State Your Identity

By Jennie Cook

Photography by Denisse Leon, via Unsplash 

My job’s always been a huge part of how I define myself. After 10 years of presenting at the same radio station while it went through several re-brands, being on the radio was a massive part of my identity. So when I had a baby and didn’t get to go back to work, it really hit me hard. Instead of having this amazing job that was a great conversation starter I was suddenly someone new. I was ‘Martha’s Mum’ and almost every conversation I had seemed to be about house prices, nurseries and baby poo.

I knew I needed to do something creative for myself and also to reposition myself in the job market as a solo presenter who could tackle serious stuff as well as entertainment. I’ve always been a feminist and suddenly it felt like the right time for my own particular brand of activism.

I’ve always been a feminist and suddenly it felt like the right time for my own particular brand of activism.

So I set up ‘The Snash’ – a podcast about women, made in Scotland. It’s been a steep learning curve and there have been some dark moments of self doubt and fear – but mostly it’s been an incredible way to meet all sorts of fascinating women, and finally taking on a proper creative endeavour of my own has been really empowering.

Every time I find myself frozen with fear or wondering if I even know what I’m doing I reach out to other people. I talk through how I’m feeling or whichever particular knot I can’t untie and I allow them to guide me through it. Or, I imagine what I would say to a good friend who came to me with the same doubts. And I give myself a break. And whenever that nasty Imposter Syndrome comes calling, I just pretend I can’t see it and repeat to myself ‘fake it till you make it’ and ‘why not me?’