Shows / Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
“Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship” is for anyone who wants to make sense of the gray areas of adult friendship: changed closeness, uneven effort, group dynamics, hurt feelings, and what to say and do next. As Nina always says, "Friendship issues are ageless and timeless." You can listen and relate to these topics no matter your age or your stage of life.
And Dear Nina is a top 1% podcast so people of all ages are listening!
Whether you've agonized over a text, wondered why…
Episodes
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#101 - Best Friends, Friendship Trios, and Other Tricky Friendship Questions
It's the first official "ask me anything" episode in honor of 100 episodes! The questions came from my anonymous inbox, my Facebook group (Dear Nina…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#100 - The Magic of Camp Friends (Dara Levan)
They say camp friends are the best friends. Why? At camp there are no screens, you take risks, parents aren't breathing down your back, and the magic…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#99 - The 14-Day Friendship Mindset Cleanse (Anna Goldfarb)
Welcome to the 14-day friendship (mindset) cleanse, brainchild of previous Dear Nina guest, Anna Goldfarb, whose book Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#98 - Are Your Friendships Working for You? Five Questions to Ask
There are five questions I want us to be asking ourselves to get a sense of where our friendships stand. Even if you're not a student or a parent, thinking in…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#97 - Disclosing an Invisible Disability to Your Friends (Estelle Erasmus)
Invisible disabilities can turn into a source of shame and unknowingly get in the way of friendships. What is an invisible disability? It's any condition that…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#96 - Mixtapes, Mahjong, and Other Sensory Friendship Experiences (Gretchen Rubin)
I have been a Gretchen Rubin fan since 2009 when I read The Happiness Project the week it came out. Who could resist that cover and concept? And I cannot…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#95 - Are You Talking Too Much—or Not Enough—with Friends? (Micaela Blei)
Oversharing, overtalking, undertalking, undersharing, small talk, deep talks, mismatches in vulnerability, and the art of listening---these are the tricky…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#94 - Five Friendship Issues to Address With a Therapist (Roxanne Francis)
Everyone runs into bumps in their friendships. Trust me, I have a decade's worth of writing material from readers and listeners to prove that point. But when…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#93 - Handling Small Friendship Slights and Changing Your Instagram Handle
A quick conversation about the subtle hurts that can make friendship difficult. It's the small slights I cover on Dear Nina in general, not the giant…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#92 - Trusting Friends Again After You’ve Been Hurt
For anyone who has been hurt by a friend--or a group of friends--recently or in the past, this 14-minute episode is for you. It's a solo episode that came from…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#91 - Why Big Friend Groups Can Be Hard for Kids (Dr. Lisa Damour)
Dr. Lisa Damour's latest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers , is out in paperback. On this episode we revisit the best nuggets of my previous conversation…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#90 - The Friends You Want Around During a Crisis (Kelly Lang)
Many of us say we would be there for our friends in an emergency, but that's often theory until it's tested. Not everyone can rise to the occasion. And crisis…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#89 - Why Do You Keep Having the Same Friendship Problems? (Christie Tate)
Episode #89: Do you ever feel like you or someone you know is just not “good at” friendship? It's never too late to address negative patterns in our…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#88 - Differences of Opinion With Friends and The Potential of Friendship Between Cousins (Emily Locker)
Episode #88: Managing differences of opinion with friends can get tricky. An obvious area is politics, but smaller differences also get between friends, like…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#87 - Beyond The Golden Girls: Platonic Life Partners at Any Age (Rhaina Cohen)
Today's guest, Rhaina Cohen, author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center, profiles platonic partners in her book who…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#86 - Every New Friendship Takes an Act of Courage (Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston)
Making friends and deepening existing friendships starts with some basic truths. "Every friendship starts with an act of bravery. And every friendship goes…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#85 - Making Plans With Friends: When the More the Merrier is Not Always True (Danielle Bayard Jackson)
"The more the merrier" is a common expression for good reason. Most of us don't want to be considered exclusive. We want others to feel welcomed and…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#84 - Turning an Acquaintance Into a Friend (Debra Arbit)
Yes, you can turn an acquaintance into a friend! In this episode, Debra Arbit and I tell our real-life friendship story, which is a great example of going from…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#83 - Becoming Friends with Fellow Exes (Lara Star)
Have you ever befriended your ex's ex? Today's episode focuses on the potential friendship that comes from a shared hurt and a shared healing. I was intrigued…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#82 - The Lasting Ties of Friendships Formed in Difficult Times (Jenny Leon)
The friendships formed during difficult, even dark, periods of our lives create a lasting impact unlike any other bond. These friendships "in the…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#81 - Do Your Friends Who Want to Hear Your Good News? (Chaz Sandifer)
Have you ever held back sharing good news because you sensed a friend wasn't truly celebrating with you? Do you have friends who show up in bad times, but are…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#80 - Neediness and Expectations in Friendships (Sally Vardaman)
"Neediness" has come up in plenty of episodes, but this is the first one dedicated to that loaded word. The episode was inspired by a letter from a…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#79 - Moving Every Three Years and Creating Community (Bri McKoy)
Bri McKoy is a cookbook author and military wife who has moved seven times in 12 years. She went from burning everything in the kitchen to learning to cook as…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#78 - How to Pursue a New Friendship Without Feeling Pushy (Stephanie Goldstein and Rachel Levy Lesser)
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…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#77 - Loneliness and Male Friendship (Gabe Mollica)
