The Friend Lab

Liz McKean and Bryce The Third

The Friend Lab is a curious, candid, and sometimes chaotic exploration of what it means to be human together. Hosted by Liz McKean: coach, hypnotist, yoga teacher, and professional untangler of shame, and Bryce The Third: performing artist, recovery advocate, speaker, author, and all-around creative force; this show lives at the intersection of friendship, growth, and real-life transformation. Liz and Bryce come from different worlds, but their chemistry is undeniable. Their creative partnership is rooted in honesty, humor, and a shared obsession with understanding why we connect the way we do. Each episode is a deep dive into the messy, magical terrain of being a person: •friendships that evolve •identities that shift •coping tools that help (and sometimes don’t) •recovery and what it looks like beyond the clichés •personal growth that feels exciting one day and overwhelming the next •the courage it takes to stay authentic, even when it’s uncomfortable They’ll talk about the things people think about but rarely say out loud: the awkwardness, the misunderstandings, the breakthroughs, the belly laughs, the spiritual moments, the self-awareness spirals, and the quiet truths that change us. This is not a show about having it all figured out. It’s a show about experimenting with what it means to belong to yourself and to each other, one honest conversation at a time. Whether you’re navigating recovery, building healthier relationships, reimagining your life, or just craving a podcast that feels like sitting on the couch with two friends who are delighted to be spending time with you, welcome to The Friend Lab.

  1. APR 28

    Being IN The Moment, ADHD Brain, and Your Favorite Color: The Friend Lab was LIVE!

    Text us to be featured on the show! The Friend Lab was LIVE on Substack a few weeks ago, and this is the convo we had! If you haven't already, join us over on Substack for the chance to join us on an upcoming live. If you like it, we'll do more of these! Ironically -or is it serendipidously? - we talk a lot in this episode about being IN THE MOMENT and how that can be challenging when you are always trying to recreate a feeling or an experience or even a routine that worked one time. Bryce & I are in recovery and have ADHD... and that becomes wildly apparent in this convo! But even though impermanence is a gift, and being in the present moment is a beautiful way to live... we didn't want you to miss this fun conversation. We hope you enjoy, and would love to have you join us for the next live recording! Be sure to subscribe on Substack so you don't miss the announcement. Or not, either way we're super glad you're here. :) Follow The Friend Lab on Instagram About Liz McKean: Liz is a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, and creator of spaces where people can unshame their coping tools and finally feel better. About Bryce The Third: When it comes to the most authentic and impactful voices rising out of Detroit, Michigan, Bryce The Third is a name you can’t afford to leave out. Not just an artist, he’s an emotional engineer with a live show that a mix of performance art, storytelling, high level lyricism and community building. Not only does Bryce have a story to tell, when you witness it, you’ll wanna tell yours  Join The FriendLab Community! → https://substack.com/@friendlabpodcast Call into the show to be featured → https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFriendLabPodcast More about Liz → lizmckean.com Follow Liz on Instagram → @liz.mckean More about Bryce → BryceTheThird.com Follow Bryce on Instagram → @brycethethird

    24 min
  2. APR 21

    Bryce and Liz Take On The Men's Loneliness Epidemic

    Text us to be featured on the show! Did you know there is a loneliness epidemic among men? Bryce did NOT want to have this conversation, so of course we had to have it. And we're so glad we did, because you a deserve a positive, action-oriented perspective, and that's what we have for you today. Ways to connect if you're feeling disconnected. The positive impact of connection for everyone- but in this conversation, particularly for men. And essentially a message of hope for anyone feeling lonely. You are not just a number in some faceless epidemic, you are a person who needs people. So let's get connected- and remember what it actually takes to form meaningful relationships with other humans. We're so glad you're part of our community, and would love to hear from you! Call in with questions or comments, and use the links below to connect with us on social media. We love ya! Liz & Bryce Follow The Friend Lab on Instagram About Liz McKean: Liz is a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, and creator of spaces where people can unshame their coping tools and finally feel better. About Bryce The Third: When it comes to the most authentic and impactful voices rising out of Detroit, Michigan, Bryce The Third is a name you can’t afford to leave out. Not just an artist, he’s an emotional engineer with a live show that a mix of performance art, storytelling, high level lyricism and community building. Not only does Bryce have a story to tell, when you witness it, you’ll wanna tell yours  Join The FriendLab Community! → https://substack.com/@friendlabpodcast Call into the show to be featured → https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFriendLabPodcast More about Liz → lizmckean.com Follow Liz on Instagram → @liz.mckean More about Bryce → BryceTheThird.com Follow Bryce on Instagram → @brycethethird

    56 min
  3. APR 14

    Is AI trying f**k me??: Is AI a Substitute For Human Connection?

