The Friend School

No Mask Needed (The Halloween Special) | Episode 025

This Halloween special takes a chilling turn as Matt faces the night alone...no Paige by his side. But don't shy away; we’re peeling back the layers of the everyday masks we wear. Not the playful ones from your local Spirit costume store, but the subtle, invisible ones crafted from societal expectations, judgment, and a blobs of stress. Whether you're in ministry, business, caregiving, or any role that pressures you to ‘put on a show’ instead of connecting authentically, this episode is calling your name! Jump in to explore the importance of ditching our polished highlight reels and embracing our true selves. After all, that's the secret recipe for forging strong, genuine friendships. When you know who you are, the message is clear: no mask needed. TALK IT OVER 1. What’s one “mask” you’ve realized you often wear in conversations? 2. Can you think of a recent interaction when you slipped into performance mode? What might it have looked like to just show up as yourself? 3. How has your role (job, ministry, family) affected your ability to connect on a personal level with others? 4. What would change in your relationships if you believed you were already “enough”...already fully loved and approved? 5. How can we be safe people for others to be “unmasked” with? Connect with Matt & Paige: Follow The Friend School on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendschool] & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/thefriendschool]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] Join the Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] FREE download: "The True You" devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] FREE List of Better Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] ***"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRUE YOU" Now available on Amazon!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/True-You-Devotional-Foundation-Friendship/dp/B0DMDWH9GT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SSGSSI5F0JM4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RQ64Bxx1-AlF3GrXVnPjaYRLUI6i535PN9hqwVcf8fkEXdAtfYasYQBCT2bSXSDmbE9LsRiPqRhDnTHMNvNguMDnlKRRw2kp4bm-GGDqoo__RitgsACZdYxh5Fww_GNh1AkTry4dom8oIyajMd1GJKnM2TRXczbN3-6iV_2qRBJyy8dztHKkPGTpNdwAxlmDcCJ2aBSXEa6M09jDZmiFH2s0ApnqvP14_Gz1jDbyH8A3Ezw7qC0y2mNqfuRsK_XEZx3G8btfrytjxlZncdQonu0iz0AatEC0EsF8P2UKVc8._ruVNVcN4Cy8JQ_xacPI-eUT9T1pNeOMIDii3aqVc3s&dib_tag=se&keywords=true+you+28&qid=1731713690&sprefix=true+you+28%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1]*** One last thing...we'd LOVE your help investing in more and more grace-based friendships. Check out the link below!

Depth over Duration: Rethinking Forever Friendships | Episode 024

When forever doesn’t happen…what does that say about your friendship? Welcome to The Friend School podcast with Matt & Paige! It's time to discover your confidence and deepen your connection with others. This week we're tearing down the myth that “true friendship lasts forever” and exploring what it means when a close connection fades. If you’ve ever felt guilt, grief, or confusion over a lost friend...or worried you somehow failed...this episode is for you. Learn why friendship changes are normal, how the gospel reframes your worth, and why depth often matters more than duration. Encouraging, freeing, and full of real talk, this conversation will help you let go with grace, hold on with wisdom, and embrace the beauty of what was… without missing what’s now. TALK IT OVER 1. Is there a friendship that comes to mind when you think about one that faded or drifted away? Have you grieved it properly? 2. How does the gospel change the way you view friendship losses or transitions? 3. What expectations do you tend to place on friendships that might be rooted more in longing than reality? 4. Have you experienced a “short-but-deep” friendship that surprised you in how meaningful it became? 5. What would it look like for you to release a friendship with gratitude instead of guilt? 6. Which of the reasons mentioned (life stage, values shift, location, emotional burden, etc.) has affected your recent friendships the most? 7. How can you be intentional and open-handed at the same time in your current friendships? Connect with Matt & Paige: Follow The Friend School on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendschool] & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/thefriendschool] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE download: "The True You" devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE List of Better Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] ***"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRUE YOU" Now available on Amazon!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/True-You-Devotional-Foundation-Friendship/dp/B0DMDWH9GT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SSGSSI5F0JM4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RQ64Bxx1-AlF3GrXVnPjaYRLUI6i535PN9hqwVcf8fkEXdAtfYasYQBCT2bSXSDmbE9LsRiPqRhDnTHMNvNguMDnlKRRw2kp4bm-GGDqoo__RitgsACZdYxh5Fww_GNh1AkTry4dom8oIyajMd1GJKnM2TRXczbN3-6iV_2qRBJyy8dztHKkPGTpNdwAxlmDcCJ2aBSXEa6M09jDZmiFH2s0ApnqvP14_Gz1jDbyH8A3Ezw7qC0y2mNqfuRsK_XEZx3G8btfrytjxlZncdQonu0iz0AatEC0EsF8P2UKVc8._ruVNVcN4Cy8JQ_xacPI-eUT9T1pNeOMIDii3aqVc3s&dib_tag=se&keywords=true+you+28&qid=1731713690&sprefix=true+you+28%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1]*** One last thing...we'd LOVE your help investing in more and more grace-based friendships. Check out the link below!

