Five, Friendships & F*ckery

This week, I’m diving into something big: making new friends as an adult.

Let’s be real—once you’re out of college and into the grind of work and life, expanding your social circle gets hard. You’ve got your college crew, your coworkers, maybe some roommates-turned-friends. But after that? It’s slim pickings. Most people aren’t actively making new friends as adults, and honestly? That’s kind of tragic.

For me, making friends is a top-three life priority. It’s not just a “nice to have”—it’s an essential. Meeting new people, finding common ground, building those connections—it’s what makes life richer. So, when I stumbled across this wild stat from evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar, it got me thinking:

Dunbar says the human brain can handle about 150 meaningful relationships, but only five intimate friendships.

Nonsense. Fuckkkk that. I refuse to accept this, Mr. DUMBar.

The Five Friends Rule is Utter Fuckery

Let’s start with the obvious: life is chaotic. Your closest friends today might not be your closest friends tomorrow. People move, priorities shift, and sometimes you just need a secondary crew for when your BFFLs are busy. Five feels… limiting… dare I say risky?

And sure, Dunbar’s Number is rooted in evolutionary psychology, but come on—humans have evolved way beyond the tribal dynamics he’s basing this on. We have technology, social media, and way more opportunities to connect. If anything, the modern world demands we have more friends.

Plus, there’s research that counters this idea. Studies show that having a broader social network is tied to greater well-being and even a longer lifespan. A 2019 study from the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people with larger social networks had lower mortality rates. Basically, the more people in your life, the better your odds of sticking around to enjoy it.

The Real Sweet Spot? As Many as You Can Manage

Here’s my take: the more friends, the better—if you can manage those relationships. Friendships don’t have to be all or nothing. Not every friend needs to be your “call at 2 AM” person. Some friends are for grabbing a beer, some are for deep talks, and others are for hyping you up when life feels hard.

When I made new friends this weekend, it ruled. I didn’t formally ask them, “Will you be my friend?” (because I’m not 8), but we hung out, vibed, and I’d now consider them part of my circle. And that’s the thing—friendships can be fluid. You don’t need to rank everyone in your life like it’s a MySpace Top 8.

If you’re looking to expand your circle, here are some ways to do it:

• Friends of Friends: The easiest and most natural way to meet new people. Mutual connections are friendship gold.

• Sober Activities: Join a run club, art class, or improv group. Friendships built outside of 1 AM bar conversations are the ones that stick.

• Be Proactive: Reach out. Follow up. Put in the effort. Friendships aren’t one-sided, and they don’t magically appear.

Speaking of connections, let’s talk about how Revenue Roll is helping my friends at Bogey Bois. With over 220k readers, Bogey Bois is one of the fastest-growing golf newsletters, but their email deliverability was a mess. Think 25% of emails landing in the Promotions tab, spam issues with Hotmail and Outlook, and even being listed on 12 blocklists.

Revenue Roll fixed all that. Here’s how they did it:

• Domain Warming: Their AI-powered engine boosts your email domain’s authority, getting your messages into inboxes—not spam folders.

• Actionable Insights: They provided clear recommendations like consolidating to a single IP address and setting up DMARC to improve deliverability.

The result? Bogey Bois increased their open rates, tripled their click rates, and raised their sponsorship value by nearly 60%.

Want to see what Revenue Roll can do for your newsletter or brand? Book a free audit here, or email me for a personal intro.

Here’s the deal: adult friendships matter. Whether you have five close friends or fifty casual ones, the point is to keep showing up, keep putting yourself out there, and keep building connections.

More friends = more joy, more support, and more fun. Sure, Dunbar’s Number says your brain might struggle to manage it, but I’d argue your heart can handle way more than your head thinks.

So, go out there and meet someone new. And if you’re sending emails this week, make sure they land in the right inbox. (Friendships don’t work if your messages end up in spam.)