Rachel Joy Swardson
The Best Friend Project
Have you ever wondered why friendship seems so easy for some women, but so hard for others? Replayed a conversation over and over in your mind, wishing you had handled it differently? Or found yourself missing someone you once loved as a friend, but convinced too much time had passed to reach out? After a friendship that meant the world to me ended, I realized I knew very little about actual friendship. Which sounds strange to say out loud, but it's true. I had books on marriage, pregnancy, parenting, divorce, co-parenting, and step-parenting to help me become a better wife and mother. But I had never once stopped to ask what made someone a good friend, or why some women seem to form deep, lasting friendships while others struggle with loneliness, friendship loss, or friendship breakups. I wanted answers. So I started The Best Friend Project. Armed with postcards and a simple survey, I began taping invitations inside women's bathroom stalls across the country, asking women to tell me the truth about friendship. Hundreds responded with stories about best friends, betrayal, conflict, loneliness, grief, forgiveness, and the friendships that changed their lives. What followed became one of the largest independent investigations into women's friendships. I'm Rachel Joy Swardson, former television journalist, licensed private investigator, and founder of The Best Friend Project. Each week, I sit down with real women to explore how friendships begin, why they endure, what breaks them apart, and how to find, make, and keep meaningful friendships throughout adulthood. Every episode combines original friendship research, powerful personal stories, and practical insights about female friendship, connection, belonging, and the platonic relationships that shape our lives. Because every woman has a story about friendship. What's yours? New episodes every Tuesday. Short reflections every Saturday. Take the friendship survey at TheBestFriendProject.co.
© 2026 The Best Friend Project
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