Friend Request
295 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 53 ratingsJustin Lamb has in-depth interviews with interesting people. Friend Request dives deeper than the usual surface banter and tries to create a more meaningful conversation about the individual, tying in commonalities and struggles that are not only extremely relatable, but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.
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Episodes
169 - Neal Simms
April 08, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 175 MBNeal Simms is a plant worker, guitarist, musician, songwriter, and all around cool dude. He discusses being born to a couple that was trying to make their way in life, both in college as he was growing up. Neal also talks about moving around a lot as a kid and how the combination of that disruption and his own mental illness culminated in him being locked up as a preteen. He also discusses moving to Michigan and how patterns quickly continued until he had dropped out of school and began livi...
168 - Eric Johnson
April 01, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 121 MBEric Johnson is a pastor, author, father, husband, and trivia host. He discusses the good and bad of being an only child and growing up in northern Ohio. Eric also talks about the role church and religion played in his life as a child and how his involvement with Nintendo won him a youth group award. He also discusses his relationship with Young Life and how a former romantic interest told him he would be a pastor one day. Eric then talks about his parents divorce when he was 23 and all of t...
167 - Jacob Roderick
March 25, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBJacob Roderick is a former marine, father of twins, and hopeful comedy writer. He discusses growing up with divorced parents and what it was like to have his father take off. Jacob also talks about his sibling order and how his relationships have grown or changed with his siblings as he's grown up. He then discusses his decision to join the Marines and how he fit in marriage and classes while enlisted, getting out just soon enough to have his twin daughters be born. Jacob also talks about hi...
166 - Katie Mills
March 18, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBKatie Mills is a swimmer, psychology enthusiast, and professional counselor. She discusses growing up in a small town in the upper peninsula of Michigan, including the large percentage of native people she had the prvilige of growing up with and learning from. Katie also discusses her early interest in psychology and how that took her through two master's degrees and landed her in her current role as a therapist. She also talks about being a self-described awkward kid and how she didn't star...
165 - Evan O'Hara
March 11, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBEvan O'Hara is a teacher, former marketing man, and future therapist. He discusses growing up the youngest of three to a polar opposite set of parents: a surgeon and an artist. Evan also discusses his love for anime and manga in school and how he had to tamper that in order to meet his defintion of cool. He also connects that defintion of cool with the path of inspiration he has followed his whole life, using direction, but following his interests as they come. Evan then talks about how he d...
164 - Rudy Kellersohn
March 04, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 145 MBRudy Kellersohn is a teacher, father, husband, and gratitude enthusiast. He discusses the immigrant history of hs grandfather, growing up with divorced parents, and how he related to each of his step parents. Rudy also talks about the role of identity in his childhood and how that was affected by masculinity norms and bullying, as well as self esteem issues. He also discusses the ole sports played in his life and how important they became in his highs and lows in school. Rudy then talks abou...
163 - Margaux Forster
February 26, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 115 MBMargaux Forster is a yoga teacher, mental health advocate, and future therapist. She discusses growing up as the child of an immigrant parent and the cultural differences that brought with it. Margaux also talks about struggling with control and perfectionism and how that manifested in her younger life. She then discusses struggling with an eating disorder and the genrational and cultural aspects of that. Margaux talks about finding her dream job in California, only to have COVID move her ba...
162 - Courtney Davis
February 19, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBCourtney Davis is a career counselor, graduate student, and future therapist. She discusses growing up in the suburbs of Chicago before moving to the Northeast. Courtney also discusses how she viewed her older sister and the effect that had on her mental health and eating habits. She then discusses having major back surgery as a teen and how that culminated in one of the worst freshman year experiences of high school. Courtney then talks about going to college and meeting her fiancee, includ...
161 - Ryann Swann
February 12, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBRyann Swann is a graduate student, future counselor, and former soccer star. She discusses growing up as a shy kid and how she took to playing in the woods when others were staying inside. Ryann also talks about playing soccer for her entire life until grad school and how she shows up very differently on a team than she does in a social group. She then talks about going away to college and how she found herself in a toxic and controlling relationship. Ryann then talks about meeting her fianc...
160 - Jacob Bellamy
February 05, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 99.2 MBJacob Bellamy is a mental healthcare worker, professional cheesecake maker, and future therapist. He discusses growing up as the quiet kid and struggling to build a social circle. Jacob also talks about self-awareness and how he decided he had enough and sought out help. He the ndiscusses the ins and outs of how he ended up slinging cheesecakes on the side and why baking and cooking is a form of self-care and creativity. Follow us on socials: @FriendRequestPod Email your cheesecakes: Jus...
