Spinsterhood Reimagined

Send us Fan MailJOIN ME FOR A THRIVE SOLO TRIP TO ITALY IN APRIL 2027! https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking all about confidence and how to build more of it.We share why we prefer to think of confidence as a verb rather than a noun. Confidence isn't something you magically have before you start – it's something you create. It grows when you find a little courage, get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and take action anyway.Only then does confidence begin to grow. As you keep showing up, you build competence, which in turn fuels even more confidence.We hope you enjoy this episode.Love,Polly & Lucy x Support the showJOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailJOIN ME FOR A THRIVE SOLO TRIP TO ITALY IN APRIL 2027!  https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyThis week's episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Kristy Halvorsen, full-time nomad, coach and author of Perfect Unfolding: Seven Years of Life-Changing Solo Adventure, One Year That Broke Me Open — a book that I read and absolutely loved. If you haven't yet listened to last week's part 1, then I would urge you to do that first and then come back to this episode. In this second half of our conversation, Kristy tells me about the big love she had with the person she writes all about in her book, that ended about a year and a half ago; she talks all about how coming out of that relationship, and recovering from it has impacted the way she feels about her single life. We also talk about the five years before that relationship where Kristy truly fell in love with single life, and how being alone on the road for so long allowed her to really appreciate her solo adventures. We talk about solitude, and how learning to really love yourself requires time alone; Kristy tells me about the many connections she has formed with people during the course of her nearly 9 years of travelling across the US and Canada; we also talk about following the tickles of your soul, and how you might live your life if you trusted that everything was going to work out. I just loved this conversation so, so much — Kristy is wise and completely authentic, and I hope you'll enjoy this second part of our chat.Buy Kristy's book: https://perfectunfolding.com/Follow Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy.halvorsen/Check out Kristy's website: https://kristyhalvorsen.com/ Support the showJOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's minisode, I'm challenging the idea that being in a relationship somehow gives you access to a richer or more meaningful version of life. So often, single people are made to feel as though they're waiting on the sidelines while everyone else is experiencing the "real" human experience — but I simply don't believe that's true. We all experience love, heartbreak, joy, grief, purpose, fear, growth and wonder, regardless of our relationship status. Because being in a relationship doesn't unlock a secret level of being human; it simply offers one way of experiencing this weird, beautiful and extraordinary thing we call life. Support the showJOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn today's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about comparison.As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy, but we can all be guilty of it to a greater or lesser extent. And it's even harder to keep it under control in this age of screens and social media.Rather than comparing ourselves to others and allowing them to make us feel bad about ourselves, let's use comparison as motivation and inspiration to improve and evolve in our own lives.Because the truth is that the only person we should really be comparing ourselves to is the person we were yesterday.We hope you'll find something helpful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy x Support the showJOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode is Part 1 of a 2-parter with the fabulous Kristy Halvorsen, a full-time nomad and author. If "normal" is a way of being, Kristy is most definitely not that. In 2017, she sold pretty much everything she owned including her house, she left her career as a firefighting, and she hit the road in her Airstream trailer, Coddie. For nearly nine years, Kristy has migrated with the seasons, often with no idea where she's headed next. As well as being a nomadic world traveler, she is a mentor, coach, and bestselling author of Perfect Unfolding: Seven Years of Life-Changing Solo Adventure, One Year That Broke Me Open, a vulnerable, deeply human account of what's possible when you live in curiosity and wonder, embrace the unknown, and trust life while waking up to the simplicity and freedom available to us all. I've read the book and I honestly loved it and would highly recommend reading it — she writes beautifully and it's an inspiring read. This conversation was awesome, and in this first half, Kristy tells me all about what made her leave her career in firefighting to take off into the unknown; we talk about following your heart, we talk about heartbreak, and we talk about living the hell out of life. Buy Kristy's book: https://perfectunfolding.com/Follow Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy.halvorsen/Check out Kristy's website: https://kristyhalvorsen.com/ Support the showJOIN MY ITALY TRIP IN APRIL 2027: https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italyBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm exploring one of my favourite mindset quotes, attributed to Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." We all tell ourselves stories about who we are and what we're capable of, but what if many of those stories aren't actually facts at all? From confidence and careers to relationships and being single, I unpack how the beliefs we repeat to ourselves shape the actions we take, the opportunities we pursue and, ultimately, the lives we create. