Thrive Solo

In this episode of Thursday Thoughts, Polly & I are talking about how personal growth and spiritual concepts often require repeated exposure before they truly land, using ideas like thoughts creating reality, taking responsibility, and moving out of victimhood. We discuss why saying “yeah, I know” can signal a lack of real practice, and that understanding often arrives when the timing, phrasin...

I’m SO excited for you to hear this week’s conversation with the absolutely delightful Holly Johnson, better known on social media as Miss Holl Doll. Holly is 45, single, childfree, and lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she’s built a life filled with adventure, independence and a serious love of the great outdoors. A content creator, passionate hiker and host of fabulous group trips,...

In this week’s minisode, I’m getting a little festive (yes, I know it’s only October!) after receiving a comment from a woman who's facing her first Christmas without her children and is worried about feeling sad and lonely. It got me thinking about the stories we tell ourselves, and how easily we can convince ourselves that an experience is going to be miserable before it's even happened. As some...

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about beliefs, and how the stories we tell ourselves can shape our lives, often without us even realising it. We discuss how many of our beliefs are formed in childhood, and how limiting beliefs can hold us back, affect our confidence, and stop us from going after the things we really want. We also explore the ‘belief loop’; how our thought...

I can’t wait for you to hear my guest on this week's episode of Thrive Solo because she is not only single and childfree by choice, but she has navigated those life choices in India which is where she comes from. Her name is Mandeep Kaur, she’s 43, and she is a trauma informed yoga teacher, life coach, and mental health counsellor living in Goa. Growing up in the north of India in a traditional In...

In this week’s minisode, I’m celebrating one of the greatest loves of my life: my ridiculously naughty, outrageously handsome Bengal cat, Johnny. From the moment he came into my life and I wondered what the FUCK I’d done, to the extraordinary bond we share today, I’m talking about the sheer joy of having a pet, and why I’m more than happy to embrace my status as a crazy cat lady. I’m sharing some...

In this Thursday Thoughts episode, Polly and I are talking about feeling stuck, as well as ways to get unstuck by taking the smallest possible first step to build momentum. We talk about moving physically or changing scenery — getting outside, shaking the body, or taking a break — to shift stagnant energy and allow inspiration to return. Polly tells us how she's using the BBC/NHS Couch to 5K app a...

On this week's episode of Thrive Solo, I'm talking to the truly wonderful marketer-turned-entrepreneur & content creator, Candice “Candilicious” Gallagher about her single life, dating, and community. Candice, 40, has been actively dating for over a decade, driven by “rom-com” hope but with a high bar set by strong friendships and family; she’s lived overseas most of her life (Singapore, Hong...

On this week’s minisode, I’m talking about something I don’t think I’ve ever properly addressed on the podcast before: what it’s like being single and childless in the workplace. From being expected to work late or cover Christmas because apparently you’ve got nobody to get home for, to the endless collections for engagements, weddings and babies (where are OUR presents?!), there are so many ways...

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about gratitude, and how taking the time to appreciate what we already have can make such a difference to how we feel. We share some of our own experiences of finding gratitude in everyday moments, and discuss how easy it is to take the little things for granted, particularly when life gets busy. We also talk about different ways to practis...

My guest on the podcast this week is a breakup and dating coach, as well as the host of two podcasts, Sex & The Solo Girl, and Breakups, Broken Hearts, and Moving On. Her name is Janice Formichella and she works one on one with people around the world to heal from a broken heart and turn the end of a relationship into the beginning of a powerful new chapter in life. A regular podcast guest, Ja...

In this week’s minisode, I’m doing something a little different because I received an Instagram message from a follower that made me laugh so much I simply HAD to share it with you. What started as a promising romantic connection with a man we'll call Dave turned into an absolutely hilarious (and rather frustrating) saga involving six weeks of flirting, unexpectedly developing feelings, and one ma...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s minisode, I’m doing something a little different because I received an Instagram message from a follower that made me laugh so much I simply HAD to share it with you. What started as a promising romantic connection with a man we'll call Dave turned into an absolutely hilarious (and rather frustrating) saga involving six weeks of flirting, unexpectedly developin...

