So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt

If you haven’t already tried the sneakers from Rollie Nation, you should. They are light as a cloud and as colourful as a piece of art.

The founder is Vince Lebon, one of the most innovative entrepreneurs working in Australia right now. With over 20 years of experience and award-winning collaborations with brands like Adidas, Asics, and Foot Locker, Vince has got his finger on the marketing pulse as to what worked in the past, what’s working now and what will work in the future.

He got his start selling shoes at the South Melb...

Via her popular weekly column for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Kate Halfpenny is known for speaking her mind, having an opinion and sharing it with the public.  

And now she’s written a book about her life, marriage, mental health – and the toll her husband’s drinking took on all of it. 

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll get to hear the inside story of how one column Kate wrote created a maelstrom of fury, which in turn led to the writing of her magnificent memoir Boogie Wonderland.

Today I get to...

Would you like to become an influencer? Would you like a step-by-step playbook for how to get that career up and running? If you’ve ever wanted to monetise your passions and turn your knowledge into profit, this is the episode for you.

Kat Moses is the founder of MGMT, one of Australia’s leading influencer talent agencies. She manages many of the big names in Australia and knows what’s what and who’s who in the world of influencer marketing, influencer management, brand collabs and much more.

I sat down with Kat to talk abo...

It seems like everyone has got a podcast right now, but few know how to turn their podcast into a content empire like Glen James.

Glen started out life as a financial planner, and when he realised what impact he was making on people’s lives, he decided to scale up his business and use podcasting to reach more people.

Podcasting is just one pillar in his content empire, but if you’re interested in learning how someone has turned their passion for a topic into a very profitable content business, this is the episode for...

Josh Piterman is no stranger to pressure. As the only Australian to play both the Phantom in London’s West End and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, he knows what it’s like to perform at elite levels and what it takes to keep showing up when your inner critic won’t sit down.

Now also a coach, author, and podcast host, Josh shares how mindset, breathwork, meditation and self-awareness have transformed not only his performances but also his life. In this episode, we go deep into:

Without a doubt, hiring staff is one of the hardest, yet arguably, the most important parts of building a business.

Whether you’re hiring a Virtual Assistant to update your database or hiring a CEO to run your business, getting the right team together is critical.

A few know better how to put a team together than Meahan Callaghan, the current Chief People and Culture Officer at Red Bubble (now known as Articore) and has held senior HR roles at Afterpay, Mecca, Seek and Foxtel. Meahan has hired and, let’s be honest, fired a lot...

What if your side hobby could land you on the set of How to Train Your Dragon or in the same room as Timothée Chalamet?

That’s the wild reality for Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane  – aka the Macfarlane Brothers –  two self-taught filmmakers whose short-form videos have clocked more than 500 million views online. Starting with a childhood curiosity and a second-hand camera, they’ve grown into full-time content creators, directors, and award-winning storytellers for global brands like Warner Bros., Netflix, and Universal Pictures.

In this episode, they unpack the creative process behind their viral videos, how they tu...

We’ve all heard about the TikTok video that goes viral for no apparent reason or the unsuspecting tradie who becomes an overnight sensation off the back of one post.

Well, it turns out there’s a method to that madness, and the one with the keys to unlocking that method is Michelle Melky.  

Michelle is the Global Creative Director of a marketing agency called Amplify. They represent the top influencers and broker the deals for them.   Michelle has created cutting-edge content for brands including Estee Lauder, Warner Bros. and Google.

She also co-prod...

If you’ve ever wondered what digital marketing really is, and how you can leverage it to generate more traffic, more leads, and convert more sales, this is the podcast for you.

There are lots of digital marketers out there, but few have the depth, skill, and knowledge that Ben Fewtrell has.

As the owner of Digi TLC, he’s run campaigns for a huge range of clients and has got the digital process down to a fine art.  

In this episode, Ben teaches us how to kick-start a digital marketing campaign, how to cre...

