In this episode, we're talking about friendship—how easy it seemed as kids, why it gets so much harder as adults, and what we've learned after decades of friendships that lasted, faded away, or ended unexpectedly. We look back on growing up in very different environments, from rural schools and small-town friend groups to suburban neighborhoods filled with kids, and share how those early experiences shaped the way we build relationships today.

We also open up about losing childhood and college friends, navigating friendships through marriage, parenthood, coming out, and transitioning, and how our definition of friendship has changed over the years. We discuss why some friendships naturally drift apart while others end because of differences in values, including experiences with homophobia and transphobia. Along the way, we talk about insecurity, comparison, communication, setting healthy boundaries, and the importance of finding people who genuinely show up for you.

Finally, we share the advice we hope our kids carry with them: friendships require effort, honesty, and mutual respect, but it's also okay to let relationships go when they're no longer healthy. Whether you're struggling to make friends as an adult, grieving a friendship that's changed, or trying to build a stronger community around you, this episode is a reminder that meaningful friendships aren't about quantity—they're about finding people who choose to keep showing up.

New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next, and find us on Instagram to be part of the conversation. We’d love to hear your questions!

Julie is a podcast manager who helps people tell the stories they’ve been too scared to share. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast… this is your sign. Home - Julie Beck LLC