Friend Forward

You know that you need to spend more time with your friends, but as a busy woman over 30, how exactly are you supposed to do that?In this episode, I'm sharing shocking data from the latest American Time Use Survey for 2025 to see where our time is actually going. Then I'm sharing a solution for how we can reclaim our time.Note: Access the extended episode as a member of Office Hours. 📚 JOIN THE "SIX WITH FRIENDS" CHALLENGE WAIT LISTTo be one of the first to join the "Six with Friends" Challenge and enjoy a discount and bonus, add your name to the wait list here.📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:2025 American Time Use Survey: https://www.bls.gov/tus/🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/officehoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

Social capital helps the quality of your friendships, and your friendships impact the quality of your social capital.Social capital is all about the value you get (and give) in your social network. And regardless of how introverted or extroverted you are, it's something we all need.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, we'll look at:the three components of social capital (relationship, cognitive, and structural)the benefits of growing your social capitalwhy talking about social capital feels transactionalMembers of our Office Hours Community: You can expect bonus content sharing tangible tactics to improve all three components of your social capital by this weekend!🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime at: https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/---------------------------------------------NYC FRIENDS: UPCOMING EVENTDanielle Bayard Jackson will be in conversation with Dr. Anne Welsh about the intersection of ambition, motherhood, and friendship at the Veronica Beard shop on Madison Avenue on Thursday, August 27 at 5pm. Email [email protected] to RSVP.📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Breakdown of "social capital" from Dr. Rick Mask:https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/career/what-is-social-capitalInterested in the science of social networks? We love Marissa King's book, Social Chemistry"I Need You to Survive": The song lyrics Danielle speaks at the end of the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdlrRjzDemg&list=RDWdlrRjzDemg&start_radio=1🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/officehoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

Platonic wingwomen are the backbone of society.Some people are reluctant to introduce their friends to one another, but society thrives on it. While it can be nerve-wracking to mix friend groups (we've covered this in a previous episode-- see below), it's a skill we should all have.In this episode, Danielle shares 4 steps to becoming a charismatic and effective wingwoman for your friends.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The difference between healthy and unhealthy striving, and which one your ambition is actually fuelingWhy thinking of ambition as a ladder is keeping you stuckThe ambition paradox that leaves working mothers depleted no matter how hard they tryWhat most women get wrong about the village (and the connections they're discounting)Why your friendships outside of motherhood might matter more than the ones inside itHow to bridge the gap with child-free friends when everyone feels underwaterNYC EVENT 8/27: Danielle Bayard Jackson and Dr. Anne Welsh with be talking about Ambitious Motherhood (and friendship!) at 5pm at the Veronica Beard on Madison Avenue. Want to attend? Email [email protected] to RSVP.---------------------------------------------📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Is "friendship poaching" a real thing? Check out one of our previous episodes on this topic: https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/friend-forward-featureInterested in the science of social networks? We love Marissa King's book, Social Chemistry🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/officehoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

How motherhood changes your closest friendships, with Dr. Anne WelshYou're crushing it at work, you're showing up for your kids, and you're trying… really trying… to also be a good friend. But the pursuit of excelling in all three keeps leaving you depleted and falling short across the board. And that picture of the village you keep seeing everywhere? The tight-knit crew of women who are all magically available and deeply connected? It might be setting you up to discount the support you already have.In this episode, Danielle sits down with clinical psychologist and executive coach Dr. Anne Welsh, author of the forthcoming book Ambitious Mother, to talk about what happens when ambition, motherhood, and friendship all compete for the same woman's energy. They dig into the difference between healthy and unhealthy striving, why ambition works better as a web than a ladder, what most women get wrong about the village, and how to maintain friendships with child-free women when everyone feels underwater. Dr. Anne also shares what she sees ambitious women ignoring that costs them the most: their own wants.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The difference between healthy and unhealthy striving, and which one your ambition is actually fuelingWhy thinking of ambition as a ladder is keeping you stuckThe ambition paradox that leaves working mothers depleted no matter how hard they tryWhat most women get wrong about the village (and the connections they're discounting)Why your friendships outside of motherhood might matter more than the ones inside itHow to bridge the gap with child-free friends when everyone feels underwaterNYC EVENT 8/27: Danielle Bayard Jackson and Dr. Anne Welsh with be talking about Ambitious Motherhood (and friendship!) at 5pm at the Veronica Beard on Madison Avenue. Want to attend? Email [email protected] to RSVP.---------------------------------------------ABOUT DR. ANNE WELSHDr. Anne Welsh is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and mother of four. She's the author of Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and at Home, and her work centers on helping ambitious women shift from overwhelm and perfectionism to healthy striving, without giving up what they actually want.CONNECT WITH DR. ANNE:Book, Ambitious Mother: https://www.drannewelsh.com/ambitious-mother-bookWebsite: https://www.drannewelsh.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drannewelsh/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drannewelsh/📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Dr. Anne Welsh, Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and at Home: https://www.drannewelsh.com/ambitious-mother-book🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected]:00:00 — The pull of trying to be everything at once03:49 — Introducing Dr. Anne Welsh and Ambitious Mother05:35 — Healthy striving vs. unhealthy striving07:44 — Ambition as a web, not a ladder10:54 — The ambition paradox and spreading yourself thin13:22 — What we get wrong about the village and the value of weak ties16:14 — Why friendships outside motherhood still matter20:21 — Honesty, vulnerability, and reconnecting with your wants

You noticed she didn't share your last post. She liked her post but not yours. She hasn't watched your stories in weeks, but she's clearly online. And now you're spiraling, trying to figure out what that says about your friendship. Sound familiar?In this episode, Danielle sits down with licensed mental health counselor JoJo Venant to unpack the very real strain social media puts on women's friendships: from birthday shout-out expectations to the "friends should support your business" discourse. Together, they explore how influencers with healthy pre-fame friendships navigate digital boundaries differently, why we've gone from reading the room to reading the feed, and what happens when we personalize every like, share, and story view. JoJo also walks through how to actually have the conversation with a friend when social media expectations don't match.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The one thing that determines whether an influencer's friendships survive her platform growthWhat the birthday shout-out expectation is actually telling you about yourselfWe used to read the room; now we're reading the feed, and it's breaking somethingThe word Danielle almost didn't say out loud in this conversationThe myth that's quietly killing more friendships than any unshared postWhat happens when JoJo asks her clients to role-play the friend they're upset withABOUT JOJO VENANTJoJo Venant is a licensed mental health counselor and the founder of The Clarity Hour, a counseling practice based in Orlando, Florida. With over a decade of experience specializing in healthy relationships, self-esteem, and life transitions, she's known for her grounded, relational approach to helping women navigate connection and conflict. She has served as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University and contributed as an expert voice to the Mental Health Television Network.CONNECT WITH JOJO:Website: https://theclarityhour.netInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclarityhourLinks: https://solo.to/joannvenant🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

