Explore every episode of the podcast The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana

In this episode of The Connection Code, Rachel and Jeana sit down with the brilliant and refreshingly candid Rebecca Jarvis, Chief Business Correspondent for ABC News, host of The Dropout, and executive producer of the Emmy-winning Hulu series of the same name.

From her roots in Minnesota to the national stage, Rebecca shares the winding path that led her to where she is today — including a tough first job in investment banking, a bold career pivot into journalism, and the behind-the-scenes grind that preceded her “overnight success.” She opens up about the power of following your curiosity, the importance of small side projects that spark joy, and the lessons she's learned about trust, friendship, and resilience along the way.

You’ll also hear:

• How Rebecca built real connections in an industry often marked by competition

• Her advice to anyone impatiently waiting to “build a network”

• A vulnerable, honest conversation about fertility and redefining ambition

• The creative side hustle that unexpectedly changed her career

• Why calling a friend midday might be the ritual your friendships need

It’s a conversation full of insight, warmth, and wisdom — and a reminder that your most meaningful momentum often begins with a genuine connection.

This week on The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel explore a topic that hits close to home—literally. With Jeana now living in Michigan and Rachel still in Chicago, the duo dives into what it really takes to maintain a long-distance friendship. From intentionality and communication cadences to low-lift check-ins (hello, memes and voice notes) and meaningful milestones, they unpack how to keep friendships thriving across miles.

Along the way, they share stories about pandemic reconnections, vacation friends who become real friends, and even whether or not it’s helpful—or just a little sorority-core—to keep a “friendship spreadsheet.” You’ll walk away with practical tips and some laugh-out-loud metaphors (including a bathtub, Jacuzzi, and pool classification system for your inner circle).

Plus: A dreamy dinner party recommendation in Chicago, an ode to snail mail, and a shoutout to Danielle Robay’s interview with Scooter Braun.

Whether you’re maintaining a lifelong bond or rekindling a faded connection, this episode is your guide to hugging your people—even if it’s just via text.

This week on The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel dive into a big, heartfelt question: What does it take to maintain friendships when you're in different family situations than your friends?

They explore how milestones like marriage and parenthood can shift friendships—sometimes causing hurt feelings on both sides—and share their own vulnerable stories of navigating these changes. From Rachel’s reflections on being one of the last in her friend group to have kids, to Jeana’s experience supporting friends with children while growing her own family, they reveal how easy it is to misinterpret distance as disinterest.

Along the way, they offer advice from friends and listeners: keep inviting each other, be patient, don't take declined invites personally, and—importantly—offer tangible help without waiting to be asked. Whether you're in the thick of new parenthood, child-free, or somewhere in between, this episode reminds us that connection through life’s big transitions takes empathy, communication, and sometimes just showing up to hold a baby.

Plus, in Show & Tell, Rachel shares a text from space (seriously!) and Jeana introduces a brilliant UK program designed to build parenting friendships, inspiring dreams of a grown-up version here.

Big themes:

• Friendship across different life stages
• Communication (and miscommunication!) between friends
• Offering support without adding decision fatigue
• Celebrating evolving friendships with intentionality

Show notes:

00:00 – 01:10 | Welcome + The Big Question

Jeana introduces the episode's central topic: "What does it take to maintain friendships when you're in a different family situation than your friends?"

01:11 – 03:20 | Early Signs of Friendship Drift

Both sides—parents and non-parents—feel left out when life stages differ, even though the hurt is often unintentional.

03:21 – 06:30 | Rachel’s Story: Learning from Both Sides

Rachel reflects on being single while friends became parents, and how becoming a mom herself reshaped her perspective on friendship.

06:31 – 08:55 | Identity Shifts and Friendship Evolution

Jeana and Rachel discuss how big life changes (like parenthood) require friendships to adapt, much like romantic relationships do.

08:56 – 13:00 | Vulnerability: Mourning the Old Friendship Era

Rachel shares her honest emotions about feeling grief when friends’ lives changed, and Jeana shares her experiences as a non-parent navigating these shifts.

13:01 – 19:25 | Advice for Bridging the Gap Between Life Stages

They discuss real ways to stay connected across different family situations, including offering specific help, patience, and proactive communication.

19:26 – 26:45 | Wisdom from Friends: What Parents and Non-Parents Wish Each Other Knew

Jeana shares advice collected from friends with kids and without—including what helps most (and what unintentionally hurts).

26:46 – 27:22 | Quick Takeaway: Clear, Heartfelt Communication

The hosts summarize the key to sustaining friendships through big life changes: honest, affirming communication—and always offering to "hold a baby" when you can.

