Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

#215 - When Your Child Gets Dropped From a Friend Group

How to help your child through exclusion without letting your own panic take over I've been a parent on both sides of friendship exclusion. I've had kids who were left o

#214 - Are We Giving Up on Our Friends Too Quickly? (Melissa Radke)

Are we too quick to decide a friendship isn’t working? That’s the question running through this conversation with bestselling author and podcaster Melissa Radke. Melissa

#213 - Friendship "Flings," Uneven Effort, and Being Stuck in the Middle (Dr. Miriam Kirmayer)

Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is back on Dear Nina, and this time we did something different: we each brought friendship questions the other person had not seen in advance. No pre

#212 - What Your Behavior May Be Saying to Your Friends (Laura Tremaine)

When good intentions aren’t enough in a friendship What happens when you genuinely care about friends, but your behavior isn’t showing it? That’s the question at the ce

#211 - You Don’t Have to Be Fully Secure to Have Good Friendships (Dr. Marisa G. Franco)

Dr. Marisa G. Franco is back on Dear Nina! This time we spoke about her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment, and how our sense of self-w

#210 - AI, Friendship, and the Danger of Outsourcing Connection (Sarah Baldeo)

Why human connection requires friction, empathy, and accountability. I have real concerns about AI, and one of my biggest is what happens when we start treating it like

#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