E10: The Friendship Expert from Minneapolis

In this episode of New York Transplants, we dive into a long-awaited and deeply relevant topic—friendship. I sit down with Nina Badzin, host of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, writer, and expert on all things friendship.

We explore what it means to build friendships as a transplant—balancing long-distance relationships while trying to make new connections in a city that never slows down. Nina shares why friendships don’t always have to be perfectly mutual, how to navigate existing friendship groups, and why embracing community spaces can be just as fulfilling as close friendships.

Whether you’re struggling to meet new people, feeling stuck in one-sided friendships, or wondering how to redefine relationships in adulthood, this episode is packed with real talk and practical advice on making friendships feel easier.

Timestamps:

00:08: Welcome to New York Transplants

02:04: Dear Nina - "We make friendship so much harder than it needs to be."

11:47: The Art of friendship - "How do you balance long distance and new connections?"

18:30: Friendship groups - "I would advise against trying to fit into established friendship groups"

26:50: Modern society muddies friendship - "Your roommate does not need to be your friend"

34:31: Friendship vs. Community - "Community is about something bigger than you"

43:11: Share, Subscribe, Follow & Review