Struggling to make real friends as an adult or build a lasting support system? In this episode, we explore 5 mindset shifts to deepen adult friendships and create true belonging.

Welcome to Friendship IRL, the podcast that explores how to create real, lasting friendships in adulthood. In this kickoff episode, host Alex Alexander shares her powerful story of building a support system through friendship—after growing up with limited family support and stepping into a caregiver role at just 13.

You’ll discover 5 powerful mindset shifts that can help you make friends as an adult, deepen existing relationships, and create a sense of belonging. Together, we’ll unpack why prioritizing friendship is countercultural, how to start being more emotionally honest, and what it really takes to build a support system when traditional family support isn't there.

If you’ve ever thought, *“Why is it so hard to make friends in your 30s?”* or *“I feel lonely but have people around me,”* this episode is your invitation to think differently about connection.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why friendship is essential (and countercultural) in adulthood
• What adult friendship can look like when it becomes your support system
• How to make space for vulnerability and redefine emotional support
• Why discomfort, rejection, and growth go hand-in-hand
• The truth about loneliness—even when you're not alone

Reflection Question:

Where does friendship stand on your hierarchy of importance?

Timestamps 

• 00:00 – Why I Started This Podcast on Friendship & Community
• 04:00 – Growing Up Lonely & Finding Refuge in Friendship
• 06:30 – Building a Support System Without Family
• 08:15 – What Real Adult Friendship Can Actually Look Like
• 10:00 – Why Friendship Deserves More Attention Than We Give It
• 13:00 – 5 Key Mindset Shifts to Strengthen Your Friendships
• 18:00 – Discomfort, Rejection, and the Path to Real Connection
• 20:00 – Let’s Start This Conversation Together

Key Quotes 

"You are worthy of having great people in your life." 
— Alex Alexander, 16:12

"When I say my friends are my support system, I mean it — I didn't grow up with strong family support, so I built my own community from scratch."
— Alex Alexander, 04:15

Resources & Links

Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram! 

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!

Imagine you could listen in on those unfiltered conversations about what is actually happening inside someone's friendships, community, and support system...

• How someone navigated a friendship breakup even though they still see that friend often. 
• What does balancing marriage, friends, and family look like, and who is someone calling when they need support? 
• A parent who is wholly overwhelmed but doesn't have any family that lives nearby. Do they need to move back to their hometown? How might they build a support system from friends and the nearby community? 

Alex Alexander asks the questions we all want to ask and unearths a new way to think about community, friendship, and the support systems we surround ourselves with.

"Doing things the way they've always been done" has left us all at our loneliest and most disconnected.  So, ask the questions. Reimagine your relationships. Build yourself a better version.

Take the conversation beyond the podcast! Follow Alex on Instagram (@itsalexalexander) or Tiktok (@itsalexalexander), or send her a voice message directly with all your friendship thoughts, problems, and triumphs by heading to AlexAlex.chat and hitting record. 

New episodes release weekly on Thursdays.