Explore every episode of the podcast The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Their Own Through Donor Conception or Adoption

What do you do when the path to motherhood keeps asking you to let go of the way you thought it would happen?

I sit down with life coach and single mom by choice Victoria Kennedy to talk about her five-year journey to becoming a mother... a journey filled with difficult endings, unexpected pivots, heartbreaking losses, and ultimately, a deep trust in herself and the life she wanted to create.

Victoria shares how she walked away from a seven-year toxic relationship at 34 and took the time she needed to rebuild herself before dating again. Motherhood was still something she deeply wanted, and when a later relationship came with an ultimatum — choose the relationship or keep pursuing fertility treatment — Victoria had to decide what she was and wasn't willing to give up.

• Choosing your desire for motherhood when a relationship asks you to give it up
• Navigating six IUIs, five IVF cycles, fertility setbacks, pregnancy loss, and an ectopic pregnancy
• Making the emotional pivot to donor eggs and grieving the loss of a biological connection
• Setting boundaries with well-meaning family and friends during fertility treatment
• Letting go of the timeline you thought your life would follow
• How Victoria's experience led her to life coaching and helping women recognize "micro-self-abandonment"
• Developing the self-trust to make hard decisions without needing everyone else to understand them

• Learn more about Victoria Kennedy at https://www.victoriakennedy.studio/
• Connect with Victoria on Instagram at @VictoriaKennedy.studio
• Sign Up for Community Groups: Connect with women on similar paths by signing up for upcoming groups at https://www.singlegreatestchoice.com/community-groups.
• Connect with me on Instagram: Follow @single_greatest_choice for daily inspiration and insights.
• Join the SGC Village: Become part of the community and stay up-to-date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up HERE at the bottom of the page.

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Laura Runnels knew from a young age that solo motherhood was a path she was willing to take. What she couldn’t have known was exactly how that path would unfold, from exploring known donation to ultimately using a sperm bank, conceiving at home, and later deciding whether to grow her family again.

In this episode, Laura and I talk about her path to becoming a solo mom to two donor-conceived children, including some of the less conventional routes she explored along the way and the questions that came up when she began considering a second child.

We also dig into the work Laura is doing now in the donor conception community. Through the Donor Conception Journal Club, she makes peer-reviewed donor conception research more accessible while encouraging readers to think critically about what the research can and cannot tell us. And as a co-founder of Parts of Me, she is working to expand the range of donor-conceived experiences represented in books, media, arts, and culture.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Laura’s early certainty that she wanted to become a mother, even if she did it on her own
• Her experience searching for a known donor, including using dating apps specifically for that purpose
• Her eventual decision to use a sperm bank and her experience conceiving through at-home insemination
• How she thought about finances, capacity, family size, and the possibility of having a second or third child
• Why donor conception research can be difficult for the average person to access and interpret, and how the Donor Conception Journal Club is helping bridge that gap
• The importance of seeing a much wider range of donor-conceived experiences represented in books, movies, and culture through Parts of Me

Resources Mentioned:

• Donor Conception Journal Club: www.dcjournalclub.com
• Parts of Me: partsofme.org
• The Ones We Choose by Julie Clark

Connect with Laura:

• On Instagram: @laurarunnels
• On LinkedIn: Laura Runnels

Your Next Steps:

• Sign Up for one of our upcoming groups at https://www.singlegreatestchoice.com/community-groups
• Connect with Katie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/single_greatest_choice
• Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up HERE at the bottom of the page

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

What does donor conception actually feel like from the child’s perspective as they grow into adulthood?

I sit down with Kat Boldt, LPC, to discuss the lifelong journey of donor conception through the unique dual lens of a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and an adult donor-conceived person raised by a Single Mother by Choice.

Kat shares her personal experience of growing up knowing her story, how finding 30 genetic half-siblings in adulthood altered her perspective, and what it’s like to process complex identity emotions across a lifespan.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What connecting with genetic half-siblings (or sibling pods) looks like, from varied emotional reactions to forming deep lifelong bonds.
• Moving beyond simplified children's books to normalize all feelings around donor conception—not just "mom wanted me so much".
• Why telling children early and often builds positive identity and avoids the potential trauma of finding out later in adulthood.
• How open donor choices impact mental health outcomes, and why true anonymity is no longer guaranteed in the era of direct-to-consumer DNA testing.
• Letting your child lead language changes over time, finding positive role models, and utilizing therapist resources like the US Donor Conceived Council.

Resources and Additional Information Discussed:

• US Donor Conceived Counsel (USDCC)
• USDCC Ask A Therapist
• Learn more about Kat's work at https://northcoastic.com
• Find Kat on Instagram at @katboldtcounseling

More About Our Guest:

Kat Boldt, LPC, was raised by a single mother by choice and has always known she was donor conceived. As a licensed counselor in Ohio, she specializes in providing affirming care to adult clients exploring sexuality, gender identity, and reproductive technologies, including donor conception. Learn more about Kat at https://northcoastic.com

Your Next Steps:

• Sign Up for one of our upcoming groups at https://www.singlegreatestchoice.com/community-groups
• Connect with Katie on Instagram at @Single_Greatest_Choice
• Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up HERE at the bottom of the page

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

What if "ready" doesn't feel the way you think it will?

I sit down with licensed therapist and solo mom Carrie Meckler to explore one of the biggest myths women carry into the solo motherhood journey... that you have to be completely certain before you begin.

Carrie shares her deeply personal journey from ending a relationship at 34 to beginning fertility treatment at 35, navigating multiple IUIs, IVF, donor selection, unexpected setbacks, and ultimately becoming the mom of her two year old son.

This episode is about more than the logistics of fertility though. Carrie and I talk through the emotional side of deciding to become a solo mom... the grief, uncertainty, shame, hope, and courage that can all exist at the same time.

Carrie shares what she's learned as both a therapist and a solo mother supporting other women who are considering this path, offering practical advice for taking the first step without needing to have every answer. Throughout our conversation, one message keeps resurfacing: you don't have to be 100% certain before you begin.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why waiting for complete certainty may be keeping you stuck
• Making the decision to pursue solo motherhood after the end of a relationship
• Navigating IUIs, IVF, donor selection, and the emotional highs and lows of fertility treatment
• Why community and therapy can make such a difference throughout the journey
• Practical advice for breaking the Solo Mom decision process into manageable steps
• Learning to hold both excitement and grief at the same time as you move toward motherhood

Whether you're actively considering solo motherhood, in the middle of fertility treatment, or simply wondering if this path could be right for you, this conversation is filled with compassion, honesty, and reassurance that you're not alone.

Your Next Steps:

• Learn more about Carrie at http://www.copingcounselingnc.com
• Sign Up for one of our upcoming groups at https://www.singlegreatestchoice.com/community-groups
• Connect with Katie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/single_greatest_choice
• Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up HERE at the bottom of the page

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

I sit down with Jeni to unpack a raw, deeply resonant, and incredibly insightful fertility journey. Jeni shares her evolution from viewing egg freezing as a simple piece of "mental insurance" at age 35 to navigating a grueling five-year path spanning five different fertility clinics. She describes the mental and physical toll of constant cycle adjustments, the burden of clinic communication woes, and the unique challenges of deciding when to finally stop using your own genetic material.

We dive deep into how a direct conversation with her mother served as a turning point, prompting her to shift paths and explore embryo donation. Jeni shares her practical experiences onboarding with major matching organizations like Embryo Connections and Empower with Moxie, explaining how she navigated potential match criteria and discovered what genuinely mattered to her.

Throughout it all, Jeni models a beautiful mindset shift: learning to release a tight grip on expectations, setting clear intuitive boundaries of "this and no further," and choosing to hold her solo parenting journey as lightly as possible.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The emotional reality of egg freezing at 35 and how expectations can shift over time.
• Advocating for yourself across 5 different clinics and recognizing when a provider is not the right fit.
• Processing the decision to stop using your own eggs.
• The step-by-step onboarding process, cost realities, and managing weekly databases through agencies like Embryo Connections and Empower with Moxie.
• Shifting perspective from sperm donor filters to full embryo genetics, adjusting to physical match considerations, and managing communication alignment with donor families.
• Moving past the urge to strangle every choice.

Connect with Katie:

• Website:singlegreatestchoice.com
• Instagram:@single_greatest_choice

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌 Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

✍️ Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Beth always knew motherhood was important to her, but becoming a single mom by choice wasn't a decision she made overnight. In this conversation, Beth shares the three-year journey between first considering solo motherhood and ultimately becoming pregnant, including the doubts, pauses, therapy sessions, and mindset shifts that helped her move forward with confidence.

We also talk about what life actually looked like after her daughter arrived. Beth opens up about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, building a support system without family help, and the reality of creating a village as a solo mom. We explore the difference between having a plan and being attached to specific circumstances, and why flexibility matters so much in this journey.