On this week's episode of Thursday Thoughts Polly and I explore whether or not you see yourself as a lucky person, and how that belief shapes your experience of life.  We discuss how a victim mindset and negative narratives like “things never work out for me” can reinforce feeling unlucky, while choosing a more empowering perspective can help you notice opportunities and “create your own luck...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode of Thursday Thoughts Polly and I explore whether or not you see yourself as a lucky person, and how that belief shapes your experience of life.  We discuss how a victim mindset and negative narratives like “things never work out for me” can reinforce feeling unlucky, while choosing a more empowering perspective can help you notice opportunities and “cre...

My completely divine guest on the podcast this week is Anastasia Marshall, a working-class filmmaker from Folkestone, Kent. Having been in the media and entertainment industries since she was 18, working for companies such as Disney, the BBC, Conde Nast and many more, she is now developing her own slate of projects through her company Rebel Muse Studios. Several of her works have placed in interna...

Send us Fan Mail My completely divine guest on the podcast this week is Anastasia Marshall, a working-class filmmaker from Folkestone, Kent. Having been in the media and entertainment industries since she was 18, working for companies such as Disney, the BBC, Conde Nast and many more, she is now developing her own slate of projects through her company Rebel Muse Studios. Several of her works have...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's minisode, I’m sharing some reflections from my recent Thrive Solo trip to Morocco — but this isn’t really an episode about Morocco. It’s about what happens when five single women who barely know each other spend 12 days travelling together. From endless conversations on long bus journeys and hilarious cultural exchanges with our Moroccan guide, to rooftop chats...

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about people pleasing, and what can happen when we prioritise other people’s needs, opinions and expectations over our own. We chat about getting to know ourselves better, setting healthier boundaries, and becoming more comfortable with the fact that not everyone is going to like us - and that’s OK. We also discuss why sayi...

Send us Fan Mail JOIN MY TRIP TO ITALY IN APRIL 2027! https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy I’m truly excited for you to hear my guest on this week's episode. I felt so uplifted after our conversation because she is such an inspiring woman. Her name is Siobhan Daniels — and funnily enough I had her daughter, Sammy, on the podcast just a few weeks ago!  Siobhan is 67, single, and absolute...

Send us Fan Mail Rebounder Link (Use Code: THRIVESOLO for 10% off): https://rebound.fitness/?ref=ThriveSolo In this week’s minisode, I’m talking about why I’ve been bouncing on a mini trampoline for the last four years — and why it’s become one of my favourite ways to exercise. I’m sharing how rebounding fits into my wider health and fitness routine, how it can contribute to cardio fitness, balanc...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about anxiety. Most of us are familiar with worrying about things that haven't even happened, but what do we do when anxiety starts becoming a problem? Polly and I talk candidly about our own experiences of anxiety, as well as a few practical things that we can all do to try and allay those unhelpful thoughts and...

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode is Part 2 of my interview with the fabulous Alison Leiby, comedian, writer, and author of ‘I’m Alot: Surviving Myself & All The People I’ve Been’. If you haven’t yet listened to last week’s Part 1, I would recommend you do that first and then come back to this part.  Alison is a two-time WGA Award–nominated writer. She has written for Life & Beth,...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s minisode, I’m talking about why, at 50, I don’t regret not having children — and why I’ve actually become increasingly grateful that I didn’t. I’m reflecting on whether I was ever really as “childless by circumstance” as I once believed, the difference between wanting a baby and wanting to be a parent, and some of the worries, responsibilities and sacrifices that th...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's Thursday Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about fitness. We each share what our own fitness routines look like, covering strength training, Sprint Interval Training (SIT), running, rebounding, and good old walking. Given that fitness is so important, especially as we age, we hope you'll find something useful or inspiring in here. Love, Polly & Lucy x...