You’d think that as adults we’d be past the angst and awkwardness of making friends. But if anything, making new friends get harder as we get older. There’s less time and more responsibility. And while we may have more choice over who we spend our time with, it feels like there are few opportunities to actually bond with people now that we’re not forced to be around them five days a week.

I sat down with my good friend Janani to talk through the challenges involved, and the tips we’ve picked up from our own experiences. J is a doctor (!!!), so instead of following her on socials, send her good vibes for making it through a medical degree and the last two years as a medical professional. She deserves it!

As two people who’ve moved around a bit in our adult lives, we’ve had our fair share of awkward conversations and failures to connect. But we’ve also managed to surround ourselves with great people, and embrace our awkwardness (sort of). We delve into unconventional ways and places to make friends, actually having that all important coffee catch-up, and a quick refresher on how to check your moles for melanoma.

I hope you have a laugh, and get some tips on how to branch out and find some new people to enrich your life with. Or just feel less self-conscious about that silly thing you said (because no one else is thinking about it).

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is our search for love making us bad people? Is liking dogs a personality trait? Why don't dating apps have Clippy? In this episode I team up with Maddie and Nic for fun, light hearted banter and serious philosophical questions.

Maddie and Nic host WTF is Happening podcast, where they talk about all things pop-culture and their sometimes valid opinions about it. You can find them on Instagram here.

Nic is the personification of an entertainment industry Wikipedia. More than a lovely human, he’s a witty, iconic vibe. Maddie is the owner of Harness Creation, a ‘do it yourself’ studio for hire where creators of all mediums can make excellent content. You can check it out on Instagram, or head to her website to find out more about the services and spaces on offer.

Some of the things we talk about are: the pettiest reasons we’ve rejected someone, if we should feel worse for making snap judgments about someone’s looks or the things they say, and the morality of ghosting. It was one of the most fun recording sessions I’ve had, and it shows.

I hope this episode makes you laugh, and gives you more nuanced perspectives on our modern quest for love (and the ridiculousness of it all).

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since Brené Brown’s TEDtalk, we’ve been waking up to the fact that vulnerability is the key to authenticity, connection, stronger relationships, and personal growth. An in-depth discussion about the courage and power of vulnerability with a member of the armed forces is perhaps not a typical combination, but that’s exactly what this is. My guest Dylan’s candour, humour, and insightful commentary brought so many layers to this episode and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

CAPT Dylan Conway is an Infantry Officer in the Australian army, writer, and founder and CEO of the charity brothersnbooks which has a beautiful community on Instagram and Facebook. He encourages reading as a form of meditation, self growth and resilience after suffering an injury that placed him in bed for 14 months.

Oh, and he’s now a publisher too! His poetry book “In Plain Sight“ by Shaun Austin is out now, and already a best seller in multiple categories.

Dylan and I talk about what vulnerability is, the negative connotations, how it enriches our lives, how we personally foster it in ourselves, and about using it to connect with others. And of course, plenty of books.

I hope that this conversation gives you good laughs, new ways of thinking, and some extra encouragement to bravely open yourself up. It's scary, but definitely worth it.

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.