Plus, Beth shares the inspiration behind her children's book, Choosing Rose, written to help donor-conceived children understand their story. We discuss the importance of normalizing different family structures, finding balance as a mother, and the personal growth that can come from choosing a path that feels right for you, even when it looks different from what others expect.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Beth chose solo motherhood
• The emotional ups and downs of deciding to become a single mom by choice
• What happened when family support didn't look the way she expected
• Building a village through paid support, friendships, and community
• The loneliness that can show up during pregnancy and postpartum
• How becoming a solo mom transformed Beth's confidence and self-trust
• The story behind Choosing Rose and talking to kids about donor conception

Connect with Beth:

• Website
• Instagram: @choosing.motherhood
• Instagram: @choosingmotherhoodbooks

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌 Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

✍️ Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Embryo donation can be a beautiful and deeply layered way to build a family, but it’s also a topic surrounded by questions, emotion, and a lot of unknowns. In this episode, I’m joined by Maya Grobel, a licensed clinical social worker, recipient parent, and documentary filmmaker, along with Jen Vesbit, a nationally certified counselor and donor parent. Together with their partner Gina Davis, they co-founded Empower with Moxi and the Moxi Matching platform, where they provide guidance, support, and education for embryo donors and recipients.

We talk about what motivates donors and recipients, the emotional complexity on both sides, and the importance of feeling truly ready while also making space for grief. We also discuss how relationships between families can evolve over time. Maya and Jen share the personal experiences that led them to this work, including Maya building her family through embryo donation and Jen donating her remaining embryo to a single mother by choice. They also explain why more solo moms are beginning to consider embryo donation as part of their path to parenthood today.

If you’re curious about embryo donation for yourself, or wondering what to do with remaining embryos, this conversation will help you better understand the logistics, the community, and most importantly, what it can look like to reimagine your own vision of family.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The emotional journey of embryo donation from both donor and recipient perspectives
• The practical steps and timeline for directed, open embryo donation
• The unique ways single parents are welcomed and supported in the Moxi Matching process
• How to navigate family conversations, decision-making, and the “when is my family complete?” question
• The importance of community and support for solo moms considering this path
• Supporting children (and donor families) in talking about genetic connections and expanded family
• Why choice, inclusivity, and agency are at the heart of building families through embryo donation

Resources:

• EM•POWER with Moxi
• Instagram: @empowerwithmoxi
• Maya's website
• One More Shot
• Maya's Podcast: Never Thought We'd Be Here
• Jen on Instagram: @embryodonationsupport

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌 Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

✍️ Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

What does it really take to let go of the fairy tale you were raised with and create a life, and family, that’s truly your own? In this episode, I sit down with Cheri Bergeron, Austin author, single mom by choice, and passionate advocate for women navigating new paths to motherhood.

Cheri's journey has included fertility challenges, marriage and divorce, donor conception loss, and ultimately, building her family in unexpected and deeply intentional ways. Her story is raw, emotional, and so relatable for anyone who has found themselves facing a future far different from the one they once imagined. We talk honestly about the push and pull between career ambition and the dream of motherhood, and what happens when timelines, biology, or relationships don’t line up the way you hoped.

Cheri shares the lessons she learned about advocating for yourself in the fertility world, building non-traditional village support, and making empowered choices no matter how many pivots your journey requires. We also open up about the real fears so many single mothers by choice face: Will our children be okay? What will people think if we have kids “later”? And how can intentional community shape the way we (and our kids) experience solo motherhood?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Cheri's path from a “Prince Convenient” marriage to solo motherhood by choice
• The realities and surprises of using donor eggs and navigating IVF in your 40s
• Grieving the losses that come with fertility challenges and transitions
• Why clarity around your values can guide even the hardest decisions
• Rethinking what your village looks like, and building a non-traditional support system
• Handling judgment, both real and imagined, from family and yourself
• How to hold space for kids’ questions and thrive as a single-parent family

Connect with Cheri:

• Website
• Cheri's book, Mission: Motherhood

👩‍👧‍👦 The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌 Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

✍️ Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

ℹ️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Single Greatest Choice or its host, Katie Bryan. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, mental health, or professional advice. Every fertility, donor conception, and parenting journey is unique, and listeners are encouraged to use discernment and consult appropriate professionals regarding their individual circumstances. By listening, you acknowledge responsibility for your own decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Donor conception is changing faster than most fertility clinics or sperm banks can keep up. More and more women are looking for alternative paths to parenthood that put autonomy, transparency, and connection at the center. If you’ve ever wondered about the world of known, open, and peer-to-peer sperm donation, or wanted more control and clarity on selecting a donor, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m joined by Sofie Hafstrøm Kritsotaki, CEO of Y factor, a Copenhagen-based startup helping solo moms (and others) connect directly with sperm donors in a safe and user-friendly way. Sofie shares how Y factor works, why donor and recipient choice matters, and all the behind-the-scenes details about vetting, agreements, communication, and what it looks like to use the app.

We break down what it’s actually like to search for a donor outside of the typical bank system, including logistics, legal considerations, and the emotional side of creating your family story. If you’re feeling both curious and cautious about moving beyond the default options, I hope this conversation helps you feel informed, empowered, and confident in exploring what’s possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How peer-to-peer sperm donation gives both donor and recipient more agency and choice
• What makes the Y factor platform different from banks and Facebook groups
• Ways to prioritize safety, legal clarity, and personal preference in open donor arrangements
• The real motivations behind why men become donors, and how that impacts your decision
• Navigating conversations about expectations, boundaries, and future contact with the donor
• Why so many single mothers by choice are leading the way in this new model
• What to consider if you want siblings or want to connect with your child’s donor or half-siblings

Learn more about Y factor and download the app here!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

When I first connected with today's guest, Aliza, I felt such a spark of resonance. She has created exactly what she wished had existed on her own fertility journey. It’s an international, holistic, community-based egg freezing retreat designed to transform what can be an isolating, clinical, and overwhelming experience into something deeply supportive, connected, and even joyful.

In this episode, Aliza shares her powerful story of navigating egg freezing in Vancouver, feeling the weight of soaring costs and emotional isolation, and realizing there had to be a better way. We dive into how her own medical and fertility path led to the founding of Fertility Co-Living. This is where women come together in Mexico City for a holistic egg freezing journey: acupuncture, red light therapy, nutrition guidance, nurse support, yoga, city excursions, and true companionship.

We also open up about reclaiming the magic and meaning of becoming a mother on your own terms, and how stepping off the beaten path can create a life richer than you imagined. If you’ve thought about freezing eggs, are considering solo motherhood, or simply want to hear how one woman took her pain and turned it into collective healing, you’ll feel seen and supported in this conversation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Aliza's journey through egg freezing, disappointment, and the high financial and emotional costs in Canada
• Why fertility options abroad can offer both lower costs and richer support
• How Fertility Co-Living turns egg freezing into a restorative, communal, and even beautiful experience
• The importance of addressing mind, body, and spirit throughout the fertility journey
• Navigating timelines, urgency, regret, and learning to trust your own intuition, not just the numbers or the pressure
• Who joins these retreats, and why the community you build is as transformative as the medical process itself

Connect with Aliza:

• The Fertility Co-Living website
• Instagram: @thefertilitycoliving

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

Becoming a single mother by choice is complicated enough, but when you add layers of cultural expectations, family pressure, and the uncertainty of fertility, it can feel like there’s just no roadmap and no one who gets it. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Reema Kiran, executive coach, founder of Choice Mom Coach, and now published author of the book, Choice Mom. We go deep into her process of navigating unexplained infertility, cultural traditions, and making the call to prioritize motherhood on her own terms.

Together, we share the real, lived experience of choosing this path despite fears and grief over what “should have been". Reema opens up about childhood dreams clashing with grown-up realities, the importance of mindset, and what it meant to face questions from family and her Indian community. We talk about what’s helped us both, and what it has looked like for our families (and ourselves) to come around to single motherhood by choice. Whether you’re in the thinking stage, facing fertility challenges, or wrestling with letting go of the life you imagined, this is a truly supportive, honest conversation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Navigating cultural expectations and family reactions as a single mother by choice
• The emotional side of infertility, failed fertility treatments, and shifting your mindset
• Reema's experience with egg freezing and entering the world of IVF on her own
• Grieving the loss of the partner and child vision, and finding your own way forward
• Day-to-day realities and surprises of solo motherhood (from mental load to mom guilt)
• How to speak with confidence to loved ones who might not understand your choices
• The power of self-compassion, community, and taking just one next step

Connect with Reema:

• Website
• Instagram: @choicemomcoach
• Choice Mom: An Empowering Guide to Becoming a Single Mother by Choice

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

There is so much noise out there about fertility, timelines, and the “right” way and time to become a mother. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to navigate these decisions, especially as a single woman wondering what’s possible, what’s realistic, and what you really want. That’s why I was so excited to welcome back Dr. Natalie Crawford for this episode. Not only is she a leader in the fertility space and the co-founder of Fora Fertility here in Austin, but she’s also my own fertility doctor.

