The Single Greatest Choice

Katie B

The Single Greatest Choice is a podcast about singleness, fertility, motherhood, and choice. This is a show for women who are grappling with what to do when life doesn't follow the love-marriage-baby carriage trajectory. It's about exploring the options when things don't seem to be turning out as we'd always planned. Most of all, is a place for women give and receive support as they grapple with these big topics - because what we decide to do with these years could be the single greatest choice we'll ever make - and we don't have to make it alone.

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Top 10 The Single Greatest Choice Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Single Greatest Choice episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Single Greatest Choice for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Single Greatest Choice episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

S7, Ep 2: Super Sperm Donors, Off-the-Grid Insemination, & Unconventional Family Planning with Valerie Bauman

The Single Greatest Choice

09/18/24 • 49 min

Valerie Bauman, is an investigative reporter for Newsweek, solo mother by choice, and author of one of my favorite memoirs in the solo moms space, Inconceivable:Super Sperm Donors, Off-the-Grid Insemination, and Unconventional Family Planning. I devoured Valerie’s book during a 30-hour airport layover, and by the time I finished, I felt like I had spent the day with her, getting to know her as a friend.

We dive deep into Valerie’s journey, from her experience considering sperm banks or a close friend to ultimately finding a known donor on Facebook. She openly discusses the emotional challenges of navigating this path, including a heartbreaking miscarriage, before welcoming her now 3.5-month-old baby boy. Valerie's story is a testament to the resilience and strength of women who, as she puts it, "intentionally build what they want."

Our conversation also touches on important topics such as the bioethics of the sperm donation industry, the anxiety that often accompanies pregnancy, and making empowered choices as a mother. If you’ve ever felt torn between the life you want and societal expectations, this episode will resonate deeply.

In this episode, we discuss:

Valerie’s decision to become a mom during the pandemic and what sparked her journey;
Navigating the sperm donor process and finding a donor on Facebook;
The shift from considering traditional sperm banks to seeking a known donor;
Her miscarriage and the emotional toll of almost accepting life without motherhood;
Anxiety during pregnancy and the struggle of waiting for the other shoe to drop;
The power of creating the life you want as a woman—regardless of societal norms;
Bioethics in the sperm donation industry and the need for better regulation;
And more!

👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through 1:1 coaching, community groups, group coaching and workshops, and retreats and SMBC family trips.

Kids or Childfree with Clarity Coach Keltie Maguire

The Single Greatest Choice

11/13/24 • 56 min

In this episode, we discuss:

The lack of visible role models for women who consciously choose a childfree life;
The struggle of making the life-defining decision of becoming a parent or not which feels deeply personal, yet often misunderstood;
How societal expectations lead people to feel entitled to ask personal questions about choices like childfree living or solo motherhood;
How Keltie supports women making the right decision for themselves around parenthood;
How the decision whether or not to have kids isn’t always a binary choice;
The emotional process of holding space for grief around a life that isn’t what you imagined it would be, and making it beautiful nonetheless;
And more!

S2 Bonus: Katie's birth story and postpartum experience

The Single Greatest Choice

06/11/21 • 50 min

S2, Ep 7: a "thinker's" perspective on considering solo motherhood

The Single Greatest Choice

02/17/21 • 45 min

Talitha is a successful, single woman in her 30s who has always known she wanted to be a mom. She took proactive steps in her early thirties to preserve her fertility, but now that she’s into her mid-thirties, she’s questioning what’s next. Should she freeze more eggs? Maybe embryos? Keep searching for that partner and a more traditional route to motherhood, or start considering doing it on her own? Talitha is open and honest about the struggles of being in the midst of this difficult choice of what to do about our finite fertility when life doesn’t work out the way we planned. I know listeners will relate to her story, as it’s one many of us have lived as well. You can connect with Talitha on Instagram @talithabaker.👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through 1:1 coaching, community groups, group coaching and workshops, and retreats and SMBC family trips.

S1 Bonus: Kristy Katzmann, star of Labor of Love

The Single Greatest Choice

09/02/20 • 67 min

Kristy Katzmann is most recently the star of Fox's new reality show, Labor of Love, which highlights the journey of a woman who "has it all," except one thing... a family of her own. At 40 and single, Kristy began actively researching and planning to pursue motherhood on her own when the opportunity to be cast on a show (that was quite literally her life) crossed her path. She said "yes" in a last effort to meet "the one" or to be sure of her path to motherhood as a Single Mother by Choice. It was her greatest hope that by going public with such a vulnerable part of her life, she could help other women and bring more awareness and acceptance to this very relevant topic. In her heart, Kristy believed she would ultimately pursue motherhood on her own (and meet the right partner later), and that's exactly what happened (TBD on the partner)! Kristy, like many of us, has had to grieve the loss of not getting the story she wanted, but today she is so grateful and excited to be a part of this amazing community. Now that she’s here, she says she truly wouldn't want it any other way. Kristy has never wanted a "normal" life, so this just seems like a very fitting part of the journey! 👩‍👧‍👦The Single Greatest Choice is here to support you in every stage of your SMBC journey through 1:1 coaching, community groups, group coaching and workshops, and retreats and SMBC family trips.

