To have a village you must first be a villager... we've all heard the phrase. However it seems like no one knows how to do that anymore... so here's how to be a villager for dummies.

At its core, this episode is about relearning how to let yourself be supported, showing up consistently for others, and understanding that life was never meant to be frictionless, or lived alone. Independence can be a strength, but being held is a skill. And community isn’t something you find, it’s something you choose to build.

This episode also challenges the modern obsession with “protecting your peace,” and how it can quietly turn into avoidance, isolation, and loneliness.

One month into 2026, it’s time for an honest check-in. If the life you keep envisioning hasn’t started to change, this episode invites you to look inward-not with shame, but with clarity. Because at some point, we have to acknowledge that we are the common denominator.

In this episode, I unpack what confidence actually is- and what it isn’t. We talk about why “fake it till you make it” fuels imposter syndrome, how arrogance is often an insecure imitation of confidence, and more.

This episode is a reminder that confidence isn’t something you’re born with- it’s something you practice. And sometimes, just like love, the most powerful confidence is quiet.

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If this title hit a nerve, this episode is for you.

In this deeply personal conversation, I unpack the realities of emotionally abusive relationships—the kind that don’t start abusive, the kind that look “nice” on the surface, and the kind that quietly rewire your brain.

Using pop culture (yes, Bravo men), personal stories, and hard-earned clarity, this episode explores why toxic relationships are so hard to leave, why the in-between space pulls us back in, and how patterns matter more than potential.

If you’ve ever thought, “I never thought it’d be me,” this episode is for you.

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First comes lust, then comes limerence... then comes a big fat therapy bill! That's how the saying goes right?

There's nothing more messy than the wants of the heart, but how do you decipher lust from love? How do you know if you've been in love? How do you break the cycle of limerence with that one situationship that you KNOW could be great if he'd just commit?

These are all the questions answered on this week's episode of Not the Girl Next Door & more.

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"I'm going analog in 2026..."

That's pretty much what every video on Host Meg Reynolds' feed has been saying for the past few weeks. But why is this happening? Is this just a temporary trend or a mark of a more significant shift in our relationship with technology?

These are the questions answered & more on this week's episode of Not the Girl Next Door.

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2025 was the year women chose themselves, 2026 will be the year women continue to build their dream lives.

Host Meg Reynolds is back for season 5 of Not the Girl Next Door with lots to share in the 6 week hiatus. She discusses how to approach a 2026 "rebrand," what she thinks the key to building a personal brand is, and more.

New year, new studio, same podcast you know and love!

Looking to get into journaling this year? Our newly launched snail mail club is for you 🤍

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What are the rules of our 20s? Simply put: there are none. However, there are plenty of lessons to be learned.

In this season finale episode, Meg breaks down the biggest lessons of her early & mid-twenties, reflects on the early years of the podcast, and shares more about her plans for her 27th birthday.

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Why does modern dating feel like a humiliation ritual? And where do you draw the line between "healed enough" and "still heartbroken?"

These are the questions Host Meg Reynolds answers this week on Not the Girl Next Door.

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Having a boyfriend? It's not just spooky... it's embarrasing...

At least according to Chante Joseph, author of "Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing?" an opinion piece originally published in British Vogue

The article has struck a nerve amongst the guys, and even the girlies, so this week host Meg Reynolds is breaking down her thoughts on the article.

Meg also shares the lessons she's learned from her 3 major relationships in life, and her thoughts on whether or not girl code requires you cover for your friend if she's cheating.

"What if?" It's a question we all have asked ourselves at one point or another.

This week host Meg Reynolds found herself asking that same question while in NYC for tour.

From "what could have been," to "never say never," Meg discusses what it is actually like to start your life completely over, how to start over if you feel stuck, and more.

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