

High-Income Business Writing Podcast
Ed Gandia
Ed Gandia, co-author of the bestselling book, The Wealthy Freelancer, reveals how to propel your writing business to the six-figure level (or the part-time equivalent). In this nuts-and-bolts, no-nonsense podcast, you'll discover how to get better clients, earn more in less time, and bring more freedom and joy into your writing business. Ed will walk you through the practical, "doable" systems and strategies he has developed in his own writing business — the same systems he has taught his private coaching clients. He'll also show you what's working for other business writers by bringing you real case studies from the field. And he'll share all this information in an honest and transparent way, with no hype or fluff. Topics covered include: getting better and higher-paying clients; banishing the feast-or-famine cycle; doing more of the work that excites you; how to raise your fees and rates; boosting your productivity; making your business recession-proof; discovering and leveraging your strengths; finding your niche; pricing content writing projects; pricing copywriting projects; writing white papers; writing case studies; writing web copy; writing articles; and much more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

14 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 8min
#388: How to Quickly Go from Messy Transcript to Clear Outline with AI
Navigating messy transcripts can feel daunting, but there's a better way! Learn why AI summaries often lack emotional depth and how starting with context can enrich results. Discover effective prompts for structuring ideas rather than generating prose, and the key role your judgment plays in deciding what truly matters. Ed shares practical techniques for preserving nuance and tension, ensuring that important insights aren't lost in the process. Transform overwhelming raw material into clear, usable outlines without sacrificing complexity!

Dec 31, 2025 • 56min
#387: The Freelancer Health Reset—5 Micro-Habits That Actually Stick, Including Key Midlife Insights for Women
Lucie Robazza, a certified health coach and founder of Strengthsia, empowers midlife women to reclaim their health. In the discussion, she emphasizes the hidden toll freelancing takes on physical well-being. Lucie shares insightful micro-habits such as taking morning sunlight, prioritizing hydration, and adopting a protein-first mindset to enhance productivity. She tackles midlife challenges like perimenopause, underlining the importance of small, sustainable changes over drastic resolutions. Tune in for practical tips to elevate your health!

23 snips
Dec 17, 2025 • 58min
#386: The Packaging Problem—Why Your AI Help Isn't Making You Money (Yet)
Freelancers are missing out on AI revenue by not properly packaging their knowledge. Clients crave AI support but often lack the confidence to implement it. The podcast discusses three types of AI helpers and the importance of transforming casual advice into structured services. It reveals common barriers to monetization, encourages actionable steps for creating AI offers, and emphasizes pricing based on outcomes rather than outputs. Listeners learn to build client trust and confidence while charging what they’re worth for their expertise.

6 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 4min
#385: What to Do When Clients Break Their Promises
Ever faced a client who dropped the ball? Those moments can lead you to question your business strategies. But what if those breakdowns are actually opportunities? Discover how missteps often highlight gaps in communication and expectations. Learn to transform frustration into clarity with tools like change request forms. Understand that clearer boundaries can eliminate chaos and enhance your business model. Embrace the insight that broken promises are invitations for growth and improvement.

19 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 53min
#384: The Value Shift—Where the Money Goes When AI Makes Content Creation Effortless
Freelancers are feeling a major shift as AI alters the landscape of content creation. The podcast explores how writers' skills are now solving the wrong problems, moving from creation to curation. It emphasizes that clients aren't lacking content, but rather discernment in choices, creating demand for seasoned judgment. A unique analogy compares writers to sommeliers, focusing on storytelling. Listeners learn to identify new value zones and adapt their roles from mere writers to orchestrators, emphasizing risk management and coordination.

11 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 9min
#383: The Art of 'Conversing' with AI
Tired of underwhelming AI results? You're not alone! The key lies in reshaping your approach. Instead of bombarding AI with monologues, think of it as a conversation partner. Discover the 3R Prompting Framework to guide your interactions by defining Role, Reference, and Requirements. Building prompts should be like constructing a house: start small, layer your context, and watch your ideas flourish! This strategy not only enhances AI responses but also sharpens your critical thinking skills. Embrace the dialogue and see the difference!