There's a psychological concept known as "the fresh start effect", and it can be helpful as you set your friendship goals for the summer. You've been wanting better friendships for a while now, but you're not quite sure where to start. We'll walk you through an exercise that includes more than 8 examples of connection goals you can set this season.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's Office Hours bonus content includes an EXTRA episode that focuses on what to do when you feel resentful toward a friend. It drops in Office Hours on June 16.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:What is the "fresh start" effect?The 5 domains of relational healthHow to set a goal for the domain that reflects your most pressing friendship issue/ desire📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:At the beginning of the episode, Danielle mentions her girls' trip to Savannah and her stay at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

As much as we'd like to think our romantic relationships exist apart from our friendships, the research says otherwise. Your friends' opinions can determine whether a couple stays together, influence the values they hold in the relationship, and even shape the kinds of arguments they have. And that influence starts long before a woman is partnered; it starts while she's still dating.In this episode, Danielle sits down with Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick, co-hosts of the Dateable podcast and authors of How to Be Dateable, to explore how your friends can be your greatest asset on your dating journey, or your biggest unintentional roadblock. They break down five dating archetypes, what each one looks like in action, and how to give the right kind of support to the right kind of dater; because the advice that helps one friend can sabotage another.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's bonus content for Office Hours members includes an exclusive video from Danielle breaking down four surprising research-based ways your friends can impact your romantic relationships, plus a bonus segment of this interview you won't hear in the free episode.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The three ways your friends' opinions shape your romantic relationships (even before you're in one)Five dating archetypes that change the kind of support your friend actually needsThe "supportive" response most friends default to that backfires every timeWhat friends keep asking Achievers that makes the problem worseThe one piece of advice that saved a Thinker's relationship… and would've ruined a Dreamer'sA better question to ask a dating friend than "when's the next date?"ABOUT YUE XU & JULIE KRAFCHICKYue Xu and Julie Krafchick are the co-hosts and creators of the Dateable podcast, one of the longest-running dating podcasts and named a top show by the New York Times, HuffPost, and Oprah Daily. They're also the co-authors of How to Be Dateable: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Person and Falling in Love and the executive producers of the dating experiment show Exit Interview. After a decade of interviewing thousands of daters and world-renowned experts, they bring a research-backed, compassionate approach to modern dating and relationships.CONNECT WITH YUE & JULIE:Book, How to Be Dateable + Dating Archetypes Quiz: https://howtobedateable.comPodcast, Dateable: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dateable-your-insiders-look-into-modern-dating-and/id1084105171Website: https://www.dateablepodcast.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dateablepodcast/📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Julie Krafchick & Yue Xu, How to Be Dateable: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Person and Falling in Love: https://howtobedateable.com🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

How to navigate friendship at work without losing the relationship, with Brooke TaylorShe's your lunch buddy, your Slack confidante, your person at work. But what happens when boundaries get blurry, or you start sensing competition where there used to be camaraderie? Workplace friendships between women are some of the most meaningful connections we form as adults, and some of the most complicated to maintain.In this episode, Danielle sits down with executive career coach and former Google marketing lead Brooke Taylor to tackle three of the most common questions women ask about navigating friendship at work. They dig into why mismatched expectations between "colleagues first" and "friends first" cause so much friction, how the success wound fuels jealousy and comparison with the women closest to you, and what happens when entrepreneur friendships blur the line between support and strategy-sharing.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's bonus content for Office Hours members includes:a bonus segment of the interview with Brooke sharing 3 ways to raise your self worth (if you're often competing with work friends)a personal video from Danielle sharing her key takeaways from Brooke's book3 scripts to help you address sticky work friend situationsMembers of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:How boundary-setting can feel antithetical to the female friendship code of offering unconditional emotional supportHow to respond to competition in the workplace (and why capitalism might be to blame)Why friends who are both "entrepreneurs" might need to clarify boundaries around resource-sharingABOUT BROOKE TAYLORBrooke Taylor is an executive career coach for women, former marketing lead at Google, and the author of Healing the Success Wound. She coined the term "success wound" — the pain that comes from mistaking achievement for self-worth — and has coached over 5,000 women leaders at companies like Google, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey.CONNECT WITH BROOKE:Book, Healing the Success Wound: https://brooketaylorcoaching.com/successwound/Website: https://brooketaylorcoaching.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookevtaylor/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-taylor-18751949/📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Brooke Taylor, Healing the Success Wound: Align Your Ambition, Find Lasting Career Fulfillment, and End the Cycle of Never Enough: https://brooketaylorcoaching.com/successwound/🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

You've seen the articles. You've heard the discourse. People are pulling away from the digital sphere and opting for in-person connection instead: ditching dating apps, skipping the DMs, going analog. Google searches for "matchmaker near me" and "dating coach" are higher right now than they've been in the past ten years. But here's the part that isn't getting enough attention: how people are making this shift. And the answer is far more curated than you'd expect.In this solo episode, Danielle breaks down the rise of “connection concierges” — friendship coaches, speed friending events, and supper clubs — and what this trend reveals about what women actually need when they're trying to make friends offline. She also walks through three things to consider before you invest in a curated social experience, including how to get specific about what you're looking for so you don't leave disappointed.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's Office Hours bonus content picks up right where this episode leaves off: Danielle shares three things gatherers and unofficial social connectors can do to meet this moment. Practical shifts for anyone who hosts dinners, book clubs, or get-togethers and wants to show up better for the people looking for curated connection.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first 2 weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The real reason "going analog" isn't working for most womenWhat friendship coaches, speed friending, and supper clubs have in commonThe Google search data that signals a bigger cultural shift than dating appsWhy "come one, come all" social events set you up to leave disappointedFour ways to curate your search so you actually find your peopleThe question to ask yourself before choosing a coach, an event, or a club📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Become a certified relational health coach at the Women’s Relational Health Institute: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-institute🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesBecome a certified relational health coach → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/relational-health-instituteFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

Everyone's talking about the male loneliness epidemic. But after six years of hosting this show and seven years of coaching women through their friendship issues, Danielle has noticed something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: men's friendship struggles don't stay contained. They spill over: into your energy, your guilt, your decisions about who you spend time with, and how much of yourself you actually have left to give your own friends.When men are disconnected from one another, women bear the burden. In this episode, Danielle walks through three specific ways she's seen this play out, both in the research and across hundreds of coaching sessions. You'll also hear directly from 4 different listeners who submitted voice notes about what they're experiencing. She also shares clips from her conversation with researcher Sherrie Xue, whose study on men avoiding "date-like" activities with their male friends went viral for a reason.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week in Office Hours, Danielle shares 2 additional observations backed by the research.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime (and get your first two weeks free) at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:Where his emotions actually go when he can't bring them to his male friendsSherrie Xue's viral study on why men won't go to a museum with their boysThe guilt that makes you choose friends based on whether your husband can comeWhy some women stay in friendships that drain them… and it's not about the friendshipThe demographic group with the largest gender friendship gap (it's not who you'd guess)Voice notes from listeners living this right now📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Previous episode about men’s friendships: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-mens-friendships-in-crisis-part-1-examining-the-problem/id1500460079?i=1000617147557Danielle’s viral reel discussing men’s friendships: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU1CXX6DhHG/Sherrie Y. Xue, Stephanie C. Lin, and Christilene du Plessis, "The Persistence of Homophobia in Men's Friendship Norms" (published in Psychological Science, 2025): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976251396084Emily C. Fox, "Are White Men Missing Out?: Differences in Friendship Closeness by Gender and Ethnoracial Identity" (published in Sex Roles, 2026): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-025-01638-7"The State of American Friendship: Change, Challenges, and Loss," Survey Center on American Life (May 2021): https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/Liz Plank, For the Love of Men: From Toxic to a More Mindful Masculinity: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250757203/fortheloveofmen/bell hooks, The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Will-to-Change/bell-hooks/9780743456081🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

