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My guest on the podcast this week is the delightful and charming Robert Nurden.

Robert has 40 years' experience as a journalist, news reporter, feature writer and subeditor, on the Independent, Guardian, Telegraph, Oxford Mail plus numerous magazines and journals. For three years he was press officer of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), he also wrote features for the development press, and worked as a freelancer in South-East Asia. In 2020, Robert published his first book, 'Between Heaven and Earth', which is the biography of his grandfather, and his second book, 'I Always Wanted To be A Dad: Men Without Children' was published in August 2023 and has been featured in the Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Independent and BBC Radio.

Robert is 73 years old, lives in East London, and has been in a relationship with his partner, Sue, for 6 years. 

Topics that we cover are:

• Robert’s initial complacency around having children;
• the mounting pressure that he felt around his childlessness as he reached his fifties;
• the emotions he felt around male friends and peers who had children;
• how Robert felt inherently that he wanted to be a Dad;
• his deep desire to nurture, and how that led him back to teaching;
• how he sometimes struggles with the fact that he also won’t be a grandparent, and his lack of ‘status’;
• male broodiness and Robert’s experience of it;
• feeling ‘under used’ when you’re not a parent;
• the reactions of others to towards being a childless man, rather than a childless woman;
• the married fathers who were triggered by Robert’s book, I Always Wanted To Be A Dad;
• the play that Robert has been writing about childlessness;
• his book, how it came to be, and how it was a cathartic process;
• his ongoing search for acceptance and peace;
• Robert’s learning that ‘your wound is your gift’;
• his thoughts about the future, getting older, and staying alive to excitement;
• his grief, and how some days its absent, while other days it’s very much present;
• how supportive Robert’s partner, Sue, is when it comes to his childlessness;
• how it is essential to truly feel one’s grief.

Buy Robert’s book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Wanted-Be-Dad-Children/dp/1838447776 

Check out Robert’s website:
https://robertnurden.com/ 

Follow Robert on Instagram:
@robertonurden

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 today's minisode, I'm talking about those sometimes intrusive questions that people love to ask single people around the holiday season.

"When are you going to settle down?", "Is there anyone special on the scene?", or "How come you don't want kids?" to name but a few.

In this episode, I give you some potential responses that are either humorous, boundary-setting, or just downright honest.

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

Join the waitlist for Thrive Solo, my membership community for single women and get 20% off the standard monthly price! 
Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo for more details.  

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 today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about integrity.

The word integrity means intact, whole, undivided; and the real question is: are we living in integrity, or are we out of integrity, divided from ourselves?

In this conversation, Lucy and I talk about the societal conditioning that sends many of us down the ‘conveyor belt’ of life, away from our true nature and the things we truly desire for ourselves.

We also talk about situations in which we both found ourselves living out of integrity, and what we did to move ourselves back into alignment.

We sincerely hope you’ll find something interesting or thought provoking 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 guest on the podcast this week is the one-of-a-kind, Frankie Paz.

Frankie is a plant-based chef and the author of Plant Feasts: Recipes For Slow Living In A Fast Paced World. She also hosts various events including supper clubs, retreats and ‘moon jams’, and she is absolutely passionate about living a life where she is connecting to the land and finding balance in the modern world. 

Frankie is single, childfree, and lives alone on her canal boat in East London.

Topics that we cover are:

• Frankie’s marriage and subsequent divorce from a man she met in Columbia;
• how she feels about her single life since the end of her marriage;
• the empowerment that comes from falling in love with yourself;
• what it’s like living alone on a canal boat;
• what purpose means to Frankie;
• living in a small space and what that looks like for Frankie;
• how we tend to focus on finding a partner, but should focus more on our connection with the land;
• the importance of courage and why we need to stop caring what others think;
• female friendships, and how important they have always been for Frankie;
• being honest with yourself, and how hard that can be;
• how the worst kind of loneliness can be within a relationship;
• Frankie’s experiences in the world of polyamory;
• how she has lost herself to relationships in the past, but will never allow that to happen again;
• how Frankie likes to bring romance into her everyday life;
• how Frankie’s cooking isn’t just about the food, it’s about connection;
• her book, Plant Feasts, how it came into being, and why it’s much more than a cook book;
• cooking for one, and her solo rituals;
• Frankie’s words of advice for single women.

Follow Frankie on Instagram:
@moodymangoalchemy

Buy Frankie’s book, Plant Feasts:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plant-Feasts-Recipes-living-fast-paced/dp/1848994192 

Check out Frankie’s website:
https://moodymango.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 today's minisode, I'm talking about the incredible power of our mindset.

Simply put, our life will always largely be a reflection of our mindset.

It's not about whether you're single, or in a relationship, it's about where you are placing your focus on a regular basis.

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

Join the waitlist for Thrive Solo, my membership community for single women, and enjoy 20% OFF the monthly price! Find out more here: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo 

Come and join my Morning Routine Club, Cockadoodle-Lu, every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning at 6am UK, for a 30 minute guided session including meditation, conscious breathing, visualisation, and gratitude journalling. Find out more here: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/cock 

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 Thursdays Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about perspective.