In this conversation, Dr. Crawford shares about her new book, The Fertility Formula. She dives into what to know about the fertility process, what questions to ask, and how to make empowered decisions at every stage. Whether you’re just starting to think about your options, actively trying to conceive, or navigating the early years of solo motherhood, you’ll find so much useful information here. We touch on the emotional layers of solo motherhood by choice, challenge the “rush” narrative, and unpack how knowledge (not urgency!) creates real freedom and confidence.

I left this conversation feeling more grounded and reminded that there is no “right” path - only the choice that’s right for you. I hope you walk away with a stronger sense of what’s within your control, how to advocate for your own well-being, and ways to gently hold space for the dreams you’re building, even if they look different than you once imagined.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why foundational fertility knowledge matters, and what Dr. Crawford wishes every woman knew sooner
• The importance of advocating for yourself and naming your real goals in the fertility journey
• How inflammation, lifestyle choices, and environment actually impact your fertility and hormone health
• The pressures single women face around making the right choice
• How to navigate uncertainty, conflicting emotions, and evolving dreams, whether or not motherhood is your current goal
• What to do if you feel unsupported or uncertain in your clinic/doctor relationship
• The value of taking the next informed step, not letting anxiety or urgency take the lead

Connect with Dr. Natalie Crawford:

• Website
• Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd
• TikTok: @nataliecrawfordmd
• LinkedIn: Natalie Crawford, MD
• YouTube: Natalie Crawford, MD
• Podcast: As a Woman

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

Sometimes the path to motherhood asks us to step into the unknown with courage, intention, and trust, especially when the journey doesn’t look anything like we first imagined. In this episode, I’m joined by Regine Smith, solo mom by adoption, and founder of SMBC Resources. Regine shares her powerful story of building her family through adoption as a single woman, navigating years of research and uncertainty, and ultimately embracing a version of motherhood that feels deeply right for her.

We talk honestly about fear, doubt, and the pressure to “get it right” when becoming a solo parent, and how those feelings can nearly eclipse the beauty and healing that motherhood brings. Regine opens up about the realities of the adoption process, the challenges and joys of parenting a young child, and her commitment to making it easier for other women to find trustworthy support on their own journeys. Whether you’re considering adoption, donor conception, or simply exploring your options, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling seen, informed, and a little more at ease about what’s possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Regine’s journey to solo motherhood and building her family through toddler adoption
2. What it’s really like to navigate years of decisions, research, and uncertainty before becoming a mom
3. The emotional impact of fear and doubt, and why holding space for your child’s feelings is so essential
4. How adoption actually works for single women (versus the stories we tell ourselves about what’s impossible)
5. Finding community and autonomy as a solo mom, plus the realities of parenting through anxiety, growth, and change
6. The story behind SMBC Resources, and how Regine is helping other single moms access vetted, supportive professionals
7. Why the privilege of creating a safe, loving home can sometimes matter more than any plan we once had

Connect with Regine:

1. SMBC Resources website: smbcresources.com
2. Email: ray@smbcresources.com
3. Instagram: @smbcresources

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

There’s a unique kind of bravery in deciding to build your own family, especially when the path looks nothing like what you once imagined. In this season 9 opener, I’m joined by Lisa Proeber, fellow solo mom by choice, serial entrepreneur, and children’s book author. Lisa and I started this episode as strangers but quickly found ourselves deep in conversation about everything from demotions to starting businesses, surrogacy, solo travel, and the honest realities of single motherhood.

Lisa shares her winding journey: early marriage in a conservative family, divorce, years of dating with the singular goal of becoming a mom, and ultimately making the leap into solo motherhood...during a global pandemic. We discuss the heartbreaks, the unexpected joy, and how the challenges of COVID, job loss, advocating for her son’s health, and taking big risks in business all wove together. Lisa opens up about what it’s really like to juggle it all as a single mom, why she loves the flexibility of entrepreneurship, and how she’s helping to tell new stories for families like ours through her board book, Mama Cow.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. The courage and chaos of picking a sperm donor (and throwing a hilarious sperm party!)
2. Navigating solo motherhood through the shock of a pandemic
3. What it looks like to get fired for being pregnant - and fight back
4. How Lisa leveraged adversity to launch multiple businesses, and the freedom she’s found in working for herself
5. The gap in children’s books about nontraditional families, and why telling our stories matters
6. Helpful tips for finding support, outsourcing, and building a thriving solo mom life
7. Dating, surrogacy, and talking to kids about different families

This is a warm, funny, and deeply honest conversation for anyone thinking about single motherhood by choice, or just looking for ways to write their own story!

Connect with Lisa:

1. Mama Cow board book + swag
2. Instagram: @mamacowbooks

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com.

This episode is a little different than usual.

In this Season 8 finale of The Single Greatest Choice Podcast, I’m stepping out of my usual interview role to share a personal reflection on the question I’m asked more than any other:

Will I have a second child as a single mother by choice?

Rather than offering a clear answer, this episode is about the process of living inside that question — the clarity that came and went, the tension between who I’ve been and who I’m becoming, and what it looks like to honor uncertainty without rushing toward resolution.

In this episode, I share:

1. Why deciding about a second child isn’t the same as deciding to try
2. What it means to choose “not deciding” as a valid place to stand
3. How finances, age, capacity, identity, and work all factor into this question
4. The joy and freedom of life with an older child — and what’s at stake in starting over
5. One of my core coaching frameworks for navigating high-stakes decisions with no clear right answer
6. The grief of imagined futures and the “ghost ships that didn’t carry us”
7. Why sometimes holding on is part of integration, not avoidance
8. What I’m learning about letting go, identity, and trust as this year comes to a close

This episode isn’t about arriving at certainty. It’s about honoring the space before clarity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Cheryl Strayed, Dear Sugar: “The Ghost Ships That Didn’t Carry Us”

Looking for other single mothers by choice who share your city, career, identity, or stage of motherhood? Join the SGC Directory

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

It’s easy to feel “behind” when it seems like everyone around you is moving forward with partnerships, pregnancies, and families — and meanwhile you’re fielding questions from parents, watching friends’ announcements roll in, and quietly feeling the pressure of time. The biological clock conversation can feel loud, heavy, and incredibly anxiety-provoking, especially in your late 30s and 40s.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Beth Gulotta — licensed therapist, founder of NYC Therapeutic Wellness, and host of the podcast Quiet the Clock. Beth has spent years supporting women who feel out of sync with cultural timelines, while also navigating her own very real and layered journey with partnership, egg freezing, infertility, pregnancy loss, and becoming a mother at 40.

Together, we talk honestly about what it’s like to want a child while living inside uncertainty. We explore the emotional and practical tension between taking action — getting information, exploring options, making decisions — and learning how to loosen your grip on the parts you simply can’t control. We also name the grief, comparison, and complicated feelings that can surface when life doesn’t unfold the way you once imagined it would.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. The emotional impact of feeling “behind” in your 30s or 40s
2. Navigating misaligned timelines within a partnership
3. Beth’s experience with egg freezing, natural conception at 39, and secondary infertility
4. How to take proactive steps without letting anxiety run the show
5. Why we so often put our lives on hold while we’re “waiting,” and how to stop missing the life you’re actually living
6. Making decisions based on how you want to feel, not what you think you should want
7. Supporting yourself during the holidays, when longing and triggers can feel amplified

This is a thoughtful, compassionate conversation for anyone who is carrying questions about fertility, timing, and what it means to trust yourself when the path forward isn’t clear.

Connect with Beth:

1. Have a listen to Beth’s podcast Quiet the Clock.
2. Follow Beth on Instagram.
3. Learn more about NYC Therapeutic Wellness on their website.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Today’s episode is something a little different. I’m sharing a bonus conversation that was recorded for another podcast, Quiet the Clock, created by psychotherapist Beth Gulotta. Because Beth’s work and mine overlap in such meaningful ways, we decided to release this interview on both of our feeds today.

If you’re new to Quiet the Clock, it’s a deeply thoughtful space for women who are feeling the pressure of fertility timelines, missed milestones, and the quiet (or not-so-quiet) grief that can come with life unfolding differently than expected. In other words, it’s a space that will likely feel very familiar if you’re listening to this show.

Beth helps women question and rewrite the stories that no longer serve them, creating room for a life that actually fits — one grounded in self-trust, empowerment, and choosing your own timing. Her personal journey, combined with her clinical background, makes her a steady and compassionate voice in a space that truly needs more of both.

You’ll also be hearing from Beth again next week when she joins me as a guest on The Single Greatest Choice, so this is a beautiful introduction to her work and perspective.

After you listen, be sure to follow Quiet the Clock wherever you get your podcasts and explore more of Beth’s episodes. If you’re here, I have a feeling her work will resonate deeply.

Podcast - Quiet The Clock Podcast

The search for a sperm donor can be overwhelming for anyone, but for Black women, the lack of available Black donors adds a whole new layer of complexity. When Lakia Holmes—senior producer of Bleacher Report’s branded sports content, award-winning journalist, and now a single mom by choice—began exploring her fertility options at 37, she had no idea just how winding the path would be.

