Ep 133: What the Convenience of Modern Life Is Quietly Costing Us | Brian Feister

Remember when poking someone on Facebook was considered a legitimate form of communication? Today's guest is Brian Feister, a community builder, engineering leader, and the founder of Meet Near Me, a platform built to help people discover local gatherings and actually show up for real life. At first glance, this conversation is about friendship and community, but underneath that, it's really about something much bigger.Somewhere along the way, we became obsessed with optimizing everything, our schedules, our productivity, even our relationships. Technology promised to save us time, yet somehow many of us feel busier, lonelier, and less connected than ever. Brian and I explore why making friends as adults feels surprisingly difficult, what happened to the lost art of simply hanging out, why third places matter more than we realize, and whether convenience has quietly replaced community. Along the way we also land on one of the funniest detours I've ever taken in an interview, yes, Facebook pokes make an appearance.Topics Covered:Why human connection became a lifelong pursuit for Brian, tracing back to being bullied and a hard truth from someone he was dating.The difference between community, friendship, and what it actually means to feel understood.The "you're guaranteed to let your kids down" advice that changed how Brian thinks about sacrifice.Why social media became a failed experiment in trying to stay connected to everyone at once.What third places are and why losing them made adult friendship so much harder.How a culture of optimization quietly made it feel impossible to just hang out.The idea behind Meet Near Me and building what Brian calls anti-social social media.Brian's one habit anyone feeling disconnected could start this week.Connect with Brian!Website: https://meetnear.me/ Podcast: https://realmeetpodcast.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeister/ ______________________Contact French Kissing Life PodcastDM us at @shawnnarstiver on Instagram or FacebookConnect with Shawnna Stiver on LinkedInEmail us at [email protected] Until next time, muah! ______________________French Kissing Life is sponsored by Ampersand Copy and Content. Ready to convert browsers into buyers? If you want to master your messaging, stand out in a saturated market and become a crushed-on, go-to brand, contact us today!Website: https://ampersandcopyandcontent.com/Email: [email protected]