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In this week's episode of Spinsterhood Reimagined, I talk to award-winning author, journalist and podcast presenter, Emma John. I know that you guys are going to absolutely love this episode because Emma is completely brilliant, bright, funny and enchanting. 

Emma has had an amazing career as a journalist and has written widely across film, theatre, music, sport, travel and lifestyle for a variety of national newspapers and magazine titles, including the Guardian, the Observer, the Times and the Financial Times. She was the first woman in the UK to win a Sports Journalism Award and is a contributing writer to the US magazine Afar.

Emma is also a successful author of three books on three very different topics: her most recent ‘Self Contained: Scenes From A Single Life’, and her first two award-winning books, ‘Wayfaring Stranger: A Musical Journey In The American South’ and ‘Following On: A Memoir Of Teenage Obsession & Terrible Cricket.’

Our conversation includes Emma’s thoughts around the word ‘spinster’ and the shame surrounding it; how important it is that we don’t think of single life as a lesser life, or a limbo period; and the fact that she is very close to her family, has very close friendships, and has never felt ‘alone’.  

Emma & I discuss how so many of us have bought into the idea that your partner should be your everything, when in fact that never used to be the case; familial expectations about ‘settling down’ and their fears and worries around us being alone; and how not finding a partner has always been, and still is, seen as some kind of ‘failure’.   

We also talk about Emma’s experiences of solo travel, her time living in North Carolina whilst learning to play Bluegrass fiddle, as well as the time she got to interview Dolly Parton!!!

Emma also touches on the process of writing her latest book, Self-Contained, during lockdown whilst living with her parents when her Mum was very ill - she very sadly passed away less than a year ago. 

I sincerely hope that you all enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed having the conversation with Emma.

Emma can be found on Instagram: @emmajohnauthor. 

She can also be found on Twitter: @em_john. 

Link to Emma’s website: http://emmajohn.com/

Spotify Link to Emma’s podcast, The Spin: https://open.spotify.com/show/1RDjh3ix2iXvatREVd4VLR 

Apple Podcasts Link to Emma’s podcast, The Spin: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-spin-podcast/id1465159577

US Link to Emma’s book, Self Contained: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Contained-Scenes-single-life/dp/191424012X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

UK Link to Emma’s book, Self Contained: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Contained-Scenes-single-Emma-John/dp/191424012X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=   

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Email me: lucymeggeson@gmail.com

Support the show

• Buy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book