What started as an egg-freezing consultation quickly revealed blocked fallopian tubes and a 2% chance of conceiving naturally. Suddenly, the dream she’d been putting off to grow her career became something she could no longer wait on. Choosing IVF meant choosing herself—and stepping into the unknown as a solo Black woman navigating infertility, donor scarcity, and the fear of how this choice might impact her career.

In our conversation, Lakia shares the emotional and logistical realities of that season: long donor waitlists, genetic mismatches, profiles with only a name or two left… and then the moment a miracle phone call changed everything.

“It wasn’t my plan A, but my plan B worked out pretty damn well.” — Lakia

Lakia opens up about the fast-moving year that followed—egg retrievals, her very first embryo transfer, and the shock and gratitude of being pregnant with her daughter, Isla, who arrived in May 2024. She also speaks honestly about postpartum depression, rebuilding her support system, heading back to work in the sports media world, and dipping her toe back into dating as an SMBC.

Most recently featured in Forbes, Lakia is now using her platform to bring fertility awareness to the Black community and to tell the story she once needed to hear.

Her honesty, humor, and courage offer such a powerful reminder: when you decide your dream of becoming a mother can’t wait any longer, so much becomes possible.

In this episode, we explore:

• How an egg-freezing consult revealed blocked fallopian tubes
• Recognizing that waiting for the “right time” or the “right partner” might mean waiting forever
• Why Black sperm donors are so scarce—and how that impacts Black women pursuing donor conception
• Finding a donor when the options feel impossibly limited
• Getting pregnant on her very first embryo transfer
• Lakia’s experiences during pregnancy and birth
• Postpartum depression and learning to ask for help
• Returning to work, navigating childcare, and preparing to travel again
• Reentering the dating world as a solo mom by choice

Find out more about Lakia’s coaching at Lakia Holmes | Fertility Coach, Speaker & Advocate

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Do you ever wonder what solo motherhood by choice looks like further down the line? I certainly do, and today's episode with a SMBC of a teen was a fascinating window into that world.

Today’s guest, Elle, became a single mother by choice at 36, using a known sperm donor: someone she briefly dated years before. Today, her son is 13, and her story gives us a rare, honest look at what life can look like after the decision is made and we leave the diaper years behind us. 

I love how open Elle is in sharing the beautiful, the complicated, the surprising, and everything in between. From managing pregnancy and postpartum alone and watching her son’s relationship with his donor evolve, to navigating school choices, identity questions, and early teenage years.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a known sperm donor could work for you, or you’re simply craving a long-term perspective from someone further down the solo motherhood path, Elle’s story offers us a peek into what it can look like.

In this episode on solo parenting a teenager and choosing a known sperm donor, we discuss:

• How Elle decided to pursue solo motherhood at 36;
• Why she chose a known donor over a sperm bank and how she went about it;
• What the donor relationship looked like during pregnancy and postpartum;
• Her son’s evolving understanding of who his “donor” or “dad” is;
• Legal considerations (and misconceptions) around known sperm donors;
• Navigating boundaries, expectations, and emotional complexity over 13 years;
• Identity, gender expression, and raising a compassionate son;
• The challenges and rewards of solo parenting an older child;
• Trusting yourself through big parenting and school decisions;
• And much more.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What would you have to change to make solo motherhood possible? For novelist Tory Henwood Hoen, the answer meant reimagining the structure of her life. She left New York City for Vermont, moved in with her mom during pregnancy, and built a rhythm that allowed her to pursue both her dream of motherhood and her passion for writing. Through it all, she discovered that becoming a single mother by choice isn’t just about making one big decision, but rather about creating space for what truly matters.

In today’s conversation, Tory shares how she built a life that supports solo motherhood: from freezing her eggs at 36, doing IVF at 39, and getting pregnant with her first transfer, to writing her second novel while parenting. Her story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the path that looks like starting over is actually the one that leads you home to yourself.

In this episode on building a life that supports solo motherhood, we discuss:

• The emotional and practical steps that led Tory to pursue motherhood on her own;
• Moving from New York City to Vermont to prioritize family, finances, and creative space;
• Writing her second novel while parenting a newborn, and how motherhood sharpened her creative focus;
• The importance of community and connection in the SMBC journey;
• Redefining success and identity in midlife;
• Creating space for what matters most;
• And more.

More about Tory

Tory Henwood Hoen is a novelist based in Vermont, where she is a solo mother by choice to her toddler daughter. Her debut novel, THE ARC, was published in 2022, and her second novel, BEFORE I FORGET, comes out December 2, 2025. Before pursuing her dream of writing books, Tory worked as a magazine editor, a brand director, a copywriter, and a content consultant in New York City and Paris.

You can learn more about Tory and her work on her website or connect with her on Instagram (@toryhenwoodhoen).

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

While some motherhood paths unfold easily, others bring unexpected twists and turns. Dr. Shanelle Bolton’s path to solo motherhood included multiple surgeries to remove fibroids, a chemical pregnancy, and even a near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage. But all of this was part of her journey, and today she’s a proud solo mom by choice to two thriving children. In the midst of it all, she also founded POSH Parenthood, where she helps families move from chaos to calm through purposeful rhythms and executive functioning support for kids.

Shanelle shares how she turned her challenges into a mission: empowering parents to create calmer, more connected homes without chasing perfection. Her story is a reminder that the path isn’t always smooth and straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it won’t get us to where we want to go.

In this episode on Shanelle’s journey to becoming a solo mom of two, you’ll hear:

• Deciding to become a solo mom by choice and building a support system to make it happen;
• Navigating an IVF journey with fibroids and multiple surgeries;
• Coping with a chemical pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage;
• How Shanelle re-imagined her career after losing her job and founded POSH Parenthood;
• Why flexible parenting rhythms work better than rigid routines;
• Understanding executive functioning for kids and how it helps parents, too;
• The importance of Black maternal health and self-advocacy in motherhood;
• And more!

More about Dr. Shanelle Bolton

Dr. Shanelle Bolton, EdD, MST, MLS is the founder and CEO of POSH Parenthood Coaching & Consulting, where she helps parents and educators move from chaos to calm by building purposeful family rhythms and strengthening children’s executive functioning skills. With over two decades of experience in education and early childhood leadership, she blends professional expertise with personal resilience as a single mother by choice who navigated IVF, pregnancy loss, and a near-fatal postpartum complication. Through high-touch coaching, courses, and her signature Raising in Rhythm program, Dr. Bolton empowers families to find flow, connection, and confidence in parenting.

Ways to connect with Shanelle:

🌐 Website: poshparenthood.com

📸 Instagram: @poshparenthood

🎥 TikTok: @poshparenthood

📘 Featured Resource: Raising Brighter Minds eBook

✨ Signature Program: Raising in Rhythm 

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice support you’ve been craving for every stage of your journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

After a pregnancy marked by hyperemesis and countless challenges, Mel Anderson returns to share the next chapter of her story. This time, it’s a much brighter one.

The birth of Mel’s daughter didn’t go exactly as planned, but from the very first moment she heard her daughter’s cry, everything shifted. Instead of bracing herself for postpartum depression, Mel was surprised to feel a rush of love and relief.

The weeks that followed became a season of healing and sweetness, allowing herself to recover slowly. She discovered how much she loves the simple rhythms of newborn life, and how motherhood has brought her more presence and joy than she ever imagined.

Now, eight months in, Mel is not only thriving as a mom, but she’s reconnecting with her passion for yoga: dreaming of ways to guide other single mothers by choice through movement, breath, and grounding practices designed especially for this community.

In this episode on Mel’s postpartum experience as a single mother by choice, you’ll hear about:

• Recovering physically and emotionally after a difficult pregnancy and birth
• The unexpected sweetness of newborn life and early motherhood
• Daily rituals of connection and presence with her daughter
• How Mel is dreaming of a platform to support SMBCs through yoga and meditation
• And much more!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Pregnancy doesn’t always go the way you imagined it would. For my dear friend and fellow SMBC, Mel Anderson, what began with excitement quickly turned into one of the hardest seasons of her life. Instead of hiking and practicing yoga through her pregnancy as she had envisioned, Mel faced hyperemesis: severe nausea and vomiting that left her unable to care for herself, barely able to eat or drink, and often confined to the bathroom floor.

⚠️Before we dive in, a gentle heads up: this episode includes a detailed discussion of hyperemesis and the mental health struggles that can come with a difficult pregnancy. If you’re feeling particularly anxious about pregnancy, this might not be the right episode for you. And if you’re currently in the middle of a hard pregnancy yourself, please know there is relief and joy on the other side (which you’ll hear about in the next episode, in which we’ll continue with Mel’s story).

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Mel shares what it was really like to go through pregnancy without a partner while navigating a condition that tested her body, her mental health, and her spirit. From the heartbreak of canceled embryo transfers to the unexpected challenges of her pregnancy, her story is raw, honest, and important.