159 - Shay Liogghio
January 29, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBShay Liogghio is an amateur baker, graduate student, and future therapist. She discusses growing up in a small town and navigating the different friend groups there. Shay also talks about studying psychology in college and the impact moving out had on her relationship with her family. She talks about more family dynamics and and how relationships within that structure evolve as you become an adult. Shay also discusses her meet cute with her husband and the journey they have been on together....
158 - Ashley Brummett
January 22, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 108 MBAshley Brummet is a future sex therapist and advocate for women's sexual health. She discusses growing up with a unique family dynamic, including meeting her half sister when she was seven years old. Ashley also talks about her relationship with her parents and how it's evolved since her father got sober. She then discusses going through her first marriage with an unexplained vulva pain and how getting a diagnosis and going through therapy pushed her to a divorce and advocacy as a career. ...
157 - Ananya Majumder
January 15, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 98.5 MBAnanya Majumder is a former teacher and current counseling student. She discusses her life growing up in India, as well as a small stint in Hong Kong and Austrailia. Ananya also talks about how she got into and, more importantly, out of an emotionally abusive relationship and how she turned that into an opportunity for personal growth. She also talks about her passion for helping and how her experience as a teacher opened her up to realize fher dream of becoming a counselor for kiddos. Final...
156 - Rebecca Rush
January 08, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 89.3 MBRebecca Rush is a writer, editor, and autism advocate. She discusses her diagnosis on the autism spectrum , as well as her relapse and what she learned from it. Rebecca also talks about the comfort of a familiar TV show and how she learned how to act as a woman from Sex and the City. She also talks about her new writing project, Sobriety on the Spectrum, and Rebecca and justin discuss the percieved hostility of their previous recording. Dry January is upon us! If you want a great tasting ...
155 - Cody Senkyr
January 01, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBDr. Cody Senkyr is a chiropractor and health enthusiast. He discusses growing up in a high achieving household and how his hobbies and extracurriculars kept him busy and involved. Cody also discusses how team sports were different for him because of the lack of individual recognition and accomplishment. Finally, he talks about his recent interest in weight gain and obesity and what he is doing to combat that in his community. This episode is brought to you in part by Bravus Brewing! Non-a...
Happy Holidays & 2023 in Review
December 25, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 47.7 MBThis final episode of the year features Justin Lamb going through the goals and resolutions he set last year, finding gratitude for those he accomplished and forgiveness for those he did not. What are you grateful for from this year? What are you looking forward to in the next? Follow us on socials: @FriendRequestPod Email me your questions! [email protected]
154 - Emily Kaniarz Taylor
December 18, 2023 18:42 - 57 minutes - 82 MBEmily Kaniarz Taylor is a returning guest from episode 052. Find out what she's been up to since we last recorded in the first season! Follow us on socials! @FriendRequestPod Email me, for the love of God! [email protected]
153 - Philip Brandes
December 11, 2023 13:08 - 41 minutes - 58.3 MBPhilip Brandes is the founder of Bravus Brewing and a former computer programmer. He discusses how he got into the non-alcoholic beer space, as well as the how his brewing method is different than his competitors. Philip also discusses the logisitcs of the supply chain and why the NA beers had to stop calling themselves by their names, like dark instead of stout. He also talks about the latest barrel-aged release, Gravitas, and where he sees Bravus in relation to the sober community. Taste...
152 - Amy Liz Harrison
December 04, 2023 05:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBAmy Liz Harrison is an author of two books, mother of eight children, and inspiration to sober folks everywhere. She discusses growing up in a highly religious household and how some of those rules and restrictions led to her undoing later in life. Amy also talks about the "mommy wine" culture and how easy it can be to fall into a bad habit. She then discusses getting sober after raising four kids only to have four more kids as a sober mom and the difficult conversations that came with an ap...
151 - Tawny Lara
November 27, 2023 05:00 - 1 hour - 90 MBTawny Lara is a sober bisexual writer and author of the book Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze. She discusses growing up with separated parents and living back and forth between Texas and California. Tawny also talks about using drugs to self-medicate and the years she spent working in the toxicity of the restaurant industry. She then discusses how she took 10 years to complete a bachelor's degree and ended up very thankful for the insight she was abl...
