Worth Having

We’ve turned friendship into a subscription service.

We swipe right on connection, then let algorithms decide who stays. We ghost not out of malice, but because our culture has taught us that relationships—like everything else—should be frictionless, efficient, and disposable. "Too busy" is code for "not worth the effort." But what if the effort is the point?

Ghosting isn’t just rudeness. It’s the logical endpoint of a world that t...

We all say psychological safety matters. But most of the time, we treat it like a seatbelt — something we only talk about when things go wrong. What if it’s actually the engine?

In this season’s anchor episode, I bring together two themes that have shaped the entire journey so far: friendship and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs). What if friendship isn’t just personal but structural? What if our ability to be good people with eac...

In this vulnerable and truth-telling episode, Nic Scholtysik (belonging researcher) and Natalia Szyszka (psychotherapist) talk about the unique texture of expat friendship: urgent, sometimes deep, often short-lived — and always shaped by the invisible emotional labor of starting over. This episode is a must for anyone living abroad, working in HR, or supporting globally mobile talent. We unpack why expat friendship feels different,...

You used to feel close. Now it’s all surface-level check-ins and recycled stories. And you know: if we don't turn this around now, we won't be friends much longer anymore.

This episode is your invitation to stop pretending and start rebuilding real connection. I sat down with my sister—not as family, but as a friend—to see what happens when you drop the small talk and hold space for what’s actually there. It’s quiet, raw, and somet...

This episode began as a conversation about male friendships—but it unfolded into something much deeper.

Belonging researcher Nic and psychotherapist Matt Hussey explore how our early childhood shapes our understanding of connection, the invisible social scripts men and women inherit, and why so many adults are quietly suffering from a profound lack of friendship. From the loneliness inside romantic relationships to the transformat...

Friendship Breakups. Emotional Loneliness. Healing Without Words. In this episode, belonging researcher Nic and ecotherapist Natalia Szyszka guide you through the quiet, often overlooked pathways back to connection after a friendship ends—through trees, water, wind, and stillness. This is not a conversation about plants. It’s a conversation about belonging, grieving, and reconnecting to something that won’t abandon you.

Whether you...

Friendships end. And unlike romantic breakups, we don’t have a script for how to do it right. So we ghost. We drift. We pretend nothing’s wrong—until one day, we realize we haven’t spoken in years.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, we tackle:

✔ **The 7-Year Friendship Rule**—Why half your social circle naturally fades (and why that’s okay)

✔ **The "Rejectability" Mindset**—How being open to rejection (or doing the rejecting) frees ...

Most friendships are great, but a few are not. Ever felt stuck in a friendship that drains you? Research shows we lose half our social circle every 7 years—but what if you’re holding onto the wrong people?

Why Listen?

If you’ve ever felt torn between loyalty and self-preservation, this episode gives you the clarity to evaluate, release, and rebuild friendships that truly align with who you’re becoming.

Are you ready to face the ha...

Is AI our friend? Or might it 'steal us' from our friends? Rethinking Connection, Health & Tech Dependency

Is AI just a tool—or is it becoming a stand-in for our friendships, health systems, and emotional needs?

In this episode, Nic Scholtysik sits down with global health researcher Jess Haney Lavelle to explore how artificial intelligence is already reshaping the way we think, feel, and connect. They dig into the emotional an...

You can't 'protect' your mental health by setting boundaries - yes, it might seem like the obvious way to avoid burnout, but what if I told you that this strategy could actually run you right into it? The best way to avoid burnout isn't to shield yourself from stress but to expose yourself to it. Let me explain...

In this episode, we dive deep into the counterintuitive approach to building resilience and avoiding burnout. You'll di...

Step into the celestial theater of workplace chaos! This laugh-out-loud episode explores how zodiac signs manifest in office drama - from Aries storming meetings like action heroes to Scorpio turning thermostat wars into cold-blooded vendettas.

But this isn't just astrology for entertainment. After the cosmic comedy comes practical psychology - understanding why conflict happens, how drama serves as a cry for validation, and scienc...

Most people don't dread Mondays because they hate their work. They detest Mondays because of the people they have to work with.

Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that friendships at work are either a distraction or a professional liability. That if we get too close, we'll lose our edge. That keeping things "strictly business" is the path to success.

But science (and common sense) says otherwise.

• Workplace friends...

In this episode of the Worth Having Podcast, host Nicole and psychologist Natalia Szyszka explore the components that make up deep, meaningful friendships through the metaphor of baking a cake.

They discuss the importance of traits such as curiosity, authenticity, trust, and patience, alongside the concept of self-awareness and acceptance in friendships. They reflect on personal experiences and the complexity of maintaining friend...

In this episode of the Worth Having Podcast, host Nic Scholtysik dives deep into the complicated world of friendship together with psychotherapist Natalia Szyszka.

Discover how childhood experiences shape our ability to form meaningful connections and why making friends can feel like a dreadful, exhausting task. We explore the concept of safety in friendships and get practical tips on how to build trust and foster deeper relations...

Overcoming Dread: The Key to Harnessing Discipline for Lasting Change

Join me in this insightful episode as we dive deep into the concept of dread and how it intertwines with discipline. I'll explore why many of us feel trapped in our daily grind and what we can do to break free. From personal reflections to expert insights, I lay out seven key aspects of discipline and how they can transform our lives. Discover practical tips on m...