The Friendship Tour | How to Make Friends, Female Friendship, Adult Friendship, Friendship Tips and Advice, Christian Friendship

BONUS - Virtual Book Club Invitation

Hi Friends!
Let's read a book together! Why? So we can connect with other amazing women. And, because I personally want to read more and scroll less. I'm just being honest.
If you want to join me for a virtual book club, please send a message to ccurtis@thefriendshiptourpodcast.com. Don't wait too long, though! I want to make sure the groups are small enough for women to engage with one another, so we only have room for a small group of women.
Registration will remain open until Wednesday, April 16th or until all spots have been filled, whichever comes first.
A few more details...
1. We're reading Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty.
2. The group will meet once or twice between now and the end of May.
3. I'll ask all ladies to keep their cameras on for the Book Club since we want to get to know one another.
 
I look forward to reading with you soon!
 

52 | Making New Friends as an Adult: Why It Feels Exhausting—And Why It’s Worth It - featuring Kina Thornton Frazier

Women often say they want more friends or deeper friendships—but what we don’t always talk about is how overwhelming it can be to actually make new friends as an adult. From awkward small talk to decoding texting etiquette, building new connections can feel like dating all over again.
In this episode of The Friendship Tour, I’m joined by my lifelong friend Kina Thornton-Frazier to talk about the emotional highs and lows of forming new friendships in adulthood. We dive into questions like:💬 How do you know if the interest is mutual?📲 When and how should you follow up after meeting someone new?⏰ How much communication is too much—or too little?🤯 Why does initiating friendship sometimes feel so exhausting?
Whether you're introverted, in a new city, or simply out of practice, this episode will help you feel seen, validated, and empowered to build meaningful relationships—without burning out.
🎧 Listen now if you’ve ever searched:
“Why is making friends so hard as an adult?”
“How to build new friendships without feeling awkward”
“What’s normal when forming a new connection?”
“How to meet and keep female friends”
Friendship may take effort, but it’s so worth it.
💖 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Then explore more episodes about growing and maintaining lifelong friendships!
 
1 | What is a True Friend? - featuring Lauren Gray
3 | Do You Want Lifelong Friends? Learn to Forgive and Ask for Forgiveness - featuring Dr. L’Tanya Morrow-Cain
6 | Childhood Neighbors Make the Best Friends - featuring Nadeen Gayle
7 | We Were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart, Then Back Together (part 1) - featuring Wendy Alleyne
8 | We were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart, Then Back Together (part 2) - featuring Wendy Alleyne

51 | Is Emotional Baggage Sabotaging Your Friendships?

You want meaningful friendships. You need connection. But something keeps getting in the way.Maybe it's the ghost of friendships past. Perhaps it's a breakup, a betrayal, or a childhood full of unhealthy relationship dynamics. If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking a new connection, replaying old stories in your head, or second-guessing your worth in someone else’s life — this episode of The Friendship Tour is for you.In this episode, Cecelia explores how emotional baggage from the past can affect your ability to form and sustain healthy adult friendships. You’ll learn:
How past hurt impacts new relationships
The subtle signs your friendship baggage might be showing up
Why self-awareness is key to breaking unhealthy patterns
Tips for moving forward and building stronger, more secure friendships
Whether you're recovering from toxic friendships, rebuilding after emotional wounds, or trying to figure out how to let people in without fear, this episode will speak to your heart.
🎧 Listen now if you’ve ever searched for:“Why can’t I make new friends?”“Friendship anxiety”“Letting go of toxic friendship patterns”“Healing before new relationships”
✨ If you feel like baggage really, truly is a problem for you, and you need help dealing with it, please contact a qualified therapist or counselor in your area.
If you want to connect with an amazing group of women on a regular basis, join the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group.
 
