Welcome to Friendless!
Friendless
Friendless
Are you paying attention? James Avramenko (writer, poet, teacher) is trying to. Friendless is a podcast about paying attention — to yourself, to the people around you, and to the ideas and conversations that help you make sense of being a person. Some weeks that looks like a practical skills episode on emotional regulation, how to actually listen, or the slow work of knowing yourself better. Some weeks it's an honest conversation with a guest, recorded live at an indie bookstore in Vancouver. An engaging and honest look at connection, intimacy, and self-compassion — minus the wellness-industry bullshit. Fun and safety, Sweet Peas!
Aug. 11, 2026

Save the world, or save your mom? (with special guest Leandra Guillet)

Save the world, or save your mom? (with special guest Leandra Guillet)

In this very special episode of Friendless, your host James Avramenko sits down with Leandra Guillet. Together, they dive into the quirks of Vancouver life, from unpredictable weather and the city's mysterious moodiness to what it actually takes to find and foster community in a city full of "shelter cats."

The conversation bounces (or "ADHD ping pongs") from the deep—human insecurity, the cyclical nature of history, and our collective need to be seen—to the delicious, like mourning cheese on a vegan journey and the surprisingly powerful life advice parents pass down about always layering up and never saying no to a meal.

Along the way, expect musings on art history, the endless rhyming of cultural trends, the exhausting but ultimately rewarding pursuit of friendship, and why building community is, at the end of the day, your own responsibility.

Read the Friendless Substack

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