There’s nothing quite like finding THAT friend - the one you have so much in common with, the one you can be completely yourself with, the one your husband and your kids love, too. When you’re lucky enough to find that friend, you just want to hold on forever, but that’s not always the way life goes.

It’s a real bummer when a true friend moves away, but that doesn’t mean the friendship is over. It really doesn’t have to end, but it does have to change.

What will the new, long-distance friendship look like? Will you talk weekly? Will you visit one another? Will you still celebrate life’s big milestones together?

Join Michelle Dallas and me for a conversation about what we did when she moved away and how, all these years later, we’re still successfully navigating our long-distance friendship.

“Look, Honey! Our new friends just walked in!” I’m still not exactly sure what made my friend, Jenai, think that when we first encountered one another at a local winery. Was she simply trusting her gut? Was it discernment? Was it something else? Whatever the case, I’m glad she went with it, moved a bit closer, and struck up a conversation.

That first conversation between strangers at the winery was the start of something special. Over the next few months, there were shared text messages, goofy Instagram videos, baby christenings, family dinners, couples’ dates, birthday parties, prom send offs, more wineries, and even a choir rehearsal hangout as we nurtured our new friendship. We covered a lot of friendship ground in a short period of time, building trust and authentic connection each step of the way.

Making new friends and nurturing new friendships as an adult isn’t easy, but it’s possible and beautiful when everything aligns just so - when you meet the right person, at the right time, in the right place, and when you share a mutual openness to genuine friendship.

Join Jenai Eustache and me for a discussion about making new friends and nurturing new friendships.

Next Steps:

1. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.

2. Share THE FRIENDSHIP TOUR with a friend!

3. Keep listening!

Want More Episodes About Making New Friends? Check out Episode 11 | Making New Friends - Airport Edition - featuring Kinnari Patel.

Do you often feel angry, sad, frustrated, annoyed, drained, confused, or just…some kind of way when you interact with a certain friend or friends? Maybe you need to check your boundaries.

Boundaries are the physical, mental, emotional, and other limits that protect our personal space and define how we interact with others. They help us feel safe as individuals in all areas of our lives. They help us protect the people and things that are important to us, including our finances, our time with family, our self care - the list goes on and on. 

How do you know you need a boundary? I’ll give you a hint. Pay attention to that icky or uncomfortable feeling you have after you interact with someone. Take note of the confusion you feel when you're together, then do something about it. 

Join Ashley Cook, Associate Marriage Family Therapist (AMFT133670), and me for a talk about boundaries - what they are, why we need them, and how we establish them. Why? Because healthy boundaries are a huge part of maintaining healthy friendships and protecting personal peace.

Additional Resource:

Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Stay Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life - by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Other Episodes Referenced in This Episode:

1. Episode 7: "We Were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart...and Back Together, Part 1 - featuring Wendy Alleyne"

2. "We Were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart...and Back Together, Part 2 - featuring Wendy Alleyne"

Thankfulness Transforms Relationships and Lives

I’m joined by Alberta Curtis Minters—my amazing mother-in-law and one of the most thankful, joy-filled women I know—for a heartfelt conversation about the power of gratitude. Mrs. Minters shares how cultivating a grateful heart has helped her navigate everything from personal disappointments to family dynamics (yes, even with a strong-willed daughter-in-law like me!).

Together, we unpack:

💛 What it truly means to live with a heart of thankfulness

🙏 How gratitude can change your perspective on friendship and life

🧠 The link between thankfulness, emotional health, and resilience

💬 Practical ways to practice gratitude in everyday relationships

🌱 Why grateful people often build deeper, longer-lasting friendships

Whether you’re in a season of joy or challenge, this episode will inspire you to see your friendships—and your life—through a more thankful lens.

🎧 Tune in now, and don’t forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend you’re thankful for.

✨ Stay Connected:

Facebook: The Friendship Tour Facebook Community

It’s almost the start of the holiday season! It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for everyone. The holidays can be full of love and laughter for some, and a bit lonely for others. If you’re alone for the holidays, and you don’t want to be, check out this episode. I’ve shared some of my favorite ways to spend the holidays when I’m away from loved ones, including:

Serving others

Hosting my own holiday celebration

Traveling

If you happen to have family and/or friends with whom to spend the holidays, count your blessings! Then, listen to this episode for a few ideas on how you can spread a little extra love in your community this holiday season.

Let's be honest. It can be tough to hear that your best friend has another best friend. Why is that even necessary? She already has YOU! Still, it happens, and it can honestly be a great thing if you know what to do and what not to do…so you're not just keeping the peace, but thriving as a friend group.

What makes military spouses such great friends? For starters, they lead with trust. In addition, they’re usually more than willing to help others. Why? Because they know what it feels like to need help themselves. Another plus? They tend to be incredibly adventurous and a lot of fun.

I learned so much about friendship from one of the best military spouses out there -  Tameco Brannon. To have a friend like her for a season would have been great. I really lucked out, though, and got her for a lifetime.

Join Tameco and me for a conversation about how great friendships with military spouses can be…and let’s see if there’s anything we can apply to friendship outside of the military population.

Some say politics don’t belong in polite conversation. Maybe that’s true. Or, maybe we just need some ground rules when it comes to discussing politics with friends.

Check out this episode with Dr. Bryan Curtis for tips on how to discuss politics without losing friends.

They say you never get a chance to make a first impression, but what happens if you blew it? What if you said the wrong thing, did the wrong thing, or just looked at someone the wrong way? What if you didn’t look friendly, and the vibes were off? Can you still be friends? Can you bounce back from a bad first impression? The good news is…YES, you can! But it takes some work.

Join Tiffany Hurt and me as we discuss our friendship’s rocky start, the real reasons behind it, and how we bounced back from our initial bad vibes to become the friends we both needed and wanted at various seasons in our lives.