Want to hear more episodes like this one? Check out the list below.
44 | Does Your Friend Need Mental Health Support? Here are 6 Ways You Can Help - featuring Dr. Kandece Skinner
 
32 | Feeling Left Out? You're Not Alone - featuring Lauren Gray
 
29 | Boundaries - What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Establish Them - featuring Ashley Cook

50 | Iron Sharpens Iron - How Strong Friendships Help Shape Our Success - featuring Michelle Dallas

Can your friends actually help you become more successful in life? The answer is a resounding yes — especially when those friendships are rooted in mutual growth, encouragement, and accountability.
In this inspiring episode of The Friendship Tour, I’m joined by my friend Michelle Dallas for a conversation on the principle of “iron sharpens iron.” We explore how the people closest to us can push us forward, help refine our goals, and hold us accountable — all while celebrating what makes each of us unique.
Together, we discuss:
💬 How friendships can motivate us to grow and evolve
⚡ The importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge and inspire you
👯‍♀️ Why being in community with high-character, high-purpose friends can elevate your life
🌟 Ways to be that “iron-sharpening” friend to someone else
If you’ve ever wondered whether your friendships are helping you move forward or holding you back, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now to discover how strong, supportive friendships can be one of the most powerful tools in your journey toward success and self-development.
After the episode, let’s keep the conversation going in the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group. I’d love to hear about a friend who encourages YOU to succeed in life.
 
Want to hear more from Michelle and other amazing women? Check out the episodes below.
 
31 | What Do You Do When a Friend Moves Away (other than cry, of course)? - featuring Michelle Dallas
 
43 | STOP KEEPING SCORE! Aim for Tranformational, Not Transactional Friendships - featuring Stewanna Dasari
 
37 | GIRL! You Trippin’! How a Friend’s Honesty Helped My Marriage - featuring Alicia MatthewsFinal thoughts...
1. If you love The Friendship Tour, please leave a review and share with a friend.
2. *BE A GOOD FRIEND!*

49 | 5 Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore When Making New Friends

Have you ever met someone who seemed nice, engaged with her a few times, then something happened that made you think, “NOPE! This friendship isn’t for me.” Perhaps that happened to you. You met, hung out, then nada - you never heard from her again. What happened???
 
We all have our relationship warning signs or red flags - the things that make us think the relationship just won’t work out. And other people have them, too. And, that’s okay! Those little warning signs are how we protect ourselves from relationships that just aren’t right for us - for whatever reason.
 
When you see the warning signs, what do you do? Do you try to power through and build a friendship anyway (not advised) or do you move on to someone who might be a better fit for you?
 
Everyone is different, and everyone has their own relationship warning signs. In this episode, I share five of the warning signs I just can’t ignore when making new friends. You may have a different list, but it IS important to give some thought to which behaviors and habits you will and will not tolerate in a relationship. Then, if you’re serious about making and keeping friends, consider if there’s anything YOU’RE doing that might be a turnoff to others.
 
Next Steps:
Listen to the episode.
If you like the episode, share it with a friend or on social media.
Leave a comment about the episode in the Women, Community, and Facebook group. Talking about friendship is a lot more fun when I get to hear YOUR thoughts, too.
 
Do you like this episode? Here are two more you might enjoy.
 
29 | Boundaries - What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Establish Them - featuring Ashley Cook
 
18 | CHEMISTRY! When it Comes to Relationships, You Either Have it or You Don’t - featuring Dr. Bryan Curtis

48 | Making Friends as an Introvert: 4 Simple Tips to Build Meaningful Connections

“How do introverts make friends? They wait for extroverts to find them, like them, and adopt them.”
Funny? Maybe. True? Not quite.
If you're an introvert who craves deeper connection but struggles to initiate friendships, this episode of The Friendship Tour is for you. I share practical, encouraging tips to help introverts build real, authentic relationships—without pretending to be someone they’re not.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why your mindset about introversion is the first and most important shift
The subtle signals you might be sending when it comes to connection
How making the first move (yes, really!) can lead to stronger friendships
Why giving yourself grace is essential in the friendship-building process
Whether you're shy, reserved, or simply someone who enjoys their own company, you can build strong, supportive friendships—on your terms.
🎧 Tune in now for four gentle, doable ways to create the connection you deserve.
After the episode, share your thoughts in the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group.
 
Want More Episodes About Making New Friends? Check out any one of my episodes with a guest! We almost always share how we met and a favorite friendship moment. Don’t feel like scrolling through the episode list? No problem. See the list below for a few episodes about making friends.
 
34 | 5 Tips for Making New Friends
45 | 5 MORE Tips for Making Friends
30 | How to Start and Nurture a New Friend as an Adult - featuring Jenai Eustache11 | How to Make New Friends - Airport Edition - featuring Kinnari Patel*BE A GOOD FRIEND*

47 | If You Love Them, Tell Them

This episode is so simple. If you love them, tell them. Maybe they really need to hear it today. Maybe you really need to say it today. You may not get another chance. You might 1,000 more chances. Say it in ways big and small, and make sure they hear it. I love you. Tell them.

