Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life
Dr. Peter McGraw
“Solo - The Single Person's Guide to a Remarkable Life” by Dr. Peter McGraw, seeks to celebrate and destigmatize single living. Welcome to the podcast that explores how being single affords you the freedom to be adventurous, start a business, make art, travel the world, get in shape, or simply sleep in when you want to. Join Peter – behavioral scientist, humor researcher, and bachelor – as he interviews happy single men and women and assembles advice from leading experts about health, fitness, money, business, travel, fashion, art, leisure, and of course, sex and dating. For the so-called spinster or bachelor, Solo is the resource for people who are happily single (aka the unapologetically unattached).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 24, 2026 • 1h 13min
Lessons from the Hurt Business
Heavyweight boxer turned writer Ed Latimore joins Peter McGraw to talk about his new book, Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business—a raw meditation on violence, discipline, ego, addiction, and growth. Onwards!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo
6 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 25min
The Psychology of Solitude
Thuy-vy Nguyen, experimental psychologist who studies the deactivation effect in solitude, and Robert Coplan, longtime researcher of solitude and shyness, explore what happens when you sit with yourself. They discuss how brief alone time lowers emotional arousal. They debate choice versus forced solitude, phones versus mindful alone time, how kids and culture shape solitude, and practical ways to build quiet-time skills.
Feb 28, 2026 • 1h 4min
Aromanticism (Again)
In this re-released episode, Peter McGraw asks the question, “What if you never felt romantic love – and didn’t need to?” In this eye-opening favorite, Peter sits down with Jessalyn Dean, an aromantic relationship anarchist living a remarkable solo life. They unpack what it means to be aromantic, how Jessalyn got off the relationship escalator, and why autonomy, not romance, is her guiding compass. It’s funny, sharp, and surprisingly relatable – even if you’re not aromantic.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/
Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 47min
I Love You, Man (Again)
What happens when two charismatic creatives—and close friends—sit down with Peter McGraw to talk friendship, love, and the Solo movement? This intimate, funny, and thoughtful conversation with Chester See and Darwyn Metzger explores what it means to live remarkably, forge deep male friendships, and question the default path. A fan favorite, this episode returns for a new wave of listeners.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 15min
Sick while Solo
Why are unmarried patients less likely to receive life-saving medical treatments? Peter McGraw talks to professor and author Joan DelFattore about how America’s healthcare system disadvantages those who are single or outside the nuclear family model. From TEDx talks to the New England Journal of Medicine, she’s sounding the alarm on a silent crisis. If you’re Solo—and especially if you live alone—you need to hear this episode.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo
Dec 30, 2025 • 52min
Aging Single #11: Third Acts
Whether you call it a Third Act, third season, or second life, one thing’s clear: middle-age and beyond isn’t the end. It’s a redesign. In this episode, as part of the series on aging, retiring, and dying single, Peter McGraw explores how Solos can turn aging, retirement, and reinvention into their most liberated chapter yet. Joined by Theresa Williamson, a city planner and Solo in her own second life, they unpack how mobility, flexibility, and optionality give Solos an edge—and why a fulfilling Third Act doesn’t require a fat bank account or a partner, just a little creativity (and maybe a plane ticket to Brazil).Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo
Dec 11, 2025 • 13min
Solo Thoughts 17: Welcome to the Solo Economy
In this Solo Thoughts episode, Peter McGraw talks directly to you about how singles are reshaping work, housing, finance, and community. The rise of single living isn’t a passing fad— it’s a structural shift. Yet our institutions remain stuck in a world built for two. That disconnect is where the Solo Economy sits. Is the world ready? No.Join the movement: petermcgraw.org/soloInterested in workshops or coaching? Reach out. Onwards!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo
Nov 25, 2025 • 1h 25min
Diverging from the Relationship Escalator (Again)
New to Solo? Start here! This re-release from the early days of the pod covers a concept that comes up again and again—in the podcast and Peter McGraw’s book. The “relationship escalator” is the default path of dating, moving in, marrying, and merging lives. Amy Gahran, who coined the term, joins Peter to break it all down. We explore what the escalator is, why it’s so invisible, and how Solos step off it—through consensual non-monogamy, platonic partnerships, sexual friendships, or simply going Solo.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo
Nov 11, 2025 • 1h 6min
Single at Heart, Singles Bill of Rights, and Singles' Day
Bella DePaulo, a social scientist known for her groundbreaking research on singlehood, and Christina Campbell, a singles rights advocate, dive deep into the rights and recognition of single people. They explore the power of solo dining and how solo consumers are changing the marketplace. Bella defines what it means to be 'single at heart,' while Christina unveils the powerful Singles Bill of Rights, aimed at ensuring equality in a world often designed for couples. Join them as they challenge stereotypes and advocate for change!
Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 1min
Intimacy Design
Lisa Dawn Hamilton, a sex educator and psychology professor, joins Peter McGraw to explore the innovative concept of Intimacy Design. They delve into the importance of co-creating authentic sexual experiences and discuss using strategies like yes/no/maybe lists to clarify desires. Hamilton emphasizes the need for open dialogue around sexual health and consent, debunking myths about spontaneity by advocating for planned intimacy. They also share practical advice for navigating difficult conversations and normalizing discussions about sexual preferences, enhancing both safety and pleasure.
