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This week, it's a very mini minisode all about the joy of walking.

As a kid, I was dragged on walks with my siblings by our Dad, every Sunday, in the woods behind the house I grew up in. And whilst back then I would roll my eyes at the mere mention of yet another walk, I'm so glad that it was implemented into my life at a young age.

I've subsequently carried the habit of regular walks with me into adulthood, and barely a day goes by where you won't find me walking along the riverside.

This episode serves as a little reminder that there are endless benefits to walking, not least the fact that it makes you feel good. And there is almost nothing that a brisk walk won't help.

So, grab your headphones, press play on this episode, and get outside for a stroll. I promise you won't regret 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!

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In this week's episode, I talk to award-winning writer, actor, comedian and musician, Lane Moore. 

Lane’s first book, How To Be Alone: If You Want To And Even If You Don’t, became an instant No.1 bestseller and was praised as one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, New York Magazine, NPR, Good Morning America, Fast Company, Marie Claire, and many others. She also gave a TEDx Talk based on the book, called How To Be Alone. Her second book, You Will Find Your People: How To Make Meaningful Friendships As An Adult, was released on 25th April 2023.

Lane’s comedy show, Tinder Live, is regarded as one of the best comedy shows in the the world and has been praised by The New York Times, Spin Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, CBS, Time Out New York, and New York Magazine.

As a musician, she is the front person and songwriter in the band, It Was Romance, which has been praised by Pitchfork, Vogue, Village Voice, and Billboard named it one of 16 Female-Fronted Bands You Should Know. 

Topics that Lane & I cover are:

• how she came to write a book called ‘How To Be Alone’;
• how we are socialised to think that being alone is the worst thing in the world;
• how, because of her upbringing, Lane had no choice but to learn how to be alone;
• how important it is for all of us to a find a home within ourselves;
• how we all need to find a community of people who have chosen themselves, over and above a partner;
• how if you find your people, you’re less likely to settle for a relationship that isn’t right for you;
• how awkward it can be to make new friends as an adult;
• how important it is to Lane to de-stigmatise how or when you meet your friends;
• the minefield that is friendship breakups;
• how she went through a friendship breakup whilst writing her book, You Will Find Your People;
• how we need to release the idea that our friends will be our friends forever, and cultivate more ease around friendships.

Lane’s Website:
https://www.lanemoore.org/ 

Buy Lane’s book (UK), You Will Find Your People:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Will-Find-Your-People/dp/1419762567 

Buy Lane’s book (US):
https://www.amazon.com/You-Will-Find-Your-People/dp/1419762567/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Buy Lane’s book (UK), How To Be Alone:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Be-Alone-Want-Even/dp/1501178830 

Buy Lane’s book (US):
https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Alone-Want-Even/dp/1501178830 

Become a Patreon of Lane’s Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/lanemoore 

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!

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In this week's minisode, I'm talking about the power of awe, and how it turns out that experiencing awe for just a few moments each day has a positive impact on both our emotional and physical health. 

Researchers Michael Amster and Jake Eagle have found that practicing their 'A.W.E Method' just a few times a day for mere seconds, decreases stress, anxiety, and even depression. Awe can also improve our overall well-being, connectedness, generosity, and happiness. 

Whether it's an incredible sunset, listening to an uplifting song, or appreciating the beauty of our pet, awe is something that we should be intentionally cultivating in our lives. 

Although we live in a world that does nothing but distract us from the wonders that are all around us, we can find awe in almost any given moment. And, quite frankly, who doesn't want more awe-gasms?!

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!

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In this week's episode, I talk to professor Ketaki Chowkhani. 

Dr Ketaki Chowkhani is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Manipal Centre for Humanities. Single and childfree herself, Ketaki designed and teaches India's first ever course on Singles Studies, and her writing on singlehood has appeared in the New York Times, The Hindu, Psychology Today, and Square Peg UK, among others. Her writing and teaching on singlehood has been mentioned in The Guardian, the New Statesman UK, and The Hindu.  