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "I'm just not that sort of person," this episode is a reminder to question whether that's really true...or simply an old opinion that's been running the show for far too long.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Monday Motivation, Polly and I are talking about taking responsibility.How often do you avoid doing the hard thing, even though you know it's exactly what needs to be done?The truth is, no one else can do it for us. We all have to choose our hard.Taking responsibility isn't about blame or pressure – it's about recognising the incredible power you already have to shape your life.And that's a far more empowering way to live.We hope there's something in this conversation that resonates with you and supports you this week.Love Polly & Lucy xSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailI'm excited for you to hear my wonderful guest this week because she's talking all about something that we don't talk about enough — and I've only had one other guest on the podcast talking about this particular thing. Hennie Thomson is a single woman in her 30s living and working in Oxfordshire. She has been long-term single and a few years ago she realised that her lack of interest in pursuing a romantic relationship does actually have a name. Discovering her asexual / aromantic identity has helped Hennie make sense of why she has chosen a solo life in a world that promotes coupling up. And as you guys know more than most, there is far more to people than their relationship status, and Hennie is keen to build a life full of meaning and connection. In our conversation we talk all about what life has looked like for Hennie as someone who now identifies as asexual and aromantic, and I think you will find this conversation to be as fascinating as I did.Follow Hennie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorhen.prints/Books Hennie mentioned:Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society & The Meaning Of Sex by Angela Chen: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ace-Asexuality-Reveals-Identity-Meaning/dp/080701379XLoveless by Alice Oseman: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loveless-Alice-Oseman/dp/000824412XSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm asking a question that I've genuinely been wondering about for a long, long time: are human beings actually meant to spend 20, 30, 40 or 50 years with the same romantic partner? I'm not questioning love or relationships themselves, but the societal expectation that we're all supposed to couple up, get married and stay together forever. We explore where that script came from, why so many people struggle to live up to it, and whether we've been conditioned to see relationships as "failures" simply because they end. As always, I'm not claiming to have the answers — I'm simply inviting you to question an idea that most of us have been taught to accept without ever really examining.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about the mistake that so many of us make which is thinking that things will be better when…We've all done it, haven't we? Things will better when I'm earning more money; things will be better when I've started the new job; things will be better once I move into the new home.Ultimately, those ‘big' moments in life are fleeting, and the trick is learning how to enjoy all of the moments in between.We hope you'll find something useful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy xSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's episode, I'm talking to the fabulous Désirée Cyganek, a single and childfree photographer and former dancer, the daughter of a French father and an African mother who was born in the Ivory Coast and raised in France. Having moved to Florida when she met the man she subsequently married, Désirée now lives in Jersey City — just across the water from Manhattan — with her two beloved bengal cats which we obviously talk about. In this conversation, Désirée tells me about her former career as a dancer, the love story that took her to the US but ultimately ended in divorce, and how she subsequently became a photographer. We talk all about her single life and how she feels about it, we talk about why people get so triggered by single women without kids, she tells me about the differences between dating American guys and European guys, and she also gives me possibly the best description I've ever heard about what it actually means to love yourself. Désirée really is a force, I thought she was absolutely fabulous, and I can't wait for you to hear this. Follow Désirée on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anothereraclub/Check out her photography website: https://daisyrey.com/Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's minisode, I'm sharing one of my core messages for single women: spend more energy chasing your dreams than chasing a romantic relationship. I talk about how easy it is to make “finding someone” the main project of your life, while neglecting the life you're actually responsible for creating. This is a reminder that no partner can hand you happiness, purpose, direction or fulfilment — those are things you build through your own choices, courage and self-investment. Whether love comes along or not, your life is happening now, and your dreams deserve your energy, attention and devotion.