Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

#209 - Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Kids and Adults (Caroline Maguire)

I’ve spoken before on Dear Nina about neurodiversity and friendship with several fantastic guests, but I wanted to have a conversation that could speak both to parents ra

#208 - Making Friends at Any Age Takes a Little Risk (Harlan Cohen)

Harlan Cohen on friendship, social courage, and finding places where you belong. Finding friendship—at any stage of life—requires the risk of hearing “no.” And that “no”

#207 - The Teen Friendship Habits We Bring Into Adulthood (Sheri Gazitt)

Friend groups, exclusion, conflict, and the patterns we don’t always outgrow Some friendship habits start much earlier than we realize. The way we react to being left ou

#206 - How Friendships Change When You Stop Drinking (Suzanne Warye)

Alcohol is so woven into social life that choosing not to drink can change how you spend time with friends, which invitations come your way, and what you begin to notice

#205 - Get Offline and See Your Friends

I’m fresh off the "Dear Nina Live" event in Minneapolis to celebrate five years of the podcast. And after such a big week, I was ready to step away from my computer for a

#204 - "Go where the heat Is”: My Husband on Five Years of Friendship Advice

To mark five years of making this podcast, I invited the person who has heard every episode, encouraged every new idea, and occasionally reminded me to follow my own frie

#203 - College Rankings Don't Predict Where You'll Belong (Alexis White)

Admissions counselor, Alexis White, on why 'fit over flex' should guide the college search The college search puts a lot of pressure on families to find the “best” schoo

#202 - When Friends Make Plans Without You (Danielle Bayard Jackson)

Group dynamics, feeling left out, and not waiting around for invitations We have all felt that sting of not being invited. You see the pictures, hear about the dinner, f

#201 - A Softer Way to Think About Friendships That Faded (Rebecca Kotok)

How age, loss, and experience can change the way we see friendships from the past This week I’m joined by one of my very best friends, Rebecca Kotok, a public school cou

Bonus - An Episode Honoring Jill Smokler: Friendship, Cancer, and Community

My friend, Jill Smokler, touched so many lives. If you loved Jill, I hope hearing her voice is a comfort. If you didn’t know her, I hope this episode gives you a glimpse

#200 - Why Talking to Strangers is Good for Your Friendships (Dr. Gillian Sandstrom)

How small talk, "loose ties," and everyday conversations help us feel more connected For episode #200 of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, I’m joined by Dr. Gil

#199 - Traveling with Friends: Lessons From a Girls-Trip Regular (Rebekah Jacobs)

How to make girls trips, weekend getaways, and friendship travel actually happen This week, I’m joined by one of my favorite people to talk to about friendship on and of

#198 - Making Friends Through Work: Collaboration Over Competition (Kim Oster-Holstein and Mara Smith)

Two entrepreneurs on friendship, support, and staying open to new connections. When we talk on Dear Nina about making friends as adults, I often focus on hobbies, neighb

#197 - Anxious Attachment in Friendships: Why You Keep Wondering Where You Stand (Rebecca Stambridge)

Why Reassurance-Seeking, Overthinking, and Fear of Rejection Can Strain Even Good Friendships Most of us have moments when we wonder where we stand with a friend. That's

#196 - Second Homes and Friendship: Hosting, FOMO, and Unspoken Expectations (Stephanie Hansen)

In this episode of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, I’m talking about the social complications of having a second home. Whether it’s a lakeside cabin, a Florida

Bonus: Are Your Friendships Surviving the Digital Age? Likes, Memes & What Really Matters (Nina on The Visibility Standard with Jazzmyn Proctor)

I’m sharing a bonus episode from my appearance on The Visibility Standard with Jazzmyn Proctor. We talked about modern friendship and all the strange new tensions that co

#195 - Money Landmines with Friends: Group Trips, Weddings, and Splitting Checks (Heather Boneparth)

Money can shape adult friendships in ways we don’t always talk about openly. Who pays for dinner? Who can afford the group trip? Do you need to attend the wedding AND the

#194 - Low-Key, Creative Ways to Spend Time with Friends (Ashlee Gadd and Katie Blackburn)

This episode is a little different—and very fun—because it’s packed with specific, creative ways to spend time with friends that go beyond the usual walk, coffee, or dinn

#193 - How to Make Your City Better for Friendship (Aaron Hurst)

Is your neighborhood or town welcoming? I spend a lot of time on this show talking about the one-to-one side of friendship—the texts, the plans, the misunderstandings, t

#192 - Why Plans with Friends Don’t Happen—and How to Fix It

Navigating friendship when your planning styles don’t match Why is it so hard to actually make plans with friends as adults? In this solo episode, I’m digging into one o