Nina Badzin
@dearninafriendship.bsky.social
Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship—Top 1% charted podcast | Writing about friendship since 2014 | Quoted in WSJ, WashPost, Guardian, TIME, etc.
https://linktr.ee/ninabadzin
📍Minneapolis
https://linktr.ee/ninabadzin
📍Minneapolis
Friendship is not about “luck.” It’s effort, scheduling, repairing conflict, cheering for each other, & adjusting expectations. I sat down w/ Jenn Sherman (of Peloton) & Pam Sunshine to examine their 40 yr friendship and their viral moment leading to a new business. ninabadzin.com/2025/11/17/1...
#173 - What Really Makes a Close Friendship Last
What makes a friendship last? Pam “Sunny” Sunshine and Peloton’s Jenn Sherman talk about habits that helped them stay close for 40 years.
ninabadzin.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Friendship is not about “luck.” It’s effort, scheduling, repairing conflict, cheering for each other, & adjusting expectations. I sat down w/ Jenn Sherman (of Peloton) & Pam Sunshine to examine their 40 yr friendship and their viral moment leading to a new business. ninabadzin.com/2025/11/17/1...
Want to meet up with new-to-you or old friends in a way that’s VERY different from book clubs, mahjong, pickleball, etc? TRY A SALON! (aka, a discussion group)
ninabadzin.com/2025/10/20/1...
ninabadzin.com/2025/10/20/1...
#169 - Hosting a Salon: The Friendship Upgrade from Book Clubs
How to host a salon and why you should: deepening friendships or getting to know new friends through meaningful conversation.
ninabadzin.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Want to meet up with new-to-you or old friends in a way that’s VERY different from book clubs, mahjong, pickleball, etc? TRY A SALON! (aka, a discussion group)
ninabadzin.com/2025/10/20/1...
ninabadzin.com/2025/10/20/1...
Apologies given with intention are acts of love. Apologies accepted well are acts of grace. Asking for an apology when you feel one is owed is an act of trust. (And maybe the hardest of all.) thank you, @marjorieingall.bsky.social @sorrywatch.bsky.social
dearnina.substack.com/p/good-apolo...
dearnina.substack.com/p/good-apolo...
Good Apologies Will Save Your Friendships
To the friends who can endure hard conversations (and also forgive!)
dearnina.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Apologies given with intention are acts of love. Apologies accepted well are acts of grace. Asking for an apology when you feel one is owed is an act of trust. (And maybe the hardest of all.) thank you, @marjorieingall.bsky.social @sorrywatch.bsky.social
dearnina.substack.com/p/good-apolo...
dearnina.substack.com/p/good-apolo...
I got to interview the wise and wonderful @marjorieingall.bsky.social who knows everything there is to know about saying “I’m sorry,” accepting apologies, and soliciting one when necessary. This was such a good (and useful!) conversation.
ninabadzin.com/2025/09/29/1...
ninabadzin.com/2025/09/29/1...
#166 - Friendship Repair: How to Say I'm Sorry, Accept Apologies, and Ask for One
Marjorie Ingall joins Dear Nina this week to discuss how to apologize to a friend and how to accept an apology.
ninabadzin.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I got to interview the wise and wonderful @marjorieingall.bsky.social who knows everything there is to know about saying “I’m sorry,” accepting apologies, and soliciting one when necessary. This was such a good (and useful!) conversation.
ninabadzin.com/2025/09/29/1...
ninabadzin.com/2025/09/29/1...
Inspired by the groundbreaking work of political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), Join or Die, the film, explores the powerful link between social connection, the health of our democracy, and our mental and physical health on an individual level. ninabadzin.com/2025/06/10/j...
#150 - Join or Die: Pickleball, Potlucks, Democracy, and Your Health
We're discussing Join or Die, a film about why you should join a club and why the fate of America depends on it.
ninabadzin.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Inspired by the groundbreaking work of political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), Join or Die, the film, explores the powerful link between social connection, the health of our democracy, and our mental and physical health on an individual level. ninabadzin.com/2025/06/10/j...
I’ve heard from lots of listeners of my May 19th, 2025 guest spot on @NPR’s Life Kit podcast. I’m pleased it hit nerve. And no, I do not think *every* old friendship is worth keeping.
www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...
Why you should fight to keep old friends
Nina Badzin, host of a friendship podcast, explains why staying friends with people from our past matters — and how to nurture relationships with old friends across time and distance.
www.npr.org
May 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I’ve heard from lots of listeners of my May 19th, 2025 guest spot on @NPR’s Life Kit podcast. I’m pleased it hit nerve. And no, I do not think *every* old friendship is worth keeping.
www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/23/n...