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Tuesday Motivation, Polly and I are chatting about the importance of movement.As we get older, we naturally lose both muscle and bone mass, so keeping our bodies moving is one of the best investments we can make in our long term health and wellbeing.We talk about how consistency matters more than perfection, how to make movement enjoyable, and simple ways to fit it into your everyday life.It's so easy to find reasons not to exercise but the benefits for your body, mind and future self are enormous.We hope this conversation gives you the nudge you need to get moving.Love Polly & Lucy xSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailI have actual man on my podcast today, and what a gorgeous man he is! Carl Huelin is 46, single, doesn't have kids, lives on the island of Jersey and works as a men's life coach, having completed burned out in the corporate world and deciding to change things up. I do urge you to listen to this conversation the whole way through because I think our conversation gets better and better, and Carl is just such a lovely, lovely man and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed speaking to him. It's always refreshing to get a guy's perspective on things, especially one who actually works with men, and I'm sure that you'll find so much of what he says really interesting to hear. In our conversation, Carl tells me all about the work he does with men including the different kinds of men's groups he's been a part of, as well as giving me his take on where men and women seems to go so wrong with each other. He also tells me about how he's lost himself inside romantic relationships before, but how he's now much more sure of who he is and what he wants if and when he does enter into another relationship. We talk about how so many of us are running on autopilot, we talk about doing the inner work, we talk about how he feels about not having had kids, and Carl tells me that Disney and fairytales also affect men, too. I just loved this conversation and I hope you will too. Follow Carl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlhuelin/Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's minisode, I'm talking about something we don't discuss enough: how much of ourselves we can lose in romantic relationships, even good ones. I explore the invisible cost of partnership — the habits, routines, freedom, focus, control and little personal preferences that can quietly get pushed aside when a relationship becomes the centre of your life. This isn't about saying relationships are bad; it's about being honest that they require compromise, energy and self-adjustment, and that women are often conditioned to sacrifice themselves for the “greater good” of the relationship. If you're single, this is a reminder to appreciate what you currently have: space, autonomy, clarity, and the chance to stay deeply connected to yourself.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn today's Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about how important it is to find the joy in life, rather than being constantly weighed down by all of the ‘shoulds'.The truth is that life is short, and we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride. Instead of taking it all so seriously, let's remember that we're all travelling on a giant sphere hurtling through space - so we might as well enjoy it while we're here!We hope you'll find something useful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy xSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week, I'm thrilled to be speaking to the absolutely fabulous Zoe Hanson — solo Mum to her 13 year old daughter, Lois. Zoe raised Lois by herself from the moment she was born, and that was while she was hosting Heart's south coast breakfast show having been one of the south coast's longest running breakfast show hosts on both the Capital and Heart networks, including presenting Capital's breakfast show alongside Johnny Vaughan. These days, you can hear Zoe on The So So Show, a podcast that she hosts with Tom Stroud about all things Southampton which is where Zoe lives. In our conversation, Zoe and I talk all about her former career; her company, The Podcast Lady, which she started as a way of helping business start their own podcasts; we talk about how both of us are feeling fabulous in our fifties, Zoe's love of running, what single life looks like when you have a kid, and of course we also talk about Zoe's journey of being a solo parent. I absolutely bloody loved talking to this woman, and I know that you're going to love listening to her and feeling her amazing energy. So, without further ado, here is the awesome Zoe Hanson. Follow Zoe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoehanson84/?hl=enCheck out The Podcast Lady: https://thepodcastlady.co.uk/Follow Zoe's new Instagram, How To Be Fifty for more news about her upcoming podcast: https://www.instagram.com/howtobe50_/Listen to The So SO Show: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Dh4S5XgfFSa7qncBo8bOkSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm giving some loving tough love on the phrase “easier said than done” — because yes, changing your mindset, reprogramming old beliefs, and building a better life is hard…but that doesn't mean it isn't worth doing. I talk about why so many of us stay stuck because we expect transformation to feel easy, when really it takes repetition, discipline, discomfort and daily self-awareness. This is a reminder that the work isn't about becoming perfect; it's about catching yourself quicker, choosing differently, and proving to yourself — again and again — that your life, your peace, and your future self are worth the effort.