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

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!

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...

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...

“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...

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...

Thankfulness Transforms Relationships and Lives 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 Alber...

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...

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 ab...

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 fri...

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.

Some say politics don’t belong in polite conversation. Maybe that’s true. Or, maybe we just need some ground rules when it comes to discussing politics with friends. Check out this episode with Dr. Bryan Curtis for tips on how to discuss politics without losing friends.

They say you never get a chance to make a first impression, but what happens if you blew it? What if you said the wrong thing, did the wrong thing, or just looked at someone the wrong way? What if you didn’t look friendly, and the vibes were off? Can you still be friends? Can you bounce back from a bad first impression? The good news is…YES, you can! But it takes some work. Join Tiffany Hurt and m...

The Friendship Tour is back for Season 2! In this trailer, I’ll give you a quick overview of the new season - what’s new, what’s the same, and what to expect from each episode. In short, The Friendship Tour is about women making, maintaining, and celebrating healthy friendships. We laugh, we cry, and everything in between as we tell uplifting stories about finding our tribe of sisters and holding...

So, what's The Friendship Tour all about?! It's about making new friends, maintaining healthy friendships, and being a good friend. Check it out for yourself. Join me on the tour!

SEASON FINALE!!! Join me for part 2 of the season finale with my husband and best friend, Dr. Bryan Curtis. In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite moments from Season 1, what we've learned about friendship, and what we've learned about one another along the way. And, if you listen closely, you'll hear a hint or two about Season 2. Thanks for listening to the season finale and thank you f...

CHEMISTRY! What's With That Invisible Spark? What attracts two people to each other—whether in a romantic relationship or an adult friendship? Some call it chemistry. But what does that really mean? How do you know when it’s there—and when it’s missing? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bryan Curtis, my husband and best friend, to explore the spark that makes certain friendships and relationshi...

The Nosey Friend: Why Checking in Matters in Female Friendships Have you ever had a friend who calls just to ask the tough questions—or shows up when life gets messy? That’s the magic of a nosey friend. My childhood neighbor and lifelong friend, Nadeen Gayle, is back on the podcast to explain why she proudly claims the title of “nosey friend”…and why we could all use a little more of this kind of...

I'm one of those annoying people who thinks spouses should be best friends, and it's entirely my parents' fault. They've been married for 54 years, and are still the best of friends. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM AND DAD!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Do you want your kids to build strong, healthy friendships—but aren’t sure how to help them get there? The truth is, friendship skills aren’t just taught; they’re modeled. In this heartwarming episode of The Friendship Tour, Lauren and I reflect on our own lifelong friendship and the incredible influence of one very special mentor: Lauren’s mom, Ms. Edna. Long before we knew what it meant to be “g...

SUMMER'S HERE! But instead of enjoying summer, I was running around trying to do too much. When I told a friend about it, he told me to slow down and just enjoy life, and I received that.

When Christian Women Pray: A Story of Faith, Friendship, and God's Perfect Timing What do you do when you don’t know how—or even what—to pray? Sometimes, the answer comes through a friend who lifts you up in prayer. During a long, challenging season of infertility, I felt discouraged and weary. God, however, used friends like Ashley Smith to encourage my faith, pray on my behalf, and remind me of...

Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms, Mt. Fuji, and breathtaking scenery… but the best part? The people you meet along the way. In this episode, I share my recent trip to Japan—a journey filled with unexpected reunions and meaningful connections. From a dear friend to former colleagues, a mom friend, and my college roommate, each reunion reminded me how friendships—new and old—enrich our lives....

How to Make New Friends Anywhere – Airport Edition What do you do with three little boys during a 7-hour layover in Taiwan? Make new friends! Sometimes, the best friendships happen in the most unexpected places. In this episode, I share how I met Kinnari Patel—a kind and generous woman who noticed I needed a hand. She jumped in to help, I gladly accepted, and a fast friendship was made. This story...

Who's the baddest chick you know—and what makes her unforgettable? In this heartwarming episode of The Friendship Tour, I'm sharing a personal story about one of the most remarkable women in my life: my mom. Growing up, I knew her simply as “Mom” — the woman who loved me, fed me, and cared for me with quiet strength. But one day, she revealed a hidden talent that completely changed how I saw her....

Faith and True Friendship: How Christian Women Support Each Other Life can throw unexpected challenges at us, and sometimes it’s hard to know how we’ll get through them. In my mid-thirties, many years into a long season of infertility, I was beyond discouraged. I didn’t want to hope, pray, or even think about it anymore. Then, God sent Theresa Johnson—a friend who encouraged me, prayed with me, an...