Thrive Solo

Lucy Meggeson

Let’s be real — being single and child-free? It’s pretty damn awesome. Don’t believe me? Stick around. I promise you, by listening to this podcast, you’re going to start seeing your solo life in a whole new light — one that feels empowering, exciting, and full of possibility.

I’m Lucy Meggeson, and I’m here to help you stop seeing singlehood as a consolation prize and start embracing it as the incredible opportunity that it is. Because the truth? Being single isn’t second best. It’s not a waiting room. And it sure as hell isn’t a life of lack. In fact, when you lean into it, it can be just as fulfilling—if not more so—than being coupled up with kids.

And besides, no matter what our relationship status, what we all really want is to feel good in the here and now. So instead of focusing on what’s ‘missing,’ let’s focus on what’s possible. The freedom. The adventure. The extra time and headspace to create a life that’s truly our own.

Because here’s the thing: you are so much more powerful than you realise. Your thoughts shape your reality. And when you shift your mindset, you shift your life. My mission isn’t just to help you feel better about being single—it’s to help you recognise your own agency. To help you see that you are the creator of your own experience. And that you, and you alone, get to decide what your life looks like.

So join me here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and let’s build lives that feel joyful, meaningful, and wildly fulfilling — on our own terms.

Let’s Thrive Solo…together.

