Well, that’s Awkward Podcast – EP11: Are We Actually Good Friends?

Friendship is one of the most important — and least examined — relationships in adult life. In Episode 11 of Well, That’s Awkward, hosts Susan Osman and Rachel Branson turn their attention to a question many of us quietly wonder but rarely ask out loud:

Are we actually good friends?

This episode explores friendship in midlife — how it changes, deepens, fractures, and sometimes quietly fades — and why the people we choose to walk alongside us matter more than ever.

Listen on Acast>>

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What Makes a “Good” Friend?

As we get older, friendship tends to move away from convenience and proximity and towards depth, honesty and emotional safety. In this episode, Susan and Rachel discuss the different roles friends can play in our lives:

• the friend who lovingly calls you out
• the friend who sees you clearly (even when you don’t)
• the friend who shows up when you’re overwhelmed, exhausted or emotionally unravelled
• and the friend who grows with you — not against you

They explore whether good friendship is about agreement… or mutual respect, truth and trust.

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How Friendships Change After 40

Midlife often brings a quiet but profound shift in our social circles. In Episode 11, the conversation looks at:

• why friendships often become fewer but deeper after 40
• “mirror” relationships that reflect parts of ourselves back to us
• soul-level connections and why some friendships feel instantly familiar
• the lessons friendships are meant to teach us — even when they end

There’s also an honest discussion about letting go of friendships that no longer nourish us — and why that can feel both painful and freeing.

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The Awkward Question We Rarely Ask

One of the most powerful moments in the episode centres on a simple but confronting question:

How many really good friends do you actually have?

Not social media connections.
Not people you see at events.
But the ones who truly know you.

Susan and Rachel explore why friendship can be just as central to wellbeing as romantic relationships — and why prioritising healthy connection is a vital part of ageing well.

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Listen to Episode 11: Are We Actually Good Friends?

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at
WellbeingMagazine.com/podcast

New episodes of Well, That’s Awkward drop every Monday at 6pm for Mocktail Monday — honest conversations, mocktails in hand, and no filters required.

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Why This Episode Matters

Friendship is not a side note to wellbeing — it’s foundational. This episode invites listeners to reflect on their relationships with kindness, curiosity and courage, and to recognise that sometimes the most meaningful growth in midlife isn’t romantic or professional…

…it’s relational.