What Friends Are For - Cultivating Community in the Age of Anxiety - 116

They say “that’s what friends are for,”  but who are they and what is it? Finding and maintaining friendships seems like frustrating business for many of us: Jeff and Allen included. This episode asks whether it’s better to have a small group of close friends or a large group of ones further away, the possible limitations of our social brains, and more, before capping off with another “Top Three” segment about iconic duos.

Conversation on What Friends are For (01:02)

Top 3 Duos Segment (40:02)

RELEVANT LINKS

From Our Conversation on What Friends Are For

The Facebook post that inspired it all (Irenicast Facebook) The Purpose of Friendship (YouTube Video Allen mentions several times throughout our conversation from the School of Life channel) How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014 TV Show) Brigid of Kildare (Celtic saint Allen mentions who introduces the idea of soul friend, or anam cara) When Is It Good to Have a Few Close Friends? (Psychology Today article) Heaven and Hell – Get the Hell Outta Here – 018 (Irenicast Episode where we discuss our thoughts on hell) Dunbar's number (Theory on Relationships)

 

From Our Top 3 Duos Segment

 

Allen’s Top 3 Duos:

The Boy and the Giving Tree (from the book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein - Amazon Affiliate Link) Frodo & Sam (from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien - Amazon Affiliate Link… also the films by Peter Jackson) Turk and JD (from Scrubs)

 

Jeff’s Top 3 Duos:

Shawn and Gus (from Psych) Amy Poehler & Tina Fey Rob Dyrdek and Christopher "Big Black" Boykin (from Rob & Big) Craig & Smokey (from Friday) Cheech and Chong (from various Cheech & Chong films) Batman and Superman Troy & Abed (from Community) Honorable Mentions

 

Rudy (1993 film) The Goonies (1985 film) Sean Astin (Actor) Secular vs Sacred – Part 1, Stories – 024 (Irenicast Episode) Secular vs Sacred – Part 2, Spaces – 025 (Irenicast Episode) Secular vs Sacred – Part 3, Selves – 026 (Irenicast Episode)

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IRENCAST HOSTS

Jeff “Social Vampire” Manildi | co-host and producer | jeff@irenicast.com

Jeff is the husband to an incredibly strong woman and father of two captivating young ladies.  He is currently the Director of Discipleship at a United Methodist church on the central coast of California.  In addition to getting his B.A. in Theology, he also received his ordination through the prestigious online organization of The Universal Life Church whose alumni include the likes of Conan O’Brien and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.  Jeff loves all things that tell a story: people, movies, tv, music, comics, etc.

You can follow Jeff (@JeffManildi) on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.  Also check out Jeff’s other podcast Divine Cinema.

 

Allen “Meme Lord” O’Brien | co-host | allen@irenicast.com

Allen received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from The Master's College and an M.A. in Theology and Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, making him the illegitimate child of both conservative and moderately progressive evangelicalism. He has worked in church ministry since 2006 and is currently solo-pastoring at his local UCC congregation. When not ministering, Allen throws things to his border collie Sonata and writes for multiple platforms.

You can follow Allen (@AllenOB) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Good Reads.  Also if you are in the Sacramento, CA area check out Allen’s brick and mortar version of this podcast called Intersections.

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CREDITS

Intro and Outro music created by Mike Golin.

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