E-mail me at lucy@lucymeggeson.com

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Jul 6, 2023 · 21 min
Thursday Thoughts - Personal Development
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this first 'Thursday Thoughts' episode, my friend Polly and I talk about how we both got into personal development work and why we love it so much. Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jul 4, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
The One Where I Talk To Writer & School Friend, Marie Phillips
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to one of my old school friends, Marie Phillips. Marie is a writer and storyteller, based in London and publishing and performing across the world. Her debut novel, Gods Behaving Badly was released in 2007, was an international bestseller, and was made into a film starring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone. Her subsequent novels include the Baileys Prize-nominated, The Table of Less Valued Knights, Oh I Do Like To Be…, and Create Your Own Midlife Crisis. Marie wrote her first radio series, Warhorses of Letters, with the playwright Robert Hudson in 2011, which starred Stephen Fry and Daniel Rigby and ran for three seasons on BBC Radio Four. She has been storytelling since 2019, touring Europe with shows including Lalaei, a reworking of Ovid accompanied by music. Topics that Marie & I cover are: how Marie and I are old school friends; how she has added storytelling and performing to her repertoire; the new one-woman show that she will be performing for the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival in November which is all about her maternal grandmother; the idea of redefining not just spinsterhood, but womanhood, as more than just a relationship and children; the often complicated stories around women who have children, and those who don’t; how Marie is childless due to a combination of choice and circumstance, and how she has often struggled with the narrative of who a woman is when she doesn’t have kids; how although she felt that she didn’t want children from a young age, Marie’s discovery that she fertility issues led to a period of grief around not having them; her frustration that a romantic relationship is so often seen to be THE most important thing in our lives; how Marie has always found living alone to be a lonely experience, and how until recently she lived with housemates; how the only difference between single people and those in relationships is simply 1 person; the years Marie spent living in Amsterdam and her motivation for moving there; the difference in the stories we tell about women and men; the continuing pressure on women to continue to look younger than their years; the importance of being a positive role model so younger women realise that there isn’t just one path in life; how Marie found being single in her thirties far more difficult than being single in her forties. Follow Marie on Twitter: @mpphillips Marie’s Website: https://mariephillips.co.uk/ Buy Marie’s Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Marie-Phillips/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AMarie+Phillips Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jul 1, 2023 · 11 min
Minisode Ep.60 - No One Is Coming To Save You
Send us Fan Mail Support the show On this week's minisode, I'm getting on my soap box about taking responsibility for our own lives because, after all...no one is coming to save you. Harsh as this may sound, not only is it true, but it's important to understand that we need to take ownership of our lives, rather than waiting for a relationship to come along and rescue us. Forget knights in shining armour, WE get to be the hero of our own story. Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 27, 2023 · 1 hr 5 min
The One Where I Talk To One Of My Listeners, Maddie Southorn
Send us Fan Mail Support the show My very special guest this week is one of my fabulous listeners, the lovely Maddie Southorn, who works in communications and business development for a legal educational charity. She is also a singer-songwriter, musician, and knitter of cat toys! (Check out her Etsy store - link below). Topics that Maddie & I cover are: how Maddie is single by circumstance and her struggles around that; her most recent relationship and how they were engaged to be married; how it took Maddie a while to adjust to living on her own; Maddie’s experience of being single, and how turning 50 sparked a bit of an existential crisis; how a combination of things mean she c urrently feels very shaky around her singlehood; how Maddie’s Mum being ill has been incredibly difficult for her, and is making Maddie feel very alone and vulnerable when she thinks about her future; the importance of working on our thoughts and how Maddie works hard on her own mindset; online dating and how Maddie chooses not to engage in it because it feels so contrived; how Maddie misses the fun and excitement of dating in the ‘organic’ way that people used to; how Maddie knew from a young age that she didn’t want kids, and how she used to feel there was something wrong with her because of it; how Maddie is a rockstar at heart; how she describes her music as piano-based, moody and a little bit mournful. Follow Maddie on Instagram: @maddiesouthorn Follow Maddie on Twitter: @maddiesouthorn Check out Maddie’s music: maddiesouthorn.bandcamp.com Check out Maddie’s Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Knitmaresandcathair?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 24, 2023 · 26 min
Minisode Ep.59 - 11 Of My Favourite Quotes & Why I Love Them
Send us Fan Mail Support the show On this week's minisode, I'm sharing 11 of my favourite quotes and the reasons why I love them. You can't move for quotes on social media these days, but my own love of them stems from waaaayyy back when I was but a wee thing. As well as reading out these 11 fabulous quotes, I'm also talking about exactly why I love them, and how - if you let them - they may just change your life...;) Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 20, 2023 · 57 min
The One Where I Talk To Professor & Author, Peggy O'Donnell Heffington
