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On this week's episode of Thursday Thoughts Polly and I explore whether or not you see yourself as a lucky person, and how that belief shapes your experience of life. 

We discuss how a victim mindset and negative narratives like “things never work out for me” can reinforce feeling unlucky, while choosing a more empowering perspective can help you notice opportunities and “create your own luck.” 

We also reference Cindy Crawford’s family tragedy and Oprah Winfrey as examples that circumstances don’t guarantee happiness, or limit success. 

We hope you'll find something helpful in here.

Love,

Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

My completely divine guest on the podcast this week is Anastasia Marshall, a working-class filmmaker from Folkestone, Kent. Having been in the media and entertainment industries since she was 18, working for companies such as Disney, the BBC, Conde Nast and many more, she is now developing her own slate of projects through her company Rebel Muse Studios. Several of her works have placed in international festivals and competitions and she was selected for the Female Founders Rise accelerator in 2025. Anastasia is currently working on a one-hour YouTube special called Spinsters, which you can watch right now, and which is part of a much larger project to reclaim spinster as an archetype for single women. Said larger project is a feature film that Anastasia has written herself which is a Christmas film for single women and which I for one am VERY excited about. Anastasia has the most calming and lovely energy and I actually found her quite mesmerising, so I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. 

Watch Anastasia's YouTube Special, Spinsters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wroPzs2Zqsw&t=548s

Follow Anastasia's film, Spinsters, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinsters.film/

Check out Anastasia's website: https://www.anastasiamarshall.com/

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

On this week's minisode, I’m sharing some reflections from my recent Thrive Solo trip to Morocco — but this isn’t really an episode about Morocco. It’s about what happens when five single women who barely know each other spend 12 days travelling together. From endless conversations on long bus journeys and hilarious cultural exchanges with our Moroccan guide, to rooftop chats, shared meals and the friendships that formed along the way, I’m talking about why travelling with other single women can be such a special experience — and why you absolutely don’t need to wait until you have someone to travel with before you start seeing the world.

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about people pleasing, and what can happen when we prioritise other people’s needs, opinions and expectations over our own.

We chat about getting to know ourselves better, setting healthier boundaries, and becoming more comfortable with the fact that not everyone is going to like us - and that’s OK.

We also discuss why saying ‘no’ doesn’t always need an explanation, and how being more honest about who we are and what we want can ultimately lead to stronger, more authentic relationships.

We hope you’ll find something interesting or helpful in here.

Love,

Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

JOIN MY TRIP TO ITALY IN APRIL 2027! https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

I’m truly excited for you to hear my guest on this week's episode. I felt so uplifted after our conversation because she is such an inspiring woman. Her name is Siobhan Daniels — and funnily enough I had her daughter, Sammy, on the podcast just a few weeks ago! 

Siobhan is 67, single, and absolutely rocking her life. At the age of 60, she decided to stop waiting and start living life on her own terms. She quit her job, sold her home, got rid of the vast majority of her stuff, bought a motorhome, and started living a nomadic life which she is still doing now. Earlier this year, Siobhan did a 4,000-mile solo journey from Canada to Alaska along the legendary Alaska Highway, and her brand new book, Retire & Refire, which has just come out, is the story of that journey, and she also has another book, Retirement Rebel.

Siobhan’s message to women of all ages is this: your strength does not expire – do not let fear stop you as you get older. I cannot tell you how much I loved this conversation because Siobhan’s energy and passion for life is so obvious and so infectious, and we talked about so many things, including her work as a pro-ageing campaigner who wants to change ageist stereotypes and the narrative around ageing, particularly for women.

Buy Siobhan's new book, Retire & Refire: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retire-Refire-continuing-adventures-Retirement/dp/183981313X

Buy Siobhan's first book, Retirement Rebel: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retirement-Rebel-woman-motorhome-adventure/dp/183981179X

Follow Siobhan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theretirementrebel/

Follow Siobhan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theretirementrebel

Listen to Siobhan's podcast, Retirement Rebel: https://www.retirementrebel.co.uk/podcast

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Rebounder Link (Use Code: THRIVESOLO for 10% off): https://rebound.fitness/?ref=ThriveSolo

In this week’s minisode, I’m talking about why I’ve been bouncing on a mini trampoline for the last four years — and why it’s become one of my favourite ways to exercise. I’m sharing how rebounding fits into my wider health and fitness routine, how it can contribute to cardio fitness, balance, strength and fat loss, why I love the gentler “health bounce” as well as more intense sessions, and why actually enjoying the movement you do matters so much. Because the best exercise programme in the world is pretty useless if you hate it so much that you never stick to it.

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about anxiety.

Most of us are familiar with worrying about things that haven't even happened, but what do we do when anxiety starts becoming a problem?

Polly and I talk candidly about our own experiences of anxiety, as well as a few practical things that we can all do to try and allay those unhelpful thoughts and feelings.

We hope you'll find something useful in here.

Love,

Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

This week's episode is Part 2 of my interview with the fabulous Alison Leiby, comedian, writer, and author of ‘I’m Alot: Surviving Myself & All The People I’ve Been’. If you haven’t yet listened to last week’s Part 1, I would recommend you do that first and then come back to this part. 

Alison is a two-time WGA Award–nominated writer. She has written for Life & Beth, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The President Show, and was a writer and executive producer for Ilana Glazer’s Comedy on Earth for Comedy Central. Her critically acclaimed solo show Oh God, A Show About Abortion, which ran at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, was named the Best Political Comedy of the year by The New York Times. 

In this second part of our conversation, we’re diving into friendship and why it’s ok not to have one best friend who you’ve known since you were 3, and how friendship is largely about having different friends for different parts of yourself; we talk about how society still doesn’t quite know what to do with childfree women, so we’re often presented to the world either as sad cat ladies who we’re meant to feel sorry for, or crazy party girls or career women who are selfish and hard; we also talk about Alison’s experience of having an abortion when she was 35, and the solo-show she wrote off the back of it.

Follow Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonleiby/?hl=en

Buy her book, I'm Alot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Im-Lot-Alison-Leiby/dp/059373162X

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

In this week’s minisode, I’m talking about why, at 50, I don’t regret not having children — and why I’ve actually become increasingly grateful that I didn’t. I’m reflecting on whether I was ever really as “childless by circumstance” as I once believed, the difference between wanting a baby and wanting to be a parent, and some of the worries, responsibilities and sacrifices that those of us without children have been spared. I also talk about the freedom and headspace being childfree has given me to pursue my passions and purpose, why not having children doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of regret, and why there are countless ways to live a full, meaningful and deeply fulfilling life without becoming a mother.

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about fitness.

We each share what our own fitness routines look like, covering strength training, Sprint Interval Training (SIT), running, rebounding, and good old walking.

Given that fitness is so important, especially as we age, we hope you'll find something useful or inspiring in here.

Love,

Polly & Lucy x

Support the show

• JOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy

• 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: [email protected] 

And thank you so much for listening!