Friends on Purpose

Friends on Purpose
  • 5.0 (10)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What if friendship was something you practiced on purpose? Friends on Purpose is a thoughtful and funny friendship podcast where two curious friends explore life’s big questions through honest, deep conversations. Eric and Elaine talk about personal growth, belief systems, identity, and the experiences that shape who we become. Instead of angry debates or trauma dumping, they approach complicated topics with curiosity, humor, and humility. If you enjoy podcasts about friendship, psychology, faith conversations, and meaningful relationships, pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Episodes

  1. Seasoned Friends

    5D AGO

    Seasoned Friends

    Ten episodes later, Eric and Elaine take a moment to reflect on what they’ve learned from a season of curious, honest conversations about friendship, personal growth, belief systems, and life’s weird questions. What began as a purposeful weekly conversation between friends somehow turned into a podcast—and a surprisingly good practice for the soul. Season One wraps up here, but being Friends on Purpose continues in Season Two. Rabbit Footnotes: Not My Father's Son, By Alan Cumming - https://www.alancumming.com/2014/2015/6/2/not-my-fathers-son Leave Your Mark - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkfFeYBiQsI

    50 min
  2. Part 2 | The Good, the Bad, and the Culty

    MAR 2

    Part 2 | The Good, the Bad, and the Culty

    Part 2 of 2 - Eric walks through the highlights, lowlights, and spiritual plot twists of his 25-year church-cult experience—complete with sincere faith, complicated power dynamics, and the slow dawning realization that maybe this wasn’t everyone’s Sunday. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, Eric and Elaine talk belief systems, cult dynamics, and the strange process of making sense of it all. Rabbit Footnotes: Breakfast in Hell: with Sarah Davis Part 1 and 2 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakfast-with-sarah-davis-part-1/id1806983124?i=1000731574463 Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - ⁠https://amandamontell.com/cultish/⁠ The Exvangelicals - ⁠https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284471/theexvangelicals/⁠ Shiny Happy People - Seasons 1 and 2 - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKfEilxYpbM⁠

    1h 13m
  3. Shame it on the System

    FEB 23

    Shame it on the System

    Elaine revisits her coming-out story and discovers it’s changed with time. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, she and Eric unpack shame culture, inherited belief systems, identity, and the possibility that we’ve been blaming ourselves for glitches in the system. It’s a thoughtful conversation about personal growth, healing, and making sense of the stories we were given.

    1 hr
  4. Part 1 | Sect Education: Gender Roles

    FEB 16

    Part 1 | Sect Education: Gender Roles

    Eric reflects on the gender roles his high-control church assigned to him and his wife—and why none of it ever quite fit. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, he and Elaine unpack the expectations, power dynamics, and belief systems behind rigid roles in religious communities, and how choosing love over control quietly changed everything. Rabbit Footnotes: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - https://amandamontell.com/cultish/ The Exvangelicals - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284471/theexvangelicals/ Shiny Happy People - Seasons 1 and 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKfEilxYpbM Breakfast in Hell: with Sarah Davis Part 1 and 2 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakfast-in-hell-a-deconstruction-podcast/id1806983124

    1 hr
  5. Yes, And...You Pooped Your Pants

    FEB 9

    Yes, And...You Pooped Your Pants

    Pooping your pants is rarely on the agenda—but it turns out it’s an excellent teacher. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, Eric and Elaine explore humor, humility, and the art of laughing at yourself. Because sometimes the fastest way back to being human is admitting the moment got the better of you. Rabbit Footnotes: Heated Rivalry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKO26odltss Carol Burnett - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Burnett DropOut - https://watch.dropout.tv/browse/ and https://www.youtube.com/@dropout Gina Mireault Infant Humor - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/opinion/baby-laugh-developmental-milestone.html Johnson Woolen Mills - https://www.johnsonwoolenmills.com/

    49 min
  6. When your Narrative needs a Time-Out

    FEB 2

    When your Narrative needs a Time-Out

    Eric reflects on retraining the pathways in his brain and why reframing your story doesn’t mean erasing the moments you wish you’d handled differently. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, he and Elaine talk personal growth, mindset, and self-reflection. Elaine raises the audiobook question. Aliens enter the chat. No one is surprised. Rabbit Footnotes: A review of paternal bonding research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9690989/ In My Time of Dying (the book, not the Led Zepplin song) - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-My-Time-of-Dying/Sebastian-Junger/9781668050835 GCREW Models (Eric still isn’t sure which)- https://www.gq.com/ or https://www.jcrew.com  Cosmosis Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cosmosis-formerly-the-ufo-rabbit-hole/id1595590107 Independence Day - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B1E7h3SeMDk Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFO’s - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/imminent-luis-elizondo?variant=42538152165410 EP6: CIA Project Stargate - https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00789R002800180001-2.pdf The Men Who Stare at Goats - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EKtkSF5Trpw FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    56 min
  7. Curiosity: Please Use Responsibly

