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Artwork for Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

Alex Alexander
Friendship
Friendship Patterns
Connection
People-Pleasing
Female Friendships
Loneliness
Learned Loneliness
Support Systems
Conflict Resolution
Self-Talk
Adult Friendships
Pandemic Impact On Friendships
Vulnerability In Relationships
Friendship Dynamics
Community and Individualism
Social Anxiety
Katrina Mcghee
Emotional Labor
Self-Reflection In Friendships
Wholehearted Friendship

Tired of hearing “just put yourself out there” when it comes to friendship or community? Same.

Friendship IRL is the podcast that skips the fluff and gets real about what it takes to build meaningful adult friendships and lasting support systems. Whether you're struggling to make new friends, maintain old ones, or just want people in your life who really show up, you're in the right place.

Each we... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes174Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Mental HealthPersonal JournalsSociety & CultureHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

Latest Episodes

Does talking about one person to another make you a bad friend?

For quite some time, I’ve been considering the role of gossip in friendship. I’ve reflected on my own patterns and beliefs, and I’ve thought hard about where I’ve pushed the boundaries.... more

YouTube

For years, Erin Snow was a trauma-informed legal advocate for domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking survivors, so she understands well the cost of having nowhere safe to say what’s true. 

When she got divorced, she felt isolated and withou... more

YouTube

Fitting social gatherings into busy lives often isn’t easy, but let me remind you of their value:

One of the longest studies on human connection found that adults who went to social gatherings regularly reported reduced levels of depression and bett... more

YouTube

Have you ever felt like you have nobody to call, and wondered: how did I get here? Where are my people?

Maybe you’d been focusing on your career and lost touch with your friends. Maybe a big life transition has made you feel the friendships you used... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Similar Podcasts

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Friend Forward
Friend ForwardDanielle Bayard Jackson -- Female Friendship Expert

Recent Guests

Erin Snow
Founder of the Unmuted Room, trauma-informed advocate and professional listener
Unmuted Room
Episode: Unmuted Rooms and Judgement-Free Listening With Erin Snow
(no additional guest)
Episode: Unmuted Rooms and Judgement-Free Listening With Erin Snow
Connor Joyce
Senior User Researcher on the Microsoft Copilot team
Microsoft Copilot
Episode: Using AI to Navigate and Improve Friendships with Connor Joyce
Alison Kinsey
One half of Podcasting for Creatives; community builder and connector
Podcasting for Creatives
Episode: The 10 Coffee Date Experiment That Changed Her Friendships with Alison Kinsey
Michelle Valiukenas
A mother who lost children due to miscarriage and prematurity and co-founder of a foundation that aids families facing similar losses.
Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation
Episode: Grief and Friendship: Showing Up After Infant Loss with Michelle Valiukenas
Jason Edmonds
Founder of Six Degrees
Six Degrees
Episode: It’s OK to Get Help With Making Friends (Especially After College!)
Amy Stafford
Founder of Blixa 6 Studios, cultural producer, creative director, and artist.
Blixa 6 Studios
Episode: The Extraordinary Ripple Effects of Small Moments of Connection with Amy Stafford
Tanesha L. Moody
Speaker, writer, and founder of Full Out Coaching
Full Out Coaching
Episode: Reframing Rejection with Tanesha Moody
Lee Hopkins
Social connections and business culture coach, CEO of Patterns of Possibility.
Patterns of Possibility
Episode: Write Your Own Friendship Manual: Building Authentic Relationships While Neurodivergent with Lee Hopkins

Host

Alex Alexander
Host of the show focused on real talk about friendship, community, and practical strategies for building lasting connections.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • A needed conversation

    Thrilled to have found this podcast. Friends are so central to our lives, yet it’s hard to find real conversations about the highs and lows, ins and outs of friendship. Alex is relatable, insightful, and gives concrete tips.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jessgiff
    United Statesa year ago
  • 10/10

    Alex does a great job talking about how to form closer friendships. She’s insightful and empathetic ❤️ I’ve been looking forward to her episodes every week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lucy M.P
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cassandraj57
    2 years ago
  • Refreshing perspective

    This is one of those podcasts where I’ll be alone in the car driving and listening, and Alex will bring up a perspective that causes me to literally reply out loud. Each episode is like a cup of green tea. Comforting and stimulating. I think we can all learn something from Friendship IRL, especially about ourselves.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Silly Gordon
    United States2 years ago
  • Great insights on deepening relationships

    Alex has so many great ideas on how to deepen the connection and build more intimacy with your friends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SarahMcRoller
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans describe host as warm, relatable, and empathetic with a knack for calm, insightful guidance.
Sponsors may find value in a show that blends personal stories with actionable playbooks and expert insights.
Listeners praise practical tips and tangible scripts for real-life friendship work.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 10 Coffee Date Experiment That Changed Her Friendships with Alison Kinsey
Q: When you reached out to people in January 2025, what was your approach and what were the results?
I sent direct messages or emails inviting people to coffee with a clear but friendly purpose, and most said yes (about a 90% response rate). The approach was casual yet purposeful, focusing on genuine connection rather than a transactional goal.
Write Your Own Friendship Manual: Building Authentic Relationships While Neurodivergent with Lee Hopkins
Q: What would you tell someone who was just diagnosed with autism and is wanting more connection?
Take some time to understand yourself first and explore what connection means to you.
Social Engineering Your Way Into Friendship, From Picnics to the Six Points of Connection, with Charlotte Massey
Q: If someone is moving to a new city, what advice would you give them regarding connections?
Charlotte advises to start with the Six Points of Connection and create a plan for meeting neighbors and building social networks, emphasizing that effort is needed to cultivate these relationships.
Social Engineering Your Way Into Friendship, From Picnics to the Six Points of Connection, with Charlotte Massey
Q: What were some of your initial approaches to making friends when you got here?
Charlotte shares that she started with her boyfriend's friends but later sought connections with others through social media, group activities, and individual outreach to acquaintances.
Being a Social Artist and Why Friendship Deserves Its Own Soundtrack With Leila Six
Q: What inspired you to write love songs about friend love?
My music documents my human experience, particularly the heartbreaks and challenges with friendships.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical, real-world approaches to building and sustaining meaningful adult friendships and chosen communities. Across episodes, topics include managing jealousy and burnout, navigating group chats, inviting others to connect, and creating inclusive social spaces without pressure or perfection. The host emphasizes actionable scripts, mindset shifts, and low-friction strategies (like coffee dates, host-friendly gatherings, and honest conversations) to deepen connection and support systems. A recurring highlight is the blend of personal storytelling with expert perspectives, offering relatable guidance for anyone seeking deeper, more authentic relationships while challenging common social myths about how friendship “shou... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship
2. Friend Forward
3. The Mel Robbins Podcast
4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty
5. The Mindset Mentor

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 174 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Erin Snow
2. (no additional guest)
3. Connor Joyce
4. Alison Kinsey
5. Michelle Valiukenas
6. Jason Edmonds
7. Amy Stafford
8. Tanesha L. Moody

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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