episode 65 - navigating the splinter era

In this episode, Nicole and Meagan discuss the concept of the 'splinter era,' where friends in their 30s start going in different directions in life. They share personal experiences and insights on managing expectations, celebrating different milestones, and the importance of communication in maintaining friendships. They also explore the impact of the pandemic on friendships and how it has affected their own relationships. Overall, the conversation highlights the challenges and growth that come with navigating friendships in this stage of life. The conversation explores the feeling of lost time and stolen time during the pandemic, particularly in relation to dating and relationships. It also highlights the impact of the pandemic on teenagers and their critical milestones. The hosts discuss their future plans for the podcast, including bringing on guests with different perspectives. Takeaways Friends in their 30s often experience the 'splinter era,' where they start going in different directions in life. Managing expectations and celebrating different milestones are key in maintaining friendships during this stage. Effective communication and asking for what you want are crucial in navigating friendships in your 30s. It's important to acknowledge and sit with negative emotions that arise from the splinter era, while also reframing them and finding joy in your own journey. The pandemic has had an impact on friendships, with some relationships growing stronger and others facing challenges. The pandemic has caused many people to feel like they have lost time and missed out on important experiences. For singles, the pandemic has exacerbated the desire to date and meet new people, as they feel like they are ready to enjoy their single life but find their friends already settled down. Teenagers have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, missing out on important milestones like prom and graduation. The podcast plans to bring on guests with different perspectives to discuss the impact of the pandemic on various stages of life. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap 06:11 The Splinter Era: Friends Going in Different Directions 17:44 Managing Expectations and Celebrating Different Milestones 26:08 The Importance of Communication and Asking for What You Want 34:04 Navigating Negative Emotions and Situations 36:33 The Impact of the Pandemic on Friendships 38:48 Feeling of Lost Time 41:32 Impact on Dating and Relationships 42:14 Impact on Teenagers 43:39 Future Plans for the Podcast Thank you to Jennifer Senior @ The Atlantic for an excellent article that bled into our convo, check it out here.