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

Peter McGraw doesn't talk much about his life as a business school professor, but in this episode, he speaks to Amanda Kramer in his role as a professor and advocate for singles. This taping is part of the Leeds Business Insights podcast at the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business. They discuss familiar topics, but most of the conversation focuses on how organizations overlook singles from marketing and talent management standpoints.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

If you are a frequent listener of Solo, you know that Peter McGraw doubts that an alcohol-fueled life can be especially remarkable. He believes that less drinking (or not drinking at all) is superior to being a frequent drinker. To explore this topic, he invites Brandon Patrick and Christina Martinez into the solo studio. Sadly, they had a technical problem and lost some content, which explains the sudden close to the episode. Nonetheless, the conversation is a good starting point for a commonly-accepted but often challenging habit. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Welcome back. In his book, Shtick to Business, Peter McGraw addresses how professionals have one of two problems: they either work too hard or don't work hard enough. He puts forth a model for both groups called "Grind and Release." In this episode, he brings together two solos from the world of fitness and rehabilitation to talk about the "release" side of the equation, with a focus on rest and recovery (and how they are not the same thing). If you take away anything from this episode, it is the magic formula: Walk, Water, and Sleep. Note: bonus material is back with the team talking about cannabis, mushrooms, and sex. If you are interested, sign up for the solo community at PeterMcGraw.org/solo.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw welcomes Christina Martinez and Brandon Patrick back into the Solo Studio to continue their conversation about how to live alone. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

To bring a short series on doing things alone to a close, I invite previous guests Brandon Patrick and Christina Martinez back into the solo studio to talk about living alone. This is too big a topic to cover in just one episode, but we hit many of the highlights as we discuss our perspectives and experiences living alone, presenting pros, cons, and tips. We finish by presenting some tips to those of you who want to live alone.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This is Part 2 of Peter McGraw's conversation with two solo parents (with older children) about parenting alone. They continue their discussion of common challenges and opportunities that come from the transition to being a single parent, co-parenting, finding balance, dating (conventionally or not), and preparing for the transition to an empty nest. His guest close with advice for having a remarkable life as a solo parent.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw brings two solo parents (with older children) into the studio to talk about parenting alone. They discuss common challenges and opportunities that come from the transition to being a single parent, co-parenting, finding balance, dating (conventionally or not), and preparing for the transition to an empty nest. His guest close with advice for having a remarkable life as a solo parent.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw invites Brandon Patrick and Christina Martinez into the Solo Studio to talk about doing things alone (in public). They discuss their perspective and experiences doing things alone, and Peter shares the results of a survey of attached and unattached people for an array of activities that you might do alone or with others in public. They finish by presenting tips to listeners who want to do more things alone. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw is joined by two cyclists (and friends) for an impromptu episode on cycling. Bikes are associated with autonomy and adventure--the same ideals that differentiate solos from singles.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This episode ends Peter McGraw's series on unconventional relationships--with an extension of a previous episode on singles and their pets. This episode was taped live as part of a charity event and comedy show in Denver. Peter is joined by Christie Buchele, one of the comics and a cat owner, and by Christina Martinez, a dog owner and soon-to-be familiar voice on the podcast. They discuss the results of a survey on singles and their pets. They also discuss the type of person who is the best fit for a dog, cat, or no pet. (Peter takes the "no pet" options, obviously.)Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw continues the Solo series on unconventional relationships by looking at singles who seek the companionship of a pet. In this first part, he speaks to Lisa Curry, a dog owner and stand-up comedian. They discuss a survey of singles and their pets for his new project: A Single Insight: The Science of Solos. Part two will cover the results as part of a live taping of the podcast.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw addresses a pervasive but under-discussed type of relationship: Friends with Benefits (FWB; i.e., sexual friendships). His guests are drawn from Colorado’s polyamorous community. Obviously, you don’t need to be polyamorous to enjoy beneficial friendships, yet McGraw invited them to join because they are experienced and comfortable talking about unconventional relationships. His guests share stories about their beneficial friendships, what friends with benefits are and aren't, how it diverges from the relationship escalator, and conclude with some best practices. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw kicks off a short series that further investigates unconventional relationships. In this episode, he invites a sugar baby into the studio to talk about a not-so-new but increasingly popular type of relationship: an arrangement between a “sugar baby” and a “sugar daddy” or “sugar mommy.” The episode is launched without judgment. To McGraw, as long as there is consent and no harm is being done, people should be free to choose the relationship that is right for them. See the Relationship Anarchy episode for a primer in this respect. McGraw, his co-host, and guest discuss the history of “sugaring,” motivations of each participant, and best practices.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

