This week on Being Social, we're talking about bridesmaids, bachelorette parties, and all the friendship drama that can come with weddings.

We’re sharing our own wedding experiences, including how many bridesmaids we had and whether we’d make the same choices today. We talk about choosing your bridal party, friendship fallouts, and what it really means to be a good bridesmaid.

We also get into bachelorette party expectations, from destination trips and themed outfits to how much is too much to ask your friends to spend. Plus, we debate whether it’s okay to say no to being a bridesmaid and whether you even need official bridesmaids at all.

And of course, we wrap things up with a rapid-fire round covering destination vs. local bachelorettes, bouquet tosses, wedding favors, photo booths, and more.

Question of the week:
Would you say yes to being a bridesmaid if you knew it was going to cost you a lot of money and time?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us:
@beingsocialpod

Jean:
@commonplacesd

Viviana:
@sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking about making friends as an adult with our guest, Jeannine Boisse.

Jeannine shares her own journey of moving to San Diego without knowing many people, finding community through Meetup and interest-based groups, and eventually turning her experiences into a deeper exploration of adult friendship. We talk about the awkwardness of showing up to events alone, figuring out how to meet people, and what it actually takes to turn an acquaintance into a friend.

We also talk about building communities around shared interests, including book clubs and Jeannine's movie club, DVD Collective, and how trying new things can challenge the assumptions we make about ourselves.

Plus, we dive into the documentary Join or Die and Robert Putnam's research on social capital and the decline of traditional social groups. We talk about why connection matters, how today's social clubs are creating new ways for people to meet, and why putting yourself out there can have a bigger impact than you might realize.

Most importantly, we talk about giving yourself permission to be awkward. Because everyone feels it—you just have to be willing to show up, say yes, and make the first move.

Question of the week:
What's the most unexpected way you've made a new friend as an adult?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us:
@beingsocialpod

Jean:
@commonplacesd

Viviana:
@sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

Mentioned in this episode:
Jeannine Boisse

https://j9boisse.substack.com/

https://sandiegomagazine.com/author/jeannine-boisse/

https://www.instagram.com/dvdcollective/

https://www.instagram.com/j9.o.boi/

Join or Die - https://joinordiefilm.com/

Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam -http://bowlingalone.com/

This week on Being Social, we're talking about hobbies—why having things you enjoy outside of work can be so important, especially when it comes to making friends, finding community, and simply bringing more joy into your life. We talk about our own hobbies, from photography, painting, nails, reading, puzzles, movies, and board games to trying new things and figuring out what actually sticks.

We also talk about what makes something a hobby, whether watching TV counts, and why not every hobby needs to be productive, creative, monetized, or something you're particularly good at. We discuss the pressure to turn hobbies into side hustles, the self-doubt that can come with learning something new, and how social media can make us feel like even our hobbies need to look perfect.

Plus, we talk about why hobbies can get harder to maintain as we get older, how work and busy schedules can get in the way, and why it's worth making space for activities that simply make you happy. Most importantly, we talk about how hobbies can be one of the easiest ways to meet people and build friendships because you're already starting with something in common.

Because your hobby doesn't need to make money, look perfect, or become your next big thing. It just needs to bring you joy—and maybe introduce you to a few people along the way.

Question of the week:
What's your favorite hobby? And is there a hobby you've always wanted to try?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us:
@beingsocialpod

Jean:
@commonplacesd

Viviana:
@sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

Mentioned in this episode:

@sandiegogpo

@magicpuzzleco

https://www.healthline.com/health/5-benefits-of-hobbies 

This week on Being Social, we're talking about family connections—how to stay connected with the family you genuinely want in your life, especially when distance, busy schedules, and life changes make it harder to spend time together. We share our own experiences with family traditions, making new memories, family dinners, game nights, themed nights, and finding creative ways to spend quality time together.

We also talk about the complicated side of family relationships, including boundaries, conflict, difficult conversations, and the reality that not every family relationship is healthy or worth maintaining. We discuss chosen family, the importance of having people who support you, and how family relationships can grow and change over time.

Plus, we share practical ways to stay connected—from FaceTime dates and cooking together to planning trips, volunteering, going on walks, starting family traditions, and simply making the effort to reach out. Because sometimes staying connected comes down to one thing: being intentional with your time and showing up for the people you love.

