New Friends with Jordana Bryant

so apparently, if he’s emotionally unavailable, i’m emotionally invested.this week, i’m breaking down my terrible taste in men era, why the unpredictable ones always seem more exciting, and why so many of us keep falling for the same story on repeat. it’s part self-reflection, part reality check, and a reminder that the right kind of love won’t leave you guessing.

i’ve always been the girl who’s never had a boyfriend — and for a while, that honestly made me feel like i was behind somehow. like everyone else had their “first love” story and i was still waiting for mine.but the older i get, the more i realize there’s nothing weird about waiting for something real. in this episode, i’m talking about being single when it feels like everyone else isn’t, learning not to rush what’s meant for you, and finding peace in the in-between.

we met at a girls’ night where everyone went around and spilled their love lives (iconic). in this ep, all and i talk about growing up during covid (it hit us at totally different times), the weird/beautiful mess of leaving home to chase your dreams, and following your path even when it looks different than your friends’. it’s about trusting your gut, finding your people, and choosing your own timeline.

growing up chasing big dreams can make you feel like your worth depends on achieving them — but it doesn’t. this week, one of my favorite songwriting collaborators, jessica cayne, and i talk about what it’s really like being a woman in the music industry — the pressure, the passion, and everything in between. we get real about body image, boundaries, trusting your gut, and learning to be your own biggest cheerleader. it’s a big-sister-style chat about staying kind, working hard, and not letting the no’s stop you from chasing what you love. 💛

apparently dating in 2025 means guys asking to venmo you later for their half of dinner 😅 this episode i’m reading your stories — the awkward, the funny, the red-flaggy — and giving my honest takes. from nonstop ex talk to guys who “don’t do texting,” we’re breaking down the dates that make you wonder if being single is really that bad. so grab a snack and let’s laugh (and maybe scream a little) together. 💛

why do some shows just feel like fall? 🍂in this episode, i’m breaking down the new shows i’m loving right now, my go-to fall comfort rewatches (gilmore girls forever), and what makes a show feel like it’s made to watch with a cozy blanket + pumpkin candle. from shows i binge with my mom to upcoming book-to-screen adaptations like the love hypothesis and the deal, this one’s for my fellow tv girlies 📺💛

ever wonder what it’s really like to be on the voice? tatum scott spills on the highs, the heartbreaks, and how she’s navigating life + music after the cameras stop rolling — from working with kelsea ballerini and john legend to figuring out who she is as an artist beyond the show. it’s an honest look at chasing big dreams while staying true to yourself.

nobody warned me how much unlearning comes with growing up. in this solo ep, I’m sharing five things i’ve had to let go of — like thinking that rest = laziness, or that i need everyone to like me. it’s more of a brain dump than a ted talk, but maybe something in it will hit home for you too 💛 perfect for your next walk, drive, or mild identity crisis.

rick barker helped launch taylor swift’s career — but before that, he hit rock bottom. in this episode, we talk about what it really means to believe in someone (or yourself) before anyone else does, what “being ready” actually looks like, and the hard lessons you only learn by doing it the wrong way first. if you're building a music career or simply building a life that looks different from everyone else’s, this episode's a must listen. 

rick barker helped launch taylor swift’s career — but before that, he hit rock bottom. in this episode, we talk about what it really means to believe in someone (or yourself) before anyone else does, what “being ready” actually looks like, and the hard lessons you only learn by doing it the wrong way first. if you're building a music career or simply building a life that looks different from everyone else’s, this episode's a must listen. 

i asked for your questions and… wow, you delivered. from crushes who won’t commit to exes popping back up, friendships that feel off, and situationships that make you spiral — we’re talking about it all. this episode is part group therapy, part girl talk, and part me just trying to give advice without sounding totally unhinged 😅 i don’t know everything, but i do know what it’s like to feel stuck, confused, and a little heartbroken — so here’s what’s helped me, what definitely didn’t, and what i wish someone had told me sooner.

Riley Roth’s story is straight out of a movie — from a viral father-daughter dance that melted hearts to an over-the-top proposal where Kyle faked a brand photoshoot (complete with a burner phone and a fake LinkedIn team). In this episode, Riley opens up about planning a wedding that taught her what’s worth stressing over (and what isn’t), knowing Kyle was “the one,” and what it’s like balancing love and ambition in the music world. We also chat about her fearless artist journey — moving to Nashville right after high school, skipping the traditional route, and staying grounded while carving out her own lane.

