Freelance Road Trip Podcast

Hosted by Alvalyn Lundgren

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The intersection of inspired creativity and common business sense for freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers who want to have fulfilling, successful businesses. Hosted by Alvalyn Lundgren.

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60 recent

June 5, 2026Episode 14525 min

The Risks Every Freelancer Has To Take

Do you tend to avoid risk or prefer to go for it? No one can build a business without taking risks, and freelancers — expecially freelance creatives — deal with specific types of risks. If we don't take risks we are more likely to fail. Knowing what the risks are allows us to make calculated choices and take actions that can reduce risk. In this episode Alvalyn Lundgren addresses five fundamental risks that freelancers face on the road to building sustainable independent businesses, and how to think about risk, so they can make a living doing what they love.

April 23, 2026Episode 14422 min

Using AI Ethically In Your Creative Work

Continuing the discussion of the previous episode the topic turns to using AI tools in your creative processes. Questions including, "Should I tell my clients I'm using AI?", "How do I incorporate AI tools without infringing someone's copyright?" and "Will clients still want to work with me when there are so many AI options out there? How do I remain relevant as a designer, illustrator, photographer?" are growing concerns for freelance creatives. Alvalyn Lundgren shares insights into how creatives can position and differentiate so that they remain relevant to their clients, and focus on the things clients need that AI cannot do which are the essential human traits necessary for creative problem-solving.

April 1, 2026Episode 14313 min

Will AI Make You Obsolete?

If your brand message as a freelancer is that you create excellent work, that you're a certifed software expert, or you've earned badges and certificates in subject matter areas, you're already obsolete. If your creative process relies on templates, creative marketplaces, and execution, your income is in jeopardy. If your marketing approach centers on quick and cheap, AI has already replaced you, for free. Execution is no longer a viable selling point for your creative services. What should you do? In this episode host Alvalyn Lundgren shares practical truths about how to remain irreplacable as a reliable creative partner for your clients by focusing on your most important asset: your humanity.

March 20, 2026Episode 14212 min

You Can't Make A Living From Your Talent (or Skills)

As a freelance creative, do you focus more on your technical skills, on your creative talent, or problem-solving abilities to attract clients? How you position yourself determines the types of projects and clients you'll work with. Moreover, especially in this age of AI, talent and tools aren no longer enough to be able to make a living. A focus on tools and tech skills are making you obsolete. Speedy turn-around and low fees can't compete with free. You'll be easily replaced. What should you do? Shift gears and change your approach. Alvalyn shares the necessity of human-centered creative problem-solving and capitalizing on your humanity to solve business-related and life-related problems for your clients.

January 14, 2026Episode 14118 min

Don't Overthink It

Overthinking solutions to a creative or business problem is all to common. We want to consider as many possibilities as we can. But when we can make the challenge appear larger than it is, we become confused and restrained, unable to move forward toward the solutions we seek. Being at times guilty herself of overthinking, and observing how it operates in others, Alvalyn presents a three-part approach to eliminate this tendency so that we can freely move forward and accomplish our objectives.

October 30, 2025Episode 14020 min

Applying Tips, Tactics, and Strategies In Your Freelance Business

Some key business challenges for freelance creatives include overcoming recurring problems and ensuring that daily practices are aligned with long-term strategy and purpose. We often resort to applying quick fixes which can be superficial rather than working to discover why the problems recur. Alvalyn Lundgren discusses the differences between tips, tactics, and strategies in growing a freelance business, and shares her experience of transforming her freelance business from serving low-value clients to high-value clients. She emphasizes that while tips provide quick fixes, they are superficial and short-term, whereas tactics are planned actions based on a strategic plan to achieve long-term goals. She highlights the importance of addressing foundational issues in business, such as mindset, mission, mechanics, and messaging, stressing the need for consistent, strategic actions to build a thriving creative business. The podcast encourages listeners to implement long-term, deep-dive strategies and focused tactics rather than rely on quick fixes, and to build consistent systems and practices to support their overall business mission.

September 25, 2025Episode 13919 min

Do You Want To Be The Cheapest Option?

How do you create high-value perception with a skeptical client? Why do so many clients think creative work is worth so little, or that we're charging too much? It seems they tend to look for the cheapest option. Attracting high value clients you can work with over the long term requires a change in focus and approach. While platforms like Canva and tech like AI are impacting opportunities for new projects, what we creatives need to focus on is how clients perceive our craft and our roles. In this episode Alvalyn tackles ways freelancers can position and differentiate in order to attract and keep high value clients.

August 20, 2025Episode 13820 min

When To Walk Away. A Q&A.

Q & A episode in which I answer questions submitted by freelancers about client relationships, health insurance alternatives, transitioning from employment to self-employment, and how to begin freelancing.

April 8, 2025Episode 13714 min

Self Promotion Essentials

Self-promotion is the practice of telling potential clients about what you do. With it you build your brand, engage prospects, and attract clients. As a freelancer, you should include self promotion strategies in your regular marketing activities. In this episode I share four essential components of your self promotion strategy.

March 11, 2025Episode 13623 min

12 Things They Don't Teach In Design School

You can't run your freelance business on creative talent or skills. You have to develop business skills, which aren't taught in design school. The focus of degree and certificate programs is on creative expertise and portfolio development for the purposes of obtaining a job as a creative. Even those programs that do offer business courses only skim the surface of what's necessary, leaving the entrepreneurial creative out in the cold when it comes to building their businesses. In this episode I present 12 things they don't teach in design school but that you need to know if you want to build a business from your creative work.