Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Oliver O’Connell.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As I said in my interview two years ago, my story is a bit of a winding road, and that has not changed. Since I was ten years old, I have focused on being a writer and expected to have a career where I sent my writing out into the world and I could stay in the background. Apparently, God had other plans. In my 30 years in Los Angeles, I did writing in between what paid the bills: contract and temporary work. For 20 years, I worked in legal technology, which gave me an amazing opportunity to learn software, but also sharpen soft skills like working with difficult people, finding solutions and workarounds to seemingly impossible problems, and navigating a corporate workplace which is an art unto itself. All those years of full-time work in various arenas taught me how to reinvent. I did it in order to survive but later realized that I was thriving in ways that would help me give a polished presentation and help me build my own business.
The economic fallout of 2008 was a hard hit. I was laid off a full-time job as a trainer and software analyst, my husband and I lost two houses, and the sister that I was closest to at that time lost her battle with cancer. The icing on this horrible cake was that my husband fell sick and ended up with a chronic condition that kept him out of work for several months. So, no opportunity to curl up into a ball and lick my wounds: I had to once again Reinvent, and that is what I did!
With no full-time employment demanding my attention and energy, my writing career blossomed with opportunities to write online. I wrote for seven years on Faith and Community for Examiner.com, as well as other online publications like Washington Times Communities and Communities Digital News, where I penned articles on politics, pop culture, and reinvention. Since I lived in Los Angeles, I covered a lot of Hollywood: from red carpet events to film festivals to interviewing up-and-coming actors, writers, directors, and producers. These opened up opportunities to travel back to D.C. to cover the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and to Michigan to cover a film production.
I also founded and facilitated a career group called Tuesdays with Transitioners. With the sponsorship of my church at the time (Congregational Church of Northridge), I ran the group from 2009-2014, giving aid and support to those like me, who had their career derailed, or were in transition from one career to another. This took me to Washington, DC, where I was invited to be a part of a U.S. Department of Labor panel. I also helped to co-found a group called CareerCamp International, and with my partners, we held career events throughout the Los Angeles area and the Santa Clarita Valley for a number or years. I utilized all the knowledge, talent, and resources I had gained to assist others in getting up to speed technologically and psychologically for a job market that had pulled the rug out from under them. It inspired others, gave people a new perspective, and transformed my own perspective on what I could offer to others in front of the scenes rather than behind the scenes.
During that period, I also became a Yoga instructor and a programming lead for teacher trainings. I am an experienced RYT-500 instructor, and for ten years, I regularly taught classes that focused on transformation through information and inspiration and traveled to the South to do advanced teacher training. For five years, I trained Yoga teachers and mentored while cementing my life in the forefront by participating in some terrific opportunities to represent the Yoga and body-positive community.
The pandemic happened, and once again, it required Reinvention and redirection. My foot fully landed back in the political realm, so I write on Politics, Pop Culture, and the American story for RedState.com and on my own As the Girl Turns Substack page. My husband and I relocated to Orange County, and I have had additional opportunities to participate in panels and do public speaking for organizations like Republican Women’s Federated and the California Republican Party.
I incorporated all that I do under the umbrella of As the Girl Turns Inc. The unique and varied perspective I have gained over the years of striving and struggle allowed me to build a platform where I can help others to rethink, refocus, and reinvent.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has never been smooth, and there were times when I had to pave it myself. I have worked hard to be known as a writer and to become a working one primarily. From being robbed of money and bylines to being screwed over by agents to two book publishing opportunities being rescinded, it’s been a tough time of having to evaluate my purpose and re-align my goals to fit the situation. I have come through on the other side with a wealth of published work, a reputation that allows work to come to me, and a new book on the horizon–so patience has had its perfect work!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an investigative journalist, freelance writer, and entrepreneur: helping others reinvent and creating Yoga-inspired workshops and programs.
I write on politics, pop culture, and entertainment on Substack and for RedState.com. I have been a featured analyst/commentator for radio programs like “The Grace Curley Show,” “The Larry O’Connor Show,” “All American Radio with Jennifer Kerns,” KMOX’s “The Mark Reardon Show,” SiriusXM Patriot’s “Stacy on the Right,” and other radio, cable, and streaming news programs.
I am also a scholar/contributor to the 2018 Outstanding References Sources List (RUSA) and American Book Fest 2017 Award-winning women’s encyclopedia: “Women in American History, A Social, Political, and Cultural Encyclopedia and Document Collection.”
In my writings, I have studied, interviewed, and featured individuals who, through ordinary and extraordinary means, have made huge accomplishments in their professions and in the world. One of my interview subjects, an entrepreneur and music producer, asked me to collaborate with him on his memoir, “The Making Of An American Hip-Hop Tycoon.” The book is slated for release this summer.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Please read my work on RedState (RedState.com/authors/jenniferoo) and on Substack (asthegirlturns.substack.com). My Substack paid subscribers get deeper dives into my investigations and analysis of current events, full-length videos of my interviews and speaking engagements, as well as my library of writings and podcasts from years past, and special invitations to certain events.
My Yoga workshops are customized to groups like musicians, gun owners, and those with injuries. Visit my website: asthegirlturns.com for packages and pricing. Or email me at info@asthegirlturns.com.
Pricing:
- Substack subscriber: $15.00 a month/$150.00 annually
Contact Info:
- Email: info@asthegirlturns.com
- Website: https://asthegirlturns.com
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/AstheGirlTurns
- Twitter: https://Twitter.com/asthegirlturns
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/jennifer.oliver.oconnell
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jennifer-oliver-oconnell
- Other: https://redstate.com/authors/jenniferoo
https://asthegirlturns.substack.com
Image Credits:
Main headshot: Andrea V. Photography All other shots: Jennifer Oliver O’Connell or Lynn R. O’Connell