27:23 – 35:42 | Show and Tell

Rachel shares a touching connection story involving a text from Gail King before going to space! Jeana shares a fascinating UK program The National Childhood Trust (NCT) that helps new parents build local community friendships.

35:43 – 37:31 | Dreaming Up an "Adult Life Class" for New Chapters

They riff on how amazing it would be to have friendship-focused life classes for adults navigating major life transitions.

37:32 – 38:13 | Connection Highlight: Closing the Loop

Jeana and Rachel celebrate a recent "closed loop" moment, highlighting the importance of following up after introductions.

38:14 – End | Wrap-Up and Farewell

Encouragement to share, rate, and review the podcast—and reminders on how to connect with Jeana and Rachel on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Ready to get better at making friends, asking deeper questions, and maybe even sending a bamboo plant or two? We’re joined by Danielle Robay — media host, master question-asker, and connection enthusiast — to talk about how curiosity, generosity, and a little bit of chutzpah can change your life (and your friendships). Plus, a few stories that will have you laughing and taking notes.

In this episode, we feature our guest Danielle Robay. She is a media personality, content creator, moderator and host of my favorite weekly listen - the Question Everything podcast. She also created a Question Everything card game with 52 prompts for deeper discussions. 

Notes:

0:00 — Welcome to The Connection Code

1:08 — Asking for Help and Finding Friendship Leaders

5:00 — The Power of One Contact

9:02 — Introducing Danielle Robay

10:34 — Soulful Friendships and First Impressions

12:27 — The Gift of Listening

18:26 — Danielle's Story: Starting From Scratch in LA

24:16 — Maintaining and Growing Relationships

29:38 — Moments You Want to Give Up

36:15 — Cardinal Rules of Connection

42:15 — Bonus Banter: Dream Podcast Co-Hosts

47:00 — Cold Connections That Changed Everything

54:15 — Wrapping Up with Gratitude

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Jeana Anderson Cohen: LinkedIn and Instagram

Rachel Gillman Rischal: LinkedIn and Instagram

This week on The Connection Code, Rachel and Jeana explore what turns a casual connection into a close friendship—hint: it involves shared history, vulnerability, and the kind of trust that lets you ask for a ride to the airport. They also try the 36 Questions That Lead to Love and get real about ambition, anxiety, and the people who help us feel truly seen.

Rachel Gillman and Jeana Anderson Cohen discuss the concept of "generous connection" on this week's episode. They explore the difference between giving directions and offering a ride, emphasizing the importance of providing substantial help, such as making warm introductions and sharing detailed, specific advice. Rachel highlights her preference for aiding college students and those going through tough transitions. Jeana shares her practice of always saying "yes" to her community and the impact of setting big, audacious goals. They also touch on the importance of reciprocity, the benefits of making new connections, and the value of clear intentions and norms in fostering positive relationships.

Also, very importantly, we learn rules we should all implement from a 5th grade babysitters' club.

00:42 Today's big question: What does a generous connection look like?

10:25 Rachel's Hotel California view on relationships

12:52 Jeana's show and tell: Talking to strangers with help from an episode of Plain English by Derek Thomson - The Anti Social Century

16:05 A simple sentence to help you make a friend

16:25 Rachel's daughter Shira's tips for making friends

17:11 Rachel's show and tell: her daughter Shira's rules for babysitter club

18:40 Jeana shares data on big groups and drama from Adam Grant (she read it on Scary Mommy)

21:32 Connection spotlight: Danielle Robay

22:46 Rachel and Jeana pull cards from Danielle Robay's card deck called "Question Everything"

25:05 Jeana tries to save Rachel's plants through positive words and affirmations

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Jeana Anderson Cohen: LinkedIn and Instagram

Rachel Gillman Rischal: LinkedIn and Instagram

Welcome to The Connection Code, a podcast where two friends explore the relationships that make your life and work just a little bit better.

Your hosts are Rachel Gillman Rischall and Jeana Anderson Cohen.

Rachel is the creator of Three PR and Jeana says that she's a master of relationships and networking - last year she logged just how many connections she made for other people (and it was about 150).

Jeana is the founder of aSweatLife and has spent more than 13 years on a business built around helping adults make friends through fitness. Rachel refers to her as the friendship queen.

Together they’ll get curious, chat with experts, and dive into creating deeper and more lasting connections.

Show notes:

1:10: The start of Rachel and Jeana's friendship

3:20: Jeana doing friendship science on Rachel (how many hours does it take to make a good friend?)

