It's the end of 2025, so Rachel and Lynne take a reflective look back at the year, delving into both the good times and bad.

We are both big believers in a little self-reflection, so it makes sense to look back at what was certainly a tumultuous year in the world of freelancing. We share tips and lessons learned, new tools we've explored, and our biggest professional and personal achievements, using prompts from YearCompass.

We talk about:

• The risks we took and decisions we made during the year
• Lynne's year of 'yes'
• Rachel's personal writing retreat
• Lessons we have learned from our guests this year
• Our favourite episodes of 2025
• AI and the changes that it has brought to freelance writers
• How we have both made freelancing work for us
• We also wanted to say thanks to our sponsor Rounded, plus The Content Byte team - Claire Chow, Heidi Walkinsaw and our audio editor Joshua Broadbent.

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Maria Izvestkina, a multidisciplinary creative leader from Canva. They discuss the importance of protecting creative energy, the impact of AI on design, trend spotting, and how to live a creative life.

Maria shares insights on:

• The evolving role of AI in creative work
• How to harness social media for creative expression
• Effective use of Canva features and templates
• Developing a playful and experimental mindset to fuel creativity
• Practical tools and strategies for freelancers

Maria also talks about her Substack project Playin and offers valuable advice for organising work in Canva.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-izvestkina/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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, Rachel and Lynne dive into the art of books and book reviewing with guest Nicole Abadee, a book reviewer for the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend.

Nicole discusses her transition from barrister to reviewer, the surprising way she scored the reviewing gig, and the influence of social media on book marketing.

She also offers valuable tips for authors seeking reviews and shares her methods for selecting standout books. There's so much gold here, as Nicole talks about:

• The challenges of making a living in the book publishing industry
• The essential skills for reviewers
• The ups and downs of writers festivals
• Why self-published books won't get reviewed
• The evolving landscape of arts coverage
• Why authors need to build a social media presence
• How she manages to read hundreds of books a year
• And why she still loves a highlighter

Connect with Nicole via her website: https://www.nicoleabadee.com.au/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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

• Why it is important to be kind to yourself
• How to rewrite these internal narratives
• The importance of self-belief
• Different techniques to foster a healthier mindset

Connect with Mark via his website: https://www.markjones.au/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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 it's all about AI. Rachel and Lynne discuss the impacts of AI on freelance writing and marketing with Joe Pulizzi, founder of the Content Marketing Institute and The Tilt.

During a fascinating (and positive) conversation, Joe offers insights on how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing media and marketing landscape, including:

• The importance of niching down and building expertise

• Leveraging AI tools for efficiency

• Creating and maintaining owned assets like newsletters and podcasts

• Focusing on building real-world relationships and in-person connections

Joe also shares practical tips on maintaining a strategic web presence and the value of handwritten notes and print media to foster real-world connections with people and potential clients.

Connect with Joe (and check out his new book, Burn the Playbook) through his website: https://www.joepulizzi.com/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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, Rachel and Lynne are chatting with Ashley Cisneros Mejia, a freelance communication strategist and host of the 'Talk Freelance to Me' podcast.

Ashley shares her journey from agency owner to solo freelancer, highlighting the processes and systems she brought into her current business from larger agencies. We also explore:

• The value of community and networking for maintaining creativity and client relationships
• The evolving freelance market
• Integration of AI in business operations
• The importance of human connection and the benefits of collaborating with other creatives
• How to leverage relationships to secure a successful freelance career
• What technology she uses to streamline workflows and enhance productivity

Connect with Ashley via her website: https://www.ashleycisneros.com or through her podcast: https://talkfreelancetome.com/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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, Rachel Smith and Lynne discuss essential health habits for freelancers with guest Lucie Robazza. Lucie, a certified health coach and personal trainer, shares practical tips on:

• Incorporating simple exercise routines
• The importance of protein-rich diets
• How to maintain good posture for productivity and long-term health
• How good health can make you more efficient - and make more money
• Quick and healthy snack ideas

The episode covers habit-building techniques, such as micro habits, and emphasises the significance of sunshine and hydration in everyday routines. Perfect for writers who spend long hours at their desks looking to improve both their physical well-being and business performance. Her methods are easy, achievable and shame-free.

Download Lucie's free 5-day challenge, https://www.strenxia.com/writer-reset

Connect with Lucie via her website: https://www.strenxia.com/

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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 Rachel and Lynne are chatting with marketing expert Mia Fileman about marketing strategies for freelancers.

We talk about:

• The concept of the 'trust recession'
• Mia's 'Honest Marketing Method' that emphasises transparency, connection, creativity, and conversation
• Effective community engagement
• Unconventional collaborations
• The importance of one-on-one client interactions, which help freelancers build genuine trust and stand out in a crowded market

The episode also provides an overview of the Ripple Festival, Mia's innovative small business event combining business discussions with live music, comedy, and art.

Find out all about the Ripple Festival at https://www.ripplefestival.au/

Connect with Mia here: https://www.campaigndelmar.com/

and download her amazing Marketing Calendar (handy for 2026 planning) https://www.campaigndelmar.com/marketing-calendar

Visit The Content Byte website for a transcription of this episode: https://thecontentbyte.com/episodes/

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