    Text us to be featured on the show! We are tackling the big topics on the Friend Lab! AI- friend or foe to connection, to mental health, to... society? We don't know. But we sure do have opinions!  From ChatGPT whispering sweet nothings in our ears, to ours and others' conflicting feelings about whether AI in mental health is a good or bad thing (or somewhere in between), to questions about WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING.... we come to the conclusion that, again, we don't know. But we will continue to have opinions, and we always want to hear yours! Be sure you've used the links below to connect with us on various platforms (substack, IG, etc), and call in with your thoughts and questions. We love ya! (in the human way, not the weird chatgpt love-bombing way) Liz & Bryce Follow The Friend Lab on Instagram About Liz McKean: Liz is a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, and creator of spaces where people can unshame their coping tools and finally feel better. About Bryce The Third: When it comes to the most authentic and impactful voices rising out of Detroit, Michigan, Bryce The Third is a name you can’t afford to leave out. Not just an artist, he’s an emotional engineer with a live show that a mix of performance art, storytelling, high level lyricism and community building. Not only does Bryce have a story to tell, when you witness it, you’ll wanna tell yours  Join The FriendLab Community! → https://substack.com/@friendlabpodcast Call into the show to be featured → https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFriendLabPodcast More about Liz → lizmckean.com Follow Liz on Instagram → @liz.mckean More about Bryce → BryceTheThird.com Follow Bryce on Instagram → @brycethethird

    52 min
  4. APR 7

    The challenges of JOY as an adult...What if instead of preparing for the worst, we imagined the best?

    Text us to be featured on the show! The bad news is, Fruity Pebbles are just colorful rice bits now, and pizza rolls have lost their spark. The good news is, we think we can we retrain our adult brains to center joy, to be in the moment with grace & compassion, and to live more like we did as kids, while we're still here. We chat about reasons joy can feel harder to find as an adult: is it western/achievement cultureis it our "life is supposed to be this way" mindset?maybe using our imagination to prepare for the worst?because we hold too tightly to the things and people we love, ruining the experience?or is it because we all heard about how hard life will be when we were kids?Whatever it is, we're ready to embrace our inner Mr. Rogers, to use our imaginations to center the good stuff, and we hope you will too. (And if this feels impossible so you are interested in diving deeper into a hypnosis convo with Liz, use the links below!) Follow The Friend Lab on Instagram About Liz McKean: Liz is a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, and creator of spaces where people can unshame their coping tools and finally feel better. About Bryce The Third: When it comes to the most authentic and impactful voices rising out of Detroit, Michigan, Bryce The Third is a name you can’t afford to leave out. Not just an artist, he’s an emotional engineer with a live show that a mix of performance art, storytelling, high level lyricism and community building. Not only does Bryce have a story to tell, when you witness it, you’ll wanna tell yours  Join The FriendLab Community! → https://substack.com/@friendlabpodcast Call into the show to be featured → https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFriendLabPodcast More about Liz → lizmckean.com Follow Liz on Instagram → @liz.mckean More about Bryce → BryceTheThird.com Follow Bryce on Instagram → @brycethethird

    39 min
  5. MAR 31

    Liz's Internet Hater, Exploring Intellectual Partnerships, and How We Give and Receive Love in Adult Friendships

    Text us to be featured on the show! Friend Lab fam, did you catch us live on Substack? It won't be the last time so subscribe over there if you haven't yet- we can't wait to connect! On today's episode, we talk about intellectual partnerships, what supportive love for friends looks and feels like, and what it means to be experimenting & growing in our relationships. We also discuss some really ANGRY internet trolls that popped up recently, and how Bryce showed up for Liz in a way that was both protective and empowering.  We go into details on all of these topics, including some conversation about what it looks like to be a man who shows up for women, and being a woman who can feel safe advocating for herself in the world. As always, every bit has a thru-line of deep love and respect for one another (despite a major disagreement about pickle kombucha). See you in the lab! Follow The Friend Lab on Instagram About Liz McKean: Liz is a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, and creator of spaces where people can unshame their coping tools and finally feel better. About Bryce The Third: When it comes to the most authentic and impactful voices rising out of Detroit, Michigan, Bryce The Third is a name you can’t afford to leave out. Not just an artist, he’s an emotional engineer with a live show that a mix of performance art, storytelling, high level lyricism and community building. Not only does Bryce have a story to tell, when you witness it, you’ll wanna tell yours  Join The FriendLab Community! → https://substack.com/@friendlabpodcast Call into the show to be featured → https://www.speakpipe.com/TheFriendLabPodcast More about Liz → lizmckean.com Follow Liz on Instagram → @liz.mckean More about Bryce → BryceTheThird.com Follow Bryce on Instagram → @brycethethird

    41 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Friend Lab is a curious, candid, and sometimes chaotic exploration of what it means to be human together. Hosted by Liz McKean: coach, hypnotist, yoga teacher, and professional untangler of shame, and Bryce The Third: performing artist, recovery advocate, speaker, author, and all-around creative force; this show lives at the intersection of friendship, growth, and real-life transformation. Liz and Bryce come from different worlds, but their chemistry is undeniable. Their creative partnership is rooted in honesty, humor, and a shared obsession with understanding why we connect the way we do. Each episode is a deep dive into the messy, magical terrain of being a person: •friendships that evolve •identities that shift •coping tools that help (and sometimes don’t) •recovery and what it looks like beyond the clichés •personal growth that feels exciting one day and overwhelming the next •the courage it takes to stay authentic, even when it’s uncomfortable They’ll talk about the things people think about but rarely say out loud: the awkwardness, the misunderstandings, the breakthroughs, the belly laughs, the spiritual moments, the self-awareness spirals, and the quiet truths that change us. This is not a show about having it all figured out. It’s a show about experimenting with what it means to belong to yourself and to each other, one honest conversation at a time. Whether you’re navigating recovery, building healthier relationships, reimagining your life, or just craving a podcast that feels like sitting on the couch with two friends who are delighted to be spending time with you, welcome to The Friend Lab.