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Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually TakesAuthor: Alex Alexander
Tired of hearing just put yourself out there when it comes to friendship or community? Same.Friendship IRL is the podcast that skips the fluff and gets real about what it takes to build meaningful adult friendships and lasting support systems. Whether you're struggling to make new friends, maintain old ones, or just want people in your life who really show up, you're in the right place.Each week, host Alex Alexander brings you honest conversations and tangible strategies to help you connectfor real. Youll hear stories from everyday people (plus the occasional expert), learn whats working in modern friendshipsand what definitely isntand walk away with ideas, scripts, and action steps you can actually use.Think of it like a coffee date with your wisest, most encouraging friendthe one who tells the truth and hands you the playbook. New episodes drop every Thursday. Want to share your friendship win or struggle? Leave Alex a voice message at AlexAlex.chat.Follow along on Instagram or TikTok @itsalexalexander and join the movement to rethink how we build connection, community, and friendships in real life. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Group Chat Anxiety (Part 1): Why Your Notifications Feel Like Emotional Homework
Episode 164
Thursday, 12 February, 2026
Have you ever picked up your phone and discovered a hundred unread text messages?Likely you’re at the tail end of a group chat, and it kind of feels like walking into a party two hours late. You want to respond but wonder: will people be annoyed at you for backtracking? Maybe you even feel resentful for being added to this chat without consent. Group chats can sometimes feel like you’re operating with one arm behind your back – but if you suffer group chat anxiety, I think it’s important to remember that it’s because you really care about your friendships.This episode is the first segment of a two-part series on anxiety surrounding group chats: today, we’re talking about why group chats can be tricky to navigate, and in the next, what you can actually do about it.In this episode you’ll hear about:Why group chats are often used to satisfy a craving for connection but often fall short of delivering real connection people wantThe richness of in-person connection (Body language! Tone! Shared moments!) vs. the flatness of textingDifferent ways group chats can cause anxiety, from the public nature of having something you said responded to or ignored to lurker guiltThe intensity overload of group chats, plus, different studies about texting and anxietyResources & LinksListen to Episode 12 and learn about my theory about the Roots framework; Episode 100 about the Wheel of Connection; Episode 127 about using data to manage your friendship mental load; Episode 131 about the spectrum of digital connection; and Episode 134 about fringe friends.Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!
