From Broke to Breaking Barriers | Jordan Duffy | Audio Engineer & Musician

Jordan Duffy has built a career on saying yes to big opportunities, especially the ones that felt impossible. As one of the first female audio engineers at Earwolf & Stitcher, she’s worked on hit shows like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Bitch Sesh, and Queery while also pursuing her passion as a singer-songwriter. She’s the engineer behind Powerful Ladies, and she also happens to be Kara’s sister. Jordan opens up about moving to California with no safety net, finding creative ways to make it work financially, and navigating a male-dominated industry. She shares what it’s really like to chase a music career, the lessons she’s learned from high-pressure production work, and the mindset shifts that helped her keep going when things got tough. It’s an honest, inspiring look at following your dreams and removing the excuses that keep you from starting. Chapters 00:00 Meet Jordan Duffy: audio engineer & musician 01:15 Becoming one of the first female engineers at Earwolf–Stitcher 03:20 Working on hit podcasts like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend 05:05 Moving to California with no money and no safety net 07:40 How to say yes when it feels impossible 10:15 Creative ways to fund a big life change 12:30 Building a music career alongside audio engineering 14:50 Lessons from working in a male-dominated industry 17:10 The realities of podcast production at a high level 19:25 How to keep your passion alive in your day job 21:40 Personal stories of resilience and persistence 24:00 The power of community and support systems 26:15 Advice for chasing your dream career 28:40 What’s next for Jordan Duffy The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices