Making Friends as an Adult – It’s Not Easy

🤝 Making friends as an adult often feels uncomfortable, awkward, and surprisingly difficult — and it becomes even harder when English is not your first language. This podcast episode is created for adult English learners at A2–B1 level who want to feel more confident in social situations and finally stop being silent in a room full of people.

🎧 In this episode, Anna and Mike talk about real moments many adults experience: standing alone at a party, joining a new class, going to a park or event, and wanting to talk to someone but not knowing how to start. Through honest stories from everyday life, they show that social stress is normal and that even confident people feel nervous before saying a simple hello.

🗣️ The podcast focuses on practical spoken English for real life. You will hear natural conversations, clear pronunciation, and simple phrases that help you break the ice, give a compliment, find common ground, and suggest meeting again in a relaxed and friendly way. The language is easy to follow, realistic, and designed especially for learners who want to improve their speaking confidence, not just their grammar.

🌍 This episode is ideal for adults learning English, people living abroad, travelers, and anyone who wants to sound more natural when meeting new people. It helps you understand that you do not need perfect English to connect with others. One sentence, one compliment, or one small moment of courage can change everything.

✨ By listening to this podcast, you will build confidence in social English, learn how to start conversations naturally, and feel more comfortable speaking English in everyday situations. Making friends as an adult is not easy — but with the right words and real practice, it becomes possible.

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DIALOGUE

Mike: Imagine this… You are at a party. There are many people. Everyone is talking, laughing, and having a great time. And you? You are standing in the corner… holding your drink… and looking at your phone. You want to talk to someone, but you just… you don’t know what to say. It feels a bit lonely, right? And maybe… a little bit embarrassing. Why is it so hard to make friends when we are adults?

GREETING & INTRODUCTION

Anna: Oh, Mike… I know that feeling so well. It is definitely not easy! Hello everyone, and welcome to our podcast. I am Anna.

Mike: And I am Mike.

Anna: This is the Making Friends as an Adult – It’s Not Easy podcast. We are so happy you are here with us today.

Mike: Today, we are talking about a very important topic: how to start a conversation and meet new people.

Anna: That is right. By the end of this episode, you will know exactly how to use simple icebreakers, how to give a nice compliment, and how to ask someone to meet again.

Mike: It is going to be practical, simple, and very useful. Let’s get started!

RECENT EVENT / RELATABLE ANECDOTE

Anna: So, Mike… tell me. Have you ever felt that “social stress” recently?

Mike: Actually, yes! Just last week. You know, I started a new cooking class. I love cooking, but I didn’t know anyone there.

Anna: Oh, a cooking class! That sounds fun, but also a bit scary if you are alone.

Mike: Exactly. I walked into the kitchen and everyone was already in small groups. They were talking about recipes and laughing. I felt like a child on the first day of school. I just stood there with my apron and my knife… and I thought, “Should I just stay quiet and cook? Or should I try to say hello?”

Anna: And what did you do? Did you just look at your carrots the whole time?

Mike: Well, for the first ten minutes… yes! I was very focused on my vegetables. But then, I realized that the person next to me, a woman named Sarah, was also looking a bit nervous. She was struggling to cut her onions.

Anna: Ah, the perfect moment!

Mike: Yes! But my heart was beating fast. I thought, “What if she thinks I’m strange?” It is funny, Anna… I am an adult, I have a job, I travel… but in that moment, I was really afraid of a simple “hello.”

Anna: I think we all feel that way, Mike. We are afraid of being rejected. We think everyone else is confident, but usually, they are just as nervous as we are.

Mike: That is so true. Finally, I just opened my mouth and said something very simple. And you know what? It worked! We talked for the rest of the class. It wasn’t perfect, and my English… well, I made some mistakes… but we connected.

Anna: That is wonderful. It shows that one small moment of courage can change everything.

SMOOTH TRANSITION

Mike: Exactly. But I realized that I needed the right words. If I didn’t have a few simple phrases in my head, I would probably still be standing there, alone with my onions.

Anna: So, how can we avoid that lonely feeling? How can we feel more confident in a room full of strangers?

Mike: That is what we are going to learn now. What are the best phrases to break the ice? Let’s look at the language you need to make that first connection.

MAIN TOPIC: REAL-LIFE STORY

Anna: Wait, Mike! Before we look at the phrases, I have to tell you… your story about the cooking class is so relatable. But I have to be honest… sometimes, I am the one who fails!

Mike: Really? You, Anna? You always seem so confident!

Anna: Oh, absolutely not. Listen to this. A few weeks ago, I decided to go to a local park. I have a dog, a little golden retriever named Bella. And usually, the dog park is a great place to meet people, right?

Mike: Oh, definitely. Dog owners love talking about their dogs!

Anna: Exactly! So, I saw this woman. She had a beautiful, big husky. I wanted to say something, but… I froze. I looked at her, then I looked at my dog… and I just stayed silent. I felt so silly. I thought, “Anna, you are a grown woman! Just say something!”

Mike: So, what happened? Did you just walk away?

Anna: Well… at first, yes. I walked to the other side of the park. I was so frustrated with myself. I felt… lonely in a crowd. But then, I remembered something. I don’t need to have a perfect, deep conversation. I just need one little sentence.