In this episode, Bernadette chats with Penelope Cannata, SEO Content Strategist at StudioHawk, about what it really takes to get found online right now. Penelope unpacks the biggest mistakes businesses make with SEO copy, how to write for both humans and algorithms, and why brands need to double down on trust, quality and purpose if they want to stay relevant in AI-powered search.

With 6+ years of experience across education, commercial and not-for-profit sectors, Penelope brings a refreshing mix of strategy, empathy, and clarity to the world of content marketing. Whether you’re a writer, marketer, or business ow...

AI might be dominating headlines, but when it comes to getting found online, Google is still king. In this episode, we’re cutting through the hype and getting back to basics - because no matter how fast AI evolves, knowing how to write an SEO blog that ranks is still essential.

To walk us through it, I’ve invited back Matt Farmer - former student, long-time SEO content strategist, and past team member at award-winning agency Studio Hawk. Matt knows exactly what it takes to get content noticed by Google, and in this mini masterclass, he shares prac...

In this episode, we chat with Kieran Browning, a consultant with deep expertise in operations and digital marketing. If you’re a copywriter struggling to scale, feeling overwhelmed with client work, or battling endless revisions, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you streamline your business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Starting a copywriting business is exciting, but navigating the financial and legal aspects can feel overwhelming. From choosing the proper business structure to understanding tax obligations, there’s a lot to consider. 

In this episode, Andrew Nicholls, an experienced finance expert and business advisor, breaks it all down in a way that’s easy to understand.

Whether you’re just starting out or already running your copywriting business, this episode will help you make informed financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls. Andrew shares insights on when to register for GST, how to structure your business for suc...

Steven Lewis is one of the most experienced copywriters working in Australia today and was one of the world’s first web copywriters. Yes, he’s that old, but in a good way because he’s been around and he knows what works and what doesn’t. 

Steven is a master of writing emails that get noticed and creating content that connects and converts. 

In this episode, Steven Lewis, founder of Taleist and The Obvious Choice, shares his expertise on writing emails that get opened, creating newsletters that build loyalty, and using AI effectively to complement...

Grant writing is a highly lucrative skill, and the demand for skilled grant writers has never been higher. If you want to master grant writing, attract clients, and confidently charge for your services, this podcast episode is for you.

In this episode, Elaine Abery of Unravelling Red Tape shares her invaluable expertise in grant writing, advocacy, and working with government organisations. Whether you’re new to grant writing or want to refine your skills, this conversation is packed with insights to help you become an in-demand grant writer.

You’ll learn:

What grants are...

Sales pages – we’ve all heard of them but do you really know what they are, what they’re designed to do, how they’re different to other web pages, and more importantly, how to write one?

Ash Chow is a sales page expert – she’s the ‘go to’ copywriter for those looking to write high converting sales pages. In this episode, Ash gives us the low down on everything you need to write a sales page and shares with us her unique 5-step formula for doing it quickly and effectively - from writing the hero section to addressing au...

Would you like to become an expert at UX copywriting?
Would you like to make money from UX copywriting?
What even is UX copywriting?

UX copywriting is a fascinating and super important sub-genre of copywriting that can turn a good customer experience into a great customer experience.

UX stands for User Experience and it’s the art of helping users navigate a website in the most efficient way possible. If you’ve ever been frustrated at how unhelpful a website is, or struggled to find the buy button or the contact us link, chan...

In this episode I talk with Lizzie Mulherin, an experienced copywriter, brand strategist, and founder of Create Your Living on Substack. Lizzie has worked with top brands like Red Bull, Afterpay, and David Jones, and she’s here to share how she leverages Substack to build an audience, earn recurring income, and offer unique content. If you’ve ever thought about using Substack to amplify your writing business, this episode is for you.

 In this episode, we talk about:

What Substack is and why it’s valuable:

Gain a clear understanding of how Substac...

Would you like to scale your writing business and maybe turn it into an agency? Would you like to have other writers working for you so you don’t have to do the actual writing? Or maybe you’d like to get work through a writer’s agency?

That’s what I’ll be talking about today with Sara Howard, the founder of Writers Australia, a content writing agency with some of the biggest brands on its copywriting books.

