What if friendship isn't the supporting character in your life story?

What if it's one of the most important relationships you'll ever have?

In this episode, Michelle and Danyelle explore the inspiration behind The Third Thing and why they believe platonic love deserves far more attention than our culture often gives it.

Using their own 26-year friendship as a lens, they discuss how society tends to place romantic relationships at the center of our lives while overlooking the profound impact of friendship, community, and chosen family.

From childhood messages about love to the realities of adulthood, partnership, parenting, loneliness, and rebuilding community after the pandemic, this conversation is an invitation to think differently about connection.

In This Episode

• The question that sparked the creation of The Third Thing
• Why friendship can hold unique pieces of our identity
• The cultural prioritization of romantic love
• Disney, rom-coms, and the stories we inherit about relationships
• Relationship anarchy and expansive love
• Why one person can't be everything
• The impact of the pandemic on friendship and belonging
• The loss of third spaces and community gathering places
• Adult loneliness and social disconnection
• Building and maintaining your village
• The cost of deprioritizing friendship
• Why platonic love is a form of healing

Concepts Discussed

• Relationship Anarchy
• Chosen Family
• Community Care
• Adult Friendship
• Third Spaces
• Loneliness and Social Connection
• Expansive Love
• Interdependence vs. Independence

Reflection Questions

• If you woke up tomorrow with no memory, who would you trust to tell you who you are?
• How much time and energy are you currently investing in friendship?
• Have you unintentionally prioritized romantic relationships over platonic ones?
• Where might there be opportunities for repair, reconnection, or deeper intimacy in your friendships?
• What would it look like to intentionally build your village?

Resources Mentioned

• Ray Oldenburg and the concept of "Third Spaces"
• Relationship Anarchy
• Community care and village-building practices

Card Pull: The High Priestess

The episode closes with a reflection on the High Priestess tarot card—an invitation to trust your intuition, deepen your self-knowledge, and listen to what your relationships are asking of you.

Connect With Us

📸 Instagram: @thethirdthingpod

🌐 Website: TheThirdThingPod.com

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