What a thrill to be a guest on @npr.org’s NPR Life Kit to discuss maintaining longstanding friendships.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
How to keep old friends
Podcast Episode · Life Kit · 05/19/2025 · 22m
podcasts.apple.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
What a thrill to be a guest on @npr.org’s NPR Life Kit to discuss maintaining longstanding friendships.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
Meghan Keane, author of PARTY OF ONE, is this week’s guest on Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. ninabadzin.com/2025/05/06/s...
#145 - Rules For Supporting Your Single Friends
Learn practical ways to support single friends and combat singleism with author Meghan Kane on Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship.
ninabadzin.com
May 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Meghan Keane, author of PARTY OF ONE, is this week’s guest on Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. ninabadzin.com/2025/05/06/s...
Dear Nina,
What can I do if my spouse dislikes the time I spend away from the family? Time I spend investing in hobbies with old or new friends is generally resented, especially because my spouse has no friends in the area. I’m not sure what to do.
dearnina.substack.com/p/my-spouse-...
What can I do if my spouse dislikes the time I spend away from the family? Time I spend investing in hobbies with old or new friends is generally resented, especially because my spouse has no friends in the area. I’m not sure what to do.
dearnina.substack.com/p/my-spouse-...
"My spouse resents my friend time"
Balancing romantic relationships and friendships
dearnina.substack.com
May 6, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Dear Nina,
What can I do if my spouse dislikes the time I spend away from the family? Time I spend investing in hobbies with old or new friends is generally resented, especially because my spouse has no friends in the area. I’m not sure what to do.
dearnina.substack.com/p/my-spouse-...
What can I do if my spouse dislikes the time I spend away from the family? Time I spend investing in hobbies with old or new friends is generally resented, especially because my spouse has no friends in the area. I’m not sure what to do.
dearnina.substack.com/p/my-spouse-...
I had the pleasure of speaking to a writer I’ve long admired—Harlan Cohen, NYT bestselling author and expert on navigating life’s most vulnerable transitions. We focused on the Law of Rejection. dearnina.substack.com/p/this-frien...
This Friendship Truth Will Set You Free
Risk, Rejection, and Real Connection
dearnina.substack.com
April 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I had the pleasure of speaking to a writer I’ve long admired—Harlan Cohen, NYT bestselling author and expert on navigating life’s most vulnerable transitions. We focused on the Law of Rejection. dearnina.substack.com/p/this-frien...
Not all friendship triangles are “bad.” I discussed the friendship lessons from season 3 of The White Lotus on Substack and in episode 141 of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. dearnina.substack.com/p/white-lotu...
White Lotus: In Defense of Friendship Triangles
All friendship "shapes" require communication, benefit of the doubt, and more
dearnina.substack.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Not all friendship triangles are “bad.” I discussed the friendship lessons from season 3 of The White Lotus on Substack and in episode 141 of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. dearnina.substack.com/p/white-lotu...
How do you break into a tight friendship circle? Short answer: You don’t. My longer answer is this month’s anonymous friendship question. dearnina.substack.com/p/how-do-i-b...
How Do I Break Into a Closed Friendship Circle?
(Or, at least not feel so bad about being left out all the time)
dearnina.substack.com
April 2, 2025 at 3:24 AM
How do you break into a tight friendship circle? Short answer: You don’t. My longer answer is this month’s anonymous friendship question. dearnina.substack.com/p/how-do-i-b...
Your neighborhood community might be the most overlooked place for social connection. However, it’s essential to understand the difference between community relationships and friendships. They are not the same! ninabadzin.com/2025/03/24/c...
#138 - The Neighborhood Village and How Community is Different From Friendship
Turning your neighborhood into a village and understanding how community and friendship are different. Author Seth D. Kaplan joins the show.
ninabadzin.com
March 25, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Your neighborhood community might be the most overlooked place for social connection. However, it’s essential to understand the difference between community relationships and friendships. They are not the same! ninabadzin.com/2025/03/24/c...
There are local friends (perhaps 20-45 min away) and there are “HYPERLOCAL” friends. Think—your block, your building, around the corner. This month on Dear Nina we’re focusing on hyperlocal friendships—developing new ones and maintaining the ones you have. dearnina.substack.com/p/march-chal...
March Challenge: The Hyperlocal Friendship
Plus: The friends you make in fan communities!
dearnina.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
There are local friends (perhaps 20-45 min away) and there are “HYPERLOCAL” friends. Think—your block, your building, around the corner. This month on Dear Nina we’re focusing on hyperlocal friendships—developing new ones and maintaining the ones you have. dearnina.substack.com/p/march-chal...
Reposted by Nina Badzin
Hot off the e-press, packed with no-fee *and* paying/funded #opportunities that are now or will soon be open for submissions, and already in subscribers' inboxes. You can also find this newsletter issue online at bit.ly/4aN9EiE. Please share with *your* #WritingCommunity!
January 31, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Hot off the e-press, packed with no-fee *and* paying/funded #opportunities that are now or will soon be open for submissions, and already in subscribers' inboxes. You can also find this newsletter issue online at bit.ly/4aN9EiE. Please share with *your* #WritingCommunity!
