WANTcast: The Women Against Negative Talk Podcast

How do you make friends as an adult — REAL-DEAL friends — and how do you nurture these valued connections?

Today's guest is journalist, MODERN FRIENDSHIP author, and friendship researcher Anna Goldfarb, who has been called the "New York Times Friendship Correspondent." She's here with us to dig into the nuances of the #1 most-asked question throughout all of WANT's 10+ year history: how do I find my people?

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT...

• The main reasons why friendships naturally shift after 30 (why that's more normal than you think, and what you can do to address it)

• Active vs memorial friendships, and how mixing them causes heartache

• How to categorize friends in a way that doesn't feel icky and actually HELPS you nurture friendships sans guilt or obligation

• Using Choice Theory to understand what keeps a friendship thriving

• How to nix the uncertainty in friendships that can cause animosity, guilt, or rifts

• Navigating common friendship challenges: long-distance friendships, introversion vs extroversion, and value differences without defaulting to a "friendship breakup"

• and SO MUCH MORE!

ABOUT ANNA:

Anna Goldfarb is a friendship journalist who has reported for outlets including the New York Times, the Atlantic, Time magazine, Vice, The Cut, Vox, and the Washington Post. Called "the New York Times friendship correspondent" by Tim Herrera, the editor of the New York Times Smarter Living section, she's written hundreds of articles that explore the nuances of friendships, relationships, and pop psychology. She lives in Philadelphia. Her first book, MODERN FRIENDSHIP: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections, is out today and available wherever books are sold.

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SHOW NOTES:

Author, creative consultant, and horticultural therapy practitioner Jessica Murnane (a WANTcast favorite!) joins us today on the WANTcast to talk about discovering horticultural therapy, building an offline-first business, and the very real mental, physical, social, and emotional benefits of getting your hands in the dirt.

In this episode, we dig into (pun intended) community vs. solo practices, rethinking social media for your values (and sanity), how nature rituals can rewire scarcity mindset, and so much more.

WE TALK ABOUT:

• What horticultural therapy actually is — and why it's not pseudoscience
• Starting something new while opting out of the social media hamster wheel (and what to do instead)
• Using nature and horticultural practices as mindset shift metaphors
• Why group nature experiences often light people up more than going it alone
• Simple, accessible practices for anyone to try
• Monetization, meaning, and choosing your "hard" when your work is mission-driven
• and more!!

LINKS:

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) affects an estimated 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S. — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Too often portrayed as a "quirk" or a preference for cleanliness, OCD is actually a complex and often debilitating disorder rooted in anxiety and doubt.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, for a candid, deeply practical conversation about what OCD really is, how it shows up (far beyond stereotypes), and what actually helps. We dig into the "OCD × news cycle" spiral, break down flavors/subtypes and internal compulsions, and get specific about Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): what it looks like, why the response prevention part matters most, and how to know if you're getting the right care. You'll also hear how to find a qualified clinician, what treatment "afters" feel like, and the empowering mindset of living the life you want — not the one OCD dictates.

• The OCD–news cycle Venn diagram: why constant headlines can supercharge doubt and rumination
• What OCD actually is (and isn't) and why logic alone won't cut it
• Flavors, subtypes, and themes plus how themes can "double scoop."
• ERP in real life: the safety behaviors to drop, and why response prevention is the unlock
• Getting help + what recovery feels like: how to vet specialists, levels of care, virtual options/insurance, and building a supportive "mental-health team" for long-term wins
• and more!

After a short micro-break, Katie returns with author, lawyer, leadership coach, and all-around light-maker Karen Walrond to celebrate the joy of being an INTENTIONAL AMATEUR. Instead of hustling every interest into a side-gig, Karen invites us to dabble for the love of it — no end game required. They unpack why hobbies matter, how to find ones that actually feel like relief, and the seven attributes that make play a true self-care practice.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• Why Karen resists the "be better" subtext of self-help when it comes to hobbies
• Reclaiming the word "amateur"
• The 7 attributes of intentional amateurism
• Why it's okay (and healthy) to stay mediocre and never become an "expert"
• Dabbling vs. committing, and how to notice when something is life-giving hard (stretch) vs. depleting hard (pressure/perfectionism).
• and more!

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SHOW NOTES:

What if you had a guidebook for the next big hormonal transition...The Care and Keeping of You for grownup women?

In today's episode, we're talking about the next ~period~ of your life (literally and figuratively :)) with therapist and women's health advocate Lauren Tetenbaum. Her new book MILLENNIAL MENOPAUSE is part education, part empowerment, and full of real-talk about prepping for perimenopause. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• What makes this generation uniquely suited to talk about menopause and perimenopause

• Common early signs of perimenopause

• How to self-advocate with doctors, plus red flags to look out for

• The link between reproductive health, mental health, and burnout

• How trauma, privilege, and systemic bias play a role in menopause care

• Lauren's top personal tips for preparing your mind and body NOW

• What she wants the next generation to say about how Millennials paved the way

• How to build body literacy and normalize the conversation, no matter your age

and so much more!

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ABOUT LAUREN:

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is an advocate and therapist who supports millennial and young women through life transitions. She specializes in professional and personal identity shifts, including the perinatal period and perimenopause. Lauren is a go-to resource for women seeking counsel, empowerment, and connection. Her book, MILLENNIAL MENOPAUSE, is out now.

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SHOW NOTES:

Website: thecounselaur.com

Millennial Menopause book: thecounselaur.com/millennialmenopausebook