Alonement

Welcome to a very special episode of Alonement to mark the publication week of my first BOOK: Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it, the book inspired by this podcast, out now – get your copy on Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org and all good booksellers. So what’s on the agenda? Ironically, considering the theme of this podcast, it’s the first time I am going solo without a guest. However, don’t think I’ve short-changed you: there is a lot of SCINTILLATING content packed into the next half hour, including a montage where listeners share their own favourite kinds of alonement (I got actual chills from putting this together during the editing process); a trip down memory lane as I recap some of my favourite moments from the podcast so far; and an exclusive extract from the ALONEMENT audiobook, read by yours truly. I hope you enjoy listening, friends! For long-term subscribers, thank you for being on this journey with me – I love you all and there’s no one I’d rather be alone together with. And for those who have just discovered the joy of alonement via the book and/or podcast? Welcome – this is going to be the start of something beautiful… My book, Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it, is available to order now on Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org and all good booksellers.*Social mediaInstagram: @alonementofficial @chezspecterTwitter: @ChezSpecter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ostensibly, this week’s guest – one of the UK’s best known reality TV stars – might not seem like the go-to authority on time alone. Yet, after half a decade of living around cameras, Made in Chelsea star Lucy Watson describes her solitude as a ‘relief’. In this episode, we discuss the power of following your values and living authentically. For Lucy, that means following a vegan lifestyle, as she's done since 2016, yet it strikes me that those values of pursuing what you believe in can be applied to so much more. Later, the PETA activist talks about the loneliness that has accompanied her vegan (formerly vegetarian, as a child) lifestyle – including being separated from her friends and sat at the ‘Vegetarian Table’ during her school days. Finally, we discuss Lucy’s first ever solo holiday: a joyful trip to Los Angeles after filming series one of Made in Chelsea. This was an eye-opening chat for me, and I was delighted to have Lucy on. Listen to feel empowered to follow your own path. Lucy Watson’s book, Awakenings, discussed in this episode, is available to order now.*My book, Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it, is available to pre-order now on Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org and all good booksellers.*Social mediaInstagram: @alonementofficial @chezspecter @lucywatsonTwitter: @ChezSpecter @imLucyWatson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever struggled to set boundaries in your life? If this sounds like you (and – let’s face it – it's most of us), then this week’s episode, starring ‘The Joy of Being Selfish’ author Michelle Elman, will prove an absolute saviour. Michelle is a life coach and body positive activist, best known to her 300,000 social media followers for her global Scarred Not Scared campaign. Fascinatingly, we recorded this episode London to Hong Kong – where Michelle was beginning a 14-day stay at a quarantine hotel until a strict set of rules (she wasn’t even allowed a room key to enable her to leave). Still, Michelle is full of energy and sage advice: we discuss everything from her unique self-love mantra – ‘I’m going to love myself and not make it anyone else’s job’ – and the importance of alone time for learning to love yourself. We also have a candid conversation around the loneliness that comes from setting boundaries in your relationships with others. Finally, we discuss Michelle’s love of paddle boarding – which is, for her, the ultimate alonement. You can order Michelle’s book, The Joy of Being Selfish, now from Amazon and Waterstones. You can also pre-order my upcoming title, Alonement: How To Be Alone and Absolutely Own It, now from Amazon and Waterstones. Twitter:*  @ChezSpecter*@ScarredNtScared*Instagram: @alonementofficial*@ChezSpecter*@scarrednotscared*Contact: press@alonement.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don’t panic – but my guest this week is Nell Frizzell, the brilliant author of ‘The Panic Years’, a memoir about Nell’s journey from a single woman in her late twenties to becoming a first-time mother at 32. Listening back to this episode, I was wowed for a second time by Nell’s eloquence and honesty: she puts into words what so many women feel around those ‘panic years’ of deciding whether or not to have children – a time she also calls ‘the flux’. During this recording, we discuss everything from maternal loneliness and why it doesn’t get enough airtime, to the joys of nighttime wild swimming (Nell, NOT me, let me stress). The chronic laughter from Nell and myself through this episode is testament to how much I thoroughly enjoyed this interview – and I hope you do too. Nell’s book, The Panic Years, is out now. Order from Waterstones and all good booksellers. You can also pre-order my upcoming book, Alonement: How To Be Alone And Absolutely Own It, which we refer to in the episode, from Amazon, Waterstones and all good booksellers.  Twitter:*  @ChezSpecter*@nellfrizzellInstagram:*@alonementofficial*@ChezSpecter*@NellFrizzell*Contact: press@alonement.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Guy Winch, a clinical psychologist, TED speaker and author of Emotional First Aid (plus other books!). He’s also a loneliness expert – a role which I was pretty intrigued by! Anyway, I learnt a lot from recording this episode: about loneliness; about emotional self-reliance versus when to see a therapist; and so much more. Side note: Guy is also hilariously funny – a highlight is when he confesses to having a Star Wars paraphernalia filled ‘man cave’. You can listen to Guy Winch's podcast, Dear Therapists, on Apple Podcasts. You can also pre-order my upcoming book, Alonement: How To Be Alone And Absolutely Own It, which we refer to in the episode, from Amazon, Waterstones and all good booksellers.  