306: From Fake Friends to Soulful Connections: How to Spot & Build Real Relationships with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

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?" 🙅‍♀️ 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. ☕️✨ Let’s get into it, loves! 💖 What you'll get out of this episode… Real friendships thrive on shared experiences and mutual support. Transactional ties drain; authentic ones nourish. Your energy attracts your tribe—be the friend you seek. Deep connections take time, trust, and vulnerability. The loneliness epidemic? It’s real—and social media “friends” aren’t the cure. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to the Brave Table! Are Your Relationships Real? 02:00 - Dubai Diaries: How Moving Shifted My Relationship Radar 04:30 - The Illusion of "Business Besties" and Social Currency 06:45 - Shocking Friendship Stats: 48% of Americans Have Less Than 5 Close Friends 09:00 - Fake Friends, Real Hurt: Why Transactional Relationships Feel Hollow 11:30 - Celebrity Drama: What the Justin Baldoni & Ryan Reynolds Feud Reveals About Power Dynamics 15:00 - Energy Check: Do Your Friendships Nourish or Drain You? 18:30 - Real Talk: How to Build Deep, Soulful Connections 22:00 - Why the Middle East Does Relationships Better (and What We Can Learn) 23:30 - Giveaway Announcement & How to Enter! To receive a free gift, email a screenshot of your 5-star review of The Brave Table to support@globalgrit.co 😘 Follow along for more tips, community, and resources to brave a better you! IG / @neetabhushan IG / @thebravetable TIKTOK / @neeta.bhushan WEB / https://neetabhushan.com YOUTUBE / @NeetaBhushanOfficial Want more? Help us create Chai Tonics by sharing your ideas with us here → Chai Tonics Visit the website and order your copy of “That Sucked, Now What?” → https://thatsuckednowwhat.com/ Take just 2 minutes and find what YOUR emotional type is by taking my FREE quiz here → theemotionalreset.com/quiz For a weekly dose of my hacks, tools, & tips to emotionally reset, join my newsletter here → yourweeklyreset.com If you loved this episode, check out… Ep.#232: Simone Heng On Why Loneliness is Becoming the World's Next Big Health Problem ( Apple | Spotify | YouTube ) Ep.#277: The Secret to Thriving Relationships: Boundaries, Healing, and Connection with Simone Heng ( Apple | Spotify | YouTube ) Ep.#280:Overcoming Social Anxiety: How to Be Brave and Build Genuine Connections with Dr. Neeta Bhushan ( Apple | Spotify | YouTube ) Dr. Neeta Bhushan is a 5x Award Winning Author & world-renowned emotional health advocate & human connection expert. She’s written multiple best-selling books including her most recent book, That Sucked, Now What endorsed by Jay Shetty, Host of the Top 50 Mental Health Podcast The Brave Table , & CEO of Highest Self Institute, a coaching organization training coaches to become the highest versions of themselves. She’s been featured on Forbes, LA Weekly, ABC, NBC, CBS, Grazia, Ok! Magazine, Verve Magazine & Tatler. After realizing how trapped she felt running the million-dollar dental practice she built, Neeta embarked on a journey that led her across 45 countries as she researched blending the intersection of human behavior, ancient wisdom, Eastern philosophy, and therapeutic psychology. That knowledge, along with other life experiences overcoming multiple adversities, which include being orphaned at a young age, surviving an abusive marriage, and extensive loss, contributed to the powerful message of resilience & connection she shares in her work. Neeta is a mother of two young children, wellness junkie & lover of chai.