female friends

“The companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain.” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

“There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.” ― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

From a young age, friendships help us form a sense of identity and belonging. They shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. And as we grow older and learn to navigate relationships, the best of friendships can provide a space for unlimited growth and liberation. They give us support, empathy, and validation..and perhaps even a framework for our own potential. 

But first and foremost, they hold a space for laughter---really loud and obnoxious laughter! 

Join me as I interview expert friend-maker Meghan Vickers! We will chart a map for better  female friendships as we reminisce about childhood buddies and siblings. Like me, Meghan was blessed with one brave soul who has stood beside her through decades of friendship.

Meghan is a lifelong soul seeker and one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. She and I find all of the latest–and oldest– soul hacks, and we love to exchange and analyze wisdom from the masters, anecdotes from our lives, and practices that help us cope with everyday soul-killers. Together we read books by Martha Beck, Michael Singer, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Eckhart Tolle, and listen to Adyashanti and Alan Watts.  

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and connect with me on Instagram @book_of_lifeyness

Music: "Song for a New Beginning" by William Claeson

I didn't think women living closely to each other, in any form, could actually work without backstabbing and dagger throwing. Boy was I wrong! I've been learning so much about how women CAN behave, and live life together in community, since I've been living in Phoenix. 
Join me in discussing wha I've observed and remembered...and PLEASE send me your advice for healthy female relationships! I'm on the learning train of female breakthroughs!

For anyone interested in Air Force Basic training, and all the details moms like to know about this stuff our kiddos are doing... go to https://afwm.org/ for more.

• Email me at: AtoZwithAmyZ@gmail.com
• Leave a comment in Instagram with show ideas, questions or comments https://www.instagram.com/atozwithamyz/
• And if you love what you hear and want more… consider buying me a cup of coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/atozwithamyz
• Music score by https://www.instagram.com/natethegreatevilsizor/

"Girl Problems" is a new series from the Friend Forward podcast that attemps to answer your friendship questions in five minutes or less. Today, a listener asks about Bumble BFF. She's downloaded the app, but how does she navigate the platform? Since host Danielle Bayard Jackson is the OFFICIAL spokesperson for Bumble BFF (Ayyyy!)), she feels uniquely qualified to offer support. If you've been looking for tangible tips to make the most of your experience on the platform, today's episode is for you. (And you can read this listener's private DM here.)

Speaking: Danielle has spoken for the NBA, TikTok, Etsy, and the NFL. Want her to speak for your event? Contact us at info@tellpublicrelations.com

Sessions: Book a private session at Betterfemalefriendships.com

Follow Danielle on Instagram (and submit your own 'girl problem') here: @daniellebayardjackson

Welcome to our new weekly segment: GIRL PROBLEMS-- a mini-episode where resident friendship coach and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson will answer a question directly from either our Instagram DM's (@friendforward) or emails we receive at Betterfemalefriendships.com. To share your thoughts on today's "girl problem", visit us on Instagram. And to submit a "girl problem" of your own, DM us or send an email to hello@betterfemalefriendships.com. Don't want to want for your chance to be selected? Join our group chat to ask other women for help OR book a 1-on-1 session with Danielle (spaces limited!)

This week we talk to Ali, a young woman whose social media video went viral-- and shortly afterwards, there was a falling out. Listen as we interview her to learn what inspired the video, and what happened after it began to circulate online. We'll end the episode with a takeaway for women who are conflict averse people-pleasers, because there's a lot that they can learn from Ali's experience.

Our most recent TikTok video earned more than 500K views, and it was about validating your friend when she's venting-- let's just say that women had a lot to share in the comment section! So in this week's episode, we're unpacking how to the pros and cons of validating and offering solutions, and the dangers of doing the wrong one at the wrong time. Friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson also gives a few scripts (the rest are in our Friend Forward library which launches next week!) to keep in your back pocket so you know exactly what to say the next time your friend is giving you an earful about her latest misadventure, and you're just not sure how to respond. To book Danielle to speak or to grab a slot for a 1:1 coaching session, visit Betterfemalefriendships.com --- Follow Danielle, Follow Friend Forward