Let's Talk: Friendship with Nina Badzin (and Why You Don't Need a Best Friend)

In this episode, Nina Badzin, writer and host of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship podcast, and I talk about how healthy adult friendships and commitment actually work. We explore the concept of open vs. closed friendship markets and what it means when you’re not invited into a long-standing friendship group. How do you handle the emotions? How do you respond with compassion instead of resentment? And how do you stay grounded in your own sense of independence, love and self-worth?We also challenge the myth that you need one “best friend.” Maybe what we need instead are different friendships for different purposes — built on kindness, shared interests, emotional safety, and realistic commitment.This conversation is about friendship, love, relationship dynamics, emotions, compassion, self worth, confidence and commitment in midlife. If you’ve ever felt outside a circle or questioned where you fit, this episode will hit home.A bit about Nina Badzin: DEAR NINA: Conversations About Friendship is a top 1% podcast and newsletter about being a better friend and having better friends.The host, Nina Badzin, a  writer who accepted a position as a friendship advice columnist in 2014, never stopped discussing the topic.DEAR NINA, the podcast, started in 2021, and has been referenced in NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, The Skimm, and many other media outlets.-Find Nina Badzin on Instagram, click ⁠here⁠.-Listen to Dear Nina: Conversations about Friendship Nina Badzin's podcast, listen ⁠here⁠.-Go to Nina Badzin's website, click ⁠here⁠.**To read the referenced NYT article by Janice McCabe on Friendship Markets go here.Midlife women, women over 40, women over 50, single moms, and widows—this podcast is your go-to for dating, relationships, divorce, empowerment, career pivots, menopause, perimenopause, self-improvement, mental health, and personal growth. Betsy gets raw, funny, and real about midlife messes, dating disasters, financial challenges, career changes, grief, empty nest life, and all the baffling, annoying things people do.If you want midlife advice, dating guidance, relationship tips, divorce strategies, empowerment tools, and personal growth insights, you’ve found your new favorite podcast. Women over 40 and women over 50 will love Betsy’s take on midlife reinvention, self-awareness, empowerment, career pivots, menopause, perimenopause, mental wellness, personal finance literacy, and self-improvement.Our resident experts bring even more depth:Nicola Morgan, Money Wellness Coach – financial literacy, money wellness, and empowerment.Dr. Ritu Saluja-Sharma, Functional Medicine Physician – menopause, perimenopause, and midlife women’s health.Natalie Gaglione, Dating & Relationship Expert – dating, love, and relationships after 40.Erin Bagwell, Tarot Reader & Intuitive Medium – mindfulness, awareness, empowerment, and personal growth.Amanda Towne, Transformation Therapist – self-care, stress management, mental wellness, and personal growth.Follow, stream, and tune in every Tuesday to laugh, learn, and thrive through midlife challenges, dating adventures, relationship struggles, divorce transitions, career pivots, empowerment journeys, menopause, perimenopause, and personal growth.Because better midlife advice, dating guidance, relationship skills, empowerment strategies, career tips, menopause insight, perimenopause support, and personal growth tools create stronger women, stronger relationships, and stronger lives.Connect with Betsy: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube @BetsyRonel | Questions & collabs: [email protected]