The Oprah Podcast How to Let Go after Being Let Go with Oprah and authors Laura Brown & Kristina O’Neill
Oct 9, 2025
Join Laura Brown, former InStyle editor-in-chief, and Kristina O’Neill, ex-editor of the Wall Street Journal Magazine, as they share their insights on overcoming job loss. They discuss their book, "All the Cool Girls Get Fired," offering practical guidance for navigating career transitions. Oprah shares her own experiences of being let go, highlighting the societal shame often associated with female job loss. The conversation includes empowering stories from other women who reinvented themselves after setbacks, transforming adversity into new beginnings.
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Sudden Zoom Layoff
- Laura Brown describes getting a 20-minute notice and being laid off on a Zoom all-hands with her entire team.
- She recounts the abrupt HR script, paperwork, and immediate shock of the moment.
Last-Minute HR Meeting
- Kristina O'Neill recounts being moved from an office meeting to the HR room ten minutes before her meeting.
- She knew instantly her ten-year tenure had ended and chose to tell her team the truth herself.
Shame Versus Bravery
- Women carry more shame from firings because they're expected to be perfect while men are expected to be brave.
- This cultural expectation makes job loss feel like a personal moral failing for many women.
