From mountains to media

When Euan McClenaghan arrived in Dundee in 2017 to study Geography, he didn’t imagine that only a few years after graduating he would be filming sports stars like Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Wayne Rooney, or spending his days shooting behind-the-scenes moments for one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports channels.

But like many career paths, Euan’s journey into media wasn’t linear: it was built on curiosity, transferable skills, and a willingness to say yes to the right opportunities.

A role with an audience of millions

Euan works as a Shooting Assistant Producer with The Overlap, a hugely popular YouTube channel with more than a million subscribers. 

He is part of the team behind Stick to Football and helps create The Overlap’s online content, capturing candid moments, operating camera setups, editing footage, and crafting the subtitled clips watched by fans worldwide.

He has come a long way from the part-time college journalism course he took in high school or the film reviews he once uploaded to his own website as a teenager. 

But after a difficult early experience on a week-long work placement at the BBC, he stepped back from the idea of media as a career. Instead, he leaned into another subject he loved: Geography. 

What Euan remembers most about his student years isn’t just the academic experience, it’s the community. 

“I just loved the place,” he says. “Dundee is small but intimate. It’s so easy to meet people. There’s a lot going on. My dissertation was about the waterfront regeneration, the socio-economic impact and how far the city has come.” 

Sports clubs played a defining role too. Euan spent all four years playing for the University football team and says Dundee’s club culture was central not only to his social life, but his confidence. 

“Geography is a sociable course, with lots of group tasks and collaboration, but the clubs give you a whole extra network. Most of my best friends were on my course or in the football team.” 

"Uni shaped who I am"

Covid-19 interrupted his experience, but strangely that period ended up anchoring his academic success. 

“Lockdown forced me to focus, and when it really counted, I got a First,” he says. “Uni shaped who I am, and even though I don’t use all of the things learned in my degree day-to-day, I wouldn’t be the person I am without it.” 

After graduating, Euan’s first job was as a research consultant. He worked on socio-economic evaluations, including a project for Highlands and Islands Enterprise assessing the viability of a new whisky distillery. 

“It matched my dissertation perfectly,” he says. “But it was a small office with lots of independent and remote working. It just didn’t make me happy.” 

So, he took a step sideways, or perhaps forwards. After several months working in hospitality at festivals and events the perfect opportunity came: a role as a runner on Antiques Road Trip.

Managing crew logistics, caring for presenters, handling equipment he’d never used before, ensuring legal paperwork and background checks were complete, sourcing filming locations, and pitching activity ideas that tied into each town’s identity... these were all part of his remit.

“It’s a misconception that runners just pick up coffee,” he says. “I was thrown in at the deep end, but if you show you’re capable, people will give you a chance.”

Within six months, he was promoted to Researcher and by early 2025 he became an Assistant Producer, moving quickly through the ranks. 

Despite his success, Euan became increasingly aware of the instability of working in TV. 

“Most of the industry is freelance and you’re always thinking about the next job.” he says.  

When The Overlap offered him a role centred on online content, with a growing audience and expanding team, he made the leap. 

In his first week, he found himself filming behind-the-scenes footage of football legends, operating cameras across the studio, recording tactical analysis sessions, monitoring audio, editing on Adobe Premiere Pro, generating subtitles, and building digital content that travels fast across social platforms.

Thinking back to his first days in Dundee, Euan’s advice to his younger self is simple:

“Join as many clubs and societies as possible. Be open-minded and don’t just stick to what you know, try the things that scare you a bit.” 

For new graduates, he echoes that spirit: 

“You’re an attractive prospect to employers when you’re fresh out of university. Decide early whether you’re working, travelling, or building experience. Be proactive and keep your job notifications on. Message people and ask to meet for a coffee to chat over your employment hopes and dreams. You’d be surprised how willing people are to help.” 

Euan's secret to success

Euan may not use traditional geography theories in the studio at The Overlap, but the transferable skills he gained through his degree - as well as a curiosity for the world and those around him - have set him up for his media career.

And, of course, having the guts to go for it, wherever you are in your career. “You never know which conversation will lead to the next thing,” he says. “You really do miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”