You've probably had at least one friendship belief you were sure about… until life proved you wrong. Maybe it was the idea that your two best friends are all you need, or that men just "do friendship better," or that conflict is the beginning of the end. These beliefs feel true until they don't.In this solo episode, Danielle gets personal about the friendship beliefs she once held that have completely shifted since doing this work. She pulls from the research, her own relationships, and nearly a decade of studying women's relational patterns to explain why some of our most popular ideas about friendship are actually keeping us stuck, and what to believe instead.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week in Office Hours, Danielle shares TWO additional friendship beliefs that have evolved for her as a result of doing this work. You'll also get this month's Gathering Kit: a step-by-step activity so you can host your people in a low-cost, low-key way.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:What the research actually says about only needing "your two besties"Why men's friendships seem “easier”What happens to friendships on the other side of conflictThe case for not inviting everyone to everything📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634920Charles Vogl, The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Community-Seven-Principles-Belonging/dp/1626568413"Ghosting and Destiny: Implicit Theories of Relationships Predict Beliefs About Ghosting": https://gilifreedman.com/Ghosting.pdf🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

You finally meet someone you click with. You've got things in common, the conversation flows, and suddenly you're ready to tell her everything. But that hunger for closeness in a new friendship can actually push people away before the relationship has a chance to build.In this episode, Danielle sits down with therapist and author Minaa B. to explore why so many women rush platonic intimacy, what happens when a new friend doesn't match your energy, and how early sibling dynamics can subtly fuel competition and scarcity in adult friendships. Minaa also shares what it actually takes to break the pattern, starting with the self-worth work most of us skip.🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's bonus content for Office Hours members includes three original exercises to help you adopt a healthier pace in friendship, created by Danielle herself, plus bonus content from Minaa B. explaining how platonic intimacy can look different from friendship to friendship.Members of Office Hours get supplementary material like this with every episode to deepen their friendships. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:What oversharing (unintentionally) signals to othersWhy some women don’t “match energy” right awayHow sibling competition and scarcity show up in adult friendshipsWhy the sitcom fairy tale of friendship and why it sets you up for disappointmentThe secret to taking it slow moving forwardABOUT MINAA B.Minaa B. is a licensed social worker, therapist, and author of Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World. She created The Siblinghood Theory, a framework for understanding how sibling and peer relationships shape adult connection, belonging, and conflict.CONNECT WITH MINAA B.:Podcast, "This Feels Familiar:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-feels-familiar-with-minaa-b/id1726002567Book, Owning Our Struggles: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707127/owning-our-struggles-by-minaa-b-lmsw/The Siblinghood Theory: https://www.minaab.com/the-siblinghood-theoryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaa_b/Website: https://www.minaab.com📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Minaa B., Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707127/owning-our-struggles-by-minaa-b-lmsw/🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE BAYARD JACKSON:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

You know those women who seem to make friends everywhere they go? Have you ever wondered how they draw people to them so easily?When Danielle asked her audience about their "social secrets" , more than 500 women responded-- and the patterns were hard to ignore.In this solo episode, Danielle breaks down six themes that came up over and over again from women who have built large, joyful friendship networks. From the role of proactive initiation to the identity shifts that make connection feel natural, these mindset tips and habits will change your friendships.🎧 JOIN US FOR BONUS CONTENT IN OFFICE HOURSWant to go deeper into this work? Members of our Office Hours community get access to bonus material for this episode, including a set of reflection questions to evaluate how your ambition may be impacting your friendships, plus scripts for making new friends when you tend to lead with your accomplishments. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:They initiate first, and don't keep scoreThey keep expectations low, especially with new and outer-circle friendsThey categorize their friends by context instead of lumping everyone togetherThey have relational diversity, and the research says that makes them happierThey show up authentically, even if it turns some people offThey stay deeply curious about other peopleThey own their role as the initiator or the planner: identity over willpower📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Magic Words by Jonah Berger: how identity-based language (nouns vs. verbs) drives behavior: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Words-Jonah-Berger/dp/0063204932🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

Venting used to just be what friends did. Now it feels like a social minefield; and we can't seem to agree on whether it's a sign of closeness or a boundary violation. You've probably caught yourself mid-vent wondering, am I being too much right now? Or maybe you're on the other side, nodding along while silently drowning in your friend's update about her boss for the fourth time this month.Danielle sits down with licensed therapist Amanda White, the voice behind @therapyforwomen and co-host of the Nuance Needed podcast, to break down what's actually happening when we vent, when it tips into co-rumination or trauma dumping, and why we've gotten so weird about a friendship behavior that used to be second nature. If you've ever wondered whether you're allowed to bring your hard stuff to your friends anymore, this one's for you.🎧 JOIN US FOR BONUS CONTENT IN OFFICE HOURSWant to go deeper into this work? Members of our Office Hours community get access to bonus material for this episode, including a set of reflection questions to evaluate how your ambition may be impacting your friendships, plus scripts for making new friends when you tend to lead with your accomplishments. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:Venting vs. co-rumination vs. trauma dumping: what's actually differentWhy venting doesn't reduce anger but still strengthens friendshipsHow our shrinking tolerance for discomfort is eroding connectionThe "catch-up loop": when seeing friends rarely turns every hangout into a vent sessionThe anti-venting and anti-gossip overlap, and why both have historically protected womenWhy you can't hold space for a friend if you can't sit with your own hard feelingsWhat both the chronic venter and the vent-avoider need to hearABOUT AMANDAAmanda E. White is a licensed therapist, bestselling author of Not Drinking Tonight, and the founder of Therapy for Women Center. She is the creator of the popular Instagram account @therapyforwomen (463K+ followers) and co-host of the podcast Nuance Needed with Sam Dalton. Amanda's work challenges quick-fix mental health culture and explores the messy gray areas most content creators avoid.CONNECT WITH AMANDA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomen/Podcast, Nuance Needed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuance-needed/id1769274006Substack, Nuance Needed: https://nuanceneeded.substack.com/Website: https://amandaewhite.comTherapy for Women Center: https://therapyforwomencenter.com📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Julie Beck, "The Common Friendship Behavior That Has Become Strangely Fraught" (The Atlantic, January 2026): https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/01/venting-complaining-advice/685529/Kjærvik & Bushman (2024), "A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: What fuels or douses rage?" — Clinical Psychology Review: https://news.osu.edu/breathe-dont-vent-turning-down-the-heat-is-key-to-managing-anger/The Gottman Institute on the 5:1 "Magic Ratio:" https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