4:56: Jeana's 5-step process for making friends

6:30: Rachel chats through her reframing of professional connections

7:49: Show and tell: Rachel's connection challenge of 2024 and what she learned

9:00: Rachel's take on consensual introductions

9:53: Rachel's connection challenge lesson number 1: Close the loop

13:00: Rachel's connection challenge lesson number 2: Everyone knows someone

14:03: Rachel's connection challenge lesson number 3: Don't connect people for the ego boost

15:39: Jeana and Rachel work through a networking situation

18:52: Rachel talks through why she loves making connections for people (and you can too)

20:59: Jeana's show and tell: Jeana talks about the Priya Parker inspired dinner (From "The Art of Gathering") at the aSweatLife x Sarah Spain retreat at Miraval

30:39: Rachel's dream connection: Gail King 

32:55: Jeana's dream connection: Astronaut Kellie Gerardi* (Note Jeana talks about Kellie's early announcement of pregnancy in January, and Kellie has subsequently experienced pregnancy loss - we're so grateful that she has people to support her and her family).

36:25: Jeana tries to convince Rachel to watch Severance

37:50: Rachel and Jeana explain metrics for the podcast (are we having fun, are we strengthening our friendship, are we having good conversations)

Follow us!

Jeana Anderson Cohen: LinkedIn and Instagram

Rachel Gillman Rischal: LinkedIn and Instagram

Rachel and Jeana sit down with author, journalist, and MSNBC anchor Alicia Menendez to unpack the deeply relatable tension explored in her book The Likability Trap.

Together, they explore what it means to be both respected and liked at work and why women are so often forced to choose.

Alicia shares personal experiences, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes moments from her journey through journalism, publishing, and producing a Broadway show.

The conversation spans everything from the power of early support in someone’s journey, to the art of making and keeping friendships through life’s busiest seasons. Alicia also drops real-world advice on building authentic (and sometimes transactional) relationships, why specificity matters when networking, and how to ask for help (even when it feels hard).

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to thread the needle between warmth and ambition, or wondered how to maintain connection through life’s chaos, this one’s for you.

Follow everyone you hear in this episode:

• Alicia Menendez
• Jeana Anderson Cohen
• Rachel Gilman Rischall

In this special episode, Rachel and Jeana welcome Rebecca Rosen—renowned spiritual medium, best-selling author, and host of the Small Medium at Large podcast. A dream guest for Rachel (and longtime source of spiritual inspiration), Rebecca shares how she first discovered her gift, what it means to be a medium, and how anyone can start tuning into their own intuition.

They talk about listening to “life’s whispers,” the comfort and clarity that can come from connecting with the other side, and how Rebecca views mortality and purpose through a spiritual lens. You’ll hear practical tips for recognizing signs, insights into what “heaven” might feel like, and stories that may just change the way you see the world around you.

Plus, don’t miss the full-circle moment of Rachel’s manifestation journey that brought this conversation to life.

Follow Rebecca on Instagram at @mediumrebeccarosen

Thank you for listening to The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana. This production is edited by Ben Kliever.

In this deeply moving episode, Rachel and Jeana sit down with Sarrah Bentley, former Broadway showgirl, yoga entrepreneur, breast cancer survivor, mom, and founder of A Chance for Life, a nonprofit funding surrogacy journeys for breast cancer survivors.

Together, they explore what it truly means to show up for people during life’s hardest seasons and how to accept help when you’re the one in need. Sarrah opens up about her own experience navigating an aggressive cancer diagnosis during COVID, her unexpected village of support, her radical approach to staying embodied through movement, and the miraculous journey to her son, Chance.

Along the way, the conversation touches on vulnerability, spirituality, finding joy in the messiest moments (a practice Sarrah calls joy mining) and how connections, both online and IRL, have shaped her survival and purpose.

If you need a dose of perspective, hope, or permission to slow down and savor the sweetness that exists alongside struggle, this episode will stay with you long after you listen.

Listen in for stories about:

• How to show up (and how to ask!) when someone is going through something hard
• The power of being specific when offering or requesting help
• The life-changing impact of a single supportive conversation
• Sarrah’s candid, joyful take on motherhood after surrogacy
• Why perfection is boring and joy is always worth mining

In this very special 10th episode of The Connection Code, the microphones are flipped as Rachel’s twin daughters, Kayla and Shira, take the lead. What follows is a candid, funny, and deeply heartfelt conversation about what it means to connect—with yourself, with friends, and with the world around you.

Before the twins step in, Jeana and Rachel open up about what it’s like trying to show up fully in relationships while navigating overwhelm. They talk about mental health, the myth of multitasking, and the emotional cost of doing too much. Rachel shares a moving story about how her friendship radar was wrong at first impressions, and Jeana brings in insights from Reddit on rejection and connection.

