Freelancers often leave corporate to feel free, only to find that financial anxiety keeps them stuck in the same patterns that made them feel trapped in their prior jobs. Neha Vadrevu, an applied anthropologist, actress, dancer, tech founder, and former researcher at Capital One's Innovation Lab, knows this tension firsthand. In the podcast’s first-ever live in-person episode, Neha explores the emotional and cultural stories that shape our relationship with money, from generational financial trauma to the shame that keeps freelancers from charging what they deserve. She shares how she's used AI as a pricing sounding board (and why you shouldn't accept its first answer), why going back to corporate isn't a failure, and how to be imaginative and responsible at the same time when designing a career that actually lets you breathe.

Key Topics:

• What financial trauma is and how it silently drives freelancers' pricing and career decisions
• Using AI as a negotiation partner to find your true market rate before talking to clients
• The freelance-to-corporate toggle: why going back is a design choice, not a defeat
• Scaling beyond trading time for money through brand-building, advisory work, and passive income
• Finding community as a freelancer through co-working, volunteering, and intentional connection
• "Be imaginative and responsible at once" — how to pursue bold career moves with safety nets in place

Connect with Neha:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
  

Connect with Joy:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Website

Description:

Many mothers assume that stepping back from a full-time career means stepping back from ambition. Neeharika Bhartiya, fractional sales leader, sales coach, and former tech founder, proves otherwise. After leaving her role leading strategy at Fivetran, Neeharika fell into fractional work while pregnant with her second child, and discovered she could more than triple her hourly rate working twenty hours a week. She walks through the practical playbook behind her business: setting up her entity and banking, pricing on retainer instead of by the hour, and structuring engagements so clients renew month after month without long-term commitments. You'll discover how to weigh the real tradeoffs between fractional and full-time work, and why being the "less stressed parent" might be the most valuable benefit of all.

Key Topics:

• Neeharika's path from tech founder to fractional sales coach for early-stage founders
• The honest pros and cons of fractional work: income unpredictability, health insurance, and pace
• How an S-Corp structure unlocked paid family leave and tax advantages as a solopreneur
• Retainer pricing that anchors on impact and revenue goals rather than hours worked
• Redefining success as a working mother—from "not good enough" to "as good as it gets"

Connect with Neeharika:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Joy:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Website

In this week’s episode, Erika Todd, a partner at Sullivan and Worcester focusing on employment litigation, shares what can go wrong when professionals juggle a full-time job along with a side hustle. Erika describes some of the common pitfalls freelancers face when they are starting, keeping, or leaving a full-time job.

Key Topics:

• Essentials of employment agreements: non-competes, invention rights, full-time commitments, conflicts of interest
• Legal protections for freelance workers vs. employees by state
• Handling mid-career shifts in side hustle monetization
  

Connect with Erika:

• LinkedIn
• Firm Profile at Sullivan & Worcester

Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

In this episode of the Freelance Mindset Studio, Amanda Northcutt, founder and CEO of Level Up, shares her insights on building sustainable, scalable businesses as a consultant or thought leader. Discover how value-based pricing, productized services, and leveraging your expertise can transform your consulting practice.

Key Topics:

• The journey from solo consultant to scalable business owner
• How to transition from hourly billing to value-based pricing
• Practical tips on structuring retainers and proposal strategies
• Strategies to find and attract the right clients
• Overcoming mindset barriers such as scarcity and fear of saying no

Connect with Amanda:

• LinkedIn
• Level Up

Description:

Most high achievers mistakenly believe that perpetual overwork is the price of success. Janine Mathó, author of Live Your Opus and former Harvard and Pearson executive, has a better alternative. Janine shares how she climbed the corporate ladder believing stress was an unavoidable part of the journey until a tragic loss and chronic burnout forced her to rethink everything. She shares the essential inner capabilities like energy management, emotional regulation, and discernment that allow high performers to do their best work without losing themselves. You’ll discover how to reconnect with your body, cultivate inner calm, and develop the agility to adapt in uncertain times.

Key Topics:

• Janine’s transformation from corporate executive to authentic leadership advocate
• Essential inner skills for modern leaders: self-awareness and energy management
• Strategies for adapting to changing work environments with resilience
• Overcoming fears of failure and the upper limit to growth
• Preparing for the future of work with adaptability and inner agility
  

Connect with Janine:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Instagram
• Buy Janine’s book, Live Your Opus

Description:

Discover how Divya Chhabra navigates a multifaceted career, blending psychiatry, filmmaking, and writing. This episode explores her journey, transferable skills, and insights on balancing spontaneity with strategy.

Key Topics:

• Divya shares her unconventional career path from psychiatrist and NYU professor to producing and advising on Emmy-nominated shows at Nickelodeon and Apple TV, and writing for Teen Vogue, ABC News, and The Huffington Post
• The importance of both transferable skills and a beginner’s mindset across diverse fields, especially medicine and film
• Strategies for managing long career cycles and the patience required in portfolio careers
• The role of community, mentorship, and mental habits like riding the wave of uncertainty
• The significance of fun, rest, and boundaries in sustaining a dynamic career

Connect with Divya:

• Divya’s Website
• Awkward Goodbyes
• Instagram: @dchhabs

Join Joy Batra as she interviews Shalene Gupta, a prolific writer and editor. Shalene shares her insights on building a flexible, portfolio career in a rapidly changing economy. Discover lessons on resilience, the real value of a day job, and the evolving landscape of work for creatives and parents alike.

Key Topics:

The early passion for writing and the influence of societal expectations

Navigating career uncertainty during economic recessions

Building a portfolio career through side gigs, freelancing, and side projects

Current trends toward portfolio careers and the decline of traditional career ladders

Advice for balancing creative pursuits with responsible careers

Read more from Shalene:

• The Cycle
• The Power of Trust
• Fast Company - Work Life

Connect with Shalene:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Join Joy Batra and Kameron Monet as they explore Kameron’s inspiring journey of merging her passions for law, content creation, and technology into a thriving career. Discover how Kameron leveraged her diverse skills to become a tech founder in the creator economy, offering innovative legal solutions for creators. This episode is packed with insights on balancing multiple interests, embracing unconventional paths, and building a meaningful career.

Key Topics:

Kameron's journey from law school to content creation and tech entrepreneurship

The intersection of legal expertise and the creator economy

Founding Social Docket: Empowering creators with AI-powered legal tools

Strategies for maintaining wellness and creativity in a busy schedule

The importance of intuition and community in career decisions

Practical advice for pursuing non-traditional career paths

Connect with Kameron:

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Explore Social Docket:

Social Docket