You're driven, you're accomplished, and you've got no shortage of people in your life. So why do your closest friendships still feel like something's missing? In this episode, Danielle sits down with executive coach Monique R. Shields to unpack the ways ambition can quietly erode the depth and quality of women's friendships, even when your social calendar is full.Together, they explore three areas where high-achieving tendencies show up in our platonic relationships: vulnerability (and how self-reliance can block intimacy), identity (and the trap of leading with your "utility" in friendships), and presence (and why getting still with a friend feels so uncomfortable when you're wired to always be doing). Monique also shares a practical reframe for the woman who wants deeper connection but doesn't know where to start.🎧 JOIN US FOR BONUS CONTENT IN OFFICE HOURSWant to go deeper into this work? Members of our Office Hours community get access to bonus material for this episode, including a set of reflection questions to evaluate how your ambition may be impacting your friendships, plus scripts for making new friends when you tend to lead with your accomplishments. Join anytime at: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:The self-reliance that fuels professional success can quietly block the vulnerability friendships actually needHigh-achieving women often know plenty of people but still feel unseen — because their relationships are built around utility, not intimacyLeading with your "achiever identity" trains people to see you as the strong one, then you resent them for itStillness with a friend feels impossible when you can't even get still with yourselfMonique's reframe: if being relied on brings you joy, you might be robbing your friends of that same joy by never letting them inABOUT MONIQUEMonique R. Shields is an executive coach and host of the Ambition Without Compromise podcast. She works with high-capacity women of color CEOs and leaders, navigating what comes after achievement. Trained in Co-Active coaching with experience at Stanford GSB and UC Berkeley Haas, she brings nearly a decade of leadership development to the conversation.CONNECT WITH MONIQUE:Learn more about Monique's program CLAIMED: a private coaching accelerator for accomplished women leaders who are ready to grow beyond corporate or institutional success and build the visibility, thought leadership, income, and self-trust to shape their next career chapter on their own terms. Cohorts open 2x/year. Join the interest list to learn more about the June cohort here.Podcast, “Ambition Without Compromise:” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambition-without-compromise/id1678404545YouTube: https://youtube.com/@moniquershields?si=FvD-3GH13ACy1BhnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquershields/Website: https://moniquershields.com📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:Trevor Noah on “liming: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hNZSSRe4rlw🎙️ GET FEATURED ON THE PODCASTHave a friendship question, hot take, or personal story you want featured? Send a voice note via Instagram DMs @friendforward or email a voice note or video to [email protected] WITH DANIELLE:Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hoursJoin the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlistCheck out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resourcesFOLLOW DANIELLE:Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/bookFollow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagramFollow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktokLearn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKLooking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

Why does friend-making feel especially challenging in our 30s? In this episode, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the unique challenges women face when making new friends in their 30s, offering practical strategies tailored to busy, depleted women.Drawing on recent research and personal insights, she shares:4 unique challenges of this particular decadefriend-making strategies from other listeners3 evidence-based ways to attract new friends (when you're short on time and energy)JOIN OFFICE HOURS AND GET *MORE*Members of our private $9 Office Hours community will receive bonus material, including a "gathering kit" to help you host a lowkey gathering for new friends you're meeting in your 30s.NEW: On Thursday, March 26, members can join our fireside chat with former NYT "friendship correspondent" Anna Goldfarb, author of the book Modern Friendship. Talk at 1:00pm EST. Learn 4 strategies for maintaining friendships as a tired woman. Join now (with a free trial!) to attend.Join NOW for a 14 FREE TRIAL!!!!!https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastGET DANIELLE'S BOOKGrab your copy of Fighting for our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships.Want to see other (fiction) friendship books releasing this spring? Check-out our latest roundup at betterfemalefriendships.com/articles.INVITE DANIELLE TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENTIf you're looking for a speaker to share the research about women's cooperation, communication, and conflict, invite Danielle Bayard Jackson for your event. Learn more about her work, experience, and services at daniellebayardjackson.com. Then send your speaking inquiry to [email protected] today.

You want to host more often, but you're anxious about having people over. Why? (And how do you fix it?)In this interview with Ashlee Gadd, founder of Coffee and Crumbs and co-author of You're In Good Company: The Gift of Friendship, Motherhood, and Showing Up, you'll learn:3 common fears about hosting in your home (and how to get over them)2 ideas for lowkey gatheringshow to bridge the gap between Pinterest-worthy hangs and pajama-themed get-togethersJOIN OFFICE HOURS AND GET *MORE*Members of our private $9 Office Hours community will receive bonus material (6 extra minutes!) from this episode, a bonus "lowkey hang" idea, and an excerpt from Ashlee's book.Join NOW for a 14 FREE TRIAL!!!!!https://www.betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastGET ASHLEE'S BOOKGet Ashlee's book "You're in Good Company" here: https://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/book/INVITE DANIELLE TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENTIf you're looking for a speaker to share the research about women's cooperation, communication, and conflict, invite Danielle Bayard Jackson for your event. Learn more about her work, experience, and services at daniellebayardjackson.com. Then send your speaking inquiry to [email protected] today.

Research finds that shared humor is a predictor of women becoming best friends... but it's not a predictor for men. Why is that? In this week's episode of the Friend Forward podcast, friendship expert and relational health educator Danielle Bayard Jackson interviews Nadia Casey .Nadia is a comedy coach and comedy writer who teaches people how to be funny for a living, and in this episode, she shares how your humor reveals your values, invites like-minded people to your life, and functions as a bonding agent.She also teaches exactly how to be funnier in aw ay to connect with new potential friends.JOIN NADIA'S WORKSHOPThis workshop is for people who want to learn to be naturally funnier in real life situations with other people. it'll be perfect to learn tactical strategies to increase playfulness and connection. March 19, 2026. Register here.ACCESS BONUS CONTENTAs a member of our private digital community, you'll get BONUS content which includes Nadia's favorite shows, a strategy for bouncing back after a joke doesn't land, and links to three of her favorite "bits". Join now at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.READ "FIGHTING FOR OUR FRIENDSHIPS" WITH YOUR BOOK CLUBGrab your copy of Danielle Bayard Jackson's Fighting for our Friendships to read and discuss with your next book club.BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKIf you're looking for a speaker to share the research about women's cooperation, communication, and conflict, invite Danielle Bayard Jackson for your event. Learn more about her work, experience, and services at daniellebayardjackson.com. Then send your speaking inquiry to [email protected] today.

Is "commitment" a concept that only applies to romantic relationships? What role does it play in friendships when these are completely elective relationships unbound with contract and formal obligations?In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host and women's friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson explores what it looks like to "promise before the preview."Want more?Members of "Office Hours" (our digital community) will enjoy access to the bonus: an extended discussion, including:an extra video explaining the difference in the types of investments you can make in friendshipa "close read" of an article that explains the formula for satisfactionbonus reflection questions and connection questions to inspire conversation with friends about friendship commitmentWANT TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW?Send your questions, hot takes, or personal friendship stories via Instagram @friendforward (go the to direct messages, hold the microphone icon down and proceed with your voice note) or send a video/ voice note to us via email at [email protected] THIS CONVERSATION TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONIf you're looking for a customized, research-driven experience with a balance of education and humor, book Danielle Bayard Jackson to speak at your upcoming event. To make it happen, contact us at [email protected] and inquire today.

