It’s Not You: The Real Reason Adult Friendship Is So Hard & 3 Ways to Make It Easier
It’s Not You: The Real Reason Adult Friendship Is So Hard & 3 Ways to Make It Easier  
Podcast: The Mel Robbins Podcast
Published On: Thu Apr 24 2025
Description: If you’ve ever felt like making friends as an adult feels impossible, or you’ve looked around and thought, "Where did all my friends go?" – you’re not alone. In this episode, Danielle Bayard Jackson is sharing the real reasons why female friendship can feel so complicated, based on research and the advice you need to hear. Danielle is one of the country’s leading experts on female friendship, the Director of the Women's Relational Health Institute, and the bestselling author of Fighting For Our Friendships. She teaches women how to build and maintain better friendships using proven, science-backed methods, and today, she’s here to clear up the confusion, cut through the drama, and break down exactly what you need to know about female friendship. Today, you’ll learn:-Why adult friendships change so much—and what it really means -Why it’s okay if you don’t have a BFF (and what to do about it) -Why female friendships can get messy and how to handle it -What do do when friendships fade -The subtle ways you might be pushing people away without realizing it -Simple, powerful steps to make new friends, rekindle old ones, navigate conflict, and strengthen your support system No matter your age or stage of life, it’s not too late. If you’ve ever felt lonely, disconnected, or like making new friends is impossible, this conversation will show you exactly what to do next. For more resources, click here for the podcast episode page.  If you liked this episode, and want more tools, tips, and scripts to create more meaningful relationships, listen to this one next: What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on HappinessConnect with Mel:  Get Mel’s #1 bestselling book, The Let Them TheoryWatch the episodes on YouTubeFollow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast InstagramMel's TikTok Sign up for Mel’s personal letter Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-freeDisclaimer