In this episode, Sara Howard shares her journey from solo freelancer to agency founder, offering practical insights a...

In this episode, I chat with Leanne Shelton, founder of HumanEdge AI Training, about how copywriters can harness the power of AI to write copy quickly and accurately, without losing the human touch.

 What you’ll learn:

Do you struggle to price your copywriting services? Do you constantly undercharge and feel undervalued? Do you see others less talented than you getting paid more>

If any of that resonates with you and you feel just a little bit annoyed that you’re not getting paid what you’re worth, this is the episode is for you!

Today, we dive into a topic that many creatives struggle with: pricing their services. In our chat today Andrew Griffiths shares his insights on how to charge what you're worth and build a successful, profitable copywriting business. Andrew is a bu...

Would you like to earn a six figure income from copywriting? 

Would you like to leverage your existing career to help you find new copywriting clients? 

Would you like to write about something you love and get paid well to do so?

If any of that resonates, this episode is for you.

In this episode I talk to Sophia Auld, a health and medical copywriter who turned her 25 years of healthcare experience into a successful copywriting career. Sophia shares her unique journey and provides valuable insights on how to pivot your ca...

If you’ve ever wondered what niching is, or how to niche your copywriting business, this is the episode for you. Whether you're considering specialising in a specific industry or want to understand the benefits and drawbacks of niching, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice to help you make an informed decision.

In this episode I talk about:

Adrian Elton is an award-winning creative who has worked for some of the world’s biggest brands including Disney, Sesame Street, Australia Post, Fairfax and many others.  Adrian’s career journey is as eclectic as it is inspiring. He started by studying interior design, transitioned to graphic design, evolved into an art director, became a musician, and finally found his calling as a copywriter. His work spans multiple sectors, and he’s known for his creative strategy and compelling copywriting. Tune in to discover how Adrian’s diverse background shapes his approach to copywriting and learn valuable tips for creating a...

I’m the author, ghostwriter and coauthor of 7 books about entrepreneurship. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in business. Ruslan Kogan from Kogan. Gabby Leibovich from Catch of the Day. Jane Lu from Show Po. Naomi Simson from Red Balloon. Simon Griffiths from Who Gives a Crap. And many more. 

I’m often asked, ‘What have you learnt by interviewing over 100 of Australia’s top entrepreneurs? Do they have anything in common? And if so, what? Did they all get lucky or did they do something others didn’t?

I’ve learnt a lot from these...

If you’d like to launch your own podcast to promote your copywriting business, this is the podcast for you.

Lyndal Harris is one of Australia’s top podcasting consultants. She’s launched hundreds of podcasts for a huge range of businesses and she’s here today to share her knowledge about how copywriters and any other small business owner - can start, launch and market their podcast.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Would you like to land a copywriting job in an advertising agency working with blue chip clients? How about working in New York in the heart of advertising land? What about using your copywriting skills to write a bestselling novel?

If you like to learn how to do any of these, then you need to listen to Philip Taffs. He has worked as a Senior Writer and Creative Director in both Melbourne and Manhattan. He’s worked with major players like Menulog and Playstation and helped launch the Honda CR-V & Odyssey into Australia. 

He has tau...

Greg Baker knows more than most about AI and where it's headed. As an AI futurist and lecturer in Computational Linguistics at Macquarie University, Greg educates students on the intricacies of Artificial Intelligence for Text and Vision, and blends his theoretical insights with practical applications. 

He helps the C-suite understand the future of labour, how to maximise AI productivity gains and how to gain a deep technical understanding of what is possible. He is a director at the Institute for Open Systems Technologies and has worked at Google and CSIRO and is a leading voice in how t...

Would you like to add copy editing, project editing and proofing to your suite of services?

If so, then this is the episode for you.

Matt Davies is a leading copy editor. He specialises in the health care and government sectors and has created a thriving business that lets him work on his terms so that he has the time and space to pursue his true passion – writing novels. He’s already written three and he is just going from strength to strength.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to y...

Have you ever considered adding ghostwriting of business memoirs to your suite of services?