If you’re considering solo motherhood, pregnant yourself, or simply want to know you’re not alone in facing a difficult path, this conversation will remind you that strength can grow even in the hardest places.

In this episode on Mel’s story about her pregnancy without a partner, we discuss:

• Mel’s path to becoming a single mother by choice after ambivalence about having children in her younger years;
• How Mel’s relationship history played into the decision;
• Being diagnosed with hyperemesis and how it shaped her pregnancy;
• Mental health struggles and learning to advocate for herself in the medical system;
• The critical role of support during a high-risk pregnancy as a solo mom;
• Why sharing the hard stories matters just as much as sharing the joyful ones;
• And more.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Motherhood—especially solo motherhood—rarely unfolds exactly the way we imagined. Fertility treatments don’t always go as planned, babies don’t follow sleep schedules, and even our best-laid visions of how life “should” look often get disrupted.

In this episode, I’m sharing one of our private Village Podcast episodes on the theme of Managing Expectations and Embracing Flexibility. Inside The Village, each month we take on a broad coaching topic that applies across every stage of the solo motherhood journey, from considering this path to parenting young children. Along with a monthly coaching episode like this one, members also receive a companion workbook and access to an entire library of past themes.

In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about:

• Releasing unrealistic expectations of perfection, both in parenting and in life
• Building resilience when things don’t go according to plan (another failed transfer, a toddler meltdown, or changes in your own path to motherhood)
• Practical ways to adjust plans with more ease and less pressure
• Learning to “ride the wave” of unpredictability, even when it feels uncomfortable

Whether you’re just beginning to imagine solo motherhood or you’re deep in the day-to-day of raising your child, this episode will help you soften rigid expectations, prioritize what matters most, and find more peace in the process.

And if you love this episode and want more like it, I’d love to welcome you inside The Village—a community designed to support women at every stage of the journey with resources, coaching, and connection.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Even with careful planning, none of us can predict how our path to motherhood will unfold.

When we last spoke with Tara Resnick, she was preparing for another egg retrieval and left us with quite the cliffhanger. Today, she’s back to share the next chapter of her journey toward solo motherhood.

In this conversation, Tara speaks with honesty and vulnerability about the setbacks she’s faced—multiple egg retrievals, the financial strain of treatment, and the deep emotional toll of pursuing IVF as a single woman at 42. She also opens up about the regrets she carries: wishing she had pursued IVF or at least frozen eggs earlier, and staying in relationships longer than she now wishes she had.

What makes Tara’s story so powerful is not a picture-perfect narrative, but her willingness to share the messy middle—the heartbreak, the resilience it takes to keep going, and the importance of self-compassion when the outcome is still unknown.

Tara’s reminder for all of us: resilience isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about choosing yourself, holding onto hope, and finding peace even in the hardest seasons.

“Choose yourself, always.” – Tara Resnick

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to walk through IVF on your own—the ups, the setbacks, the financial and emotional weight—I hope this conversation will make you feel less alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tara’s second and third egg retrievals, including the unexpected decision to pursue a Duo Stim cycle
• The financial and emotional impact of IVF as a single woman
• The vulnerability of navigating fertility treatments without a partner
• Receiving difficult PGT results and the decision to transfer an untested embryo
• How to balance hope and grief without falling into toxic positivity
• Why Tara believes trying was still the right choice for her, no matter the outcome
• And more

Connect with Tara:

• Instagram | @TaraLaurennn
• Simple Coaching for Health & Weight Loss
• Evolve with Tara: Solution Focused Coaching

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Julie thought she was freezing her eggs for a future partner.

Instead, she ended up fertilizing all of them on her path to become a mom on her own—then finding love and partnership afterward.

That’s the short version of Julie Ferguson’s story, but there’s so much more to it.

Julie is a PR firm owner and solo mom by choice who’s been through more than her share of plot twists on the road to motherhood: divorce, miscarriage, five egg retrievals, two IVF cycles, and one hard-won embryo that became her son. She opens up about what it really took—emotionally, physically, and financially—to make her dream of motherhood happen.

And her story doesn’t end there.

Now a proud mom to a two-year-old, Julie shares what it’s been like to date as a solo mom, including an unplanned pregnancy at 45 and the evolving relationship that followed. We talk about rediscovering yourself in motherhood, building connections with other donor sibling families, and Julie’s advocacy work with the Stork Foundation, which helps families access IVF through grants.

Whether you’re still navigating fertility as a single woman or already parenting solo, Julie’s mix of honesty, humor, and hope is one you don’t want to miss.

In this episode, we cover:

• Navigating miscarriage, divorce, and solo motherhood during the pandemic
• Doing multiple egg retrievals and two rounds of IVF in her early 40s
• The emotional toll of losing an embryo and trying again
• Making the leap from egg freezing to IVF with donor sperm
• Advocating for IVF access through the Stork Foundation
• Dating as a solo mom and navigating an unexpected pregnancy at 45
• Building a donor sibling community and raising a happy toddler solo
• Why prioritizing self-care matters in solo motherhood
• And more

Resources mentioned:

• The Stork Foundation
• Little Words Project - Hope Bracelet
• Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)
• It Starts With the Egg Book
• Pulling Down the Moon Holistic Fertility Center

Connect with Julie:

• Instagram: @chijules
• Julie’s PR Firm

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Life doesn’t always unfold the way you imagined. For Tara, that meant rethinking everything she thought she knew about love, family, and the “perfect” timing. After years in relationships that weren’t moving toward the future she desired, she found herself at a crossroads: stay stuck waiting for someone else to come around, or start creating the life she dreamed of on her own.

In this episode, Tara opens up about the heartbreak of leaving long-term relationships, the fear and uncertainty of starting over at 38, and the courage it took to finally consider solo motherhood. She shares her experiences with fertility testing, choosing a sperm donor, a difficult miscarriage, and the incredible support she’s found in this SMBC community as she takes those first steps toward becoming a single mom by choice.

Whether you’re exploring solo motherhood yourself or simply need a reminder that starting over is possible, Tara’s story is filled with courage, clarity, and deep self-trust.

In this episode on pursuing solo motherhood, we discuss:

• Feeling stuck in relationships and deciding when it’s time to choose yourself;
• The fear of starting over in your late 30s and facing fertility decisions alone;
• How finances, support systems, and fear hold women back from solo motherhood;
• Fertility testing, donor conception, and facing miscarriage as a single woman;
• The emotional growth that comes from doing it scared;
• The power of connection and finding your people in the SMBC community;
• And more from Tara’s deeply honest and inspiring journey.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What does life look like a decade into solo motherhood? If you've ever wondered what’s on the other side of the baby and toddler years, this conversation with Beile Grünbaum will give you an exciting glimpse.

Beile is a solo mom by choice of two sons, now 10 and 12, and her story is anything but ordinary. A former financial journalist in Denmark, Beile made the leap into solo motherhood in her late 30s and early 40s. But the transformation didn’t stop there. After being laid off while on maternity leave with her second child, she took her expertise in finance and turned it into a thriving financial coaching business, Money & Freedom.

Today, she lives with her boys in Portugal, runs an online business, and shares her journey as a podcaster and entrepreneur. She opens up about her fertility story, life after the baby years, building community abroad, dating as a solo mom, and what it really means to design a life that fits you, and your kids.

If you’ve been craving stories about solo parenting older children, or wondering what’s possible for your career and lifestyle as an SMBC, you won’t want to miss this one!

In this episode on solo parenting older children, we discuss:

• Navigating donor conception and fertility treatments in Denmark;
• Parenting through the toddler years and deciding to have a second child;
• Raising two boys with honesty, confidence, and joy;
• Being laid off on maternity leave and pivoting into entrepreneurship;
• Becoming financially free and moving her family to Portugal;
• Dating as a solo mom (and how ChatGPT supports her search);
• The mindset shift from waiting to be saved to building her dream life;
• And much more!

Connect with Beile Grünbaum:

Website | YouTube | Instagram | Podcast

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What if the desire to become a parent is strong, but the partner hasn't shown up?

In this episode, I’m talking with Viveka, a school psychologist who has spent her career supporting kids and families—and who’s now navigating her own path to solo motherhood.

Viveka started out as a preschool special education teacher, is certified as a yoga instructor and nature therapy guide, and brings a deeply grounded, global perspective to everything she does. She’s biracial, trilingual, a former Indian classical dancer, and one of those people who’s just naturally good with children. 

When Viveka found herself single in her late thirties and experiencing dating burnout, she decided it was time to freeze her eggs. But once she took a step into this world, she realized that she could be that woman who decides to pursue solo motherhood.

Now over a year into her process of becoming a single mother by choice, Viveka shares what it’s looked like to shift her priorities, explore known donor conception through Seed Scout, and start the process of trying to conceive—without waiting for a partner.

This conversation is about so much more than logistics. It’s about identity, intuition, culture, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to want what you want.

