Building Real Connections in a Digital Age: Lessons from Nedra Glover Tawwab

In this podcast episode, Nedra Tawwab talks about how relationships work and why it is important to keep your own identity. She explains the difference between being close and being too entangled, pointing out that strong connections should not take away your independence. Tawwab also highlights how understanding attachment styles can shape our relationships, and she encourages people not to expect their partners to be perfect, like the idea of a “soulmate.” The talk covers why setting boundaries matters, how to have healthy disagreements, and how to handle relationships with family and friends, especially when dealing with grief and loneliness in today’s world. In the end, Tawwab urges us to build real, meaningful connections that go beyond surface-level interactions, especially now when social media is so common.Takeaways:Tawwab emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal boundaries in relationships to avoid enmeshment.The discussion includes how attachment styles can hinder personal growth and create dependency in relationships.Tawwab cautions against labeling partners as 'soulmates,' advocating for realistic relationship expectations.Healthy disagreement is vital; it allows couples to grow and understand each other's perspectives better.Building deeper offline connections is essential to combat the loneliness epidemic exacerbated by social media.Mentioned in this episode:...But Make it Books promo Hey, y'all. It's Niccara, host of ... But Make It Books, a podcast where we're bookishly healing through life. In this podcast, we use fiction and nonfiction as a doorway into the deeper parts of life. Think ambition, healing, identity, the questions you didn't even know you were carrying. Every episode, we let the book lead us somewhere real. Because the best stories don't just entertain you, they help you understand yourself. So go ahead and find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Subscribe now and bring your whole self to the conversation. Peace, y'all.African AncestryWe are the pioneers of genetic ancestry tracing for Black people globally, reconnecting you to your specific African roots–the country and the people. Our scientists compare your DNA markers to the largest African reference database in the world in order to find your African origin up to 2000 years ago.African Ancestry