The Not There Yet Project Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to The Not There Yet Project - a space to belong before you’ve arrived.
Here we answer the questions we’re most often asked about who we are, how the space works, and how to choose the right pace for your current season. Whether you’re curious about our podcast, wondering how the community works, or trying to understand The Not Yets Circle, you’re in the right place.
Top Questions & Membership
1. Does it cost anything to join?
No, joining our community is completely free. Every week, our Weekly Letters and public guest podcast episodes are delivered straight to your inbox without a price tag.
However, if you want to go a layer deeper, bypass the public social media noise, and actively process your transitions alongside an intimate network of peers, we offer a premium tier called The Not Yets Circle for £17/month or £150/year (just £2.88 a week!). This optional membership directly funds the independence of the project and unlocks exclusive solo audio diaries (Notes from the Middle), our private app chat space, and monthly guided reflection threads.
2. Is this space just for people based in Manchester?
No. The project naturally began in Manchester, but our community is entirely global. Readers, listeners, and members of the Circle come from all across the UK and the world. While we hope to host in-person gatherings in the future, the heart of this space lives online. Wherever you are, if you are navigating change, you belong here.
3. Why “Not There Yet”?
Because most of life happens in the middle - between who we were and who we’re becoming. Between ambition and rest, certainty and curiosity. This space exists to remind us that the middle chapters matter. You don’t have to arrive at a perfect destination to belong.
Content & Community
4. What topics do you explore on the podcast and in the writing?
We focus entirely on the unpolished realities of adulthood transitions. We regularly hold space for conversations around:
- Identity Shifts: Re-evaluating who you are when old roles, careers, or relationships no longer fit.
- Career Pivots: Stepping off the traditional corporate ladder to build meaningful, authentic work.
- Motherhood, Parenthood & the Child-Free Path: Navigating the complex identity shifts of family dynamics, changing parenting seasons, or intentionally choosing a life without children.
- Sobriety & Wellbeing: Choosing a sober lifestyle in your 30s or 40s and learning to face uncomfortable questions without hiding.
5. Can I share my story or suggest a guest?
Yes, absolutely. This space grows through real, shared human experiences. If you are navigating a major life turning point, a career pivot, or a deep personal transition and want to share your journey honestly, we would love to hear from you. You don’t need to be a professional writer or speaker - just someone willing to be real. You can recommend a friend here.
6. What is the long-term vision for the project?
Right now, our focus is entirely on growing the podcast, our letters, and the private network within the Circle. Longer term, the bigger dream behind the project is to bridge the digital and physical worlds by creating a physical Not There Yet café and community space - a real-life, unhurried venue where conversations like these can happen over a warm brew.
Lower Your Shoulders. Pull Up a Chair.
If something here resonates with you, you are so welcome to join us. Subscribe to our weekly letter for reflections, podcast episodes, and honest conversations about life in the middle.
Because you’re not behind. You’re simply still figuring things out - like the rest of us.