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to history professor and author, Peggy O’Donnell Heffington. Peggy O’Donnell Heffington is a professor in the Department of History at the University of Chicago, where she teaches courses on gender and women’s history as well as historical research and writing methods. When she’s not answering email, you can usually find her trail running, baking gluten free cake, and looking at clothes on the internet. Peggy lives outside of Chicago with her husband Bob and two pugs, Ellie and Jake. Without Children: The Long History Of Not Being A Mother, is Peggy’s first book. Topics that Peggy & I cover are: how and why Peggy came to be childfree; how finding herself in an environment where the ‘norm’ was to have children, was what prompted her to think about her own situation; the many, many shades of grey in terms of the reasons for not having children; the weaponisation of the word ‘spinster’; what motivated her to write a book about the history of non-mothers; how the question of not having kids can be far beyond just a lack of desire, and more about the context of your life; The weird and wonderful ways that women avoided pregnancy and birth in the times before birth control and abortion; how the reasons that women a century ago chose not to have kids weren’t that different from the reasons women cite today; the divide between mothers and women without children throughout history, and where we are today; how 200 years ago, the divide was not so much of an issue as children were raised much more communally; the ‘European Marriage Pattern’; why the statistics show that people with children report themselves to be 12% less happy than non-parents; how we rarely talk about what we actually gain by not having children, or what parents have to sacrifice by having them. Follow Peggy on Instagram: @peggyohdonnell Follow Peggy on Twitter: @peggyohdonnell Peggy’s website: http://poheffington.com/ UK Link to Peggy’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Children-History-Being-Mother/dp/1541675576 US Link to Peggy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Without-Children-History-Being-Mother/dp/1541675576 Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 17, 2023 · 23 min
Minisode Ep.58 - The Monumental Power Of Not Giving A Sh*t What Others Think
Send us Fan Mail Support the show On this week's minisode, I'm talking about how much better life gets when we stop giving a sh*t what other people think. This is a biggie, because we all suffer from the fear of judgement to one degree or another; but do we realise how much it's holding us back? Letting go of our worries and concerns about the opinions of others might just be the best damn thing we can do for ourselves and our lives, because with it comes liberation and the freedom to live our lives authentically. Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 13, 2023 · 1 hr 7 min
The One Where I Talk To Journalist & Life Coach, Ariana Dunne
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to journalist, life coach and podcaster, Ariana Dunne. Ariana Dunne is a journalist, a life coach, a celebrant, and an entrepreneur. She has worked for major publications including DMG, Bauer, Telegraph, Dennis and Maximum Media. Perpetually single by choice, Ariana has lived a fabulous solo life for most of her twenties and thirties. In 2017 she bought an apartment by herself, in 2018 she set up her own businesses, and in 2022 she spent a year solo travelling across Europe with her dog, Molly. Ariana is single but she plans on exploring a solo journey to parenthood. Through her brand new podcast, Solo Powered, she wants to encourage more people to live happy lives doing things on their own. Topics that Ariana & I cover are: how she’s one of eight children and her family moved around alot when she was young; how she always recognised the importance of being independent; how ‘settling down’ is at odds with her values of freedom and independence; why we shouldn’t wait for a relationship to go and enjoy life; the story of how Ariana bought flat in Dublin on her own; how she adores living on her own; couples who are married but live apart; Ariana’s journey towards being a solo Mum, and how she still has her doubts about giving up her single life; how an injury prevented her from taking part in an MMA cage fight; how being a mother doesn’t necessarily have to follow the same template as everyone else; Ariana’s solo travels around Europe with her dog, Molly; why solo travel is one of the greatest joys that we can experience; how the excitement of life lies in the unknown; Ariana’s new podcast, Solo Powered, and how we need to start celebrating doing things alone. Follow Ariana on Instagram: @ask_arianadunne Follow Ariana on LinkedIn: Ariana Dunne Ariana’s website: https://arianadunne.com/ Link to Solo Powered Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/solo-powered-with-ariana-dunne/id1682328747 Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 10, 2023 · 16 min
Minisode Ep.57 - I Am Not A Lesbian
Send us Fan Mail Support the show On this week's minisode, I'm talking about some of the assumptions people make about single women when they cannot wrap their heads around the fact that they might actually be single, childless, and...happy. In my case, those assumptions have included me being a lesbian and...a virgin. WTF?! Press 'Play' and prepare to be amused. ;) Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 6, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
The One Where I Talk To Events Manager & Podcaster, Jennie Becker
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to Director of Events and podcaster, Jennie Becker. Jennie is the Director of Events and Activations UKI at WeWork. She has over 13 years of experience in the world of Events & Partnerships working for companies such as the British Fashion Council, LTK and Stella McCartney and organising events such as London Fashion Week & The British Fashion Awards. She now plays a key role in the scaling and elevation of events and activations across WeWork in UKI. Originally from Manchester, Jennie now lives in London and last year launched her podcast, Sliding Doors, which she continues to run independently asking people in the public eye to delve into their Sliding Doors moments. It has had an amazing response/downloads, with main features on Apple Podcasts, The Best Podcast Pick in The Daily Mail, Press coverage in all national newspapers and entering the podcast charts in the top 30. Topics that Jennie & I cover are: her amazing job at WeWork; Jennie’s first true love, and how she had her heart badly broken; how she hasn’t been in another relationship since that one; how she is ready to meet someone and wants to get married and have children; how she enjoys her own company, but worries sometimes that she enjoys it too much; how turning 30 saw Jennie become more of herself, and things started to shift in a positive way for her; how she has done alot of inner work, and subsequently understands that a partner will not fix her problems; the concept of ‘settling’ and how she would rather be alone forever than be with someone who doesn’t enhance her life; how Jennie loves being alone, but she finds weekends difficult as a single woman; how we have the power to shift our energy and move into a more positive mood; how Jennie has travelled several times and her solo happy place is Portugal; Her podcast, Sliding Doors, and how much Jennie loves creating it. how Jennie always felt as though she wanted more, and that motivated her to start a podcast; Follow Jennie on Instagram: @jenbecks28 Follow Jennie on LinkedIn: Jennie Becker Link to Jennie’s podcast, Sliding Doors, on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sliding-doors/id1546497838 Link to Jennie’s podcast, Sliding Doors, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ulGR6xXrVXABE1kfbxtm4 Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