Question of the week:
What family tradition or activity helps you stay connected with your family? What do you do to make time for the people you love?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us:
@beingsocialpod

Jean:
@commonplacesd

Viviana:
@sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking about community—what it actually means, why the word feels so overused, and the difference between having an audience and truly building a community. We share our own experiences creating Books & Brews, San Diego Gather, and Commonplace, and talk about what makes some groups feel genuinely connected while others can feel more like just another event.

We also dive into why community requires consistency, support, inclusivity, and a real sense of belonging. We talk about loneliness, the importance of in-person connection, why social media can't replace real relationships, and why finding community can get harder as we get older. Plus, we share practical ways to find your people—from joining recurring events and clubs to becoming a regular somewhere, talking to strangers, and even starting a community of your own.

Question of the week:
What does community mean to you? Do you feel like you have a community, and how did you find it?

Resources & Accounts Mentioned:
Ramel J. Wallace: @rameljwallace
CreativeMornings San Diego: @creativemornings_sd
Still Chill: @stillchill.ig
Psychology Today — “The Importance of Community”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/202307/the-importance-of-community

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us:
@beingsocialpod

Jean:
@commonplacesd

Viviana:
@sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking about one of the hardest parts of adult friendships: friendship breakups. We share our own experiences with friendships that ended through ghosting, slow fades, and major falling outs, and discuss why losing a friend can sometimes hurt just as much as a romantic breakup.

We also dive into why friendship heartbreak isn't talked about enough, the importance of communication and closure, how to recognize friendship compatibility, and the signs it may be time to let a relationship go. Plus, we explore whether friendships can be repaired, how life transitions change our relationships, and why protecting your peace is sometimes the healthiest choice. 

Question of the week:
Have you ever experienced a friendship breakup? What helped you move forward—or do you wish you'd had more closure? 

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us: @beingsocialpod

Jean: @commonplacesd
Viviana: @sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking all about birthdays, celebrations, and the different ways people like to feel loved. We discuss why birthdays matter, whether they're worth making a big deal over, and how celebrating your friends can strengthen your relationships.

We also dive into love languages, thoughtful gift giving, quality time, surprise parties, and why life's milestones deserve to be celebrated—even the ones that don't come with a traditional celebration. Plus, we share our favorite birthday memories, holiday traditions, and the small acts that make friends feel truly appreciated.

Question of the week: How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Are you all about a big party, a quiet dinner, a birthday trip, or skipping the celebration altogether?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us: @beingsocialpod

Jean: @commonplacesd
Viviana: @sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking all about The Five-Star Weekend and the friendship lessons hidden throughout the series. We discuss what happens when you bring together friends from different chapters of your life, why girls' trips can strengthen or test a friendship, and what it really means to show up for the people you care about.

We also dive into grief, accountability, honesty, and whether some secrets should stay buried. Plus, we share our thoughts on the show's biggest twists, the characters we related to most, and the friendship moments that stuck with us long after the credits rolled.

Question of the week: Which character did you relate to the most? Have you ever mixed friend groups or gone on a girls' trip that changed a friendship?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us: @beingsocialpod

Jean: @commonplacesd
Viviana: @sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we're talking all about work friendships—can your coworkers become real friends, or are some friendships meant to stay at the office?

We share stories from our own careers and discuss why some workplace friendships last long after the job ends while others naturally fade away. We also chat about remote work, friendships with bosses, workplace boundaries, office culture, and the coworkers we'll never forget.

Question of the week: Have you ever made a real friend through work? Are you still friends after leaving the job?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us: @beingsocialpod

Jean: @commonplacesd
Viviana: @sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc

This week on Being Social, we’re talking about making friends as an adult with our special guest Lola. Lola shares her experience moving from Denver to Portland without knowing anyone and how she built a new community from scratch.

We discuss the reality of making friends in a new city, why shared activities make connecting easier, how to turn new connections into real friendships, and the importance of putting yourself out there even when it feels uncomfortable. Lola shares some amazing advice on finding your people, being the person who sends the invite, and creating meaningful connections wherever you are.

Question of the week: Have you ever had to start over socially? How did you find your people?

Music Credit:
Original intro music created by David East

Follow us: @beingsocialpod

Jean: @commonplacesd
Viviana: @sandiegogather + @booksandbrewsbc