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Monday Motivation, Polly and I are talking all about sleep.Sleep is one of the foundations of good health, yet it's something so many of us struggle to get enough of.In this episode, we chat about some of the simple things we've found really help us sleep better, from creating a healthier sleep environment to small habits that can make a big difference.We hope there's something in this conversation that helps you get a better night's sleep.Love,Polly & Lucy xxSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's guest episode, I'm speaking to the wonderful Elisa Hanssen, single, childfree, and originally from The Netherlands but now living in Iceland for the last ten years having fallen in love with the country on a solo holiday. During her time in Iceland, Elisa has done all manner of things from being a horse riding guide, to knitting amazing Icelandic sweaters, to working in a kindergarten, to working in various guest houses, all the while making the very most of everything the country has to offer. In our conversation, Elisa talks about how and why she ended up leaving the Netherlands in search of a new life, why she loves Iceland so much, and the incredible Icelandic horses that she's been so lucky to work with; we also talk about her love of solitude, spending time in nature, how she prefers herself when she's single, and flying right over an erupting volcano!Follow Elisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisa_in_iceland/?hl=enSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's minisode, I'm talking about one of the most underrated benefits of being single: the glorious absence of romantic relationship emotional admin. I unpack how relationships don't just bring love and companionship — they also bring conflict navigation, mood management, compromise, repair, expectation-setting and constant background maintenance. Single life doesn't remove every problem, of course, but it does remove a whole layer of emotional complexity, creating a level of peace that's much easier to maintain. This is a reminder to notice not just what single life may be missing, but what you're no longer carrying — and why that can feel absolutely delightful.Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking all about boundaries.Women in particular have been conditioned to believe that they should give OF themselves long before they should give TO themselves. But this can lead to burnout and resentment. And this is where boundaries come in.The truth is that if we don't implement boundaries, we'll forever end up saying yes to things we don't want to do, tolerating behaviour we shouldn't put up with, and generally feeling depleted and frustrated.Boundaries can be uncomfortable to implement - especially with the people we love - but they are not only important for our own wellbeing, but also for those same people. Because when we prioritise ourselves instead of everybody else, we show up better for our family and friends.We hope you'll find something useful in this conversation.Love,Polly & Lucy xSupport the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailI'm SO excited for you to hear my guest on this week's episode, because I think she's one of my favourites so far — and to be fair I've only said that a handful of times in the four and a half years I've been making this podcast! Her name is Lauren Smith — you might know her on social media as 'ItsLaurenSmithy' — and she is a content creator, plus size advocate, and public historian-in-training who is basically joy personified. In this conversation, Lauren tells me how she began creating content around plus size fashion, but how her content has evolved into much more than that, including talking about her infectious passion for history, as well as single life and finding the joy in life; we talk about her own journey of learning to love her body, we talk about heartbreak, shame, loneliness, and what it's like when your friends are all living a life that looks very different to your own. We also talk about how much she now loves her single life, the joy she finds in singing in a choir, and how wonderful it is to be able to go all in on your passions when you're a solo woman. This truly was one of my favourite interviews for this podcast and I have no doubt that you're going to bloody love this woman.Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslaurensmithy/?hl=enFollow Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itslaurensmithy Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm talking about authenticity — and why you never regret honouring yourself, even when it risks being misunderstood. I unpack how many of us have been conditioned to shapeshift for approval, and how self-respect and self-trust are built by not abandoning yourself in the small moments: saying what you mean, holding boundaries, and choosing what's true for you. Being yourself won't please everyone — and that's kind of the point — because authenticity is what attracts the right people, relationships and opportunities into your life. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are chatting about the importance of checking in on your goals now that we're nearly halfway through the year.As always, we wander off into a few interesting tangents along the way! But at its heart, this conversation is a gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and ask yourself:Are you heading in the direction you want to go? And are you getting there in a way that feels good?We hope there's something in here for you.Love, Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on this week's guest episode is the gorgeous Carolyn Couch. Single, childfree by choice, 64 years old, and living in North Caroline, Carolyn is a career counsellor and coach. In this conversation, Carolyn and I talk about what it was like growing up in a small town in a southern US state where, even more so back then, it was very much expected that you would get married and have children. But Carolyn just knew that the traditional path was not for her and so she stuck to her guns and forged her own path. I know that you'll love this episode because we talk about all sorts of things, not least solo life, changing careers as a woman, and how we can use AI to our advantage.05:53 Lifelong Single Choice11:42 Solitude Not Loneliness13:21 Career Pivot Story16:28 Coaching Methods Mindset22:55 Advice for Single Women27:00 Money Skills Planning30:09 No Plan B Mindset30:53 Urgency Creates Momentum32:04 Baby Steps That Stick33:24 Clarity Through Action35:02 Accountability And Coaching37:51 Invest In Yourself39:16 Why Single Women Need Agency40:45 AI As Career Coach50:43 Gen Z Career AdviceCheck out Carolyn's website: https://thenextstepcareercoaching.com/Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenextstepcareercoachingllcFollow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_next_step_career_coaching/ Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm talking about why energy — physical and mental — is the real currency of a good life, and why it matters even more when you're single and running your life solo. I share how energy affects everything from your mood and motivation to your creativity and confidence, how we leak it without realising, and why the “boring” basics (sleep, movement, boundaries, nourishing inputs) are actually what create freedom. I also touch on energy from a law of attraction perspective — not as magic, but as alignment — because the way you feel and show up changes what you notice, what you choose, and what you attract. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about radio stations.

Send us Fan MailMy completely gorgeous guest this week is Sophie Way, a 27 year old actor who is both single and doesn't have kids. This episode came about very quickly because Sophie has written and acted in her own short film — Expectations — and I wanted to get this episode out before the screening in case any of you can get yourselves there in person (all details in the episode).Sophie is not only single but she's also a late bloomer, having never had a boyfriend, and it's this that inspired her to write this short film because she was tired of never seeing single people represented in films, certainly not as the main character as oppose to the comedy sidekick or tragic single person we're so used to seeing on TV and in films. So Sophie decided to take matters into her own hands and write a film herself, as well as actually going through the daunting process of getting it made, which is no mean feat. In our conversation, Sophie talks to me about her single life, and how it's felt to never to have experienced romantic love, and she of course tells me all about Expectations which I, for one, cannot wait to see. Follow Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieway98/Follow the short film, Expectations on Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/expectationssocialmedia/Follow Expectations on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@expectations_shortfilmBuy tickets for the screening on 19th June 2026: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expectations-short-film-screening-and-qa-tickets-1990389471489 Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this minisode, I'm sharing one of the most life-changing mindset shifts I've learned: life isn't happening to you — it's happening through you. I talk about the difference between a “victim of circumstances” mindset and an empowered, self-responsible one, and how your thoughts, words, feelings and actions shape the reality you experience. If you've been feeling stuck, reactive or disempowered, this is a practical reminder to reclaim your agency, focus on what's within your control, and start steering your life from the inside out. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are asking the question ‘How well do you know yourself?So many of us spend our lives reacting to what's happening around us that we lose touch with what we actually need.We discuss what gives us energy, what drains us and the importance of living a life which is authentic to who we truly are.We hope you find something useful to you in here.Love, Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on Thrive Solo this week is the completely fabulous Maryjane Fahey — and she is going to blow your socks off!Maryjane is 76 year old the creator of Glorious Broads, a platform that celebrates the audacious spirit of women who embrace aging with defiance, and where age is not but just a number, it's a badge of honour. The message of Glorious Broads is that ageing should not be a journey of fading into the background, because wonderful women over 50, 60, 70 and beyond still have SO much to share with and to offer this world. Maryjane previously worked in publishing, art directing, as well as rebranding and launching magazines from Women's Health to redesigning Tatler Asia, The Boston Globe. She has written for Bustle's TZR, Huffington Post, NPR, Next and co-authored a book called DUMPED. In our conversation, Maryjane and I talk about everything from why she loathes the term ‘invisible' for older women, living in the moment and why she loves Eckhart Tolle, how her attitude towards romantic love is very different now than it was when she was younger, the unconventional relationship she has with a man she chooses not to live with, and how the best sex of her life happened after she turned 60. Prepare yourselves to LOVE this force of a woman. Follow Glorious Broads on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriousbroads/?hl=enFollow Glorious Broads on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@glorious.broadsFollow Glorious Broads on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gloriousbroads Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this minisode I'm giving you a loving kick up the bum if you've been waiting to “feel ready” before you start the thing you know you want to do. I talk about why readiness is a myth, why motivation and clarity come from action (not the other way round), and how being single is actually a superpower because you have the space to build the life you want. I also share how I launched my podcast by picking a date and just getting scrappy and moving—proof that you don't need the perfect plan, you just need to decide and take the first step. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about three little words…mind, mouth, and mood.Ultimately, those three things - our thoughts, our words, and our emotions - are the building blocks of our reality. But most of us spend our lives trying to change what's going on in the outside world, instead of prioritising our inner world. And the outer world is simply a reflection of our inner world. So…master your mind (the stories you're telling yourself, the thoughts you repeat etc); master your mouth (are you constantly moaning and complaining?); and master your mood (by becoming aware of how you feel and learning how to gently shift into a better feeling state.) We really hope you'll find something useful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy x  Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest this week is the fabulous Janis Dardaris. Single and childfree, Janis is an actor with over 40 years experience working on stage, in film and in television. She has appeared in The Sixth Sense, The Chosen, Incendies and Orpheus Descending, to name but a few. Janis is also one of the Glorious Broads, a movement of women age 50 and over who are smashing stereotypes of what it actually means to be a woman of ‘a certain age'. In our conversation, Janis and I talk about being single-minded in pursuit of your passions, how she feels about single life, how she never really wanted to have kids, women taking up space, how it isn't easy being a man in this day and age, how she feels about ageing, and much more. Janis is such a strong, no nonsense, interesting woman and I absolutely loved talking to her.Follow Janis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janisdardaris/Check out Janis' website: https://www.janisdardaris.com/ Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this minisode I'm talking about why weekends can feel tricky for single women — and how to take your weekend back by designing it on purpose. I share a simple, nourishing “weekend blueprint” that starts with getting up and out early (no duvet doom-scrolling), moving your body to lift your mood, building in connection, and creating cosy, joyful rituals that make solo time feel like a gift. I also talk about using Sundays to lean into one of the most underrated perks of being single and childfree: time and space to work on the dreams and projects that matter to you. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week on Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about complaining.We all love a good vent now and again, and sometimes it's healthy to let those emotions out. But when we stay stuck there, replaying the same thoughts over and over, it can keep us trapped in a really low-energy state.In this episode, we share our thoughts on the difference between releasing emotions and ruminating, plus some simple ways we try to catch ourselves before getting pulled into the cycle of constant complaining.Because sometimes the most powerful shift is asking: “Do I want to stay here… or do I want to move forward?”We hope you find something useful in here.Love, Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on the podcast this week is the completely divine Gem Jackson. Gem is a 41 year old content creator, influencer, podcaster and author, who is single and childless by circumstance. For a long time, Gem felt that she was behind in life as many of her friends got married and had kids, but over the last few years she's made some big changes in her life, not least because of her best friend's tragic diagnosis a few years ago. She left her corporate job to pursue a different life, and is now embracing being a solo, and all the possibility that this lifestyle affords her. In our conversation, Gem and I talk about what happens when your life turns out differently than you imagined. She tells me about her ebook, 'Is This It?', we talk her friend's illness and subsequent passing and what that's though her about life; we also chat about forging a path that goes against the tide, and how difficult but rewarding it can be; and we talk about how she has transformed her mindset over the last few years and the difference it's made in her life. 05:06 How She Got Here06:33 Finding Peace Single07:58 Is This It? Ebook09:34 Mindset Tools That Work13:16 Grief and Kids Question20:16 Quitting Corporate 22:34 Building Online Business25:58 Choose Your Hard31:10 Loving Yourself37:50 Bali Breakthroughs44:31 Stop Comparing Yourself47:44 Selling Up And Moving51:26 Alone Not LonelyFollow Gem on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsnextforme111/Listen to Gem's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/figuring-it-out-at-40-life-beyond-the-timeline/id1840131133 Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I explore a different kind of loneliness — not the loneliness of being physically alone, but the loneliness of being with people and still not feeling seen, heard, or valued. I talk about how this can show up as a lack of curiosity about your life (especially as a single, childfree woman), why it can feel so painful even after a “nice” social event, and what psychologists mean when they describe loneliness as a gap between the connection you want and the connection you actually have. You'll come away with practical ways to recognise relational loneliness, spot patterns, and guide conversations. