Recall: All The Cool Girls Get Fired (Laura Brown & Kristina O'Neill)
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What inspired Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill to write *All the Cool Girls Get Fired*?
So maybe you've heard, I got hitched this summer. Thortis and I are so excited for our honeymoon. In fact, we're scoping out amazing places right now on Airbnb. We're doing Edinburgh! We are planning to wander the cobblestone streets of Old Town, walk the royal mile up to Edinburgh Castle, and hike up Arthur's seat for that incredible view over the city. Staying in a home booked on Airbnb. Means that I'll get to experience the local gems of the neighborhood. And we also love staying somewhere that actually feels like home. A place to come back to at the end of the day, kick off our shoes, make a cup of tea, and figure out what adventure we're going to go on next. Knowing we'll be on the road yet again, it's another opportunity to list our home on Airbnb and give someone else a chance to follow.
In love with a completely different corner of the world. It's a chance to feed the deer in Springbank, Alberta, and dip your feet in the Bow River while we get a little extra income to put towards Edinburgh. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.ca slash host. You know what I love? A really great story. And even better, sharing it with people who love stories as much as I do. That's why we started the Jan Arden book bag over on Patreon with our only Jans. Right now we're diving into Carly Fortune. She has been the soundtrack to our summer. And Audible has become a big part of that experience. Audible gives you more out of every story. Whether it's an A-list narrator, a full cast production, or immersive sound design.
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How did the Instagram post spark the idea for the book and its viral response?
That's audible.ca. Hi, Janarden here, and on this week's recall, we have got a really Special look back into the vault with Laura Brown and Christina O'Neill, who wrote a hit book called All the Cool Girls Get Fired. It reframes the experience of being fired as kind of a rite of passage. Both these women went through massive firings in their jobs, but they went on to do great things. They couldn't believe the traction that they started getting when they talked about. their experiences on on social media, uh Instagram. Uh anyway, they decided to become authors and they wrote all the cool girls get fired and they inspired a whole bunch, thousands of women who have been, you know, unleashed from their jobs.
Anyway, the book is is pragmatic, it's empowering, it's it's really funny. And we had a wonderful conversation with them. Just as an update, we spoke to them November 2025. As of June of this year, they have also got a podcast called, no surprise here, all the cool girls get fired. So here they are, Laura Brown and Christina O'Neill on this week's recall.
Welcome to the Jan Arden Podcast. Caitlin Green, Sarah Burke are here as always in their Toronto homes. I am in Springbank, Alberta. It snowed yesterday, but I digress. We have amazing guests today. They are two powerhouses in the media world: Laura Brown and Christina O'Neill. And they have co-authored a fantastic new book called All the Cool Girls Get Fired. Who has not been there? Laura is the founder of LB Media, the chair of Red's Creative Council, and serves on several major boards, including the Me Too movement. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of InStyle Magazine, executive editor of Harper's Bazaar, and senior editor of W Magazine. Christina is the head of Sotheby's Media and editor-in-chief of Sotheby's Magazine.
She is the former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal magazine and executive editor of Harper's Bazaar. And she's done all this while balancing being a mom. Together, they've written this unbelievably smart, funny, and empowering guide to turning, you know, career shitballs into comebacks, and a reminder that getting fired is not failure, it's just part of the story.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What inspired Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill to write *All the Cool Girls Get Fired*?
0:00–2:12
2
How did the Instagram post spark the idea for the book and its viral response?
2:12–6:46
3
What personal experiences did the hosts share about being fired and the immediate aftermath?
6:46–10:03
4
How can women re‑frame job loss as an opportunity for growth and new beginnings?
10:03–15:03
5
What role does community support and storytelling play in healing after a layoff?
15:03–18:53
6
How do ageism and career transitions affect women over 50 who are let go?
18:53–22:53
7
What strategies help remove shame and manage anger or revenge after being fired?
22:53–27:00
8
How can listeners create closure and celebrate their own ‘cool‑girl’ comeback stories?
27:00–36:28