150 - Sav Buist (The Accidentals)
November 20, 2023 05:00 - 58 minutes - 86 MBSav Buist is a songwriter, singer, and musician, as well as a college student and bird enthusiast. She is one of the founding members of The Accidentals and is currently working on a solo album, amongst a million other things. Sav discusses growing up in a home where her parents fostered multiple children and the effect that had on her outlook and crativity. She also discusses how sacred songwriting is and why she prefers to keep her cards close to her chest when it comes to sharing what a s...
149 - Etienne Asher
November 13, 2023 05:00 - 54 minutes - 79.1 MBEtienne Asher is the owner and founder of Lumanai, an herbal supplement kava beverage. He discusses his relationship with alcohol and how kava helped him to get sober. He also talks about the decision to rebrand his company a year after it launched, as well as his reasoning for rebranding himself. 'Ash' then discusses the way his drinks, and specifically traditional kava, helps people with their anxiety and overall mood. Etienne Asher, or Ash, first appeared on Friend Request in Episode 020 ...
I Am Not Who I Used To Be
November 06, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 37.8 MBThis week, we're taking an unexpected break from interviews to discuss life. Not just life, your life. Who are you? What makes you who you are and how are you possibly using protective behaviors that are no longer neccesary. Let go of your umbrella and come listen to Justin talk about how he has changed and found the joy of not being who he used to be. Send feedback, questions, and comments to [email protected]
148 - Analisa Six
October 30, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBAnalisa Six is a songwriter, musician, astrology enthusiast, and an all around badass chick. She discusses growing up with two young parents and a series of mixed families, as well as how her parents stepped in to educate her about music when she began listening to pop punk at a young age. Analisa also talks about joining a band as a teen and what comes along with the success of being a young female musician. She also talks about how her decision to get sober was directly related to her love...
147 - Danielle Blanchard
October 23, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBDanielle Blanchard is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and teacher. She discusses how she got into music, including the summer she followed Styx around. Danielle also iscusses how the industry has changed over the years and what it means to put out an album now versus then. She also talks about her career in the world of commercial jingles and how she fit that into her life while working as a full time junior high school teacher. Finally, Danielle talks about her brand new al...
146 - Antonio Morell Returns
October 16, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 88.1 MBAntonio joins us once again after four years to catch us up on what's been going on. He discusses his car accident that landed him in the hospital for a total of 78 nights, and how he dealt with that isolation and inability to take care of himself. Antonio also talks about how he processed through the harder parts of the last two years and came to terms with suffering brain damage. He also discusses his creative outlets and how they have changed and shifted since the accident. Follow us on...
145 - Mariah Goodell
October 09, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 134 MBMariah Goodell is a lover of animals, books, and people. She discusses growing up in Florida and finding herself leaning into her imagination longer than some, as a child. Mariah also talks about going to college, falling in love with her best friend, and moving across the country to Park City, Utah. She then discusses how she got into high-end hospitality and met her husband working on the ski slopes. Mariah also tells us what it was like to move to a brand new place with her husband and ho...
144 - Laurel Day
October 02, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBLaurel Day is an entrepreneur, business owner, mother, and former cop. She discusses growing up in a small town in western Michigan and going to college nearby, as well. Laurel also talks about how her waning desire to become an attorney shifted into her becoming a police officer, which brought her to a rough area of North Carolina. She also discusses losing interest and gaining anxiety in that field and how the next career shift pushed her to launch her own business, Do Something Lady. Laur...
143 - Ben Goodvich
September 25, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 70.2 MBBen Goodvich is a woodworker, an uncle, and an expert at hospitality. He discusses some of the intricacies of trying to find a career after playing hockey his whole life and why he chose to get into hospitality. Then Ben discusses getting stuck during COVID and finding an outlet in woodworking. He then talks about how his career plans have shifted into tour mangement for country bands and embracing life as much as he can in Nashville, Tennesee. Follow Ben on socials @BenGoodvich Follow us...
142 - Eshtar Oraha
September 18, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 115 MBEshtar Oraha is a graduate student, Chaldean immigrant, and former Disney employee. She discusses growing up near Detroit and her fondness for music as a child. She also discusses her passion for people and and desire to connect. Eshtar then talks about going to school for Psychology and leaving her program temporarily to work at Walt Disney World. She then discusses living in Florida and why she is fascinated by psychology, before discussing her humanitarian work with refugees and why she i...
