Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
Tired of hearing “just put yourself out there” when it comes to friendship or community? Same.
Friendship IRL is the podcast that skips the fluff and gets real about what it takes to build meaningful adult friendships and lasting support systems. Whether you're struggling to make new friends, maintain old ones, or just want people in your life who really show up, you're in the right place.
Each week, host Alex Alexander brings you honest conversations and tangible strategies to help you connect—for real. You’ll hear stories from everyday people (plus the occasional expert), learn what’s working in modern friendships—and what definitely isn’t—and walk away with ideas, scripts, and action steps you can actually use.
Think of it like a coffee date with your wisest, most encouraging friend—the one who tells the truth and hands you the playbook.
🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday. 💬 Want to share your friendship win or struggle? Leave Alex a voice message at AlexAlex.chat.
Follow along on Instagram or TikTok @itsalexalexander and join the movement to rethink how we build connection, community, and friendships in real life.
Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
Why You Feel Lonely Even Though You Have Close Friends
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There’s a specific kind of loneliness that I don’t think enough people talk about — the loneliness you feel EVEN when you have good friends.
In this episode, I’m talking about why you might feel lonely, and I’m breaking it down into a few different reasons. Maybe you don’t feel fully seen, maybe this friendship isn’t the right container for what you’re carrying, maybe life circumstances have changed, or maybe there are quiet expectations that have never actually been named out loud.
My hope is that this episode gives you language for what might be happening in one specific friendship, so you have somewhere to start.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
- Why you might feel lonely in a friendship when you’re masking, staying surface-level, or sharing vulnerably
- How to tell when a friendship is not the right “container” for a specific experience, passion, life change, or dream you’re carrying
- Why drift can happen when one person changes and the friendship hasn’t caught up yet
- Why texts, voice memos, and FaceTimes do not always replace the shared experiences you’re craving
Resources & Links
Episode 12: Digging Into the 3 Kinds of Friendship Roots
Episode 36: How To Feel Very “Not Alone”
Episode 74: The Power of Vulnerability In Small Doses
Episode 100: How To Use the Wheel of Connection to Strengthen Your Support System
Episode 179: What Is Friendship Culture? (And How To Shift It Without Everything Blowing Up)
This episode is sponsored by Are We Friends Yet?, Alex’s book on building the support system you’ve been wanting.
Buy the book and submit your receipt before July 16th to get The Connector’s Toolkit free: a private pep talk podcast for the moments that feel hardest, a full year in The Less Lonely Club, and more. Grab your bonuses at alexalexander.com/are-we-friends-yet
This episode is sponsored by Slowly, a digital pen pal app used by over 10 million people worldwide. If you’ve been looking for a low-pressure way to connect with someone completely outside your normal friendship circle, this is it. Exchange letters at your own pace, no small talk panic required.
Download Slowly free and get 30% off Slowly Plus using my link: https://open.slowly.app/miXL/l8ei5iw6
WANT MORE?
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