In this episode about choosing solo parenthood, we talk about:

• The early stages of becoming a solo mom by choice;
• Experiencing dating burnout;
• Choosing solo motherhood when you find yourself single in your 30s or 40s;
• Cultural considerations and family conversations;
• Using Seed Scout to find a known sperm donor;
• Navigating fertility clinics, timing, and IUI with a known donor;
• Balancing career, future dreams, and the realities of single parenting;
• And more.

Connect with Viveka on instagram: Solo Mama To Be (@soloparentonpurpose)

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

💌Become part of the SGC community and stay up to date by joining our newsletter. You can sign up >>here<< at the bottom of the page.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “It takes a village”, but what does that actually look like when you’re choosing to become a mom on your own?

Today’s guest is the perfect example of why becoming a single mother by choice doesn’t mean you have to raise your child alone. You’ll hear exactly what it can look like to build a deeply supportive village, both before and after becoming a solo mom.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sige, a psychotherapist and solo mother by choice who brings a wealth of wisdom from both her personal and professional life. Sige shares how a low AMH diagnosis and a breakup led her to pursue solo motherhood through IUI, and how she beat the odds by conceiving on her first try. 

But it’s her unique approach to communal living and her commitment to building intentional support systems that truly make her story stand out. Together, we talk about what it takes to raise a child without a partner, not by doing it all alone, but by choosing interdependence, community, and creativity. 

In this episode on building a strong support system before and during solo motherhood, we discuss:

• How a low ovarian reserve shifted Sige’s timeline and led her to IUI;
• The emotional pivot from partnership to solo parenting;
• What it’s like to conceive on your first IUI attempt, despite low fertility markers;
• The practical and emotional benefits of communal living;
• Navigating dating and boundaries as a solo mom;
• How to create a village of support when raising a child alone;
• Introducing donor conception and donor siblings to your child;
• Reclaiming creativity and rediscovering yourself after early motherhood;
• And so much more.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

🏘️Join our community, The SGC Village

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

What happens when you only get one viable embryo and it’s your only shot at becoming a mom? For Kellyn, her single embryo became the greatest gift of her life.

Today’s guest is Kellyn Nagel, a fellow single mother by choice and dedicated attorney who represents children in foster care. Kellyn shares her emotional and financial journey through fertility as a single woman: from egg freezing after a low AMH diagnosis to IVF with frozen eggs, and ultimately to the birth of her daughter, Kellyn’s story is one of trust, resilience, and quiet courage.

We talk about the heartbreak and hope of navigating IVF as a single woman, how Kellyn leaned into her gut instincts at every step, and the profound ways motherhood has shifted both her career and her understanding of the family court system. We also touch on the power of donor sibling connections, postpartum realities, and what it means to keep the door open for a second child as a single mom by choice, even when the path is anything but straightforward.

In this episode on IVF as a single woman, we discuss:

• How Kellyn’s journey began with egg freezing and a low AMH diagnosis;
• Her decision to move from two failed IUIs to IVF using her frozen eggs;
• The emotional weight of having just one viable embryo, and the joy when it worked;
• What it’s like to give birth and navigate postpartum as a solo mom;
• The challenges of working in child welfare while becoming a parent herself;
• How she connected with donor siblings and built early relationships for her daughter;
• Her reflections on sleep deprivation, daycare, and going back to work as a new SMBC;
• And more.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book: This Might Be Too Personal: And Other Intimate Stories - Alyssa Shelasky
• Listen to Season 6, Episode 8: “Accidental” SMBC Through Foster to Open Adoption With Elizabeth Friedland

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Solo parenting one child is a big job. Add a second baby to the mix, and do it all without a co-parent, and everything shifts.

In this episode, I’m joined by Randi Maves, a solo mom by choice to two boys, four years apart. Randi wouldn’t trade this life for anything, but she’s honest about how intense it can be juggling two different stages of parenting on her own.

From navigating daycare drop-offs and picky eaters to handling preschooler meltdowns while sleep-training a newborn, Randi gets honest about what the daily juggle really looks like. She talks about the tools and support systems that are saving her sanity right now, including her decision to hire an au pair, and the emotional process of adjusting to life as a solo mom of two.

We’re also diving into Randi’s fertility journey with IVF at 40+, including the heartbreak of getting no viable embryos, the decision to transfer her one mosaic embryo, and the deep trust it took to move forward.

If you’re thinking about having a second child as an SMBC, already in the thick of solo motherhood, or just wondering what this path can look like, Randi’s story is a beautiful mix of honesty, resilience, and real-life logistics.

In this episode on solo parenting two kids after 40, we talk about:

• How her mom’s diagnosis sparked her decision to become a mom
• What it was like to move across the country with a baby in tow
• What shifted her perspective on having a second child solo
• The highs and lows of IVF as a single woman in her 40s
• What it’s really like to solo parent two kids in different phases of life
• Her approach to building a support team, including daycare and live-in help
• The emotional weight of parenting without a partner, and why acknowledgment matters
• Her mindset around letting “future Randi” handle “future problems”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• HBO Documentary First Comes Love (2013)
• Facebook group ‘My Perfect Mosaic Embryo’

🏝️ Interested in the Aug 27-31 Family Trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico? Join one of these info sessions to get all the details!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

The desire to share life with a partner doesn’t just disappear when we choose to start our families on our own. And it doesn’t have to. Today’s new episode is a beautiful reminder that both things can be true: you can want motherhood and partnership, and you don’t have to give up one to have the other.

At 35, Erin Russell was faced with the hard realization that her family line would end with her if she didn’t pursue parenthood soon, so she started seriously considering solo motherhood. But right as she was preparing to begin fertility treatments, life threw her a curveball — she met someone.

Erin was clear about what she wanted and gave the relationship space to grow. But when it became obvious they weren’t aligned on having kids, she made the powerful decision to walk away. She ordered donor sperm the very next day.

Becoming a mom didn’t erase Erin's hope of sharing life with a partner. Just two months after her son was born, she started dating again — not out of pressure or urgency, but as a way to reconnect with herself, enjoy adult time, and stay open to love.

Now that her son is two and she’s happily in a relationship that feels like the right fit, Erin reflects on what it’s been like to still want partnership as a solo mom by choice, and how she's navigating love, parenting, and a changing sense of identity all at once.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Erin knew it was time to pursue solo motherhood
• The challenges of navigating IUI, IVF, and insurance hurdles
• Why "just surviving" the newborn stage isn’t enough, and how building a support system made all the difference
• The guilt and reality of sending your baby to daycare as a solo mom
• Dating as a solo mom: why Erin started early, how she set her own pace, and what she looked for in a partner
• How she’s weaving her new relationship into her solo mom life
• And why the grief of doing it alone doesn’t just disappear once your baby arrives

Whether you're considering solo motherhood, already parenting, or wondering if dating might fit into your life someday, Erin’s story is full of honesty, hope, and real-world encouragement for wherever you are on the path.

Want to connect with Erin Russell?

• Follow Erin on Instagram
• Check out Erin's writing
• Read Erin's article on SMBCs (featuring me as an interviewee!)

🏝️ Interested in the Aug 27-31 Family Trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico? Join one of these info sessions to get all the details!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Expanding your family as a single mother by choice isn’t always easy — but many solo moms desire more than one child, and today’s conversation is a beautiful example of how it can unfold.

Lauren — a returning guest and seasoned SMBC — shares her journey from welcoming her first daughter to expanding her family with twins, all in just a few years. Along the way, she navigated fertility treatments, postpartum health challenges, and the daily demands of solo parenting... while never losing sight of her dream to grow her family despite her fertility challenges.

As you might know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether to have a second child as a solo mom — so it was such a gift to sit down with Lauren and talk through all the emotional, logistical, and real-life factors that come into play when making a decision like this.

Whether you're actively considering another child or just curious about what life looks like with multiple little ones as a solo mom, Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder that you can create the family you dream of.

Inside the episode, we talk about:

• How Lauren managed a twin pregnancy while caring for a young baby
• The emotional and practical shifts that come with expanding your family solo
• Building a village: how childcare, therapy, and trusted support made it possible
• Handling outside reactions to being a solo mom of multiple children
• Talking to young kids about being donor-conceived and having donor siblings
• Finding moments of joy and recharging amid the chaos
• What factors to consider when thinking about adding to your family as a solo mom
• And more!

Listen to Lauren & Jess on Season 1, Episode 16 of The SGC Podcast

Connect with Lauren on Instagram

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the single mother by choice resource you’ve been craving for every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 Coaching for every stage of solo motherhood by choice, Community Groups for thinkers, triers, and pregnant SMBCs, The SGC The SGC Village Membership Community, Retreats for early stage SMBCs and Family Trips for moms & kids.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

I recently wrapped up one of the most unpredictable SMBC retreats I’ve ever hosted, and I’m still unpacking all the lessons it had to teach me. This solo episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when things go completely off-script, and how self-compassion, surrender, and unexpected moments of connection carried me through.