Stop Going It Alone: The 4 Lies Keeping You Lonely | Episode 023

You’ve heard it. Maybe you’ve said it: “I don’t need friends.” Whether it’s past wounds, a jam-packed schedule, or pride disguised as independence, many of us quietly buy into the myth that going solo is strong. In this episode, we dig into the deeper reasons people drift into loneliness without realizing it, and we unpack four powerful reasons that might be holding you back from friendship (yes, they all start with "P"). Welcome to The Friend School podcast with Matt & Paige! It's time to discover your confidence and deepen your connection with others. Let's jump in and debunk some myths, get real, and talk about what we miss out on when we start to believe we're better off alone. TALK IT OVER: 1. Which of the 4 Ps resonated most with you—and why? 2. What’s one way your pride might be keeping you isolated? 3. Have you ever used “I’m too busy” to mask something deeper? 4. What would it look like this week to create margin for connection? 5. What’s a wound that might be keeping you from going deeper with people? 6. Who’s someone you could reach out to today? Connect with Matt & Paige: Follow The Friend School on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendschool] & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/thefriendschool] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE download: "The True You" devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE List of Better Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] ***"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRUE YOU" Now available on Amazon!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/True-You-Devotional-Foundation-Friendship/dp/B0DMDWH9GT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SSGSSI5F0JM4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RQ64Bxx1-AlF3GrXVnPjaYRLUI6i535PN9hqwVcf8fkEXdAtfYasYQBCT2bSXSDmbE9LsRiPqRhDnTHMNvNguMDnlKRRw2kp4bm-GGDqoo__RitgsACZdYxh5Fww_GNh1AkTry4dom8oIyajMd1GJKnM2TRXczbN3-6iV_2qRBJyy8dztHKkPGTpNdwAxlmDcCJ2aBSXEa6M09jDZmiFH2s0ApnqvP14_Gz1jDbyH8A3Ezw7qC0y2mNqfuRsK_XEZx3G8btfrytjxlZncdQonu0iz0AatEC0EsF8P2UKVc8._ruVNVcN4Cy8JQ_xacPI-eUT9T1pNeOMIDii3aqVc3s&dib_tag=se&keywords=true+you+28&qid=1731713690&sprefix=true+you+28%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1]*** One last thing...we'd LOVE your help investing in more and more grace-based friendships. Check out the link below!

