Freelance: From Battlefield to Broadband

Before it meant working from a laptop.
Before it meant invoices and flexible schedules.
Before it meant “I’ll send the contract tonight.”

It meant a weapon.

In this episode of Ridin’ Wordy, Sean Rhoads traces the surprising origin of the word freelance — from medieval mercenaries carrying “free lances” into battle to today’s independent contractors shaping the modern gig economy.

You’ll discover:

• Where the term first appeared in literature
• How knights for hire inspired a 21st-century workforce
• Why independence has always come with risk
• How technology turned swords into software
• And what the word reveals about freedom, work, and power

From armor to algorithms…
From war horses to Wi-Fi…

Freelance didn’t just change meaning.
It changed how we work.

Because every word has a backstory.

And this one comes with a blade.