This isn’t your typical retreat recap. It’s a story about what happens when you let go of the plan and lean into trust, even when things go sideways. As someone who talks a lot about self-compassion and mindset, this experience gave me a real-time opportunity to practice what I preach.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend a retreat with SGC—or you’ve found yourself navigating curveballs on your SMBC journey—this one’s for you.

I’m sharing:

• The story of a retreat that went wildly off course (and what happened next)
• How curveballs became invitations for growth, trust, and connection
• The power of self-compassion when things don’t go as planned
• The surprising kindness of strangers
• What this experience taught me as a solo mom, solopreneur, and human being
• And the quiet magic that happens when we stop trying to control it all.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is the solo mom support network you’ve been looking for through every stage of your SMBC journey. You can find 1:1 coaching for single moms by choice at all stages, Community Groups for Thinkers/Tryers and Pregnant SMBCs, The SGC Village Membership Community, retreats for women considering or pursuing solo motherhood and SMBC family trips.

Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

You always imagined becoming a mom someday, but what if someday doesn’t look the way you expected? Maybe you're considering solo motherhood, wondering if having a baby on your own is really possible. Maybe you know you want to be a mom, but the clock is ticking, you’re single and aren’t sure what to do next. Perhaps you’re already on the path: researching sperm donors, weighing IVF or adoption, or navigating pregnancy without a partner. Wherever you are in your journey, The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you.

Hosted by Katie Bryan, a single mother by choice turned SMBC coach and community facilitator, this podcast is a space for women exploring what it means to choose parenthood on their own terms. You’ll hear real stories from solo moms who’ve been where you are: women who have faced the fears, made the choices, and built beautiful, fulfilling lives as single mothers by choice.

You can expect conversations around:

> Fertility for single women in their 30s and 40s;

> Considering solo motherhood & becoming a single mother by choice (SMBC)

> IVF, adoption, sperm donors, and egg freezing for single women

> Having a baby on your own

> Choosing to parent alone

> Dating and relationships as SMBCs

> Building community as a solo mom by choice

> And much more.

If you're single in your 30s or 40s and wondering, Can I do this?, you’re not alone. The path to becoming a single mother by choice isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. This is your place to find confidence, connection, and community as you explore whether solo motherhood might be your single greatest choice.

Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode, and visit www.singlegreatestchoice.com to learn more about our membership, coaching, community groups, and retreats.

For most of my life, I believed that finding the right partner was the key to starting a family. I spent nearly 20 years searching for the perfect relationship, thinking that marriage had to come first before motherhood. But at 39, I was single and I still deeply wanted to become a mom. That’s when I decided I was done waiting. I would have a baby on my own.

In this special cross-over episode, I’m the one being interviewed! Originally recorded for the Refamulating Podcast with Julia Winston, this conversation dives into my journey of reimagining family, letting go of societal expectations, and embracing solo motherhood by choice. I open up about the pivotal moments that led me to this path, my experiences with egg freezing, fertility treatments, and choosing a sperm donor, and how becoming a mother has transformed my life in ways I never expected.

In this episode on why I chose to have a baby on my own, I share:

• How I went from searching for a partner to deciding to have a baby on my own;
• The fears, doubts, and societal pressures I had to overcome to embrace solo motherhood;
• Why I initially felt ashamed of my choice and how I learned to own it with pride;
• My journey through egg freezing, fertility treatments, and choosing a sperm donor;
• The impact of my religious upbringing, marriage, and divorce on my perspective of family;
• How I built a strong support system and community as a single mom;
• Why I now believe solo moms aren’t settling but actually raising the bar;
• The unexpected freedom and joy I’ve found in this choice.

If you’re considering solo motherhood, struggling with the idea of letting go of a traditional family model, or simply curious about what it’s like to have a baby on your own, this episode is for you.

Refamulating on Instagram

https://www.refamulating.com/

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

When Eboni K. Williams froze her eggs, she had zero intention of using them, but she did it anyway, just in case. Years later, at 38, her perspective on motherhood shifted, and she was grateful she had taken steps to preserve her fertility. That decision gave her the freedom to pursue solo motherhood on her own timeline, using IVF to welcome the child she once wasn’t sure she wanted.

In this episode, Eboni, a legal expert, journalist, and media personality, shares her egg freezing journey and how it set her up to make empowered choices about her future. She opens up about the reality of IVF as a single woman, the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare (especially as a Black woman), and why she doesn’t romanticize solo motherhood, even though it’s everything she wanted. Plus, she shares how choosing solo motherhood has actually expanded her dating options instead of limiting them.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Eboni froze her eggs without any intention of using them, and why she’s now so glad she did;
• The realization at 38 that made her decide she wanted to be a mom;
• How she chose a sperm donor and why that decision was so critical;
• Why she went straight to IVF as a single woman due to age-related statistics;
• The importance of having a doula and ensuring mothers’ needs are prioritized in childbirth;
• The medical crisis around Black maternal health and the need for self-advocacy;
• Why she doesn’t over-romanticize solo motherhood, even though it’s been the right path for her;
• How choosing to parent alone has actually given her more dating options, not fewer.

Whether you're considering solo motherhood, navigating an egg freezing journey, or wondering what life as a single mother by choice really looks like, Eboni’s story is an eye-opening look at the power of taking control of your future.

Connect with Eboni K. Williams: Website | Instagram | Podcast | People Magazine

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Are you waiting for a partner to give you the ‘green light’ to become a mom? For Richelle Carey, the answer became clear in her mid-40s: She wasn’t going to wait anymore. After freezing her eggs at 42 and attempting IVF at 46, Richelle realized she wasn’t attached to biological motherhood. What she truly wanted was to become a mom. That’s when she shifted her focus to adopting a child as a single woman while living overseas.

In this episode, Richelle shares her deeply personal journey of choosing solo motherhood, navigating the adoption process as a single woman, and building her family on her own terms. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of international adoption, the emotional process of bonding with a child, and why prioritizing her own health and happiness made her a better parent.

In this episode on adopting a child as a single woman, we discuss:

• Richelle’s journey from egg freezing and IVF to adoption as a single woman;
• What led her to stop waiting for a partner and embrace solo motherhood;
• The process of adopting a child as a single Black woman while living overseas;
• How adoption matching works and the role of an adoption consultant;
• Addressing common fears about bonding with an adopted child;
• How solo moms can confidently talk to their children about their origin story;
• The importance of prioritizing personal health as a single parent;
• Richelle’s perspective on whether she’ll expand her family as an SMBC;
• And the empowering realization that solo moms can do “big things”, and do them well.

If you’re considering solo motherhood or exploring what it takes to adopt as a single woman, Richelle’s story will give you the inspiration and practical insight you need to take the next step.

Want to check out some of Richelle's incredible work and content as a broadcaster and SMBC advocate?  You can find her on her WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM, and TikTok.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Deciding whether to have kids is one of the most personal, and often most complex, choices a woman can make. For many, considering solo motherhood brings up even more questions: Should I wait for a partner? Can I do this on my own? What if I’m not sure I want kids at all?

In this episode, I sit down with Keltie Maguire, coach and host of the Kids or Childfree Podcast, to explore what it really looks like to make an intentional decision about parenthood. Keltie grew up assuming she’d become a mom, because that’s just what women did. But as she moved through her 30s, she started questioning whether that path was truly right for her. Without role models for a consciously child-free life, the decision felt isolating and overwhelming. Now, after making the choice that’s best for her, she dedicates her work to helping other women navigate this deeply personal decision.

This isn’t a conversation about choosing not to become a mom; It’s about choosing the right path for you, whether that means having a baby on your own or embracing a child-free life with confidence.

In this episode on considering (solo) motherhood, we discuss:

• The struggle of making the life-changing decision of whether to have children;
• Why considering solo motherhood is often more complex than a simple yes or no;
• The lack of visible role models for women who choose a childfree life;
• How societal expectations pressure women into explaining their parenting choices;
• How Keltie supports women in making the right decision for themselves;
• Holding space for grief and creating a beautiful life, even when it doesn’t look like you imagined.

If you’re single in your 30s or 40s and feeling uncertain about whether solo motherhood is right for you, this conversation will give you clarity, perspective, and reassurance that you’re not alone.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

When Jamela’s marriage ended at 37, she wasn’t interested in dating. Instead she decided to become a Single Mother by Choice (SMBC). With a deep desire for motherhood and a clear vision of the kind of family she wanted to create, she embraced solo motherhood by choice with the full support of her mom, who even helped her choose the right sperm donor. Now, as a mother to 4-month-old twin girls, Jamela shares her journey of resilience, self-advocacy, and creating the life she truly wanted as a Black single woman.

Her story is a testament to the power of making bold choices, letting go of societal expectations, and prioritizing your own happiness. In this conversation, Jamela opens up about the emotional process of mourning both her marriage and the traditional family dream, the challenges and rewards of being a single Black mother, and why she sees solo motherhood as the greatest comeback.

