S15, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Jo Elvin, the charity CEO on resilience, friendship fails and female anger
Nov 29, 2022
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Jo Elvin, broadcaster, journalist and charity boss, talks about the end of Glamour magazine, a failure in friendship, and struggling to control her temper. They also discuss obsession with Peloton, love for K-pop, and the impact of tragic loss on a friendship.
Having a portfolio career is important for balancing different roles and maintaining a media profile.
Recognizing and adapting to the changing landscape of print media is crucial to survive the digital revolution.
Being present and supportive for others during difficult times, even when it feels challenging, is invaluable.
Deep dives
Jo Elvin's Career in Media and Transition to Charity Work
Jo Elvin, former editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine and current CEO of the charity Children with Cancer UK, discusses her career in the media and her transition to charity work. She highlights the importance of having a portfolio career and the challenge of balancing different roles. Jo emphasizes the benefits of maintaining a media profile for the charity and shares her experiences of working in both print journalism and television. She reflects on the motivation behind joining a charity and the inspiration she draws from the children and families she works with.
Jo Elvin's Failure to See the Decline of Print Media
Jo Elvin shares the challenges she faced during her time as the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine, particularly with the rise of digital media. She discusses how the increasing popularity of online platforms affected the magazine industry and eventually led to Glamour's decline. Jo acknowledges her initial failure to recognize the shift in readership habits and the impact of the internet. She reflects on the changing landscape of print media and the need for adaptation in the face of technological advancements.
Jo Elvin's Personal Failure in Supporting a Friend
Jo Elvin opens up about a personal failure in supporting a friend who had experienced the loss of a young child. She shares the guilt and shame she felt for not being present during her friend's grief and for not knowing what to say or do. Jo reflects on the importance of being there for others during difficult times, even when the right words or actions may be elusive. She expresses regret over her flakiness and emphasizes the value of being present and listening, even when it feels challenging or uncomfortable.
The challenges of running a print magazine in the digital age
The speaker discusses the challenges of running a print magazine, particularly in the midst of the digital revolution. Despite selling a significant number of magazines, the loss of advertising revenue posed a major problem. Advertisers turned to other platforms like YouTubers and influencers, causing a decline in advertising for print publications. This led to a series of layoffs and budget cuts as the speaker struggled to adapt to the changing landscape.
Dealing with failure and resilience in the aftermath of a magazine shutdown
The speaker reflects on the experience of being made redundant and the emotional toll it took on her and the employees she had to let go. She acknowledges the difficulty of letting people go and the awkwardness of the situation. She shares her coping mechanisms, including therapy and staying busy with various activities. The speaker also talks about the importance of resilience and how she learned to project forward to overcome challenging moments. She emphasizes the need to acknowledge and express anger, recognizing its cathartic value for personal growth and resilience.
Today, in a special bonus episode, I have the joy of bringing you one of my favourite people - the broadcaster, journalist and now charity boss, Jo Elvin. She's an Australian powerhouse who I've been lucky enough to work with over several years (first when she was the editor of Glamour, then later when I became a columnist for You magazine under her reign) and now I just get to hang out with her as mates, which is even better. She joins me to talk about the end of Glamour as a print magazine and having to make her beloved staff redundant, a failure in friendship where she felt she let down someone whose child was very ill and a struggle to control her temper (but, I ask: does it really *have* to be controlled?!).
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This episode is sponsored by Peloton – a fitness experience for your body and mind, so motivating and exhilarating that you’ll come back to it time and time again. Find out more by visiting https://www.onepeloton.co.uk/
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If you enjoyed this episode, do consider donating to Jo's incredible charity, Children With Cancer UK www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk
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How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted and produced by Elizabeth Day. To contact us, email howtofailpod@gmail.com