Why Friendship Gets Harder As You Get Older | Open Tabs Podcast Ep. 17

For the first time ever, Billy and Joe are recording the Open Tabs Podcast in the same room—and what starts as a conversation about getting older turns into a surprisingly deep discussion about friendship, vulnerability, mental health, and why so many of us still don't feel like real adults.Why do friendships become harder to maintain as we age? Why does losing a close friend feel like grief? And why do so many people in their 40s still feel like they're just pretending to have life figured out?Along the way, Billy shares his experiences with depression and finding community through mental health treatment, while Joe reflects on parenting teenagers, vulnerability, and the importance of investing in relationships that truly matter.Whether you're navigating adulthood, struggling with loneliness, or wondering if everyone else has life figured out (spoiler: they don't), this episode is for you.Chapters00:00 – First In-Person Recording & Looking Older02:15 – Feeling Like You're Still a Kid06:00 – Friendships Across Different Life Stages09:10 – Losing Friends & Being Ghosted15:40 – Why Vulnerability Is Worth the Risk20:00 – The Friends You Can Always Count On22:45 – Why Adulting Never Gets Easier27:15 – Finding Friendship Through Mental Health Struggles32:00 – Depression, Stigma & Oversharing36:10 – Trauma Bonds vs. Healthy Relationships40:30 – Final Thoughts on Grace, Acceptance & Connection