Why do men lose friendships as they age — and what does science say about the cost of loneliness? In this episode of Unspoken, Paul and Doug dig into the research on close relationships, Dunbar’s Number, and the Harvard Study of Adult Development. They explore the paradox of feeling lonely in a crowd, why men’s networks shrink faster than women’s, and how loneliness impacts both mental and physical health.

The conversation gets personal as Paul opens up about the guilt of balancing time between family and friends, and Doug reflects on the challenge of teaching his son the value of friendship when it wasn’t modeled for him growing up. Together, they unpack what it takes to build — and keep — the handful of relationships that matter most.