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My guest on the podcast this week is the inimitable, Shweta Ramkumar.

Shweta is an advocate of the childfree lifestyle, she is a southern Asian woman of colour and a pioneer of dismantling the oppressive norms of the conservative, sexist, and patriarchal culture and society she grew up in. Her life journey is an example of someone who has broken free from the shackles of cultural conformity and she is a proud black sheep within her family and her Indian culture. Now, Shweta is in a long-term relationship, but I really wanted to talk to her not only about being childfree, but largely about her experience of growing up in a culture where the things she saw going on simply didn’t sit well with her, and how she managed to forge her own path in life. Now although grew up in India, she now lives in Melbourne, Australia where her family moved when she was 16.

Topics that we cover are:

• her experience of growing up in India, and the things she observed that didn’t sit well with her;
• the concept of ‘auditioning’ for a man and his family;
• how what she saw of her patriarchal society meant that she never wanted to get married and have kids;
• the huge difference in expectations for men and women;
• her mother, a lawyer, and how she ‘put her foot down’ in her own life;
• how Shweta wanted completely different things to her friends who were all focused on getting married;
• moving to Australia with her family, and how she struggled from the age of 18;
• how it took her a while to feel like she belonged, and to find her tribe;
• how Shweta feels that her parents are disappointed in her for not towing the line in her career;
• her decision to stop dating Indian men;
• how she felt like she was living a double life when she was in her twenties;
• the toxic relationship with a man whose parent’s made derogatory comments about her appearance;
• Shweta’s advice for other women who are struggling with their cultural traditions and expectations;
• some of the social media accounts that can help these women;
• the importance of working with a therapist from your own culture;
• being addicted to stress, and how so many of us don’t realise that we’re addicted to feeling bad;
• being a childfree advocate, and what that means to Shweta;
• what Shweta’s independent relationship with her partner looks like;
• how solo travel pushes her out of her comfort zone, and how much she loves it.

Follow Shweta on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/childfreesrbuddysmum/?hl=en

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
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• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

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On today's minisode, I'm talking about the 5 'C's that are keeping us stuck in negativity: complaining, criticising, concern, commiserating and catastrophising.

Press 'Play' and let me know what you think!

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

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On today’s Monday Motivation, Polly and I are talking about routines and accountability.

The science shows that when we get accountability in place, we are 96% more likely to do the goddam thing. NINETY SIX PERCENT!!! 🤯

In this conversation, Polly and I share a little about our own experiences of accountability, including how I’ve had - for several years now - an accountability buddy who I phone (or who phones me!) every morning at 5am. Without that, I would likely never have got into the habit of getting up early and cultivating a morning routine.

Polly talks about how she used accountability when she ran a marathon; she also talks about how we can use self-accountability as a way of implementing a new routine into our lives.

We also talk a bit about habit stacking, and how this can be a great way of getting daily routines in place.

We really hope that you’ll find something useful in here!

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

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My guest on the podcast this week is the one and only, Shani Silver.

Shani is an author, writer, and podcaster. She is the host of 'A Single Serving Podcast', and the author of 'A Single Revolution: Don’t Look For A Match. Light One'. She writes two Substacks, 'Cheaper Than Therapy', a healing newsletter for 80s babies, and 'Hey Shani', a toxic positivity-free advice column. Both publish once per week. 

Shani is passionate about changing the narratives that limit women, especially those around single women. She is single, childfree and lives in New Orleans.

Topics that we cover are:

• why Shani decided to bring her podcast to an end;
• how she doesn’t know what’s coming next and is excited about the not knowing;
• why podcasts shouldn’t be forever;
• her thoughts on the world of online dating;
• how being happily single and wanting a relationship can co-exist;
• how good Shani’s life got when she stopped the chase for a relationship;
• how she absolutely wants a partner, and is looking forward to experiencing it as her older self;
• why finding a partner is not going to fix your life;
• why we need to find happiness within ourselves;
• why we need to be aware of getting stuck in an endless loop of self-development;
• how gratitude was the cause of the biggest boost in Shani’s happiness;
• the stories we’ve been fed that have taught us to feel shame around being single;
• why singlehood being women’s biggest fear is something that deeply worries Shani;
• how women who are convinced they can’t be happy without a partner will not be able to hear Shani’s message until they’re ready;
• Shani’s thoughts on any future relationships;
• why our relationship, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with us;
• why we can always choose to reframe our singlehood.

