In this episode, Alysa's Honor student, Kayla, guests to talk about her final thesis project focusing on connections during the global pandemic. We talk about how she developed her project, what she found and what it means, and concludes with recommendations for us navigating our friendships differently because COVID-19.

Need Help? 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline = https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

SAMHSA = https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Episodes Discussed

Understanding Loneliness Pt. 1 = https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/understanding-loneliness-pt-1

Understanding Loneliness Pt. 2 = https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/understanding-loneliness-pt-2

Making Friends – Pandemic Editon = https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/making-friends-pt-2-pandemic-edition

The COVID Divide = https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/the-covid-divide

The Vaccination Phase of Friendship = https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/the-vaccination-phase-of-friendship

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Ask Questions or Share Stories and Tips for future Understanding Loneliness episodes here = https://forms.gle/eoixgXDnE5jYKnav5

Email Alysa = [email protected]

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Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

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Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

Three Gossip Girls = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/three-gossip-girls-a-gossip-girl-podcast/id1463196836

Sources

Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale = https://fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Self_Measures_for_Loneliness_and_Interpersonal_Problems_UCLA_LONELINESS_REVISED.pdf

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/the-history-of-loneliness

As we experience the one-year anniversary of the nation shutting down due to the pandemic, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel, but there are still new experiences, feelings, and differences to navigate when it comes to vaccinations and friendship.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode! 

Not Your Little Lady Podcast = https://notyourlittlelady.libsyn.com

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-the-new-cdc-guidelines-mean-for-fully-vaccinated-people-and-others#Exercise-caution

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/covid-grandparents-vaccinated-cdc-guidance/2021/03/10/9b85b5e0-8170-11eb-ac37-4383f7709abe_story.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/28/960901166/how-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/covid-vaccine-secrecy/618253/

Alysa's good friend, Rachel, from Hallmarkies Podcast and Rachel's Reviews joins her to chat about the 1991 movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, and the friendship themes present.

Follow Rachel at Rachel's Reviews on Twitter = https://twitter.com/rachel_reviews

Check out Rachel's Reviews on YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/user/smilingldsgirl

Check out Rachel's Reviews Web Page = https://rachelsreviews.net/

Follow Hallmarkies Podcast on Twitter = https://twitter.com/HallmarkiesPod

Check out Hallmarkies Podcast Web Page = https://www.hallmarkiespodcast.com/

Recommendation from Rachel (Paddleton) = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs9YpUktrWw

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_Green_Tomatoes

https://gardenandgun.com/articles/fannie-flagg-and-25-years-fried-green-tomatoes/

In this episode, Alysa chats about taking on a Kindness Challenge and what that can mean for us and our friendships.

HATS (Animal Shelter in Mount Pleasant) = https://www.hatsweb.org/giving

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode! 

So Dead = https://www.sodeadpodcast.com

Sources

https://medium.com/the-mission/how-the-power-of-kindness-impacts-your-life-and-others-f8f5a895400

https://www.kindnessiseverything.com/faqs/what-is-kindness/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-mind/201712/the-importance-kindness

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lead-kindness/201809/why-is-it-hard-be-kind-people-in-great-need

https://medium.com/the-innovation/the-difference-between-being-polite-and-kind-974bc8fb738b

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/kindness-in-the-time-of-coronavirus

In this episode, Alysa discusses toxic positivity and what can happen to ourselves and our friendships if we ignore negative emotions and experiences, and only live by the "good vibes" mindset.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode! 

Book of Lies = https://bookofliespodcast.com

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/toxic-positivity-during-the-pandemic

https://thepsychologygroup.com/toxic-positivity/ 

https://www.scienceofpeople.com/toxic-positivity/

https://www.femina.in/relationships/love-sex/the-difference-between-positivity-toxic-positivity-151536.html

https://blackgirl-affirmed.com/2020/05/07/avoiding-toxic-positivity/

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/toxic-positivity-during-the-pandemic

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/toxic-positivity-mental-health-covid/2020/08/19/5dff8d16-e0c8-11ea-8181-606e603bb1c4_story.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-man-cave/201908/toxic-positivity-dont-always-look-the-bright-side

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/what-is-toxic-positivity

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/mind-body/wellbeing/my-friends-toxic-positivity-crushed-me/news-story/94538e83de7fcfd17ad513c78d3a3395 

https://www.elle.com/beauty/a34922748/toxic-positivity/

The podcast returns after a long pandemic break to dig into some heavy issues from 2020 and now 2021. The last year has put a spotlight on how we may truly differ from our friends in beliefs related to COVID-19. So, what do we do when we don't agree? In this episode, Alysa details how "The COVIDD Divide" is impacting friendships.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson  

Promo from this Episode!

Happily Ever Aftermath = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happily-ever-aftermath/id1244584055

In the third episode of the special "Friends to the End" October series, Alysa chats with friend of the podcast, Nate Woo, about the spooky friendship behavior of unfriending. He details the research he and colleagues have conducted on the topic and they explore examples and difficulties with unfriending.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Listen to Nate Woo on E8: Making Friends is Hard:

https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/making-friends-is-hard

Listen to the Episode on Ghosting:

https://bestforeverspod.libsyn.com/haunted

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

Bloody Date Night = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bloody-date-night/id1042765424 

Sources

Research Article by Floyd et al. (2019) = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334539916_If_You_Disagree_Unfriend_Me_Now_Exploring_the_Phenomenon_of_Invited_Unfriending 

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/17/us/national-facebook-unfriend-day-trnd/index.html

https://nationaltoday.com/national-unfriend-day/

In the second episode of the special "Friends to the End" October series, Alysa chats about intentional embarrassment and the light and dark side of pranking our friends!

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode! 

The Ladies of Strange = https://theladiesofstrange.com

Sources

https://www.vice.com/en/article/nn9pxm/pranks-are-bad-and-mean-dont-do-them

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-9354-3_4

In the first episode of the special "Friends to the End" October series, Alysa chats with best ghoul friends, Jessica and Tara, who host the popular paranormal and true crime podcast, 3 Spooked Girls. We talk about how they met, came to podcast together, and how they've created their own little weird family.

You Find 3 Spooked Girls Here: https://www.3spookedgirls.com 

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Share Your Personal Idioms Stories Here = https://forms.gle/tfgvP2SKWkjQhCU49

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

Follow Best Forevers Pod!

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

3 Spooked Girls = https://www.3spookedgirls.com

We're celebrating three years of the Best Forevers Podcast! In this episode, I talk to my parents, Jim and Nancy, about friendship and when parents become friends with their children.

Share Your Friendship Stories with Alysa!

Share Your Personal Idioms Stories Here = https://forms.gle/tfgvP2SKWkjQhCU49

Email Alysa = [email protected]

Find the Web Page here = www.alysalucas.com

The Legend of Charlie Ballou = https://fataliteas.libsyn.com/the-legend-of-charlie-ballou

Follow Best Forevers Pod! 

Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestforeverspod/

Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/bestforeverspod/

Twitter = https://twitter.com/BestForeversPod

Support Best Forevers Pod!

Patreon = www.patreon.com/bestforeverspod

Merchandise = https://bestforeverspod.threadless.com

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

Theme Music by Trevor Wilson 

Promo from this Episode!

Happily Ever Aftermath = https://heamcast.libsyn.com