In this conversation, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the impact of close friendships on body image. She speaks with Chrissy King, author of The Body Liberation Project.Danielle also invites researcher and assistant professor Dr. Erin Nolen about the way women's feminist ideals positively impact their friends' regard for their bodies.You'll also hear from real women who submitted their personal stories to the show.Research study: Dr. Nolen's research “Your Body Is Not Representative of Who You Are”: Exploring the Relations Between Feminist Attitudes, Feminist Identity, and Responses to Negative Body Talk Among Women - Erin Nolen, Taryn A. Myers, Adrienne Kvaka, Sarah K. Murnen, 2023-----------------------------------GET BONUS CONTENT IN "OFFICE HOURS", OUR PRIVATE COMMUNITYGet bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, book club membership, access to (exclusive!) fireside chats with experts, downloadable guides and more in our private community. Join now at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.WANT TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW?Send your questions, hot takes, or personal friendship stories via Instagram @friendforward (go the to direct messages, hold the microphone icon down and proceed with your voice note) or send a video/ voice note to us via email at [email protected] DANIELLE TO SPEAKIf you're looking for a customized, research-driven experience with a balance of education and humor, book Danielle Bayard Jackson to speak at your upcoming event. To make it happen, contact Samantha at [email protected] and inquire today.

This conversation explores the complex relationship between surveillance and friendships in the digital age. This includes the habit of sharing locations with friends, monitoring social media activity and turning on features like "read receipts"-- all things that allow us to monitor each other's activity.Host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson interviews Tatum Hunter-- a technology and culture writer, formerly of the Washington Post.Together, Tatum and Danielle explore the ways in which technology impacts our connections and the emotional consequences of monitoring each other's lives.This conversation will also highlight the benefits and drawbacks of location sharing, the role of social media in shaping perceptions of closeness.Members of the private "Office Hours" community will receive the full episode, which includes Tatum's predictions for emerging trends in digital privacy.TikTok videos highlighted in this episode:https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8xdjjE3/https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8xeKyhe/---------------------------------------------------------------------FRIENDSHIP ELEVATEDWould you like a supportive community and personal friendship coach to walk with you over the next few months? You have two days left to join Friendship Elevated, our group coaching program. Learn more at betterfemalefriendships.comWANT TO BE FEATURED ON THE SHOW?Send your questions, hot takes, or personal friendship stories via Instagram @friendforward (go the to direct messages, hold the microphone icon down and proceed with your voice note) or send a video/ voice note to us via email at [email protected] DANIELLE TO SPEAKIf you're looking for a customized, research-driven experience with a balance of education and humor, book Danielle Bayard Jackson to speak at your upcoming event. To make it happen, contact Samantha at [email protected] and inquire today.

Whether your friend is newly divorce or considering divorce, she'll likely expect you to provide emotional support throughout her journey. But the hard truth is that many women are falling short in the ways that they show up. In this conversation with Oona Metz, author of "Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women" a therapist who's been facilitating divorce groups for women for over 30 years, she'll share 4 myths about beliefs concerning friends who are going through this kind of painful separation.And if this episode isn't enough, become a member of Office Hours where we've posted extended content so you can enjoy more of Oona's gems on divorce, social support, and friendship expectations.Become a member any time at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.2026 GROUP COACHINGWe're launching the sixth cohort of Friendship Elevated in February 2026. Those on the waitlist will gain access to "early bird" pricing. Join the waitlist at betterfemalefriendships.com/friendship-elevated

Okay, well maybe you DO need new friends, but for many of us, that's not the primary reason we're feeling disconnected. There are four other components-- some quantifiable, others that are more subjective-- and simply knowing about each component can help you to position yourself to get more of the social and relational satisfaction that you're looking for.-----------------------------------------------------------------THANK YOU!Thank you to Mel Robbins for naming Danielle Bayard Jackson as one of your "Top 9 Experts of 2025"! We appreciate you.If you'd like to book Danielle to speak at your event or hire her to for consulting or curriculum design, please contact us at [email protected] HOURSThe conversation doesn't end when the podcast is over. Become a member of our "Office Hours" community and get access to bonus episodes, resources, and virtual events. Sign-up any time at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.2026 GROUP COACHINGWe're launching the sixth cohort of Friendship Elevated in February 2026. Those on the waitlist will gain access to "early bird" pricing. Join the waitlist at betterfemalefriendships.com/friendship-elevatedOnly want a single, one-off session? Book yours now (for a limited time!) at betterfemalefriendships.com/coaching

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, we discuss the concept of friendship audits, emphasizing the importance of evaluating not just who to cut off from your life, but also the overall dynamics, practices, and satisfaction within friendships.In this episode, we outline eight signs that indicate it's time for a formal and intentional friendship audit and encourage listeners to take a comprehensive look at their friendship landscape. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage in self-reflection and consider coaching options for deeper support.Resource: For tip #3 in today's podcast, Danielle mentions a free resource to help you with the activity that she described. You'll find that resource here at betterfemalefriendships.com/dynamicsHost: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Women's friendship expert and relational health educator-------------------------------------------------------THANK YOU!Thank you to Mel Robbins for naming Danielle one of the Top Experts of 2025! We appreciate you.If you'd like to book Danielle to speak at your event or hire her to for consulting or curriculum design, please contact us at [email protected] HOURSThe conversation doesn't end when the podcast is over. Become a member of our "Office Hours" community and get access to bonus episodes, resources, and virtual events. Sign-up any time at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.2026 GROUP COACHINGWe're launching the sixth cohort of Friendship Elevated in February 2026. Those on the waitlist will gain access to "early bird" pricing. Join the waitlist at betterfemalefriendships.com/friendship-elevated

Why does it feel like everyone's marketing their products and services as the solution for loneliness?The Loneliness Epidemic became a mainstream conversation in 2023 after then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made loneliness his top public health priority. And while that led to many helpful changes, it was also a moment that products, services, and tech companies began to exploit.In this episode, Danielle Bayard Jackson teaches three things you should know to help you understand loneliness more deeply so that you can begin to differentiate between the things are genuinely help and those that are... not.-------------------------------THANK YOU!Thank you to the organizations who most recently hired Danielle Bayard Jackson to partner with them either as a keynote speaker or a partner in designing their programming and curriculum: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The Loveland Foundation with Rachel Cargle, Hoda Kotb's new Joy 101 app, and various sororities across the country. We appreciate you.If you'd like to book Danielle to speak at your event or hire her to for consulting or curriculum design, please contact us at [email protected] HOURSThe conversation doesn't end when the podcast is over. Become a member of our "Office Hours" community and get access to bonus episodes, resources, and virtual events. Sign-up any time at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.2026 GROUP COACHINGWe're launching the sixth cohort of Friendship Elevated in February 2026. Those on the waitlist will gain access to "early bird" pricing. Join now at betterfemalefriendships.com/friendship-elevated

Whether you're having a baby, adopting a new worldview, or navigating a divorce, you'll find your friendships shifting by extension. Despite the history and affection we have for our friends, changing life circumstances can threaten to pull us away from one another. While some friendships may need to end, others just need a little creativity. In this episode, host Danielle Bayard Jackson shares the "three C's" of staying friends when life transitions change the way you relate to one another.-----------------------------------------------"OFFICE HOURS" PRIVATE COMMUNITYWant to claim the bonus resources for this episode (as well as gain access to bonus episodes, resources, and virtual events)? Become a member at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastGROUP COACHING 2026The waitlist for our Friendship Elevated Group Coaching Program is open (the program kicks off on Galentine's Day 2026). Exclusive rates available ONLY to those who are on the waitlist. Join now at betterfemalefriendships.com.BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKWant to bring these conversations to your organization, campus, or business group? Reach out to our team at [email protected] (and download Danielle's speaking kit here).

