Venus Williams, tennis pro turned art curator, showcases new exhibit in podcast form

this week, Charlie Lindler 5 best podcasts of Single lifeFrom a guide to succeeding as a single mother to the thrills of solo travel

1 serving
“You shouldn’t feel miserable or ashamed about being single,” former Refinery29 journalist Shani Silver says in a podcast about finding solace in singlehood. Silver doesn’t shy away from talking about love, how to find it (if that’s your goal), the struggles of dating, and more, including a great episode with fellow journalist Nancy Jo Sales about the “corporate takeover of dating” and how the entire dating industry is conspiring to make us feel lonely and inferior. Silver’s show became a paid subscription service in 2022, but whether you subscribe or just check out the archives, her lessons are universal and timeless.

Widows Podcast
Losing a loved one is a unique form of single life, but it still deserves its own space for nonjudgmental discussion. In this podcast, “widow coach” Karen Sutton offers affirmation and advice to make things the best after the worst has happened. She fearlessly confronts the effects of grief on the body, how COVID-19 has brought new forms of loss to millions of people, and much more. She never wavers in her belief that rather than denying the impact grief has on our health, we must “lean into” grief and accept it as a fact of life.

Single Mom Podcast
Heather Wells, A single parent of three, Wells knows that raising a family alone can be tough. In this podcast, she shares her advice and support for solo and co-parenting with a touch of humor. Importantly, Wells not only covers how to care for your kids, but also all the other challenges that come with being a single parent, like succeeding at work, maintaining friendships, and finding time for hobbies and exercise. Wells also steers clear of current events, powerfully explaining Roe v. Wade and Texas’ controversial “heartbeat law” and what they mean for parental rights.

solo
Behavioral economist Peter McGraw is on a mission to “de-stigmatize the single life” in many ways. In his long-running podcast, McGraw waxes philosophical about just about everything you can do alone, but he also tackles complex issues like family estrangement, ethical non-monogamy, and how to build a family outside of the traditional nuclear family structure. More of a cerebral show about what it means to bond with others than a practical advice podcast, Solo leaves listeners with plenty of wisdom.

A girls’ guide to solo travel
One of the less talked about aspects of single life, this no-nonsense podcast features Gemma Thompson and guests tackling the joys and challenges of traveling the world solo. Single life experts like Alonement author Francesca Spector and photographer Suchitra Vijayan (who spent seven years traveling solo photographing the Indian border) share inspiring stories of daring to live the dream. Highlighted episodes include compelling conversations about privilege, caution, and refusing to be limited, with chef Rachel Khoo on how to eat well alone and author Nanjala Nyabola on being mindful as a solo black woman traveller.

Please try…

• A deep insight into the (surprisingly widespread) world of people who lie about their Native American ancestry. Hypocrite.

• Crooked Killing justice Delving into the dark side of Indian politics.

• From Sudan to Mexico, journalists share their experiences risking everything for their stories silence.

If you’d like to read the full newsletter, sign up to receive Hear Here in your inbox every Thursday.