Twitter:*  @ChezSpecter*@GuyWinchInstagram:*@alonementofficial*@ChezSpecter*@guywinch*Contact: press@alonement.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back, baby! It’s a new year, and with it comes a brand new season of Alonement. My first guest is author and presenter Rebecca Seal, whose latest book, SOLO: How To Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind), accidentally became one of the most relevant titles of 2020 as many of us faced home-working due to lockdown. After over a decade of running her freelance career from home, Rebecca shares her best advice for ‘solo’ working - a must-have for the 14 million of us currently sharing her lifestyle – including her specific pandemic-proof tips to help you thrive. Other topics discussed in this episode include the fallacy of the ‘solitary’ genius and, later, Rebecca’s IVF journey, a lonely experience that she’s now committed to speaking openly about to help others feel that they’re not alone. Finally, Rebecca tells me why running is her favourite form of alonement – and shares why, even as someone who’s written a self-help book, she’s happy to admit she’s still a ‘work in progress’. Buy Rebecca Seal's book, SOLO: How To Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind) on Amazon, Waterstones, and from all good booksellers. You can also pre-order my upcoming book, Alonement: How To Be Alone And Absolutely Own It, from Amazon, Waterstones and all good booksellers.  Twitter:*  @ChezSpecter*@RebeccaSeal*Instagram: @alonementofficial*@ChezSpecter*@bexseal*Contact: press@alonement.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the season finale! Since interviewing this week's guest Camilla Thurlow last month, I have been itching to share this episode with you. The bomb disposal expert turned Love Island star (and former Miss Edinburgh) is one of the loveliest, most articulate people I've ever had the privilege to interview, and I am absolutely empowered by her life philosophy of putting herself in challenging situations – from detonating landmines in Afghanistan to coming runner-up on a popular reality show. I hope you find yourself equally inspired.I'd also like to announce – or, indeed, pre-announce – that I have some very exciting, alonement-related news to share with you early next month. I'll be taking a short break from podcasting – but, in the meantime, I will always love to hear from you on social media or via email. Your messages never fail to make my day.Camilla's debut book, a memoir titled 'Not The Type', is available to buy now. Twitter: @ChezSpecter @camillathurlowInstagram: @alonementofficial @camillathurlowSign up for free to the Alonement weekly newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I could sum up Felicity Cloake's lifestyle in two words, it would be: solo glamour. From cooking up solo dining feasts to taking an independent six-week cycling holiday across France (albeit joined by pals at intervals along the way), the Guardian food writer and author truly lives her philosophy that, in her words, 'you are worth eating something nice for on your own'. I love and have been thoroughly inspired by the tips for solo dining she shares on this episode, which all alonement fans need to hear about. I was equally nodding along as she talked candidly about loneliness as something that can occur even when you're in the physical presence of others. All in all, many a fascinating morsel (forgive me) in this episode – I hope you enjoy listening. Felicity's New Statesman article referenced towards the beginning of the episode is 'Solo dining is on the rise. And it's easy to see why' – you can read it here.You can buy Felicity's travel memoir, One More Croissant For The Road, from Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. Twitter: @ChezSpecter @felicitycloakeInstagram: @alonementofficial @felicitycloake  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was touched by the honesty of this week’s guest, Matthew Stadlen. During our candid conversation, the LBC presenter and journalist opens up about the challenges of dating after a recent divorce, navigating a marriage breakdown and living alone during a pandemic. Later on, we also discuss Matthew’s passion for birdwatching (and he answers my VERY basic questions as to what birdwatching actually, er, entails). I learnt a lot during these 45 minutes – and I know you will too.Twitter: @ChezSpecter @MatthewStadlenInstagram: @alonementofficial @MatthewStadlen  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HELLO and happy September! This week’s guest is radio and television presenter Vick Hope a.k.a ‘The New Voice of a Generation’ (to quote a recent Sunday Times Style article). My conversation with BBC Radio 1's new addition meanders from Nigerian cooking journey during lockdown to love languages and the joy of dancing like no one's watching while alone at home. During this recording, Vick also reminded me of a beautiful word, 'sonder', meaning the realisation that everyone else lives a life just as rich and vivid as your own. She describes it the sensation of 'souls intermingling', which is just gorgeous.I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording with Vick. P.S. This is the ManRepeller article Vick referenced during the podcast about always returning to a certain ‘happiness set point’.P.P.S. We also discuss Gary Chapman's Love Languages theory – also referenced in the Daisy Buchanan episode in season one. Twitter: @ChezSpecter @vicknhopeInstagram: @alonementofficial @vickhope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.