Then the twins join, and we’re treated to some surprisingly thoughtful (and adorably unfiltered) questions and insights. The girls ask what makes a connection meaningful, how to know if it’s a good one, and whether their moms have really taught them anything about friendship. The result? A cross-generational conversation that reminds us connection can start anywhere—at school, camp, or even a bowling alley.

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with Kevin Boehm - restaurateur, storyteller, and author of forthcoming book "The Bottomless Cup." They open the show reflecting on their own bold life moves—Jeana quitting a job after one day, Rachel moving to Chicago without a job—and then dive into Kevin’s extraordinary journey: from his early restaurant hustle to co-founding the award-winning Boka Restaurant Group.

Kevin shares how ambition once filled a void in his life, the emotional toll of connection in hospitality, and how he’s learning to live more authentically in his second act. With vulnerability, laughter, and one unforgettable bobcat story, this episode is a masterclass in personal reinvention, friendship, and the power of dropping the mask.

References:

• Kevin's upcoming book – The Bottomless Cup
• Brené Brown – Braving the Wilderness
• Brené Brown – Atlas of the Heart
• Robin Dunbar - Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships
• Amy Poehler’s Podcast - Good Hang
• Friendship (Upcoming film starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson)
• Robin Dunbar – “Sex Differences in Close Friendships and Social Style”
• Generous Assumptions – A Brené Brown principle on approaching others’ behavior with compassion

This week on The Connection Code, it’s just Jeana and Rachel—and they’re diving into everything from cold emails to wedding thank-you notes to the group trip that never was.

Rachel unveils her “Compliment Theory”—a simple but powerful method for building meaningful connections with people you admire. Spoiler: Mark Cuban, Kara Swisher, and Tom Costello have all written back. Jeana asks how this applies to starting fresh in a new town, and together they brainstorm a game plan for creating community from scratch.

In Show & Tell, Jeana shares why “conspicuous creation” (aka creating in public) helped make Petite Acres a reality, while Rachel brings the most jaw-dropping Wall Street Journal group chat drama you’ve ever heard. They break down why group trips fail, why someone must be in charge, and why “we should” isn’t a plan.

Plus: how to build rituals to keep friendships strong, what to do when your thank-you notes get critiqued, and a tear-worthy Connection Conversation spotlighting astronaut and IVF advocate Kellie Gerardi.

In this lively, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud episode, Jeana and Rachel sit down with award-winning sports journalist, podcast host, and soon-to-be author Sarah Spain to talk about the surprising ways movement, friendship, and connection intersect.

The episode kicks off with a personal exploration of how team sports—and even just trying something new—can help us build relationships, confidence, and community. That theme flows seamlessly into Sarah's story, from being a college athlete to becoming what she calls the "social chair" of her life, building a network that’s equal parts powerful and deeply personal.

They discuss:

• How movement can create shared goals, belonging, and identity
• The incredible true story behind Sarah’s debut book Runs in the Family (out June 3!)
• Why women need to embrace shameless self-promotion (and how Sarah is channeling "Instagram carousel energy" to sell her book)
• The delicate art of generous networking and what it means to give without expecting a return
• The joy and meaning behind the parties Sarah throws—and what they teach us about gathering in a disconnected world

You’ll also hear what Jeana learned about sports from Sarah, what Rachel’s twins are up to, and why every episode should end with a compliment.

Whether you’re a sports fan or just a fan of friendship, this one will make you want to text someone just to say hi. And make sure to pre-order the book at https://tinyurl.com/RITFbook.

In this heartfelt and humorous episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with Mosh Oinounou, the founder of Mo News, to explore how one person—and one push—can change everything.

Mosh shares the origin story of Mo News, from a private Instagram feed created during the pandemic to a 500k+ strong multimedia news platform.

Along the way, we hear how his wife Alex nudged him out of his comfort zone and into the spotlight, and how the community he built continues to shape the future of independent media.

The trio dives into the vulnerability of reinvention, the impact of childhood experiences, the challenges of being always-on in a 24/7 news cycle, and how to balance ambition with being present. Plus, they solve (maybe?) Mosh’s community platform dilemma live on the pod.

If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out or dreamed of building something meaningful, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

0:00 – 5:20 | The Year of Intros & the Etiquette of Declined Connections

Jeana and Rachel tally up their introduction counts and explore the social nuance of when someone says “no thanks” to a connection.

5:21 – 10:00 | The Power of One Person’s Encouragement

Rachel and Jeana reflect on pivotal moments when someone’s words changed their paths—and why those small nudges matter.

10:01 – 17:20 | Meet Mosh: The Man Behind Mo News

They welcome Mosh and unpack the role of names, introductions, and super connectors—including his wife, Alex.

