Episode 353

full

Published on:

1st Oct 2026

The System for Finding More Creativity, Joy, and Fun in Your Work with Julie Fried

What if the thing you create doesn’t have to generate leads, sell an offer, or prove its ROI? What if you’re allowed to make something simply because you freaking love it? That’s exactly what I’m talking about with my friend Julie Fried, host of The System for Everything. And unlike most of the podcast hosts I bring onto Business-First Creatives, Julie isn’t using her show as a funnel into a service or offer.

She created it because she wanted a place to talk about everything that fascinates her—from business systems and meal planning to reality TV, adult friendships, parenting, travel, and whatever random rabbit hole catches her attention next. And it turns out? That creative freedom has become one of the most fulfilling things she’s done.

Julie and I get into how she curates guests and topics, why she loves even the admin side of podcasting, what she’s changing for season two, and how she’s thinking about monetization without sacrificing what makes the show fun in the first place.

Find It Quickly

01:03 - Meet Julie Fried

01:32 - Pre Written Emails

02:23 - Why Julie Podcasts

05:33 - The System For Everything

08:35 - Choosing Guests

13:01 - Bad PR Pitches

14:16 - Admin And Workflow

17:09 - Social Media Choices

21:43 - Season Two Plans

24:24 - Ads And Monetization

24:53 - Producer Ad Read

26:39 - Curated Podcast Ads

28:00 - Choosing Ideal Sponsors

29:39 - Protecting Creative Energy

31:41 - Monetizing Mom Systems

32:32 - One and Done Talk

35:47 - Only Child Systems Ideas

37:27 - Summer Camp Logistics

41:21 - System Shutdown

42:57 - Travel and Couch Life

44:09 - Budgeting Video

Mentioned in this Episode

Creative Educator Conference

Gaffin Creative

Flodesk – Get 50% Off Your First Year

Systems in Session

The Experience Edit

Connect with the Guest

Website: dallasgirlfriday.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thesystemforeverything

Podcast: dallasgirlfriday.com/podcast

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Show artwork for Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers

A podcast about systems, workflows, and business advice for creative service providers.

Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down.

This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7.
If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck.

This podcast provides answers to questions like:
How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch?
What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need?
How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience?
What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences?
How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business?
Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)?
How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck?
What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey?
How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them?
How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings?

Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft.

If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place.

Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session