141 - Kate Brown
September 11, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBKate Brown is a mother of two and a storyteller for life. She discusses her intricate family dynamic, with both parents remarrying and having more kids, as well as how her relatinoship to each of those step-parents evolved. Kate also discusses how she went fast and hard into partying until an eviction and a pregnancy changed things. She then discusses losing her father and the effect that had on her, as well as how impactful the intuitive help of Kara Bartram (Episode 076) was in speaking wi...
140 - Lizzie Donaldson
September 04, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBLizzie Donaldson is a writer and television writer from Pittsburgh. She discusses growing up with her head in books and how that love of the written word transformed into a dream career. Lizzie also talks about climbing her way up the ladder in Hollywood from a Production Assistant to an Executive Story Editor on Black-ish, a show so good it won a Peabody Award! Justin and Lizzie then discuss the current WGA (Writer's Guild of America) Strike in Hollywood and what it all means for all of us ...
Summer Series: Summer is Over
August 28, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 50.6 MBSummer is over! This week Justin talks about the indicators we have in our lives to signify the end of summer. He also discusses the future of the podcast, as well as some news about the upcoming season five and anniversary episodes. Justin then talks about other podcast ideas, the ethical battle of continuing Friend Request, and the best films of 1999. He also talks about how his ADHD thoughts come into fruition in the form of creativity, and why you haven't heard any ads lately. Justin als...
Summer Series: Writing a Book
August 21, 2023 04:00 - 13 minutes - 20.3 MBThis week, Justin talks about the memoir he wrote, Two Years in Los Angeles, and reads the prologue after discussing the difficulty he had writing and potentially sharing the book. Email: [email protected] FFollow us on socials: @FriendRequestPod
Summer Series: Music & Songwriting
August 07, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBThis week, Justin talks about the role music has played in his life, both externally and internally. He discusses the music he grew up with and how his tastes changed and were reflected in his own songwriting. Then, Justin plays a selection of songs that work as pillars of time in his music and songwriting lifeline. "Promise" - 24:09 "West Virginia" - 33:58 "My Father's Song" - 39:48 "Running" - 48:26 "Been a Long Time" - 58:15 You can hear more music at http://www.JustinLambMus...
Summer Series: Making Friends Part 3: School
July 31, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 40.2 MBIn this final part of a three part series, we're going back to basics: making friends at school. This is how we all naturally begin to make friends, but what does that look like later in life when age differences, lifestyles, and interests all begin to play a much heavier role in selection. Listen in and dissect your own version of friendship. Follow us on socials! @FriendRequestPod
Summer Series: Making Friends Part 2: Instagram
July 24, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 52 MBThis week, we discuss what happens when you're featured on a popular Instagram account (@iamthirtyaf) as someone looking for new friends, what kinds of messages you get, what kind of people you meet, and what happens when you meet up with those people in real life (IRL for you cool kids). We'll here from the perspective of Justin, as well as the person he met: Mariah! The two then branch off into a conversation about friendship, how to be a good friend, what to do when all of your friends ar...
Summer Series: Making Friends Part 1: Bumble BFF
July 17, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 55.5 MBThis week we start our three-part series on making friends at 40 years old. There are many methods out there for making new friends and Justin discusses many of them in this series, starting with BumbleBFF. The well known dating app has a counterpart for making friends and whether you're a dancer from Chicago, a songwriter from Bloomfield, or a chef from Detroit, you're also probably looking for friends, too! As a bonus, we'll here Justin's interview with Sylvester "Sly" Burkes, a karaoke pa...
Summer Series: ADHD
July 10, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 61.5 MBThis week, Justin walks through getting an official Attention Defecit Hyperactivty Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis at 40 years old, including the impact of prescribed medication, the stigma related to the disorder, and the normalization of disordered functioning after going nearly four decades thinking the struggle was normal. Justin discusses the difficulties he has been forced to confront, as well as the frustrations that have come along with this overdiagnosed and overmedicated disorder. This...
Summer Series: Alcohol (4 Years Sober)
July 03, 2023 13:54 - 25 minutes - 38.4 MBThis week, Justin reflects on how his views on alcohol and sobriety have evolved, changed, and shifted over the last four years. He also discusses the people we surround ourselves with, the powerlessness you can feel when you're friends have a drinking problem, and how alcohol is possibly too big to fail. Justin also discusses non-alcoholic beers and the role they play in his life now versus the last few years. For NA drink recommendations or to learn more about the wonderful world of sobrie...