23 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 11min
#382: The Truth About AI and Freelance Writers — What 157 Writers Just Revealed
Dive into the nuanced world of AI in freelance writing, where 93% of writers are using AI to enhance their work. Discover surprising survey results that reveal 34% of respondents elevate their offerings, while 41% primarily enjoy time savings. Many writers harbor fears about client perception and quality, yet most plan to boost their AI usage. Learn about the 'integration dividend' that shows substantial growth for fully integrated users, alongside strategies to optimize workflows and redefine client communication. It's a hopeful narrative for the future of writing!

15 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 10min
#381: How to Have Better, More Productive Conversations with AI
Explore the evolving landscape of AI in the workplace. Discover why relying on large, one-size-fits-all prompts can stifle creativity. Learn about the innovative 3R Prompting framework, which optimizes your interaction with AI. Ed reveals how iterative dialogues can produce sharper insights and foster better problem-solving skills. This fresh approach encourages you to treat AI as a collaborative partner, enhancing both productivity and creativity.

12 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 57min
#380: The AI Writing Debate — Moving From False Dichotomies to Creative Synthesis
The conversation around AI in writing challenges the binary view of AI as either deceptive or a shortcut. It introduces ten false assumptions that limit understanding of AI's role. AI is framed as a tool for amplification, emphasizing the importance of human judgment. The concept of 'Creative Synthesis' is explored, showcasing how combining AI with personal experience can lead to unique outcomes. Listeners gain insights on mastering AI and navigating its integration into freelance work.

Aug 27, 2025 • 10min
#379: 15 Reasons Why Hourly Billing Is Holding You Back
Hourly billing is the default pricing model for many writers. But it's also a hidden trap that can sabotage your growth, undervalue your expertise, and limit your income. If you've ever felt frustrated by the ceiling on your earnings or struggled to position yourself as a trusted partner rather than a hired hand, this episode will change the way you view pricing forever. In today's episode, I break down 15 compelling reasons why hourly billing is actively working against you — and what you can do instead to unlock your earning potential and build trust-based, outcome-focused client relationships. What You'll Learn Why hourly billing punishes efficiency and caps your income potential. How it undermines your positioning as an expert and devalues your unique expertise. The hidden costs of hourly billing: admin burden, client micromanagement, and trust erosion. The psychological traps that make it hard to raise your rates under hourly models. Why shifting to value-based pricing or project fees can transform your business. Steps to reframe client conversations around value and outcomes, not hours. Key Insights and Takeaways Hourly billing creates a perverse incentive against efficiency. The faster you work, the less you earn, which is the opposite of how a healthy freelance business should function. It permanently caps your income potential. There are only so many hours you can sell, and raising your hourly rate eventually hits a ceiling. It erodes trust and positions you as a commodity. Clients start focusing on hours rather than outcomes, leading to micromanagement and suspicion. It fails to capture your true value. Your best insights often come from years of accumulated expertise, not the hours it takes to execute a task. Fixed project fees and value-based pricing aligns your interests with your clients. When you price based on the outcomes and value you deliver, you can grow your income while building stronger client relationships. Memorable Soundbites · "Hourly billing rewards incompetence and punishes mastery." · "You're not selling time, you're selling outcomes." · "Hourly billing turns your business into a job you can't quit." Action Steps 🔹 Reflect: Are you stuck in the hourly billing trap? Track how it limits your income and positioning.🔹 Experiment: Try quoting your next project as a fixed fee based on value rather than time.🔹 Reframe: Start asking clients, "What outcomes are you looking to achieve? What makes this project important?" rather than "How many hours will this take?"🔹 Educate your clients: Share the benefits of non-hourly models and how it aligns your incentives with theirs.🔹 Internal tracking only: Continue tracking your time for your own data and profitability analysis, but avoid sharing these hours with clients. Listener Challenge This week, pick one service you currently bill hourly and write down how you would price it based on the scope and value instead. You don't have to roll it out immediately, but this exercise will shift your mindset toward value-based pricing.