New to the Solo movement? You are not alone. More and more people are becoming aware that marriage is an overprescribed path to a good life. An observation reflected in rapidly changing demographics. One-hundred and twenty-eight million American adults are single, and 25% of Millennials are projected to never marry. Here's a primer on Peter McGraw's Solo projects, especially the Solo podcast. You will learn the seven episodes to start with.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Lisa Lampanelli is a remarkable solo. Now retired from stand-up comedy, Lisa has reinvented herself from being the “Queen of Mean” (famous for roasting celebrities) to the “Queen of Meaning." Peter McGraw talks to Lisa about her climb up the comedy mountain--from clubs to theaters to Radio City Music hall--and her retirement from stand-up in order to sit down and set aside her anger to help people. The episode was taped as part of the Solo Show on Fireside.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw celebrates the 100th episode of Solo by inviting back two friends who joined him on episode 1 and episode 50. They discuss what they have learned from the podcast: 1) Recognizing the promise of non-traditional relationships, 2) How to behave when dating, and 3) Living unapologetically.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This is the final episode in a three-part series that looks at various forms of shared living. The first featured a fun discussion about the Golden Girls. The second examined alternative forms of housing beyond the typical: apartment, condo, townhouse, and house. Frequent listeners know that Solo's host Peter McGraw believes that the American Dream of owning a home is overrated.  Nonetheless, he invites Michael Koenig, the President and Co-founder of Studio Shed, and guest co-host Darlene Savoy to examine an innovative product that solos can use as a way to achieve homeownership (or could be used for a business or investment opportunity). Creating products, such as Studio Shed, that can be used for shared living is especially important when considering the challenges facing multigenerational living (which often includes solos, e.g., a grandparent). Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Following the Golden Girls episode, Peter McGraw continues his investigation into alternative living arrangements for singles. In this episode, he invites Darlene Savoy and Ben Lough to define and discuss shared living options. They discuss some considerations for people contemplating shared living (i.e, the 4C’s: cost, convenience, community, and care; but along the way they discover a fifth "C") The team closes the discussion with advice and resources for those contemplating shared living.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Many happy singles want to create a Golden Girls living situation in their golden years. This episode examines one of the best television shows for singles – and one of the best shows ever. Peter McGraw is joined by guest co-host Jen O’Donnell to talk to Danielle Soto, an expert on the Golden Girls. They discuss the broad appeal and cultural significance of the show and end with a round of Golden Girls trivia. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw continues his conversation with two friends, Darwyn Metzger and Chester See.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This is the first of a two-part episode that features a conversation with two creative men who love each other. Peter McGraw talks to Chester See and Darwyn Metzger about the SOLO project, well-being, friendship, and love among friends.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/DVwUBqIGKxJFwQpThk6x

The last Solo episode took (another look) at reinvention. This week's episode extends the conversation to a particular type of reinvention: finding more pleasure in the simple pleasures of life. Lily Rains joins Peter to interview Shannon Ables who help people live more luxuriously, but not in the kind of way you might assume. Pay particular attention to the risk of pursuing good taste in order to impress other people. Shannon’s advice is clear: do it for yourself. And for solos, that is—fortunately—easy to do.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This week’s episode features a remarkable solo and cast member of Dragons’ Den, the Canadian version of Shark Tank. Arlene Dickinson joins Peter McGraw and Darlene Savoy to talk about reinvention and single living. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw is joined by guest co-host Christina Campbell to talk to Emma John, the author of Self-Contained: Scenes from a Single Life. They discuss Emma's new memoir and explore her comfort being single and her discomfort talking about being single. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

As part of a live taping for the Solo club on clubhouse, Peter McGraw speaks to Ketan Anjaria, a divorced dad and young empty nester. They have a wide-reaching conversation covering dating and race, mental health, and Ketan's struggles spending time alone. Make sure you stick around to learn his "sixth love language."Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Attachment theory has made its way into the public sphere with the help of the recent book Attached. The theory contends that people approach intimate relationships from one of three perspectives: secure, anxious, or avoidant. Peter McGraw and Iris Schneider are joined by Geoff McDonald, a social psychologist and relationship scientist who is part of a small group of people doing research on singlehood. In addition to tackling the strengths and weaknesses of attachment theory, they discuss Geoff’s research on singlehood and how he has identified a small group of long-term singles with an adaptive approach to solo living.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

