Best Forevers Podcast has reached 150 episodes and, to celebrate, Alysa talks about the four lessons she's learned about friendship since starting a podcast about friendships.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

How important is friendship to Harry Potter when he's told not to go back to Hogwarts because of the danger ahead? Critical. Alysa's friend, Crystal, joins her to talk about the book, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets, through the lens of friendship. In this epsiode, they discuss whether or not Harry still has friends and enemies, how the fame continues to impact Harry's life, the role of animals and creatures as friends, and the true start to mentorship with Dumbledore. 

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Sometimes we feel like a bad friend and, in this episode, Alysa explores five valid and common reasons one might have this experience. And, then she provides ways to kick that feeling. Please share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #FeltLikeaBadFriend or email her with experiences at [email protected].

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Sources

https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/6rg4ny/does_anyone_feel_like_depression_makes_you_a_bad/

https://medium.com/honestly-yours/i-am-a-terrible-friend-6de7171b5dff

https://themighty.com/2018/03/anxiety-makes-me-a-bad-friend/

https://themighty.com/2017/02/anxiety-hacks-tips-for-reducing-anxiety/

In the third episode of this multi-episode series on friendship break ups, Alysa talks about how to do the "break up," whether it's ghosting, changing the relationship, or having the difficult conversation about ending the relationship.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Sources

"Understanding Aversiveness: The Journey of Friendship" Lauren's Dark Side paper

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-end-friendship-4174037

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relationships/a36386499/how-to-end-a-friendship/

https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/ending-a-friendship?src=RSS_PUBLIC

https://www.wikihow.com/End-a-Friendship

Friendship is magical, right? Well, in the world of Harry Potter it is! Join Alysa and her dear and Harry Potter nerdy friend, Alisun, to discuss the first book in the series, Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone! In this epsiode, they discuss how being an orphan and a celebrity impacts Harry's ability to make friends, how he meets friends, Ron and Hermoine, and how he meets his enemy, Draco.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

In the second episode of this multi-episode series on friendship break ups, Alysa explores the reasons why we may call it quits on a friendship. Specifically, she talks about three assessments we can do for ourselves, our friendship, and dealbreakers to help us make decisions about ending a friendship.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected] 

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Sources

"Understanding Aversiveness: The Journey of Friendship" Lauren's Dark Side paper

https://bigthink.com/videos/the-typical-lifespan-of-a-friendship-10-years-heres-why

https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-you-should-end-friendship-therapists-2018-12#9-they-make-you-feel-worse-not-better-9

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/when-to-end-a-friendship-and-break-up-with-a-friend

https://www.bustle.com/p/7-reasons-to-end-a-friendship-according-to-experts-18216427

https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/when-to-end-a-friendship-how/

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/signs-time-to-end-friendship-toxic-negativity/

Freeform's popular TV show, Cruel Summer, demonstrates what happens when friendships change, when friends betray you, when one is desperate for a certain friendship, and what happens when just a little friendship is all one needs during dark times. Alysa's friend, Amanda, stops by the podcast to talk about the twists and turns of friendship of the characters, Jeanette Turner and Kate Wallis.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

Feminists Without Mystique = https://www.feministswithoutmystique.com

Cruel Summer on Freeform (2021) = https://www.freeform.com/shows/cruel-summer 

Friendship break ups are not widely acknowledged or talked about but are often much more painful than romantic break ups. Understanding the process of a friendship break up is important in being able to lead a happy and healthy life with supportive friends by your side. In the first episode of this multi-episode series, Alysa takes a deep dive into romantic relationship development and how it applies to friendship.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Friendship Break-Ups Survey (Share Stories anonymously): https://forms.gle/gNysnytUdFBe2SZy7 

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Research by Lauren Ouellette

Promo from this Episode!

Tabletop Tiddies = https://www.tabletoptiddies.com

 Sources

"Understanding Aversiveness: The Journey of Friendship" Lauren's Darkside paper

https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/relationships-love/a28069319/friendship-breakup/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/21/like-having-limb-cut-off-pain-friendship-breakups

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a18659988/breaking-up-with-friends/

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/how-cope-when-friend-breaks-you-ncna988516

https://www.communicationtheory.org/knapps-relationship-model/

After being inspired by an article in The Atlantic, Alysa explores the idea of what life would be like if friends, instead of romantic relationships, were our focus.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Listen to & Follow Friends with Alysa = https://linktr.ee/friendswithalysa

Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

The Reference Desk Podcast = https://thereferencedeskpod.com

Sources 

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/10/people-who-prioritize-friendship-over-romance/616779/

https://www.theknot.com/content/average-age-of-marriage

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/05/01/new-study-millennial-women-are-delaying-having-children-due-to-their-careers/?sh=10861a11276a

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/VSRR10-508.pdf

https://www.simplyinsurance.com/average-us-life-expectancy-statistics/

https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-us-divorce-rate-has-hit-a-50-year-low

https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce-child-custody

https://www.dailyemerald.com/opinion/opinion-friendship-over-romance/article_ff4f9818-973f-11eb-8f5a-f72fdb796f2d.html

https://www.innfinity.in/relationship/friendship-is-better-than-love/

Alysa explores the idea that sometimes we need a break from our friends, not a break-up. She discusses why we might need a break and how we can go about making that break happen successfully and with kindness.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

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Art Work by Kate Cosgrove = http://k8cosgrove.blogspot.com 

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

Fataliteas = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fataliteas/id1439493072

Sources

https://www.thecut.com/2017/10/how-to-take-a-friendship-break-that-doesnt-turn-into-a-break-up.html

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/7-signs-you-should-take-a-break-from-your-friends-7714068