Core Friends

I'm joined this week by not one, not two, but three beautiful and hilarious guests: Amanda (core friend veteran), Brielle, and Nicole. Together we recall how we met and prove that one can make best friends in the comment section of social media platforms. We talk about everything under the short-lived NYC sun (come back, please!) including our struggles with burnout and how we strive to stay sane and social amidst it all. Spoiler alert- we also share a psychic. Tune in for good fortune.

I am joined by Joshua Keay to explore the concept of friendship mapping, inspired by a Medium article he wrote in 2018 titled 'What I learned by mapping ten years of friendships.' Joshua shares his journey to New York City and the building of his social network, illustrating how connections can lead to unexpected friendships and personal growth. Listen to learn why you shouldn't bring a wingman to events and more!Check Out The Original Article HereJoin the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

In this solo reflection, I dive into recent feelings of burnout and a decision to reduce posting frequency in order to stay balanced. I also explore what a friend's birthday dinner taught me about male friendships and a spontaneous invitation leading to serendipitous connections.Join the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Join me for pt. 2 of my conversation with Amanda this week to dive into the balance between relationships and friendships in adulthood. We discuss the challenges of maintaining friendships during romantic relationships and the emotional rollercoaster of codependent friendships.Listen for our real stories of friendship breakups, the emotional impact of mean-girl dynamics and experiences battling loneliness on the quest for authentic relationships.Join the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

This week Amanda is back to bring us her latest life updates. We discuss the challenges of living in a historical landmark apartment in NYC and her recent wellness retreat experience in Costa Rica. Listen to learn how a cost-saving initiative brought Amanda deep friendship and vulnerability in fragile moments (cue Panic attack). We get deep and have deep laughter (I'm trying so hard to not use AI for these descriptions guys, so you're gonna have to grin and bear (with) it when it comes to these puns. Sorry, love you bye!Join the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

'From the Core' are solo episodes where I peel back the layers to reflect candidly on the state of my friendships and creative pursuits, as well as the lessons learned along the way.This week I explore: braving sub-zero temperatures for chosen family, the power of tiktok to forge new relationships, and being disillusioned with communities centered on exclusivity. Join the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

I am joined again by Core Friend baddie, Ashleigh this week where we cover everything under the (bleak midwinter) sun. We catch up on her career journey and what's next following Teen Vogue's mass layoffs, and dive into my experiences being 'laid off' of birthday invites. We bond over our shared astrological placements with Zohran Mamdani (should we start a band?), and try to decipher if it's in our highest good when we get hit in the face by a pigeon (unfortunately based on real events). And lots more!Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Note- This episode was originally recorded in November 2025. I am joined virtually by my college roommate Dory to reveal my experience going through rush at a large SEC school and being cut/dropped by nearly every sorority. Listen to hear what the process was like for both of us, and how it shaped our respective college experiences. We also giggle and have many side anecdotes, like that time we held a funeral for Dory's beta fish with our Golden Retriever in attendance.Skip to 17:00 to get straight to the sorority talk.Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

(Scrapping the third person until I teach Linus, my dog, to type these for me). This week I am joined again by Yena, to recap the shared fundraiser for Womankind last fall. We also discuss our 10-year age gap, and the accompanying excitement as we both prepare to head into new decades in 2026. We bring back the topic of fate surfing and dive into our experience attending OG Core Friend, Ashleigh C's birthday.Note this episode was filmed in November, but we are getting closer to the present day!Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly (who am I kidding, I write these) is solo this week and recounts a recent friendship that bloomed on a Christmas Day train ride. She (I) also recalls a surprise update letter received from her Friar friend/penpal featuring a table read of fun descriptions of the various Friars he lives with, Holy Moly! (that actually isn't even blamable on AI, my mind works in mysterious and unfortunate ways)Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined this week Ash Gerleman, met through Core Friend Amanda Jewell. The two explore Ash's journey of transitioning from a corporate career to pursuing a passion for photography. They discuss the importance of friendship and community in creative pursuits, and the exciting experiences Ash had during her travels, including New York Fashion Week.Learn more about Ash's Creative offeringsFollow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined by core friend OG Amanda to take a deep dive into Amanda's experience joining a co-ed Volleyball team when seeking out new friends as a baby New Yorker. Listen to have all your questions answered or for the giggles.Learn more about Volo SportsFollow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined again this week by Ashleigh to recap her experience at an Italian Art Retreat this summer. Listen to hear the sweet insights gained over a week of meals under the Tuscan sun at a 30 person table. Recorded in July, Carly shares a sneak peak of the friendships that survived trip home and have blossom over the second half of 2025.Correction- the letter referenced is from 1973 not 1937*Learn more about Art Escape Italy Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined by her friend Pedram (@Peddybeats) this week for a casual roast of their friendship. The two talk about orchestrating your own magic by connecting others, and how a spontaneous substitute dinner invitation from Carly blossomed into a jazz dinner party led by Pedram several months later. Listen for jabs, jives, and to learn how the key to making friends in New York City is wasting your time.Follow the bunch on Instagram: @corefriendspodPodcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined by her intrusive thoughts this week to recount her Thanksgiving holiday spent in the City. Listen for the play by play of her week featuring everything from an impromptu Friendsgiving spent singing with strangers to spending actual Thanksgiving with frozen pizza. This was a week of many Yes ands, from improv shows to spell work classes.Podcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan MarshallPodcast Outro- Cadde Hoppe & Maddie Regent

In this episode, Carly is joined by her friend and frequent creative collaborator Yena. They discuss their own friendship evolution and how important the 'Art of the Follow Up' is with new connections. They also explore the complexities of maintaining your identity within relationships, negative friendship dynamics in New York City, and the concept of 'fate surfing' as a way to navigate social connections.Podcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

Carly is joined by Ashleigh Carter for the original first episode to discuss moving to New York City with no friends. They dive into why you should never turn down a birthday invitation, being the bouncers of their respective friend groups, and how Ashleigh met her core friends on her apartment rooftop.Podcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall

In the first episode of Core Friends, Carly explains her motivations for launching a new podcast as well as the vision for the show.Podcast Intro- 'if tears could dance (i'll be alright) by STELLA. & pedramCover photo- Meghan Marshall Podcast Outro- Cadde Hoppe & Maddie Regent