Advertise on podcast: Friends Next Door

As another year is coming to a close, let's take some time to reminisce about the good and the not-so-good things that we experienced this year. How was 2025 for you? Do you have any year-end rituals like Dan does? Share any and all great tips with us!  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

There's always that friend who's down for anything, whether it's grabbing a simple dinner or trying out something new. And then there's that friend who's always willing to hear you vent. They don't need to give you a solution, but they're there and that's enough. What kind of a friend are you? Have you changed as a friend now compared to your younger years?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

In the spirit of keeping up with the times, Dan, Kuan and Mia discussed their understanding of main character energy. To those who are chronically online, we're sure you've heard about this. Be the start of your own movie. You're in charge of creating your own story. Forge your own path. Do we think this creates an invisible pressure to be 'extra'? Is there something wrong about wanting to be a 'background character'?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Have you ever looked around the room and realized that... you're now the adult in the room? That it's time to take control of the situation to avoid any unwanted consequences. Do you like being the adult in the room or do you wish that sometimes someone would just help you figure things out?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

It's December 2025. WHERE did the year go? We used to say this jokingly but we're dead serious now. We used to wait forever for school year to end, for Christmas to arrive, for our vacation to finally start.. whatever it may be! Do you guys also feel like time somehow flies faster as we age? Is there a way to slow it down?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

We've spent time talking about "home" and "where you're from" on this podcast.  On this episode we dive deeper into how important roots are.  If you spent your life moving around, you may be struggling to answer the 'where are you from' question. Your childhood memories may have been formed at your hometown, but then you moved away in your formative years, and then again as you're stepping into adulthood. Where is home? When do we think it's time to put down roots? How important is it?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Out of the many relationships we juggle everyday, our relationship with money isn't something we regularly think about. Because what for? I make money, I spend money, end of story. But on this episode, we dive a bit deeper into what money means to us and how it shapes our life.    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Friends - listen to this episode before that travel plan makes it out of the group chat. Traveling solo allows you to learn about yourself. Traveling with friends helps you learn more about each other so there's definitely a lot to look forward to. How important is it to travel with the right group of people? Should you vet them before the trip?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

The world certainly isn't perfect. Sheesh, okay stating the obvious there. But in the midst of all the chaos that is this imperfect world, there are moments where people show up with a simple gesture of kindness, and that is enough to tell us that humanity is still worth rooting for.  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Are we in the age of monetization? If you say no.. we love that for you. It's obvious that we're now living in a 'monetization of everything' era. On one hand, it presents a great opportunity for people who are willing to put themselves out there to gain some extra cash (or make a serious living!). On another hand, it could also create an overwhelming amount of content. The question is.. what do we make of all this?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Are you someone who's constantly punching above your weight? Whether it’s dating someone way out of your league, landing a job you “weren’t qualified” for, or winning a trivia night with nothing but guesses and blind confidence, you're swinging hard, aiming high, and surprising everyone (including yourself!). Or are you the opposite - you know what you're good at and prefer a more measured approach? What are the pros and cons to both?   As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

This episode is a followup to our "Optimizer/Maximizer" episode, talking more about the cost to perfection and if humans are even meant to achieve that.  We talk through the fine line between striving to do a good job,  what it really it takes to get to the "top" or "perfection", and what type of reality lives there.  Take a listen and let us know what you think :)    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST!! Or does it?  On this episode we talk about limits, both internal and external, and especially having a limited mindest.  Take a listen and let us know what you think :) As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

Have you had a label that stuck and was hard to shake?  What about defining others as just "the X guy" or "that Y girl".  Why are labels a thing and when are they helpful -- are they ever helpful?  We dive into this and more on this episode, stick around and let us know what you think :) As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

When's the last time you called a friend, read a book, asked a live person for a recommendation?  On this episode, Dan, Mia, and Kuan talk about the way we communicate with eachother and the world around us.  We call out old trends that need to make their way back (spoiler alert: not everyone agrees) and trends / things that just flat out need to go.  How many of us are doing things just for the YOLO or FOMO or both?? Listen to in and tell us what you think :)  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: [email protected] IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos