How to Make Friends as an Adult

In this episode of the SOLVED podcast, Mark Manson and Drew Birnie delve into the complexities of friendship, exploring its evolutionary roots, historical perspectives, and modern challenges. They discuss Aristotle's three types of friendship—utility, pleasure, and virtue—and modern psychology's emphasis on reciprocity, trust, and intimacy. The hosts analyze Dunbar's number, the neurobiology of friendship, and the health benefits of social connections, while also addressing the subjective nature of status dynamics and the "tragedy of the nice guy." They further examine how technology, societal changes, and personal choices impact friendship, offering actionable advice on forming, deepening, and maintaining meaningful relationships, and also identifying toxic friendship dynamics.