

Thrive Solo
Lucy Meggeson
Let’s be real — being single and child-free? It’s pretty damn awesome. Don’t believe me? Stick around. I promise you, by listening to this podcast, you’re going to start seeing your solo life in a whole new light — one that feels empowering, exciting, and full of possibility.I’m Lucy Meggeson, and I’m here to help you stop seeing singlehood as a consolation prize and start embracing it as the incredible opportunity that it is. Because the truth? Being single isn’t second best. It’s not a waiting room. And it sure as hell isn’t a life of lack. In fact, when you lean into it, it can be just as fulfilling—if not more so—than being coupled up with kids.And besides, no matter what our relationship status, what we all really want is to feel good in the here and now. So instead of focusing on what’s ‘missing,’ let’s focus on what’s possible. The freedom. The adventure. The extra time and headspace to create a life that’s truly our own.Because here’s the thing: you are so much more powerful than you realise. Your thoughts shape your reality. And when you shift your mindset, you shift your life. My mission isn’t just to help you feel better about being single—it’s to help you recognise your own agency. To help you see that you are the creator of your own experience. And that you, and you alone, get to decide what your life looks like.So join me here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and let’s build lives that feel joyful, meaningful, and wildly fulfilling — on our own terms.Let’s Thrive Solo…together.E-mail me at lucy@lucymeggeson.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 14, 2022 • 15min
Minisode Ep. 1 - Being Different
Send us a textSupport the showWelcome to my first Saturday Minisode!I'm keeping the descriptions for these very short, but in this one I'm pondering the concept of being different, and why I think it's actually a really good thing.I hope you enjoy these bitesize episodes and that they make you smile on a Saturday morning!Please join my brand new Facebook Group. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

May 10, 2022 • 1h 8min
The One Where I Talk To Award-Winning Author, Journalist & Podcast Presenter, Emma John
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to award-winning author, journalist and podcast presenter, Emma John. I know that you guys are going to absolutely love this episode because Emma is completely brilliant, bright, funny and enchanting. Emma has had an amazing career as a journalist and has written widely across film, theatre, music, sport, travel and lifestyle for a variety of national newspapers and magazine titles, including the Guardian, the Observer, the Times and the Financial Times. She was the first woman in the UK to win a Sports Journalism Award and is a contributing writer to the US magazine Afar.Emma is also a successful author of three books on three very different topics: her most recent ‘Self Contained: Scenes From A Single Life’, and her first two award-winning books, ‘Wayfaring Stranger: A Musical Journey In The American South’ and ‘Following On: A Memoir Of Teenage Obsession & Terrible Cricket.’Our conversation includes Emma’s thoughts around the word ‘spinster’ and the shame surrounding it; how important it is that we don’t think of single life as a lesser life, or a limbo period; and the fact that she is very close to her family, has very close friendships, and has never felt ‘alone’. Emma & I discuss how so many of us have bought into the idea that your partner should be your everything, when in fact that never used to be the case; familial expectations about ‘settling down’ and their fears and worries around us being alone; and how not finding a partner has always been, and still is, seen as some kind of ‘failure’. We also talk about Emma’s experiences of solo travel, her time living in North Carolina whilst learning to play Bluegrass fiddle, as well as the time she got to interview Dolly Parton!!!Emma also touches on the process of writing her latest book, Self-Contained, during lockdown whilst living with her parents when her Mum was very ill - she very sadly passed away less than a year ago. I sincerely hope that you all enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed having the conversation with Emma.Emma can be found on Instagram: @emmajohnauthor. She can also be found on Twitter: @em_john. Link to Emma’s website: http://emmajohn.com/Spotify Link to Emma’s podcast, The Spin: https://open.spotify.com/show/1RDjh3ix2iXvatREVd4VLR Apple Podcasts Link to Emma’s podcast, The Spin: Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

May 3, 2022 • 1h 4min
The One Where I Talk To Journalist, Writer & Speaker, Nicola Slawson
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to freelance journalist, writer and public speaker, Nicola Slawson. Nicola has had a brilliant and exciting career in journalism, and she is also the founder of the award-winning and very popular weekly newsletter, The Single Supplement, which explores the highs and lows of being single, and is approaching 10,000 subscribers!She has written for multiple publications including The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Independent, The Telegraph, Refinery 29 and Psychologies Magazine. During her mid-twenties, Nicola also spent time travelling the world as an English teacher in South Korea, Spain and Italy.In this conversation, Nicola and I discuss the different kinds of readers who are attracted to her newsletter, the ups and downs of her single life and how she decided to take herself ‘off the market’, as well as her lifelong desire to be a Mum and where she is in that journey.We also ponder other topics including our thoughts around women automatically taking their husband’s surname when they marry, Nicola’s dislike of the phrases ‘my other half’ and ‘unlucky in love’, and her struggles in her early thirties during which time many of her friends were getting engaged and having babies. Nicola can be found on Instagram: @nicola_slawson and @thesinglesupplement. She can also be found on Twitter: @Nicola_Slawson and @TheSingleSupp. And her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesinglesupplement/Link to Nicola’s newsletter, The Single Supplement: https://thesinglesupplement.substack.com/ Join my Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=shareFollow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter: @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Apr 26, 2022 • 48min