17:21 – 23:30 | Mo News Origin Story

Mosh shares how a pandemic project turned into a news empire, all thanks to a little push (and some fights) with Alex.

23:31 – 27:30 | From News-Obsessed Kid to Newsroom Disruptor

A young Mosh trades ice cream for the Chicago Tribune, gets kicked out of class for asking too many questions, and dreams big.

27:31 – 30:25 | Navigating Belonging and the Long Echo of High School

The group explores how early feelings of otherness shape adult identity—and how parenting today demands balance between protection and resilience.

30:26 – 33:30 | Investing in the Future of Mo News

Should Mosh take on outside investors or crowdsource from the community? Rachel and Jeana weigh in with passion and pragmatism.

33:31 – 38:15 | The New Media Model: Listening to Your Audience

Mosh explains how audience questions and DMs help shape Mo News coverage—and why that’s changing how journalism is done.

38:16 – 43:00 | Real-Time Reporting & the Pressure of 24/7 Coverage

What it’s like to report during life’s big (and little) moments, from birthday parties to breaking news.

43:01 – 48:00 | The Future of the Mo News Community

Slack? Circle? WhatsApp? Mosh talks about the challenge of building a connected community—and maybe lands on a solution live.

48:01 – 54:00 | Burnout, Boundaries, and Being Present

Mosh opens up about the tension between growing a brand and showing up for the people who matter most.

54:01 – End | Closing Gratitude + Where to Find Mo News

Rachel and Jeana reflect on the conversation, and Mosh shares where to follow along (plus a teaser for what’s next at Mo News).

What happens when you stop waiting to feel ready?

This week, we're joined by Peloton instructor, author, and all-around force of nature Kirsten Ferguson for one of our favorite conversations of the season.

Kirsten shares the winding path that led her from the NFL to Peloton—including heartbreak, infertility, divorce, reinvention, and learning to embrace a dream she never saw coming. Along the way, she opens up about public speaking anxiety, imposter syndrome, manifestation, motherhood, and why some of the biggest opportunities in life begin with saying "yes" before you feel qualified.

We also talk about:

• Why confidence is something you build—not something you're born with.
• How movement can become an act of self-love instead of self-punishment.
• The surprising story behind Kirsten's Peloton audition.
• Setting boundaries that protect your peace.
• Why your uniqueness is your greatest strength.
• The children's book she wrote with her daughters to help young girls grow up believing exactly that.

Whether you're standing at the beginning of a new chapter, wrestling with fear, or simply looking for a reminder that you're capable of more than you think, this conversation will leave you feeling a little braver.

In this episode, we mention:

• Kirsten Ferguson's new children's book, From A to Z, This Is Me: An Empowering Alphabet for Young Girls Pre-order here
• Peloton's Call Yourself a Runner program
• Kirsten's Intention Setting Sunday classes

And as always, we close with our Connection Code questions—including Kirsten's dream connection (hello, Michelle Obama), the friendship advice she'd give her younger self, and why the smallest circles often hold the deepest relationships.

What happens when your dream job ends?

For fashion expert, media personality, and entrepreneur Lilliana Vazquez, it became the beginning of something even bigger.

In this conversation, Rachel sits down with Lilliana to explore the connections that have shaped her remarkable career—from cold-calling a television station and becoming the first Latina host of E! News to reinventing herself as one of today's most trusted style creators.

But this episode isn't really about fashion.

It's about curiosity. Persistence. Learning to stop chasing external validation. And building authentic relationships instead of transactional networks.

Together, they discuss:

• Why curiosity is one of the most underrated career skills.
• How meaningful networking starts with genuine conversation—not titles.
• What it took to rebuild her identity after leaving legacy television.
• Why women should stop apologizing for being ambitious and persistent.
• The mindset shift from scarcity to abundance.
• Why your greatest advantage is becoming more of yourself—not more like everyone else.

Plus, Rachel and Jeana reflect on carrying each other through different seasons of work, share their latest Show & Tell picks—from Mahjong to All the Cool Girls Get Fired—and explore why the best connections often begin with simply asking better questions.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, growing your confidence, or simply trying to build deeper relationships, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and refreshing honesty.

What happens when you take 16 strangers, sit them down at one table, and design every moment for connection?

This week on The Connection Code, we sit down with Shreena Amin and Chef Nicolai Mlodinow, the founders of Class Act Dining—a Chicago-based, 16-seat communal dining experience built to bring people together through food, storytelling, and intentional design.

