Stop Waiting for Clients. Start Making - Charles Commins

Stop Waiting for Clients. Start Making - Charles Commins

Author: Steve Folland March 22, 2026 Duration: 1:06:09
Charles Commins handed his notice in at his pub job with no plan except to enjoy whatever came next. His partner gave him one month to figure it out. Seven and a half years later, he's an award-winning freelance podcast producer whose client chain traces back to one decision: making a football podcast about Northampton Town. Along the way he's had a succession of word-of-mouth freelancing clients, realised his dream of appearing on BBC Radio, and made all of it work around being there for his family.

Stepping away from the traditional career path to work for yourself is a journey filled with unique highs and lows. Being Freelance, hosted by Steve Folland, delves into that reality through candid conversations with those who are living it. Each episode is built around a freelancer's personal story, moving from their first tentative steps to the ongoing challenges and triumphs of running a solo business. You'll hear authentic discussions about finding clients, setting boundaries, managing finances, and coping with the isolation that can sometimes accompany the freedom. This isn't about theoretical business models; it's the practical, often messy, human experience of building a livelihood from your own skills. Steve guides these conversations with empathy, drawing out insights that are both reassuring and actionable. The podcast serves as a regular reminder that the questions and doubts you face are shared by others navigating the same waters. Tuning in provides a sense of connection and a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, whether you're just considering the leap or are a seasoned veteran looking to refine your craft. It’s a resource that acknowledges the tough days while celebrating the incredible rewards of designing your own working life.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Being Freelance
Podcast Episodes
Writer Momina Asif [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:15
Momina realised traditional Pakistan office life didn’t fit with taking care of her mental health. Sh'e’d go freelance and be a better boss to herself. Having built up a personal brand and relationships on Twitter, withi…
Web Developer Stephen Adams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:47
Stephen wasn’t looking to go freelance, but when redundancy came 10 years ago, he took on a contract for a few months. All those years later, saying he’d never go back. In between he’s evolved specialisms, written a book…
Sound Designer David Jeffers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
In 2011, an accident changed David’s life. Paralysed from the chest down. But from becoming quadriplegic, emerged ‘Quadriphonic Sound’, making some noise in the motion design world.Freelancing has allowed David to do som…
Writer Nick Parker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:48
The small agency Nick had joined had become a big agency. He’d become part of the leadership team. HR. Management. Meetings. He missed doing the ‘work’. He did know how much big clients were willing to pay for that work…
Brand & Web Designer Fungi Dube [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:57
Fungi left university as a scientist. But it was her experiments with Photoshop that had unexpected results. She now wanted to be a designer. Whilst working full-time in science, she designed on the side. By changing her…
Illustrator Levi Jacobs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
Levi left art school with no job, but worse, no love of art. Eventually he started creating and experimenting. Finding his style, he also found an art director and his lucky break. Going from flipping burgers to turning…
Graphic Designer Frankie Tortora [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:28
Over 10 years ago Frankie crowd funded her training as a graphic designer. It’s fair to say she doesn’t look at problems the same way everyone does. And when pregnancy took her flourishing freelance career a few steps ba…
Photographer & Creative Director Bal Bhatla [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:28
Bal loved his job in advertising, but posting on Instagram as ‘Mr Whisper’ changed the course of his career, leading him to work not only for himself, but with some insanely high profile brands from the off. As an early…
Write & PR Consultant Michelle Garrett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
Although Michelle had a brief fling living the nine to five life in Silicon Valley, there was no chance of her resisting being her own boss. Starting out as a freelancer 20 years ago, Michelle could never have predicted…
Designer & Illustrator Andi Best [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:14
After graduating with a degree in illustration, Andi moved back to his hometown. Renting an odd-shaped office with no windows might not have given him great views. But it did give him amazing business connections that wo…