Friend Forward

Episodios

• Set these friendship goals before the summer ends 12.06.2026 28m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• Why your friends' dating advice might be hurting you, with Yue Xu & Julie Krafchick 04.06.2026 26m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• When female friendships get complicated in the workplace (and what to do about it), with Brooke Taylor, author of "Healing the Success Wound" 28.05.2026 19m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• Why “going analog” isn’t enough to make new friends: the rise of curated socializing 21.05.2026 15m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• When his lack of friends becomes your problem: how the male loneliness epidemic affects women’s friendships 14.05.2026 28m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• The grief of outgrowing a friendship because of misaligned values, with Gina Moffa 07.05.2026 22m

  She's the same person you've loved for years… until suddenly she isn't. Maybe it was a comment that stopped you cold, or the slow realization that the worldview you thought you shared has been cracking underneath you for a while. How do you stay connected when you can no longer relate?Danielle sits down with therapist and author Gina Moffa to talk about what happens when a friendship splits over values– not just opinions, but matters of principles and identity. 🎧 BUT WAIT… THERE'S MORE.This week's bonus content for Office Hours members includes an extended version of this episode (12 additional minutes of content!), including strategies Gina provided to help you navigate a friendship that dissolved because of split values. You’ll also enjoy a coaching exercise Danielle personally uses with clients to help you identify the gap between your lived values and your ideal values, and position yourself to attract friendships that actually align.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:Why perceived similarity matters more to friendship quality than actual similarityValues vs. opinions: how to tell the difference and why it changes everythingRepetition compulsion and why we sometimes seek familiarity over safetyThe grief of losing a friend who's still alive but no longer recognizableHow to decide whether to stay, speak up, or step awayABOUT GINA MOFFAGina Moffa is a licensed psychotherapist, grief and trauma specialist, and author of Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss. Based in New York City with nearly two decades of clinical experience, she specializes in helping people navigate grief, loss, and life transitions. She is currently writing her next book on friendship breakups.CONNECT WITH GINA:Website: https://ginamoffa.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginamoffalcsw/Book, Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/gina-moffa-lcsw/moving-on-doesnt-mean-letting-go/9781538740675/Grief Coaching: https://www.ginamoffacoaching.com📚 EPISODE RESOURCES & REFERENCES:"Similarity in Relationships as Niche Construction" — the study on 1,523 pairs of friends showing that value similarity matters most in early friendship formation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26828831/Gina Moffa, Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/gina-moffa-lcsw/moving-on-doesnt-mean-letting-go/9781538740675/Danielle Bayard Jackson, Fighting for Our Friendships: https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• 4 things I no longer believe about friendship (because learning THIS research changed my mind) 30.04.2026 22m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• Why some women rush platonic intimacy in new friendships, with Minaa B. 23.04.2026 20m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• I asked women with a lot of friends to share their "social secrets". Here's what they said. 16.04.2026 17m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• Venting, co-rumination, and trauma dumping: what's the difference and where do we draw the line? 09.04.2026 27m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• When ambition makes friendship harder: how high-achieving women can bridge the gap between success and connection 02.04.2026 25m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.WORK 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com.
• Why making friends in your 30s feels impossible (and how you can make it happen anyway) 26.03.2026 30m

  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 info@tellpublicrelations.com today.
• Why you feel anxious about inviting people over (and how to fix it) with Ashlee Gadd, Author and Founder of Coffee and Crumbs and Friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson 19.03.2026 19m

  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 info@tellpublicrelations.com today.
• The secret language of humor in women's friendships// Interview with comedy writer Nadia Casey and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson 12.03.2026 26m

  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 info@tellpublicrelations.com today.
• What role does commitment play in friendship? The "Rusbult Investment Model" might explain why your close friendships don't last 05.03.2026 22m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.BRING 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 info@tellpublicrelations.com and inquire today.
• Yes, your friend's comments about her body will impact the way you view your own. Here's what the research says. An interview with Chrissy King of the Body Liberation Project, and Dr. Erin Nolen, researcher and assistant professor at the University of Arkansas 26.02.2026 26m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.BOOK 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 Sam@tellpublicrelations.com and inquire today.
• Friendship Surveillance: Are we obsessed with tracking each other? A conversation with tech writer Tatum Hunter and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson 19.02.2026 25m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.BOOK 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 Sam@tellpublicrelations.com and inquire today.
• 4 things your newly divorced friend wishes you knew // a conversation with Oona Metz, author of Unhitched 08.01.2026 27m

  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
• You don't need MORE friends this year-- you need THIS instead. // The 5 components of social connection with friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson 03.01.2026 17m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.OFFICE 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
• What we get wrong about "friendship audits" (and 8 signs that you might need one NOW) 27.12.2025 31m

  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 hello@betterfemalefriendships.com.OFFICE 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