Topics that Ketaki & I cover are:

• her story around being single and childfree;
• how her conviction about single life being right for her has been a gradual process;
• how both of us feel as though we’re ‘single at heart’;
• how Ketaki came to create and teach India’s first course in single studies;
• the one main difference between being a single woman in India and being a single woman in the west;
• how Ketaki’s parent have responded to her life choices in terms of being single;
• the pressure she has had to deal with from her extended family;
• her essay in Angelica Malin’s book, Unattached;
• being a trailblazer for single women;
• some of the ways in which singles are discriminated against, and the common stereotypes;
• Ketaki’s research into what is making single hood possible / easy or not, i.e. housing, laws, and what can be done to improve things;
• how provisions for single people can affect whether or not someone stays in an abusive relationship, and how important it is to make singlehood desirable;
• reclaiming the term ‘spinster’ which Ketaki also uses in her Instagram handle!

Follow Ketaki on Instagram: 
@spinster.adventures

Follow Ketaki on Twitter:
@chowkhani

Read Ketaki’s essay in Angelica Malin’s book, Unattached (UK Link):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unattached-Essays-Singlehood-Angelica-Malin/dp/1529110394 

US Link to the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Unattached-Essays-Singlehood-Angelica-Malin-ebook/dp/B0946G7RX7 

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

Support the show

On today's minisode, I'm talking about why the most important asset we have is our energy.

Whilst we may worry about people's opinions and judgements when it comes to our single, childfree lives, we need to wise up to this one truth: the energy that we radiate carries far more weight than our relationship status, our qualifications, our bank balance, or anything else. 

It's not about whether or not we've ticked all the boxes of society's expectations.  When it really comes down to it, people remember how you made them feel. Deep down, us humans aren't really fussed whether you're single or coupled, black or white, rich or poor, tall or short, 35 or 75 - they only care how they feel in your presence. That's the real kicker.  

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

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In this week's episode, I talk to writer and professor, Craig Wynne. 

Craig is a writer and professor at the University of the District of Columbia where he teaches rhetoric and writing studies to first year students. His courses are themed around relationships and single studies. He is also a happy bachelor although this wasn’t always the case. In 2015, the end of romantic relationship had brought on a whole host of negative feelings around being single. This took him on a journey and exploration of all things single.

Craig subsequently wrote a book, How To Be A Happy Bachelor, in which he provides his own observations, anecdotes, advice and takes on all things related to singlehood, and which is primarily written from the male point of view. Because after all, there are many books out there designed to show women how to be single, but no so many for men!   

Topics that Craig & I cover are:

• his university student’s views on being single;
• the internalised singlism that Craig suffered from following the break up of his relationship in 2015;
• how he came across the work of Bella DePaulo which was the catalyst for his journey into singlehood;
• how he brought some of his single research into his work, including a course called ‘How To Be Single & Happy’, and how this led the book deal for ‘How To Be A Happy Bachelor’;
• how men also received stigma around being single, although it looks very different to the narratives around single women;
• how men often find it harder to form social networks which can lead to isolation;
• how Craig does date, but finds that the single life suits him;
• The groups MGTOW (Men Going There Own Way) and INCEL (Involuntary Celibates) and their anger towards women;
• the vastly differing meanings behind the words ‘spinster’ and ‘bachelor’;
• Craig’s thoughts around men’s behaviour when dating online;
• how Craig met his most recent lady friend organically on a subway platform. (I LOVE this!);
• the terms ‘matrimania’, ‘singlism’ and ‘amatonormativity’.
• Craig and my mutual love of music, and going to gigs alone;

Craig’s Website:
https://www.thehappybachelor.org/ 

Buy Craig’s book (UK), How To Be A Happy Bachelor:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Bachelor-Craig-Wynne-author/dp/1792407076 

Buy Craig’s book (US), How To Be A Happy Bachelor:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Happy-Bachelor-Craig-Wynne/dp/1792407076 

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

Support the show

In this week's minisode, I'm talking about 8 key things that we need to let go of.

These include:

- negative self talk
- assuming we can't
- other people's drama (and our own)
- people who no longer bring value to our lives

You'll have to tune in to find out the other 4... ;)

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

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In this week's episode, I talk to poet, writer, teacher and editor, Tania Hershman. 

Tania, as she describes herself on her website, is “a queer writer of odd things, short, very short, and longer.” Now based in Manchester, UK, she moved to Jerusalem from London in 1994 where she was a science journalist for 13 years, writing for publications such as WIRED and NewScientist. She subsequently gave it all up to pursue her love of writing fiction and later, poetry. Tania has a degree in Maths & Physics, a diploma in Journalism, an MSc in Philosophy of Science, and MA and a PhD in Creative Writing. 

