Gillian Orr: Why Comparison Steals Motherhood

Comparison is the thief of joy—but motherhood can make the timelines women are measured against feel even louder. In this episode, Simona speaks with Gillian Orr, award-winning journalist, former Editor-in-Chief of Refinery29 UK and writer of Slouching Towards Bethnal Green. Gillian reflects on building a career in women’s media, becoming a mother at 39, having her role eliminated while she was on maternity leave, moving into freelance work and slowly finding her ambition again. They talk honestly about the loneliness of maternity leave, why high-powered motherhood so often depends on invisible help, the affluent version of motherhood over-represented in media, the rise and fall of “girlboss” culture, and Gillian’s decision to have one child. At the heart of the conversation is a simple permission slip: stop measuring your life against other people’s milestones and choose the timeline that is right for you. In this conversation: - Gillian’s journey from The Independent to launching Refinery29 UK - Career identity after maternity leave - Becoming a mother at 39 and the pressure attached to turning 35 - The loneliness that can accompany maternity leave - Why “having it all” usually depends on invisible help - What women’s media gets wrong about affluent motherhood - Choosing to have one child - Losing ambition, finding it again and allowing life to move in seasons - Why comparison and age-based milestones steal joy Content note: this episode includes discussion of fertility anxiety, pregnancy, prenatal depression, maternity leave and maternal identity. Gillian’s newsletter: https://gillianorr.substack.com/ Gillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillian\_\_orr/ Gillian’s Refinery29 archive: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/author/gillian-orr Follow Do Not Disturb: @donotdisturbpods If this conversation resonated, follow the show, leave a review and share it with a woman who needs permission to choose her own timeline. * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.