If you’ve ever felt like making friends as an adult feels impossible, or you’ve looked around and thought, "Where did all my friends go?" – you’re not alone.
In this episode, Danielle Bayard Jackson is sharing the real reasons why female friendship can feel so complicated, based on research and the advice you need to hear.
Danielle is one of the country’ ... Show More
Yesterday
How to Protect Your Focus, Motivation, & Mental Health: The $17.1 Billion Wake-Up Call
This is one of the most eye-opening conversations Mel has had on the podcast. Today, Dr. Jonathan Haidt joins Mel to explain what constant quick dopamine is doing to attention, motivation, confidence, and mental health - and why the impact looks very different in boys than it doe ... Show More
59m 10s
Sep 10
Stanford Psychologist: 7 Small Things That Make a Huge Difference in How You Feel
You don’t have to wait for your life to get easier to start enjoying it. Today, Mel sits down with Dr. Kelly McGonigal, a renowned health psychologist, award-winning Stanford University lecturer, and bestselling author whose work focuses on stress, resilience, and joy. She’s here ... Show More
1h 15m
Sep 7
This One Episode Will Motivate You to Change Your Entire Life
This episode is a MUST-listen. If you’ve ever felt behind, scared, stuck, or doubting yourself, you need to hit play. Today, Mel sits down with someone who has been a mentor from afar for more than 12 years. Mel says she would not be where she is today without the person sitting ... Show More
1h 16m
Dec 2022
#142: Making Friends as an Adult - Where, How, and Why
<p>Have you ever felt like making friends as an adult nearly impossible?! Like WHERE do you find like-minded people and HOW do you go from strangers to besties? In this episode, Mary shares her advice for making new friendships and strengthening your existing ones.</p>
<p>You wil ... Show More
37m 49s
Aug 2024
#613: Adult Friendships: How To Not Make It So Hard
Friendship as an adult can be hard. Everyone is busy, and you find yourself surrounded by co-workers who have nothing in common with you, or neighbors you don’t like. You know you’re great at friendship, and you love having a solid social group, but it feels like everyone you car ... Show More
40m 31s
Jan 2022
Why is it so hard for adults to make friends? With Maris Franco, PhD
As an adult, making new friends – and maintaining old friendships – can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Dr. Marisa Franco, psychologist and friendship expert, talks about how to make new friends and strength ... Show More
30m 7s
Dec 2024
How to Make Adult Friendships & Ditch "Default" Ones
Adult friendships, why are they so hard? Are we looking at it the wrong way? Is it us, or is it that we are surrounded by toxic people? And what about those "default" friends that have been around for so long but don't really align with us anymore, how do we navigate those? I had ... Show More
44m 51s
Mar 2025
why is it so hard to make friends?
in this solo episode, i share some honest thoughts on my struggles recently to make meaningful friendships and I unpack the psychology behind our craving for a built-in social circle, why adulthood makes friendships feel so much harder, and what we can actually do to cultivate re ... Show More
32m 30s
Jul 2025
Encore -- Why is it so hard for adults to make friends? With Marisa Franco, PhD
As an adult, making new friends—and maintaining old friendships—can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Marisa Franco, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert, talks about how to make new friends and strengthen ... Show More
32m 14s
Apr 2024
Why It's So Hard to Make Friends as an Adult
Making friends is hard, and unfortunately, as you get older, it gets harder. In this episode, we look at research behind friendships, plus the complicating factors people experience in making new friends as they get older. And for anyone struggling with their social lives, we sha ... Show More
43m 51s
May 2025
How to Make Friends as an Adult—Even After Rejection
Have you ever had a friendship end without any real explanation? This week on A Really Good Cry, I’m opening up about one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn as an adult: not every friendship is meant to last, and sometimes, you won’t get a reason why. I’ll share the story o ... Show More
29m 11s