Kari and Lisa talk with researcher and storyteller Rachel Joy Swardson about the real landscape of women's friendships—the fractures we don't speak about, the quiet eroders that dissolve connection, and why midlife can feel both full and lonely at the same time. Together they explore how values shifts, life transitions, and unspoken expectations shape the way women find, make, and keep friends, and they consider what it looks like to repair or release a friendship with honesty and compassion. This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own patterns, the friendships that shaped them, and the possibility of forming meaningful new connections in midlife.

The Best Friend Project Survey https://thebestfriendproject.co/survey

And because connection is at the heart of their Best Chapter Yet Retreats, Because of course any good chapter includes the best kinds of friends as our stories unfold! Kari and Lisa share what they see every time: women forming deep, organic friendships almost instantly, thanks to the intentional work that begins long before anyone arrives. The bonds that spark there are real and lasting, and it's one of their favorite parts of this work. For those craving that kind of community, there is still time to join them at Unstoppable: A Heroine's Journey in Palm Springs, February 27-March 1, 2026

Where to find Kari and Lisa:

The Things We Know Podcast Homepage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThingWeKnowPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethingsweknowpod