EPISODE · Jan 4, 2026 · 27 MIN
#179 - Your Newest Friendship Questions, Answered (with My Mom)
from Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship · host Nina Badzin
For the first episode of 2026, I have my mom, Kathy Sackheim, in the studio for her 6th appearance on the podcast to help me answer a stack of listener questions straight from the Dear Nina inbox.We move quickly through a range of friendship dilemmas from listeners: milestone birthday expectationsuneven effortfriend group tensionan uncomfortable confrontationa group chat blowupreaching out after a long gap since the last hangoutand what to do when a friend’s choices leave you conflicted and/or burdened (We slightly disagreed about that last one!)My mom, at 80, brings decades of perspective and a refreshingly no-nonsense approach to friendship. We talk about being realistic without becoming resentful, staying nonjudgmental, knowing when to widen your circle instead of forcing a group dynamic to work, and why friends and romantic partners serve very different roles in our lives.This episode is thoughtful, candid, and practical—exactly what happens when I put a microphone in front of my mom and let her answer your questions honestly.PREVIOUS 5 EPISODES WITH MY MOM:Ep. #1. The Friend Who Will Only Text:Ep. #8. When Friends Ask Questions You Don’t Want to AnswerEp. #36. Widowhood and FriendshipEp. #50. How Friendships Change With Age, Overlooking Foibles, Dealing With Our Teens’ Friendships, and moreEp. #72. Grudges and Apologies in FriendshipsLINKED MENTIONED:Find the anonymous questions in the newsletter at dearnina.substack.comAsk an anonymous question The live episode in Chicago was Ep. #160Join the Dear Nina Facebook Group ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO!! Catch up on all Dear Nina episodes on Apple and Spotify📢 How to promote your service, business, or book on Dear Nina🎈 Celebrate your friend on the show by dedicating a week of episodes!📱 Subscribe to my newsletter “Conversations About Friendship” on Substack❤️ Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, & the Dear Nina Facebook group📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question📪 email: [email protected]🔎 Want to work with me on your podcast, your friendships, or need another link? That’s probably here. Special thank you, as always, to my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs!
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What this episode covers
This episode is a rapid-fire advice session built around your newest friendship questions—and my mom’s fifth time joining me on the show. Together, we talk through realistic expectations for milestone birthdays, uneven effort, group chat conflict, friend group tension, reaching out after long gaps, keeping secrets, and navigating uncomfortable moments with honesty and care. My mom brings decades of lived experience and a refreshingly direct perspective, while I add context from years of writing and podcasting about adult friendship. It’s practical, candid, and grounded in the belief that friendship is worth working on—without turning yourself inside out to make it work. Special thank you, as always, to my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs!
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#179 - Your Newest Friendship Questions, Answered (with My Mom)
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