<p>Have you ever wondered if men and women can truly have platonic friendships—free from romantic tension? Or felt the pressure to abandon opposite-sex friendships in the name of a relationship? In this sizzling, soul-stirring episode of <em>The Brave Table</em>, I sit down with my two favorite brother besties—Himanshu Jocker, founder of Epic Businesses in Jaipur, India, and Erwin B. Valencia, a former mental health coach for the NBA and founder of the Gratitude Gang Foundation in the Philippines.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Together, we dive into how opposite-sex friendships can enrich your life, your romantic relationships, and your personal growth. We discuss setting boundaries, navigating jealousy, and even the dynamics of “friend-zoning.” This is a must-listen if you’ve ever struggled to maintain balance between friendship and romance or wondered how to nurture healthy, meaningful relationships across the gender spectrum.</p> <p><br></p> <p>💡 <em>Spoiler alert</em>: You’ll leave with a renewed perspective on cultivating deep, authentic connections.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>What you'll get out of this episode…</strong> </p> <p><br></p> <p>Opposite-sex friendships enhance emotional growth, understanding, and life balance.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Clear boundaries prevent misinterpretation in friendships.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Jealousy arises from insecurity; love and action build trust.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Authentic friendships enrich, not threaten, romantic relationships.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Community approval means aligning with shared values and vision.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong></p> <p><br></p> <p>0:00 - Introduction: Can men and women just be friends?</p> <p>4:15 - Why opposite-sex friendships are crucial for emotional growth</p> <p>9:50 - The Gen Z struggle: What’s your role in a friendship?</p> <p>13:20 - Navigating blurred lines and setting boundaries</p> <p>20:05 - Jealousy in relationships: How to address it head-on</p> <p>28:40 - The importance of community approval in relationships</p> <p>35:50 - Dim your light or embrace your truth?</p> <p>44:00 - Lessons learned from ending toxic dynamics</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>To receive a free gift, email a screenshot of your 5-star review of The Brave Table to [email protected] 😘</strong></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Follow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you!</strong></p> <p><br></p> <p>IG / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/neetabhushan/?hl=en" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@neetabhushan</a> </p> <p>IG / <a href="http://www.instagram.com/thebravetable" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@thebravetable </a></p> <p>TIKTOK / <a href="http://www.tiktok.com/neeta.bhushan" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@neeta.bhushan</a></p> <p>WEB / <a href="https://neetabhushan.com/10-day-emotional-reset" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://neetabhushan.com</a></p> <p>YOUTUBE / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NeetaBhushanOfficial" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@NeetaBhushanOfficial</a></p> <p><br></p> <p>Connect with today’s guest, <strong>Erwin Benedict València </strong></p> <p><br></p> <p>IG / <a href="http://www.instagram.com/thebravetable" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/erwinbvalencia/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>WEB / <a href="http://www.gratitudegang.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.gratitudegang.org</a></p> <p>YOUTUBE / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@erwinbvalencia" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>LINKEDIN / <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/erwinbvalencia" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>TIKTOK / <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@erwinbvalencia" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>YOUTUBE <a href="https://youtube.com/@erwinbvalencia?si=V9R3RGoAYFc7JJmL" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>  TWITTER/X/ <a href="https://x.com/erwinbvalencia?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@erwinbvalencia</a></p> <p>Clubhouse: @erwinbvalencia</p> <p>Grasshopper Project  → <a href="http://www.grasshopperproject.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.grasshopperproject.org</a> </p> <p><br></p> <p>Connect with today’s guest, <strong>Himanshu Jakhar</strong></p> <p><br></p> <p>IG / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/himi.jakhar/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> @himi.jakhar </a></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Want more?</strong></p> <p><br></p> <p>Discover Your Unique Intuition Type → <a href="https://quiz.highestselfinstitute.com/quiz-intuition/?utm_campaign=SLC&utm_medium=video&utm_source=neeta_podcast_show_notes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" tar