A photographer has turned to podcasting to help and inspire other business founders hit by the pandemic.
Rhiannon Louden says her new focus has helped her connect with other creators and enterprises in Glasgow and further afield.
The health crisis has had a profound impact on many small independent businesses.
During lockdown, Finnieston-based Rhiannon was unable to provide her regular services as a photographer.
But she knew she had to find something positive to focus her creativity on.
That’s when she hit upon the idea of a podcast - Small Fish Big Pod.
It brings female founders across the country together to share inspiring stories and honest advice.
The podcasts feature a different business owner each week.
This week, Rhiannon launched a double-bill featuring 26 different voices bringing together lessons learned in 2020.
‘Pandemic perspectives’ is a “collaborative exploration of the silver linings Scotland’s small business community found during a year that challenged our resilience, our ability to adapt and our will to survive as entrepreneurs in the midst of a global pandemic”.
Rhiannon told Glasgow West End Today: “My intention was to try and connect people.
“The podcasts are interviews with small business owners where we talk for between five and 10 minutes.
“I introduce them, and each person shares their greatest lesson learnt over the last year - or their greatest bit of perspective that they are carrying through into 2021.
“It is for everyone to share their knowledge and to make people realise that they are not alone right now, and to help people see the challenges that others have overcome.
“I try to give people a little bit of insight that might help them to push through.”
It is for everyone to share their knowledge and to make people realise that they are not alone right now, and to help people see the challenges that others have overcome
Rhiannon Louden
Rhiannon’s project also involves visual and written content, which she plans to bring together in a series of blog posts.
She took a number of ‘doorstep’ photographs as a way of highlighting local businesses during lockdown.
She said: “It’s been challenging but I am still going, and I am not as busy as I would normally be with my photography.
“But that has given me time to do the podcasts and blog features.”
