Alone isn’t lonely. Psychologist Robert Coplan, author of The Joy of Solitude, coined aloneliness—the distress of not getting enough time to yourself. Psychologist Thuy-vy Nguyen, co-author of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone, discovered the “deactivation effect”—just fifteen minutes alone turns down the volume on your emotions. Peter McGraw talks to them about the science of solitude and answers questions, such as “What actually happens when you sit with yourself? And how much solitude is enough?” The answers might surprise you.

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In this re-released episode, Peter McGraw asks the question, “What if you never felt romantic love – and didn’t need to?” In this eye-opening favorite, Peter sits down with Jessalyn Dean, an aromantic relationship anarchist living a remarkable solo life. They unpack what it means to be aromantic, how Jessalyn got off the relationship escalator, and why autonomy, not romance, is her guiding compass. It’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly relatable – even if you’re not aromantic.

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What happens when two charismatic creatives—and close friends—sit down with Peter McGraw to talk friendship, love, and the Solo movement? This intimate, funny, and thoughtful conversation with Chester See and Darwyn Metzger explores what it means to live remarkably, forge deep male friendships, and question the default path. A fan favorite, this episode returns for a new wave of listeners.

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Why are unmarried patients less likely to receive life-saving medical treatments? Peter McGraw talks to professor and author Joan DelFattore about how America’s healthcare system disadvantages those who are single or outside the nuclear family model. From TEDx talks to the New England Journal of Medicine, she’s sounding the alarm on a silent crisis. If you’re Solo—and especially if you live alone—you need to hear this episode.

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Whether you call it a Third Act, third season, or second life, one thing’s clear: middle-age and beyond isn’t the end. It’s a redesign. In this episode, as part of the series on aging, retiring, and dying single, Peter McGraw explores how Solos can turn aging, retirement, and reinvention into their most liberated chapter yet. Joined by Theresa Williamson, a city planner and Solo in her own second life, they unpack how mobility, flexibility, and optionality give Solos an edge—and why a fulfilling Third Act doesn’t require a fat bank account or a partner, just a little creativity (and maybe a plane ticket to Brazil).

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In this Solo Thoughts episode, Peter McGraw talks directly to you about how singles are reshaping work, housing, finance, and community. The rise of single living isn’t a passing fad— it’s a structural shift. Yet our institutions remain stuck in a world built for two. That disconnect is where the Solo Economy sits. Is the world ready? No.

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Interested in workshops or coaching? Reach out. Onwards!

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New to Solo? Start here! This re-release from the early days of the pod covers a concept that comes up again and again—in the podcast and Peter McGraw’s book. The “relationship escalator” is the default path of dating, moving in, marrying, and merging lives. Amy Gahran, who coined the term, joins Peter to break it all down. We explore what the escalator is, why it’s so invisible, and how Solos step off it—through consensual non-monogamy, platonic partnerships, sexual friendships, or simply going Solo.

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It’s 11/11—Singles’ Day—and we’re celebrating Solo style. First, Bella DePaulo returns to talk about her new book Single at Heart, why solo diners are more influential than you think, and what it really means to thrive alone. Then, Christina Campbell (aka CC) joins to unveil the Singles Bill of Rights—a bold call for equality in a world built for two. Onwards!

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Sex educator and psychologist Lisa Dawn Hamilton returns to join Peter McGraw to build on Relationship Design and discuss Intimacy Design—the art of co-creating authentic, adventurous, and consent-forward sexual experiences. From sexual containers to eager consent, they explore how to make intimacy safer, hotter, and more intentional.

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Peter McGraw talks with Lucy Meggeson—host of Thrive Solo and author of a new book Shiny Happy Singles (UK) / Thrive Solo (US)—about embracing single, child-free living as a path to freedom, joy, and reinvention.

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