Tania has published multiple short stories and poetry books, and last year released her debut novel, ‘Go On’ - a ‘fictional memoir-in-collage’ about a woman moving very happily through the world alone.

Topics that Tania & I cover are:

• how she defines the word ‘queer’ and applies it to herself;
• how the way she writes has never been particularly conventional;
• Tania’s fascination with cemeteries, and the BBC Radio 4 programme she made around the second biggest cemetery in Europe in which she explored how, as a single woman, she might want to be remembered;
• how she was described in a review of the programme as ‘baffling’ due to her single status;
• how she has always felt like the ‘weirdo in the room’, and now uses the word queer as an empowering term;
• why Tania loves the word ‘permission’ and dislikes the word ‘should’;
• how she loves ’stealing’ from science and using it as inspiration for her writing;
• her time in Jerusalem, and how while she loved her work and her time there, the extreme pressure on single people made her feel like a weirdo;
• the 10 year relationship she never expected to have which she embarked upon, in part, to conform to what was expected of her; and how her parents seemed to take her more seriously as part of a couple;
• how Tania is an introvert and needs time alone in order to feel well;
• the death of her beloved cat, her subsequent breakdown, and how it actually helped her to come back to the truth of who she was;
• how frustrating it can be when people don’t believe that, as single people, we can be happy;
• Tania’s upcoming novel in which being single is the default, solitude is celebrated, and being in a couple is not only considered suspicious, it’s possibly a crime! I CANNOT WAIT to read this.

Tania’s Website:
https://www.taniahershman.com/wp/ 

Follow Tania on Instagram:
@tania_hershman_writes

Buy Tania’s Book, Go On:
https://www.taniahershman.com/wp/product/go-on-a-novel/

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

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In this week's minisode, I'm talking about why my part-time job as my sister's cleaner is actually totally awesome. 

As many of you will know, following some big changes in my life, I've been cleaning my sister's house once a week for the last two years. And I'm getting used to the gasps of surprise / horror when people discover that this is one of my day jobs (along with being a part-time barista in a coffee shop).

But although at first glance this may not seem like the obvious career choice for a 47 year old woman with an MSc in Psychology and a former career at BBC Radio 2, it's actually bloody great. Press 'Play' to find out why...!

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

Support the show

In this week's episode I talk to High Sensory Coach and Creative Empath, Elisha May. 

Elisha is a High Sensory Leader and Coach which means she is able to energetically and intuitively assist transformation in others, and achieve quicker results than a normal coach or therapist. She offers High Sensory Facilitation, for those with the trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, now known as High Sensory People, but have been known as Highly Sensitive People and Empaths. She specialises in people wanting to live a life in a non-conventional way, with freedom, adventure, and independence as the theme.

Elisha has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people that have chosen the conventional route but feel this hasn’t enabled them to always remain in their truth and connection with their inner knowing. She is an expert at helping people come back into alignment with the truth of who they are when they have been at the mercy of the conditions and conventions of their society, step out of the depletion and negative exhausting effects of the human conditioning that people have experienced in their life.

Elisha is about to launch a new podcast and YouTube channel called High Sensory People with another High Sensory Coach and Empath.

Topics that Elisha & I cover are:

• How she experiences life as a High Sensory Person and Empath;
• How she has always led an unconventional life and been a free spirit;
• Elisha’s thoughts and her own story around being childfree;
• How explaining why you didn’t have kids can be triggering for women who have them;
• People pleasing, and how it tends to be a largely female issue;
• The ‘one size fits all’ expectation of life, and how societal programming can sometimes make us feel as though we don’t have choice about our lives;
• The difference between the true self / soul, and the false self / ego, and how we are slowly learning to bring into union the soul and the ‘human self’;
• How important it is to come out of our minds, drop down into our bodies, and subsequently bring our consciousness into our heart centre;
• How humans have a tendency to think they are superior to Mother Earth, how this is simply not the case, and the truth is we are all connected;
• How women who don’t have children, whatever the reason, are saving the planet!
• The concept of the Free Woman, and we are needed in this world.
• How disengaging from the news and adverts would make the world a better place for everyone.

Elisha’s Website:
https://elisha-may.com/ 

Follow Elisha on Instagram:
@elishamayhsp

Connect with Elisha on LinkedIn:
Elisha May

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!