Perspective is the way we see and interpret the world around us—it’s like the lens we choose to look through every day.

It shapes how we handle challenges, make decisions, and connect with others.

When we look through a positive, open perspective, we feel more resilient, grateful, and happy, while a negative one can leave us feeling stressed, frustrated or even stuck.

The good news is, we can improve our perspective by practicing things like gratitude, looking for the lessons in tough times, staying mindful, and seeking out different viewpoints.

It’s not about pretending life is perfect, but learning to see challenges as opportunities to grow. When we choose a healthier perspective, life feels lighter, clearer, and so much more rewarding.

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

My guest on the podcast this week is the charming and divine Anna Brading, a Certified Financial Education Instructor who is passionate about helping people break free from the stress of living paycheck-to-paycheck, and take control of their financial future. Like many of us, Anna once struggled with rising bills and uncertainty, but her own experience sparked a journey toward financial literacy — and now she guides other people on their financial journeys.

Anna is also the author of the book, Money Mentor, which came out in October, and along with her signature program, GROW, and my online audience of over 250,000, she’s had the privilege of helping thousands of people transform their finances. Anna’s mission is to demystify money, so you can feel confident and empowered, no matter where you’re starting from. 

Topics that we cover are:

• Anna’s own personal journey that led her to write her book, Money Mentor;
• her realisation about the many resources available to help us about money, but that we’re never taught;
• her desire to help women with their experience of money;
• money mindset and why it is critical when it comes to our relationship to money;
• how nobody comes to Anna to talk about their money mindset, but how everyone benefits from going into it;
• how we all operate from our beliefs around money;
• why we need to look at our earliest memories about money;
• why it’s so important to know exactly where we are with our numbers;
• Anna’s advice for women who are struggling with money;
• why we need to start thinking outside of the box when it comes to making money;
• how important it is that we have older women we can look to for inspiration;
• emergency funds and savings, and why we need to change our perspective around them;
• Anna’s advice around investing and why it’s more than possible to start very, very small;
• why we should prioritise investing in our knowledge around money;
• why we need to acquire a basic understanding of what an investment portfolio could look like;
• drowning out all of the noise around investing, and learning instead the basics of D.I.Y Investing;
• the ONE thing that Anna wants single women to know when it comes to money;
• Anna’s advice for women living pay check to pay check.

Follow Anna on Instagram:
@mentoramoney

Buy Anna’s book, Money Mentor:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Money-Mentor-essential-future-favour/dp/1399409638 

Sign up for Anna’s free Investing Workshop:
https://www.mentoramoney.com/investing-for-beginners-live-workshop

Check out Anna’s website:
https://www.mentoramoney.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 talking about being single at Christmas, and more specifically how we can choose to embrace the festive season, rather than dread it.

Christmas time isn't just for couples and kids — it's also for the millions of single people across the globe who get to enjoy it too.

So...let's stop focusing on all the reasons why being single at Christmas is a bad thing, and instead focus on why it can be a good thing, as well as the many things we can still enjoy about this time of year.

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

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 making the very most of these last few weeks of 2024.

It’s so tempting at this time of year to let all of our routines fly out the window, or to put off starting something until January.

But actually, NOW is the time to start, so that we head into 2025 with intention, feeling focused, and on a roll!

We hope you’ll find something useful or inspiring in this conversation.

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 guest on this week’s podcast is the fabulous Sheri Johnson.

Sheri is the host of the Awakening Worth Podcast which helps childless women embrace their lives in spite of not having the family they always wanted. She combines mindset shifting tools and practical tips to guide women to break free of the outdated societal norms that condition us to believe that women without kids don’t measure up to Mums. Sheri is also a coach who helps childless women deal with their grief, as well as the stories and triggers that come with being childless not-by-choice. 

Topics that we cover are:

• how Sheri came to be childless;
• the triggers that Sheri felt around being childless;
• how her sister-in-law being pregnant was the catalyst for Sheri’s healing journey;
• why deciding what she wanted her life to look like was so important;
• why we should all ask ourselves ‘how do I want to feel?’;
• how Sheri realised that many of the emotions associated with childlessness aren’t actually grief;
• how feeling like we don’t belong can be the biggest obstacle for childless women;
• breaking free of societal pressure, and how we go about doing this;
• how Sheri felt that she would be more acceptable to her mother if she followed the path of marriage and babies;
• why awareness is the key step in letting go of our limiting beliefs;
• why self-worth is a practice that we need to build on every day;
• why we need to practice being able to receive, including compliments and help;
• what havening is, and using it as a tool to feel safe;
• allowing feelings of grief to come up in order to move through them;
• some tips for dealing with triggers during the holidays;
• deciding how to show up in difficult situations, and choosing how we want to feel;
• feelings of exclusion, and understanding where they come from;
• how our triggers are mirrors, showing us beliefs that we have about ourselves;
• Sheri’s podcast, The Awakening Worth Podcast, for childless women.

Follow Sheri on Instagram:
@sherijohnsoncoaching

Listen to the Awakening Worth Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/awakening-worth-in-childless-women/id1508389195 

Check out Sheri’s Website:
https://sherijohnson.ca/ 

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!