Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
Episodes
#78 - Pursuing a New Friend and Texting Etiquette with Stephanie Goldstein and Rachel Levy Lesser
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You feel good potential friendship chemistry with someone, but then what to do next? This is an episode about pursuing a new friend. (We also get int...
#77 - Loneliness and Male Friendship with Gabe Mollica
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If there's one thing we need these days, it's some joy and laughter. It's dark times. And while today's story of a heartbreak from a f...
#76 - Yes, Reach Out to Your Friends During a Crisis
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Dear Nina focuses on reaching out amidst turmoil (this time in particular, in the Middle East), navigating conversations when you’re...
#75 - Scheduling, Structure, and Traditions as the Key to Keeping Friends with Dan Moore and Jeff Waldman
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you're struggling with managing your friendships or looking for innovative ways to make new friends, this episode is your roadmap to a richer, ...
#74 - The Childhood Friendships that Shaped Our Identities with Kristin Nilsen
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever stopped to acknowledge the profound impact of your childhood friendships, even the most casual and fleeting ones, on your adult identity...
#73 - I'm Just Not Into This Friendship (encore with Ruchi Koval)
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I have the great Ruchi Koval today! Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you simply can't connect with someone trying to become bette...
#72 - Grudges and Apologies in Friendships: with my Mom
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we hurt a friend unintentionally, but an apology is still in order. Is there a friend out there who might be waiting for you to say, "I&...
#71 - Learning From a Friendship Breakup with Diamonde Williamson
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diamonde Williamson, found a way to make art from a painful friendship breakup and help others process their breakups, too. Just like romantic breakup...
#70 - Become Your Own Social Director: Stop Waiting for Invitations
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like your social life is a waiting game, stuck in the perpetual hope for an invitation to hang out? It’s time to flip the script! This epi...
#69 - Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing to friends with a chronic illness w/ Jennifer Cramer-Miller
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You know those articles and memes that are everywhere reprimanding us about what NOT to say to a friend who is going through a hard time of any kind? ...
#68 - When Your Friend is an Unhealthy or an Abusive Relationship with Rachel Katz
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're discussing a harder topic than usual--what to do when your friend is in a very unhealthy or even an abusive relationship. It can be ex...
#67 - Visit Your Long Distance Friends
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm encouraging listeners to reach out to some long distance friends and plan a trip! Why? I finally put my money where my mouth is and spent time...
#66 - Introvert Energy in Friendships with Heidi Shertok
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about a topic that people have written to me about consistently over the years--friendships between introverts and extroverts. ...
#65 - Big Friend Groups and Accepting Teen Friendship Strife with Dr. Lisa Damour
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Lisa Damour is the NYT bestselling author of Untangled, Under Pressure, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, and the co-host of the Ask Lisa Podcast...
#64 - Old School Blogging and Maintaining Online Friendships with Jill Smokler
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when two longtime, old school bloggers reminisce about the good old days of blogging? You get laughs, reflections, and a deep dive into t...
#63 - How to Tell Friends They've Let You Down (encore with Dr. Marisa Franco)
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Dr. Marisa G. Franco! Conflicts in friendships can feel so daunting, but sometimes we have to tell friends they've let us down rather t...
#62 - The Power of Friendship with Weekly Walking Partners with Leslie Hooton
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Monday is Nan. Tuesday is Maryanne. Wednesday is Leslie. Thursday is Lisa. And Friday is Susan. It was an act of love, an act of friendship. . ....
#61 - The Case For Phone Calls and Low-key Hangs With Friends with Jo Piazza
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and podcast creator, Jo Piazza, joins me to answer the question---Is texting ruining the art of friends...
#60 - College Friends in the 90s and the Potential of Current Campus Friendships with Daisy Alpert Florin
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
College friendships! Daisy Alpert Florin, author of My Last Innocent Year, joins me to discuss the unparalleled intimacy of college friendships. We d...
#59 - Parent Involvement in Teen Friendship Issues with Stephanie Sprenger
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can we help our teens navigate the complexities of friendships without projecting our own experiences, desires, or traumas onto them? What level o...
#58 - Mahjong, Poker, and Becoming Closer Friends Through a Game with Mark Oppenheimer
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is tremendous value to poker, mahjong, and other games for making friends and getting closer with the friends you already have.I’m a longtime ...
