with Bethany Busch, MS, CSCS & Auria Zahed, MS, LMFT
UpLift Women’s Wellness — the podcast from Head 2 Toe Strength
Female friendships are powerful, complex, and deeply transformative—but they can also be challenging. In Episode 6 of the Uplift Women’s Wellness Podcast, Bethany Busch and Auria Zahed, LMFT, open up about their personal experiences, societal narratives, and what it truly takes to cultivate supportive, healthy female relationships.
This episode isn’t just about friendship—it’s about emotional resilience, self-worth, and building a community that empowers you.
How Their Friendship Began
Bethany and Auria’s bond began through shared experiences with difficult female friendships. Auria recounts relationships where she was taken advantage of or let down when she needed support the most. She realized her people-pleasing tendencies and fear of abandonment often attracted friends who were “fine taking from others.” Through intentional internal work and setting boundaries, Auria learned to allow only supportive, trustworthy people into her life—Bethany being one of them.
“Now, I value my friends immensely because they are giving, loving, supportive, kind, and there for me—the way friends are supposed to be,” Auria reflects.
Discover more about Auria’s approach to mental wellness and therapy on her page.
Breaking the Negative Narrative Around Female Friendships
Many women have experienced the “frenemy” dynamic or feel uncomfortable forming friendships with other women. Bethany and Auria explore why this happens and how to shift the narrative.
Auria explains that unhealthy dynamics often arise from narcissism, jealousy, and hurt egos, particularly when people-pleasers are involved. Bethany adds that society and media often reinforce the idea that women are competitive and dramatic because “drama sells.” Historically, women thrived in cooperative, interdependent communities, managing households and tribes with shared responsibility—a far cry from the modern portrayal of female rivalry.
For insight into building supportive communities through strength coaching, see Bethany’s Approach.
Women in Leadership and the Power of Emotional Intelligence
The conversation also explores women’s undervalued roles in leadership and society. Bethany and Auria challenge the myth that women are “too emotional” for high-responsibility roles, noting that every president has been influenced by women—mothers, teachers, and mentors.
Women often choose careers that require high levels of empathy and emotional intelligence, such as therapy, nursing, and pediatric care. Historically, women have been managing entire communities, acting as leaders and project managers long before modern corporate structures existed.
Learn more about performance coaching and building leadership skills at Head2Toe Strength.
The Value of a Healthy Female Support System
Bethany and Auria emphasize that a healthy friendship should be:
Rooted in love and admiration, not manipulation.
A source of energy, not anxiety—leaving your cup full.
Deeply connected, with real conversations about life, marriage, motherhood, and personal growth.
Like-minded, built on shared values to create safety and trust.
Auria notes that having a supportive female network is essential self-care, helping women feel “poured into,” rather than judged or drained.
For guidance on building confidence and wellness through coaching, check out Strength Coaching and Nutrition Coaching.
Bethany & Auria’s “Meant to Be” Story
Bethany recounts how their friendship formed by chance. Auria had just moved back to Orange County and booked a personal training session with Bethany—the only female trainer available at the time. They immediately connected over their Masters of Science degrees and similar life timelines.
Their friendship grew through training sessions, park workouts during COVID-19, and eventually led to co-founding Head2Toe Strength. Their story illustrates how aligned values, vulnerability, and shared purpose can foster life-changing connections.
Episode Takeaways
Female friendships are vital: They nourish, challenge, and inspire personal growth.
Boundaries are essential: Protect your emotional space and invite only supportive people into your life.
Seek like-minded friends: Shared values create safety and trust.
Friendship is self-care: A healthy support system fills your cup and strengthens resilience.
This episode is a reminder that women don’t have to compete—they can thrive together. True friendship is a partnership, a shared journey of growth, support, and empowerment.
Listen to the full episode on your favorite platform:
Or visit the Uplift Women’s Wellness Podcast for all episodes.
Episode 6: Female Friendships
Hosts: Bethany Busch, Founder of Head2Toe Strength, and Auria Zahed, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Bethany and Auria dive deep into the essential, sometimes complicated, nature of female friendships. They share personal stories of toxic friendships, setting boundaries, and the power of a supportive female community for self-care and personal growth.
Key Topics and Timestamps
Welcome & Introduction – 00:15
Origin Story: Bonding Over Toxic Friendships – 00:55
Auria's past experience with friends taking advantage – 01:25
Realizing the people-pleaser personality attracts takers – 01:45
Setting boundaries and only letting "wonderful people" in – 02:43
Finding value in supportive, giving, and kind friends – 03:12
The "Frenemy" Narrative and Competition – 04:41
Addressing the negative sentiment about "girls" and drama – 05:10
Discussing narcissism, hurt egos, jealousy, and envy – 05:39
Media modeling and how "drama sells" – 07:41
Historical & Societal View of Women – 08:11
Women's interdependence in tribal/clan days – 08:11
Recognizing the value of having women in your life – 10:08
Building community with like-minded, communal people – 10:38
Women in C-Suites, Education, and Undervalued Roles – 12:21
Lack of women in upper echelons of leadership – 12:50
Women as teachers and creators of knowledge for male success – 15:16
Women choosing mentally challenging careers – 16:21
Women as "project managers for millennia" – 18:51
The double standard: being "too emotional" to lead – 19:48
The Necessity of Deep Connection – 22:03
The biological syncing of menstrual cycles for support – 22:03
Healthy relationships as a give-and-take from a place of love and admiration – 27:09
The power of two (or more) heads thinking together – 28:09
The "Really Good Night" with Girlfriends – 31:03
Deep conversations about life, marriage, and sex – 31:34
The value of receiving validation and support – 33:51
Friendship as a "Full Cup" – 34:21
You can't give from an empty cup – 34:21
Healthy friendships shouldn't feel drained or cause anxiety – 35:20
Being in your "safest space" and "fully vulnerable" – 35:49
The Origin Story Continues (Bethany's View) – 36:24
The "meant to be" timing of Auria and Bethany meeting – 40:00
Immediate connection over Masters of Science degrees – 41:26
The Reciprocity of a Healthy Friendship – 44:38
Bethany's admiration for Auria's matching inner and outer beauty – 44:38
Auria's struggle with receiving kindness and compliments – 45:50
Bethany's ability to shift Auria's jaded perspective – 48:44
The "out love, outshine" mentality (no score-keeping) – 52:33
Professional Perspective: The Value of a Female Support System – 53:32
Is a designated female support system healthy and cathartic? Yes. – 53:57
Advice: find like-minded people with similar values and morals – 54:27
Don't feel bad about leaving friendships that aren't serving a healthy purpose – 56:37
Taking responsibility for seeking out fulfilling relationships – 57:36
Resources & Related Services
Explore 1:1 Strength Coaching
Learn more about Auria’s Therapy Approach
