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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Feb 18, 2023 · 19 min
Minisode Ep.41 - Listen To Yourself, Not The Noise
Send us Fan Mail In this week's minisode, I'm talking about why we should learn to listen to ourselves, rather than the 'noise' from those around us. Whenever we want to make a change in our lives or do something different, be it big or small, there will always be people weighing in with their opinions on the subject. As women in particular, we can often be people pleasers meaning we may take (or not take) action based on the approval or disapproval of someone we would rather not upset, offend, or hurt. But why is it that we have a tendency to disregard our own wants and needs, in favour of someone else's thoughts on those wants and needs? After all, nobody else can see inside our minds or our hearts; and nobody else can or is experiencing our life first hand in the way that we are. Perhaps we need to learn to trust ourselves a little bit more - and listen to the sometimes faint voice of our intuition which - after all - is usually telling us exactly what we need to hear. 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!
Feb 14, 2023 · 48 min
The One Where I Talk About Self Love
Send us Fan Mail Support the show This week, it's a solo episode. It also happens to be Valentine's Day so I wanted to talk about L.O.V.E. love! But, not the romantic kind...I'm talking about SELF love. In my humble opinion, self love is the most important kind of love, and it trumps every other kind. Why? Because not only are we the one person who we literally spend every waking (and sleeping) hour with, but how we feel about ourselves affects absolutely every aspect of our lives. But what does 'loving ourself' actually look like? Well, it can look like saying no to the things we don't want to do; it can look like accepting the good, the bad and the ugly that makes us the human we see in the mirror; and most importantly it can look like living in alignment with who we really, truly are. When we love ourselves, and when we believe in ourselves, we are more likely to experience the kind of inner confidence that has us reaching for the things we truly desire in life. Whereas when we're lacking self love, we're more likely to live a life that is less than we deserve and are capable of, not to mention less than we want. It is not arrogant to love ourselves - it is necessary in order to become the best version of us, the person we really aspire to be. So go on...buy that bunch of red roses and give them to YOU. 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!
Feb 11, 2023 · 15 min
Minisode Ep.40 - It's ALWAYS Better To Be Single Than In The Wrong Relationship
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's minisode, I'm talking about why it's ALWAYS better to be single than be in the wrong relationship. Period. The End. The pressure that comes from societal narratives around avoiding singlehood at all costs should not be underestimated. And subsequently, when we're feeling motivated by a desperate desire to couple up, there's a danger that we may find ourselves in a relationship that is toxic, abusive or just...not right for us. Feelings of failure - whether conscious or unconscious - because we haven't followed the hallowed path of marriage and children, can cloud our judgement when it comes to choosing a partner; so it's important to be mindful about our reasons for dating someone. Being with the wrong person comes with more problems than being single ever could, and will only make your life harder, not easier. So if you're aware that your primary focus in life is to un-single yourself, proceed with caution. Because none of us deserve to be with someone who isn't right for us, just for the sake of not being single. We're worth more than that. 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!
Feb 7, 2023 · 1 hr 7 min
The One Where I Talk To Sociologist, Demographer & Author, Dr. Kris Marsh
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, I talk to sociologist, demographer and author, Dr. Kris Marsh. Dr. Kris Marsh received her PhD from the University of Southern California in 2005. She was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina before joining the faculty of the University of Maryland where she has been tenured since 2014. She is the author of ‘The Love Jones Cohort: Single and Living Alone in the Black Middle Class.’ In this conversation, Kris and I talk about why she chose the title of her book, The Love Jones Cohort; the reasons behind the rise of singles in the black middle class and beyond; how gendered racism constrains personal choices; and how racial discrimination in the housing market can be the reason why some people remain single. We also discuss colourism, and the argument that the lighter skinned you are, the more choice you potentially have when it comes to finding a partner; how gendered racism feeds into why some people are single; and how black women may have an even harder time being single due to racism coupled with the stigma of being single. Our conversation also includes how people always ask why people are single, but never why they’re married; how some people are willing to get into / remain in toxic or abusive relationships in order to avoid the label of ‘single’; and how it seems to be acceptable to ask single people about their sex lives in a way we wouldn’t ask married people. Kris also tells me how the research for her book found that single women tend to thrive as singles, whereas men tend to bide their time until finding a relationship; how the subjects in Kris’ book tended to suffer from situational loneliness rather than chronic loneliness; and how people tend to think of marriage and partnership as a panacea. Finally, we talk about how important it is to be confident and content in our singlehood before we consider a relationship; and the racial aspect of the recent and tragic death of Tyre Nichols. Buy Kris’ book, (UK link) The Love Jones Cohort: Single and Living Alone in the Black Middle Class: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Jones-Cohort-Cambridge-Stratification-ebook/dp/B0BSR25D47 Buy Kris’ book, (US link): https://www.amazon.com/Love-Jones-Cohort-Cambridge-Stratification/dp/1316612910 Follow Kris on Instagram: @drkrismarsh On Twitter: @drkrismarsh Find out more at Kriss website: https://drkrismarsh.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!
