Friend Forward

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 HOURS

Want 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 need
• High-achieving women often know plenty of people but still feel unseen — because their relationships are built around utility, not intimacy
• Leading with your "achiever identity" trains people to see you as the strong one, then you resent them for it
• Stillness with a friend feels impossible when you can't even get still with yourself
• Monique's reframe: if being relied on brings you joy, you might be robbing your friends of that same joy by never letting them in

ABOUT MONIQUE

Monique 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/id1678404545
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@moniquershields?si=FvD-3GH13ACy1Bhn
• Instagram: 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 PODCAST

Have 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 [email protected].

WORK WITH DANIELLE:

• Join Office Hours for bonus content and community → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/office-hours
• Join the Friendship Elevated Fall 2026 Waitlist → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/friendship-elevated-waitlist
• Check out more connection resources → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/resources

FOLLOW DANIELLE:

• Get the book "Fighting for our Friendships" → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/book
• Follow on Instagram → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/instagram
• Follow on TikTok → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/tiktok
• Learn more about Danielle → https://friend-forward.captivate.fm/website

🗣️ BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAK

Looking for a speaker on women's cooperation, communication, and conflict? Send your inquiry to [email protected].

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:

1. 4 unique challenges of this particular decade
2. friend-making strategies from other listeners
3. 3 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/podcast

GET DANIELLE'S BOOK

Grab 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 EVENT

If 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 [email protected] today.

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:

1. 3 common fears about hosting in your home (and how to get over them)
2. 2 ideas for lowkey gatherings
3. how to bridge the gap between Pinterest-worthy hangs and pajama-themed get-togethers

JOIN 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/podcast

GET ASHLEE'S BOOK

Get Ashlee's book "You're in Good Company" here: https://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/book/

INVITE DANIELLE TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT

If 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 [email protected] today.

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 WORKSHOP

This 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 CONTENT

As 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 CLUB

Grab your copy of Danielle Bayard Jackson's Fighting for our Friendships to read and discuss with your next book club.

BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAK

If 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 [email protected] today.

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:

1. an extra video explaining the difference in the types of investments you can make in friendship
2. a "close read" of an article that explains the formula for satisfaction
3. bonus reflection questions and connection questions to inspire conversation with friends about friendship commitment

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 [email protected].

BRING THIS CONVERSATION TO YOUR ORGANIZATION

If 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 [email protected] and inquire today.

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

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GET BONUS CONTENT IN "OFFICE HOURS", OUR PRIVATE COMMUNITY

Get 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 [email protected].

BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAK

If 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 [email protected] and inquire today.

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/

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FRIENDSHIP ELEVATED

Would 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.com

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 [email protected].

BOOK DANIELLE TO SPEAK

If 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 [email protected] and inquire today.

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 COACHING

We'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

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.

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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 [email protected].

OFFICE HOURS

The 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 COACHING

We'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

Only want a single, one-off session? Book yours now (for a limited time!) at betterfemalefriendships.com/coaching

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/dynamics

Host: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Women's friendship expert and relational health educator

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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 [email protected].

OFFICE HOURS

The 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 COACHING

We'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