Buy Shani’s book, A Single Revolution:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-Revolution-Dont-match-Light-ebook/dp/B09HZ1TBX7

Join Shani’s substack, Cheaper Than Therapy:
https://1982.substack.com/ 

Join Shani’s substack, Hey Shani:
https://heyshani.substack.com/ 

Check out her website:
https://www.shanisilver.com/ 

Follow Shani on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shanisilver/ 

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

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On today's minisode, I'm speaking in response to a listener who is struggling with balancing her traditional Indian roots and expectations, with what she actually wants from her life.

Press 'Play' and let me know what you think!

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

Send us a text

On this week’s Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are diving into the theme of embracing winter.

We’re exploring how our mindset shapes how we experience this time of year.

Yes, we could spend the cold, dark months of January and February moaning and complaining — which, let’s be honest, only makes us feel worse…

OR we can choose to embrace this season, making the most of the shorter days, the cosiness, and the crisp, cold weather.

We share some of our own strategies for staying positive during winter.

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Love, 
Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

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On today's solo episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I'm talking a bit about my life in 2024, and I'm also talking about an exciting new venture that I'm embarking on in 2025.

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

Send us a text

On today's minisode, I'm talking about some habits that will help make 2025 a happier and healthier year. 

Press 'Play' and let me know what you think!

The doors to Thrive Solo, my membership community for single women, are now open! But only until Wednesday 8th January. To find out more and sign up, go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo  

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

Send us a text

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are asking the question: Who do you want to be?

As we begin 2025, rather than focusing on our goals for the year ahead, or the actions we want to take, it can help enormously to think about who we actually want to be.

So ask yourself: "What would the future version of me do right now?" "How would the version of me who is successful, healthy, wealthy be showing up today?" If we can aim to embody that future version of ourselves, then we will naturally hit some of our goals along the way.

We hope you'll find something useful in here.

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!

Send us a text

My guest on the podcast this week is the wonderful Holly Matthews.

Holly is a former UK TV actress, Ted X speaker, straight talking self development coach, and founder of The Happy Me Project, as well as being Mum to two girls. After the death of her husband, Ross, in 2017 to brain cancer, Holly used her pain to teach others how to work through theirs. She is a regular contributor on the BBC and has been seen in the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun, Huffington Post, Closer Online, Hello, OK Magazine and Lorraine.

She has her own membership and is the author of ‘Find Your Confidence’ and ‘The Happy Me Project’. 

Topics that we cover are:

• Holly’s acting career, and how that was the catalyst for her interest in self-development;
• her husband, Ross, and the journey they went on dealing with his terminal brain cancer;
• the ongoing journey of helping her two daughters through the death of their Dad;
• accepting that Ross was no longer here, and how difficult that was for her;
• where Holly is at in terms of thinking about another relationship;
• how frustrating she finds it now that people have started to ‘push’ her to start dating again;
• how Holly’s grief saw her lean even more into self-development practices;
• the clarity of understanding that nobody else was going to get her through the pain, and that she had to decide what she wanted it to look like;
• the power of gratitude and how it helped her in her hardest moments;
• some of the key messages of Holly’s ‘Happy Me Project’, including looking at our stories, protecting our peace, and gratitude;
• how the reticular activating system works, and why it’s so important to understand;
• making joy non-negotiable, and focusing on the good;
• Holly’s new book, Find Your Confidence;
• the disempowering impact of other people’s opinions and intrusive questions;
• why Holly is a big believer in scripting.

Buy Holly’s book, Find Your Confidence:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Find-Your-Confidence-no-nonsense-self-belief/dp/1399409344 

Check out Holly’s website:
https://www.iamhollymatthews.com/ 

Follow Holly on Instagram:
@iamhollymatthews

Support the show

Check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuCiCzcPlAvxzQyHDrLoag

• Book a FREE 30 minute coaching 'taster' session HERE: https://calendly.com/lucymeggeson/30minute

• Fancy getting your hands on my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Head over to: www.lucymeggeson.com

• Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme
• Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share

• Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimagined
• Follow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggeson
• Follow me on LinkedIn: Lucy Meggeson
• Email me: [email protected]

And thank you so much for listening!!!