Focused
Episodes
46: Being Comfortable Is Not an Option, with Jaimee Newberry
01 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime web developer, tech executive, startup co-founder, inspirational speaker, and coach Jaimee Newberry joins David and Jason to discuss her own ...
45: Like Going Back to High School
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David's home workspace gets invaded by teenagers, Jason reprises his old commute and learns to appreciate the ability to work from anyplace, and a lis...
44: Maybe You'll Get a Real Job, with David Wain
03 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You might not realize it, but creative professionals in the entertainment industry are also free agents. In this episode we talk to writer/actor/direc...
43: Don’t Ask Us Permission
20 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David attended a conference and was asked for advice (or was it permission?) from many potential free agents. When he got home, his professional life ...
42: Learning Your Creative Rhythms, with Shawn Blanc
06 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David and Jason go through the Free Agents Mailbag with observations about the legend of the man who outsourced his own job, taking a hobby to the nex...
41: A Walk on the Beach
21 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David has a big birthday and joins Jason in discovering the value of embracing a lull; David's wife gets a new job, leading to changes in working at h...
40: Like Being in a Boat, with Kourosh Dini
06 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Psychiatrist, writer and musician Kourosh Dini joins us to discuss his long journey to being an independent worker, mixing his various jobs, dealing w...
39: Quality Time with a Sledgehammer
23 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David tries to not work too hard on his European vacation, while Jason tries to do the same in his own house; David's experiments with hyper-schedulin...
38: Knit Your Parachute on the Way Down, with Thom Zahler
09 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David and Jason talk to artist and writer Thom Zahler, an independent creator for 15 years in indie comics (Love and Capes, Warning Label), licensed c...
37: The Twelve-Week Year
26 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We wrap up the year with a discussion of navigating holidays and vacations, David's thoughts about getting projects to completion in the new year, Jas...
36: My App Story, with John Voorhees
12 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
John Voorhees of MacStories is a brand-new free agent, a lawyer who left his job in Chicago to set out on his own as a writer and app developer. He te...
35: I Guess I'm Felix Unger
28 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
David and Jason discuss the importance of prep time, resetting your balance, gauging the value of your work, time tracking, managing ongoing commitmen...
34: I Think I Just Got Fired, with Marco Arment
14 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
App developer, podcaster, analyst, and secret entrepreneur Marco Arment joins us to discuss his journey from college to Tumblr, building Instapaper, g...
33: When You Say Yes to Everything
31 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
On Halloween, David and Jason revamp the podcast with a new format. David struggles with how he's spending his time. Jason tries to figure out when to...
32: It's Scary, Dude! with Kathy Campbell
17 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Unicorn Sidekick Kathy Campbell joins us to discuss how she ended up becoming a Free Agent while behind a desk at her "real job," when having her new ...
31: Being Selective About Clients, with Aleen Simms
03 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Relay FM Host and App Launch Map founder Aleen Simms joins us to talk about her accidental fall into freelance work and setting high standards for her...
30: Tito Needs to Pay the Rent
19 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
So you're working in a house full of kids. Or a partner who is there all the time. It can make working from home difficult to say the least. We discus...
29: The Spreadsheet
05 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
So you're thinking about going out on your own. It's time to build The Spreadsheet, a tool to let you gauge your potential income and expenses and giv...
28: David's Origin Story
22 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jason asks David to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent wo...
27: Bird in the Bush
08 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Passion projects can be an enjoyable outlet. But how do you balance the work that pays the bills with the work that feeds the soul?
26: A Batphone to My Heart
25 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Telephones and text messaging seem like necessary evils at best, but for many small businesses they're required. You just need to figure out how to us...
25: Breadcrumb of My Life, with Stephen Hackett
11 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett discusses his origin story, including an abortive attempt at being an Apple blogger, a fateful meeting over tea wi...
24: Take Care of Yourself
27 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What happens if you're a lone-wolf independent operator, and then you get sick? Jason was recently out of commission for several days, and David had s...
23: It's Hard To Get on a Different Train
13 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When should you form a corporation, and if so, what kind? David has some broad advice, though you should be sure to consult with a local attorney and ...
22: Staying Agile
30 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
One of your great advantages as an independent worker is your agility. While larger companies have more resources, they can be much slower to react to...
21: The Second Feedback Episode
16 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We're once again answering your letters and tweets In a wide-ranging episode covering all sorts of aspects of being an independent worker.
20: Jason's Origin Story
03 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
David asks Jason to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent wo...
19: Nobody Grades You on the Scaffolding
18 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Every independent worker will agree that being organized is important. But should you adopt an organizational system? How can these systems help you, ...
18: A Series of Logical Decisions, with Greg Pierce
04 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Agile Tortoise's Greg Pierce discusses what he's learned in a decade as an independent developer and consultant.
17: Stop Digging
21 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Not all clients are good clients. If you don't manage the herd, you could lose the farm. This is why it's important to consider the right time, and ri...
16: R2-D2 on My Desk
07 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jason and David discuss their home-office set-ups and the challenges they face when working in a house they share with other people. When do you lock ...
15: Put on the Business Hat
21 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
You can't earn a living as a Free Agent if you don't get paid. In this episode we discuss why the sign of a true professional is ensuring that they're...
14: Putting Numbers in Boxes, with Andrew Carroll
07 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A new year brings accounting and tax challenges for independent workers, so we asked accountant and financial advisor Andrew Carroll to join us. Andre...
13: Promotion Can Feel Gross
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Being good at what you do isn't enough. You also need customers, clients, or whatever else you need to pay for shoes. That may mean you have to do a l...
12: Right Now It's Only Me, with Katie Floyd
10 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Very recently David's Mac Power Users co-host, Katie Floyd, left her law firm and went out on her own. We ask Katie about making the move, her workspa...
11: Balancing Dollars and Delight
14 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best things an independent worker can do is invest in both belts and suspenders. We discuss cultivating and managing multiple income stream...
10: Indie Vacation
29 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss planning and taking vacations as an independent worker. How do you set client expectations? How do you set boundaries with the people you'r...
9: The Feedback Episode
15 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In a wide-ranging episode, David and Jason answer your letters and tweets.
8: Email Is Not Your Job
01 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Email can be a vital communication mechanism, but it can also be a black hole of lost productivity. David and Jason discuss managing email and setting...
7: Be Like a Duck
18 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
So you've decided to leave the nest. What can you do to prepare while you're still working for the man? What's the right way to give notice, and prepa...
6: The Shawshank Redemption, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad
04 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
PlayStation veteran Shahid Kamal Ahmad left Sony to become an independent game developer. We discuss why he left and how he schedules his workday in h...
5: Envision a Bonfire
21 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Clients: Getting them (by marketing yourself), keeping them, and the dangers and rewards of taking them with you from your previous job.
4: Location, Location, Location
06 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Deciding where to get your work done can be a difficult challenge for an independent worker. Can you work out of the house? Does renting office space ...
3: My Curse and My Reward, with Myke Hurley
25 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Myke Hurley, co-founder of Relay FM, discusses transitioning from his bank job to a full-time podcaster, including the inherent contradictions in work...
2: Booked Up With Myself
09 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Just because you're independent doesn't mean you don't need a schedule. This episode is about building (and breaking) routines.
1: The Temptation of Yes
26 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In our very first episode, David and Jason discuss narrowing scope and taking on too much work.