Jun 3, 2023 · 13 min
Minisode Ep.56 - There's Nothing Wrong With You
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In today's minisode, I'm sharing my thoughts on why there's nothing wrong with you just because you happen to be single. There is sometimes an assumption amongst partnered people, that if a person has been single for any length of time - particularly a woman of a 'certain age' - there must be 'something wrong' with her. I beg to differ... Because let's be honest, any old fu*kwit with red flags flying out of every orifice, can find themselves in a relationship. People in couples come in all shapes, sizes, personality types and deviant behaviours, so let's give single people a break. There's nothing wrong with you. Press 'Play' to hear why. Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 30, 2023 · 57 min
The One Where I Talk To Financial Coach, Tess Waresmith
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to financial coach, Tess Waresmith. Tess is a single, childless woman who currently runs a financial education business, @wealthwithtess, that teaches women how to take control of their finances by improving their money mindset and learning simple ways to invest their money so they can live life on their terms and step into their full power. Topics that Tess & I cover are: how Tess came to be a financial coach, following the loss of a significant amount of money; how investing is really not complicated and anyone can do it; how she’s passionate about educating women in all things finance; money mindset, what it is, and why it’s important to understand; how awareness around money is the first step towards working on your money mindset; limiting beliefs around money, and why it’s so important to work on them; why our attitude towards any financial transaction is so important; the small changes to start with when it comes to money; how to start investing - stocks and index funds; how to decrease risk if you’re investing at a later stage in life; Tess’ thoughts on being single, and how she has experienced the most growth in her periods of being alone. Follow Tess on Instagram: @wealthwithtess Follow Tess on Twitter: @wealthwithtess Tess’ website: https://wealthwithtess.com/ Link to Tess’ (FREE) Financial Independence Checklist https://www.moneyconfidentcoach.com/optin1676043690053 Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 27, 2023 · 9 min
Minisode Ep.55 - Single 'Not By Choice'
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's minisode, I'm talking about why the term 'single not by choice' is a source of frustration for me. Much like the many shades of grey between the words 'childless' and 'childfree', people often forget that the term 'single not by choice' can also be subject to nuance - and doesn't necessarily translate as 'desperate for a partner.' Among other things, I talk about the assumptions around women who are 'single not by choice', as well as why I've decided to opt out of categorising myself under the umbrella of 'relationship status'. Press 'Play' and let me know what you think! Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 23, 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
The One Where I Talk To Journalist & Author, Rebecca Traister
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to journalist and author, Rebecca Traister. Rebecca Traister is writer at large for New York magazine. A National Magazine Award winner, she has written about women in politics, media, and entertainment from a feminist perspective for The New Republic and Salon and has also contributed to The Nation, The New York Observer, The New York Times and The Washington Post. She is the author of Good and Mad, and All The Single Ladies, both New York Times best-sellers, and the award-winning Big Girls Don’t Cry. Topics that Rebecca & I cover are: how it took getting engaged for Rebecca to feel called to write a book about single women; how she spent the majority of her twenties and early thirties as a single women; Rebecca’s frustration at marriage still being regarded as the beginning of ‘real’ adulthood; how other people’s reactions to her getting married made her very curious about the history of single women; the increase in the median age of marriage over the years; the reasons for the move away from marriage that begun in the late 19th century; how marriage has been used as a way of organising power, and controlling reproduction, throughout history; how women were often forced to ‘attach’ themselves to a man for economic reasons; how marriage wasn’t built around the notion of love; how the advent of teaching became one of the ways for women to earn money; how women in the 19th century often feared being within a marriage because of the very real dangers of pregnancy and childbirth at that time; the challenge, even now, of getting people to accept and acknowledge that life outside of marriage is valid and full; how the victory is not in unmarried life vs married life, but in securing options besides the one and only path of marriage; the frightening idea that the conservative right in the US are looking to return us to a place where women are economically and socially dependent on men; Roe v Wade and birth control; how progress and regress are always happening in tandem. Follow Rebecca on Twitter: @rtraister Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @rtraister1 Rebecca’s Website: https://rebeccatraister.com/ UK Link to Rebecca’s book, All The Single Ladies: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Single-Ladies-Unmarried-Independent/dp/1476716560 US Link to Rebecca’s book, All The Single Ladies: https://www.amazon.com/All-Single-Ladies-Unmarried-Independent/dp/1476716579 Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 20, 2023 · 14 min
Minisode Ep.54 - Why We Shouldn't Give Up So Easily
Send us Fan Mail In this week's minisode, I'm talking about why we shouldn't give up so easily when it comes to the practices we know will help us. There is a tendency, particularly when it comes to self help and mindfulness practices, to quit when we don't see instant results. But the truth is that, like most great things in life, it takes time, discipline and consistency to reap the benefits. And although it can be disheartening when we're implementing something new into our lives and we feel like we're not getting anywhere, it's those little things that we do when nobody's watching that tend to lead to the greatest rewards. So keep going, don't give up so easily, and remember that the time it takes to see those results is going to pass by faster than we can say 'Christmas'! Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 16, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
The One Where I Talk To Childfree Advocate, LeNora Faye