In this episode of the Friend Forward Podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson unpacks a recent Google search that is taking over: social clubs.She discusses the differences between social clubs, which focus on socialization, and private members clubs, which often offer exclusive experiences. Danielle also provides insights into how to find the right social club for your individual needs and shares statistics on social engagement and loneliness in America.----------------------------------------"OFFICE HOURS" PRIVATE COMMUNITYWant to hear the extended version of this episode (as well as gain access to bonus episodes, resources, and virtual events)? Become a member at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastGROUP COACHING 2026The waitlist for our Friendship Elevated Group Coaching Program is open (the program kicks off on Galentine's Day 2026). Exclusive rates available ONLY to those who are on the waitlist. Join now at betterfemalefriendships.com.BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAKWant to bring these conversations to your organization, campus, or business group? Reach out to our team at [email protected] (and download Danielle's speaking kit here).

Host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson speaks with with Cassie Little, advisory board member at the Women's Relational Health Institute as well as the founder of Her Sorority Journey.While Cassie's specialty is sororities, we are seeing trends between her observations in these spaces and what I'm seeing in other women-dominated spaces.In this conversation, we talk about three things women leader should know about leadership woes, member conflict, and new member fears.------------Resources mentioned in this episode:The impact of all-male, all-female groups (Pew Research Center)Women's Relational Health 2025 Outlook ReportFor the full episode, you've got to be a member of "Office Hours"! Join anytime at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastBook Danielle to speak about the science of women's conflict and connection at your next event: daniellebayardjackson.comFollow us on Instagram (@friendforward)

In this conversation, Danielle Bayard Jackson and Katina Bajaj explore the intersection of creativity, health, and social connections. Katina shares her insights on how creativity is essential for mental and emotional well-being, and how it can enhance our relationships. They discuss the importance of play and leisure in a productivity-driven culture, and how redefining our understanding of creativity can lead to deeper connections with ourselves and others. The conversation also touches on the challenges of perfectionism and the need to prioritize leisure time for a fulfilling life.For the full episode, you've got to be a member of "Office Hours"! Join anytime at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastRead Katina's Substack (it's actually so good!): Creative Health with Daydreamers | Substack-------------------------------------Book Danielle to speak about the science of women's conflict and connection at your next event: daniellebayardjackson.comFollow us on Instagram (@friendforward)

Many women have hopes of forming friendships that eventually reach some level of platonic intimacy. But for those with a tendency to perpetually make moral judgements on their friends' choices, lifestyle, and behaviors, connection might be limited. In this episode, host and women's friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson shares 4 reasons we tend to judge our female friends... and 4 strategies to help us stop (or at least, do it a little less).---------------------------------To become a member of "Office Hours" (and enjoy free guides, bonus episodes, and extra BTS vlogs), join at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast***********Book Danielle to speak at daniellebayardjackson.com. (She has spoken for companies like TikTok, Etsy, NBA, NFL, and Bumble... invite her to share her insights with your organization, too!).***********Buy Fighting for our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships and read it with your book club as the year comes to a close (or to ring in 2026!).

Over the last year of travelling for speaking engagements with universities, women's organizations, and sororities, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson has noticed an unusual trend. In this episode, she shares "receipts" on the alarming shift in young women's friendship agency, and then calls in an expert to help make sense of it all.In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart (pediatric psychologist and author of the new book Love the Teen You Have) shares insights that will be helpful to two groups: moms who want to stop projecting their unhealed friendship issues on their daughters and women who want to better understand how their adolescent friendships shaped the female friendship attitudes they have today.-------------------------------------------------------------------------To learn more about booking Danielle as a speaker to address issues on the science of women's conflict and connection, visit daniellebayardjackson.com.To become a member of "Office Hours" to claim bonus episodes and exclusive resources, visit betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.

In this episode of the Friend Forward Podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson discusses the complexities of women's friendships during the holiday season. She outlines several common friendship issues that arise during this time, including the drama surrounding invitations, the challenges of reuniting with former friends, financial considerations, and the dynamics between single and partnered friends. Danielle also emphasizes the importance of being proactive in addressing these issues to foster healthier relationships and maintain emotional well-being. *For the full episode and bonus resources, join us in "Office Hours" by visiting betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host and female friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the complexities of "holding space" in our female friendships. She discusses:the importance of holding space for friendsthe three types of support friends needcommon mistakes made in providing emotional supporteffective strategies to "hold space"Through evidence-based insights and personal anecdotes, Danielle emphasizes the significance of understanding emotional needs and the impact of inadequate support on friendships. The episode concludes with practical tips for listeners to improve their ability to hold space for friends in need.---------------------------------------------------SPEAKINGWant to book Danielle to speak at your event? Contact her management at [email protected] to watch Danielle's latest viral video about sorority friendships and connections? Click here.TRAININGInterested in doing what Danielle does for a living as a women's relational health coach? Learn more at womensrelationalhealthinstitute.comPARTNERSHIPSWant to partner with Danielle for an upcoming campaign (Fall, Friendsgiving, Christmas, New Years)? Reach out to us at [email protected] you have a business or brand and want the same kind of visibility that Danielle Bayard Jackson has enjoyed (brand deals, book deals, media appearances, speaking engagements), join her visibility boot camp. Details here at tellpublicrelations.com"WHO IS THIS WOMAN?"Learn about Danielle's book, research, partnerships, and media appearances at daniellebayardjackson.com.

You recently realized that a friend in your life is more like a "frenemy", but for some reason you can't seem to end the relationship. Why is it so difficult to separate yourself from someone who doesn't always have your best interest at heart?In this week's episode, host and resident friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson shares what the research has to say about these kinds of friend dynamics, along with ways that you can navigate these tense relationships.NOTE If you want access to the full episode (including the corresponding guide!), join us in "Office Hours (our Patreon community), including bonus episodes and resources. Join NOW at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastWant to read more about "frenemies"? Read this Huffpost article.---------------------------------------------------SPEAKINGWant to book Danielle to speak at your event? Contact her management at [email protected] to watch Danielle's latest viral video about sorority friendships and connections? Click here.TRAININGInterested in doing what Danielle does for a living as a women's relational health coach? Learn more at womensrelationalhealthinstitute.comPARTNERSHIPSWant to partner with Danielle for an upcoming campaign (Fall, Friendsgiving, Christmas, New Years)? Reach out to us at [email protected] you have a business or brand and want the same kind of visibility that Danielle Bayard Jackson has enjoyed (brand deals, book deals, media appearances, speaking engagements), join her visibility boot camp. Details here at tellpublicrelations.com"WHO IS THIS WOMAN?"Learn about Danielle's book, research, partnerships, and media appearances hat daniellebayardjackson.com.