    JAN 26

    Curiosity: Please Use Responsibly

    Elaine recounts her visit with a psychic medium and the unexpected insights that came from the experience. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, she and Eric explore intuition, spirituality, curiosity, and why leaving a little room for mystery can be a surprisingly helpful approach to life. Rabbit Footnotes: Grillo Pickles - https://www.instagram.com/grillospickles/ Miller Lite Bad Shit to Good Shit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjThYid_kYQ Pluribus -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6lzvWby9UE  Elaine’s Medium, Krysta Heidman - https://www.magickalthinking.com/  Telepathy Tapes Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1zigaPaUWO4G9SiFV0Kf1c FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    55 min
  8. Nerds, Geeks, and Other Important Distinctions

    JAN 19

    Nerds, Geeks, and Other Important Distinctions

    Eric and Elaine talk nerds vs geeks, the wild west days of early internet chatrooms, and the strange experience of talking with online strangers in the 1990s—one of whom might have been the FBI. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, they explore internet culture, nostalgia, friendship, and the kind of inside jokes that only make sense to family. Rabbit Footnotes: Down a Rabbit Hole - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_the_rabbit_hole Rabbit Trail - CAN’T FIND A GOOD LINK WHICH KINDA MAKES SENSE BC ITS NOT REALLY A POPULAR SAYING Doogan -http://drop-a-doogan.urbanup.com/514671 (pg 4 of urban dictionary) Doogan’s Fudge Shop in New Hampshire: https://www.facebook.com/doogansgiftandfudgeshop/ - shout out to our friends at Doogan’s Weapons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpThntO9ixc Heretic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGxHflevuk Sinners - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9i2vmFhSSY  - specifically the music scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7jo5Cr6WUA FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    1h 3m
  9. Thoughts on Love and Pet Psychics

    JAN 12

    Thoughts on Love and Pet Psychics

    Eric and Elaine reflect on how their understanding of love and relationships has evolved over time. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, they explore personal growth, relationship wisdom, reexamine the plot of Titanic, and get unexpectedly roasted by a pet psychic. Rabbit Footnotes: East Fork Pottery - https://www.eastfork.com/locations/asheville?utm_campaign=brand-search&utm_source=google-search&utm_medium=paid&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15168906946&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgvPKBhCxARIsAOlK_EoK5SFTibDdCex_sUqfSzaB8gFk5KLp7MidYr_tSzkmA9o8sAy3OBsaAnzMEALw_wcB For the Uncultured (JK) -  https://www.moma.org/artists/3832-henri-matisse Siamese Cat Information - https://www.chewy.com/education/cat/general/siamese-cat-breed-facts-temperament-care-info  “I’m Just A Baby” - https://www.tiktok.com/@paramountplus/video/7339989762696105258?lang=en OR https://www.tiktok.com/@neemsthemes/video/7091999097175182638?lang=en  dealer’s choice you know… FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    49 min
  10. A Christian and a Lesbian Walk into a Bar

    JAN 5

    A Christian and a Lesbian Walk into a Bar

    Painted ceilings, unexpected tears, and that rare moment when someone truly notices you. In this episode of Friends on Purpose, Eric and Elaine share personal stories about kindness, human connection, and the small gestures that shape relationships and personal growth in ways we don’t always expect. Rabbit Footnotes: The Art Lesson - https://www.tomie.com/in-print-books Roosevelt Quote - https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/ Elaine’s Current Passion - https://duncantoys.com/collections/yo-yos?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22235784450&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgvPKBhCxARIsAOlK_Er8y0p6kzs5tU59DMAJLdEuBwgsvKNflPdhsHc_dw-0UHrgmH70BCgaAo0ZEALw_wcB FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    58 min
  11. Did We Just Become Best Friends?

    JAN 1

    Did We Just Become Best Friends?

    In the very first episode of Friends on Purpose, Eric and Elaine look back at the moments that make the highlight reel of their friendship. Through personal stories, humor, and conversation, they reflect on the experiences that shaped their relationship, and practice a little fun announcing along the way. Rabbit Footnotes: Downtown - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhoLcsr8GA Dipsmas - https://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/a46042548/dipmas-party/ Hellbox Studio - https://www.instagram.com/hellbox.studio/ Noticing Small Things Leads to a Happy Life - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202410/the-power-of-little-things-how-to-find-joy-in-the-everyday/amp FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsOnPurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendsonpurposepodcast

    35 min
  • 11 Episodes

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

What if friendship was something you practiced on purpose? Friends on Purpose is a thoughtful and funny friendship podcast where two curious friends explore life’s big questions through honest, deep conversations. Eric and Elaine talk about personal growth, belief systems, identity, and the experiences that shape who we become. Instead of angry debates or trauma dumping, they approach complicated topics with curiosity, humor, and humility. If you enjoy podcasts about friendship, psychology, faith conversations, and meaningful relationships, pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Friends on Purpose
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Friends on Purpose
  • Show Website
    Friends on Purpose

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