#57 - Listen for What’s Not Being Said and Other Friendship Solutions From the Five Senses with Gretchen Rubin
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gretchen Rubin and I spoke about her newest book, Life in Five Senses, and specifically about how awareness of the five senses can improve our friends...
#56 - The Problems and Potential of Group Texts (encore with Kat Vellos)
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m revisiting the problems and potential of group texts (but mostly the problems) because there are still some group text shenanigans I’d love to...
#55 - How to Support a Friend Facing an Ambiguous Loss with Emma Nadler
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One afternoon Emma Nadler gets a call from her daughter's doctor that changes her life forever. Faced with the realities of raising a child with a...
#54 - Text Your Friends Back with Laura Tremaine
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of Laura Tremaine's friendship philosophies is to put connection and relationship on your daily to-do list. And one example of a "to-do...
#53 - It's Never Too Late to Make New Friends with Megan Tamte
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Evereve's co-founder and co-CEO, Megan Tamte, joins me to discuss making new, very close friends later in life. And by later, we mean any time in ...
#52 - Choosing a New Expat Life After a Tragedy with Jen Zwinck
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Dear Nina I have a guest with a harrowing and inspiring story to share about starting a new life with new friends after a horrific tragedy. T...
#51 - How to Recognize a Toxic Friendship with Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
First thing to know, not all friendships with issues are "toxic." I'm not sure there's a more overused word on the internet. That said...
#50 - How Friendship Changes With Age and Overlooking Foibles (with my mom)
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm thrilled to welcome my mom back to Dear Nina. My mom, Kathy Sackheim, has been an instrumental part of the Dear Nina friendship universe. I qu...
#49 - Unexpected Friends and the Key to Long-term Friendship with Will Schwalbe
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author, Will Schwalbe, joins the show today with some of these thoughts and more: It's better to say something than nothing. Make the hard phone c...
#48 - Friendship Despite Philosophical (or other) Disagreements with Chaya Leah Sufrin and Yael Bar Tur
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is so much value to having friends with different points of view and backgrounds. I love witnessing a friendship between people whose difference...
Bonus: Friendship Mistakes on She's Got Issues
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode with Jill Smokler, formally THE Scary Mommy of the famous Scary Mommy, and currently the host of the podcast, She's Got Issues, you’...
#47 - Friendship Triangles, Envy, Competition, and Ghosting with Christie Tate
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I have author, Christie Tate, back on the show! I have been so eager for this conversation. We are talking about Christie's newest memoir, B.F.F.:...
#46 - The Importance of Casual Friendships with Shari Leid
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode with guest, Shari Leid, focuses on wisdom she’s gained after meeting with 144 of her friends. Our episode makes the case for...
#45 - Learning From Our Parents' Friendships with Linda Pressman
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do your adult friendships mirror what you saw growing up in your household, or did you set out to do the exact opposite in your adult social life? I s...
#44 - How Diet Culture Complicates Friendships with Pam Moore
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The topic of diet culture and friendship inspired more emails from my Facebook group--Dear Nina: The Group--than any other topic since I started the p...
#43 - Navigating Money and Friendship: It's tricky! with Mia Brabham
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you overspend to keep up with friends? It's tricky to navigate conversations about money with friends. What issues have come up for you about m...
#42 - Which Friendships Do You Enjoy the Most and Why?
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Taking time to identify the friendships that are going well in your life and WHY is a worthwhile activity. It's my January challenge for listeners...
#41 - Are We Work Friends, Real Friends, or Am I Her Customer? (with Lisa Harris)
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I spoke to narrative coach, Lisa Harris, about the sometimes-fuzzy lines between "work friends" and "real friends" and also the line p...
Bonus: Jealousy of Tennis Friends, my Pom Pom Girl Regrets, and Time Travel
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I think this is the first time I've publicly discussed the bizarre memory of waiting up long into the night to see if I made the Pom Pom squad at ...
#40 - Giving Thoughtful Gifts to Friends
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode #40: After discussing the topic of great gift ideas for friends in my Facebook group--Dear Nina: The Group--I heard such thoughtful examples ...
#39 - Do One New Thing Every Day to Make Friends with Pam Lamp
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone tells me their city is the hardest city for making new friends. It's a common problem! I spoke to Pam Lamp who has a fun and helpful stor...