Feb 4, 2023 · 18 min
Minisode Ep.39 - Don't Just Survive. Thrive!
Send us Fan Mail In this week's minisode, I'm talking about how, as single women, we should be thriving, not just surviving. So many of us are weighed down by the societal narrative that appears to only celebrate couples; in addition, many of our negative thought patterns around being single and childless stem from beliefs that were chosen for us in childhood and beyond, rather than beliefs we chose for ourselves. The simple fact is that our happiness is not determined by our relationship status, and therefore we can experience the same amount of joy and contentment as any of our coupled counterparts. With these things in mind, plus the fact that our inbuilt freedom is something to take advantage of and relish, let's strive to thrive, not just survive. (I'm a poet and I don't know it. ) 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!
Jan 31, 2023 · 1 hr 11 min
The One Where I Talk To Manifestation Coach, Matt Cooke
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode, I talk to manifestation coach, Matt Cooke. In February 2019, Matt connected with his mother for the first time, following her passing in July 2017. This experience triggered an extraordinary spiritual awakening and realisation for Matt that there is so much more to life than we know. He subsequently made it his mission to understand what had happened, and how, and this kicked off months of research into all things energy and power of the mind, not least the laws that govern our universe, specifically The Law of Vibration and The Law of Attraction. Matt’s journey led him to become the highly successful manifestation coach that he is today, helping clients from all over the world manifest the lives that they truly desire. In this conversation, Matt and I talk about the first time he connected with his darling Mum; how absolutely everything is energy; how time is an illusion and a man-made concept; and how we can all learn how to tune into the frequency of the things we desire. We also discuss how Matt discovered The Law of Attraction; how we are all pure consciousness; how manifestation means deciding to be a conscious creator in order to create the life you want; and how our subconscious minds control 95% of who we are and what we do. Our conversation also includes how we are all creators who are either consciously, or unconsciously, manifesting our lives; how our state of being becomes our personality; how we need to become aware of what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling; and how the key is to become aware that we are not our thoughts. Matt and I chat about how we are all magnets who draw into our realities what we’re vibrating out; how the key to manifestation is becoming the personality of your future by changing your core vibration; how, if we want a loving relationship, we need to start acting as though we already have love; and how we can reprogram our subconscious limiting beliefs using meditation. Finally, we talk about how gratitude is one of the most powerful manifestation tools that we should all be incorporating into our days; and how alignment is largely about ‘being present’ throughout your day. Follow Matt on Instagram: @mattcookecoach On Twitter: @mattcookecoach On TikTok: mattcooke_ Find out more at Matt’s website: https://www.mattcooke.me/ 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!
Jan 28, 2023 · 14 min
Minisode Ep.38 - Let's Stop Hating On 'This Time Of Year'
Send us Fan Mail On this week's minisode, I'm talking about how so many people seem to 'hate this time of year', and why I think we need to change our perspective around the post-New Year blues. I hear so, so many people say that they hate January and February. It's too cold, too dark, too depressing, too boring, too [insert complaint here]. It seems as though the minute New Year's Day is over, we all slip into a default state of misery. But why? And is it really necessary? I say let's look at it through a different lens; let's not waste a quarter of the year wishing it away. Instead, let's think about the possibility of everything that potentially awaits us as a new year begins. Because before we know it...they'll be putting up the Christmas lights again and we'll be welcoming in 2024. ;) 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!
