<p>Hey Brave Table fam! 💕 It’s your girl, Dr. Neeta, coming in hot with an episode that’ll have you side-eyeing your friendships and asking, "Is this real or just a vibe-for-hire?" 🙅‍♀️</p><p><br></p><p>This week, I’m breaking down why so many of us are stuck in surface-level connections, how to spot the energy vampires from the soul fam, and why building real relationships requires more heart and less hustle. And yeah, I’m spilling the tea on why moving to Dubai opened my eyes to how America gets connection all wrong. ☕️✨</p><p><br></p><p>Let’s get into it, loves! 💖</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What you'll get out of this episode…</strong> </p><p><br></p><p>Real friendships thrive on shared experiences and mutual support.</p><p><br></p><p>Transactional ties drain; authentic ones nourish.</p><p><br></p><p>Your energy attracts your tribe—be the friend you seek.</p><p><br></p><p>Deep connections take time, trust, and vulnerability.</p><p><br></p><p>The loneliness epidemic? It’s real—and social media “friends” aren’t the cure.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong></p><p><br></p><p>00:00 - Welcome to the Brave Table! Are Your Relationships Real?</p><p>02:00 - Dubai Diaries: How Moving Shifted My Relationship Radar</p><p>04:30 - The Illusion of "Business Besties" and Social Currency</p><p>06:45 - Shocking Friendship Stats: 48% of Americans Have Less Than 5 Close Friends</p><p>09:00 - Fake Friends, Real Hurt: Why Transactional Relationships Feel Hollow</p><p>11:30 - Celebrity Drama: What the Justin Baldoni & Ryan Reynolds Feud Reveals About Power Dynamics</p><p>15:00 - Energy Check: Do Your Friendships Nourish or Drain You?</p><p>18:30 - Real Talk: How to Build Deep, Soulful Connections</p><p>22:00 - Why the Middle East Does Relationships Better (and What We Can Learn)</p><p>23:30 - Giveaway Announcement & How to Enter!</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"><u>@neetabhushan</u></a> </p><p>IG / <a href="http://www.instagram.com/thebravetable"><u>@thebravetable </u></a></p><p>TIKTOK / <a href="http://www.tiktok.com/neeta.bhushan"><u>@neeta.bhushan</u></a></p><p>WEB / <a href="https://neetabhushan.com/10-day-emotional-reset"><u>https://neetabhushan.com</u></a></p><p>YOUTUBE / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NeetaBhushanOfficial"><u>@NeetaBhushanOfficial</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Want more?</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Help us create Chai Tonics by sharing your ideas with us here → <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzrmVPjRVkvnTZXh0d6Spb3MfsWUGhmoOFNWqEDzo9SY1q1g/viewform?usp=sharing"><u>Chai Tonics </u></a></p><p><br></p><p>Visit the website and order your copy of “That Sucked, Now What?”  → <a href="https://thatsuckednowwhat.com/"><u>https://thatsuckednowwhat.com/</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>Take just 2 minutes and find what YOUR emotional type is by taking  my FREE quiz here →  <a href="http://theemotionalreset.com/quiz"><u>theemotionalreset.com/quiz</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>For a weekly dose of my hacks, tools, & tips to emotionally reset, join my newsletter here → <a href="http://yourweeklyreset.com/"><u>yourweeklyreset.com</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>If you loved this episode, check out…</strong><br></p><p>Ep.#232: Simone Heng On Why Loneliness is Becoming the World's Next Big Health Problem  (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/232-simone-heng-on-why-loneliness-is-becoming-the/id1608226580?i=1000658762247"><u>Apple</u></a> | <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/global-grit-media/episodes/232-Simone-Heng-On-Why-Loneliness-is-Becoming-the-Worlds-Next-Big-Health-Problem-e2kpppp"><u>Spotify</u></a> | <a href="https://youtu.be/GdSVu9pkAiw?si=NyM8AqA7NXftzanO"><u>YouTube</u></a>)</p><p><br></p><p>Ep.#277: The Secret to Thriving Relationships: Boundaries, Healing, and Connection with Simone Heng  (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/277-the-secret-to-thriving-relationships-boundaries/id1608226580?i=1000677311998"><u>Apple</u></a> | <a href="https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/f0BazLXiCOb"><u>Spotify</u></a> | <a href="https://youtu.be/6cfdtIw7cXY?feature=shared"><u>YouTube</u></a>)</p><p><br></p><p>Ep.#280:Overcoming Social Anxiety: How to Be Brave and Build Genuine Connections with Dr. Neeta Bhushan (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/280-overcoming-social-anxiety-how-to-be-brave-and/id1608226580?i=1000678402746"><u>Apple</u></a> | <a href="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/global-grit-media/episodes/280-Overcoming-Social-Anxiety-How-to-Be-Brave-and-Build-Genuine-Connections-with-Dr--Neeta-Bhushan-e2rien6"><u>Spotify</u></a> | <a href="https://youtu.be/KxZlCN8OPrg?feature=shared"><u>YouTube</u></a>)</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Dr. Neeta B