#38 - What are Your Friendship Preferences and Limitations with Diana Spechler
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I spoke to author Diana Spechler about a piece she wrote in her Substack called “How to Make Friends.” It was a refreshing take on making friends ...
#37 - The Benefits of Couple Friends (with my husband)
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of benefits to having couple friends. My husband joined me as we reflected on why we have made such a big effort to maintain couple fri...
#36 - Widowhood and the Importance of Friendship (with my mom)
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My mom, Kathy Sackheim, joined me to discuss widowhood and friendship, as well as friendships while my dad was in the later years of Parkinson's D...
#35 - Lopsided Friendships with Anna Goldfarb
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist, Anna Goldfarb, joins me to discuss managing a lopsided friendship— that feeling you’re putting more into the friendship than your frie...
#34 - Reconnecting With an Ex-Friend (encore with Rebecca Kotok)
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is possible to reconnect with an ex-friend and forget the issues that caused the breakup? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But forgiveness is a necessa...
#33 - When the Desire for Friendship is Not Equal with Ruchi Koval
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When the desire for friendship is not equal, things can get very tricky. My guest, the wise Ruchi Koval, is here to help. We talked about the reality ...
#32 - Conflict Can Strengthen a Friendship with Dr. Marisa Franco
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of Platonic, and I talk about how expressing anger can strengthen a friendship. Dr. Franco also gives tips for how confli...
#31 - Friends From Different Backgrounds with Julie Burton and Stephanie Pierce
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about being friends with people who are different from you. There have been a ton of articles on the topic lately because of a n...
#30 - Loneliness Despite Having Close Friends with Mary Laura Philpott
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Author, Mary Laura Philpott, joins me to discuss feeling loneliness and worry despite having close friends. Mary Laura Philpott is the nationally best...
#29 - Outgrowing a Friendship and Friends Who Do Not Root For You with Chaz Sandifer
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chaz Sandifer joins me to discuss the reality of outgrowing friendships and friends who disappear in the good times but show up in bad times. "Ov...
#28 - Grieving the Death of a Friend with Zibby Owens
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The one and only Zibby Owens joins me to talk about her memoir, Bookends, and her experiences grieving the death of three close friends.In her new boo...
#27 - Teen Friend Groups and Friends Who Drift Away with Taryn Kessel
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're tackling four friendship dilemmas from listeners in under 30 minutes. This time the topics circle around (mild) covid issues in friendships,...
#26 - Making New Friends After 50 with Pop Culture Preservation Society
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You want to make new friends, but worry it’s too late? Too hard? Too intimidating? You don’t know where to start? I believe it's never too la...
#25 - Improving Group Texts with Kat Vellos
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Love them or hate them, you're probably in a group chat once in a while or even very regularly. Author, Kat Vellos, and I are navigating the world...
Bonus: Analyzing Steel Magnolias With The Untitled Gen-X Podcast
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Did you love the movie Steel Magnolias in the 80s/early 90s? I did, but rewatching it recently brought up some thoughts I never would have had as a ki...
#24 - Boundaries Without Damaging Your Friendships (with my husband!)
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How to gracefully maintain boundaries and stop giving away too much information without damaging your friendships. This episode with my husband, Bryan...
#23 - When Kids' Issues Are Too Private to Discuss With Friends with Rebecca Prenevost
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I answered an anonymous listener's question about how to still feel close to friends when you can no longer discuss issues that once might have bo...
#22 - Host Friends (and Potential Friends) for Meals With Less Stress with Debra Arbit
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fast forward a friendship by hosting friends for a meal! I'm taking on two topics today, with one topic logically leading to the other. #1. How t...
#21 - The Friends Who Are Like Family with Rachel Levy Lesser
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I loved my conversation with Pennsylvania-based author Rachel Levy Lesser, and I REALLY enjoyed Rachel's memoir, Life’s Accessories. In the epis...
#20 - Friendship Chemistry: What Makes People Click
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I'm fascinated by what makes people click. Within minutes we often know whether we want to pursue a friendship with someone, or not. Is that fair?...
#19 - Novels and Memoirs About Friendship with Rebekah Jacobs
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Books about friendship! Today's episode combines two of my favorite topics—friendship and books--specifically, novels and memoirs about friendsh...
