What if singleness isn’t a problem to solve… but a season to steward?

In this episode of The Gratis Groupchat, I’m talking honestly about what it’s like to be single in your 30s — the parts that feel empowering and the parts that feel heavy.

There's the flexibility to pivot your life without consulting anyone, taking risks that only affect you, learning who you are without compromise, building healthy habits, figuring out how to flirt, and getting to fall in love without rushing the process.

Then there's the challenges of financial instability when you’re the only source of income, loneliness that hits at unexpected times, the reality of not always feeling safe or protected, and watching friends build families while your life looks different.

This episode is for:

• The 30+ singles who feels unseen

• The friend in a relationship who wants to understand their single friends better

• The single who wants to be mindful of their married friends

• Anyone who has ever wondered, “Am I behind?”

Singleness isn’t a waiting room. It’s a whole life.And it deserves to be represented with honesty, dignity, and nuance.

00:47 Passionate VS Companionate Love

02:02 The Blessings Of Being Single In Your 30s

04:30 Financial Literacy

05:19 Emotional Regulation

06:12 Spiritual Grounding

07:20 Living With Curiosity and Expanding Your Worldview

10:38 Illiteracy and Flirting

15:15 How Both Parties Prioritize Relationships

17:45 Economy Issues and Financial Strain

19:57 Social Anxiety

21:30 Loneliness During Big Life Events

22:50 Content Creation, Unmet Expectations, and Cooking For One

24:51 Lack of Safety

27:21 Where I Thought I Would Be, Loving Life, and Retracing Steps

30:30 Celebrations and Losses In Life

35:24 What Singleness Uniquely Offers Others

2016 was the last time social media felt like a social and uplifting place. Now we have influencers selling products, stories stealing our time and energy, and comparison running rampant. In this episode I am breaking down what made social media feel uplifting 10 years ago, what has changed (for better or worse), and why I think we are going to spend less time on our phones in 2026.1:18 Tik Tok updates5:30 When social media stopped feeling light / 2016 trend8:53 Performative living and post-scroll sadness13:32 Algorithm VS reality26:03 Small communities VS mass reach27:40 Narrative content30:24 In-person events and groups

We all started the year with good intentions, but let's be honest, this is the time of year where good intentions go to die. If you are having a difficult time keeping up with your intentions and goals for the year, you've had something unexpected happen the last few weeks, or you just don't feel like your normal self, it's time to regroup. In this episode we are diving in on how to create beneficial daily habits that will change our lives for the better in the long run.

Scripture calls us to "go and make disciple", "love our neighbors", and "seek the lost" — yet somehow, many Christians feel more disconnected from the people around them than ever before. Why is that? And more importantly, how do we change that pattern?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing practical, honest ways Christians can engage more thoughtfully and effectively with the people in their everyday lives. My hope is that unbelievers who listen feel seen, respected, and advocated for and that Christians walk away encouraged, challenged, and better equipped to love well.

If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe to The Gratis Groupchat and join the discussion on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok.

In this episode, I reflect on a season of losing everything, stepping far outside my comfort zone, and learning what it means to truly let go of control. This conversation explores surrender - not as giving up, but as learning how to trust when certainty disappears.I talk about humility, the challenge of accepting help from others, and what it looks like to trust in daily provision rather than long-term guarantees. This episode is for anyone navigating loss, transition, financial uncertainty, emotional rebuilding, or a season where life forces you to rely on something deeper than yourself.

Welcome to the official YouTube channel for The Gratis Groupchat Podcast! In this episode, I’m officially returning to podcasting and sharing a major life update that marks a new chapter for me. We’re reflecting on the highs and lessons of 2025, talking about personal growth, change, and what it really looks like to start over with more clarity and intention.If you’re navigating transitions, craving community-driven conversations, or love honest discussions about life, identity, and new beginnings, this episode is for you.Tune in to hear what’s changing, what I’ve learned, and what I’m carrying into the new year.

I thought I knew a lot about Los Angeles before moving out here because I had visited three times and had prayed about moving here for five years. But now that I've been here a quarter of a year, it's become eye opening how much I didn't (and still don't) know about this metropolis. As I've made discoveries about this beautiful place, I've kept notes on what it has that Minnesota doesn't and what it just doesn't seem to posses that Minnesota did. Now I'm ready to share these points with you :)

This is an episode about the sexual tension between me and my potential. Navigating the job market in 2025 feels tougher than ever. There's increased competition, AI screening tools, and fewer remote roles. Landing a full time role seems to take more than a polished resume and knowing the right people. On today's episode we are discussing what it's like to search for a job in this season and what I keep in mind on days that I struggle with things not coming together in my timeframe.

Hey...how y'all doing? Two years later and I'm back baby! (This is just the beginning of the podcast getting a reboot, so if you have topics you want me to cover let me know!)

Every once in a while I find myself alone. Everyone is busy, no one is home, and there are no new messages on my phone. Some people would relish in this alone time, but I find myself getting stressed out and anxious with debilitating feelings like "maybe I'm boring" "maybe I'm not memorable " "maybe people don't enjoy spending time with me" and from those thoughts I search for something to fill that time and drown out those negative feelings.

On today's episode I'm talking about how over consuming content is ruining my mental health and what I'm doing to combat this habit.

On this episode, I am joined by the incredibly talented and hard working Val Kleinhans. With a history in radio, Val has taken her passions and skills and created 4 amazing podcasts pertaining to all things pop culture, music appreciation, mental health, and paranormal activity To see more Gratis Groupchat content, and to keep up with my other content, follow me on socials:https://www.instagram.com/kaylie.n.oconnor/https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylie.n.oconnor?lang=enTo learn more about Val, you can visit her website and social media platforms below:https://www.instagram.com/valkleinhans/https://www.instagram.com/veryvogueval/https://www.instagram.com/onemorelightval/https://www.instagram.com/alloctavesval/https://www.instagram.com/chillingchatterval/Bands Val Mentioned:Type O Negative https://www.instagram.com/typeonegativeofficial/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==The Rumors https://www.instagram.com/therumoursband/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==13 Arrows https://www.instagram.com/13arrowsrock/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Jae Havoc https://www.instagram.com/jae_havoc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==