What started as a scrappy, post-pandemic dinner party in an apartment has evolved into a full sensory experience. Today, Class act engineers connection with cocktail hour, a shared table, and a nightcap.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why connection doesn’t just happen, it’s created
• What a dinner table can teach us about belonging
• The surprising ways strangers become friends (even skeptics and introverts)
• How storytelling, space, and even menu design shape human interaction
• And the deeply personal “why” behind building a business centered on connection

From childhood memories of gathering around food to the vulnerability of not always feeling like you belong, this episode goes far beyond dining—it’s about what we’re all craving: to feel seen, included, and part of something.

Because sometimes, the shortest path to connection… is a seat at the table.

Friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson joins us for one of our favorite conversations yet, breaking down the real work behind meaningful friendships.

From why adult friendships feel harder than they used to, to the role of conflict, effort, and emotional support, Danielle shares the research-backed truths most of us were never taught.

We talk about:

• Why friendship isn’t as “natural” as we think and what that means
• How healthy conflict can actually make friendships stronger
• The difference between connection and friendship (and why you need both)
• What to do if you’re always the one initiating plans
• Why women’s friendships are both complicated and essential for our health
• How to actually be a better friend (hint: you can ask)

Plus, we get into texting habits, aggressive friendship, and the reality that relationships evolve—and that’s not a failure.

If you’ve ever wondered why friendship can feel confusing, one-sided, or harder than it “should” be, this episode will change how you think about connection.

What if social media actually made us better friends… instead of just better at watching each other live?

Social media connects us, keeps us in the loop, and sometimes… makes us feel like we’re missing out on everything.

In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall dive into the complicated role social media plays in our friendships, from the early days of Friendster and Facebook to today’s world of curated feeds and constant comparison.

They explore:

• How social media can deepen connection (and sometimes replace it)
• Why FOMO hits differently at different stages of life
• The unspoken rules of posting (and overthinking what others think)
• LinkedIn’s “humblebrag” culture—and how to navigate it authentically
• The surprising power of oversharing in building real relationships

Plus, they share thoughtful (and slightly radical) ideas for how social media could actually become a better tool for connection—from removing public likes to creating “friendship prompts” that nudge us offline.

And in this week’s show & tell: a powerful story of how one vulnerable post turned into real-life community—and a reminder that sometimes, the internet gets it right.

If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with social media… this one’s for you.

Resources:

• Resource: National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.)
• Book: Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing
• Expert: Danielle Bayard Jackson

What if finding your purpose wasn’t about reinvention, but about alignment?

This week on The Connection Code, we’re joined by Suzy Welch, NYU Stern professor, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author of Becoming You.

Suzy has built a powerful, data-driven framework to help people uncover their purpose by looking at three key inputs:
→ your values
→ your aptitudes
→ and what the world will pay you for

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why most people don’t actually know their values and how to find them
• How values shape your decisions (often subconsciously)
• Why Suzy believes networking is broken—and what to do instead
• The surprising power of assuming the best in people (even when it backfires)
• How purpose becomes clearer—not through one big epiphany—but through honest self-audit

We also get personal. We spend time talking about grief, faith, teaching, and the moments that shape how we connect with others.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re on the right path (or how to feel more aligned in your life and work) this episode will give you both language and tools to think about it differently.

Media in this episode:

• The New York Times article about making friends as an adult
• Suzy Welch - visit her website
• Suzy Welch - Take the Values Bridge Assessment

What if confidence isn’t something you have, but something you can borrow?

This week on The Connection Code, we’re joined by executive coach and managing partner of Verde Associates, Laura Sanchez-Greenberg. She's the kind of coach whose name gets passed quietly from founder to founder, with a simple message: “If you can get time with her, do it.”

Laura has worked with some of the most respected leaders and high-growth brands, helping them navigate everything from team dynamics to personal confidence. But at the core of her work is something deeper: connection.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why so many high-achieving people secretly don’t feel like they’re enough
• How great leaders “lend” confidence before someone can access their own
• The difference between confidence and arrogance (and why vulnerability is power)
• How to navigate conflict—and what real “repair” actually looks like
• Why most people hate networking (and how to make it feel natural)
• The loneliness of leadership—and how to build your personal “board of directors”
• What we’ve lost since COVID when it comes to connection—and why it matters

Laura also shares the simple but life-changing advice she gives her clients again and again: state your intent—and name what you’re afraid of.

This conversation is thoughtful, grounding, and packed with insights you’ll carry into your work, your relationships, and how you show up in the world.

In this episode:

• Website: Verde Associates
• Email: Laura@verdeassociates.com
• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
• Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson
• Tuckman Model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing)
• Karpman Drama Triangle (Hero / Victim / Villain)
• Forest Bathing / Shinrin-yoku

Behavioral scientist and bestselling author Jon Levy joins us to explore the science behind trust, connection, and influence.

