IPSE staff picks: The best podcasts for the self-employed

That's why we've decided to cut through the noise and select some of the best podcasts for you as a self-employed professional.

Whether you're looking for insights into entrepreneurship, marketing and branding, productivity, or personal development, these podcasts offer valuable advice and practical tips from experts in their respective fields. 

So, grab your headphones, find a comfortable zone and tune in to these shows for new perspectives and take your self-employment game to the next level. 

Andy Chamberlain, Director of Policy

→ TechStuff

TechStuff is a great podcast for anyone interested in Tech generally, but more specifically in how technology influences the way we live and work. Episodes come out pretty thick and fast – about thrice weekly – with host Jonathan Strickland talking you through the latest tech news from around the world and sometimes taking deeper dives into specific manufacturers and products, often lifting the lid on what’s going on behind the corporate veil of big tech companies.

As a bona-fide ‘non-techie’ I like this podcast because it doesn’t just geek out on what the latest gadgets are and how they work, rather it focuses on the ethical questions that technology raises. If you are interested in whether crypto-currency has a future, the potential impact of artificial intelligence on creative freelancers and how the gig economy is shaping our labour markets, this podcast could be for you. 

Orla Lyons-Hamilton, Freelance Marketing Executive

→ How to Fail With Elizabeth Day

If you’re looking to develop a growth mindset and want to hear real, inspiring stories this is a great listen. This is all about learning to embrace failure and learn from mistakes, which is a crucial approach for anyone in business – especially the self-employed.

As a self-employed person, you may face setbacks or failures on a regular basis. Although at times you may feel defeated or like giving up, you can reframe that failure as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than a measure of your future or self-worth, which can help you stay motivated and resilient in the face of adversity.

This show features interviews with a range of successful people from different industries who share their own experiences of failure and how they overcame them, providing raw and valuable insights into how to turn a negative into a positive, and all the squiggly roads along the way.

So if you find yourself feeling a bit unsure, doubting which direction to take next or just want to hear an inspiring personal story, I would highly recommend this as a pick-me-up. 

 
Dan Thornton, Freelance SEO and Content Consultant

→ Eat Sleep Work Repeat

Lots of interesting discussions around happiness and work culture, which means topics like remote and hybrid working, creativity, and more. Some of the conversations are directly applicable if you’re self-employed and potentially working alone, but others are fascinating because they give an insight into the challenges clients might be facing at the moment.

And it can prompt solutions more suitable for a company of one, such as switching face-to-face office interaction with colleagues for local meetups with other freelancers. Some of the best ideas always come from looking at things from a different perspective.

→ Search Off The Record 

Most people understand how important search engines can be for attracting clients and customers to their business. But SEO can seem complex, and trying to cater to automated systems created by big companies like Google can be frustrating at times.

Luckily the conversations between John Mueller, Gary Illyes, Lizzi Sassman, Martin Splitt and guests cover search topics in an accessible way, adding some personality and fun to what can often be a dry subject, and highlighting the people that power big companies like Google.

Liz Randell, Freelance Social Media Manager

→ The Daily Pep

I found the Daily Pep podcast during the first Covid lockdown, and I've been an avid listener ever since. Meg, the host, is such a bright and breezy character but never one to sugarcoat the truth behind leading a creative career and what it means to be a woman in business. Every day she brings a snippet of career and life advice leaving you with a feeling of 'rebel-rousing' pep and solutions to getting unstuck if you're finding it hard to get out of your own head. Aimed at "courage makers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women".

 → Make It Thrive

Hosted by Lizzie Benton, Freelance Culture Coach and Founder of Liberty Mind, Make It Thrive is a podcast grounded in bringing positivity to your work life. Every season features a series of interviews discussing company culture and how it may impact your well-being. Being self-employed, I had yet to consider what a company culture looks like for me. But, after listening to Make It Thrive, I've gained a greater understanding of bringing authenticity to my brand and what to expect from work/life balance.

Christina McLean, Digital Marketing Executive

→ Everyone Hates Marketers

I’ll admit I’ve stopped listening to podcasts as regularly as I once did, but whenever I need a bit of marketing inspiration, my go-to podcast is Everyone Hates Marketers. Host Louis Grenier interviews guests or shares his own no-fluff, actionable marketing insights in a really approachable way. I find that a lot of conversations around marketing are often full of jargon and acronyms and sometimes actually gate-keep key information that would genuinely help, which isn’t the case with this podcast. 

Every time I have listened to an episode on my commute, I come into the office full of ideas on ways to take things I heard or learned on the podcast and apply it to my role. Often self-employed people without a marketing background can find this element of their business daunting and difficult to allocate time to, so listening to a podcast like this would definitely help streamline the creative process and help provide some quick-wins!

Dieter Feyerabend, Designer

→ Under the influence with Terry O’Reilly

Under the Influence gives listeners a rare backstage pass into the hallways, boardrooms and recording studios of the ad industry. Join host and adman Terry O’Reilly for fascinating (and humorous) stories that connect the dots between pop culture, marketing and human nature.
 

→ The Freelance Corner Podcast

Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring freelancers who share their journey into self-employment, and discuss challenges along the way. We find out insider tips through insightful conversations and valuable advice from real-life situations.