In this episode on becoming a single mother by choice after divorce, we discuss:

• The pressures women often feel to fit men into their lives to fulfill societal expectations;
• Jamela’s decision to choose solo motherhood after divorce at 37;
• How her mom played an active role in her decision to become a single mother by choice;
• The emotional journey of grieving a marriage while embracing a new vision for family;
• The challenges and rewards of being a single mom by choice as a Black woman;
• Why self-advocacy in the fertility process is so important;
• The biggest benefit of solo parenting, according to Jamela;
• And more!

If you’re considering becoming a Single Mother by Choice, navigating life after divorce, or wondering if solo motherhood is the right path for you, Jamela’s story will inspire you to embrace your own choices with confidence.

Connect with Jamela on Instagram 

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Pursuing IVF as a single woman is a deeply personal decision; one that comes with emotional, physical, and financial challenges. For Whitney Foley, the desire to become a mom was stronger than her fear of doing it alone. At 34, after years of dating and waiting for the “right” partner, she realized she didn’t want to leave motherhood up to chance. Instead, she took control of her fertility and embarked on the journey to solo motherhood through IVF.

Whitney opens up about the highs and lows of multiple retrievals, failed transfers, and the unwavering determination that led to the birth of her son. She shares how social media became a powerful tool for connecting with other women navigating fertility for single women, and how she continues to follow her professional passions while embracing motherhood.

In this episode on pursuing IVF as a single woman, Whitney shares:

• What led to her decision to pursue IVF as a single woman and her ‘aha’ moment;
• The reactions from her family and how they supported her choice to become a single mother by choice;
• The reality of undergoing four egg retrievals and three transfers before a successful pregnancy;
• How Instagram helped her connect with a supportive SMBC community;
• Handling societal reactions to pregnancy without a partner;
• Her transition into motherhood, postpartum experiences, and the joy of raising her son;
• How she launched iWellness Center as its founder and CEO while parenting solo.

If you’re considering having a baby on your own or exploring IVF as a single woman, this episode will give you inspiration, reassurance, and a look at the realities of this path.

You can connect with Whitney on Instagram @wjfoley and check out her business at www.iwellnesscenter.org.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

Life doesn’t always go according to plan but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the dream of growing your family. Today’s guest, Virginia Drader, knows this journey well. After unexpectedly becoming a single mom after a divorce in her late 20s, she spent the next decade focused on her career and raising her son. But after a surprise pregnancy and miscarriage in 2022, Ginny realized her desire for another child was stronger than ever. This time, she wasn’t waiting for the right partner but made the decision to pursue pregnancy without a partner.

Virginia, an interior designer who incorporates Feng Shui into her work, shares the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of her path to solo motherhood by choice. From navigating fertility treatments across borders to creating a home that supports both herself and her children, she offers insight into what it truly means to step into motherhood on your own terms.

In this episode on pregnancy without a partner, Ginny shares:

• How a surprise pregnancy and miscarriage led her to pursue pregnancy without a partner;
• The reactions she received from family and friends when she decided to have a child on her own;
• Why she traveled from Canada to the USA for her fertility process and how she selected a sperm donor;
• Her experience with IUI, pregnancy challenges, and balancing motherhood with running a business;
• The importance of creating a nurturing space as a solo parent and how she applies Feng Shui principles to her home;
• Connecting with other donor-conceived families and what this could mean for her child in the future.

If you’re considering solo motherhood or wondering what it looks like to build a family on your own terms, Virginia’s story will inspire you to trust your own path.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ellis Kelly Interior Alchemy (Ginny's business, alongside her sister Natalie)

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

At some point, every single woman who dreams of motherhood faces a critical question: Do I keep waiting for the right partner, or do I take control of my future? For Valerie Bauman, that moment came at 38, during the pandemic, when dating felt nearly impossible. She realized she couldn’t put her dreams on hold any longer and made the empowering decision to pursue solo motherhood on her own terms.

Valerie, an investigative reporter for Newsweek and author of Inconceivable: Super Sperm Donors, Off-the-Grid Insemination, and Unconventional Family Planning, shares her deeply personal journey of finding a sperm donor as a single woman: from considering traditional sperm banks to ultimately finding a known donor on Facebook. She opens up about the emotional highs and lows of this process, including a miscarriage, before finally welcoming her now 3.5-month-old baby boy.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Valerie’s decision to become a mom during the pandemic and what sparked her SMBC journey;
• Navigating the sperm donor process and choosing between a sperm bank and a known donor;
• The shift from traditional sperm banks to alternative donor options;
• The emotional toll of miscarriage and how she kept moving forward;
• The anxiety of pregnancy without a partner and the fears that come with it;
• The ethics of the sperm donation industry and why regulation matters;
• What it means to create the life you want, regardless of societal norms.

If you’re considering solo motherhood or exploring your options for having a baby on your own, this episode will give you insight, inspiration, and reassurance that you’re not alone.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

As more women pursue higher education and successful careers, the dating landscape is shifting. For the first time in history, women are earning more degrees than men. Could that very achievement be making it harder to find a life partner? With fewer equally educated men in the dating pool, many single women are left wondering: Should I freeze my eggs while I wait for the right relationship? Or should I rethink what motherhood looks like altogether?

In this episode, I sit down with Marcia Inhorn, medical anthropologist and author of Motherhood on Ice, to explore why so many accomplished women are turning to egg freezing as they navigate singleness, career ambitions, and modern dating.

Marcia’s decade-long research uncovers a growing trend: women choosing to take control of their reproductive futures rather than waiting for the "right" partner to come along. We dive into the fertility challenges single women face today, the societal pressures shaping these choices, and how egg freezing is offering hope, freedom, and peace of mind.

If you're single in your 30s or 40s and wondering about your fertility options, this episode will give you new insights into the evolving landscape of motherhood.

In this episode on why educated women are turning to egg-freezing, we discuss:

• The "mating gap": why highly educated women are struggling to find equally educated male partners;
• How outdated gender norms and shifting education trends are reshaping dating dynamics;
• The psychological benefits of egg freezing for single women who want to preserve their fertility options;
• Why many women feel empowered, rather than pressured, by reproductive technology;
• How egg freezing is changing the conversation around fertility for single women and family planning.

For full show notes, visit www.singlegreatestchoice.com/podcast-feed/s7-ep1-marcia-inhorn-motherhood-on-ice

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

My final guest of this season is Ashley Coates, a longtime Instagram friend and solo mom by choice living in Portland, Oregon. When Ashley decided to pursue solo motherhood, she decided to ask a close friend to be her known donor. What happened next feels almost too good to be true. Tune in as Ashley shares her experience of navigating conception, pregnancy and birth with a known donor and the unexpected joy of extending her family from coast to coast. 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of

your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC

Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach

out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

We discuss more about…..

• The transition from corporate life to focusing on solo motherhood.
• The joys and challenges of parenting during a global pandemic.
• Her mother’s health crisis and its impact on her responsibilities.
• The process of writing her book featuring stories of 20 Australian SMBCs.
• Strategies for achieving a better work/life balance.
• Prioritizing experiences over material luxuries.
• Tips and wisdom for other women considering the solo motherhood path.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering or already on the path to becoming a solo mom by choice. And if you missed her previous episodes on the SGC Podcast, make sure you tune into those by using the links below!

Connect with Alisha!
Follow her on social media! Website | Podcast | @solomumsociety  | @noneedforprincecharming
Learn more and check out her latest book HERE

Mentioned Resources

S1, Ep 14: No Need for Prince Charming with Alisha Burns

S4, Ep 3: Books For Your Child's Bookshelf

Your Dream Life Starts Here by Kristina Karlsson

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

We discuss more about…..

• Elizabeth’s journey to fostering and adoption.
• Balancing professional life with motherhood.
• The emotional and logistical challenges of fostering.
• dating and introducing our children to a future partner.
• Building and relying on a support system.
• Insights and advice for those considering fostering or adoption.

Connect with Elizabeth!
Website | Instagram | Instant Mom Podcast

Check out the Central General Store!
Website | Instagram

Learn more about the SGC Childbirth 101 Class for solo moms! 

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

We discuss more about…..

• Emily's initial adoption research and the steps involved in the process.
• The emotional journey and uncertainties of getting matched.
• The costs and logistical aspects of adopting in the U.S.
• Adjusting to motherhood and balancing work with childcare.
• The importance of support and strong friendships in solo motherhood.

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com

We discuss more about…..

• Celine's transition into embracing single motherhood.
• The challenges and emotional journey of egg retrieval and embryo transfer.
• Moving from the Netherlands to Sedona, and eventually to New York City.
• The vital role of community and support for SMBCs.
• Balancing business and motherhood, and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive influences.
• Celine’s birth and postpartum experience. 

Connect with Celine!
Follow her on social media! Instagram | Website | Media

More info about coaching and community groups at  www.singlegreatestchoice.com/coaching

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through  1:1 coaching, community groups, the SGC Village membership community, and retreats and SMBC family trips. Reach out to Katie over at katie@singlegreatestchoice.com