Jon is known for hosting the now-famous Influencers Dinner, a secret dining experience where strangers cook a meal together before discovering they’re sitting with Olympians, astronauts, Nobel laureates, and cultural leaders. The twist? No one is allowed to share their last name or what they do for work.

In this conversation, Jon shares what hundreds of dinners and thousands of guests have taught him about human behavior, including:

• Why shared effort creates stronger relationships than small talk
• The surprising psychology behind asking people for help
• What makes a team truly intelligent (hint: it’s not IQ)
• Why people should introduce their connections more often, not less
• How vulnerability actually builds trust faster

We also dive into Jon’s new book Team Intelligence, discuss the contagious nature of human behavior, and unpack why connection thrives when people collaborate instead of compete.

If you’ve ever wondered how to create deeper relationships at work, in friendship, or even at a dinner party, this episode is full of surprising insights.

Links to explore:

• Jon Levy's website
• The Influencers Dinner
• Jon Levy's new book: Team Intelligence
• Jon Levy's TED Talk "What Makes us Influential"

In this capsule conversation, Rachel Gillman Rischall and Jeana Anderson Cohen explore one of the most tender and rarely discussed relationship topics: friendship breakups and estrangement.

Inspired by Hillary Duff and her recent reflections on estrangement in an interview with Anthony Mason, Rachel and Jeana unpack what it means to lose someone close to you — and not know how, or whether, to repair the relationship.

Together, they discuss:

• How to tell the difference between a friendship worth repairing and one that’s okay to let go
• Why friendship breakups can hurt differently — and sometimes more deeply — than romantic ones
• Whether there’s a way to have a “final conversation,” and what to do when closure doesn’t come
• How to hold boundaries without abandoning compassion

Drawing from personal experience, research, and insights from Platonic and For You When I Am Gone, the episode closes with a reminder that friendship isn’t “just friends,” it’s a profound form of love. And when it ends, the grief deserves to be honored.

In Show & Tell, Rachel shares the connective power of live storytelling and shared vulnerability, while Jeana highlights a striking insight about emotional connection and fear of loss — adding one final layer to how deeply we’re wired for friendship.

In this episode:

• Hillary Duff and Anthony Mason interview, referencing estrangement
• Platonic by Marisa G. Franco
• For You When I Am Gone by Rabbi Steve Leder
• Jay Shetty — referenced via The New York Times

(Catch full video episodes on The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana's YouTube channel)

In this clip from The Connection Code, Rachel and Jeana share the impact of friendship breakups and estrangements.

Episode out everywhere March 4, 2026.

This week’s conversation had us thinking a lot about systems — how people track relationships, follow through on introductions, and stay intentional about connection in busy seasons of life.

Our guest, Megan Roudebush (founder of keepwith), shares her approach to networking as a long game — one built on curiosity, follow-through, and respect.

It’s a thoughtful episode for anyone who’s ever wondered:

• “How do people actually do this well?”
• “And how could I be more deliberate about it?”

More to explore:

• keepwith: Megan Roudebush’s relationship-first networking platform
• Parker Dewey : Paid micro-internships for students and recent graduates
• Executives’ Club of Chicago: A cornerstone of Megan’s early Chicago network

(Catch full video episodes on The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana's YouTube channel)

In this clip from The Connection Code, Megan Roudebush shares how curiosity, informational interviews, and intentional relationship-building helped her create a network without shortcuts or inherited connections.

Episode out everywhere Feb. 25, 2026.

Rachel and Jeana welcome back their very first reconnection guest: Mo News founder and journalist Mosh Oinounou.

Since his first appearance on The Connection Code, Mosh's world has grown in every direction. Mo News has expanded, he's preparing to welcome his second child, and he's spending more time thinking about what it means to stay connected—not just to the headlines, but to the people and moments that matter most.

Together, they explore the surprising relationship between trust and connection, why Americans are trusting institutions less than ever before, and how loneliness, isolation, and declining civic engagement may all be part of the same story.

Mosh shares what fatherhood has taught him about leadership, the challenge of balancing entrepreneurship with presence, and why a conversation between his two-year-old daughter and a 96-year-old stranger became one of his favorite moments of the year.

Plus:

• Why millennials struggle to unplug from work
• The pressure of building a business in a 24/7 news cycle
• How admitting mistakes can actually build trust
• The rise of parasocial relationships and creator-led media
• What Mosh knows about himself today that he didn't know a year ago

This conversation is about news, but it's also about family, friendship, self-awareness, and the moments we're tempted to miss when we're staring at our phones.

Links:

• Mo News
• Mo News Instagram

Books:

• Nowhere for Very Long
• Yesteryear
• One Golden Summer
• Mad Mabel
• Revealing

Content warning: This episode and clip discuss grief, the loss of a child and breast cancer.

