This week Rachel and Lynne chat with psychologist Sabina Read about catastrophising, perfectionism and the freelance stress spiral.

Sabina explains catastrophising as a cognitive distortion where we jump to the worst-case scenario and treat thoughts as facts, and why it can show up more in freelancing due to a lack of workplace "guardrails" such as regular income and employer support.

They discuss:

• the difference between genuine, evidence-based concerns (like fewer jobs or more competition) and catastrophising
• how scarcity vs abundance mindsets influence freelance anxiety
• why perfectionism fuels anxiety, and why "good enough is good enough"
• how the brain reinforces threat-focused neural pathways – and how to build new ones by noticing what's working
• practical circuit breakers and using breath to come down from fight-or-flight before making decisions
• how avoidance fuels fear, and how resilience is built by tolerating discomfort without over-attaching to outcomes
• being discerning with social media and algorithm-driven negativity
• clarifying what you want to move toward (not just what you want to escape), and the power of saying no to misaligned work

Find Sabina at sabinareadpsychology.com.au

She also hosts the Human Cogs podcast, https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/human-cogs-podcast/id1525840415 and The Separation Guide Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-separation-guide-a-starting-point-for/id1542151561

Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

This week on the podcast, Rachel and Lynne talk to Phoebe Hartley about her creative journey from filmmaking to journalism, and now to launching her own print magazine, Billy.

Phoebe shares insights on:

• the challenges of career reinvention
• transitioning from film to journalism
• launching and running a local magazine
• balancing work and family life in a rural setting
• and the value of community support and collaboration

Listen in for tips on creative flexibility, managing imposter syndrome, and navigating the evolving freelance landscape.

Connect with Phoebe via www.billypress.com or www.phoebehartley.com

www.instagram.com/billypress_/

Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co

In our first episode for 2026, Rachel and Lynne discuss self-publishing and book coaching with guest Anna Featherstone.

Anna, a mentor, book coach, editor, and author of five nonfiction books, shares insights about the self-publishing process, including the importance of producing a quality product, effective marketing strategies, and the realities of the publishing industry.

Key topics include:

• how to approach book cover design
• understanding the difference between traditional and indie publishing
• the role of authors in marketing their work
• tips for getting books into libraries and literary festivals
• the importance of having a clear purpose for writing
• why you need to continue to improve your writing

Connect with Anna via her website: https://annafeatherstone.com/

https://www.boldauthors.com/

Blog posts on Rachel's List featuring Anna:

https://www.rachelslist.com.au/blog/how-an-email-led-to-a-masterclass-a-book-a-summit-appearance-and-so-much-more/

https://www.rachelslist.com.au/toolkit/product/self-publishing-bundle-anna-featherstone/

Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com

Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au

Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au

Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: hello@rachelslist.com.au for the details.

Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co