Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

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 into some texting etiquette.)How do you pursue the friendship in a way that lets the other person know you're interested, but doesn't scare them off? And if you're someone who already has a full social life, how do you make time for a new friend? And why should you make time for a new friend?We also discussed some texting etiquette such as when to employ the thumbs up and when to respond with words. Fans of Dear Nina will know I have strong feelings about this!Join my conversation with the co-hosts of Life's Accessories, The Podcast, Stephanie Goldstein and Rachel Levy Lesser, as we learn how these very new friends met and became so close despite living in different cities and neither one lacking for friends.Meet Stephanie and Rachel: Authors, journalists, friends and self proclaimed over-accessorizers, Rachel Levy Lesser and Stephanie Goldstein remember what they wore on pretty much every meaningful occasion. In Life's Accessories, The Podcast, they dig deep into their closets and their memories to tell the stories behind these items. Rachel and Stephanie interview experts, friends, celebrities and just really interesting and awesome people about items from their jewelry boxes and closets, and they do it with wit, humor and insight.ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO📢 This week’s fabulous sponsor + how to purchase ad space on Dear Nina📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question🔎 Want to work with me or need another link? That’s probably here.Our sponsor this week: https://www.purewesson.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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 friendship breakup isn't exactly what we think of as funny on its own, I am thrilled to tell you that there is a fantastic comedian out there who has made humor and art out of a painful friendship breakup he had in college.Gabe Mollica's one-man show is called Solo: A Show About Friendship. How could I not feature it on Dear Nina? If you're a fan of This American Life, you might have already heard a bit of comedian Gabe Mollica's friendship breakup story. Reporter Aviva DeKornfeld did a story called “Say It To My Face” about Gabe. I don't want to give too much away from that episode, but for context, Aviva managed to interview not only Gabe, but also his former college best friend, Tim. The parts with Tim are the fantasy anyone with a friendship breakup has ever had. Gabe got to hear from the friend who got away. And it was that part I related to most in Gabe's story. We discussed it more in today's episode. Listen to Gabe and I swap friendship break-up stories and share how we both turned that pain into art. Gabe is a masterful storyteller, and his one-man show, Solo: A Show About Friendship, is in the middle of a long run in New York City with shows planned in Chicago and other cities, too. More about Gabe Mollica: Gabe's story on This American LifeReview of Gabe's show in Time Out New YorkFind Gabe on Instagram and TikTok.ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO📢 This week’s fabulous sponsor + how to purchase ad space on Dear Nina📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question🔎 Want to work with me or need another link? That’s probably here.Our sponsor this week: https://www.purewesson.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This episode of Dear Nina focuses on reaching out amidst turmoil (this time in particular, in the Middle East), navigating conversations when you’re not sure what to say, and the profound impact of letting someone know you’re thinking of them.Questions discussed include: Can a simple message of love and support make a difference to a friend during a crisis?Is it fair to expect friends to post on social media? At what point do you let friends know you're disappointment they didn't reach out?How do you handle it when you see friends publicly post their anger about others' silence and you suspect they might be referring to you?What might keep people from reaching out personally or expressing their opinions publicly? Past episodes mentioned in this episode:"The Friend Who Never Initiates Contact""The Friend Who Ignores Your Social Media Posts" ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO📢 This week’s fabulous sponsor + how to purchase ad space on Dear Nina📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question🔎 Want to work with me or need another link? That’s probably here.Our sponsor this week: https://www.purewesson.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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, more fulfilling social life. What you might be missing if you're not spending time with friends is a container for those friendships. My guests have tons of ideas for you!Jeff Waldman and Dan Moore joined me for an inspiring thirty minutes where we discussed creating closer friendships by scheduling time with friends. Yes, something as mundane as scheduling in the magic here. We also got into more specific ideas like organizing workshops or trips, putting standing dates on your calendar for phone calls, dinners, fitness check-ins, games, workshops, retreats, and more.We discussed saying yes sometimes, even when you feel like staying home, and the benefit of being the host of events instead of the guest.Meet Jeff and DanJeff Waldman is a designer, builder, and author of a book on tools. He sells building plans and has a newsletter on Substack called Elevated Spaces where he writes about both construction and community building and where those two practices intersect for him. Two of Jeff’s especially pertinent posts about friendship are: “Who are all these friends— Scheduled phone calls edition” and “What’s Up With All These Workshops”His communal property in California's Santa Cruz mountains burned in the wildfires of 2020 but lives on as a canvas for new project.Dan Moore is a technologist, outdoor enthusiast, husband and father. He has been writing software for over 20 years, and was shocked early in his career at how much software project success depends on human relationships. He's an author and contributor to technical books such as "97 Things Every Cloud Engineer Should Know" and "Letters To a New Developer: What I Wish I Had Known When Starting My Development Career." Dan's also an organizer and member of several interest based groups, including the Odd Fellows (a fraternal order) and the Boulder Ruby programming language meetup group. Dan lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two daughters.ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO📢 This week’s fabulous sponsor + how to purchase ad space on Dear Nina📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question🔎 Want to work with me or need another link? That’s probably here.Our sponsor this week: https://www.purewesson.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Kristin Nilsen, co-host of The Pop Culture Preservation Society Podcast and middle-grade fiction writer, discusses the impact of childhood friendships on our identities and happiness. They explore the significance of friendships in children's books, navigating social dynamics, and the influence of childhood friendships on identity formation, fashion choices, and love for writing.

Renowned author and relationship coach Ruchi Koval joins the host to discuss navigating challenging friendships. They talk about the importance of setting boundaries, honesty in relationships, and the mindset shift required for new connections. They also explore the concept of giving back in friendships and finding balance.

My Mom, the podcaster's mother, joins the show to discuss grudges, apologies, and forgiveness in friendships. They explore the challenges of maintaining relationships during life changes and the importance of open communication. They also share personal stories of pettiness and discuss the impact of not receiving an apology from a parent. Tune in for valuable insights on navigating relationships and handling grudges.

Diamonde Williamson, founder of Third and Wonder Production House, creates art from friendship breakups. She shares the pain of these breakups and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief. The podcast explores navigating friendship breakups with mutual friends and the disappointment in lack of support. Creating the documentary, healing, and the joy of connecting are also discussed.

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 episode is about empowering you to take control of your social time and friendships.Don't wait around hoping to be invited--reach out, take the lead, and discover the joy that comes with being the planner. It's a super power!This is the perfect episode for a new school year, or a new season of friendship for ALL AGES from kids to every stage of adulthood. Yes, every stage--through retirement and beyond.A few links mentioned in the episode:The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger M.D. and Marc Schulz Ph.D.This Ted Talk by Susan Pinker: "The Secret to Living Longer May be Your Social Life"Episode #3 of Dear Nina, "The Friend Who Never Initiates Contact"Danielle Bayer Jackson is an amazing source for all things friends, and the upcoming guest I mentioned and not being invited. And so it Anna Goldfarb! In this episode I mentioned her 30 days of friendship tips on Threads.My best friend and occasional guest, Taryn Kessel, always talks about being your own "cruise director." You can find Taryn on episodes #2, #9, #18, #27.Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David SedarisALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO📢 This week’s fabulous sponsor + how to purchase ad space on Dear Nina📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question🔎 Want to work with me or need another link? That’s probably here.Our sponsor this week: https://www.purewesson.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jennifer Cramer-Miller, a four-time kidney transplant recipient, advocates for being unafraid of saying the wrong thing to friends with chronic illness. She shares her personal journey from health to chronic illness, the hope for a transplant, and the healing power of friendship. The chapter also discusses the importance of accepting life's unexpected turns and the journey of kidney transplants.