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…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#76 - Yes, Reach Out to Your Friends During a Crisis
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…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#75 - Scheduling, Structure, and Traditions as the Key to Keeping Friends (Dan Moore and Jeff Waldman)
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…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#74 - The Childhood Friendships that Shaped Our Identities (Kristin Nilsen)
Have you ever stopped to acknowledge the profound impact of your childhood friendships, even the most casual and fleeting ones, on your adult identity? This…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#73 - What to Do When You're Just Not Into a Friendship (Ruchi Koval)
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 better friends…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#72 - Grudges and Apologies in Friendships (my mom)
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'm…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#71 - Learning From a Friendship Breakup (Diamonde Williamson)
Diamonde Williamson, found a way to make art from a painful friendship breakup and help others process their breakups, too. Just like romantic breakups…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#70 - Become Your Own Social Director: Stop Waiting for Invitations
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…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#69 - Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing to friends with a chronic illness (Jennifer Cramer-Miller)
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? Jennifer…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#68 - When Your Friend is an Unhealthy or an Abusive Relationship (Rachel Katz)
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 extremely…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#67 - Visit Your Long Distance Friends
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 with out of…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#66 - Introvert Energy in Friendships (Heidi Shertok)
Today we’re talking about a topic that people have written to me about consistently over the years--friendships between introverts and extroverts. Here to help…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#65 - Why Teen Friend Groups Are So Complicated (Dr. Lisa Damour)
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. On Dear…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#64 - Old School Blogging and Maintaining Online Friendships (Jill Smokler)
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 the…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#63 - How to Tell Friends They've Let You Down (Dr. Marisa Franco)
Conflicts in friendships can feel so daunting, but sometimes we have to tell friends they've let us down rather than distancing ourselves and ignoring calls…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#62 - The Power of Friendship with Weekly Walking Partners (Leslie Hooton)
"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. . . "…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#61 - The Case For Phone Calls and Low-key Hangs With Friends (Jo Piazza)
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and podcast creator, Jo Piazza, joins me to answer the question---Is texting ruining the art of friendship…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#60 - College Friends in the 90s and the Potential of Current Campus Friendships (Daisy Alpert Florin)
College friendships! Daisy Alpert Florin, author of My Last Innocent Year, joins me to discuss the unparalleled intimacy of college friendships. We delve into…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#59 - When Should Parents Step Into Their Teen's Friendship Problems? (Stephanie Sprenger)
How can we help our teens navigate the complexities of friendships without projecting our own experiences, desires, or traumas onto them? What level of parent…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#58 - Mahjong, Poker, and Becoming Closer Friends Through a Game (Mark Oppenheimer)
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 fan…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#57 - Listen for What’s Not Being Said and Other Friendship Solutions From the Five Senses (Gretchen Rubin)
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 friendships. We…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#56 - The Problems and Potential of Group Texts (Kat Vellos)
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 see go away…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#55 - How to Support a Friend Facing an Ambiguous Loss (Emma Nadler)
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 rare genetic…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#54 - Text Your Friends Back (Laura Tremaine)
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" we…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#53 - It's Never Too Late to Make New Friends (Megan Tamte)
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 adult life…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#52 - Choosing a New Expat Life After a Tragedy with Jen Zwinck
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. This is…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#51 - How to Recognize a Toxic Friendship with Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella
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, it's something…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#50 - How Friendship Changes With Age and Overlooking Foibles (with my mom)
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 quote her often…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#49 - Finding Friendship in Unexpected Places (Will Schwalbe)
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 call. Donate…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#48 - How to Stay Friends When You Disagree (Chaya Leah Sufrin and Yael Bar Tur)
There is so much value to having friends with different points of view and backgrounds. I love witnessing a friendship between people whose differences should…
Dear Nina: Conversations About FriendshipBonus: Friendship Mistakes on She's Got Issues
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’re going to…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#47 - Friendship Triangles, Envy, Competition, and Ghosting (Christie Tate)
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.: A Memoir of…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#46 - Why Casual Friendships Matter More Than You Think (Shari Leid)
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 the casual…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#45 - Learning From Our Parents' Friendships with Linda Pressman
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 spoke to…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#44 - How Diet Culture Complicates Friendships with Pam Moore
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 podcast…
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship#43 - Navigating Money and Friendship: It's tricky! with Mia Brabham
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 money and…