Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life

Are you good at going on dates? In this episode, Peter McGraw brings together two previous Solo guests—dating coach, Daliya Karnofsky, and a solo friend, Jill Cohen—to talk about “how to go on a date.” The guests present helpful advice, from the obvious, “Brush your teeth,” to the critical, “Approach your dates with a sense of adventure and authenticity.” Note: The group tackles the topic largely from the perspective of traditional stereotyped gender roles between men and women. Peter will return to the topic later with guests who can talk about dating outside of well-known stereotypes. LOVE THE SHOW? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! JOIN THE SOLO COMMUNITY TODAY:

This episode examines the first season of Indian Matchmaking, a popular yet controversial new Netflix show. Peter McGraw invites his friend Roopali Malhotra, an Indian American friend who has experience using a matchmaker, to discuss the themes of the show. One issue they identify is how living solo (and living well) is barely touched on as a viable option even though some of the characters seem better suited for single living. (Note: It is not necessary to have watched the show to enjoy the podcast.) This week’s bonus material looks at one of the topics that make the show controversial to some: the colorism on display in clients’ preferences. Peter and Roopali also discuss the rampant heightism in the show, but no one seems to be taking issue with that. LOVE THE SHOW? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! JOIN THE SOLO COMMUNITY TODAY:

COVID got you down? Peter McGraw returns for the third installment of Solo Thoughts, where he shares ideas from his private conversation with fellow solos about how to deal with this damn pandemic. In this episode, he presents three profound observations that you are going to want to think about.   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the Solo community today:

Once you have a healthy life as a foundation, how should you start to think about your remarkable solo life? Welcome to the second installment of Peter McGraw’s attempt to present his ideas minus a guest. In this episode, he talks about creation and consumption, “tidying up,” and the many paths to a good life. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the Solo community today:

Immune systems are the true heroes in the time of COVID-19, right? Welcome to the first installment in Peter McGraw’s attempt to present his ideas without a guest. In this episode, he talks about health as a foundation for a remarkable life and shares his thoughts on sleep, nutrition, and movement (i.e., exercise and beyond). Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the Solo community today:

Do you identify as a late bloomer? A lot of people do. If you don’t, it is not too late to bloom. This week, Peter McGraw speaks to the author of a book on late blooming, Rich Karlgaard. An important theme in their discussion is that being single allows you time, energy, and financial resources to bloom later in life. They discuss how you may need to “repot” yourself somewhere else and cover the six characteristics of late bloomers. If you stick around to the end, Peter’s guest presents some notable late bloomers. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the Solo community today:

This episode continues Peter McGraw’s exploration of marriage and its alternatives. He speaks to Vicki Larson, an author of a book that presents models of less traditional forms of marriage. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the I’m Not Joking community today:

As you know, more and more people are delaying marriage or not getting married at all. In the previous hundred plus years, however, nearly everyone got married, but was that always the best choice? In this episode, writer and high school teacher Mary Dahm returns to join Peter McGraw for a fun conversation that looks at some people in history who shouldn’t have gotten married. That is, if they were alive today, they would likely be solo. Peter and Mary end the episode by discussing some fun quotes about marriage.   Note: This episode was taped prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Yet it seems especially fitting as the pandemic is causing people to re-evaluate their lives. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the I’m Not Joking community today:

This is the second part of Peter McGraw’s conversation with Amy Gahran, the author of Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator: Uncommon Love and Life. They delve deeply into a conversation about solo living as an alternative to the relationship escalator. As a result, Amy helps Peter better define what it means to be solo. Here is a hint: the focus is on autonomy – whether you are single or partnered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Join the Solo community today:

In this engaging discussion, Amy Gahran, a journalist and author known for her work on unconventional relationships, dives into the complexities of the 'relationship escalator' and its societal expectations. She challenges traditional norms around relationships, advocating for alternatives like consensual non-monogamy and the idea of 'sexual friendships.' Amy discusses the privileges of marriage, the stigmas faced by singles, and emphasizes that redefining relationship success can lead to a more remarkable life filled with diverse connections.