The One Where I Talk About Holidaying Alone
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, it’s just lil’ old me talking about travelling solo. I’ve been on holiday on my own three times in my life - once to East Africa, once to the US for a road trip, and once to Vis Island, Croatia. The first trip I don’t really count as relevant to this podcast because I was very young (19) and I lived in Kenya for 7 months whilst teaching music in a school out there. The other two trips speak more to why I wanted to talk about this particular subject.When you’re single, holidays can be tricky. And it would be easy to wait around for a friend to become available to go away with, or for a boyfriend to come along. However in my experience, holidaying alone is something that we should learn to embrace because it can be life-affirming, exciting and fun. It is also great for building self confidence, finding out who we really are, as well as giving us the opportunity to truly be in the moment without the distraction of anyone else.The message I want to get across is that holidaying alone isn’t something that should be thought of as a last resort. In my experience, it is very much something that can be enjoyed fully in and of itself; and it is more than possible to have a fantastic time away, without having somebody by your side. Apart from anything else, learning to appreciate and enjoy things alone is an important part of life.In this episode I talk about my travels in East Africa including the time I got malaria, my solo road trip to New England and an embarrassing ‘incident’ involving one of my heroes, James Taylor, as well as one of the ironies of travelling alone - that you actually end up meeting more people than you would if you were with your partner and/or kids. I hope you find something of value in this episode, and I hope you enjoy it. Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Apr 19, 2022 • 57min
The One Where I Talk To TV Writer & Author, Gina Fattore
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to TV Writer & Author, Gina Fattore. Not only is Gina one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met, (albeit via Zoom!) she is also super smart, interesting, extremely well-read, and has forged an amazing career as a TV writer in the most competitive of all TV writer environments - Los Angeles. She has written for a multitude of shows including Dare Me, Californication, Masters Of Sex, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Better Things and Dawson’s Creek. Gina is also the author of The Spinster Diaries, a ‘semi-autobiographical, unromantic comedy.’ In this conversation, Gina and I discuss her TEDx Talk - Become What You Believe - so entitled because of a quote by Oprah Winfrey, how she never thought of the word ‘spinster’ as having negative connotations, her love of all things literature including her ‘instant bond’ with Jane Austen, and her upbringing in middle America by her Italian-American parents. Our conversation also includes her ‘best rejection ever’ following an interview to write on Sex & The City, how she knew she wanted to be a writer from the tender age of 10, and how her book, The Spinster Diaries, was inspired by the eighteenth-century novelist and diarist Frances Burney who also happened to be the inspiration for Jane Austen. Gina can be found on Instagram @ginafattore. She can also be found on Twitter @GinaFattore. UK Link to Gina’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZRXY4D8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1US Link to Gina’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Spinster-Diaries-Novel-Gina-Fattore/dp/1945551739/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22LKBBRNX21S9&keywords=the+spinster+diaries&qid=1650298333&sprefix=the+spinster+diarie%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Apr 12, 2022 • 59min
The One Where I Talk To My Friend, Claire McDonnell
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to one of my most brilliant, funny, super-smart and awesome friends, Claire McDonnell. Claire has had an amazing career in sports broadcasting which includes working for many years as a producer and editor at the BBC during which time she worked on the Olympic Games in both Sydney and Athens. She has also worked on the Rugby World Cup in Japan and the European Football Championships. She is on the Board of Governors at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and…she is happily single and childfree. In this conversation, Claire and I discuss her experiences, thoughts and feelings around being a single, childfree woman. We talk about her dislike of the word ‘spinster’, other people’s ideas about having ‘your own’ family, still having to validate herself to some people due to her single status, and how she has never felt uncomfortable being alone. She also talks about times when she has struggled with the attitudes of others towards her being unattached, including the thoughts of her extended traditional Spanish, catholic family.Our conversation also includes being single in lockdown, Claire’s brief foray on Tinder and other internet dating stories, Bridget Jones and The Golden Girls! Claire can be found on Instagram @clairebearmc54. She can also be found on Twitter @ClairebearMc. Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedFollow me on Twitter @LucyMeggesonEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Apr 5, 2022 • 54min
