About Smashing Self-Employment - Marketing and productivity help if you're self-employed.
The Smashing Podcast is here to help if you're self-employed or running a small business.
You'll get tips, ideas and inspiration to help you get (and keep) more customers and get more done.
You'll also get tools and inspiration to make your life as a person in business a whole lot easier.
How to Protect Your Mental Health When You're Self-Employed
Running your own business can be tough on your mental health. In this episode, I chat with copywriter Katie Rickson about routines, boundaries, and how to build a business that supports your wellbeing as much as your income.
Katie opens up about her own journey sharing how she learned to prioritise rest, set better boundaries, and build a business that fits her life, not the other way around.
We also explore why so many self-employed people struggle with guilt when taking time off, and the small, practical changes that can make a big difference to your mental health.
Whether you have been running your business for years or you are just starting out, this episode is a gentle reminder that your wellbeing is not a luxury. It is essential to your success.
You can find Katie here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-rickson-writer/
https://www.katierickson.co.nz/
https://businessinthebath.co.nz/
LET'S CONNECT:
Web: smashingselfemployment.com (http://www.smashingselfemployment.com/)
YouTube: @smashingselfemployment (https://www.youtube.com/@smashingselfemployment?sub_confirmation=1)
LinkedIn: @karlcraigwest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlcraigwest/)
Get the Smashing Self-Employment book : https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL (https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL)
9 Jul 2025
From Burnout to Balance: Michelle Niemeyer's Story!
Burnout isn't just about working long hours. It's about what you're putting up with, what you're avoiding, and what you've come to accept as normal.
In this episode, I chat with Michelle Niemeyer, a former lawyer who’s now a productivity coach, about the one powerful choice that helped her step away from burnout and create a business that fits her life, not the other way around.
We dig into why saying no can be a growth strategy, how to spot and fire clients who drain your energy, and why setting boundaries is essential when you're self-employed.
Michelle’s story is raw, real, and packed with practical insights that hit home for anyone juggling too much in their solo business.
If you're feeling stretched, stressed, or stuck, this episode is your reminder that there is a better way to work and live. It all starts with one choice.
Michelle can be found here:
https://www.michelleniemeyer.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-niemeyer-3997936/
LET'S CONNECT:
Web: smashingselfemployment.com (http://www.smashingselfemployment.com/)
YouTube: @smashingselfemployment (https://www.youtube.com/@smashingselfemployment?sub_confirmation=1)
LinkedIn: @karlcraigwest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlcraigwest/)
Buy the Smashing Self-Employment book : https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL (https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL)
19 Mar 2025
From Freelancer to Financial Freedom - AI, Residual Income, and the Future of Work
Join host Charlie on "Ways to Wealth" as he chats with Karl Craig-West, a freelance digital marketer and business advisor living in Fiji.
Karl shares his eclectic career journey, from property maintenance at 19 to running a web design agency; highlighting the freedom and challenges of self-employment.
The episode dives into the freelance economy’s rise, AI’s transformative role in work (think productivity boosts via ChatGPT and automation), and strategies for building residual income through ventures like YouTube channels.
Karl envisions a future with multiple income streams, living on a boat near his daughters in New Zealand, and stresses diversifying beyond property-heavy economies.
He offers practical advice: find a passion, serve a paying market uniquely (e.g., his payment plans), and embrace AI to stay competitive.
Charlie previews his membership model, blending expert access with financial tools, proving freelancers can rethink retirement and thrive in an AI-driven world.
LET'S CONNECT:
Web: smashingselfemployment.com (http://www.smashingselfemployment.com/)
YouTube: @smashingselfemployment (https://www.youtube.com/@smashingselfemployment?sub_confirmation=1)
LinkedIn: @karlcraigwest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlcraigwest/)
Get the Smashing Self-Employment book : https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL (https://amzn.to/2GiBBEL)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
22,297
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
75
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