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to childfree lifestyle advocate, LeNora Faye. LeNora is a childfree lifestyle advocate who creates public and private global platforms for people choosing not to have / birth or raise children. She began her public advocacy work in 2018 after realising a need for more conversation about not wanting to have kids. Following a year of blogging, she co-created the international podcast and web series Childfree Girls which led to the development of Childfree Convention. In 2022, LeNora co-founded Childfree Media, a network of global content creators focused on choice awareness. Topics that LeNora & I cover are: how she came to work in the childfree space through her blog; what it looks like to be a childfree lifestyle advocate; the discomfort of being visible; LeNora’s experience of growing up in a cult, and how it impacted her decision to not have children; how she eventually left the cult by essentially disappearing for 10 years; how she always felt she had a calling for more; the similarities between dealing with the shame of being raised in a cult, and the shame of not having children; how being respected for choosing not to have children is something that many childfree people would appreciate; how LeNora is an introvert and subsequently requires plenty of alone time to recharge; our mutual love of road trips; finding your tribe and how it happens when you’re in flow; internet trolls and how to deal with them; Follow LeNora on Instagram: @childfreeblog Follow LeNora on Twitter: @glassviolin Follow LeNora on LinkedIn: @LeNora Faye LeNora’s website: lenorafaye.com Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 13, 2023 · 11 min
Minisode Ep.53 - The Wolf You Feed
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's minisode, I'm talking about the tale of the old Cherokee who tells his grandson about the battle that goes on inside of him - and all of us - between the good wolf and the bad wolf. When his grandson asks him "Which wolf will win?", the old man replies simply, "The one you feed." So the question is, which wolf will you feed? In other words, which version of yourself will get to run the show? Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 9, 2023 · 1 hr 1 min
The One Where I Talk To Writer, Kerry Graham
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to writer Kerry Graham. Kerry is a Baltimore-based writer and former English teacher. She is a Creative-in-Residence at the Baltimore Banner, and her essays and vignettes have appeared in dozens of publications. Huffington Post published her essay about being childfree by choice in three languages. Dan Rather said of Kerry’s writing, “in a sea of doom scrolling, a beautiful island of hope.” Topics that Kerry & I cover are: why she made the decision to stop talking about her relationship status; the story of how she came to be childfree; how she still struggles with other people’s perceptions of her childfree status; how we still live in a culture where the expectation is that you’ll become a mother; the implication that being single is a temporary state; how there are so many facets to human beings besides from our relationship status! the pressure on childfree women to make something amazing of their lives as a way of ‘making up for’ not having kids; how women tend to spend alot of time talking about their relationship status, when there is so much more to discuss; how we all have many important relationships in our lives, yet we prioritise romantic partners over and above all of them; Kerry’s experience of co-dependency in a previous long-term relationship; how, whilst other people can contribute to our happiness, we are ultimately responsible for it; why Kerry never wants to marry or cohabitate with anyone; the hard lessons she has learnt from previous relationships, and her determination not to repeat those same mistakes; ageing, and why we need to own it; Follow Kerry on Instagram: @mskerrygraham Follow Kerry on Twitter: @mskerrygraham Kerry’s website: https://www.mskerrygraham.com/ Email Kerry: kerry@mskerrygraham.com Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 6, 2023 · 22 min
Minisode Ep.52 - The Top 5 Regrets Of The Dying
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's minisode, I'm talking about a book by Australian author, Bronnie Ware, called The Top 5 Regrets Of The Dying. Whilst the title may not immediately spark joy, both the book and this episode are far more about life than they are about death. Bronnie spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which garnered so much attention that she turned it into a book. And if we want to learn how to truly live life, who better to take advice from than someone at the end of theirs? Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!
May 2, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
The One Where I Talk To Writers Joan DelFattore & Christina Campbell
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to writers Joan DelFattore & Christina Campbell. Joan DelFattore writes about living a single life in a world geared towards couples. Following her own experience of discrimination against being single in relation to her own cancer treatment, Joan wrote a peer-reviewed article that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019, showing that patients with cancer are more likely to receive surgery or radiotherapy if they're currently married than if they're divorced, separated, widowed, or never married. Previous guest, Christina, writes about invisible illness, singles’ rights, and the inexorable onslaught of entropy. After earning her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from George Mason University, Christina co-founded the singles’ advocacy blog, Onely. The site deconstructs cultural stereotypes about single hood, such as the myth that unmarried people die alone, eaten by their cats! Topics that Joan, Christina & I cover are Joan’s Tedx talk, ‘Sick While Single? Don’t Die of Discrimination’, and what prompted her to do it; how her research unearthed the systematic under treatment of single people; Joan’s 2019 article, Death by Stereotype, that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine; how many physicians can’t get their heads around a set up that isn’t family-based; Christina’s thoughts around the cultural expectation that people will automatically receive all the support they need from a spouse; the hesitation she sometimes feels around asking friends for help as a single woman; how Christina’s chronic tick-borne disease has often be misunderstood and even, at times, disbelieved; the discrimination Christina faces with regards her healthcare as a single woman; how she went to see a psychologist due to her ‘abnormality’ with regards not wanting to get married; Joan and Christina’s thoughts and advice around going through illness as a single; Christina’s Website: www.christinadc.com Contact Christina: www.onely.org Email Joan at: jdel4444@gmail.com Joan’s Website: joandelfattore.com Joan’s Tedx Talk - Sick While Single? Don’t Die Of Discrimination: https://www.ted.com/talks/joan_delfattore_sick_while_single_don_t_die_of_discrimination/details Support the show Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the Most Annoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!