While the topic of parenthood comes up from time to time, it is often from the perspective that solos are typically not parents. In this week's episode, however, Peter McGraw talks to two solo parents – one who is a single mother by choice and the other who had an “oopsie.” You will hear their stories, discover how their “team” helps them, and also learn a bit about how they go about dating (or not).  Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

This is the second half of a two-part episode. Peter McGraw is joined by co-host Iris Schneider( a fellow solo and behavioral scientist) to talk to Kinneret Lahad, a sociologist who does research at the intersection of time and singlehood. It’s an incredible conversation. One that has Peter thinking differently about living single and living well.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Peter McGraw is joined by guest co-host Iris Schneider for part 1 of a conversation about “waiting” with Kinneret Lahad, a sociologist who conducts research at the intersection of time and singlehood.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/

Being single provides optionality (i.e., having the right but not obligation to take action.) In other words: freedom. Yet, singles often fail to consider their freedom and pursue a conventional life - valuing the same things and living similar lifestyles as their partnered counterparts. Last week’s episode examined how garnering financial freedom gives rise to freedom more generally. This week’s episode examines giving up power (or opportunities to pursue power) in order to gain freedom. Peter McGraw speaks to Timothy Krieder, a writer and cartoonist, about how he has avoided the power to dedicate more time to his artistic endeavors (or simply sit in a bar and talk to friends, which fuels his artistic endeavors).Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Being single provides optionality (i.e., “having the right but not the obligation to take action.”) Peter McGraw speaks to Anita Dhake (aka the Thriftygal) to examine how money can buy you freedom. Anita retired early and presents ways to lower your expenses in order to gain financial freedom. They talk "F-you” money, her admiration of Judge Judy, the questions she asks before making a material purchase, and their mutual love of salads for breakfast. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw often talks about how half of the American singles are not interested in a relationship or dating. In other words: it is totally normal to want to date OR to not want to date. In this episode, he speaks to the person who is responsible for these data: Anna Brown, a research associate at the Pew Research Center, as non-partisan, non-advocacy, non-profit. Anna presents some facts, and Peter does some editorializing.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Welcome to the final episode of Peter McGraw's series on solitude. He invites two solo travelers – one part-time and one full-time – to a live podcast taping for his Solo club on Clubhouse. Topics include their experiences traveling alone, how they meet people on the road, and how they walk a city alone (i.e., flaneuring). They present tips for packing, safety, and saving money. They close the conversation with an important solo travel question: what do you do when a couple asks you to move seats on an airplane so they can sit together?Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

For the penultimate episode of a six-part series on solitude, Pete McGraw speaks to Susan Newman, an expert who has written the book about being an only child. They are joined by Julie Nirvelli, a regular contributor to Solo who happens to be an only child and the mom of an only child. They discuss the reasons behind the rise of only children as a common family structure, the stereotypes and myths of only children, and the benefits of being an only child.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw continues his series on solitude with a conversation with Sasha Cagen, the founder of the QuirkyAlone movement. A QuirkyAlone is someone who enjoys being single (but is not opposed to being in a relationship) and generally prefers to be alone rather than dating for the sake of being in a couple. Does that sound like you? They discuss the origins of the term, its evolution, and how the media landscape represents singles. If you stick around to the end, you will learn about one of Sasha’s favorite QuirkyAlones.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw is joined by guest co-host Lily Rains to continue the mini-series on solitude. They talk to Mason Currey, an author of a book that reveals how many great thinkers used their alone time to change the world with their art, music, and ideas. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

