The Heart of Friendship | How to Make Friends, Female Friendship, Adult Friendship, Friendship Advice

38 | Want Deeper Friendships? Try This ONE Thing.

Do you know lots of great people, but still, somehow, feel isolated and alone? Do you have plenty of acquaintances, but few deep, meaningful friendships?
If surface-level relationships leave you wanting so much more, I have one suggestion. Talk about deeper things. Maybe your friends and acquaintances will enjoy a bit more depth, maybe they won’t. Maybe they will love getting to know more of you, or maybe they’re not quite ready for that type of relationship. You won’t know, though, unless you try. 
Don’t try it all at once, though! Trying to fast-track a deep friendship can sometimes be a turnoff. So, be patient. Hang in there, and be intentional about getting out of shallow waters.
Check out the full episode for the types of questions and topics that can lead to deeper, richer conversations and friendships. Then, join the conversation at Women, Friendship, and Community!
Did you like this episode? Then you’ll LOVE the episodes below.
 
1. 2 | Authenticity-The Key to Deeper Friendships, Personal Freedom, and Peace - featuring Alexandria Fichera
2. 9 | Faith-Building Friends - featuring Theresa Johnson
Interested in connecting further? I want to hear from YOU!
Email: ccurtis@thefriendshiptourpodcast.com
Facebook: bit.ly/thefriendshiptourpodcast
Podcast: https://thefriendshiptourpodcast.podbean.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@thefriendshiptourpodcast
 
**BE A GOOD FRIEND!**
 

37 | GIRL! You Trippin'! How a Friend's Honesty Helped My Marriage - featuring Alicia Matthews

Everyone needs an honest friend - the kind of friend who can tell you about yourself. The kind of friend who tells you not just what you want to hear, but what you need to hear…for your own good…because she loves you that much.
This week’s guest, Alicia Matthews, is that kind of friend for me. When I went to her with complaints about my husband, she got real with me. It only took a few words, but those words were effective! She put me in place and helped me keep my marriage and my life in perspective.
We all need a friend like Alicia. We all need a real, true, HONEST friend. And, when we find such a friend, we have to be willing to hear, truly hear, what the friend is trying to tell us - even if it stings for a moment. Because isn’t temporary discomfort better than long-term pain?
Join Alicia and me for this conversation about keeping it real with  friends. After the episode, go to the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group to share your thoughts!
NOTE: If you liked this episode, you’ll love Episode 35 | Did Your Friends Leave You Out…AGAIN?! What Are You Going To Do About It? - featuring Lauren Gray.

36 | Let's Talk About Friendship and Community - TOGETHER!

To make a friend, you have to be a friend. To have friends, you have to trust people! Don’t trust anyone! You can never have enough friends! No new friends! Couple friends are good for your marriage. Never share marriage challenges with your friends. If you can help a friend, DO! God helps those who help themselves.
We’ve all heard advice about friendship - some good, some bad. What have YOU heard about friendship? What are YOUR thoughts?
My friends and I have spent months sharing our friendship thoughts and experiences with you. Now, we want to hear from YOU! Let’s keep the keep the conversation going!
Join the new Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group to discuss all things friendship. We’ll talk about the The Friendship Tour podcast episodes, encourage one another in various ways, and explore ways to connect more deeply in our own communities.
See you there!

35 | Did Your Friends Leave You Out...AGAIN?! What Are You Going To Do About It? - featuring Lauren Gray

Did your friends or potential friends leave you out again? Does it bother you on some level? If so, what are you going to DO about it?
In episode 32, Lauren Gray and I discussed being left out. It happens to everyone at some point. That’s just life, and yes, it sucks sometimes.
What happens, though, if you’re left out A LOT? What if you often feel like you’re on the outside looking in? Maybe you just haven’t found your tribe yet. No big deal. But, if you’ve met lots of cool people, yet you’re never invited to join the fun, AND it bothers you, it might be time for some self-reflection. And after the self-reflection? It might be time to put in some real work.
Join Lauren and me for this conversation about being left out and what you can do about it.
After you listen, let’s keep the conversation going on the Women, Friendship, and Community Facebook group! Let me know what we got right, what we got wrong, and what advice YOU have for those who are often left out. Or, just stop by to say hello!

34 | 5 Tips for Making New Friends

Are you ready to make some new friends? Are you trying to grow your community or your village? If so, what’s your plan? Check out this episode for 5 quick tips on how to make new friends.
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
Finally, 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!

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"