#18 - Four Friendship Dilemmas in 30 Minutes with Taryn Kessel
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scaling back, reaching out, overlooking flaws, and accepting boundaries. Taryn and I answered four listeners' questions about friendship in about ...
#17 - Friendship and Sobriety with Jen Veralle
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode #17: An important discussion about sobriety in friendship, from addiction to all levels of sober living and how friendships transition and so...
#16 - Stop Focusing on the Popular Group
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This whole idea of "the in crowd" or "the popular crowd" comes up in questions I’ve received for many years.As a generality, I’m c...
#15 - The Art of Small Talk and Body Language When Making New Friends with Ali Wenzke
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Making small talk is an essential step of making friends. There's no avoiding it. All relationships, casual or deep, start with those first moment...
#14 - Making Deeper Connections With Friends with Jessica Smock
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The most essential point in this episode is about creating opportunities to see the same people on a regular basis. It takes a lot of repeated time to...
#13 - Get Out of Your Comfort Zone to Make New Friends with Michelle Platt
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Making new friends as an adult is difficult whether it’s because you moved to a new city, you’re in a new stage of life, or you’re lonely and co...
#12 - Helping a Friend In Crisis and Asking For Help with Alissa Butterfass
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can we help a friend who’s in crisis because of illness or grief? And how can we ask for help rather than waiting for friends to know exactly wh...
#11 - Lessons From Male Friendships with Dave Dluger
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
My brother-in-law, Dave Dluger, and I were talking after recording an episode, we got into a conversation about how male friendships seem to involve l...
Mini-Episode: Friends Make Mistakes
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last week in episode #10 with author Jessica Speer who wrote BFF or NRF, we talked briefly about her nine friendship truths. We mainly focused on trut...
#10 - My Kid Isn't Interested In Pursuing This Friendship with Jessica Speer
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's not easy to say no to a friendship. And it's just as hard to help our kids do the same. How do you handle it when you’re not intereste...
#9 - Friends Will Hang Out Without You with Taryn Kessel
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Accepting that friends will hang out without you is a key to happier adult friendships. My best friend Taryn Kessel and I discuss that truth. We also ...
Mini-Episode: A Positive View on Friends Asking Personal Questions
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A mini-ep to understand why friends ask personal or even intrusive questions, which came up in episode 8 with my mom: “How to handle friends’ ques...
#8 - When Friends Ask Questions You Don't Want to Answer (with my mom!)
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The role of privacy in close friendships, the line between intimacy and privacy, the lines between white lies/ withholding information, and the right ...
Mini-Episode: The Friendship Apology Prayer We All Need
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we're waiting for apologies from friends and sometimes we owe apologies. Inspired by the Al Chet prayer we say in synagogue on Yom Kippu...
#7 - True Forgiveness After a Difficult Friendship Breakup with Rebecca Kotok
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode #7: Friendship breakups and repairing a broken friendship. One of my best friends, who was once an ex-friend, and I discussed whether it’s ...
#6 - When to Unfriend, Mute, Hide, Unfollow, or Block Friends on Social Media
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Unfollowing a friend on social media is not always the answer. This quick episode will help you decide between unfollowing, muting, hiding, unfriendin...
#5 - The Friend Who Ignores Your Social Media Posts with Rudri Patel
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How much engagement can expect friends to have on your social media posts? Have you ever had a friend who presses "like" and comments on all o...
#4 - Revealing Too Much Too Soon With New Friends with Christie Tate
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christie Tate, author of Group: How One Therapist And A Circle of Strangers Saved My Life, joined me to answer an anonymous question about mental heal...
#3 - The Friend Who Never Initiates Contact with Pam Moore
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the friend who calls or texts first and reaches out for plans, or do you let your friends reach out first? In this episode my guest, Pam Moore...
#1 - The Friend Who Will Only Text (with my mom!)
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a friend who will only text, do you accept that fact if you’re more of a phone talker? What if you're the one who prefers to text,...
#2 - The Friend Whose Kid Is Being Mean To Your Kid with Taryn Kessel
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Episode #2: How do you manage adult friendships when the kids are fighting or are no longer friends. Can adult friendships survive after the kids’ ...
Welcome to Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Nina, Conversations About Friendship is a podcast for people who love discussing the ups and downs of friendship. I'm Nina Badzin, a writer w...