Jan 24, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min
The One Where I Talk To Nandita Bajaj & Kirsten Stade of Population Balance
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, I talk to Executive Director and Communications Manager at Population Balance, Nandita Bajaj and Kirsten Stade. The organisation’s mission is to offer education and solutions to address the impacts of human overpopulation and overconsumption on the planet, people, and animals. It is the first and only organisation globally that draws the connections between pronatalism, anthropocentrism, and overpopulation, and their combined devastating impacts on social, reproductive, ecological, and intergenerational justice. In this episode, we talk about how the planet is in ‘ecological overshoot’; the many manifestations of the climate and biodiversity crises; and how our growing population is essentially crowding out all of the other species on the planet. We also talk about pronatalism as the driver of overpopulation, and why it is having such a huge and devastating impact; how Nandita herself did not think she had a choice to not have children because of her upbringing in India; and coercive pronatalism - the default pressure that is placed on women to have children. We discuss how Kirsten never felt pressure from her family to have children, but how she noticed the pressure surrounding her; how getting pregnant isn’t always a positive development in a woman’s life; how the media has depicted families with children as somehow more ‘whole’ or ‘complete’, and how this makes it hard for people to know what they truly want; and how peeling away the layers of pronatalism is essential to afford women the clarity to choose whether or not they truly want children, and / or a potentially smaller family. The conversation also covers how pronatalism undermines reproductive responsibility; overpopulation denialism in academic circles due to sensitivity surrounding population control; how women in certain are still regarded as reproductive vessels who have absolutely no reproductive autonomy; and how the desire for procreation is not universal but rather falls on a spectrum. Finally, we talk about awareness and how to translate that into action; and pushing the boundaries on what the term ‘family’ means. Follow Population Balance on Instagram: @populationbalance On Twitter: @populationbalance Find out more at the website: https://www.populationbalance.org/ Listen to the podcast, The Overpopulation Podcast, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6cp86TNMOVEMzzWUODyCL2 And on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-overpopulation-podcast/id1038456636 Nandita’s Course: https://www.populationbalance.org/pronatalism-and-overpopulation-course 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!
Jan 21, 2023 · 21 min
Minisode Ep.37 - Who & What Is Inspiring Me
Send us Fan Mail In this week's minisode, I'm talking about who and what is inspiring me, as well as some of the things I do on the daily to maintain a positive mindset and ensure I'm feeling good as much of the time as possible. I mention some books that I'm loving, a couple of podcasts that inspire and motivate me, some people I'm enjoying following on Instagram, as well as a few of the practices that have become a part of my daily routine. Hope you enjoy it and find something of value to take away with you. :) 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!
Jan 17, 2023 · 1 hr 3 min
The One Where I Talk To Journalist, Author & Podcaster, Ruby Warrington
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to journalist, author, editor, thought leader and podcaster, Ruby Warrington. Ruby latest book 'Women Without Kids' will be published in the spring but is available to pre-order now. She is the creator of the term ‘Sober Curious’, and the author of the 2018 book and million download podcast of the same name. Her work on the subject has spearheaded a global movement to reevaluate our relationship to alcohol. Her other books include ‘Material Girl, Mystical World’ and ‘The Sober Curious Reset’. With more than 20 years’ experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is known as an astute culture commentator and thought leader. She's also the founder of self-publishing imprint, Numinous Books. In this episode, Ruby and I talk about the three motivators that drove her to write Women Without Kids; the nuances of not having children and her theory of the 'motherhood spectrum’; and how the desire to be a parent is something that can be ever-changing over the course of someone’s life. We also talk about the importance of being supported when making the often complex decision of whether or not to have a baby; how women without kids are diminished in society; and how childfree women can often be seen as ‘selfish’, especially when they prioritise and spend time on their personal growth. Ruby and I also talk about Orna Donath’s studies on women who regret having kids, as well as our own feelings around being told we’ll regret not becoming mothers; the healing that Ruby has done with her own mother as a result of writing her book; and how she feels now that the book is about to be birthed into the world! Finally, we talk about Ruby’s love of astrology; how the term ‘woowoo’ is being reclaimed; Ruby’s meditation and yoga practices; and her platform, The Numinous. Follow Ruby on Instagram: @rubywarrington Find out more at Ruby’s website: https://www.rubywarrington.com/ Pre-Order ‘Women Without Kids’ (UK Link): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Women-Without-Kids-Revolutionary-Sisterhood-ebook/dp/B0B19DQ3K3 Pre-Order ‘Women Without Kids’ (US Link): https://www.amazon.com/Women-Without-Kids-Revolutionary-Sisterhood/dp/1683649273 Listen to Ruby’s podcast, Sober Curious, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3GukloeJytjkvFoSLaUaay And on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sober-curious/id1460377009 Listen to ‘Women Without Kids’ on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27nkJLSZgjcv6zawomaaKm And on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-without-kids/id1642683714 The Numinous: https://www.the-numinous.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!
