Ep 3: ☎️ On the Phone | Elle James

Hi! Did you have a chance to listen to Episode One: I Thought We'd Grow Old Together with Elle and Michelle?

If so, I invite you to eavesdrop on my phone call with Elle. I was so curious to hear what it was like for her to listen back to her own words and relive such a personal conversation. This was my very first podcast episode, and I am honestly a little nervous to hear what she thought of it.

If you haven't listened to Episode One yet, I hope you will. Elle and Michelle's friendship, their individual stories, and the way they found each other left a lasting impression on me. I genuinely feel like I'm a better human for having had that conversation, and I hope you will, too.

Guest: Elle James (@shamelesselle)

🎙️ The Best Friend Podcast explores how women find, make, lose, and keep the platonic loves of their lives through original friendship research, honest conversations, and unforgettable stories.

Share your friendship story by taking the survey at TheBestFriendProject.co

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

The first episode of the Best Friend Project featuring Elle and Michelle's friendship aired a couple days ago. And I am so curious to hear Elle's reaction. So let's call her right now. I'm gonna get her on the phone. Hello. Hi, it's Rachel. Hey! How are you? I'm so good.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

How are you? I'm I'm doing good. How's your first day of having your podcast air?

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Oh my gosh. Um, it was well, I I mean, truth be told, I was like wracked with like anxiety because all I was thinking about was you and Michelle and how you would feel about it. So how was it for you to hear it?

SPEAKER_00 0:42

I got up and listened to the episode and I just cried and cried, honestly. Like it was it was really beautiful. It was, it was just so nice to see women being highlighted and relationships that are often overlooked as uh important ones. Um, I don't know, it's just always, you know, about romantic love and uh it's nice to see something else.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Oh, what a relief to hear that. I'm so grateful. Um and also leap of faith for you to jump on a brand new podcast and like what what made you even want to do that? You know, was there any part of you like, oh, this lady?

SPEAKER_00 1:25

Our our conversation. Or I mean, I was open to having a conversation and me and you hopped on the phone. I think if I remember correctly, you were like, Oh, I wish I had been recording this because you know, it was just such a genuine um conversation. I as soon as we talked, I was like, Oh, and I want to be a part.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Yeah. I've been watching this strong reaction on your social media. Many people are commenting that help them or they they wish they could have that type of friendship. And I'm like, that's the whole point of this. You can't. How's it been for you to see the comments and stuff?

SPEAKER_00 1:58

I mean, not surprising, honestly. Like, I I think people just genuinely need this. Um, it's it it we're kind of in this weird time where women are, you know, kind of stepping back and so many people are thinking, like, you know what? I I don't need to be with someone. And so women's friendships have become huge, they've become really important. And uh and also just to see it centered is I don't know, it's it's something that we we need, we that we want.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yeah. Yep, no, very well said, very well said. Um, have you and you've had a chance to talk to Michelle?

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Oh yeah, yeah. She messaged me this morning, you know, she hadn't heard the first part of our conversation. So for her, this was the first time that she had heard that part, right? And she was like, You're making me cry. And you know, just the same way. I didn't even think of that because you know, she joins at the end. So yeah, no, for her, it was the first time hearing it. So, um, and for me, it's like the first time hearing it too, honestly, because I don't know, it was a couple months ago, and you don't really remember everything that you you said or that you talked about. And um, like I watched it twice, both episodes I listened to twice, you know. Um it was just I I it meant a lot to me. It meant a lot to me to be a part of this. I just think I think it's beautiful to have something that's, you know, not uh focused on anger and not focused on hate, but just focused on like something really beautiful in um in a light that just I haven't really seen done, you know? And yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Thank you. I think some people have a like a sort of perception of this that it's going to be all about friendship breakups because that's sort of the impetus of the project, but it's not because it's the full spectrum of like how do we show up for each other, why, what makes us friends, what is the accountability that we have in choosing each other? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Um, I and I mean I I will say that the the part that struck me was, you know, I'm sitting there and I'm listening to myself talking about, you know, how to show up and and these incredible women that have taught me how to show up. And truthfully, over the last month, I haven't been showing up the way that I want to. And so I'm just kind of sitting there thinking, like, you know what? Um I've I've taken that step backwards and and kind of reverted back to my like hermit life. And uh so it was just it was kind of interesting to have my own little reminder from myself that this is not how I want to show up and that I want to, you know, make sure that I'm being there for my friends and really, you know, showing up when they need me. Um so I think that your your project and your podcast, like it, it's going to have an effect on women and on just people in general that they, you know, sit back and go, wait, you know, maybe I need to put more effort in. You know, maybe I need to show up a bit more, maybe I need to make more phone calls, maybe I need to take that five minutes of lying down and turning it into a moment where I check on my friend.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Yeah, I love that that, yes, yes, yes, yes. And I do feel like, I mean, it's somewhat of almost like an audio diary when you hear yourself talking about things like friendship, and then you go, oh, well, now I have to put it into practice, you know. So Well, we go through times where we're good at something and when we're not, right? I'm glad that you said that. And thank you again for spending so much time talking with me. I'm better for this conversation. I'm a better human being, and I'll never forget you. Like, I hope we stay in touch, but I I really will never forget you. It was just an incredible experience for me.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

I um if I'm gonna end it by saying anything, I just want to tell you that I don't think you realize what you've started. And I think probably one day soon you will. But um it's deeper than you think. I think and I know you're the one that started it, but the way that it's uh reaching people, the way that they're m reaching out to me and and saying what it meant to hear, um I don't know if you realize what you started. And I think it's an amazing thing.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Thank you. Thank you. You know, I see a lot of other people out there, you know, sharing stories, which is always valuable and sort of pontificating about a breakup or a toxic friend, or and you know, my whole thing is well, okay, but why? I feel like the stories are compelling for me, but this data is the deepest intrigue, and I feel like it is the most important work that I've like mined and to push this out into the world um through stories of of women and friendship is um it is the joy of my life.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

I I could see that. Yeah. I think your vulnerability in asking that question out loud has opened a door that um probably won't close.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Thank you. Well, I hope this isn't goodbye and call me anytime and and I just adore you and I'm I'm um forever grateful and this is just so much fun.