About this episode

Rebecca Kotok returns to discuss how approaching 50 and life experiences can change our perspective on faded friendships.

Rebecca Kotok, one of my very best friends and one of Dear Nina’s most popular guests, returns for a conversation about the way approaching 50, grief, and life experience can soften how we think about friendships that faded. We talk about why old friendship hurts can carry so much shame, why some friendships fade without anyone being “the villain,” and how freeing it can be to stop prosecuting every old friendship case in your mind. This episode is not about ignoring bad behavior or letting everyone back into your life. It’s about the peace that can come from seeing old friendship stories with more generosity, perspective, and compassion. Special thank you, as always, to my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs!

People in this episode

Host: Nina Badzin

Guest: Rebecca Kotok

Topics covered

• friendship
• grief
• life experience
• perspective
• compassion

Keywords

• friendships
• grief
• life experience
• old friendships
• compassion

More episodes of Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

• #203 - College Rankings Don't Predict Where You'll Belong (Alexis White) · July 19, 2026 · 46 min
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• Bonus - An Episode Honoring Jill Smokler: Friendship, Cancer, and Community · June 28, 2026 · 39 min
• #200 - Why Talking to Strangers is Good for Your Friendships (Dr. Gillian Sandstrom) · June 21, 2026 · 42 min
• #199 - Traveling with Friends: Lessons From a Girls-Trip Regular (Rebekah Jacobs) · June 14, 2026 · 35 min

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