The Content Byte

Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosts Rachel Smith (from Rachel's List) and journalist and content writer Lynne Testoni are serving up weekly short bites of advice, tips and strategies, plus special guests, for freelancers who make a living from using their words. We're shooting for 15-minute episodes, but can't promise anything because we can both talk the leg off a chair.

  1. Self-publishing and book coaching with Anna Featherstone

    6 DAYS AGO

    Self-publishing and book coaching with Anna Featherstone

    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

    32 min
  2. BEST OF 2025: Using ChatGPT as your marketing brain, with Steven Lewis

    26 JAN

    BEST OF 2025: Using ChatGPT as your marketing brain, with Steven Lewis

    This week is the last of our Best of 2025 series and in this episode podcast, Rachel and Lynne discuss the impact of AI on freelance writing and marketing with guest Steven Lewis.   Steven, a seasoned journalist and copywriter, offers a deep dive into using AI, specifically custom GPTs, to streamline marketing tasks for freelancers.   He explains: • the practical steps to creating a custom GPT • how it can maintain consistent client communication • how it can give feedback on your copy to ensure it is on-brand • how it can help freelancers focus on high-value creative tasks • the ethical considerations of AI use and the importance of human connection in an increasingly automated world   Connect with Steven on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenlewissydney/   The link to the course he talks about is: https://aicmocourse.com  And listeners can get a 10% discount using the coupon code CONTENTBYTE25   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

    49 min

  3. 19 JAN

    BEST OF 2025: Helen Dehen on investing in your business to gain confidence and earn more

    In another of our podcast summer series, we revisit a great episode with communications consultant and writer Helen Dehen, talking about her commitment to upskilling herself and the many courses she has done - which have helped to drive her business and profitability. During our chat, Helen talks about her early career in TV journalism and her move to freelancing when her twins were born. She shares some of the courses she did in the the early days and how they positioned her to build a strong and successful freelance writing business. Helen talks about: The value of investing in professional development and networking How it gave her confidence in the early days of freelancing What the return on investment has been with some of the courses she has done Her experience with continuous learning, sharing insights from her experiences with various courses, conferences, and coaching programs Her favourite courses and what she wouldn't do again Connect with Helen via her website: https://www.hydoralane.com.au/ or via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-dehen/ Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com 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

    40 min
  4. BEST OF 2025: Lucie Robazza on 5 micro-habits to prioritise your health

    11 JAN

    BEST OF 2025: Lucie Robazza on 5 micro-habits to prioritise your health

    Our summer series featuring our most popular episodes of 2025 continues this week as Rachel 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

    42 min
  5. BEST OF 2025: Conquering LinkedIn and finding clients with Rebecca Cofrancesco

    4 JAN

    BEST OF 2025: Conquering LinkedIn and finding clients with Rebecca Cofrancesco

    Continuing our summer series of our most popular episodes of the last year, we are sharing a great chat from early 2025 with content strategist and LinkedIn mentor Rebecca Cofrancesco. Beck talks about how to make LinkedIn work for you, how to find clients and why she started a local business meet-up group. During our chat, we talk about: • Why she started freelancing • Her new LinkedIn newsletter and why she started it • How her newsletter has informed (and changed) her LinkedIn strategy • Why she has two newsletters • Her favourite client-finding strategies • How to get out of the feast or famine cycle • Why meeting in person is better than online in terms of building relationships   Connect with Beck via her website: https://marketinggoodness.com.au/    Or follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-cofrancesco-marketing-goodness/    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com    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

    55 min
  6. Best of 2025: Treasa Edmond on offering content strategy as a service

    28/12/2025

    Best of 2025: Treasa Edmond on offering content strategy as a service

    Have we got a treat for you! This episode with content strategist, business coach and consultant Treasa Edmond was one of our most popular episodes in 2025. It is full of gold for any freelancer wanting to move up the value chain and secure more high-paying clients.   In our wide-ranging chat, Treasa talks about: • The different between offering content strategy and strategic consulting • Which one is an entry point for high-paying work • How strategy can open the gates to providing more effective content • How and why value pricing is better for this type of work • Her favourite client-finding strategies • Common mistakes freelancers make when it comes to strategy   Capcut is here: https://www.capcut.com/   Treasa's podcast is called Boss Responses: https://bossresponses.com/   Or take a look at Strategy Bosses: https://bossresponses.com/strategy-bosses-community/   Or through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/treasaedmond/    Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au    Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com   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

    51 min
  7. The 2025 Wrap-up with Rachel and Lynne

    21/12/2025

    The 2025 Wrap-up with Rachel and Lynne

    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

    31 min
  8. The Content Trends We Need To Talk About – with Canva's Maria Izvestkina

    14/12/2025

    The Content Trends We Need To Talk About – with Canva's Maria Izvestkina

    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

    39 min
See All (267)

About

Hosts Rachel Smith (from Rachel's List) and journalist and content writer Lynne Testoni are serving up weekly short bites of advice, tips and strategies, plus special guests, for freelancers who make a living from using their words. We're shooting for 15-minute episodes, but can't promise anything because we can both talk the leg off a chair.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    267
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © This content is copyright and the property of Rachel Smith and Lynne Testoni.
  • Show Website
    The Content Byte