Season 4 Episode 10

Why is making friends as a grown woman so awkward? We can make small talk at work, collect hundreds of social media “friends,” and send memes all day—but asking another woman to grab dinner somehow feels like proposing marriage. In this episode, Shelley and Mary (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...) sit down with Ciya Hawkins, founder of The Social Introvert (  / 1113609040622755  ) , to talk about the very real struggle of making friends as an adult. Ciya shares how a 3 a.m. idea grew into a community where women can put down their phones, step outside their routines, and find people willing to do more than just like their pictures. They get into loneliness, changing friendships, depleted social batteries, and the myth that introverts want to sit home alone forever. Spoiler alert—they don’t. They just prefer genuine conversation over screaming across a crowded club while paying $17 for a drink. Of course, it wouldn’t be WildHER Wisdom without a few detours. Expect Mumus and Margaritas, competitive musical chairs, adult playdates, Shelley’s “partio,” serial-killer speakeasies, and a brief attempt to manifest Barack Obama into Shelley’s text messages. Ciya leaves us with the reminder every woman needs to hear. You are never too old to make a new friend. Send the text. Accept the invitation. Go to the event. Somebody has to be awkward first so y’all can become friends. Ready to stop having your best comeback be in the car? On Saturday, October 24, Shelley and Polo REO Tate (https://www.poloreotate.com/) are bringing Unapologetically HEARD: Speak Your Truth and Shift the Room (https://www.essdeeandco.com/event/p/u...) (https://www.essdeeandco.com/event/p/u...) to East Lansing for a bold, practical afternoon created for women who are done shrinking, overexplaining, and replaying conversations after they’re over. You’ll learn how to manage your emotions in the moment, communicate your needs, set boundaries, and say what you mean without apologizing for taking up space. The goal is simple—to leave your next important conversation thinking, “Yes. I said exactly what I needed to say.” Tickets are $99 through September 15 and $109 after. Space is limited, so grab your spot before your inner overthinker talks you out of it. Get full access to WildHER Wisdom: Inspiring Insights with Shelley & Mary at wildherwisdom.substack.com/subscribe (https://wildherwisdom.substack.com/su...)