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson speaks to women who -- in the midst of a loneliness epidemic-- actually have too many friends.If you're a woman who is highly visible and/ or highly social and are becoming resentful or burned out by your efforts to maintain multiple connections, this episode is for you.Danielle discusses the reasons behind this feeling, including identity issues, fear of missing out, and societal pressures. Then, she provides four tactical strategies for managing friendships effectively. (This portion of the show is reserved exclusively for members of "Office Hours". Join any time at betterfemalefrindships.com/podcast.)

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the unique stressors that women face and how their friendships serve as a crucial buffer against these stressors. The conversation delves into the biological, ecological, and social dimensions of stress, emphasizing the importance of perceived social support. Danielle also discusses various studies that highlight the benefits of female friendships on mental and physical health, workplace dynamics, and overall well-being. For members of the Friend Forward Patron Community ("Office Hours"), there's bonus material where the host also provides four practical strategies for inviting more social support into one's life, encouraging listeners to prioritize their friendships and seek help when needed.SOURCE: The book Danielle referenced throughout the episode is "Stress, Social Support, and Women" by Stevan E. Hobfoll.--------------------Want to become a women's relational health coach like Danielle? Join the free "lunch and learn" on Wednesday, August 13 at 1pm EST. Visit the "certification" page at womensrelationalhealthinstitute.com.----------------------Want Danielle to design and present an engaging and informative presentation about women's conflict and connection at your next event? Contact us at daniellebayardjackson.com.---------------------Follow Danielle on socials @daniellebayardjackson

In this conversation, Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins discusses the importance of community care as a form of resistance, emphasizing the mutual support and holistic care that communities provide. Alongside host and women's friendship expect Danielle Bayard Jackson, Dr. Robbins defines community care, shares strategies for engaging women in community care, and addresses common challenges faced by individuals in seeking connection. Dr. Robbins highlights the significance of self-assessment and shared values in building community, and introduces everyday resistance strategies that can empower individuals to take action in their lives and communities.-------------------------Access the full episode as a member of "Office Hours" (our Patreon community). Join anytime at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast--------------------------Book Danielle to share evidence-based insights on women's conflict and cooperation at your next event by contacting [email protected]._____________________Follow Danielle Bayard Jackson on InstagramFollow Friend Forward on InstagramFollow Dr. Robbins on Instagram

Why is it hard to ask our friends for help? What are the benefits of becoming "help-seeking" women in our friendships? And once we do get the nerve to ask for support, how can we do it in a way that actually motivates people to show up for us?This is a pretty research-heavy episode, and it's going to finally allow you to exhale. Truly.Because host Danielle Bayard Jackson answering these questions and more on this episode of the Friend Forward podcast.Want more?This is an excerpt of our most recent episode. To enjoy the full episode, we encourage you to become a member of "Office Hours", our private Patreon community. You can join us any time at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.------------------------------EventTAMPA: Join us for "Book Swap with Heart" on July 27 at Hotel Haya in historic Ybor City from 2pm-4pm. Get your tickets here.Want to book Danielle to share her research-based insights on women's relational health at your upcoming event? Connect with her team at samantha@tellpublicrelations.com.-------------------------------Stay connectedConnect with us on Instagram @friendforwardConnect with Danielle on Instagram @daniellebayardjacksonLearn more about relational health expert Danielle Bayard Jackson at daniellebayardjackson.com

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, resident friendship coach and women's relational health expert Danielle Bayard Jackson delves into five of the most common contradictions women face in their relational goals. Together we'll explore contradictions like the desire for siloed friendships versus wanting a friend group; and the temptation to hide your needs while always wanting to be deeply known.Through these discussions, Danielle offers insights and strategies for reconciling these conflicting desires to foster healthier relationships.-------Want to enjoy the full episode?Become an "Office Hours" member today by registering on betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast. -------Need a relational health coach to help you with a current issue? One-on-one sessions for the summer are available for the next 4 weeks. Book a session before August 11 and receive an additional 30-minute follow-up session complimentary.Visit betterfemalefriendships.com to book today.----------Want to book Danielle for your (virtual or in-person) Fall 2025 event? Inquire today by contacting us at [email protected]

If you had one week where you couldn't experience guilt, how would that change your friendships? Would you end relationships? Would you set boundaries? Would you ask for help? Would you pull away from your family to spend more time with friends without feeling bad about it?These questions were sparked by the book I'm reading, "The Guilt Pill" by Saumya Dave. In it, the main character, Maya, takes a new pill that numbs the part of her brain that feels guilt and... well, it's quite a ride.So I read four studies about women's guilt and in this episode I'll unpack what I discovered. Then we'll look at ways that our perpetual "interpersonal guilt" shapes the decisions we make in our friendships... and the surprising dangers and benefits that come of it.Here are the 4 studies we review in the episode:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9373443/https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/80-women-recognize-value-self-nurture-yet-few-care-selves-they-care-othershttps://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12575https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/spanish-journal-of-psychology/article/abs/intensity-of-habitual-guilt-in-men-and-women-differences-in-interpersonal-sensitivity-and-the-tendency-towards-anxiousaggressive-guilt/8646A546F01B6ABF51C9C6F1EF0620A1----------Want to hear the extended episode?Become a member of "Office Hours" for full episodes, BONUS episodes, resources, book clubs, and more. See you at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the complex relationship between artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, and women's friendships. This episode offers seven questions that equip you to evaluate and interrogate ways that your ChatGPT use might be impacting the breadth, depth, and quality of your social landscape.NOTE: You are listening to a complimentary excerpt of the full episode which is housed exclusively in "Office Hours", our private Patreon community (the full episode is 40 minutes). You can join any time by visiting betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.

In this conversation, Dr. Isabelle Morley (author of the book "They're not gaslighting you") and host Danielle Bayard Jackson discuss the increasing prevalence of therapy-related language in everyday conversations, particularly in the context of friendships and conflicts. They explore the definitions and nuances of terms like gaslighting, narcissism, and boundaries, emphasizing the importance of using these terms responsibly. The discussion highlights the dangers of social media in shaping perceptions of relationships and the need for more thoughtful communication. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to focus on feelings and personal empowerment rather than labeling others.RESOURCESNOTE: To the members of "Office Hours", we created a quick guide to equip you with alternatives for words like "gaslight" and "narcissist". (Not a member of "Office Hours"? Join now by visiting betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast)---------------------SPEAKINGWant to book Danielle to speak about the science of women's conflict and connection at your Fall event? Reach out to the team at [email protected] to inquire today. [View her speaking reel here.]---------------------BOOK CLUBWant Danielle to (virtually) visit your book club? Buy your copy of Fighting for our Friendships and then contact us at [email protected].

