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...

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.

Refamulating is a podcast that celebrates different ways to make a familyThe nuclear family - a heterosexual couple in their first marriage with 2+ kids - is no longer the dominant family structure. In fact, there is no one dominant family structure.

Nowadays many couples rely on science, surrogates, egg donors and sperm donors to have biological children. Some folks are having children on their own and others are having no children at all.

In the last generation we’ve completely reformulated what a modern family looks like. We’ve been refamulating, yet family structures that veer from the nuclear narrative can still feel taboo.

The Refamulating Podcast tells real stories of people creating family- whatever that means to them.

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

In this episode about Eboni’s journey to becoming a SMBC, we discuss:

• Why Eboni initially froze her eggs “with zero intention of using them”;
• The realization at 38 that made her decide she wanted to be a mom;
• How she chose a donor and why she felt this was a critical factor;
• Her decision to go straight to IVF due to age-related statistics;
• The role of a doula and how having one ensures the mother’s needs are prioritized;
• The medical crisis around Black maternal health and why it’s critical to advocate for yourself;
• Encouraging women to trust their abilities and make informed decisions about motherhood;
• Why Eboni doesn’t romanticize solo motherhood even though it’s beautiful and everything she wanted;
• The importance of considering life decades ahead when making parenting decisions;
• How choosing solo motherhood gave Eboni more dating options.

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

Richelle’s story starts with the emotional process of choosing the SMBC path and takes us through egg freezing, IVF, and ultimately the practicalities of adopting a child as a single mother based overseas. Her journey highlights the importance of prioritizing our own dreams and health while remaining open to the many ways a family can be formed.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Richelle’s realization that waiting for the “perfect” partner to start her family was holding her back;
• The decision to freeze her eggs at 42 and later pursue IVF at 46;
• Why she wasn’t attached to the idea of biological parenthood and how she transitioned to adoption;
• The process of adopting as a single woman, including the role of an adoption consultant;
• How matching baby and adoptive parent works;
• Common concerns women face when considering adoption, such as bonding with their child;
• Talking to our kids about their origin story;
• How prioritizing personal health helps us show up as better parents;
• The consideration of having a second child as a single mother by choice;
• The empowering realization that solo moms can do “big things” and do them well;
• And more!

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

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!

👩‍👧‍👦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