Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

Many times on this podcast, I’ve talked about how powerful virtual connection can be, with the caveat: are you ACTUALLY engaging, or are you just lurking? 

Today we dive into connection through podcas…

I just got back from this wild, adventurous, 11-day road trip with my friend to see two Taylor Swift concerts on opposite sides of the country. 

How did we make it happen? Partly, the stars aligned; p…

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on one of my own formal communities: the Toastmasters.

Today’s guest is Brendan Smith, a member of the Toastmasters chapter I was part of. Toastmasters is an i…

This episode, about navigating friendship through chronic illness, is deeply personal to me.

In last week’s episode, I shared about my own recent health issues, but I think this information is good to…

This whole podcast was only a dream a couple years ago, and here we are now with 100 episodes. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for sharing these conversations with your friends.

In this e…

Individualism is woven so deeply into the fabric of American culture that sometimes we don’t even notice it. But what if this cornerstone of our culture is costing us more than we realize?

Today’s gue…

Have you ever felt like you’re ALWAYS the one giving a shoulder to cry on – but don’t have one to cry on yourself?

I think it’s a common issue among friends. Personally, I used to brag about how I’d d…

Have you ever hesitated to set a boundary with a friend for fear of pushing them away? 

Or, maybe you found yourself on the receiving end of unspoken expectations and left guessing what your friend tr…

Today I’m going to share my personal hot takes about friendship.

If you’ve been listening to Friendship IRL for a while, you’ll recognize some of these ideas, but some thoughts are new, and some I hav…

Imagine you’ve made the move you’ve always dreamed of. 

You live on the other side of the world and experience a new culture. It changes how you see your life – and almost imperceptibly, it changes yo…

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed and exhausted by everything you have to do (while still worrying you aren’t doing enough!) then this episode is for you.

Today I’m talking about burnout with Lesley Wal…

There’s no better way to test your friendship skills than to move to a new city, and today’s guest, Leannda Shearer, has moved to a new city not once or twice but eight different times!

So, at this po…

Sometimes, when our social lives feel lacking, we find ourselves living  vicariously through others and wondering: how come they’re all living their lives and I’m not?

This is the experience today’s g…

If you’re somebody who dreads going to a party, then this episode is for you.

Sometimes the couch feels more appealing than going out into the world and socializing, and I get it. Attending a gatherin…

Do you know men who don’t have close friends?

It’s a common problem (one that I cover in Episode 31 and Episode 32 of this podcast) with major implications. Poor social and mental health in men is con…

Today I talk about two friendship terms I’ve been hearing more about lately: the “couch friend” and the “errand friend.”

Lots of people want these kinds of friendships because they’re supposed to be e…

Have you ever gone back to an old friend, only to realize it’s not the same as it was?

This is the experience of today’s guest, Sarah Marie Paige, who in this episode shares about her amazing high sch…

There are some friendships we just need to let go of. In some instances, this means letting go of an aspect of a friendship. In others, this actually means letting go of an entire friendship.

Today’s …

Have you ever met someone truly magnetic? 

They walk into the room, and suddenly, the energy shifts. People are drawn to them. Some might argue that this is just the way some people were born. They in…

A few years ago, I realized that one of my friendship patterns was actually kind of a problem.

I’d show up for my friends as Superwoman, bragging that I could (and would) drop everything and do anythi…