancer, chances are you’ve been told to: Say yes to everything. Work harder. Take on more clients. And if you’ve tried that… you already know it doesn’t work. It leads to: Burnout Inconsistent income Undercharging Doing everything yourself In this episode, I break down exactly how I would get to $10K months as a freelancer today, using a simpl...

Important: This is NOT legal advice. Speak to a lawyer before developing or finalising  any contract. If you’ve ever felt that slow creep of resentment…the endless “quick tweaks”…the timeline blowouts…the scope expanding while your margin quietly dies… This episode is your wake-up call. Because most burnout in service businesses doesn’t start with the work. It starts with what you didn’t spell out...

If the thought of delegating makes your stomach turn because “the quality will drop”… this episode is for you. Because that fear is real. You’ve built a reputation. You’re detailed. You care. You’re the safe pair of hands. And that’s exactly why you’ve become the bottleneck. In this episode, I break down the practical system for handing work over without losing quality - or your clients -  and wit...

If your clients only want YOU, you have a problem.  If your clients “only want you”… you trained them that way. In this episode, we’re talking about the sales conversation that protects your boundaries - and stops you from becoming the bottleneck in your own business. Because if every client insists on dealing with you, you have a scale problem. Tune in as we unpack: • Why founders accidentally ma...

Not following up because you don’t want to be annoying?  In this episode, I unpack the uncomfortable truth about why most business owners avoid follow-up… and how that single habit is quietly capping their income. If sales feels awkward, desperate, or “not your thing,” this is going to challenge you. Because what if the problem isn’t confidence? What if it’s leadership? In this episode we talk abo...

I had a realisation a few years ago that stopped me in my tracks. I was spending my entire week growing my clients’ businesses. And mine was staying exactly the same. No leads. No pipeline. No sales that weren’t referrals. I was delivering my best to my clients … Pushing my own marketing block back to deliver client projects. Saying yes to inconvenient, disruptive meeting times, Pretzeling my cale...

It might just be simple math that’s stopping you from scaling… If your agency looks busy on paper but still feels financially tight…If money comes in and disappears just as fast…If hiring feels risky, stressful, or just not possible yet… This episode is for you. Because most problems come down to your offer, and your pricing. In this episode, I break down the simple math mistake that keeps smart,...

If you constantly feel overwhelmed, short on time, and like you’re always working but rarely working on the business … you’re not alone. And if you’re honest, you might not even be totally sure what “working on the business” is supposed to look like anymore now that you have a team. In this episode, I walk through how I think about designing a week on purpose , to create space for everything you w...

Most agency owners think growth comes from more leads, better funnels and great teams.  That’s true, but one of the most underestimated growth levers in business has nothing to do with marketing at all. It’s proximity. In this episode, I unpack why who you surround yourself with both professionally and personally shapes your decisions, your standards, and ultimately, your results as an agency owne...

I know, I know … “tech stack” is not a sexy topic. But it is one of the biggest reasons agencies feel overwhelmed, scattered, and harder to run than they need to be. In this episode, I’m breaking down how we think about tech inside our agency - and why we deliberately choose a boring, low-tech, low-noise stack , even as we scale. This isn’t a list of tools you should copy. It’s a way of thinking a...

Depending on who you listen to, AI is either the end of agencies as we know it… or the shortcut to infinite growth. As with most things, the truth usually sits somewhere in the middle. This episode is the grounded, strategic conversation you’ve probably been missing. I’m breaking down what AI really means for marketers, freelancers, and agency owners — where it strengthens your position, where it...

2026 is around the corner, and the gap between those who grow and those who disappear is only going to widen. In this episode, I’m breaking down the major shifts I see coming for agency owners and the clients we serve. We’re talking about four key themes: AI, content, paid ads, and community, and how each one is evolving fast. If you want to stay relevant, grow your agency, and lead with confidenc...

Most women I talk to want a better strategy. A new funnel. A different offer. But the truth? Strategy is not step one. In this episode, I walk you through the four Ms you actually need to scale as a freelancer or agency owner – in this order: Mindset, Magnetism, Mechanics, Momentum. We talk about why so many smart, capable women are “doing all the right things” and still not seeing the results the...

Most agency owners hit a point where growth starts to feel… heavy. You’re busy, you’re booked, revenue’s up — but freedom? Not so much. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to audit, simplify, and evolve your agency so it SCALES (not just grows revenue) — and what to do once you hit your sweet spot. Because scaling isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less, better. We’ll chat about...

If you want a business that gives you real freedom — this is where it starts. In this episode, I walk you through my Fire + Flow Business & Life By Design Planning Process — the rhythm I use (and teach) to design a business that supports the life you actually want to live. We’ll move past traditional “business planning” and into something far more intentional. This is how we build a business t...

Hello, hello — and welcome back to the show! It’s been a minute. The last time you heard from me, we’d just arrived in Greece. I was recording under those gorgeous trees, with cicadas louder than my mic. It was beautiful, but not ideal for a podcast. So, I decided to take a break. Key word: decided.  In this episode, I’m sharing why I pressed pause on posting and podcasting, what the past six mont...

Most of us don’t start businesses or step into new roles dreaming of being a leader . We start because we’re great at what we do. But here’s the kicker: being great at what you do isn’t enough to grow a business. At some point, the work shifts from doing the thing to leading the people who do the thing . And that’s a whole different skill set. In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Lincolne, lea...

Episode Title: They Told Me I Was Crazy Note: you can totally hear the cicadas in this episode - noted - I’ll move inside for the next one!  Yes, people told me I was crazy when I… Let go of 75% of our revenue Restructured my team Shutting down a profitable branch of the business Pulled my kids out of school And said goodbye to winter - for good Yes, people told me I was crazy . But I wouldn’t hav...

Still doing everything yourself in your freelance business? Want to (and know you need to) delegate but can’t afford it?   I’ve been there.  In this episode, we dive into how to delegate (even with a teeny tiny budget), why you don’t need to wait, and how buying back just a few hours a week can unlock serious business growth. You’ll learn exactly what to outsource, how to find affordable help, and...

In this episode, Annelise sits down with Shaye Thyer, founder of Pallas, a financial consultancy helping women turn their businesses into profitable assets. Yes, ASSET. Content like this is important, because when we know our numbers, we can reverse engineer our goals, and make better business decisions. When we do - absolutely anything is possible! If you're ready to stop winging it with your...

Ever wondered if your side hustle could turn into an 8-figure national brand?  In this episode, Annelise sits down with Susan Toft , the powerhouse behind Laundry Lady - a business that started in her spare room and now spans over 300 teams across Australia and New Zealand. From doing laundry herself as a new mum to pitching on Shark Tank, Susan shares the gritty truth about growing a purpose-led,...

Overworked and underpaid? Here’s the brutal nutshell: You’re stuck on the Freelancer Treadmill Trap. It looks like this… overcommitting and saying YES to everything … charging too little so you end up doing everything solo … filling your diary but still scraping by … letting delivery crush your marketing and strategy time … burning out and resenting the work … watching revenue dip when projects en...

Ever feel that sinking feeling when you see that client’s name pop up in your inbox? You’re not alone. Some clients just aren’t worth the stress—no matter how much they pay. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest red flags that tell you it’s time to cut ties and move on. Because your business (and your sanity) deserve better. Inside this episode, we cover: 🚩 The DM Dread – If waking up...

In this episode, I sit down with Kehla G to delve into the intriguing topics of Human Design and Gene Keys and their potential impact on business strategy.  As someone who holds an alternate belief system to human design, I asked Kehla in depth questions to understand how these concepts play into my own belief, and determine if human design could play a role in shaping your business decisions.  Ke...