This week I sat down with Sanibel Lazar, author and cultural commentator, to talk about something we’re all experiencing but rarely unpack — the blurred line between online and real-life relationships.

From parasocial connections to evolving friendships in adulthood, we explore how social media shapes the way we connect, communicate, and even see ourselves. We also dive into the ethics of turning real-life experiences into content, why making new friends as an adult matters more than we think, and how meaningful conversation — not small talk — is what actually builds connection.

At the core of it all is a bigger question: what does it really mean to feel close to someone in today’s world?