Broken Dishes & Second Chances: The Mavis Marriage Story | Episode 022

Welcome to The Friend School podcast with Matt & Paige! It's time to discover your confidence and deepen your connection with others. What happens when a marriage doesn’t just break, but absolutely shatters? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with our dear friends James and Deb Mavis to hear one of the most stunning stories of honesty, damage, healing, failure, and hope that we’ve ever encountered. Married young, James and Deb’s relationship was volatile from day one...emotionally, physically, spiritually. Toxicity, trauma, violence, secrecy, crushing expectations...they lived it all. And after nearly a decade of pain, abuse, and denial, they divorced. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In this episode, they tell the raw, candid story of what broke them, the surprising road of healing and recovery they each took, and how—years later—they found their way not just back to each other, but into a marriage truly rebuilt from the ground up. ***A gentle warning: this episode includes references to abuse, trauma, and deeply sensitive relational struggles. If you’ve got kids in the car or nearby, we recommend saving this one for a private listen. Vulnerability doesn't get more real than this. We’re so grateful and excited for you to hear this one. TALK IT OVER: 1. What part of James and Deb’s story resonated most deeply with you—and why? 2. What would a “hard reset” look like in your own relationships? Are there any unhealthy patterns you’re tolerating? 3. Do you have safe, trusted people—either friends or mentors—you can be totally honest with? If not, what might one small step look like to begin building that? 4. Where have you seen God bring resurrection out of ruin or pain in your life? 5. What does “real friendship” look like to you in crisis seasons? Connect with Matt & Paige: Follow The Friend School on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendschool] & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/thefriendschool] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE download: "The True You" devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE List of Better Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] ***"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRUE YOU" Now available on Amazon!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/True-You-Devotional-Foundation-Friendship/dp/B0DMDWH9GT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SSGSSI5F0JM4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RQ64Bxx1-AlF3GrXVnPjaYRLUI6i535PN9hqwVcf8fkEXdAtfYasYQBCT2bSXSDmbE9LsRiPqRhDnTHMNvNguMDnlKRRw2kp4bm-GGDqoo__RitgsACZdYxh5Fww_GNh1AkTry4dom8oIyajMd1GJKnM2TRXczbN3-6iV_2qRBJyy8dztHKkPGTpNdwAxlmDcCJ2aBSXEa6M09jDZmiFH2s0ApnqvP14_Gz1jDbyH8A3Ezw7qC0y2mNqfuRsK_XEZx3G8btfrytjxlZncdQonu0iz0AatEC0EsF8P2UKVc8._ruVNVcN4Cy8JQ_xacPI-eUT9T1pNeOMIDii3aqVc3s&dib_tag=se&keywords=true+you+28&qid=1731713690&sprefix=true+you+28%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1]*** One last thing...we'd LOVE your help investing in more and more grace-based friendships. Check out the link below!

Your Friend Can’t Read Your Mind (And That’s Okay) | Episode 021

Welcome to The Friend School podcast with Matt & Paige! It's time to discover your confidence and deepen your connection with others. Do you believe a true friend should “just know” how you’re feeling or what you need, without you ever having to say it? You’re not alone… but it’s a trap. In this mythbusters edition of the Friends School, we’re challenging the subtle (but relationship-wrecking) belief that closeness means mind-reading. Join us as we unpack the silent expectations that quietly damage our friendships, and how the gospel invites us into a better (and freer) way: one filled with honesty, grace, and deep, real connection. From real-life examples to powerful truths rooted in grace and psychology, you’ll walk away with language, clarity, and courage to speak up and build the kind of friendships you were made for. TALK IT OVER: 1. What stood out to you most from the episode?  2. Was there a scenario shared that you really resonated with? Have you done something similar before? 3. How do you handle it when a friend lets you down? Do you typically speak up or stay silent? 4. What’s one “need” you’ve been hesitant to voice in friendship? Why do you think that is? 5. How can you begin using the “I feel / I need” framework in your closest relationships? Connect with Matt & Paige: Follow The Friend School on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefriendschool] & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/thefriendschool] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Movement⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE download: "The True You" devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/5X32Ux] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE List of Better Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://subscribepage.io/TYJnD1] ***"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRUE YOU" Now available on Amazon!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/True-You-Devotional-Foundation-Friendship/dp/B0DMDWH9GT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SSGSSI5F0JM4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RQ64Bxx1-AlF3GrXVnPjaYRLUI6i535PN9hqwVcf8fkEXdAtfYasYQBCT2bSXSDmbE9LsRiPqRhDnTHMNvNguMDnlKRRw2kp4bm-GGDqoo__RitgsACZdYxh5Fww_GNh1AkTry4dom8oIyajMd1GJKnM2TRXczbN3-6iV_2qRBJyy8dztHKkPGTpNdwAxlmDcCJ2aBSXEa6M09jDZmiFH2s0ApnqvP14_Gz1jDbyH8A3Ezw7qC0y2mNqfuRsK_XEZx3G8btfrytjxlZncdQonu0iz0AatEC0EsF8P2UKVc8._ruVNVcN4Cy8JQ_xacPI-eUT9T1pNeOMIDii3aqVc3s&dib_tag=se&keywords=true+you+28&qid=1731713690&sprefix=true+you+28%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1]*** One last thing...we'd LOVE your help investing in more and more grace-based friendships. Check out the link below!