Why Friendship Feels So Hard in Midlife—and What to Do About It with Nina Badzin

Friendship in midlife can feel unexpectedly hard. Why does it seem tougher to connect, and what can we do about it?

Andrea Hecht sits down with Nina Badzin, a friendship expert who has spent years helping women navigate this stage of life. They unpack why old social circles may no longer fit, why assumptions about who’s available for friendship can hold us back, and why redefining what we expect from relationships might be the key to feeling more connected.

From casual acquaintances to deep bonds, every relationship has a place. But how do you know when to nurture a friendship and when to let it go? Nina shares her perspective on making meaningful connections without overthinking every interaction. If midlife friendships feel more complicated than they should, this episode will help you see them in a new light.

Quotes

“You cannot make someone do friendship like you do.” (10:05 | Nina Badzin)
“People make assumptions about how available others are. A lot of times they assume they’re not available for friendship because they seem really busy, they look really busy on social media, and we all know social media isn’t always what it seems.” (15:32 | Nina Badzin)
“If you take your own social life into your hands, you will meet new people.” (18:09 | Nina Badzin)
“It is impossible for everybody in a friend group to be equally close.” (40:24 | Nina Badzin)
“I would just love to see people give other people as big of a break as we give ourselves.” (42:18 | Nina Badzin)

Links

Connect with Nina Badzin:

Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship: https://ninabadzin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearninafriendship

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearninafriendship

Substack: https://dearnina.substack.com/

FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/855246118403712

Connect with your host, Andrea Hecht:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching

Website: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com

✨ Join The Next ChaptHER Circle! ✨

A transformative space for women ready to connect, grow, and rediscover their joy.

👉 Sign up here and receive 30% savings:: The Next ChaptHER Circle

https://the-next-chapther-circle.circle.so/checkout/the-next-chapther-circle-founding-annual-membership

Work with Andrea one-on-one to unlock your true potential and lead a fulfilling life. Gain clarity, build confidence, and discover personal insights that will empower you to pursue your authentic ambitions and improve your well-being.

👉 Fill out the form to set up a FREE 30-minute consultation:

https://www.fullyinformedlife.com

Do you have a guest we should feature on The Next ChaptHER podcast?

👉 Fill out the questionnaire here and our team will get in touch:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-n2LOAXgUMUwxFc66QrtHY47-8_nOeJUpcnNHnv6LdyLHCg/viewform