Friendships at work are more than inside jokes or shared breaks—they’re survival systems. They’re the people who drive you when your car breaks down, watch your kids when they’re sick, and remind you you’re not crazy when the shift gets overwhelming. That’s why the transition from buddy to boss can feel like such a threat: it doesn’t just disrupt your role, it disrupts a safety net you rely on.

In this episode, Ryan shares his own 15-year experience of working for a close friend and what it taught him about building friendships that don’t just survive leadership shifts but grow stronger through them. He explores three hard-earned practices—resetting expectations, keeping short accounts through daily forgiveness, and respecting organizational structure—that make friendships both life-giving and sustainable when one of you becomes the boss.

You’ll also hear why blurred friendships so often lead to favoritism, resentment, or burnout—and how the same principles that make for healthy relationships outside of work are exactly what keep workplace friendships from breaking under the weight of leadership.

By the end, you’ll be challenged to take one step toward clarity, honesty, or respect in a friendship at work—so your relationships can give life back to you, not drain it from you.