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.

Noel and Ty met through mutual friends but can party friends become real friends? In this episode, they break down the dynamics of nightlife friendships: Are they just for the moment, or can they grow into something deeper? They also talk about Ty’s event series, Ty’s Third Thursdays (or 3T), and how working on it together helped strengthen their bond. Finally, they explore the value of creatively collaborative friendships and ask the big question: Is the party ever really over, or does our definition of fun just change over time?

Noel and Olivia just so happened to move into the same building – but how did these two friendly neighbors become true friends? In this episode, they reflect on their early relationships with neighbors as kids, shaped by where their parents chose to live. They then break down the evolution of their own friendship, from proximity to familiarity to the intentional choice to be friends. Finally, they put a digital spin on the idea of neighborhood, exploring how social media can function as a “digital neighborhood,” offering the chance to build familiarity before deciding to make a real connection.

Noel reunites with his college friend Miranda to talk about the unique experience of making friends in university — where proximity makes connections easy, but not always deep. They reflect on how maintaining friendships after graduation requires more intentionality and how they’ve navigated staying in touch while leading busy, separate lives. They also explore the importance of honoring each other’s different paths post-college. Finally, Miranda shares her experience making friends in grad school, and what it means to build connections with people whose lives and perspectives — especially around education — differ vastly from her own.