Making friends when you’re new to town or want to expand your circle

Episode sponsor:  Dimity Smith, Founder of GRO Rural If you’ve moved to a small town or even moved back to your hometown, after a long time away… how do you make friends? There are suggestions that Australia is in the middle of a loneliness epidemic; in fact one in three people experience it. Country towns are pretty good at welcoming people in, but making close, meaningful relationships takes time and it takes effort.In this episode we get advice from two experts and women who have experienced being the new girl in town, first-hand. (So have the hosts, Kirsten Diprose and Jen McCutcheon!)Malinda Guest -  psychologist at Boundless Psychology, who after a long time living elsewhere, returned to her hometown, Narrabri,  NSW.Katja Williiams  - farmer and creator of The Ultimate Farm Wife podcast and You Tube channel, who moved to Dubbo, NSW.We talk about strategies to meet local people, how to find those who share common values and interests and how long it takes to form deep connections. And we’re all adults here… so if a seemingly likely friendship doesn’t work out, that’s ok too! Send us Fan MailThis is a Rural Podcasting Co. production. Interested in making your own podcast? Let us help you tell your own story!