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The Friendship Edit: December Finds

Plus: The top cities where listeners live, top episodes, & my favorite books and shows

Nina Badzin

Dec 29

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The Cities You’re Listening From and More

It’s the annual end-of-year wrap-up, and my assistant producer Rebekah Jacobs is back for a behind-the-scenes look at what landed with listeners in 2025 and why.

The themes we keep coming back to on Dear Nina aren’t “college friends” or “mom friends” or “work friends” or “single friends” or “divorced friends.” It’s all of the above and more. The need to be chosen, to belong, to be wanted, and the sting when we don’t feel it—this is ageless and timeless.

In episode #178:

Rebekah and I reveal the top 5 cities and top 5 counties where you’re listening to Dear Nina. I was surprised that my hometown of Minneapolis is #4 and not #1!
We discuss the top 5 performing episodes of 2025 and why we think they resonated. Spoiler alert: #1 was the fabulous Harlan Cohen!
We reflect on the 2025 Friendship Challenges (which we’re officially retiring)
And we talk about our biggest moments of the year—including the Chicago live show. And what’s coming up in 2026.

Listen to episode #178 on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Articles and Other Friendship Links

I’m constantly seeing friendship-related essays. Sometimes they come from YOU, the readers and listeners. Keep them coming!

“Everyone Isn’t Your Friend” by Nedra Glover Tawwab (Thanks to Rebekah Jacobs for sending via a friend of hers!)
In episode #13 of The Social Dialogue Podcast we get a close look at a friendship break-up and reconciliation. (It reminded me of one of the most popular Dear Nina episodes of all time, which featured one of my best friends and our discussion about the two years we didn’t speak.)
“An Existential Guide to Making Friends” from The Shadowed Archive (thanks to Julia M for sending!)

My TOP Books & Shows of 2025

THREE FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2025:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: My #1 book of the year, which isn’t that surprising since I love the letter format and I’m always drawn to post mid-life protagonists. (True since I was a kid. I don’t know why.) I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s starts a little pokey, but this is an easy read so just keep going. I was a puddle at the end, which I did not expect.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman: Gorgeous writing and such an original story. I keep thinking about these characters, which says a lot.
This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg: I insist you do the audio. Zarna is hilarious and insightful, and her story is brave and fascinating. You’ll learn how she went from being essentially homeless in India to doing the opening comedy act for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler .
Here is my complete 2025 reading list. I’ve been keeping up the reading list tradition on my website sine 2011! I already started a fresh new list for 2026 because these are books I started that I will finish in January.
SOME FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF 2025: I watched a lot more than the following list, but these four shows deserve a special mention. Paradise (Hulu), White Lotus season 3 (HBO), Gilded Age season 3, Pluribus (Apple TV).

🎧 The December Episodes

#175 - Write a Letter to One Friend: December (the final!) Friendship Challenge Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen

#176 - Divorce and the Impact on Your Friendships (Hope Lutz Firsel) Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen

#177 - The Myth of Instant College Friends (with Dr. Janice McCabe) Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen

#178 - Top 5 Cities, Top 5 Episodes, and Friendship Takeaways from 2025 (Rebekah Jacobs) Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen

The anonymous friendship advice question of the month

Once a month I share an anonymous friendship dilemma + my answer for paying subscribers. Check out the archive. YEARLY subscribers can email me about a friendship problem, and I will write you back personally rather than answering in the newsletter.

I Keep Showing Up, but I'm Not Making New Friends

Dec 17

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The Podcast Where I Was a Guest in December

I loved talking to Liz Forkin Bohannon on the Plucking Up Podcast. Here’s how Liz described the episode:

“I have to say, I have never met someone who has geeked out and deeply studied adult friendships, as much as our guest today! My guest today is Nina Badzin—writer, friendship advice columnist, and popular podcaster of the Dear Nina podcast.”

Let’s connect outside of this newsletter: You can find me most often in the Facebook group, Dear Nina: The Group. All the social media links are below. I know I need to get rid of some them!

Links to Amazon, Bookshop.org, or other affiliates might earn me a tiny commission, which helps operations of Dear Nina.

You’re a free subscriber to Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship.

What do you get if you’re a paying subscriber!** Frustrated with some of your friends? You’re not alone! The anonymous letters are a perk for paying subscribers. You probably have a similar question. Upgrade any time.

**Yearly subscribers can email me one detailed friendship issue and I will email you back personally.