Jan 14, 2023 · 17 min
Minisode Ep.36 - Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy
Send us Fan Mail On today's minisode, I'm talking about comparison. Most of us have a tendency to compare ourselves to, or feel envious of, other people. Whether we're comparing our house, our career, or a particular quality that someone else has, comparison truly is the thief of joy. But when you think about it, comparison is actually a total waste of time; because each and every one of the 8 billion people on planet earth is completely and utterly unique. No one can do things or say things the way that we do, and no one else can show up in the world exactly the same way as we do. And therein lies our superpower. In this digital world of social media, it's hard to not feel envious whilst we're scrolling through our Instagram feed. But maybe we can learn to reframe it, and use it as a source of inspiration - a signpost in the direction of what's possible - instead of allowing it to negatively impact our sense of self worth. 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!
Jan 10, 2023 · 52 min
The One Where I Talk To Life Coach & Podcaster, Anna Olson
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to childfree life coach and podcaster, Anna Olson. Anna is a certified life coach who works specifically with women who are struggling with the decision to be childfree. In previous stages of her life, she has been many things from a flower farmer to a jewellery maker. She came across life coaching whilst going through a rough period herself, and was looking for inspiration and direction. Her world was transformed so much for the better by the life coach she subsequently found, that she decided to become a coach herself. Anna also has a podcast, We’re Not Kidding, and a community of the same name. In this episode, Anna and I talk about how she is the youngest of five siblings, only one of whom currently has children; how she arrived at her decision to be childfree despite having initially assumed she would have kids; and how the rhetoric and societal expectations around women having children motivated her to be as vocal as possible about her decision not to. We also talk about how Anna decided she wanted to help other women with their decision to be childfree; how she used to think that there was something wrong with her because she didn’t want children; and how she came to be a life coach as a result of her own life struggles. Anna also tells me that many of her coaching clients have made the choice to be childfree, but then enter a period of questioning their decision; regret, and how a high number of her clients are afraid of the possibility that they will regret not having children; and how Anna herself has never worried about regretting her decision. Finally, we talk about Anna’s podcast, We’re Not Kidding, and how she started it so that other women wound’t feel so alone; and how what she loves most about not having children is being able to truly invest in the things that bring meaning to her to life. Follow Anna on Instagram: @coachannaolson Find out more at Anna’s website: https://annaolson.com/ Listen to Anna’s podcast, We’re Not Kidding, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ioZWeJqUQIp4MQiYVG4YS And on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/were-not-kidding/id1580005187 Check out the We’re Not Kidding Community at: https://wnk-club.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!
Jan 7, 2023 · 19 min
Minisode Ep.35 - Purpose
Send us Fan Mail On today's minisode, I'm talking about purpose. It's so important to feel as though we have purpose in our lives, particularly as single, childfree gals. Purpose gives our life meaning and can be the difference between us feeling good and us not feeling good. If we're spending at least some of our time on a pursuit that motivates us, and we have goals to mark on our calendar, we will feel a sense of direction; and in this crazy world, we all need to feel as though we have some control over our lives and how we're living them. So if right now, your only sense of purpose is coming from the latest Netflix series, (if that's the case, I feel ya!) perhaps it's time to investigate what truly lights you up. Because when we follow what feels really, really good, that's where the magic happens. 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!
