For the first episode of 2026, I have my mom, Kathy Sackheim, in the studio for her 6th appearance on the podcast to help me answer a stack of listener questions straight from the Dear Nina inbox.

We move quickly through a range of friendship dilemmas from listeners:

milestone birthday expectations
uneven effort
friend group tension
an uncomfortable confrontation
a group chat blowup
reaching out after a long gap since the last hangout
and what to do when a friend’s choices leave you conflicted and/or burdened (We slightly disagreed about that last one!)

My mom, at 80, brings decades of perspective and a refreshingly no-nonsense approach to friendship. We talk about being realistic without becoming resentful, staying nonjudgmental, knowing when to widen your circle instead of forcing a group dynamic to work, and why friends and romantic partners serve very different roles in our lives.

This episode is thoughtful, candid, and practical—exactly what happens when I put a microphone in front of my mom and let her answer your questions honestly.

PREVIOUS 5 EPISODES WITH MY MOM:

Ep. #1. The Friend Who Will Only Text:
Ep. #8. When Friends Ask Questions You Don’t Want to Answer
Ep. #36. Widowhood and Friendship
Ep. #50. How Friendships Change With Age, Overlooking Foibles, Dealing With Our Teens’ Friendships, and more
Ep. #72. Grudges and Apologies in Friendships

LINKED MENTIONED:

Find the anonymous questions in the newsletter at dearnina.substack.com
Ask an anonymous question
The live episode in Chicago was Ep. #160
Join the Dear Nina Facebook Group

ALL THE DEAR NINA LINKS + CONTACT INFO

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📪 Ask an anonymous friendship question

🔎 Want to work with me on your podcast, your friendships, or need another link? **That’s probably here.**

Thank you to our sponsor this week: THE SOCIAL DIALOGUE PODCAST. Find it anywhere you get your podcasts and YouTube! Special thank you, as always, to assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs.

#179 - Your Newest Friendship Questions, Answered (with My Mom)