Emma John is an award winning journalist and author. Her most recent book, Self-Contained, is a memoir which chronicles what it’s like to enter your 40s without having been in a serious long-term relationship. It’s a book that celebrates the fullness of single life – the highs and lows.Our conversation is an unapologetic, unflinching look at the single experience, with a particular emphasis on how hobbies, interests and platonic relationships, as long as shorter-term romantic ones, can become centre stage – filling the space a relationship might otherwise. We also discuss:What it means to be ‘self-contained’The difficulty of trying to write a narrative as a single woman (Who hasn’t met someone at the end/without a happy ending) - What is my narrative arc- without the happy ending? The one constant in your life is youThe myth that it’s only OK to be single if you’re living a hedonistic, free lifestyleWhy solo travel isn’t really solitary – especially if you’re in South CarolinaWhy following your passion can be a brilliant reason for doing things aloneWhy your life starts right now – not when you meet your ‘Other Half’Emma John’s book, Self Contained, is available to buy now.My book, Alonement: How To Be Alone and Absolutely Own It, is also out now from Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. Social links:Twitter:*  @ChezSpecter*@em_johnInstagram: @alonementofficial*@ChezSpecter*@emmajohnauthor*Contact: press@alonement.com Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.