---
title: Damsel in Distressed with Dominique Mielle
description: Dominique Mielle joins the Insight Bridge to discuss the current state of the distressed debt landscape and her book, Damsel in Distressed.
---

[Insight Bridge Podcast ](https://www.feg.com/insight-bridge-podcast)

# [Damsel in Distressed with Dominique Mielle](https://www.feg.com/insight-bridge-podcast/damsel-in-distressed)

 Written by [FEG](https://www.feg.com/insight-bridge-podcast/author/feg) | April 7, 2022

This episode of the FEG Insight Bridge features Dominique Mielle, well-known distressed debt investor, former partner and senior portfolio manager at Canyon Capital, and author of the book *Damsel in Distressed: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Funds*. After 20+ years in distressed debt investments, she published the first-ever hedge fund memoir by a woman. Dominique and Greg discuss what it was like to be the only woman in the room (and an immigrant, no less), what inspired her to write a book about her experiences, and why she decided to retire before 50. Dominique also explains why diversity is a key asset for hedge funds, how the recent changes in Fed activity are affecting the distressed landscape, and which American habit she simply cannot stand.

**Chapters**

0:00 - Intro

0:35 - Episode Overview

01:58 – Dominique’s story

04:04 – Defining distressed debt investing

06:46 – Breaking down the tools of the trade

10:15 – What types of debt can be distressed?

11:35 – Dominique’s shift from investor to author

15:29 – Being the only woman in the room

19:07 – The hidden asset of diverse perspectives

23:20 – Building resilience in the ups and downs of the market

28:23 – The impact of QE and QT on distressed investing

30:31 – Dominique’s take on diminishing returns in the hedge fund industry

34:56 – On retiring before 50 and life in retirement

38:20 – The one American habit Dominique can’t stand

 

[View full post](https://www.feg.com/insight-bridge-podcast/damsel-in-distressed)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "FEG"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-04-11T15:08:07.322Z",
  "datePublished" : "2022-04-07T14:09:17Z",
  "headline" : "Damsel in Distressed with Dominique Mielle",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 301,
    "url" : "https://www.feg.com/hubfs/Podcast%20Website%20Feature%20%28Mielle%29-01-1.png",
    "width" : 400
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.feg.com/insight-bridge-podcast/damsel-in-distressed",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Insight Bridge Podcast"
  }
}
```