Are Adult Friendships Transactional? with Temi Akanni

In this episode of Ruth Be Told, I am joined by one of my closest friends of seven years for a conversation we have never publicly had before. Over the years, we have shared laughter, milestones, growth, misunderstandings, difficult seasons, and moments where we genuinely thought our friendship might not make it. That experience led us to ask a bigger question: Are adult friendships transactional? As we get older, friendships often look different than they did in school or university. Careers, relationships, distance, responsibilities, and personal growth can change the way we show up for one another. Sometimes it can feel like friendships become based on convenience, reciprocity, or what each person brings to the table. In this honest conversation, we discuss: ** The season that almost ended our friendship ** Why adult friendships can feel harder to maintain ** The difference between reciprocity and transaction ** How conflict, communication, and changing priorities impact friendships ** What it takes to build friendships that survive growth and change ** Whether every friendship is meant to last forever Keep in Touch with Ruth: Subscribe to Ruth Be Told on Substack for honest reflections in between episodes: https://substack.com/@ruthbetoldpod Follow Ruth Be Told on Instagram: instagram.com/ruthbetoldpod Follow Ruth Be Told on TikTok: tiktok.com/ruthbetoldpod Follow Ruth on Instagram: instagram.com/ms.uche_ Follow Ruth on TikTok: tiktok.com/ms.uche_ Want to be featured on the podcast? Send an email to [email protected]