Ever feel like, all of a sudden, you have TOO many friendships to juggle?

I know – this sounds like the most privileged problem ever! But truly, it’s a common experience, and I think the reason some of us get burnt out is because we feel we need to show up for each person in the same way.

My thoughts? Some friends are lifelines; others add color to your life. Both types matter. But you don’t have to show up the same way for everyone.

Whether you’re feeling stretched thin by your growing network or just want to be more intentional about how you connect, this episode offers a practical approach to keeping all your many friendships meaningful AND sustainable.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Why you don’t have to show up the same way for every friend, and how redefining your relationship roles can save you from burnout
• How your growing list of responsibilities and roles as an adult naturally leads to more connections — and why that’s a good thing
• Getting clear on your unique strengths in friendships so you can show up where it matters most (and release the guilt of not being everything to everyone)

Resources & Links

Listen to some of my episodes that challenge the “all-or-nothing” mindset about friendship, including Episode 13 and Episode 33. And be sure to listen to Episode 12 about the different kinds of friendship roots.

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!

Have I made it sound like it’s easy to keep friendships strong and resilient?

If so, let me set the record straight: making changes in friendships, even if they’re for the better, is HARD. A lot of the time, it involves uncomfortable conversations, confrontation, and hard feelings. It’s so tempting to push problems aside to keep relations “peaceful.”

I think there’s an expectation to put in work for romantic and familial relationships, but how much work should we be doing for friendships? At what point is it not worth the effort?

Here’s my hard truth: If you want friendships where you can grow, change, and share the real stuff, you’re probably going to have to rock the boat. It might be uncomfortable, but it won’t be uncomfortable forever. On the other side, I think you’ll find the work was worth it.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• The assumption that friendships should always feel good and seamless, with zero challenges as we all move through life’s transitions
• Different types of work involved in maintaining friendships (and why avoidance is even work, from suppressing urges to withholding details about our lives)
• Why having those difficult conversations sometimes will not feel good but are important in addressing changes, building resilience, and maintaining connection
• How we feel having hard conversations with partners, family, long-term friendships and new friends; does the label of the relationship impact your investment of effort?

Resources & Links

Listen to Episode 99 about individualism in friendship with James Richardson; Episode 149 about why we should want our friends to have robust social lives; Episode 153 about friendship break-ups with Meenadchi; and Episode 159 about speed dating for friends.

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!

Imagine you’re fresh out of college and just moved back to your hometown. Suddenly, making plans with your friends feels hard.

Instead of meeting them in the apartment next door or in the dining hall, you’re texting back and forth, trying to get together – but much of the time, it doesn’t pan out, or it’s just not the same. This story is a reality for so many people, including today’s guest.

Jason Edmonds is a Seattle resident who decided to make his own solution: Six Degrees, an event-based social experience that matches people through personality quizzes and groups them into activities, helping people in Seattle find their people.

In this interview, we talk about vulnerability. We talk about Six Degrees. We talk about the stigma of getting help to find friends. Most of all, we talk about how common this whole experience is. Transitioning from college to adult friendships is hard, and many of us could use a little extra help.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• The common experience of post-college friendship struggles: in college, socializing was so easy, but as adults it’s more complex
• Six Degrees, an event-based social experience designed to help people find new friends through intentional activities and personality quizzes
• The difference between college and adult friendships and the importance of vulnerability and intentionality in friendships
• Using social media and technology as a bridge when you meet someone at a meet-up like Six Degrees

Resources & Links

Follow Six Degrees on Instagram.

Listen to Episode 21, which is about that shift in friendship during our mid- to late-20s; Episode 41, about the Liking Gap; Episode 123, about maintaining friendships without proximity; and Episode 145, about reframing rejection.

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!