The One Where I Talk To Writer & Author, Sara Eckel
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to New York State-based journalist and author, Sara Eckel. Sara has had an amazing career as a writer and author of the book ’It’s Not You: 27 (Wrong) Reasons You’re Single’. She has written for multiple publications including The Washington Post, The Guardian and Boston Globe Magazine. She has also written two essays for the New York Times’ ‘Modern Love’ column, one of which is still one of the most popular essays in the history of the column. In this conversation, Sara and I discuss her single years living in New York City, and how they allowed her to explore meditation, Buddhist philosophy and generally gave her a whole new way of looking at her life and the world. We also talk about what motivated her to write her brilliant book, which is all about the things people tell women about why they’re single - from too desperate, to too intimidating, to too picky - and why so many of those things seem to completely contradict each other.Our conversation also includes musings on some of the assumptions that are made about single women, how curious we both find it when some women come out of one relationship and go straight into another, and the fact that she doesn’t feel any regret about not having children. Sara can be found on Instagram @saraaeckel. She can also be found on Twitter @saraeckel. Link to Sara’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Not-You-Reasons-Single/dp/0399162879Link to Sara’s New York Times articles: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/style/modern-love-sometimes-its-not-you-or-the-math.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/fashion/Modern-love-The-Hard-Won-Lessons-of-a-Solitary-Life.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140102&tntemail0=yFollow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Mar 29, 2022 • 53min
The One Where I Talk About Woowoo Stuff
Send us a textSupport the showThis week is a solo episode in which I talk about all things 'woowoo'.I explain how I've been on what can really only be described as a 'spiritual journey' over the last few years, during which time I've become fascinated with all things mindset, personal growth, energetics and, essentially, the power of the mind.We've all heard about mindset, and we're all aware of the concept that thoughts become things; but do we actually take this seriously and put the theory into practice? Well I, for one, have done just that, and it has improved my life beyond measure. Becoming aware of the power that our thoughts actually have over how our lives look is something that is often underestimated or laughed off as 'woowoo' nonsense, but I beg to differ. I talk about how I came to explore this subject, the positive impact it has had on my life, and the various practices that I do every day that have made - and continue to make - my life better.Even if you're sceptical, have a listen, because mindset truly is everything and this stuff works! I really hope you enjoy it.Please do let me know your thoughts either by sending me a DM via Instagram @spinsterhoodreimagined, or via my email: lucymeggeson@gmail.com. Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Mar 22, 2022 • 53min
The One Where I Talk To Journalist, Polly Vernon
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to London-based journalist, Polly Vernon. Polly has had an incredibly successful career as a features writer, columnist, interviewer and author of the book ‘Hot Feminist’, and has written for every publication under the sun including Vogue, The Telegraph, The Times, Grazia, The Observer and many, many more. Whilst she is in a long-term relationship, she has never married and doesn’t have children. I was thrilled to be able to have an hour of her time for this interview. In this conversation, Polly and I cover topics including why she has never wanted to get married, a serious sexual assault she survived at the age of just 18, the controversy surrounding her book ‘Hot Feminist’, and how she knew from age 7 that she didn’t want to have children. I hope you guys enjoy this thought-provoking conversation. Polly can be found on Instagram @pollyvernon. She can also be found on Twitter @PollyVernon. Link to Polly’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Feminist-Polly-Vernon/dp/1473612195Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Mar 15, 2022 • 59min
The One Where I Talk To Author & Podcaster, Shani Silver
Send us a textSupport the showIn this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to New Orleans-based writer and podcaster, Shani Silver. Shani is truly a force for change when it comes to the current narratives around singledom, and her brilliant, inspirational podcast - A Single Serving Podcast - is a must-listen. She is also the author of 'A Single Revolution: Don't Look For A Match, Light One', a book which is helping women around the world feel better about this wonderfully free time in their lives. Shani is not an advocate for singlehood per se, but rather an advocate for single women feeling great whilst they are single. I was honoured to be able to spend some time in the company of such an intelligent, passionate and forthright individual. In this conversation, Shani and I cover an array of topics including the darker side of internet dating, how she is child free by choice, her decision to quit online dating for good and the reasons behind it, and the fact that she wrote her book in a month! I really hope you guys enjoy this interesting and insightful conversation. Shani can be found on Instagram @shanisilver and @asingleservingpodcast. She can be found on Twitter @shanisilver. Her Patreon is: https://www.patreon.com/shanisilverLink to Shani's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-Revolution-Dont-match-Light-ebook/dp/B09HZ1TBX7Follow me on Instagram: @spinsterhoodreimaginedEmail me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!