Podcast episode · 1 September 2026

GK Barry: I’m Finally Ready To Tell My Story

GK Barry became one of the internet’s biggest personalities, but this conversation reveals the Grace Keeling behind the fame, the jokes and the confidence.…

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson podcast cover
126 min

About this conversation

GK Barry became one of the internet’s biggest personalities, but this conversation reveals the Grace Keeling behind the fame, the jokes and the confidence.

She reflects on being bullied at school, feeling desperate to fit in, and learning to make people laugh before anyone could laugh at her. Grace opens up about her relationship with her body, becoming obsessed with being thin, and how the attention that came with changing her appearance reinforced everything she believed about herself.

She also speaks about witnessing racism through her dad Andrew, discovering her sexuality, and falling in love with Ella Rutherford - from the fear of letting people know to finding a relationship where she finally feels accepted for who she is.

For the first time, Grace shares an experience from when she was 17 involving a 27-year-old man, and the years of confusion and self-blame that followed. She explains why she didn't report what happened at the time, the advice she was given by police, and how it took her years to understand what had happened to her and recognise that it wasn't her fault.

Episode summary and show notes supplied by the official We Need To Talk feed.

In this conversation

Chapters from the official episode notes. Timings may vary when adverts are inserted.

More from the official show notes

Funny, honest and deeply vulnerable, this is GK Barry ready to tell her story.

GK Barry, We Need To Talk

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and disordered eating. We have included links to support charities and resources here:

The Rape Crisis England & Wales 24/7 Support Line is available day and night on 0808 500 2222, with free online chat also available on their website https://linkly.link/2sHpO

Beat Eating Disorders https://linkly.link/2sHpG MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b

Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod

Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX

Follow GK Barry here: https://www.instagram.com/gkbarry_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gkbarry

Buy Grace’s Book - It's Giving Life: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving: https://linkly.link/2sHqS

Sponsored by:

Shopify: www.shopify.co.uk/needtotalk Huel - http://uk.huel.com/WNTT use code WNTT for £10 off

Notes from Paul

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