At every age and stage, we long to belong. But too often, that desire comes at the cost of abandoning parts of ourselves. True friendship isn’t about fitting in - it’s about finding your people: the ones you like, and the ones you feel good being around.

Leslie Randolph is joined by friendship expert and advice columnist Nina Badzin for a conversation about friendship and friend groups, especially during the tween and teen years. But the truths they explore reach well beyond middle school. How do we recognize a real friend versus someone we’re just trying to impress? Why do so many of us stay in groups that drain us? And how can we help kids build friendships that reflect who they are, not who they think they’re supposed to be?

Nina shares what she’s learned from years of listening to people wrestle with connection, exclusion, and the pressure to belong. Together, Leslie and Nine unpack the difference between fitting in and finding true friendship, the quiet harm of chasing the “right” group, and the role adults play, often unintentionally, in keeping those patterns alive. They also talk about the value of community and how spaces like family dinners, extracurriculars, and youth groups can offer kids a sense of belonging that isn’t dependent on social status.

This episode is a gentle reminder that strong friendships aren’t built on proximity or history alone. They’re built on trust, emotional safety, and mutual effort. And that’s true at any age.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Friendship and Confidence

03:04 Meet Nina Badzin: Friendship Columnist and Expert

05:00 The Myth of the Perfect Friend Group

08:09 Fitting In vs. Authentic Friendship

11:12 How Parents Shape Social Pressure

15:04 What Makes a Friendship Real

20:10 Trust, Safety, and Showing Up as Yourself

24:05 Building Social Confidence Through Multiple Buckets

28:02 Where to Find Belonging Beyond School

30:12 Friendship vs. Community: Why Both Matter

38:09 Practical Advice for Building Real Friendships

41:00 Letting Go and Moving On with Openness

Connect with Nina Badzin:

See Nina in Highland Park

Listen to Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

Subscribe to the Dear Nina newsletter

Join the Facebook Group

Follow on IG

Connect With Leslie:

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Heading to summer camp? Confidence is the most important thing you can pack. Leslie Randolph speaks directly to girls (and their moms) navigating the nerves that come with starting something new, whether it’s sleepaway camp or a big life transition. Some girls are counting down the days with excitement. Others feel anxious, unsure, or like they’re heading off against their will. All of that is normal, Leslie says, and it’s exactly why building self-confidence matters.

Leslie breaks down how self-confidence isn’t about having zero fear. It’s about moving forward with the fear and choosing how you want to show up anyway. She offers mindset shifts to help girls challenge worst-case-scenario thinking and reframe those “what if” worries. Confidence starts by recognizing that you can’t control who likes you, but you can decide how you show up, how you treat others, and what kind of camper you want to be.

From embracing your interests (even if no one else is into archery!) to staying open to new friendships and new experiences, this episode is a permission slip to be yourself bravely, and without apology. Whether your daughter’s headed to camp, starting high school, or trying something new for the first time, Leslie offers a confidence care package for the road ahead!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome to Why Didn’t They Tell Us

01:49 Why Camp Brings Up Big Feelings

03:45 How to Normalize Nerves and Build Confidence

05:01 Stop the Spiral: Rethinking Worst-Case Thinking

08:12 Confidence Starts with Knowing Yourself

13:24 Be Open to New Things (Even If You’re Bad at First)

15:12 Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Trait

Connect With Leslie:

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most people wait for a crisis to start living with intention. This episode is your invitation to stop waiting.

After attending a funeral for someone who lived with “no wasted days,” Leslie Randolph reflects on how easily moms can slip into autopilot – checking boxes, managing schedules, and losing sight of their own joy. She shares how the loss of her father during the height of COVID became a turning point, waking her up to the difference between managing life and actually living it.

This episode is a call to trade burnout and disconnection for intentional living. Leslie walks listeners through the first, often overlooked step: self-awareness. She offers strategies to help moms get honest about how they’re feeling, notice what they need, and take small but powerful actions toward a more fulfilling life.

From setting boundaries to rediscovering joy in the everyday, Leslie offers a roadmap for moms who are ready to stop going through the motions and start showing up on purpose for themselves and the people they love.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Living with Intention vs. Autopilot

02:10 Personal Wake-Up Call After Loss

06:58 How Moms Can Start Living More Intentionally

09:51 Responding to Your Needs with Small, Powerful Shifts

12:02 Why Awareness Without Action Doesn’t Work

14:54 Building a Life of Connection and Purpose

Connect With Leslie:

The Summer of Self-Love

Help Your Teen Cultivate Confidence

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm