How to Breakup with Friends in Midlife

EP 137: In this week's episode of The Flexible Neurotic, I sit down with Erin Falconer—author of How to Break Up with Your Friends: Finding Meaning, Connection, and Boundaries in Modern Friendships. Yes, you read that right. We are actually talking about the hard, awkward, and sometimes necessary art of friend breakups in midlife. Midlife is already a swirl of hormone chaos, empty-nesting, "who even am I anymore?" energy… and on top of that, many of us are re-evaluating friendships we've had for decades. Erin and I get into: • How to spot the difference between a friend who fills your cup vs. one who drains it. • The cultural shame around ending friendships (spoiler: there shouldn't be). • Practical scripts and tips for having "the talk." • Why pruning your friend tree makes room for deeper, more authentic connections. • The myth of "ride or die" friendships and why growth often means shifting circles. This convo is funny, real, and slightly uncomfortable in the best way. Because let's be honest—midlife is the perfect time to audit not just our hormones and skincare routines, but our relationships, too. Listen if: • You've ever felt guilty for wanting out of a friendship. • You're craving deeper, more meaningful connections in this next chapter. • You love a little humor sprinkled on top of your existential midlife crisis. Resources & Links: • Erin's book: How to Break Up with Your Friends • Erin Falconer on Instagram: @erinfalconer WATCH THE EPISODE HERE: THE FLEXIBLE NEUROTIC SHOW NOTES: THE FLEXIBLE NEUROTIC INSTAGRAM: THE FLEXIBLE NEUROTIC WEBSITE: THE FLEXIBLE NEUROTIC EMAIL: sarah@theflexibleneurotic.com

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How to Breakup with Friends in Midlife is an episode from The Flexible Neurotic by Dr. Sarah Milken.

This episode is 35:15 long.

This episode was published on Sep 18, 2025.

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