How to Not Live Vicariously Anymore with Christine Hetzel

Friendship IRL

Sometimes, when our social lives feel lacking, we find ourselves living vicariously through others and wondering: how come they’re all living their lives and I’m not?

This is the experience today’s guest, Christine Hetzel, found herself in during a kind of quarter-life crisis. To turn her friendship situation around, she took the initiative and began organizing different kinds of public meet-ups.

Today Christine is the host of the Time for Brunch podcast and blog where she coaches clients on how to prioritize their own needs and personal development. She has since organized meet-up groups around the world with hundreds of members.

This episode is packed with inspiration on how to make the connections you want right now. As Christine reminds us, you can’t sit around and imagine things might magically change. You have to go and take action.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• How Christine turned her friendship situation around by organizing meet-ups all over the world
• The sometimes under-appreciated work of event-organizing, and how to not take things too personally in friendships (especially new ones)
• The joy of friendship match-making, and how to broaden your network not as a means to “close the deal” but widen your possibilities
• Being curious about what lights people up, and the conversation starter we both hate the most
• Folding past friendships, relationships, and acquaintances into your next season of friendships

Resources & Links:

Listen to the episodes Christine mentions in this episode including Episode 24 (Marco Polo), Episode 41 (the Liking Gap), Episodes 44 and 48 (finding friends on the internet), Episode 49 (navigating small talk), and Episode 91 (party/event envy).

And be sure to check out Christine Hetzel’s blog and podcast, Time for Brunch and listen to the episode I recorded with her!

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!