#154 – Discretion vs. Gossip: How to Handle a Friend Who Overshares Your News
Ever feel that low-level hum of annoyance when a friend casually drops your (good or bad) personal news into the conversation? I have my fantastic “Dear Nina” assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs, with me this week to crack open a listener’s anonymous letter about DISCRETION. Discretion is that gray zone between gossip and harmless chatter. Rebekah […]
#153 – July Friendship Challenge: Midyear Reflection
Three questions to assess your friendships so far in 2025 Ready to see where your friendships stand halfway through 2025? In this solo episode, I (very quickly!) round up the first six monthly challenges. Then I hand you three laser-focused questions to help you reflect, assess, tweak, and strengthen your connections for the rest of […]
#149 – June Friendship Challenge: Ask a Friend For a Favor
Good for your friendships and for society! Welcome to the Dear Nina Friendship Challenge for June: Ask a friend for a favor. Why? Asking a friend for a favor demonstrates trust and intimacy. It helps your friend feel closer to you merely because you asked, and this will strengthen the friendship. Unfortunately, people really struggle […]
#148 – Tricky Friendship Etiquette for the Modern Age
Group Chats, RSVPs, Office Follows, and Other Modern Manners for Our Friendships I sat down with fifth-generation etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning of The Emily Post Institute to explore how classic (and modern!) manners can strengthen and even rescue our adult friendships. We discussed using etiquette for group chat issues, RSVP blunders, office friendship confusion, […]
#147 – Share Good News With Your Friends
Exchanging good news is an unexpected way to feel closer to friends! In this short solo episode, I consider why some people hesitate to tell friends about positive events like a promotion, a published piece, or a personal milestone or achievement. Likely due to cultural conditioning, we worry it will come off as bragging. I […]
#146 – Tolerate Uncertainty & Stop the Overthinking Spiral in Your Friendships
Ruminating, Telling Ourselves a Story, and Assuming We Know What Our Friends are Thinking If you’ve ever reread a text 10 times, filled in every silence with worst-case scenarios, or found yourself leaving too many hangouts with friends regretting what you said, this conversation is for you. Psychologist Dr. Jackie Henry and I discuss tools […]