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about something every single one of us experiences at some point…self-doubt.We discuss why it's so common and why it stops us speaking up, going for things, or trusting ourselves fully.We also share some of the things that have genuinely helped us quiet our inner critic and build more self-trust over time.Because life is far too short to spend it constantly second-guessing yourself, shrinking yourself, or waiting until you feel “ready.”We hope you find something useful in here.Love Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on this week's guest episode is the fabulous Alison Seponara, otherwise known as the Anxiety Healer to her mahooosive social media following. Alison is an integrative cognitive behavioural psychologist who works with women over 40, helping them move through the anxiety that comes with the life transitions that the ageing process brings, such as grief and loss, perimenopause and menopause, friendship changes, singlehood, dating, all of it! In this conversation, Alison talks all about the anxiety that she herself has struggled with for most of her life, as well as the tools that she uses and teaches others to use to help with anxiety. We also talk about how she feels about being single, loneliness, adult friendships, as well as the community she has created for single women over 40, the Single Sisters Circle.03:45 Alison's Early Life & Origin Story07:41 Panic Attack Turning Point11:19 Healing Tools And Community14:25 Instagram And Anxiety Education20:38 Daily Anxiety Toolkit Basics24:21 Breathwork Habits That Stick31:59 Emotional Awareness And CBT35:10 Nature And Movement Medicine37:49 Midlife Solo Shift39:01 Building Single Sister Circle43:19 Loneliness Triggers49:06 Friendship Invisibility57:14 Aging Fear And ControlFollow Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanxietyhealer/Join The Single Sister's Circle: https://www.instagram.com/singlesisterscircle/ Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm reclaiming the word manifestation for anyone who finds it too woo-woo, and reframing it as something much more practical: making shit happen. I break down why manifestation isn't just 'thinking positive thoughts,' how intention + belief + action actually work together, and why your brain and attention play a huge role in what you notice and pursue. If you want change in your life, this is your reminder that you can get intentional, embody the version of you who goes for it, and start moving. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about the small, unglamorous steps that we take when nobody's watching, that ultimately get us to where we want to go.For example, Polly talks about the tiny, seemingly insignificant physio exercises she's doing every day to help heal from her knee operation - it would be easy to feel like they weren't doing anything, but she's trusting the process, showing up every day, knowing that they will pay off eventually.So if there's something you'd like to do, remember that it's those baby steps you take that nobody else sees that are actually having the biggest impact of all.We hope you'll find something useful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on the podcast this week is the force that is Amy Untamed, the name she goes by on social media. Amy is a spiritual influencer and content creator whose main message is to empower spiritual women to really anchor into their own intuition and self-trust above everything else, and tune in to that guidance rather than outsourcing it to other people, other things, and even other spiritual resources. Amy has such a strong sense of self and such a presence, and we talked about so many things including the chronic ME that saw her housebound for several years, the abusive relationship that she was in until just 2 years ago; how she has healed herself by processing suppressed emotions and trauma from the past; her, not one but two, spiritual awakenings prompted by both her illness and lockdown; personal agency; and how the intense chemistry we so often feel at the beginning of a relationship can sometimes actually be trauma bonding rather than love.04:43 Chronic Illness Journey08:34 Trauma and Suppression10:17 Leaving Abuse Behind13:32 Spiritual Awakening Phases16:26 Reclaiming Personal Agency17:53 Curating What You Consume21:18 Finding Your People26:43 Tuning Into Intuition30:42 Self Worth and Celibacy35:13 Single Life Benefits37:04 Celibate & Sexual38:36 Fireworks or Trauma Bond41:46 Choosing Safety Over Chemistry43:35 Male Attention and Self Worth54:22 Progress in Dating Boundaries55:48 Mindset About Being SingleFollow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_untamed/Follow Amy on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amy_untamed Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this week's minisode, I'm serving up some tough love on the habit of constantly focusing on the downsides of single life — especially money. Yes, singlehood can have challenges, but if you keep arguing for your limitations, you'll keep noticing them and feeling worse. I talk about why your words matter, how negative stories become self-reinforcing, and how to shift your focus back to what you can control so you can build a life that feels rich, empowered and fully yours. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn today's Thursday's Thoughts, Polly and I are exploring the idea that ‘it's all an inside job.'Your inner world shapes how you experience everything around you, and your outer world becomes a reflection of what's happening within. When you start to notice your thoughts, and how you're really feeling, something shifts. You respond to life differently with more awareness and often more calm and compassion.In this episode, we share some of the simple tools that have helped us navigate our own inner worlds.We hope you find something useful in here.Love Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailMy guest on this week's episode is Chris McMullen. Chris is 46, single, childfree and lives in Brisbane, Australia. Chris started talking about not having kids on his social media when he discovered that him not having kids was resonating with alot of his followers; and he also realised that there were very few men talking about the male perspective when it comes to being childfree. During this conversation, Chris and I talk about why he decided — at the age of 20 — not to have children, the ‘men's work' he's done on himself, as well as the men he has subsequently helped also do the healing work on themselves; how so many people end up almost ‘unconsciously' having kids, rather than it being a conscious, considered choice; the idea of people being either settlers and chasers; and how one of the best things about being childfree is the opportunity to really fulfil your potential in life.05:07 Chris' Singlehood Journey06:58 Dating and Self Awareness09:53 Men's Work and Healing14:29 Choosing Childfree at 2016:55 Pushback and Acceptance22:14 Regret Myth Debunked26:09 Freedom and Childfree Benefits28:42 Building a Childfree Community30:30 Childfree Men Speaking Up31:32 Settlers Versus Chasers36:13 Why We Avoid Our Potential44:30 Embracing Cringe Online47:46 Living With Intention52:10 Happiness As Acceptance55:16 Semi Retirement BlueprintFollow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismc6000/ Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailIn this weeks' minisode I'm talking about what it really means to decenter men — not rejecting them, but stopping them being the centre of your self-worth, attention and life choices. I explore how we've been conditioned to seek validation through male attention, how easy it is to lose yourself in the chase, and why redirecting that energy back into yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do. When you start centring you, you raise your standards, strengthen your boundaries, and build a life that actually fulfils you — with or without a partner. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about not living in the past.We all spend time thinking about the past — whether it's reminiscing about a lovely memory, cringing about something we said or did 5 years ago, or thinking about a relationship we're struggling to move on from. The question we want to ask is: how much time am I actually spending in the past?The truth is that what's done is done, and while we can learn lessons from the past, staying stuck on something that happened 3 weeks or 10 years ago probably isn't serving you. So...if you find yourself spending a little too much time ruminating over that time you made a tit of yourself at last year's Christmas party, it might be time to let that go; and instead, start thinking more about the present moment, and your exciting future.We hope you'll find something useful in here.Love,Polly & Lucy x Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailThis week it's Part Two of my conversation with social media influencer and author Brianna Madia, whose new memoir Homesick Nomad is out now. In this second half of our conversation, Brianna and I talk about how solitude — such as living off-grid alone in a trailer in the Utah desert — builds coping skills, self-regulation, and accountability. Brianna explains her long-held decision not to have children, shaped in part by a ruptured ovarian cyst at 19 and by realising parenthood is a choice, and challenges claims that child-free lives are meaningless or selfish. The episode also centers on her deep bond with her beloved dogs, the unconditional support and love that pets provide, her grief after losing Dagwood in November last year, and why pets can be profoundly fulfilling, especially when you dn't have children.03:12 Choosing Childfree Openly03:49 Solitude in the Desert04:45 Learning Self Soothe Skills07:24 Why Living Alone Matters12:14 Medical Wake Up Call at 1914:14 Kids Are a Choice Not Default17:30 Meaning Without Motherhood19:18 Freedom Versus Feeling Trapped21:47 The 'Selfish' Myth23:21 Misery Loves Company Pushback25:25 Realities of Parenting Up Close28:10 Overpopulation vs Birth Panic29:09 Procreation Isn't Purpose31:20 Pets as Real Family33:58 Grief and Perfect LoveBuy Bianna's new book, Homesick Nomad: https://www.briannamadia.com/homesicknomadFollow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannamadia/ Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Send us Fan MailOn this week's minisode, I'm tackling the fear I hear from so many single women: “What's going to happen to me if I get old alone?” I talk about why we jump to worst-case scenarios, how much we can influence through strength, movement, sleep and our day-to-day habits, and why the way we think and speak about ageing matters more than we realise. I also challenge the “it's all downhill from here” narrative, share research on how positive beliefs about ageing can impact longevity, and remind you that looking after your future self starts now — with small, intentional choices. Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/bookJoin my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesoloDownload my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacksCheck out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!