Good Friend Show with Noel

Noel and Philippe talk about apologies, conflict, and the fact that they’ve blocked and unblocked each other five times over the course of their seven-year friendship. They get into what makes an apology actually feel sincere, why sometimes you have to let people cool off, and when it’s worth saying sorry even if you still think you were right. Plus, Noel tells on himself for making up an entire narrative about a stranger at the gym, and they get into public apologies, embarrassing your friends in front of other people, and the kind of conflict that probably could’ve ended three days ago if somebody would just say sorry.

Noel and Brandon talk about money, friendship, and why splitting the check can somehow reveal everything you need to know about a person. They get into income differences between friends, choosing plans everybody can actually afford, lending money without turning into a debt collector, keeping up appearances, and the pressure to spend just to stay included. Plus, why money gets so awkward when nobody wants to talk about it, when it’s better to be upfront about what you can afford, and the simple rule that you should never lend a friend money you can’t afford to lose.

Noel and Maria talk about frenemies, what happens when a real friendship starts to turn competitive, and how to tell when somebody might not actually be rooting for you. They also get into matching energy, putting a friend on a PIP, backhanded compliments, keeping certain parts of your life private, and when it’s better to just create some distance. Plus, friends who keep score, people who are nice one-on-one but embarrass you in a group, and why sometimes you just want your friend to say “congratulations” before explaining everything that could go wrong.

Noel and Olivia talk about growing up as creative kids and turning solitary hobbies into actual careers. They also get into jealousy between artists, unsolicited feedback, sharing work before it feels finished, and whether you should support a friend whose work you privately think is bad. Plus, how to collaborate without fighting over credit, how to stop treating your friends like competition, and the radical idea that maybe being successful and being good are not always the same thing.

Noel and Robert talk coming out, family acceptance, internalized homophobia, gay men being just a little too competitive, and why so many queer friendships start on dating apps.

They also get into whether you should sleep with your friends, when banter crosses the line into being mean, hooking up within the friend group, keeping different social circles separate, and how to make friends in a new city without losing your mind. Plus, Robert shares the millennial parties he throws for New York’s elder gays who would like to be home at a reasonable hour.

Noel and Brandon talk about how friend groups actually form, why airport pickups are the true test of friendship, and how being friends with the group is not always the same as being friends with everyone in it.

They also get into secret group chats, staying neutral when two friends fall out, what to do about the one person everyone is always complaining about, and why bringing your partner into the friend group can become a logistical nightmare. Is having absolutely no friends of your own a red flag?

Good Friend Show with Noel returns for a new season, The Company You Keep, with Noel and his friend Olivia discussing how friendships form, what our social circles say about us, the value of third spaces, museums, co-working clubs, and whether we choose our friends intentionally or simply keep showing up in the same places. They also help listeners including a man replaced as best man before a wedding, someone jealous of their best friend’s new girlfriend, a friend who gave a brutally honest job reference, and a couple debating whether to exclude someone from a group outing.

Gavon inspired Noel to start this podcast — but what happens when the friend who pushed you to speak finally joins the conversation? In the season finale, Noel and Gavon reflect on the times friendship stepped up when family fell short. As two gay men, they share how they’ve navigated complicated relationships with their families, and the unexpected ways friends have offered love, safety, and understanding. They also talk about softening expectations of the families we’re born into, and how chosen family can sometimes meet us where blood cannot.

Derrick and Olivia are back, and we’re talking about life in the Big Apple! In this episode, Noel, Derrick, and Olivia reflect on their moves to New York City and how the city changes your approach to friendship. They talk about the hustle of trying to “make it,” the shifting expectations around connection in a place that never stops moving, and how finding your people can make all the difference. From Tinder dates to solo concert adventures, it’s all about learning how to belong in a city that’s always becoming.

Mareya's back on the show to chat with Noel about "The Lost Years" AKA the 7-year period when they weren't in touch after graduating from high school. In this episode, they reflect on their time apart. They break down the process of finding their way back to each other, the slow rebuilding of presence in each other's lives, and how rekindling their bond also helped them reconnect with their younger selves. They also share tips on reaching out to old friends, using social media to bridge the gap, and embracing the vulnerability that comes with trying to pick up where you left off.