Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Mazur
Hi Julia, 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?
I think some context as to how I grew up would be helpful; I grew up in a Russian Jewish household where a lot of the rhetoric from family and friends was that I should settle down, find a nice husband and have kids. I watched a lot of my friends get married and have children and found myself trying to do the same. I feel as though society has adopted this idea that the ideal of happiness is a traditional marriage: get married in your 20s, have kids by 30, buy a house, but when I found myself in those “safe” and “good on paper” relationships I was deeply unhappy and unfulfilled because I felt like I was checking off a box to appease other people. Through that process, I realized that’s not the only thing that can make you feel fulfilled. There are other paths. I’m 31 and single and feel very fulfilled by my life, my home, my career, my friends, and my family. So that’s really why I created my podcast, Pretty Much Done, because I want people to be pretty much done listening to the societal pressure and noise and be open to creating the lives that they want to live, for themselves, not because someone else told them it’s the way they should live but because it’s something that they want.
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?
While paving this path for myself, I’ve received a lot of negative feedback both in my public and private life. Growing up in a Russian Jewish culture I received a lot of questioning on my decisions ranging from my career, my move to Austin, and why I haven’t “settled down,” from family and friends.
In September of 2023, I received a lot of backlash from people like Matt Walsh, Candace Owens and Stephen Miller about the way I choose to live my life. They took a video I posted to Tiktok and called my life meaningless because I don’t have a family and kids. It was challenging having to experience so much unsolicited hate from people.
Although I may not be where “society” says I should be in life, I like to remind myself that I get the opportunity to live life the way I want to, so long as it does not negatively impact others. I enjoy filling my own cup doing things I love and surrounding myself with people that I love. I believe that we only get one shot at this life, and life is too short to be living a life that does not fulfill you, or worrying about what other people think.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I host a weekly podcast called Pretty Much Done, which is a dating and relationship podcast mostly focused on the relationship we have with ourselves. Pretty Much Done is a podcast for people who are pretty much done listening to societal pressure and noise surrounding dating, and feeling empowered to create the lives that they want to live, for themselves. Since starting the podcast two years ago, I have interviewed countless experts, authors, dating coaches, and wellness personalities. The podcast has been mentioned in global publications like Rolling Stone, Newsweek, NBC News, and many others. In addition to the podcast, I coach women on how to enjoy their single lives, find their purpose, and lead fulfilling lives. I’m most proud of the fact that that after a decade of dating and looking for a happily ever after, the ending I was looking for came through the process of finding my purpose: helping people learn that they should never settle for less.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m a huge proponent in taking risks in life to get where you want to go. My most recent risk was actually my move to Austin. After living in Los Angeles for most of my life, and working in consumer tech for over 7 years, I felt the pull calling me to shake up my routine and live elsewhere. I felt like a cog in the wheel at my corporate job, and like my day to day in LA felt stagnant. After looking at short term rentals on Zillow in Austin, I found myself agreeing to a home swap a few days later. The move led to me having to quit my corporate job and start my own coaching business, but I finally feel fulfillment in my career that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. While everyday is different and scary and comes with it’s own set of obstacles, I know I am moving closer to my purpose and feel content knowing I am helping people find peace in their single lives; knowing that they are not alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prettymuchdonepod.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmdpod/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pmdpod?lang=en
Image Credits
Headshots – https://www.instagram.com/dustin.j.ha/
