Managing differences of opinion with friends can get tricky. An obvious area is politics, but smaller differences also get between friends, like parenting decisions.

Examples: parents who give their kids a phone and social media years before the other friend; public vs. private school; where you live; how you vacation—those are not as divisive as politics, but it’s an ongoing difference in your choices. Do we allow our differences to become a strength in a friendship or a weakness? I advocate for strength, which requires empathy for the next person.

Here to talk about developing empathy and managing these potential differences is therapist and author, Emily Locker. Emily’s debut novel, Running Mates, is a modern day Romeo and Juliet and one of the best fictional versions I’ve read of friends with big differences—political ones in this case. Emily and I lean into her professional work as a therapist for advice on how to get along with people who have different points of view.

And there is another major fact that I need to tell you about Emily. Emily is my second cousin! Our grandfathers were brothers, and our moms are first cousins. We also talk in the episode about the potential of friendship between cousins and how jealous I always was of Emily and her first cousins.

Meet Emily Locker:

Emily lives in Washington, D. C. with her husband and two young sons. Find Emily on Instagram @emilylocker.

All transcripts are available on the main Buzzsprout “Dear Nina” site. Click on any episode and find the transcript tab.