Meet Ashley Oken

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Oken a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something that I still deal with sometimes, but I drown it out by taking in all of the things that I have been able to achieve and knowing that I have earned my way to where I am today through hard work, persistence, and kindness to others. Being in the music and writing industries means that social media accolades such as a large following, podcast interviews, and book deals can be loud and seen as the only ways to seem successful or legitimate. It’s always great to try and keep in mind that social media is a highlight reel that shows an end result to an audience— the process of getting the opportunities is hidden. As long as someone puts in the hard work, persists in their professional life. and has passion, they can also reach their goals.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I do a lot of different kinds of things: I am an entertainment journalist, a screenwriter, a copy editor, a film producer, an educator, and a product manager for comedy television.

Being a story teller is at the heart of what I do and I love getting to know the people who make art and helping them tell their stories to the wider world. My lifelong love of writing and words and emo rock music — I read grammar books for fun as a kid and binged Linkin Park as a kid— is something I have always found comfort in and go back to when life feels overwhelming. It was always my dream to be able to write about music and I pursued it after getting my master’s degree in education and grieving my mom after she had passed — she had wanted to pursue my dreams— and I went for it, pushing through lows, doubts, and rejections for years before carving out my career.

Now, I have expanded into book writing, film production, screenwriting, and working with adult comedy shows. I’m most excited about finishing up with writing my book on the alternative rock scene from the early aughts to present, seeing the release of a horror movie that I was a producer for, working on TV and film projects, and doing social media for comedy television. It’s been a crazy ride, but I’m so glad that I have been lucky enough to achieve so many goals and I landed in a place where I am proud of myself.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have been most impactful for my journey are persistence, passion, and kindness. Journalism is an industry that can be full of rejection, leading to bouts of self doubt, anxiety, and depression. It’s crucial to not absorb someone else’s perspective on your work and take it on as your own, which can be easier said than done at times. Instead, I have learned to not take it personally and say that a no means not now. An opportunity to interview a band can come back around, a book idea can be a fit for another publisher, or a song can resonate with a different audience. Having passion for the field can be a buffer for the difficult times and can help you remember what attracted you to this endeavor initially. Additionally, being kind is always great to be in general, but something that is crucial in a people oriented environment. People will help others who are kind, generous, and not looking for anything else.

For folks who are looking to enter the journalism industry, I always advise people to put in the work, truly learn the business and the music history of the genre that you want to focus on, and be kind and reliable.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing that my parents ever gave me was unconditional love and the room to truly be myself and pursue my dreams. My mom always read every short story I wrote as a kid, took me to museums and the Brooklyn library to let me take out books, and listened to Linkin Park with me in the car, never making me feel weird about liking things that were not to her taste. My dad similarly encouraged my writing abilities, got me dictionaries and a range of different books on language, science, music, and other topics, and let me figure out how to pursue my writing career from the start, always trying to help me along the way if he could. I love my parents with all of my heart and I love that they always have made me feel like I could achieve my goals, even when I don’t see it. Any time I write a new piece or listen to new music, I like to think that my mom sees it too, wherever she is. Most of all, I’m glad that they have given me the opportunity to pursue my own path in something I love, have taught me to not be scared to pivot or expand professionally, and have let me be myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @themillionthashleyyouknow