Friends Will Save Your Life
What do two Jewish writer-moms who've never met have in common? Turns out pretty much everything (except the dogs.)
I live!
Here’s proof: Recently I joined the delightful Matt Zeigler of Cultish Creative for the most recent episode of Just Press Record, along with Conversations About Friendship’s
.If you’ve never listened to Just Press Record, its basic premise is that Matt introduces two people who don’t know each other—but ought to—and asks leading questions to help them get to know each other in real-time. With Matt’s signature Johnny Carson-meets-shadchan moderation style, the end result is a conversation that’s as much fun for the guests as it is for the audience.
Some of my favorite recent episodes have been “The Power of Midlife Reinvention,” featuring Nancy Burger and Julia Duthie; and “How to Turn Curiosity into Creation,” with Anne-Laure Le Cunff and Chris Mayer.
I had the genuine pleasure of getting to know Nina Badzin, an author, podcaster, and expert on friendship. I’d started the episode deeply intimidated by her polish and expertise, and by the end of the conversation we’d invited each other to Shabbat dinner.
Our conversation was far-ranging, diving into our career journeys, writing, the disappointments of friendship, the Heroine’s Journey, Jewish identity in a post-October 7th world, low-investment parenting, and so much more. Nina’s words, “Just start,” have rattled around in my brain since we recorded.
Fair warning: Our episode gets… well, raw in spots. Some of these feelings I have never voiced before outside my immediate family or local friend group—certainly not in public. That’s of course a testament to Matt’s skill as a moderator and Nina’s effortless ability to put people at ease, but I also think my own “wandering through the woods” (so to speak) has emboldened me to speak my mind more honestly. It’s amazing what you’ll put out there, once you find the comfort of walking around in your own skin.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! Link to the full episode below, or watch directly on YouTube. (It’s also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.)