The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Thei
Katie Bryan
97 episodes
2 days ago
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.
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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.
The week, I am re-airing an episode of one of my favorite podcasts, Refamulating. I was a recent guest on the show and shared my experience of how solo motherhood went from being a very distant Plan B to the Single Greatest Choice I've ever made. If you enjoy this episode, I strongly encourage you to subscribe to Refamulating and check out some of their many inspiring episodes!
Making life-changing decisions is never easy, especially when it comes to motherhood. Eboni K. Williams, a legal expert, journalist, and media personality, shares her empowering journey to becoming a solo mom by choice. With a career-focused mindset and no initial aspirations for motherhood, Eboni still chose to freeze her eggs. When her perspective shifted in her late 30s, she felt grateful for her decision to go with egg-freezing years before, as it set her up to begin her pursuit of single motherhood by choice via IVF.
In this episode, Eboni opens up about what led her to embrace solo motherhood, the importance of planning for the future, and her insights on navigating this choice as a Black woman. With honesty and clarity, she shares both the rewards and challenges, emphasizing that this path isn’t for everyone – but can be incredibly fulfilling for whom it aligns with their goals and desires.
“I’m very careful not to over-romanticize this.” - Eboni K. Williams
Are you waiting for a partner to give you the ‘green light’ to become a mom?
As a successful professional living overseas, today’s guest Richelle Carey faced a pivotal moment in her mid-40s when she realized she had been waiting for a partner to give her the green light to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother.
Realizing she no longer wanted to give this power to another person who may or may not exist, Richelle decided to take matters into her own hands. She stopped waiting and started taking action to make her dream a reality. What happened next was a several years long journey of reimagining family.
“You realize: I can do big things and I can do big things by myself and do them well.” - Richelle Carey
Choosing whether or not to become a parent is one of the most personal decisions a person can make, yet it’s often a choice clouded by societal expectations, assumptions and misunderstanding. Today’s guest, Keltie Maguire, coach and host of Kids or Childfree Podcast, shares her journey of realizing that motherhood wasn’t a path she had to take, even though it felt like the default for most of her life.
Keltie grew up surrounded by women who became mothers, and like many, assumed she would one day, too. But as she moved through her 30s, she started questioning whether it was truly the right choice for her. How do we make such a big decision? No one talks about that.
Without role models for a consciously child-free life, the decision felt isolating and challenging. Now, after making the decision that’s best for her, she dedicates her business to supporting women as they navigate their own decisions around parenthood.
This isn’t a conversation about choosing not to become a mom. It’s about making the right decision for you, whichever that may be.
Sometimes the greatest comeback is choosing the life that’s right for you, even if it doesn’t fit the traditional mold. Today’s guest, Jamela Black, shares her journey from divorce to embracing solo motherhood by choice.
At 37, shortly after her marriage ended, Jamela’s mother suggested she consider having children through a sperm donor. Jamela knew she wasn’t interested in dating and was clear about the qualities she wanted to pass down to her future children. With her mom’s support, she took the brave steps to become a solo mother by choice.
Her path was anything but straightforward, yet her faith and commitment to her vision led her to where she is today: the proud mother of 4-month-old twin girls. Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you stand firm in your choices and stay open to life's twists and turns.
What happens when you feel a deep desire for motherhood, but life doesn't look the way you thought it would? Today's guest, Whitney Foley, shares her story of moving forward with her dream of becoming a mom, despite not having a partner by her side. Whitney’s candid and open-hearted approach to sharing her journey online has made her a source of support and encouragement for many women in similar situations.
“If you have this strong desire to be a mom, what are you waiting for?” - Whitney Foley
Today on the podcast, I get to introduce you to my dear friend and community member, Virginia Drader. Ginny is a perfect example of designing the life of your dreams, even when things don’t always go according to plan.
After becoming a single mom by chance in her late 20s, Ginny spent the next decade embracing her career and motherhood. But after an unexpected pregnancy followed by a miscarriage in 2022, she realized that her dream of having another child was still very much alive.
Virginia, an interior designer who incorporates Feng Shui and 9 Star Ki into her work, made the decision have another child, this time as a single mom by choice. And in today’s episode, she shares the highs, lows, and everything in between about her journey to solo motherhood by choice. We dive into the unexpected twists that led her here, the decisions she made along the way, and how she's creating a home and life that’s deeply supportive for her children.
At a certain point, the reality of our finite fertility hits every single woman who desires motherhood. Suddenly, waiting for partnership no longer feels like the safest bet. When this realization hit today’s guest, Valerie Bauman, she knew she had to take control of her own destiny.
Valerie shares her journey to solo motherhood during the pandemic, a time when dating seemed nearly impossible. At 38, she realized she couldn't wait for the perfect scenario of meeting someone, dating, and eventually starting a family. Instead, she made the empowering decision to pursue motherhood on her own. What followed is a story of resilience, empowerment, and breaking away from societal expectations.
Why does it seem harder than ever for accomplished, educated women to find a compatible partner? If you’ve found yourself stuck in a cycle of endless dating or wondering why the men you meet don’t quite measure up, you’re not alone. In this episode, I chat with Marcia Inhorn, a medical anthropologist and author of "Motherhood on Ice:The Mating Gap and Why Women Freeze Their Eggs", to discuss her decade-long research on why so many successful women are turning to egg freezing as they navigate singleness and uncertain relationships.
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.
In this episode, I’m so happy to welcome back a fellow SMBC and podcaster, Alisha Burns. Alisha and her 4 year old daughter live in Australia, where she is the creative mind behind No Need for Prince Charming - an instagram account turned podcast and now an anthology chronicling the stories of 20 Australian SMBCs. Alicia is the founder of the Solo Mum Society, which supports Australian SMBCs as well. She is passionate about empowering other women to embrace motherhood on their own terms.
Our conversation hit on so many topics - juggling motherhood and a corporate job, finding meaningful support and community with other women, and her experience of entering motherhood during a global pandemic. Alisha also shares about the many projects she’s worked on, such as the books she’s written and her recent tropical getaway to Bali with a group of 23 other solo moms and their kids.
It’s been a goal of mine for some time to spotlight more stories of SMBC adoption here on the show, and I am so excited to bring this conversation to you today. Join me as I chat with Elizabeth Friedland, a remarkable solo foster mom and adoptive mother who has opened her home and heart to foster children since 2016, and eventually adopted her beloved son Jack in 2019. Beyond her personal commitments, Elizabeth is a powerhouse of compassion, spearheading community initiatives like the Central General Store’s little free food pantries and serving as a host family with Safe Families for Children. With two decades in corporate communications, she masterfully balances her professional life with her role as a solo mom.
In this episode, Elizabeth dives into the deeply personal and often emotional terrain of fostering and adoption. She recounts how a serendipitous ad campaign planted the seed for her fostering journey, and shares the trials and triumphs of becoming a first-time foster mom, including the profound moment she decided to adopt her son. We discuss support systems and even hear her answers to common questions regarding finances and dating as a foster parent. Her insights and advice are a must-have for anyone considering a similar path!
I’m excited to share my conversation with Emily Driscoll, one of my dearest friends here in Austin who is here to discuss her inspiring journey to solo motherhood through adoption. Emily always knew she wanted to be a mom and after growing weary of the dating apps, she began to see solo motherhood as a viable path.
In this episode, Emily shares the details of her adoption journey, from the initial research to finally bringing her children home. We also talk about the origin of our sweet friendship and the power of community in the life of a solo parent. Emily’s story is both encouraging and inspiring - a must-listen for anyone curious about expanding their family through adoption.
The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Thei
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.