Want to two friends discuss the life transitions that strained their friendship?In this conversation, Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, co-hosts of the Almost 30 podcast (title of their new book!), share their journey of navigating friendships through various life transitions. They discuss the evolution of their friendship, the challenges they faced, and the lessons learned from conflicts. The conversation highlights the importance of trust, communication, and the ebb and flow of relationships, especially as women experience significant life changes. They also address common friendship issues faced by women and offer insights on how to maintain deep connections despite life's challenges.------------Grab your complimentary guide on navigating life transitions with friends by becoming a member of "Office Hours". betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastBuy "Almost 30: A definitive guide to a life you love for the next decade and beyond" here

Okay, I know I shouldn't have favorites but this episode (and this guest!) might really be in my top 10 favorite episodes that we've produced in the show's five-year history.In this conversation, urban planner Fatima Elkott discusses the significance of city design in shaping our environments and social interactions. She emphasizes the impact of urban planning on community engagement, the importance of creating third spaces, and the role of civic participation in urban planning. Elkott also addresses social inequities in urban design and shares examples of her favorite thoughtful urban spaces that foster connection and joy.Note: This is an excerpt from the full episode, which is available exclusively on Patreon. Join us anytime at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.----------------------------------** Book Danielle to speak at your conference, seminar, or retreat by contacting [email protected] (and view her speaking reel here).--------------------------------------------------------------------SPONSOR: TELL Public RelationsWhen Danielle Bayard Jackson launched Friend Forward seven years ago, people were laughing at the idea of a "friendship coach". Now, she's one of the most sought-after experts on women's conflict and connection.If you're wondering how to get the same kind of visibility for your business, it might be time to being in a partner. Visit tellpublicrelations.com to learn how you can increase your visibility and brand authority with speaking engagements, television appearances, podcast interviews, and true community engagement.

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson delves into the complexities of women's friendships, particularly the perception that friendships with men are easier. She explores various factors contributing to this belief, including differences in:conversation styles bonding ritualsemotional expectationssafety concernsThrough research and personal reflections, Danielle emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics and encourages listeners to appreciate the value of both male and female friendships.Note: This is an excerpt from the full episode, which is available exclusively on Patreon. Join us anytime at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast.----------------------------------** Book Danielle to speak at your conference, seminar, or retreat by contacting [email protected] (and view her speaking reel here).---------------------------------Thanks to our sponsor TELL PUBLIC RELATIONS.If you've ever wondered how friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson is able to elevate her brand through speaking engagements, podcast interviews, and television appearances, learn more at tellpublicrelations.com and see how we can get the same visibility for your brand. TELLPUBLICRELATIONS.COM

In this conversation, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson and Dr. Dylesia (@drdylesia) -- an expert on mother-daughter trauma and estrangement-- explore the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships and how they influence women's friendships in adulthood. They discuss the concept of 'mother wounds' and how unresolved issues with mothers can manifest in adult friendships. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics, identifying healthy versus dysfunctional relationships, and the role of curiosity and therapy in healing. Dr. Dylesia shares personal insights and practical advice for women seeking to improve their friendships and navigate their emotional landscapes.-------------------------Follow us on Instagram @friendforward-------------------------SPONSOR: TELL Public RelationsWhen Danielle Bayard Jackson launched Friend Forward seven years ago, people were laughing at the idea of a "friendship coach". Now, she's one of the most sought-after experts on women's conflict and connection.If you're wondering how to get the same kind of visibility for your business, it might be time to being in a partner. Visit tellpublicrelations.com to learn how you can increase your visibility and brand authority with speaking engagements, television appearances, podcast interviews, and true community engagement.

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the concept of 'friend fatigue,' a growing concern among women in their thirties and forties who are overwhelmed by their lack of "friend-life integration". Danielle discusses the emotional and social labor involved in maintaining friendships, particularly in the context of modern life, which often prioritizes isolation and independence. Drawing on research and cultural comparisons, Danielle emphasizes the importance of integrating friendships into daily life and offers strategies for fostering social connections amidst busy schedules.-------------------------Follow us on Instagram: @friendforward*We reserve extended episodes, bonus clips, and virtual events (including book club!) for members of "Office Hours". Join any time at betterfemalefriendship.com/podcast.**Want to learn how to be a women's relational health coach like Danielle? Join a webinar to learn how you can be trained and equipped to help women navigate their most pressing friendship issues by visiting womensrelationalhealthinstitute.com

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the concept of 'third places'—social environments that are neither home nor work. She discusses the decline of these spaces, the importance of physical proximity (propinquity) in fostering relationships, and the goals individuals should consider when seeking out third places. Danielle emphasizes the need for inclusivity, particularly regarding gender, and encourages listeners to diversify their social needs by engaging consistently in various third places. The episode concludes with actionable homework for listeners to identify and commit to local third places.--------------------------*Join our free webinar "6 Barriers to Friend-Making for Modern Women (and How to Overcome Them)" at betterfemalefriendships.com/webinar**Want to learn how to be a women's relational health coach like Danielle? Join a webinar to learn how you can be trained and equipped to help women navigate their most pressing friendship issues by visiting womensrelationalhealthinstitute.com

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson presents three hard truths about:the shrinking nature of our social networksthe importance of physical proximity in forming friendshipsand the subjective nature of friendship qualityBy sharing research findings and personal insights, Jackson encourages listeners to take proactive steps in enhancing their social connections and understanding the dynamics of their relationships.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:May 11 Live Webinar: "6 Cultural and Environmental Barriers to Friend-Making for Adult Women" Register at betterfemalefriendships.com/webinarAre you the unofficial "coach" of your friend group? Become certified as a women's relational health coach and you can be helping more women (while enjoying a profitable business). Learn more by visiting womensrelationalhealthinstitute.com.Enjoy full episodes and bonus resources as a member of "Office Hours", our private community. Become a member at betterfemalefriendships.com/podcastTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR, TELL PUBLIC RELATIONSIf you've been watching the growth of Danielle Bayard Jackson and the Friend Forward brand (speaking engagements, podcast appearances -ahem, Mel Robbins!-global partnerships, book deals, speaking engagements and more), and you'd like to experience that visibility for your own brand, we can help.Join our 4-week "Visibility Summer School" to spend a FRACTION of the price it would cost to hire a publicist and begin getting the shine that you deserve.Learn more at tellpublicrelations.com.** Follow Danielle on Instagram **

Reciprocity is the cornerstone of any healthy female friendship, but what do you do with someone who's so fixated on reciprocity that it turns into scorekeeping? And why do some obsess over everything being perfectly even while others are able to let it go?In this episode, host Danielle Bayard Jackson (relational health educator, female friendship expert, author of Fighting for our Friendships) shares research that explains the different kinds of "giving" in relationships-- and how to manage it all in a healthy way.-----------------------*Join our Friendship Elevated Group Coaching Program for four months of caring, personalized, community-based support as your friendship landscape is completely transformed. Sign-up here.** For full episodes, bonus resources, and more, join "Office Hours", our Patreon community. Betterfemalefriendships.com/podcast (Book club starts soon!)--------------------------Sponsor: TELL Public RelationsIf you are an entrepreneur or brand leader and you want to enjoy the same kind of visibility that Friend Forward has gained over the past five years (book deals, national media appearances, paid speaking engagements), consider learning how to become your own publicist. Join "Visibility Summer School" launching this June. BONUS: Sign-up before 4/25 and you'll get a complimentary PR audit of your social media accounts and website within 48 hours of signing-up.