Dominique Browning: "Slow Love"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-05-25/dominique-browning-slow-love
The fast-charging, career-oriented editor-in-chief of Conde Nast's "House and Garden" describes how her life changed after the magazine folded. We learn how she lost a job and found a happier life.
Guests
Dominique Browning
Author, "Paths of Desire: Passions of a Suburban Gardener" and "Around the House and In the Garden". She is also the former editor of "House and Garden" Magazine.
Comments
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I often buy books of guests you have on your show. I will not be purchasing this book, however. This woman is egotistical and arrogant. I don't feel sympathy for a woman losing a 6 figure income that forces her to sell her vacation home. Boo Hoo.
Classism is being waged by the comments of WEN on your site and by the book reviewer mentioned earlier in the broadcast. A person's salary have nothing to do with their life experiences as a fellow human. Someone who works hard to obtain a position in life should not have to defend it because they have achieved heights that others may envy.
Domininque is what is great about America: no matter how good you are, no matter how educated and how skilled you are, no matter how life has treated you so well, it will happen that you will be tested and tried by life. The only thing you can do is pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get back at it. Never give up on yourself! Sounds like Dominique has a great opportunity to be so tested and be refined by the experience. That is what makes us even better in America. Bravo!
Tom
I almost always enjoy Diane's guests, but this woman really turns me off! I'm certainly not jealous of her... and plenty of people work hard but don't get the breaks that she has gotten. it's not always as simple that "you make your own luck".
I am a huge fan of Diane Rehm who I think i one of the highlights of the npr schedule but rarely have I ever cared less for a guest. there just doesn't seem to be much interesting or stirring about her story. She just spouts out platitudes. She already quoted Fred Astaine: "pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again" (or maybe its just that she pronounces "debacle" with a french accent.)
She is an inspiration to some and a spire to others...
AMEN!!! (to ehanlo)
I enjoy many DR shows and don't care for others. This is the first one I choose to turn off. Geeze, this woman is a whiner. I've had this happen to me twice in my life and several have done the same...oh, but I didn't have that second house to sell. We all have trials in life. This woman does nothing for me. I'll just tune in tomorrow and hope the subject is a bit more interesting. Please, do better in the future.
I have a hard time identifying with this particular guest. I think that the economic crisis has focused too much on the inconveniences of upper middle class people having to roll up their sleeves like so many Americans have to do everyday, no matter what the economic situation is. I had never even heard of House and Garden magazine before your show today and what this segment confirms for me is that your show is not for people with my upper lower class background, your show is not capable of speaking many languages or appealing to the many different types of Americans out there. This segment of your show was an irrelevant and naive disappointment, a true let-down, and I don't think I will be listening in the future.
Dominique might not garner much sympathy with listeners because of her station in the economic spectrum & because she is a strong, intelligent, well-educated, financially stable, well-connected woman. Most people who find themselves out of a job don't have the luxury to sit in their pjs & find meaning in their life. They are too worried about putting food on the table.
But, listening to her story reminds me of how I felt when I became a stay-at-home mom. My situation was made by my choice, but I still found myself floundering through my days, wondering who I was, what I had become & what my purpose in life was.
I will be reading her book. Thanks for having her on.
I am fascinated, surprised by the comments here.
I do think there is something about being a woman who has worked her way to the top. I care about those on all levels who have lost their way. It is painful and utterly disorienting regardless of yoru socio-economic level.
I am especially fascinated by Dominiques experiences of being snubbed. I have certainly experienced that with unwelcomed life changes. It is a fact of life but it is shocking and adds dramatically to the grief and pain of the original loss.
I find this segment fascinating both in its content and it the reaction to it.
PS - I live in Birmingham, AL where the downsizing of the magazine world has been devastating to our community which until recently was a headquarters for a large number of magazines under the Time banner.
I agree with WEN, but I do feel that the writer does serve a useful purpose in bringing attention to how this deep deep recession is reaching into the upper class. They are getting their feet wet, the middle class is treading water and the poor are adrift or drowning.
Also, the last caller mentioned that it is that job loss is the same for a clerical person as a CEO clearly demonstrates the wide gap between the rich and the poor in this country. The CEO that lost his job has immediate resources at hand , the clerical person does not.
Seriously? I am still in awe of this segment. It's not about her socioeconomic background. DRS has wealthy and accomplished people on all the time. It's just that the level of pretentiousness from this guest is astounding. And, Diane seemed to just feed this person's hubris and validate her whines of privilege. I understand her level of defensiveness, as wealthy people are constantly having to defend their status, but that's a consequence of being at the top. I'm trying to empathize, but it's difficult because she's so defensive and entitled. I was really disappointed in this segment.
Hi I just listened to the last half of the show and really can relate to the author. However my personal connection is not one of success but being still stuck in a rut. Would it be possible to have Ms. Browning comment on the situation of lack of finances, unemployed, widow, single parent of 4, and no family support? I am trying to locate work after being a stay at home mom while being married for 20 years, and feel the job search overwhelming. This is in addition to not being able to afford therapy, I feel I am going crazy!
[written in reply to Rachel's comment]
I like many of the Diane Rehm Show segments but not all.
This segment did not speak to a number of people but do you really want to miss out on some riveting discussions because you were offended by one guest?
I am not wealthy, in fact quite poor and unemployed, hoping like crazy to hold onto my home, but I found Dominique's story and position to be one I connect with. How limiting life would be if we shut the door on programs like DR because one segment was not to our own personal liking. too limited
(I think the "reply" feature could be reworked so that it actually posts below the comment being replied to.)
hpbukoski - you and I have much in common - widow, raising a young child, looking for work and creating a business to generate an income. A real struggle.
I wish we could find a way to connect and offer support.
It made me feel angry to hear this wealthy woman discuss her unemployment woes when so many are one step away from the homeless shelter. Don't you folks have a clue about what's really going on out there? Let them eat cake!
i feel its tragic when any person of every finantial level looses their job. i love to hear when someone was smart and saved and worked hard. ms browning is a great exapmle of this.
WEN, chill out...
I am so sick of wealthy fortunate people saying how all their good fortune is because of their hard work. Most of us work very very hard, I find this whole interview to be distastefully self-pitying and self-congratulatory. I agree with Wen; boo-hoo indeed.
It looks to me like you are envious and jealous.
John, I so agree with you. I listened to the interview this morning and can really identify with Dominique. I lost my job 6 months ago with not much hope in finding another one given the horrible unemployment rate and what Dominique talks about is dead on. Some of my friends have no idea what it is like to lose a job and the sense of loss you have. I have a few friends who don't call or even email anymore. Some do not even want to talk about job loss as if it is contagious.
Dusting ourselves off and re-inventing ourselves in the wake of a loss, is something we do; often never revealing the true impacts of the loss to the world. We strike the pose of "new opportunity" and get on with doing what we have to do.
I was forced-out of a high profile leadership position 10 years ago after the person senior to me died of cancer. The new ED brought in his own people. It was ever-so-sad watching my colleagues "go-down"; and utlimately, the turret shifted in my direction. It was devastating to gradually lose my work, my home, my community, my "friends", my circle of influence in a decade of sweeping transition. Though I moved on and adapted to a significantly reduced lifestyle, the "anniversary" of that loss, ironically, this very week, still stirs unexpected feelings of deep loss, loneliness and inadequacy.
Your interview could not have come at a better time. Thank you. I look forward to reading your book.