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The
I had plans
Podcast
I’m Smaragda – a tech freelancer, mum, and professional button-presser – sharing the wins, fails, and reality behind the “flexible” work-from-home life. No scripts, no guests, just honest stories, sarcasm, and the occasional snack.
About I had plans
Welcome to I Had Plans, the podcast that tells the truth about freelancing, side gigs, and working from home while pretending to have it all together.
Each episode is short, real, and recorded somewhere between client calls, school pick-up, and a cold cup of coffee. You’ll hear about projects that went well, the ones that didn’t, and everything that happens when “flexible work” meets real life.
If you’ve ever said “I’ll do it tonight” and then fallen asleep instead — this podcast is for you.
Smaragda Vavakaris
Host
New Episodes Weekly
Live Every Tuesday
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About me
I’m Smaragda — a tech freelancer, learning designer, and mum who’s been pressing buttons online for nearly two decades. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in training and digital learning, but honestly, most days still feel like organised chaos.
After years of juggling deadlines, side gigs, and life in general, I realised that the messy middle is where all the best stories live. So instead of pretending it’s all balance and bliss, I started sharing the truth — the good, the bad, and the snack-fuelled.
Because work-from-home life isn’t perfect. But it’s real, it’s funny, and it’s definitely worth talking about.
Recent Episodes
Collaborating with Clients
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From idea to reality – Building something that matters
In this episode of I Had Plans, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a project I’ve been building quietly for months. Instead of sharing the glossy launch version, I’m inviting you into the messy, exciting middle, the part where an idea starts turning into something...
The cobbler’s children have no shoes: Updating my website
Ever noticed how we spend all our time fixing everyone else’s stuff and neglect our own? In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about my neglected website, the classic “cobbler’s children” problem, and why taking even tiny wins for your own projects matters. Honest,...
Who does your job work for? Is it flexible for you or others?
In this episode of I Had Plans, I explore what it really means for your job to be flexible. Who does your work actually serve, you or everyone else? I share my own wake-up call when I realised my so-called flexible work arrangements had become flexible for everyone...
Where do freelance clients actually come from?
Everyone thinks freelancing is instant freedom, flexible days, and clients magically appearing. Spoiler: it doesn’t work like that. In this episode of I Had Plans, I share the real ways freelancers find work — networking, platforms, referrals, and yes, even a bit of...
Why we all need a side gig (even if we love our job)
Just a quick chat about side gigs — why I think everyone should have one, what they actually teach you, and why it’s not all beach laptops and lattes. We should all be doing work we love, but sometimes there’s more we want to explore… and that’s where side gigs come...
What do you do for work? (No, really)
What happens when you try to tell people what you do for work? What does your family say? In this episode, I talk about trying to explain what I do for work…am I speaking another language?
“You’re lucky to work from home” — here’s what it really takes
Working from home sounds like a dream — but it’s not just luck. It takes determination, skills, and a whole lot of juggling. I’m sharing the real story behind the “luck” of freelancing and mum life. Do you get told "how lucky" you are? How do you repsond? Connect me...
I had plans: Intro
What happens when you're juggling freelancing, parenting, and about five different side gigs? You hit record. In this quick intro, I share why I'm starting this podcast with zero script, minimal time, and probably a snack in hand. Hi, I’m Smaragda, and welcome to I...
Home
From idea to reality – Building something that matters
In this episode of I Had Plans, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a project I’ve been building quietly for months. Instead of sharing the glossy launch version, I’m inviting you into the messy, exciting middle, the part where an idea starts turning into something...
The cobbler’s children have no shoes: Updating my website
Ever noticed how we spend all our time fixing everyone else’s stuff and neglect our own? In this episode of I Had Plans, I talk about my neglected website, the classic “cobbler’s children” problem, and why taking even tiny wins for your own projects matters. Honest,...
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I had plans
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Freelance chaos, mum life, side gigs, and the glorious mess in between. I’m Smaragda — a tech freelancer, mum, and professional button-presser — sharing the wins, fails, and reality behind the “flexible” work-from-home life. No scripts, no guests, just honest stories, sarcasm, and the occasional snack.