46 | What Are Deep Friendships, and How Are They Formed? - featuring Lisa Clinton

When life gets hard, who do you turn to? When you’re celebrating a big win, who do you call first? If your answer is unclear—or if you’re realizing your circle might not be as deep as it looks—this episode of The Friendship Tour is for you.
Many women crave meaningful friendships but still find themselves feeling lonely, unsupported, or unsure how to truly connect. It’s not just about how many friends you have, but about the quality of those friendships—are they deep, rooted, and dependable?
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Lisa Clinton for an honest conversation about what it really takes to form deep, lifelong friendships. We talk about:
💬 How to break the ice and initiate meaningful connections💡 Where to meet like-minded, supportive women❤️ What deep friendships actually look and feel like🌱 How to grow and nurture those relationships over time
Lisa shares heartfelt stories about how she met her closest friends, including the one simple comment that sparked a lifelong bond. Her wisdom is a powerful reminder that deep friendships aren’t accidental—they’re intentional. And they're necessary.
Whether you're seeking stronger connections or hoping to deepen the relationships you already have, this episode offers practical tips and inspiring encouragement to help you build a community that truly has your back.
Next Steps:
Listen to the episode.
Leave a 5-star review in Apple Podcasts.
Share the podcast with a friend.
Want to Stay Connected? Join the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group! It’s a lot of fun!Want to hear more episodes like this one? See the related episodes below.1 | What is a True Friend? - featuring Lauren Jones Gray
2 | Authenticity: The Key to Deeper Friendships, Personal Freedom, and Peace - featuring Alexandria Fichera
9 | Faith-Building Friends - featuring Theresa Johnson

45 | 5 MORE Tips for Making New Friends

What do you do when you meet someone interesting, cool, or fun - someone who you’d like to be friends with? What are the next steps?
In episode 34, I shared 5 tips for making new friends. Here in episode 45, I’m sharing 5 MORE tips for making new friends. Why? Because friendship is so important! And, despite many of us having hundreds or thousands of social media friends or followers, many of us are still longing for deeper, more meaningful connections in real life.
This episode was adapted from an article I wrote for Just Between Us Magazine several years ago. You can find the full article here: https://justbetweenus.org/christian-relationship-advice/real-friendships/10-tips-for-making-new-friends/.
Want more episodes about making new friends?
11 | Making New Friends-Airport Edition - featuring Kinnari Patel 
30 | How to Start and Nurture a New Friendship as an Adult - featuring Jenai Eustache 
34 | 5 Tips for Making New Friends
Let's keep the conversation going! Join the Women, Friendship, and Community group on Facebook! We'll talk about the The Friendship Tour podcast episodes and all things friendship!
 
*BE A GOOD FRIEND!*

44 | Does Your Friend Need Mental Health Support? Here are 6 Ways You Can Help - featuring Dr. Kandece Skinner

Is your friend just not herself? Does her behavior, sudden distance, or physical appearance have you concerned? Maybe she needs mental health support.
 
Many of us have found ourselves in this situation - where we see that something is different and we genuinely want to help, but we just don’t know what to do. 
 
In this important episode, Dr. Kandece Skinner, a licensed educational psychologist, shares 6 ways you can help a friend who might be struggling. Dr. Skinner also shares 3 things NOT to do when you’re trying to help a friend, including:
 
Do not try to diagnose your friend.
Do not try to fix your friend.
Do not judge your friend.
 
If we live long enough and encounter enough people, we’ll likely need to put Dr. Skinner’s advice into practice at least once or twice. Or, perhaps a loving friend will use this information to help us, if needed.
 
RELATED EPISODES:
29 | Boundaries - What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Establish Them - featuring Ashley Cook
7 | We Were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart…and Back Together (Part 1) - featuring Wendy Alleyne8 | We Were on a Break! How Two Friends Grew Apart...and Back Together (Part 2) - featuring Wendy Alleyne
 
OTHER NOTES:
We have a great group of women in the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group! Join the group to keep this important conversation going.
Don’t forget to leave a written review in Apple Podcasts!
 
*BE A GOOD FRIEND!*