Friend Forward

In this conversation, Danielle Bayard Jackson and Katina Bajaj explore the intersection of creativity, health, and social connections. Katina shares her insights on how creativity is essential for mental and emotional well-being, and how it can enhance our relationships. They discuss the importance of play and leisure in a productivity-driven culture, and how redefining our understanding of creati...

Many women have hopes of forming friendships that eventually reach some level of platonic intimacy. But for those with a tendency to perpetually make moral judgements on their friends' choices, lifestyle, and behaviors, connection might be limited. In this episode, host and women's friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson shares 4 reasons we tend to judge our female friends... and 4 strategies to...

Over the last year of travelling for speaking engagements with universities, women's organizations, and sororities, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson has noticed an unusual trend. In this episode, she shares "receipts" on the alarming shift in young women's friendship agency, and then calls in an expert to help make sense of it all. In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, D...

In this episode of the Friend Forward Podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson discusses the complexities of women's friendships during the holiday season. She outlines several common friendship issues that arise during this time, including the drama surrounding invitations, the challenges of reuniting with former friends, financial considerations, and the dynamics between single and partnered friend...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host and female friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the complexities of "holding space" in our female friendships. She discusses: the importance of holding space for friends the three types of support friends need common mistakes made in providing emotional support effective strategies to "hold space" Through evidence-based insights and...

You recently realized that a friend in your life is more like a "frenemy", but for some reason you can't seem to end the relationship. Why is it so difficult to separate yourself from someone who doesn't always have your best interest at heart? In this week's episode, host and resident friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson shares what the research has to say about these kinds of friend dynamic...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson speaks to women who -- in the midst of a loneliness epidemic-- actually have too many friends. If you're a woman who is highly visible and/ or highly social and are becoming resentful or burned out by your efforts to maintain multiple connections, this episode is for you. Danielle discusses the reasons behind this feeling,...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the unique stressors that women face and how their friendships serve as a crucial buffer against these stressors. The conversation delves into the biological, ecological, and social dimensions of stress, emphasizing the importance of perceived social support. Danielle also discusses various studies that highlight...

In this conversation, Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins discusses the importance of community care as a form of resistance, emphasizing the mutual support and holistic care that communities provide. Alongside host and women's friendship expect Danielle Bayard Jackson, Dr. Robbins defines community care, shares strategies for engaging women in community care, and addresses common challenges faced by individ...

Why is it hard to ask our friends for help? What are the benefits of becoming "help-seeking" women in our friendships? And once we do get the nerve to ask for support, how can we do it in a way that actually motivates people to show up for us? This is a pretty research-heavy episode, and it's going to finally allow you to exhale. Truly. Because host Danielle Bayard Jackson answering these question...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, resident friendship coach and women's relational health expert Danielle Bayard Jackson delves into five of the most common contradictions women face in their relational goals. Together we'll explore contradictions like the desire for siloed friendships versus wanting a friend group; and the temptation to hide your needs while always wanting to be deep...

If you had one week where you couldn't experience guilt, how would that change your friendships? Would you end relationships? Would you set boundaries? Would you ask for help? Would you pull away from your family to spend more time with friends without feeling bad about it? These questions were sparked by the book I'm reading, "The Guilt Pill" by Saumya Dave. In it, the main character, Maya, takes...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the complex relationship between artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, and women's friendships. This episode offers seven questions that equip you to evaluate and interrogate ways that your ChatGPT use might be impacting the breadth, depth, and quality of your social landscape. NOTE: You are listening to...

In this conversation, Dr. Isabelle Morley (author of the book " They're not gaslighting you ") and host Danielle Bayard Jackson discuss the increasing prevalence of therapy-related language in everyday conversations, particularly in the context of friendships and conflicts. They explore the definitions and nuances of terms like gaslighting, narcissism, and boundaries, emphasizing the importance of...

Want to two friends discuss the life transitions that strained their friendship? In this conversation, Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, co-hosts of the Almost 30 podcast (title of their new book!), share their journey of navigating friendships through various life transitions. They discuss the evolution of their friendship, the challenges they faced, and the lessons learned from conflicts. The...

Okay, I know I shouldn't have favorites but this episode (and this guest!) might really be in my top 10 favorite episodes that we've produced in the show's five-year history. In this conversation, urban planner Fatima Elkott discusses the significance of city design in shaping our environments and social interactions. She emphasizes the impact of urban planning on community engagement, the importa...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson delves into the complexities of women's friendships, particularly the perception that friendships with men are easier. She explores various factors contributing to this belief, including differences in: conversation styles bonding rituals emotional expectations safety concerns Through research and personal reflections, Dan...

In this conversation, host and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson and Dr. Dylesia ( @drdylesia ) -- an expert on mother-daughter trauma and estrangement-- explore the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships and how they influence women's friendships in adulthood. They discuss the concept of 'mother wounds' and how unresolved issues with mothers can manifest in adult friendships....

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the concept of 'friend fatigue,' a growing concern among women in their thirties and forties who are overwhelmed by their lack of "friend-life integration". Danielle discusses the emotional and social labor involved in maintaining friendships, particularly in the context of modern life, which often prioritizes iso...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explores the concept of 'third places'—social environments that are neither home nor work. She discusses the decline of these spaces, the importance of physical proximity (propinquity) in fostering relationships, and the goals individuals should consider when seeking out third places. Danielle emphasizes the need for inclu...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bayard Jackson presents three hard truths about: the shrinking nature of our social networks the importance of physical proximity in forming friendships and the subjective nature of friendship quality By sharing research findings and personal insights, Jackson encourages listeners to take proactive steps in enhancing their social connect...

Reciprocity is the cornerstone of any healthy female friendship, but what do you do with someone who's so fixated on reciprocity that it turns into scorekeeping? And why do some obsess over everything being perfectly even while others are able to let it go? In this episode, host Danielle Bayard Jackson (relational health educator, female friendship expert, author of Fighting for our Friendships) s...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host and women's relational health coach Danielle Bayard Jackson discusses the importance of evaluating the sources of friendship advice that women often turn to. She emphasizes the need for validation of feelings, the importance of being equipped for better friendships, and the impact of resources on emotional well-being. Tune in to hear the four key...

In this episode of the Friend Forward podcast, host Danielle Bard Jackson interviews Morgan Debaun, co-founder and CEO of Blavity and author of "Rewrite Your Rules" about ways to rewrite the rules that govern our friendships. This episode encourages listeners to interrogate their default settings in friendships and to embrace new ways of connecting with others, especially as high-achieving women....

One of the most popular questions we receive on book tour, during workshops, or during panel Q&A's is about having a friend group. While it certainly becomes more challenging to form and maintain in adulthood, it's not impossible! In this episode, host Danielle Bayard Jackson shares 4 things that are the key ingredients of forming a friend group that consistently interacts with each other. FOR...