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Rhaina Cohen (author of The Other Significant Others) joins us to reframe how we think about friendship: past, present, and possible futures. Rhaina explains why intense platonic bonds once held public, ritualized importance (think “sworn brotherhoods” and romantic friendships of the 17th–19th centuries), how marriage’s role shifted to demand emotional everything-ness, and why that cultural shift squeezed out space for friendships.

What you'll get out of this episode:


The friendship that inspired Rhaina's book


Historical models of deep same-sex friendship and how they differ from modern assumptions


Why modern romantic relationships often eclipse friendship and why that harms us


Real-life choices Rhaina and her husband made (communal living, prioritizing friends) and practical tips to preserve friendships


How to be a better friend: rituals, calendars, play, and honest conversation


Handling jealousy and myths about opposite-sex friendships

If you want to build stronger platonic connections, rethink where you live and who you share life with, or simply appreciate how friendship can anchor a life, this episode is for you.

📕 Get The Other Significant Others on Amazon

📲 Follow Rhaina Cohen on social media: @rhainacohen

📲 Follow the podcast: @takethispersonally

Rhaina Cohen (author of The Other Significant Others) joins us to reframe how we think about friendship: past, present, and possible futures. Rhaina explains why intense platonic bonds once held public, ritualized importance (think &ldquo;sworn brotherhoods&rdquo; and romantic friendships of the 17th&ndash;19th centuries), how marriage&rsquo;s role shifted to demand emotional everything-ness, and why that cultural shift squeezed out space for friendships.
What you'll get out of this episode:
<ul data-start="1417" data-end="1950">
<li data-start="1417" data-end="1490">
The friendship that inspired Rhaina's book
</li>
<li data-start="1491" data-end="1585">
Historical models of deep same-sex friendship and how they differ from modern assumptions
</li>
<li data-start="1586" data-end="1673">
Why modern romantic relationships often eclipse friendship and why that harms us
</li>
<li data-start="1674" data-end="1806">
Real-life choices Rhaina and her husband made (communal living, prioritizing friends) and practical tips to preserve friendships
</li>
<li data-start="1807" data-end="1888">
How to be a better friend: rituals, calendars, play, and honest conversation
</li>
<li data-start="1889" data-end="1950">
Handling jealousy and myths about opposite-sex friendships
</li>
</ul>
If you want to build stronger platonic connections, rethink where you live and who you share life with, or simply appreciate how friendship can anchor a life, this episode is for you.
📕 Get The Other Significant Others on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Other-Significant-Others-Reimagining-Friendship/dp/1250280915">Amazon</a>
📲 Follow Rhaina Cohen on social media: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rhainacohen/">@rhainacohen</a>
📲 Follow the podcast:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/takethispersonally/">@takethispersonally</a>

Take This Personally with Morgan Huelsman.  Honest Conversations with Experts & Friends, helping us all feel less alone. We’re all trying to be the best versions of ourselves but navigating life’s challenges isn’t easy. We may go to therapy, but how does that therapy translate to real life? That’s where this podcast comes in. Look at this podcast as your challenger friend who wants to push you to be the best version of yourself all while lifting you up. We’re going to lean on each other’s experiences to become better, more confident humans. And just maybe… a little bit at a time… feel a little less alone in this big world.

Take This Personally with Morgan Huelsman.&nbsp; Honest Conversations with Experts &amp; Friends, helping us all feel less alone. We&rsquo;re all trying to be the best versions of ourselves but navigating life&rsquo;s challenges isn&rsquo;t easy. We may go to therapy, but how does that therapy translate to real life? That&rsquo;s where this podcast comes in. Look at this podcast as your challenger friend who wants to push you to be the best version of yourself all while lifting you up. We&rsquo;re going to lean on each other&rsquo;s experiences to become better, more confident humans. And just maybe&hellip; a little bit at a time&hellip; feel a little less alone in this big world.

Take This Personally with Morgan Huelsman

Friendship Just As Important As Romance: Rethinking Connections, Community & Living

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3de4c41a-c74f-44d3-abd3-b3ac015b3eb5/transcript

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