Mike: Just one step.

Anna: Yes. So, I walked back. My heart was thumping… boom-boom, boom-boom. I approached her and I didn’t talk about the weather. I just looked at her dog and said, “Oh, wow! Your dog is so beautiful! What is his name?”

Mike: That is it? Just a compliment?

Anna: That was it! And her face… it just lit up! She started smiling and telling me all about her husky, Balto. We talked for twenty minutes, Mike! Twenty minutes! We talked about dog food, the best parks in the city… it was so easy once I started.

Mike: That is a great lesson. Sometimes we think the “door” to a new friendship is locked… but really, we just need to knock.

Anna: Exactly. A simple compliment was my key. It opened the door. And when I left the park that day, I didn’t feel lonely anymore. I felt… connected. It was a small win, but it felt big.

Mike: I love that. It shows that the “problem” is often just in our heads. Most people are actually waiting for someone else to say the first word.

BREAKDOWN OF 5 USEFUL PHRASES

Anna: Okay, let’s give our listeners that “key” to open the door. We have five phrases that work in almost any situation.

Mike: Great. Let’s start with the one I used in my cooking class. Phrase number one: “Do you come here often?”

Anna: “Do you come here often?”

Mike: This is a classic. You use this at a gym, a club, a park, or even a cafe. It’s a simple way to ask if the person is a “regular.”

Anna: And phrase number two is what I used at the park. A compliment. “I really like your…”. For example, “I really like your hat!” or “I really like your dog!”

Mike: “I really like your…”.

Anna: People love compliments. It makes them feel good and it shows you are friendly. It is the easiest way to start!

Mike: That’s so true. Now, phrase number three. This one is perfect for parties or events where you have a mutual friend. “How do you know…?” For example, “How do you know Sarah?”

Anna: “How do you know Sarah?”

Mike: It helps you find “common ground.” You can talk about how you met the host, and the conversation just flows from there.

Anna: I love that one. Now, imagine the conversation is going well. You like this person. You want to see them again. Use phrase number four: “We should grab a coffee sometime.”

Mike: “We should grab a coffee sometime.”

Anna: This is perfect because it’s “low pressure.” It’s not a date! It’s just a friendly invitation. It’s very common in English-speaking countries.

Mike: And finally, phrase number five. If they say yes to the coffee, you need a way to talk to them. “Are you on Instagram?” or “Are you on WhatsApp?”

Anna: “Are you on Instagram?”

Mike: Today, this is much more natural than asking for a phone number immediately. It’s a very casual way to stay in touch.

Anna: Perfect. Five simple phrases. “Do you come here often?”, “I really like your…”, “How do you know…?”, “We should grab a coffee sometime,” and “Are you on Instagram?”

Mike: They are simple, but they are powerful.

PRACTICE DIALOGUE

Mike: Now, let’s see how all of these phrases work together. Imagine… Anna and I are at a community garden. We are both planting some flowers. I don’t know Anna yet. Let’s listen.

Mike: Wow, your flowers look amazing! I really like your… um… those purple ones. What are they?

Anna: Oh! Thank you! They are called lavender. They smell great, right?

Mike: They really do. By the way, I’m Mike. Do you come here often?

Anna: Nice to meet you, Mike! I’m Anna. And yes, I’m here every Saturday. I love this garden. How about you? How do you know the person who started this project?

Mike: Oh, you mean Leo? He’s my neighbor! He told me I should come and help.

Anna: That’s so nice. Leo is great.

Mike: Listen, I have to go soon, but I really enjoyed talking to you. We should grab a coffee sometime… you know, and talk more about plants?

Anna: I’d love that! That sounds really fun.

Mike: Great! Are you on Instagram? Maybe I can message you there?

Anna: Yes, I am! It’s Anna_Gardens. Let’s stay in touch!

Mike: Perfect. Now… let’s listen to those key parts again, just a little bit slower.

Anna: I really like your flowers.

Mike: Do you come here often?

Anna: How do you know Leo?

Mike: We should grab a coffee sometime.

Anna: Are you on Instagram?

CONCLUSION & KEY TAKEAWAY

Mike: You see? It wasn’t so scary, right?

Anna: Not at all! Today, we learned how to break the ice, how to use a compliment, and how to stay in touch. These are simple steps, but they are very, very powerful.

Mike: My advice for you today is this… don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. It doesn’t exist. Next time you are at a cafe, or a park, or a shop… just try to give one person a simple compliment. Just one!

Anna: Yes! It can be about their shoes, their bag, or their dog. It’s a small gift you give to a stranger, and it might be the start of a great friendship. You have the words now. You can do it!

OUTRO & CALL TO ACTION

Mike: Well, that is all for today’s episode. Thank you so much for listening to us. It really means a lot.

Anna: We want to hear from you! Is it hard for you to make friends in English? Or… do you have a favorite icebreaker? Tell us your story in the comments! We read all of them.

Mike: And if you enjoyed this, please… give us a like and subscribe to the channel. It really helps us to create more lessons for you.

Anna: Thanks again for being here. You are doing a great job with your English. Keep going!

Mike: Bye for now!

Anna: See you in the next video! Goodbye!