Friend Forward

The concept of "friend demotions" is circulating on social media, and while we aren't fans of the phrase, we do support the concept. In this week's episode, resident female friendship coach and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson explains what "demotions" are, what we should be calling them instead, and three things to avoid if you're going to adopt this philosophy.   If you want to work through a pe...

The "low-maintenance friendship" concept is gaining in popularity, but what does it really mean? And are you ready to adopt this approach? After a brief hiatus, the Friend Forward podcast is back to unpack what a low-maintenance friendship requires, and FOUR questions to ask yourself to determine if this attitude will be helpful or hurtful for you and your platonic relationships.   If you're looki...

After two years of dodging COVID, Danielle's finally been hit by the virus, and it's taken a toll on her voice! So this week's episode is a replay from the archives, exploring what to do when you find yourself in the habit of cancelling plans. We'll also explore how to respond when a friend cancels on you... again.   If you're obsessed with improving your female friendships, join us over at B ette...

Emotional safety is critical for us to be able to open up with friends, but there are a few things that make it "unsafe" to do so. In this episode, host Danielle Bayard Jackson explains why emotional safety is important, along with three things that often get in the way of creating it.    Members of the exclusive Friend Forward Library will enjoy additional content on this subject, along with orig...

For some women, they're a source of support. But for others, they are a major source of anxiety. Today we're talking about the dark side of group chats, because they can cause both internal and external conflicts. In this episode, you'll learn the four components that can make or break a group chat, and we'll also explore three reasons women stay even though they're stressed. And if you're looking...

Body image + friendship-- the two issues seem unrelated, don't they? But today we'll explore how they might actually be connected. We're speaking with THE Jess Connolly , and are still in disbelief to have someone we admire so much sitting in the guest chair. So tune in as Jess shares fresh insights on how your personal relationship with your body may affect the way you're relating to your female...

How do you turn an awesome initial interaction into an ongoing friendship? In this week's episode, resident friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson is showing you her tangible method for keeping momentum with a new friend so that she doesn't become "the friend that got away". This is a snippet from her 'Friendship Elevated Group Coaching Program' content, module 2. So if you're interested in beco...

Our most recent TikTok video earned more than 500K views, and it was about validating your friend when she's venting-- let's just say that women had a lot to share in the comment section! So in this week's episode, we're unpacking how to the pros and cons of validating and offering solutions, and the dangers of doing the wrong one at the wrong time. Friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson also gi...

This week I'm sharing my conversation with Dr. Tracy Alloway, an award-winning psychologist and and author of Think Like a Girl whose appearances on CNN, Good Morning America, and The Doctors have made her the go-to woman for information about the brain. In this interview, Dr. Alloway shares some of the unique ways the female brain is wired, and I make connections between how that wiring can impac...

What do you do when YOU'RE the friend who's always initiating?   In this episode, friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson gives three things you can do to manage your frustration and experience more balance in your friendships. (As always, stay tuned to the end of the episode to get this week's homework!)   If navigating friendships as an adult has been a struggle for you for quite some time now,...

In your friend group, there’s quite a mixed bag. Some of the ladies have extensive means while others have to be a little more conscious about how they spend. And while you know this too be true, it’s not like you all ever really talk about it, because that would be awkward… right? In today’s episode of the Friend Forward podcast, Danielle Bayard Jackson is going to talk about money and the sneaky...

Attachment Theory is having a moment in mainstream media, but what does it really mean? And how do you know if your particular attachment style is impacting your friendships? In this week's episode, we speak with Megan Gillespie, an educator and therapist specializing in anxiety and attachment, who breaks down the surprising ways in which your attachment style may be hurting (and helping!) your pl...

How do you address a friend who only talks about herself? Sure, you love her for her adventurousness and humor, but sometimes it just seems like you're along for the ride while she's the star of the show. In this episode, you'll learn three reasons why self-centeredness harms friendships, a 3-step formula for addressing this issue, and two quick hacks to get out of a "monologue-style" conversation...

You probably expect that a friendship coach helps with making friends, deepening friendships, and navigating friendship conflicts. These are certainly the central issues that we work through. But there are other issues-- that are much more specific-- that women confess during our time together, and we're sharing them today in hopes that it validates listeners who've been privately mulling over sim...

Today I’m sharing my conversation with Amanda E. White, the therapist you know and love from the IG account @therapyforwomen . She’s the author of Not Drinking Tonight, a judgement-free and relatable book that helps you explore your relationship with alcohol.  By the time you’re done listening to this conversation, you'll understand: What the sober-curious movement is all about Signs that a friend...

We've missed you! It's season 4 for the Friend Forward Podcast and we're getting more personal this time around. Listen in as our resident friendship coach, Danielle Bayard Jackson, gives a preview of the episode topics you can expect, along with a few other surprises. Let's do this.

Each year closes with a collective optimism to "get it right" in the year to come. In our season finale, we walk you through research-based strategies for keeping the resolutions you're making for your friendships. To get more from this episode, download our new ebook (which includes a FREE assessment that reveals the specific friendship goals YOU should make for 2022). Betterfemalefriendships.com...

It's inevitable in any long-lasting friendship: your friend will make choices that you disapprove of, but how do you address it without her feeling like you're being completely unsupportive? In this episode, we'll explore 3 things to keep in mind when you want to show your friend you have her back (even though you disagree with her decisions). [Download your free "Friendship Intentions" ebook to t...

In the third week of our "How to support a friend when..." series, we're talking about showing up for a friend with a new baby. Dr. Angel Montfort is a psychologist who specializes in perinatal mental health and joins us as a guest to lend her voice to this conversation. Follow her on Instagram at @drangelmontfort for more, and follow us at @friendforward or visit Betterfemalefriendships.com/membe...

Try as we might, it can be tough to know exactly what to do or say to help a friend manage her feelings around a break-up. In part 2 of a 4-part series titled "How to support a friend when...", we're outlining 5 ways to help a friend when she's reeling from heartbreak.    If you're looking for a way to finally get ACTIONABLE strategies for more satisfying friendships, visit betterfemalefriendships...

This week, we're kicking off a 4-week series titled "How to Support Your Friend When..." and it's all about chronic illness. We are joined by listeners Erin and Nikita who share their struggle with various illnesses and the ways in which friends should (and SHOULDN'T!) support women in their position. If you're looking for ways to strengthen your own friendships, join our 8-week group coaching pro...

We hope you're spending this week enjoying time with friends and family! Until we meet again next week, here are some things you should know: 1. Enjoy 30% off of our How to Make Friends as an Adult Course when you pay in full and use code FRIENDSGIVING (good until 11/30) 2. Get ready for our new series: "How to support your friends when..." which starts next week! 3. To be on Danielle's book list,...

After an awesome first-interaction with a woman you like, you probably end the conversation by saying, "We should get together some time!" And she agrees... but nothing ever materializes. Danielle created "The Trailer Method" to increase your chances of keeping a strong momentum with a new friend, and today, she's teaching YOU how to do it.   For more support in your female friendships, visit Bett...

You have a few good friendships, but lately you've noticed that they're not really as... deep... as you'd hoped for. In this episode, we're walking you through 5 (possible) reasons your platonic relationships have been feeling a little surface-level lately. If you've been struggling with this for more than just a season, consider joining our 8-week group coaching program, "Friendship Elevated" TOD...

It's inevitable that-- in the course of any friendship-- you will eventually be let down by people you love. This is simply a result of two fallible humans coming together to interact with one another. But what do you do when you're still not over the way your friend disappointed you? In this episode we'll share three questions to ask when managing feelings of hurt and frustration at the hands of...