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

33 | Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And THANK YOU for joining me on The Friendship Tour in 2024. It's been quite a year!As you know, relationships are important to me, so I'll be spending time with the people I love during the holiday season.See you in 2025!

32 | Feeling Left Out? You're Not Alone - featuring Lauren Gray

Have you ever been left out? Maybe you weren’t invited to the birthday party or to brunch with the girls. Perhaps your cousins left you off of the group chat or maybe your coworkers didn’t tell you about happy hour after work. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it hurt you a lot, maybe you didn’t care all that much. Maybe you pretended not to care all that much. Whatever the case, it happened.
It's possible you weren’t exactly left out, but life has you feeling a bit left behind. Perhaps your best friend got married and another friend had a baby. These life transitions might have you feeling left out or like you’re somehow on the outside looking in - even if it’s not really anyone’s fault.
 
The truth is, we’ve all been left out. It starts in childhood, and it never really ends. When we’re left out, it’s only natural to get in our feelings, but don’t stay there! Being left out and feeling left out is a part of life, albeit an unpleasant part. If and when it happens to you, just remember - you are not alone. We’ve all been there.
 
Join guest, Lauren Gray and me for a discussion about times we felt left out and left behind.
 
If you liked this episode, you’ll love the following episode:29 | Boundaries: What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Establish them - featuring Ashley Cook.
 
Other Episodes with Lauren Gray:
1 | What is a True Friend - featuring Lauren Gray
15 | MOMS! Want Your Kids to Have Friends? Show them How! - featuring Lauren Gray
26 | My Best Friend Has Another Best Friend! Now What??? - featuring Lauren Gray and Tolibah Davis

31 | What Do You Do When a Friend Moves Away (other than cry, of course)? - featuring Michelle Dallas

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.
Next Steps:1. Listen.2. Leave a Review.3. Share The Friendship Tour podcast with a friend!

30 | How to Start and Nurture a New Friendship as an Adult - featuring Jenai Eustache

“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.
 
 

29 | Boundaries - What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Establish Them - featuring Ashley Cook

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"

28 | How Thankfulness Transforms Relationships and Lives - featuring Alberta Curtis Minters

Gratitude isn’t just for the Thanksgiving table—it’s a powerful mindset that can deeply impact our friendships, relationships, and overall well-being. In this episode of The Friendship Tour, we explore how thankfulness can help us build stronger, more meaningful connections and bring more peace, joy, and resilience into our 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.Let's Stay Connected! Join the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group!
FINAL NOTE:
If you like this episode, you’ll love the following episodes:
Episode 9 | Faith-Building Friends - featuring Theresa Johnson
Episode 13 | Somebody Prayed for Me - and Those Prayers Got Through! - featuring Ashley Smith

27 | Alone for the Holidays? Maybe You Don't Have to Be.

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.

26 | My Best Friend Has Another Best Friend! Now What??? - featuring Lauren Gray and Tolibah Davis

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.Join Lauren Gray, Tolibah Davis, and me as we navigate the friend-in-law experience. We talk about the potential for jealousy, remembering whose turf you're on, and so much more...because it can be difficult to bring different friends together! We promise you it can be done, though.Next Steps:1. Leave a written review on Apple Podcasts.2. Subscribe to The Friendship Tour Podcast.3. Share the podcast with a friend!Related Episodes:Episode 1 - What is a True Friend? - featuring Lauren GrayEpisode 15 - MOMS! Want Your Kids to Have Friends? Show Them How! - featuring Lauren Gray

25 | Do You Know a Military Spouse? You Should! They Make the BEST Friends! - featuring Tameco Brannon

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.

24 | BONUS-Veterans Day Tribute

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States - a day set aside to honor our veterans and thank them for their service.
I happen to know a lot of veterans. They are my family. They are my friends. Today, I just want to say thank you to all of them.
I hope you’ll thank a veteran, too. This life we live wouldn’t be possible without them.