Friends Next Door

Fireside chats with Dan, Mia, Thomas, and Kuan on career, culture, and relationships. The best conversations happen when different perspectives and backgrounds come together, so stop by to listen if you're ever in need of a Friend Next Door.

Every Day I'm Hustling! | S5E7

Are you on a busy bandwagon? Do you find yourself running and hustling everyday, whether it is to achieve a certain goal in your career or to keep up with your social calendar? If so, this episode is for you :).    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

04-22
50:21

S4E11. Ahh.. That Feeling When We Find Our Slice of Home

Be honest - when you're traveling, how many days do you last without looking for your comfort food? Of course culinary adventure is fun, but there's something comforting about eating food you've grown up consuming. As we're chatting this time, we're taking this idea and asking each other, what are the things that bring you a sense of home?    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

07-31
51:25

Friendship Through the Decades | S6E34

There's always that friend who's down for anything, whether it's grabbing a simple dinner or trying out something new. And then there's that friend who's always willing to hear you vent. They don't need to give you a solution, but they're there and that's enough. What kind of a friend are you? Have you changed as a friend now compared to your younger years?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

12-22
55:58

Main Character or Background Character Energy? | S6E33

In the spirit of keeping up with the times, Dan, Kuan and Mia discussed their understanding of main character energy. To those who are chronically online, we're sure you've heard about this. Be the start of your own movie. You're in charge of creating your own story. Forge your own path. Do we think this creates an invisible pressure to be 'extra'? Is there something wrong about wanting to be a 'background character'?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

12-15
36:41

Ugh, We Have to be the Adult in the Room Now? | S6E32

Have you ever looked around the room and realized that... you're now the adult in the room? That it's time to take control of the situation to avoid any unwanted consequences. Do you like being the adult in the room or do you wish that sometimes someone would just help you figure things out?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

12-08
39:41

Does Time Go Faster as We Age? | S6E31

It's December 2025. WHERE did the year go? We used to say this jokingly but we're dead serious now. We used to wait forever for school year to end, for Christmas to arrive, for our vacation to finally start.. whatever it may be! Do you guys also feel like time somehow flies faster as we age? Is there a way to slow it down?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

12-01
35:44

Am I Rootless or just Replanting? | S6E30

We've spent time talking about "home" and "where you're from" on this podcast.  On this episode we dive deeper into how important roots are.  If you spent your life moving around, you may be struggling to answer the 'where are you from' question. Your childhood memories may have been formed at your hometown, but then you moved away in your formative years, and then again as you're stepping into adulthood. Where is home? When do we think it's time to put down roots? How important is it?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

11-24
38:24

My Brain Made Me Buy It.. or Was It My Heart? | S6E29

Out of the many relationships we juggle everyday, our relationship with money isn't something we regularly think about. Because what for? I make money, I spend money, end of story. But on this episode, we dive a bit deeper into what money means to us and how it shapes our life.    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

11-18
47:05

Friends Who Travel Together, Stay Together? | S6E28

Friends - listen to this episode before that travel plan makes it out of the group chat. Traveling solo allows you to learn about yourself. Traveling with friends helps you learn more about each other so there's definitely a lot to look forward to. How important is it to travel with the right group of people? Should you vet them before the trip?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

11-10
39:49

What Gives You Hope in Humanity? | S6EP27

The world certainly isn't perfect. Sheesh, okay stating the obvious there. But in the midst of all the chaos that is this imperfect world, there are moments where people show up with a simple gesture of kindness, and that is enough to tell us that humanity is still worth rooting for.  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

10-20
30:36

Cash Me If You Can | S6E26

Are we in the age of monetization? If you say no.. we love that for you. It's obvious that we're now living in a 'monetization of everything' era. On one hand, it presents a great opportunity for people who are willing to put themselves out there to gain some extra cash (or make a serious living!). On another hand, it could also create an overwhelming amount of content. The question is.. what do we make of all this?  As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

10-13
40:00

Confidence: 10/10, Qualifications: Working On It | S6E25

Are you someone who's constantly punching above your weight? Whether it’s dating someone way out of your league, landing a job you “weren’t qualified” for, or winning a trivia night with nothing but guesses and blind confidence, you're swinging hard, aiming high, and surprising everyone (including yourself!). Or are you the opposite - you know what you're good at and prefer a more measured approach? What are the pros and cons to both?   As always, if you have a burning question, find us here:Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.comIG: @frndsnextdoorDan: @therealdanchenMia: @msmiaaaThomas: @mundane_photos

10-08
39:29

Long Term Goals, Marriage Edition, Who Dat?? | S6E18

Long term planning is not easy to begin with when you're single. Add a spouse in that equation, the conversations become that much more interesting! How do you approach these topics? Do you talk about them when you're dating, or is that too early? We have a special friend joining us on this episode!    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

08-11
44:58

Are You a Maximizer or an Optimizer? | S6E17

The world is your oyster - that's what they say right? With that in mind are you someone who takes every opportunity and makes the most of them? Or are you someone who may not be all gas and no brakes, but rather prefers optimizing your current situation? There's obviously no right or wrong approach here, but we're curious!     As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

08-04
51:22

Would You Throw Out 37% of Your Options? | S6E16

When it comes to making a major decision in life, one naturally turns to a math formula. Just kidding. But it is entirely possible that some people subscribe to the idea that mathemathical principles can be applied to some of our approaches to life. Would you agree?    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

07-28
36:31

How Likely Are You to Get Scammed? | S6E15

Skepticism. What image comes into mind when you hear this word? Does it carry a positive or a negative connotation? And what about healthy skepticism.. does it change your perspective of whether this is something we need as we go about life?  And most importantly, does it help you to not get scammed?   As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

07-21
47:03

Trust the Process. But for How Long? | S6E14

Trust the process. It's not about the destination, it's the journey. If you've heard some version of these advice, have you ever stopped and pondered how long you're supposed to be in the process? What are you supposed to learn in the process? What does the goal or destination look like? Wow, asking deep philosophical questions, are we?    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

07-14
40:45

Are You a Materialist? | S6E13

Spoiler alert: if you haven't seen the movie and want to go see it, come back to this episode after! But if you're ready to discuss the classic question of 'do you choose love or money?', listen on. We go beyond the surface level of money and love, so hope you all enjoy this episode!   As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

07-07
46:48

Why Is My Commute So Long? | S6E12

As more 9-to-5ers are returning to office, commuting is becoming a bigger part of our life. You're then reminded of how commuting feels like a time and energy drain.. until you're hearing that there are benefits to it? Really?    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

06-30
35:43

Labubu, le what what? | S6E11

If the word Labubu has come out of your mouth in a recent conversation, congrats, you're in on the latest trend all over socials. Trends come and go so fast these days it's hard to keep up! Are you one of those people who are always in the know?    As always, if you have a burning question, find us here: Email: frndsnextdoor@gmail.com IG: @frndsnextdoor Dan: @therealdanchen Mia: @msmiaaa Thomas: @mundane_photos

06-23
50:44

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