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My guest on the podcast today is the gorgeous Emma Duval. 

Emma is an author and illustrator whose first book, Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single Women Throughout History, shines a light on the overlooked history of single women without kids, celebrating their lives, achievements, and legacies. Emma is also the founder of the first virtual museum dedicated to women without children, which can be viewed online at www.childfreehistory.com 

Emma herself is married, but she is childfree by choice, and during our conversation we talk, among other things, about what motivated her as a married woman to write a book all about single women. We also talk about how she has come up against serious pressure from her family about her choice not to have kids, and how she they don’t even know about her book. 

Emma’s book is full of such interesting stories of amazing women throughout history including Jane Austen, Florence Nightingale, the Beguines, and many, many more, and I know that you guys will find this episode so interesting.

02:14 Guest Introduction: Emma Duval

03:42 Emma's Journey and Inspirations

04:52 Challenges and Pressures of Being ChildFree

06:56 Writing 'Unwed and Unbothered'

20:05 Online Communities and Support

23:32 Historical Context of Single Women

31:10 The Beguines Movement in Medieval Europe

32:47 Chosen Families and Intentional Communities

34:34 Margaretta Forten: An Unsung Heroine

39:14 Prioritising Pursuits Other Than Marriage

46:02 Women with Gumption: Stories of Defiance

51:47 Illustrating History: Bringing Women to Life

55:07 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Buy Emma's book: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Unwed-Unbothered/Emma-Duval/9798881600037

Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/unwed-unbothered-the-defiant-lives-of-single-women-throughout-history-emma-duval/7892978

Check out the first virtual museum dedicated to women without children, which Emma founded: http://www.childfreehistory.com/

Follow Emma on Instagram: @MillennialEmma

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And thank you so much for listening!