This week's episode continues our investigation of solitude. Peter McGraw speaks to a friend and remarkable single, Christina Martinez, about how she spends her alone time. They discuss her “Old man activities,” which include restoring a vintage van – an endeavor that has connected her to a new community and friends. They give encouragement and present best practices for people who want to cook alone, dine alone, and go to the movies alone. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw kicks off a series on solitude with a scientific look at the topic. In this episode, he speaks to Robert Coplan, a psychologist working at the leading edge of this complex, fascinating topic. They discuss the problem of loneliness, but also cover the opposite problem: being alonely. Aloneliness is the stress that people feel when they don’t get enough alone time. Peter and Robert also talk about the solo's freedom to pursue solitude and how solitude leaves them unencumbered to pursue vast benefits: personal growth, rejuvenation, reflection, and creative pursuits. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo/Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw invites the co-founders of the Onely blog, Christina Campbell and Lisa Arnold, to talk about rebellious singles. These remarkable singles were able to accomplish extraordinary things through their ability, focus, and fortitude. However, one important thing to note is that their remarkable lives happened not despite their singleness but because of it. Finally, the bonus material is back on the Solo slack channel. The topic: the stereotype of the crazy cat lady. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Lisa Slavid returns as a guest co-host and introduces her friend, Annalyn Cruz, to discuss Annalyn’s journey off the relationship escalator and into her life as a remarkable single. In particular, keep an ear out for something that has not been talked about enough on the podcast: How to have a conversation about living your best life as a single with people who subscribe to a more conventional approach to life and relationships. For fun, the group concludes by sharing the message they would give our younger selves – if they could.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw is joined by Kim Hudson, the author of The Virgin's Promise. The regular listener knows that the story structure of the Virgin's Promise is a useful alternative to the often-discussed Hero's journey. Kim and Peter discuss how the Virgin's promise reveals ways for single people to transform themselves into solos. Also, the bonus material is back for members of the Solo Slack Channel. Peter and Kim talk about his idea for a children's book. (That is not a joke.) You can sign up for the community on the Solo page at PeterMcGraw.org.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

On occasion, Peter features rebellious singles on Solo. In this episode, he talks to one of his favorite, frequent guests about celebrities who are unapologetically unattached. Some names will be familiar, and others won’t – but they all have interesting perspectives.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Happy April Fools' Day. This episode gives you a glimpse into Peter McGraw's other life as a business school professor and humor researcher. He invites two comedians, Jen O'Donnell and Shane Mauss, to discuss how to apply lessons from his recent book Shtick to Business to help make your life of single people even more remarkable.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw concludes his mini-series on conventional and unconventional relationships with a “rerun” of a previous episode with Vicki Larson, an author of a book that presents models of less traditional forms of marriage.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw continues to explore (un)conventional relationships by examining relationship anarchy with his new friend, Jessicka Chamberlin (aka Joosey). They met each other on Clubhouse (the popular new social media app that features real-time conversation), and they taped the episode live in a Clubhouse room. As part of their discussion, they present the origins of Relationship Anarchy, talk about some of the misconceptions about being a relationship anarchist, and conclude with some tips for the aspiring relationship anarchist: keeping an open mind, value exploration, and having a process by which to process ideas and challenges (such as a therapist). Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Peter McGraw continues the series on conventional and unconventional relationships with Part 2 of a compelling conversation with Amy Gahran, the creator of the “Relationship Escalator.” Amy and Peter pick up their discussion on the hallmarks of the relationship escalator with sexual and romantic connections, and explore ways that people deviate from that and other criteria. If you stick to the end, Amy presents some tips if you are interested in exploring how to step off the relationship escalator. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

In this episode, Peter McGraw continues the Solo series on conventional and unconventional relationships with the first part of a conversation with Amy Gahran. Amy is the creator of “the relationship escalator” – a concept covered in previous episodes. Amy and Peter discuss the hallmarks of the relationship escalator and explore the many ways that people diverge from it – including consensual non-monogamy, big friendship – and of course, a solo lifestyle. Check back next week for Part 2.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

This episode starts a series on conventional and unconventional relationships. Peter McGraw's return guests, a sociologist and a stand-up comedian, revisit the topic of a popular episode on the Relationship Escalator to discuss the hallmarks of this common, conventional relationship that receives so much attention and special treatment in society. The discussion identifies why these criteria (e.g. monogamy, merging of life and finances) serve society and may not serve individuals. In short, this episode sets up what the status quo is in relationships, so that the Solo podcast can explore unconventional relationships further.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Academic, author, and happy solo, Federico Castigliano, joins Peter McGraw to discuss Federico's book, Flâneur: The Art of Wandering the Streets of Paris. A flâneur practices wandering without destination in order to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the cityscape. Peter and Federico discuss the origins of the flâneur, some best practice for flâneuring, and – like many of the topics on Solo - how the flâneur is unconventional and typically operates solo. They conclude by discussing some of their favorite cities to wander without aim. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn

Coinciding with Valentine's Day, Peter McGraw talks to Lisa Bonos, a journalist who writes the relationship column for the Washington Post. They talk about ghosting, why it happens, how to deal with it, and how to properly break up.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Solo community today:petermcgraw.orgPeter McGraw TwitterPeter McGraw LinkedIn