Jan 3, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
The One Where I Talk To A Boy!!! (Dr. Peter McGraw)
Send us Fan Mail Support the show In this week’s episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I’m talking to podcaster, behavioural economist and author, Peter McGraw. Dr. Peter McGraw is a behavioural economist, business school professor, and bachelor who is turning his attention to the opportunities and challenges of single living. His projects include hosting the podcast, ’Solo: The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life’, The Solo Salon, and Single Insights: The Science of Solos. As the Director of The Humor Research Lab, Peter has authored ’Shtick to Business’ and co-authored ‘The Humor Code’. A professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business, he is a sought-after speaker, giving talks at organisations, conferences, and universities around the world. In this episode, Peter and I discuss the three steps that came to affirm Peter’s bachelor status; how he’s having more fun dating at this stage in his life than ever before; and the term ‘Relationship Escalator’ which describes the only ‘acceptable’ romantic and sexual relationship that we ‘should’ all be pursuing. We also talk about the four different categories that Peter has found single people tend to fall into during the course of his solo project work; how three of these types of single already see themselves as complete individuals and how they tend to have a strong sense of autonomy; and why people in traditional couples are often scathing and cynical regarding less conventional relationships. Our conversation also covers how men are actually faring much worse than women when it comes to finding themselves single, especially after a long term relationship; how not everybody is looking for, or interested in, sex; the different challenges that single women face as oppose to single men including the ‘older man / younger woman’ phenomenon; and co-opting the word ‘spinster’ and making it cool. Finally, we talk about the opportunities that come with living a solo life, and how single people often don’t think broadly enough about what they can actually do given they’re not married with children. Follow Peter on Instagram: @petermcgraw Follow Peter on Twitter: @PeterMcGraw Check out Peter's website: https://petermcgraw.org/ Listen to Peter's podcast, 'Solo: The Single Person's Guide To A Remarkable Life': Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1G16hs9bfw9IjOQPO9lwTL Apple Podcasts Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/solo-the-single-persons-guide-to-a-remarkable-life/id1493565823 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!
Dec 31, 2022 · 14 min
Minisode Ep.34 - When Harry Met Sally
Send us Fan Mail SPOILER ALERT: This may be the most ridiculous episode I've ever done, but take a listen anyway! ;) In today's minisode, I tell you the tragic little tale which might have ruined my all-time favourite film forever. I could not love When Harry Met Sally any more. Everything about it. The cast, the script, the setting, the music...oh, wait. To find out what the hell I'm on about, press play. And Happy New Year! 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!
Dec 27, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
The One Where I Talk To Entrepreneur, Lara Solomon
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to entrepreneur, Lara Solomon. Lara, a Brit living in Sydney, Australia, is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Hoopsy, which manufactures 99% paper eco-pregnancy tests to help counteract the sheer amount of plastic pollution the midstream plastic tests usually create. The tubes are also made of cardboard which are fully reusable and recyclable. At the age of 45 and single, Lara decided she wanted to try and have a child so she embarked on a mission to get pregnant. She initially had IVF which unfortunately didn’t work as one of her ovaries was diagnosed as peri-menopausal - so she decided to go down the embryo donation route. She settled on having her embryo donation procedure at a clinic in Spain and whilst she did get a faint positive test, she then miscarried the embryo. It was during this process that Lara realised how many times women who are trying to conceive test using plastic pregnancy tests. In this episode, Lara and I talk about her former marriage - which took her to Australia - and her subsequent divorce; her feelings around her current single status; her experience of dating in Sydney including the time she went on fifteen dates in one week; and how so many people stay in dead end relationships because they’re afraid of change, or they don’t want to sacrifice a particular lifestyle. We also talk about how Lara’s three siblings are all married with children, and one of her nieces is named after her; how she does experience feelings of loneliness but deals with them by spending time with friends every day; and how she always assumed that she would be a mother, but found herself aged forty-five single and childless. Lara also tells me all about her journey of trying to conceive alone, despite never having wanted to do it without a partner; how she was told that the chances of her conceiving through IVF at her age were 2% but she was determined to go ahead anyway; and how devastated she was when she was told that she wasn’t pregnant following her embryo donation procedure in Spain, despite having initially had a positive pregnancy test. Finally, we talk about Lara’s new company, Hoopsy, the name of which comes from the old Dutch word ‘hoop’ which means hope; and how young women need to be better educated about the potential challenges of getting pregnant. Hoopsy Website: https://www.hoopsy.co/ Follow Lara on Instagram: @hoopsyco Follow Lara on Twitter: @hoopsyco Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoopsyco/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hoopsyco 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!
