Thrive Solo

Send us Fan MailMy guest on the podcast this week is the completely wonderful Bibi Lynch.Bibi is a journalist, writer, broadcaster, podcaster and live event host. She’s had columns in GQ, Red, New Woman and Grazia; written for most of the Nationals (currently the Guardian, The Independent, The Times and Metro); presented radio shows and interview series for BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Sussex and Soho Radio; co-hosted metro.co.uk's Good Sex Bad Sex pod and fronted the Let’s Get Frank podcast — where she dated people called Frank. As well as her writing and broadcast work, she hosts panels and interviews — at Saatchi, The Hoxton, the Barbican and, with her Dirty Talk series, at the Groucho Club in Soho. She co-wrote Graham Norton’s ITV late-nite comedy quiz, Carnal Knowledge; she created WHIPs (Women who are Hot, Intelligent and in their Prime – or Primark if times are tough); and HuffPost voted her one of the ‘50 Funniest Women on Twitter’. #RIP. (She is currently tracking the other 49 down.) She’s a World Childless Week ambassador and a Storyhouse Childless contributor. In this conversation, Bibi and I delve into — among other things — the societal stigma associated with singlehood and childlessness, the grief that comes with not having children, the importance of community, reframing the societal narrative, hidden homelessness, and the vitriol that she has received off the back of her writing about childlessness. We also talk about Bibi's exciting future plans, the joy and fulfillment that can be found in embracing life's unexpected paths, and the power of shifting your mindset.04:24 Bibi's Background and Career06:49 The Challenges and Joys of Adult Friendships12:40 Aging and Confidence: WHIPs26:07 The Reality of Being Single and Childless42:05 Facing Grief and Public Scrutiny44:17 Unexpected Hate Mail45:31 Accusations of Misogyny46:38 The Struggles of Being Childless48:48 Hidden Homelessness and Resilience55:34 Finding Stability and Reframing Life57:56 Future Aspirations and Success Redefined01:07:19 Navigating the Dating World01:10:23 Final Thoughts and Words of WisdomFollow Bibi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bibilynch/?hl=enCheck out Bibi's website: https://bibilynch.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 MailToday is Part Four of my new mini series, 6 Steps To Move Out Of Fear & Into A Life You Love, which is all about the steps I myself have taken to change my life over the last five years. In Part 4, I’m talking about reprogramming your beliefs. Your beliefs shape your reality – so if they don’t match your vision, you’ll keep getting the same old results. This episode shows you how to uncover and rewire the beliefs holding you back. 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 diving into the idea of taking up space, something so many of us women have been conditioned not to do.But the truth is shrinking doesn’t serve us. When we apologise for existing, second-guess what we say, or dim our brilliance, we hide the very magic that makes us who we truly are.We talk about the subtle, everyday ways this “shrinking” shows up, and how we can start reclaiming our space with confidence and authenticity.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!

Angela Gentile, a powerhouse speaker and advocate for single, childfree women, joins the conversation to share her journey of transformation following personal loss. She discusses the power of self-discovery, challenging societal norms, and the importance of building an authentic life. Angela reflects on the complexities of friendship, redefines personal worth, and emphasizes the peace found in singlehood. She also highlights her initiative, The Single, Childfree Network, a supportive community for women thriving on their own terms.

Send us Fan MailToday is Part Three of my new mini series, 6 Steps To Move Out Of Fear & Into A Life You Love, which is all about the steps I myself have taken to change my life over the last five years. In Part 3, I’m talking about deciding what you want. You can’t get what you want if you don’t know what it is. Here’s how to get crystal clear on your vision so you can start moving towards it with purpose and confidence. 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 Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are diving into the topic of commitment. We chat about why committing can feel so hard sometimes, especially when it comes to the promises we quietly make to ourselves.  And we explore a few simple ways to start moving forward again, gently but meaningfully. Because it's often those small, consistent commitments that help you feel stronger, more grounded, and so much better in your own skin.Have a listen if you need a little nudge today — or if you’re ready to trade the cycle of complaints for real change. 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!

Majo Torreli, a somatic coach from Madrid, empowers women to reconnect with their bodies and cultivate self-worth. She shares her transformative journey from unhealthy relationships to body-focused healing. Listeners learn practical techniques to manage social anxiety and thrive in new relationships. Majo discusses the importance of daily rituals for groundedness and how to reclaim sexual energy. She emphasizes that pleasure fosters confidence and inspires a life filled with joy and agency.

Send us Fan MailToday is Part Two of my new mini series, 6 Steps To Move Out Of Fear & Into A Life You Love, which is all about the steps I myself have taken to change my life over the last five years. In Part 2, I’m talking about harnessing the power of your attention. Where your attention goes, your energy flows. This episode is all about taking back control of your focus so you stop wasting it on things that drain you – and start using it to create the life you actually want. 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 today is the wonderful Dawn Llewellyn. Dr Dawn Llewellyn is Associate Professor of Religion and Gender at the University of Chester.  She researches and writes about gendered experiences and structures that are often silenced by patriarchal ideologies, and focuses on women’s lives (inclusive) in contemporary Christianity and feminist spiritualities. Dawn herself is in a longterm relationship but she is childless by choice and has been researching, publishing, and speaking publicly about pronatalism, motherhood, and childlessness for over 13 years. She co-founded Storyhouse Childless which is a weekend long series of events at Storyhouse in Chester and she is part of the volunteer steering group that programmes the Festival — which, if you’re listening to this episode the week it comes out, is happening this weekend — the 12th - 14th of September 2025 — and you can still get tickets if you fancy going, which you may well after hearing this conversation. Dawn and I talk about so many things, not least how religion, and how if your faith is a big part of your life, it can be incredibly challenging to navigate being a woman who has either chosen not to have have kids, to has ended up not having kids. I found it absolutely fascinating hearing from Dawn about the impact of religion on many women without kids as it’s not something I’ve ever talked about on the podcast before. We also talk about the impact of pronatalism, we talk about the grief that so many women suffer around their childlessness, and Dawn also tells me all about the wonderful Storyhouse Childless festival which she pays such an important role in.03:28 Exploring Religion and Childlessness07:20 Personal Stories and Struggles15:28 Navigating Guilt and Stigma18:33 Dawn's Personal Journey27:43 Redefining Fulfillment and Success31:20 Introduction to Storyhouse Childless Festival31:45 The Inception and Growth of the Festival34:15 Festival Activities and Themes34:51 Diverse Experiences and Intersectionality36:56 Panel Discussions and Personal Stories42:36 Navigating Grief and Identity48:27 Support Systems and Coping Mechanisms57:02 Event Details and Final ThoughtsFind out more about Storyhouse Childless: https://www.storyhouse.com/seasons/storyhouse-childless/ 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 MailToday is Part One of a new mini series, 6 Steps To Move Out Of Fear & Into A Life You Love, which is all about the steps I myself have taken to change my life over the last five years. In Part 1, I’m talking all about awareness. Before you can change your life, you need to know what’s actually going on in your mind. In this episode, I share how awareness is the essential first step to creating a life you love – and some simple ways to start building it today. 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!