Shared books as the conduit to talking to friends about sex. Did you have this experience with books? dearnina.substack.com/p/do-you-tal...
Do You Talk to Friends About Sex?
Shared books as the conduit to this intimate topic
dearnina.substack.com
February 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Shared books as the conduit to talking to friends about sex. Did you have this experience with books? dearnina.substack.com/p/do-you-tal...
Friendship advice for the writers out there. We all need this reminder from time to time.
open.substack.com/pub/dearnina...
open.substack.com/pub/dearnina...
To the Friends Who Won't Read My Book, Listen to My Podcast, Buy My Product, or Follow Me on Social Media
That's OK, but you can still ask me how it's going sometimes.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Friendship advice for the writers out there. We all need this reminder from time to time.
open.substack.com/pub/dearnina...
open.substack.com/pub/dearnina...
Welcome to the 2025 Friendship Challenge, a monthly series here—and in the Dear Nina podcast—where I issue a “social wellness” challenge. Each challenge stands alone and every one of them WILL improve your friendships. Whenever you’re reading this, start today!
dearnina.substack.com/p/february-f...
dearnina.substack.com/p/february-f...
February Friendship Challenge: Start a ritual or tradition with a friend
Think beyond "Friendsgiving" and "Galentine's Day"
dearnina.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Welcome to the 2025 Friendship Challenge, a monthly series here—and in the Dear Nina podcast—where I issue a “social wellness” challenge. Each challenge stands alone and every one of them WILL improve your friendships. Whenever you’re reading this, start today!
dearnina.substack.com/p/february-f...
dearnina.substack.com/p/february-f...
Sober curiosity and the impact on your friendships—Grateful to @halliesawyer.bsky.social for the honest conversation about why she’s sticking with the sober curious lifestyle after several years. ninabadzin.com/2025/01/27/s...
#130 - The Sober Curious Lifestyle and Your Friendships
The sober curious lifestyle and how avoiding alcohol might affect your health, your friendships, and more.
ninabadzin.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Sober curiosity and the impact on your friendships—Grateful to @halliesawyer.bsky.social for the honest conversation about why she’s sticking with the sober curious lifestyle after several years. ninabadzin.com/2025/01/27/s...
Divorce + an empty nest and the desire for new friends. Some thoughts… dearnina.substack.com/p/divorce-em...
Divorce + Empty Nest and the Desire for New Friends
Plus: Envy as a guide
dearnina.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Divorce + an empty nest and the desire for new friends. Some thoughts… dearnina.substack.com/p/divorce-em...
Perhaps you like a glass half-full reaction but your friend doesn’t. Learning how our friends like to be comforted is an important part of friendship. dearnina.substack.com/p/how-to-com...
How to Comfort Your Friends
And: Assuming the best of friends who don't know the "right" thing to say
dearnina.substack.com
January 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Perhaps you like a glass half-full reaction but your friend doesn’t. Learning how our friends like to be comforted is an important part of friendship. dearnina.substack.com/p/how-to-com...
Recorded a “quick friendship tip” episode for this week in which I tell the story of the friend who told me she didn’t like how I comforted her. And I’m glad she did. (Though it did take some thick skin on my part.) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
#129 - Do you know how your friends like to be comforted in hard times?
Podcast Episode · Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship · 01/16/2025 · 11m
podcasts.apple.com
January 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Recorded a “quick friendship tip” episode for this week in which I tell the story of the friend who told me she didn’t like how I comforted her. And I’m glad she did. (Though it did take some thick skin on my part.) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
Dove into my Substack stats for Conversations About Friendship and saw that the only social media in the top 5 traffic sources was Facebook. Interesting. dearnina.substack.com/p/our-friend...
Our Friendship Year in Review
The most read, heard, shared, on Dear Nina. And where you live!
dearnina.substack.com
January 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Dove into my Substack stats for Conversations About Friendship and saw that the only social media in the top 5 traffic sources was Facebook. Interesting. dearnina.substack.com/p/our-friend...
TV 2024-- “The Best,” “The Very Good,” “The Good,” and “The Just Okay.” dearnina.substack.com/p/tv-reviews...
TV Reviews 2024
Plus: The top Dear Nina episode of the year!
dearnina.substack.com
December 30, 2024 at 1:06 AM
TV 2024-- “The Best,” “The Very Good,” “The Good,” and “The Just Okay.” dearnina.substack.com/p/tv-reviews...
The fabulous @annagoldfarb.com on 24 ways to supercharge your friendships. open.substack.com/pub/annagold...
24 Ways to Supercharge Your Friendships
Without having to put pants on
open.substack.com
December 26, 2024 at 7:08 PM
The fabulous @annagoldfarb.com on 24 ways to supercharge your friendships. open.substack.com/pub/annagold...