Dec 24, 2022 · 16 min
Minisode Ep.33 - 2023 Mindset
Send us Fan Mail On today's minisode, I'm talking about going into the New Year with a mindset of intention, positivity, and agency over our lives. We all have a choice as to how we begin 2023, so let's make sure we start it as we mean to go on. Let's decide right now to focus our attention on our goals and our dreams, regardless of our relationship status. We are the authors of our life stories, so let's take a second and think about what we want to write. 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!
Dec 22, 2022 · 20 min
BONUS MINISODE: Christmas Playlist!!!
Send us Fan Mail Hello! Now, I simply couldn't let Christmas pass without doing a Christmas playlist episode, so here it is! I'm not gonna lie, it was NOT easy to whittle it down to 20 (!) Christmas songs, but it's done, published and out there. I hope you enjoy it. As usual, the link to the playlist on Spotify is below. Merry Christmas!!! xxx https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4bM622k16H2wDbqWGEXJSp?si=2MOyptpHQM6AmSOLxkvZ0g&pt=8d8d813eb743c1e15d05dc823eefb39d 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!
Dec 20, 2022 · 56 min
The One Where I Talk To Author & Researcher, Laura Carroll
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to author, researcher and expert on all things childfree, Laura Carroll. Laura is a leading voice on the childfree choice and has spent around 20 years tracking and researching this choice and those who make it. She is also a prolific book author and editor whose books include ‘Man Swarm: How Overpopulation Is Killing The Wild World’, ‘The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Mind From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create A Better World’ and ‘Families Of Two: Interviews With Happily Married Couples Without Children By Choice.’ In this episode, Laura and I talk about how she wrote her first book, Families of Two, because of the lack of other books on the topic of childfree couples; the question of why it’s so difficult for society to accept women not wanting children; and pronatalism, the old system of beliefs that have exalted the role of motherhood for centuries. We also talk about the three most powerful pronatalist assumptions; how so many of our beliefs are programmed into our subconscious minds when we are children; and how Laura knew from a young age that having children wasn’t what she wanted for her life. Laura and I also discuss the assumption that we have to have children in order to find meaning in our lives; the common thread that Laura has found in the majority of childfree women she has interviewed; and how the journey of those women who are unsure about having kids is very nuanced. Finally, we talk about how being childfree creates the potential for us to live a more expansive life. Go to Laura's website to buy any of her books: https://lauracarroll.com/ Follow Laura on Twitter: @LauraCarroll88 Follow Laura on Instagram: @lauralcarroll88 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!
Dec 17, 2022 · 21 min
Minisode Ep.32 - Follow What Feels Good
Send us Fan Mail In this week's minisode, I'm doing a Part 2 to last week's 'The Importance of Our Thoughts'. But this week I'm talking about feelings... Our feelings are hugely important when it comes to what we're attracting into our lives, and in this episode I touch on both The Law of Vibration and The Law of Attraction. We're all made up of 99% energy and only 1% matter, and so we're actually vibrational beings who are constantly vibrating at various frequencies. And it's our emotions that dictate whether we're in a 'high vibe' or a 'low vibe' state. High vibration emotions such as joy, love, hope and excitement will attract high vibration people, things and circumstances into our lives. And vice versa for the low vibe emotions such as anger, jealousy, fear and anxiety. With this in mind, we could all do worse than to consciously find and follow what feels good, even if it's just a couple of times in a day...! 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!