How to Make and Keep Friends as an Adult, with Alexandra Friedman, Friendship in America Series Part 2

How to Make and Keep Friends as an Adult Why does making friends as an adult feel so much harder than it did in college or your early 20s, and what actually helps? In Part 2 of our Friendship in America series, Maria Eliades talks with Alexandra Friedman, founder of Connection Feast, about adult friendship, loneliness, making new friends, keeping old ones, and what healthy friendships actually look and feel like. After moving back to Seattle and struggling to build meaningful friendships, Alex started hosting structured dinners for strangers. Those gatherings eventually grew into Connection Feast, a company focused on helping adults build deeper connections and stronger social skills. In this episode, Maria and Alexandra talk about why just meeting more people doesn’t always lead to the friendships we want, why friendships aren't convenient, and why finding the right people may mean leaning harder into the things that make you just a bit weird. They also discuss: Why people can feel lonely even when they have friends or romantic partners How to make friends as an adult when you’re starting over in a new city Why the places we choose to meet people matter How many times to initiate activities before giving up Why “Hey, how are you?” can sometimes make reconnecting harder Why friendship breakups can hurt as much as romantic breakups How friendships change through marriage, parenthood, moves, and other life transitions Plus, Alex answers a listener question about how to tell if a friendship has red flags, especially when disagreements happen. If you’ve ever wondered how to make friends as an adult, how to keep friendships alive through life changes, or how to know if a friendship is worth repairing, this episode is for you. About Alexandra Friedman Alexandra Friedman is a Friendship and Connection Coach, community builder, and founder of Connection Feast, a social wellness company helping adults and people-focused companies build deeper friendships and strong social skills. Since 2018 she has guided close to 3,000 people through workshops, events, and coaching experiences that teach adults how to move past small talk, create meaningful relationships, and build a more connected life. Our Pandora’s Box is a podcast for women in their late 20s (and late 20s at heart) who want to live life on their own terms. Subscribe to the Our Pandora’s Box Substack and join the conversation at ourpandorasbox.substack.com.