In today's episode, we explore the riveting tale behind the meteoric rise of Swisse Wellness, as recounted in the new book, "How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business" by Radek Sali, the visionary entrepreneur and former Swisse CEO. I happened to be his co-author on this project so I thought it’d be interesting to have a chat with Radek about the ghost-writing process and to share some hints and tips on how you too can add ghostwriting to your suite of services.

...

As a leading journalist with The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, there’s not a lot that Jewel Topsfield hasn’t written about. Social affairs, politics, immigration, education, and global affairs are just a few of her specialty areas.

Beyond journalism, Jewel is a sought-after speaker, lecturer at universities and schools, and has led a team that won a Walkley Award and served as a Walkley Awards judge.  

I’m talking to Jewel today about her life as a journalist and how her writing life has changed over the years in response to the changing...

If you have a passion for a topic and would like to turn that passion into profit, you may want to build an online course so you can teach it.

Amber Renae is many things. She started out as an engineer and then pivoted, seamlessly into becoming a celebrity stylist. It’s a logical next step, isn’t it?  

She quickly realised she has a talent for not just making people look good, but helping their content look good too and so she created a course that helped others monetise their expertise. She is now a lead...

AI and copywriting. Everyone’s talking about it but someone who’s really getting deep into the weeds of how it all works is Leanne Shelton.

Leanne is a copywriter who has taken a right turn and has reinvented her brand to become a specialist in copy and AI. 

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety. We all have it, or elements of it, but some of us have it more than others. Writers, it would seem, have more of it than most. In this revealing podcast, Kerri Sackville, one of Australia’s most prominent columnists and popular writers discusses her writing life, and in particular, her unique relationship to, and with anxiety – how it helps her, hinders her and why it’s the creative force that underpins much of her work.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

...

To niche or not to niche? It’s a question I get asked a lot so I thought I’d interview Lynne Testoni, a leading content creator and copywriter. Lynne specialises in some of the most coveted topics – interior design, homewares, gardening, food, cookbooks and much more. She has carved out a niche writing career that enables her to write about what she wants, when she wants, and to work with the people she wants. If you’d like to learn how to successfully niche your copywriting business, become a subject matter authority and get paid what you’re worth, thi...

If you’re a copywriter and you’d like to expand your services and create a long term stream of income, you should consider becoming a ghostwriter.

What even is a ghost writer? In many senses, a copywriter is the ultimate ghost writer in that we write content for a specific client, we are largely invisible, we don’t seek credit for the work and we work hard to become the voice of that brand.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

...

If you’d like to explore how your copywriting skills can help you, or your client, write a book and become an authority in your industry, this is the episode for you.

Anna Featherstone is an expert author, publicist, independent book marketer. In this podcast, she reveals her inside secrets on how you can publish a book to increase your writing revenue.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See...

From Rachel Smith, the founder of Rachel’s list

It’s not every day you get to speak to the eponymous founder of a successful business but today I get to speak to Rachel, the Rachel in Rachel’s list.

If you haven’t heard of it, the list is an online platform that showcases a huge range of fantastic jobs for journalists, copywriters, content creators and branding specialists. If you’re looking for paid work, this is the place to start.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the...

Would you like to sell your copywriting business for a million dollars, or even $10 million dollars? It’s possible, and Kobi Simmat is going to show us how. 

Kobi is one of Australia's most successful business improvement specialists. He recently achieved a $20 million valuation and then a successful sale of his own business and now helps others unlock the full potential of their businesses. He wrote a book called ‘How to Build a Business Others Want to Buy’ and, full disclosure, I was his ghostwriter so I got to spend a lot of time hearing how he did it...

Have you always wanted to be paid to travel? 

Would you like to stay in luxurious resorts for free? 

If you’d like to indulge your passion for food, wine, wellness or any other passion and get paid to do so, this is the episode for you.

You may not realise it, but there's a massive connection between travel writing and copywriting. If you can write copy, you are well positioned to become a travel writer too. You find out why in this episode.

Read the show notes

This podc...