Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
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 connect—for real. You’ll hear stories from everyday people (plus the occasional expert), learn what’s working in modern friendships—and what definitely isn’t—and walk away with ideas, scripts, and action steps you can actually use.
Think of it like a coffee date with your wisest, most encouraging friend—the 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.
Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes
How to Make Mom Friends When the Village Doesn’t Just Appear with Molly Menning
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Making new mom friends sounds simple enough until you’re actually in the thick of it, and that’s where Molly Menning found herself after becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom of two.
Many of her mom friends had gone back to work or had kids in different stages, and the daytime hours at home started to feel really isolating.
So she decided to try something simple: a weekly, drop-in playgroup at her house for local moms – and it worked!
In this episode, Molly talks about how she started the playgroup, the vulnerability of hosting, what happens when everyone cancels, and why the price of community might sometimes be disappointment.
If you’ve been waiting for someone else to create the thing you wish existed, this might be your nudge to go first.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
- Why loneliness hit Molly differently when she became a full-time stay-at-home mom
- How a Canva invite turned into a weekly “come as you are” drop-in playgroup with coffee and kid snacks
- Why two moms showing up is not a failure, and how small gatherings can become the beginning of real community
- The reframe we all need when people cancel, plans shift, or the turnout is smaller than we hoped
- Why hosting does not have to mean cleaning your house, throwing a party, or doing everything yourself
Resources & Links
Episode 6: The Secret to Hosting a Gathering (Hint: You’re Probably Doing Too Much)
Episode 155: How to Host on Any Budget (and Not Fall Into the Martha Stewart Trap)
Episode 171: Why (and How) You Should Start Initiating Recurring Social Gatherings
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!
WANT MORE?
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