Thrive Solo

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...

Send us Fan Mail My wonderful guest on the podcast this week is Alison Leiby, a comedian, writer, and author of the brilliant book, 'I’m Alot: Surviving Myself & All The People I’ve Been', which came out in July.  The book is essentially a memoir-in-essays, which unpacks some of the different identities that make up who Alison is, including being single, being an only child, being a...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of Reasons I’ll Probably Be Single Forever, I’m looking at the other side of the equation: everything single life gives me. From autonomy, peace and solitude, to loving my own company, not envying couples, not needing male validation and no longer seeing romantic partnership as a goal, I’m talking about why my life already feels full exactly as it is. Because maybe stayi...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Thursday’s Thoughts, Polly and I are talking about optimisation, and whether our constant quest to look and feel better might actually be making us feel worse. We’re bombarded on social media with advice on how to optimise almost every area of our health and wellbeing. Add in wearables and apps tracking everything from sleep and steps to heart rate and recovery, and i...

Send us Fan Mail JOIN ME FOR A THRIVE SOLO TRIP TO ITALY IN APRIL 2027! https://www.explore.co.uk/thrivesolo-italy My fabulous guest on this week's episode is aesthetic practitioner and content creator, Nadiya Bekar. Nadiya is 54, single, childfree, lives in North London with her sausage dog, Chilli, and is loving her single life.  Those of you who follow me on Instagram might have seen a ree...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s minisode, I’m sharing some of the reasons I genuinely think I may be single forever — and why that prospect doesn’t bother me in the slightest. From my almost non-existent tolerance for bullshit and my love of independence, to the compromises, emotional responsibility and risk of losing yourself that can come with relationships, I’m exploring why partnership simply...