"In the end, I don't know that we were friends at all."

Jackie Kashian is known for being funny. Really funny. But in this conversation, we get to know the woman behind the comedy as she shares her experiences with friendship, and how her own family influenced her social life, or lack thereof. Jackie opens up about her journey to making friends and the people who helped her understand how to truly connect with others, on stage and off. One of the most surprising stories takes us back to high school, when her track coach told her to "put the book down." What followed was a lesson about friendship that Jackie says "saved her life."

About Jackie

Jackie Kashian is a nationally touring stand-up comedian who has appeared on Conan, After Midnight, The Late Late Show with James Corden, HBO, Netflix, Comedy Central, and Dropout TV, and has been heard on NPR, Audible, and as a voice actor on Bob's Burgers and Strange Planet. Her latest comedy special, Alter-Kashian, was named by The New York Times as one of the year's five best comedy specials. She also hosts the long-running podcasts The Dork Forest and The Jackie and Laurie Show.

In this episode:

- Jackie’s experiences—or lack of them—with friendship growing up
- The coach who taught Jackie how friendship actually works
- The danger of “compare and despair”
- What happens when one best friend becomes your only best friend
- Jackie’s experience losing an intense friendship
- One unforgettable piece of advice from Jackie’s stepmother

Connect with Jackie Kashian on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

To learn more, visit The Best Friend Project.co . While you're there, discover your Friendship Archetype by taking the Friendship Survey We'd also love to stay in touch—come say hello on Instagram and Facebook (we will follow you back!) If you need to reach us, you can always email us at Hello@TheBFProject.com.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
02:49 – Being a Woman in Stand-Up Comedy
10:30 – “I Had No Friends as a Child”
11:29 – ***The Coach Who Taught Jackie How to Make Friends***
15:48 – Learning How to Accept Friendship
23:02 – Do Women Really Tear Other Women Down?
24:38 – Mother Trust, Betrayal & the Best Friend Breakup
32:11 – “In the End, I Don’t Know That We Were Friends at All”
36:31 – What Gone With The Wind has to do with The Best Friend Project
41:10 – 20 Years of Podcasting & The Dork Forest
44:24 – Final Thoughts

Coming Next Week

Rachel talks with Allie, an adult who is now no contact with her mother, exploring what led to that decision and how that complicated relationship has affected her ability to make, maintain, and understand friendships.

Content note: The conversation includes references to sexual abuse, violence, and domestic assault. Nothing is graphic, but listeners with sensitivity to these topics may want to skip this episode.

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