Being 20 is weird — you’re not a teen anymore, but you’re not fully “adulting” either. In this episode, I get real about what it’s like to feel caught between wanting to grow up faster (21+ events, anyone?) and wishing I could slow down. I share my own off-script path — skipping college, chasing music — and why I think we need to stop comparing our timelines to everyone else’s.

in part three, courtney moves on to my hair — and this episode is full of hot takes. we chat about the latest makeup and hair trends (which ones we love and which ones are a hard pass), the crazy hours that come with being in the beauty world, and why doing makeup for the camera takes so much longer than you think. we even get into some of our funniest makeup mishaps and lessons learned along the way.(00:00) Intro(02:10) Hair Prep(04:30) How Courtney Got Into Makeup(07:06) Starting the Beach Wave(10:02) Makeup Mishaps(15:27) Longest Shoot You’ve Been Part Of(21:30) Funny Story From a Shoot(28:52) Schedule of a Hair & Makeup Artist(33:47) Finishing Touches(37:17) How to Get in Touch With Courtney✨ Connect with Courtney Hagen ✨Check out her work and get in touch: www.courtneyhagenmakeup.comFollow her on Instagram: @courtneyhagenmakeup

courtney’s back for part two, finishing up my makeup while we talk all things trends, mishaps, and the behind-the-scenes hustle of being a hair and makeup artist. from horror stories on set to the most unrealistic client requests (you won’t believe it), we’re covering the unglamorous side of glam. she also shares her go-to on-the-go beauty tips for when you have, like, 5 minutes to look alive.(00:00) Intro(00:48) Favorite Thing About Courtney(10:00) Craziest Request She’s Gotten(10:40) Underwater Makeup??(13:53) Concealer Time(16:17) Advice for Beginners(22:01) Blush(25:00) Final Touch on Skin(29:00) Moving Onto Lips(33:11) Confidence✨ Connect with Courtney Hagen ✨Check out her work and get in touch: www.courtneyhagenmakeup.comFollow her on Instagram: @courtneyhagenmakeup

we’re kicking off this 3-part glam session with courtney hagen — my absolute favorite hair and makeup artist — as she spills her best tips and tricks and literally does my makeup on camera. from why she swears by insane amounts of moisturizer before foundation, to the magic of eyebrow gel before your base, we dive into all the little hacks that make a big difference. plus, courtney shares how she got her start, the wildest place she’s ever done glam (hello, side of a mountain!), and why “camera-ready” makeup is a whole different world than real life.(00:00) Welcome to New Friends(06:19) Hair & Makeup Industry(16:39) Why Does Makeup Take So Long?(21:05) Order of Operations(21:55) Eye Makeup!(25:25) 10-Minute Makeup Routine(27:13) Makeup Trends Right Now(34:17) Time for Fake Lashes(37:08) Hardest Event Makeup?✨ Connect with Courtney Hagen ✨Check out her work and get in touch: www.courtneyhagenmakeup.comFollow her on Instagram: @courtneyhagenmakeup

it’s the final episode of season one (!!) and we’re ending it with some of your biggest, most vulnerable questions — from how to walk away from friendships that don’t feel right anymore to how to stay confident when you feel behind.we talk comparison, self-worth, jealousy, and that not-good-enough feeling that creeps in way too often.i don’t have it all figured out, but i’m sharing what’s helped me (and what i’m still learning the hard way).plus, i’m spilling the release date for season 2 (!!) and giving a little sneak peek of what’s coming next 💌

eli patterson’s new song “spin the bottle” blew up on social media last week — millions of views, love from artists like julia michaels and david kushner, and comments pouring in from people saying “this is exactly how i feel.”in this episode, we talk about the power of vulnerability, the pressure to be confident when you don’t always feel it, and how scary it is to share your insecurities with the world.we also open up about comparison, learning to embrace the parts of yourself you’ve spent years hiding, and what it looks like to separate your self-worth from social media.this one’s honest, emotional, and proof that even when you feel invisible, your story might just be the one that helps someone else feel seen.

in this solo episode, we're diving into something so many of us—especially girls—struggle with: people pleasing. i talk about why it’s so hard to stop trying to make everyone happy (even when it’s killing you in the process), and how sometimes putting yourself first can feel selfish—even when it’s the healthiest thing you can do. i share what’s been helping me recently, from talking to fellow people pleasers (shoutout mom 😁) to getting perspective from friends who aren’t people pleasers, and why learning to honor your own needs is just as important as caring about everyone else’s. spoiler alert: i definitely don’t have it all figured out, so this episode isn’t a how-to guide, it’s a “let’s-get-through-this-together” chat. 💛

back by popular demand (and because we missed each other), lily grace is on the pod for round two—and we’re talking about everything. from cancun tan fails and crashing an office party where a married guy hit on us 😬 to the not-so-glamorous parts of chasing your dreams 24/7.we get real about what it’s like putting your career first when your friends are doing the whole college thing, how dating guys your own age is weird when you’ve basically been working with adults since you were 15, and why it’s still easier for us to write emails to music execs than text a guy back.we also talk about having no backup plan and how scary, motivating, and meaningful that can be—especially when you’re doing it for something bigger than yourself.if you’ve ever felt like your life doesn’t look like everyone else’s… same. and this episode is for you 💌

in this solo episode, i’m sharing the story behind new friends—a song i wrote when i was 16 and going through one of the most painful friendship shifts of my life. it was about feeling someone pull away and wishing things could just go back to the way they were.but what came out of that heartbreak changed everything.i talk about how writing new friends helped me process something really hard—and how the song that started from hurt ended up bringing me more connection than i ever imagined. it’s now my most-streamed song, with over 100 million views, and it’s introduced me to so many amazing people who found me because of it.this is a reminder that sometimes the hardest moments lead to the most beautiful outcomes.

Skylar Lee and I go way back—we first met at a songwriters round a few years ago and reconnected recently after I hit her up for a Raya referral lol. In this episode, we talk about being artists from PA (home to legends like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter), what we’ve learned from taking different paths after high school, and why chasing your dreams takes more than talent—it takes patience, grit, and speaking them out loud. We also dive into academic validation, social media pressure, and how to keep showing up, even when it feels like your progress is sometimes hard to measure. Whether you’re figuring out school, your career, or just trying to stay motivated toward the life you want—this one’s for you.

Lately I’ve been feeling this pressure to hurry up—to be further ahead in life, in my career, in everything. And honestly? I think a lot of us feel that way, even if we don’t say it out loud. In this first solo episode of New Friends, I’m opening up about how that pressure has shown up in my own life, how comparison has shaped the way I view success, and why I’ve had to remind myself that my younger self would be proud of me—even if things are taking longer than I thought they would.This episode is short and honest—the kind of episode I want these solo ones to be: just me, sitting down and talking through what’s been on my heart lately. If there’s something you’ve been thinking about or want me to talk through in a future episode, I’d love for you to drop your questions in the comments. 💛

In this episode of New Friends, I’m joined by my friend and fellow artist Ava Liv Mabry, and we dove into all the little things that make friendships last—especially the ones where you go months without talking and somehow pick up like nothing changed. We talked about meeting when we were 14 (filming a cover that we’re both very thankful never saw the light of day 😂), how we reconnected recently, and the ways we stay close to friends in other states—like voice notes, vlogs, and those random “thinking of you” texts that mean more than you realize.Before we hit record, we were talking about still living at home and growing up a little slower than we thought we would—and while that part didn’t make it into the mics, the heart of it definitely did. We got into big family moments, how much the people around us shape who we are, and how lucky we feel to have parents who show up in small, thoughtful ways. This episode is a reminder that home isn’t always a place—it’s who you’re doing life with.

This week I’m joined by my friend Juliana Talbert, and we’re talking all things college, friendship, and dating—aka the full Belmont experience. We get into how we met at Berklee’s 5-week summer program, staying close with hometown friends while making new ones, and what it’s like joining a sorority. Juliana also breaks down the 5 G’s that every Belmont guy seems to fall under, we share our dating red flags and icks, and she opens up about shifting from artist/writer to working in music publishing.

This week I’m joined by my friend and songwriting collaborator Lydia Sutherland—who you might know as the co-writer of Miles Don’t Matter on my new EP. We open up about today’s pressure to always look “camera-ready,” struggling with disordered eating, and the many influences that shape how we see our bodies. We also talk about how social media affects self-worth, and what it’s like when your image starts to feel like your identity and your appearance seems just as important as your talent or hard work. Even with all of that, there’s light too—Lydia shares how a close friendship unexpectedly turned into the relationship she never saw coming (and how dating someone in music can actually work).

This week I’m joined by my friend and duet partner Joseph O’Brien—aka the guy who got ghosted by his now-fiancée and still somehow ended up engaged in less than 3 months. We talk about how we met working on our new song “Out of the Blue”, navigating dating in and outside the music world, and yes… the Hinge horror story that gave me mono. Plus, Joseph answers 5 questions every girl wants a guy’s honest opinion on (like: do guys stalk exes??).

I’m joined by my best friend Lily Grace for a brutally honest, very unserious convo about dating, situationships, and being 19 with zero relationship experience (yep, I had my first kiss this year). We get into dating apps, guys we hated for each other, being in the public eye, and the most embarrassing things we’ve done for a crush. This episode = chaotic therapy with your best friend.