Laura Brown & Kristina O’Neill on Life After the Dream Job

Video Description

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill, former top magazine editors, for a conversation about identity, resilience, and rebuilding after everything shifts. Laura and Kristina share the story of being fired from their dream jobs, how they moved through shock and uncertainty, and why that moment became the spark for their next chapter. Together, they explore how women are taught to carry shame around career loss, the power of community and humor in hard moments, and what it really means to reclaim your worth outside of a job title. It is an honest, grounded look at letting go, starting again, and trusting that sometimes the fall is what sets you free. 00:00 Introducing Laura Brown & Kristina O'Neill 00:51 Reconnecting with Old Friends 01:04 Memories of New York and Fashion Shows 02:46 The Impact of Getting Fired 06:47 Navigating the Aftermath 18:24 The Birth of a Book Idea 24:05 Creating a Resource for the Fired 29:16 Audible Sponsor Message 29:38 Discovering Audible's Holiday Magic 30:30 Highlighting Inspirational Women 32:00 Carol Burnett's Reclaiming Moment 34:15 Reflecting on Personal Identity and Work 35:39 The American Dream vs. Personal Fulfillment 42:08 Finding Balance and Reentering the Workforce 54:22 The Power of Friendship and Community 58:38 Reclaiming and Letting Go Watch more episodes of Reclaiming: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJUnI6nPG8Em8EZyWhZ_C_2ZFS3T2hnO Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on social: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingwithmonica https://www.tiktok.com/@reclaimingwithmonica Connect with Monica: https://www.instagram.com/monica_lewinsky https://x.com/monicalewinsky https://www.facebook.com/MonicaLewinsky/ Connect with Wondery: https://instagram.com/wonderymedia https://tiktok.com/@wonderymedia https://facebook.com/wonderymedia https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky. #monicalewinsky #podcast