S1, Ep 15: The New Mom Boss with Kallista Andersen

The Single Greatest Choice

07/01/20 • 47 min

In this episode, you will learn about:

the importance of “building your village"
how to create your “4th trimester” postpartum nesting plan
preparing for the “5th trimester” as you reenter work and social life
Kallista’s connection to the Single Greatest Choice community as an egg donor
Katie and Kallista “rebrand” SMCs as “single mothers by intention”

You can learn more about Kallista and her work at www.newmomboss.com and @newmomboss on Instagram.

S1, Ep 11: SMBC and creator of the Embie app, Ravid Israel

The Single Greatest Choice

05/27/20 • 54 min

In this episode, you will hear about:

how cervical cancer acted as a fertility wake-up call for Ravid
what it's like to try to conceive via IVF in a new relationship
how Ravid used data and mindset to find success after 5 rounds of IVF
Ravid's experience of going through a breakup in the midst of fertility treatment
pregnancy as an SMC
fertility treatment and donor conception in Israel vs. the U.S.
all about the Embie app!
advice for advocating for yourself

Check out the Embie app at https://embieapp.com/, and follow Ravid on Instagram for regular updates @embie2baby

S1, Ep 6: finding hope in the midst of heartbreak with Krista

The Single Greatest Choice

04/22/20 • 54 min

Connect with Krista and see photographs of some of what's mentioned in the episode @project.pickle on Instagram.

Learn more at www.singlegreatestchoice.com and @single_greatest_choice on Instagram.

S6, Ep 7: SMBC to two through adoption with Emily Driscoll

The Single Greatest Choice

06/12/24 • 49 min

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.

SMBC, mental health advocate and entrepreneur, Whitney Foley

The Single Greatest Choice

10/16/24 • 56 min

Born and raised in a close-knit Michigan community, Whitney always knew she wanted to be a mom. But after years of dating and only one long-term relationship in her 20s, she found herself single at 34. Instead of waiting for the "perfect" time or partner, she took control of her fertility and started her journey to solo motherhood. Through IVF, multiple rounds of retrievals and transfers, and unwavering determination, Whitney welcomed her son into the world.

In this episode, Whitney opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of her fertility journey, how Instagram helped her connect with other women going through similar experiences, and how she's embraced life as a solo mom. She also sheds light on how she’s continued to follow her own professional dreams and passions, even as she’s parenting solo.

Whitney’s story is a powerful reminder that when it comes to following your dreams—especially the dream of motherhood, sometimes the time is now. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “What am I waiting for?” this episode will resonate deeply with you.

In this episode, Whitney shares:

Why she decided to pursue motherhood on her own and what led to her 'aha' moment;
The reactions from her family and how they supported her decision to be a solo mom;
Her IVF journey: the reality of four retrievals and three transfers before achieving a successful pregnancy;
The role social media played in connecting her with other solo moms and women navigating fertility;
How she handled the societal responses to her pregnancy as a single woman;
The joy and fulfillment she experiences now as a mom to a 1.5-year-old son;
Her transition into motherhood and postpartum life;
How she launched her company iWellness Center as founder and CEO.

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

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Single Greatest Choice have?

The Single Greatest Choice currently has 82 episodes available.

What topics does The Single Greatest Choice cover?

The podcast is about Adoption, Society & Culture, Fertility, Ivf, Personal Journals, Infertility, Mindset, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education and Growth Mindset.

What is the most popular episode on The Single Greatest Choice?

The episode title 'S6, Ep 9: Solo Mum Society founder, author and podcast host, Alisha Burns' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Single Greatest Choice?

The average episode length on The Single Greatest Choice is 48 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Single Greatest Choice released?

Episodes of The Single Greatest Choice are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of The Single Greatest Choice?

The first episode of The Single Greatest Choice was released on Mar 18, 2020.

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The Single Greatest Choice

Katie B

Top 10 The Single Greatest Choice Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Single Greatest Choice have?

What topics does The Single Greatest Choice cover?

What is the most popular episode on The Single Greatest Choice?

What is the average episode length on The Single Greatest Choice?

How often are episodes of The Single Greatest Choice released?

When was the first episode of The Single Greatest Choice?

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