Podcast focuses on city’s inspiring women

A BEAUTICIAN has launched a podcast about the struggles and successes of influential Dundee women.

Jordan Petrie, who has run her business in Invergowrie for five years, was inspired to start the series after speaking with clients about their own mental health problems.

By revealing the ups and downs of running a business, the 32-year-old hoped to show “real life” rather than the highlights on social media.

She also aims to inspire locals to pursue their passions and give youngsters career ideas.

So far, Jordan has interviewed nine individuals, including fashion designer Hayley Scanlan, Isolated Heroes owner Sam Paton, and BrowJam founder Janine Wallace.

She said: “When I was speaking to clients, they’d say to me ‘you’re like my therapist’ and get emotional or open up about things.

“I do more than makeup – lashes and brows – so the time people are with me can be hours.

“I thought, how amazing would it be to speak to influential folk about their problems and journey how they got there and their individual struggles.”

Initially, Jordan was worried about balancing the venture with being a mother of two and not having “fancy” equipment.

But the podcast has reached more than 80,000 people across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube since January.

Jordan said: “I knew people would be interested because a lot of people are well known in Dundee but to reach that many, I’m blown away.”

She added: “Everyone has struggles. I’m passionate about bringing awareness to mental health and showing it’s not only success, there are struggles too.

“Social media might make it look like there’s not. I’m so grateful to everyone who has agreed to come on. Hopefully there will be more influential people from Dundee.”

Further down the line, she hopes to launch another series about men’s mental health.