tinyfriendships.com

We research and share insights on making deep friendships.

Meet.

when you first encounter someone new.

Make.

when you get to know a new friend.

Deepen.

when you start opening up.

Strengthen.

when you develop mutual trust and companionship.

Maintain.

how you continue to upkeep and evolve the friendship.

Why Not Dare To Have A Goal

My bucketlist item is to play pickleball with McConaughey in Austin.

You move to Austin with zero friends—what happens next? Most people wait, hoping life throws them a social lifeline. Wrong. You make it happen. I’m proving that by talking to as many strangers as possible, building real connections, and setting a wildly audacious goal: playing pickleball with Matthew McConaughey. Because if I can go from knowing no one to rallying with Austin’s most confident local, it proves a simple truth—friendship isn’t fate, it’s effort. Put yourself in the right places, show up consistently, and anything—yes, even this—is possible.

958K

The amount of potential friends in Austin (2024 data)

993+

The current amount of scheduled live music events in Austin for 2025

45%

Research indicates that 45% of adults find it difficult to make new friends.

15 Minute City

Community is a function of proximity.

Friendship = Proximity + Reps + Shared InterestFriendship isn’t fate—it’s math. As kids, we made friends by default: same school, same bus, same lunch table. Proximity forced interaction, repetition built trust, and shared interests kept it alive.Then adulthood hits. You move, get a job, lose your third spaces, and suddenly, friendship becomes a nostalgia act—texting people you haven’t seen in years just to feel connected.The unlock? Engineer proximity. Create reps. Find shared interests. Join a league, say yes more, show up consistently. Friendship doesn’t just happen—you build it.

How I feel in a new social setting

Walking into a new social setting feels like stepping onto a stage with no script. I’ve always believed in the power of community to transform your life, but let’s be real—it’s hard, especially if you’ve never felt like the “coolest” person in the room. The secret? It’s not about being cool; it’s about showing up. Community isn’t found—it’s built, one awkward interaction at a time.

A Tiny Survey

The Algorithm of Friendship: Open Up or Get Left Behind

Life rewards those who open the door. Opportunities, relationships, experiences—they don’t just knock; you have to let them in.But here’s the paradox: we’ve never been more “connected,” yet we’ve never been more alone. Digital networks have scaled, but real human connection has collapsed. We scroll instead of talk. We “like” instead of engage.So, how do you break the cycle? You show up. You put yourself in rooms with real people. You make eye contact. You take the damn invite. Friendship, success, fulfillment—it’s not an algorithm. It’s a function of proximity, repetition, and effort. Open up, or get left behind.

Want to Talk About Friendship?

I’m interviewing strangers in Austin about friendship, loneliness, and what it really takes to build real connections as an adult. I also want to prove how anyone can make a fun sidquest possible. Mine is to play pickleball with McConaughey along the way. If you have a story, an insight, or just want to chat, let’s set something up. Click "Let's Talk" to fill out a quick form—I'll reach out soon.

WE AGGRESSIVELY DEFEND OUR TRADEMARKS WITH ATTORNEYS AND SHOVELS.

Tiny Friendships Letter Club

Active members receive one printed original letter via snail mail every month.-
Why Tiny Friendships?
A passion project started after I moved to Austin with 0 friends.The Birth of Letter Club
At Tiny Friendships, we believe friendships are built in the smallest moments—over coffee, a handwritten note, or a shared discovery in your city. So, we set out to create a space where people could find those moments again.Austin in Common Zine - $15/month
We started by creating a zine: a small, intimate guide to Austin that’s less about where to eat and more about who to meet. Using surveys at these locations we use data to paint a bigger picture. Each issue shares stories, local insights, and reflections on what it means to build friendships in an age of digital isolation.Tiny Friendships Letter Club - $7/month
Every month, we mail you a physical letter from someone new in Austin. Inside, you’ll find their story and a way to reach them—through Instagram or email—so you can spark a real connection.It’s like pen pals, but with the possibility of running into each other at your favorite coffee shop.Bringing Friendship Back to the Real World
Friendship isn’t an algorithm—it’s a conversation, a moment of recognition, a shared laugh. Tiny Friendships is our way of using old-school methods—letters, zines, and shared stories—to build something modern: a city where making a new friend feels as natural as it did when we were kids.What’s Next?
We’re just getting started. In 2025, we’ll be expanding our letter club, hosting intimate meetups inspired by our zine stories, and finding more ways to bring tiny moments of friendship into the big city.If you’ve ever wished it were easier to meet people in Austin, Tiny Friendships is for you.