Summer Series: Changing Careers
June 26, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 48.4 MBThis week, Justin discusses how he decided to become a therapist and what it's been like to completely shift careers at 40 years old and how he got to this point. Justin is also joined by his wife, Erica, to discuss how she viewed the decision to take on student loans and possibly lose out on income this late in life. This week's episode is brought to you by WellBeing Brewing. Non-alcoholic beers and sparkling waters for people that are awesome. Save 10% on your next order by using code FR...
Summer Series: The Meaning of Summer
June 12, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 50.1 MBSummer has different meanings to each person, but why do we cherish it so much? Could we have been conditioned over generations to feel a certain way about a season? Does the body keep the score in ALL things? Listen and find out this week, with special guests: my family! @FriendRequestPod
Summer Series Introduction: Personal Journal
June 05, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 11.2 MBThis year's Summer Series is going to be a Personal Journal. We will be talking with friends and family in a conversational style (as opposed to interviewing) and I will be discussing things like personal growth, changing careers and getting a Master's Degree at 40 years old, imposter syndrome, writing a memoir about yourself, and a three-part special on friendship, including the strange ways I have made friends in the past year through services like Bumble and Instagram. Stay tuned and get ...
139 - Keith Bartley
May 29, 2023 03:53 - 1 hour - 103 MBKeith Bartley is a designer, architecture enthusiast, and former member of the Young Americans. He discusses his parents' divorce, moving to L.A. at 18 to be in the Young Americans, and coming out of the closet. Keith also discusses shifting his academic career to focus on architecture, moving to Pittsburgh, and helping to build the now famous African American History Museum in Washington, D.C. He then shifts the conversation to discuss his past relationship with a narcissistic man, his ADHD...
138 - Kris Lixey
May 22, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBKris Lixey is a man of many talents, who covers just as many topics. He discusses growing up with divorced parents and how he took up knitting on the school bus. Kris also talks about coming out in junior high and how he uses his sexuality as an ice breaker and a litmus test. He then talks about going through his adult life and switching careers in patterns of extreme highs and extreme lows, until he eventually decides to get sober. Follow us on socials! @FriendRequestPod Email us! Justi...
137 - Josh Jostock
May 15, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 109 MBJosh Jostock is a Licensed Professional Counselor (that's a therapist!), a professor, a father, husband, and, dare I say, a role model. He discusses growing up in a household of four men and one woman and being praised as the "miracle baby" following an older sister that was lost before he was born. Josh also talks about death anxiety and developing his people pleasing skills as a teen and how that has held him back in the development of meaningful relationships. Then we shift the gears and ...
136 - Brett Jerdon
May 08, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 127 MBBrett Jerdon is a father of two, lover of 80s and 90s cartoons, and all around nice dude! He talks about growing up with divorced parents and being a younger sibling. Brett also discusses the struggles he had as an adolescent and how he found himself in the rave scene before high school graduation. He then talks about becoming a father as a teenager and how he shifted his values and focus to make sure he was the best dad he could be. Brett also discusses his marriages and losing his father t...
135 - Kent Morton
May 01, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 98.3 MBKent Morton is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and self-described nerd. He talks about growing up in a mixed family and how close him and his siblings are. Kent also talks about the effects of Goldeneye on his teenage social life and how he went to college for advertising. He then discusses moving to Austrailia and how that trip got him interested in animal science and eventually into the career he has built today. Want to have some really great beer without the alcohol? Check out WellBeing ...
134 - Brooke Robichaud
April 24, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBBrooke Robichaud is a Sober Business Babe, Entrepreneur, Writer, Creator, and so much more. She discusses being the only party house in a neighborhood of nuclear families and running wild in an island forest where her father lived. Brooke also discusses finding out about her pregnancy while homeless and asking God for a sign to keep it or terminate it. She then talks about losing her brother to an overdose during the pandemic and how she found her faith again. Follow her on all social platfo...
133 - Dayna Stamper-Czarniecki
April 17, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 121 MBDayna Stamper-Czarniecki is an artist, hunter, marketer, beautician, and boss lady. She discusses growing up with strict parents and how she rebelled against those rules to have two long term relationships as a teen. Dayna also discusses her relationship to technology and what role that played as she went through college. She also talks about her experiences with her husband as he went through treatment for stage four lymphoma, and how the community showed up to support them. Looking to en...