{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/698f59e24d911476d83095e0/6a1abcc249418f56c47831f6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Why Adulthood Feels So Lonely...especially in 2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/698f59e24d911476d83095e0/1780136830231-9a362f85-c37b-424f-aac3-7159b8ca81ac.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Welcome to The Real Rachel B Podcast 🎙️</p><p><br></p><p>Real conversations about adulthood, ambition, leadership, loneliness, healing, growth, and figuring life out in real time.</p><p><br></p><p>If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to \"have it all together,\" this podcast is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>In Episode 2, we're talking about loneliness, financial stress, social media, and why so many people feel emotionally exhausted right now.</p><p><br></p><p>It seems like every time we open Instagram, someone is getting engaged, buying a house, getting promoted, or hitting another major life milestone. Meanwhile, many of us are just trying to survive adulthood, pay our bills, maintain our relationships, and figure out if we're even doing life right.</p><p><br></p><p>If you've ever felt behind in life, lonely, financially stressed, or like everyone else has it figured out except you, this episode is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>You're not the only one trying to figure it out.</p><p><br></p><p>⏱️ Timestamps / Table of Contents</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 — Why Everyone Seems Ahead of You</p><p><br></p><p>00:50 — Welcome to The Real Rachel B Podcast</p><p><br></p><p>03:03 — Why We're More Lonely Than Ever</p><p><br></p><p>04:04 — The Great Disperse &amp; Losing Friends</p><p><br></p><p>06:08 — Financial Stress in 2026</p><p><br></p><p>07:41 — Taking Accountability &amp; Making Changes</p><p><br></p><p>12:49 — Social Media, Comparison &amp; Feeling Behind</p><p><br></p><p>15:36 — Final Thoughts &amp; Encouragement</p><p><br></p><p>New episode updates will be posted on my Instagram!</p><p><br></p><p>Follow me on Instagram: @thereal.rachelb ✨</p><p><br></p><p>Sources</p><p><br></p><p>* American Psychiatric Association — Loneliness &amp; Social Connection Poll</p><p>https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-one-in-three-americans-feels-lonely-e</p><p><br></p><p>* Pew Research Center — Young Adults Are Reaching Key Life Milestones Later Than in the Past</p><p>https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/05/23/young-adults-in-the-u-s-are-reaching-key-life-milestones-later-than-in-the-past/</p><p><br></p><p>* Federal Reserve — Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED)</p><p>https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/sheddataviz/unexpectedexpenses-table.html</p><p><br></p><p>* U.S. Census Bureau — Milestones to Adulthood</p><p>https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/08/milestones-to-adulthood.html</p>","author_name":"Rachel Bennington"}