What does it really mean to be lucky?

In this deeply moving episode of The Connection Code, we’re joined by author, grief writer, and patient advocate Kelly Cervantes, whose memoir The Luckiest challenges everything we think we know about fortune, success, and happiness.

Kelly shares her extraordinary story on navigating motherhood, caregiving, and devastating loss while her husband starred in Hamilton on Broadway and in Chicago. We talk about how luck is often just a snapshot of what others can see, how grief reshapes identity, and why community isn’t optional during life’s hardest chapters.

This conversation explores:

• Why “luck” is often a matter of perspective
• How female friendships can become lifelines
• The grief of losing an identity — not just a person
• Letting go of control and learning to surrender
• Why connection matters most when life feels unbearable

Kelly’s reflections are honest, funny, devastating, and deeply human. This conversation is a powerful reminder that none of us move through life alone.

More from Kelly:

• READ: The Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self
• FOLLOW: Kelly Cervantes on Instagram at @kellygc411
• SUBSCRIBE: Kelly's weekly substack here

Content warning: This episode and clip discuss, grief and the loss of a child.In next week's episode, we're lucky to sit down with Kelly Cervantes, whose memoir ⁠The Luckiest⁠ challenges everything we think we know about fortune, success, and happiness.Prepare for a moving and truly human conversation of high-highs and low-lows. Kelly shares her extraordinary story on navigating motherhood, caregiving, and devastating loss while her husband starred in Hamilton on Broadway and in Chicago.

On this episode of The Connection Code, it’s just Rachel and Jeana.

We kick off the year with a “connection inventory”—a thoughtful, honest look at the season of connection they’re each in right now. From nurturing core relationships to following up without being annoying, this conversation spans friendship, networking, rituals, and the lessons we only learn by getting it wrong first.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How often should I follow up?
• How do I build relationships without feeling transactional?
• What rituals actually keep friendships alive?
• And what does “connection” look like in this season of life?

This episode is for you. Cozy, practical, and full of real talk. Consider this your permission slip to reconnect with intention.

What if community wasn’t something parents had to find after a baby arrives, but something they could build before?

This week on The Connection Code, we’re joined by Georgia Kastaris, founder of Expecting Together, a prenatal social club designed to bring expecting parents together through education, connection, and shared experience.

Inspired by the UK’s National Childbirth Trust, Georgia is reimagining how parents prepare for one of life’s biggest transitions—by forming small, intentionally matched cohorts of expecting parents based on due date and neighborhood, and pairing expert-led prenatal education with built-in community.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why loneliness in early parenthood is so common—and so solvable
• How shared timing and life stage fast-track meaningful connection
• What Georgia learned from becoming a parent abroad
• The power of “organized friendship” for adults
• Fundraising, entrepreneurship, and building a mission-driven company while pregnant
• Why connection should be part of healthcare, not an afterthought

This episode is for anyone thinking about friendship, systems of care, and how we show up for each other in moments of major life change.

In this deeply resonant episode of The Connection Code, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gilman Rischall sit down with Shabnam Mogharabi, entrepreneur, author, journalist, and co-founder of SoulPancake alongside Rainn Wilson.

Shabnam shares her journey from traditional journalism to building one of the internet’s most uplifting corners, creating beloved series like Kid President, The Science of Happiness, and My Last Days. Together, the trio explore big questions about faith, purpose, rejection, and meaning. They dig into why the messiest moments of our lives often matter most.

They discuss spirituality without dogma, the science behind awe and connection, parenting as soul-work, and Shabnam’s latest chapter: Soul Boom, a movement and upcoming workbook offering spiritual tools for modern living. From “rejection is God’s protection” to building community through service, this conversation is equal parts grounding, hopeful, and practical.

If you’ve been craving more meaning, deeper connection, or permission to believe there’s something bigger at work, this episode is for you.

More to love in this episode:

• Shabnam Mogharabi
• Soul Boom
• The Soul Boom Workbook
• Relive Kid President
• Revisit The Science of Happiness
• Revisit My Last Days

Books & Thinkers Referenced:

• Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
• Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
• Martin Seligman & Positive Psychology (PERMA framework)
• Dacher Keltner Awe

In this deeply moving episode of The Connection Code, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall sit down with Morgan Radford. She's an NBC News anchor, correspondent, Fulbright scholar, and debut novelist who joins for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose, connection, and the relationships that shape a life.

Morgan describes journalism not as a job, but as a calling and a purpose, explaining why this difficult moment for the press is exactly the moment many journalists were “built for.” She offers a hopeful, service-oriented vision of the profession and why transparency and trust are central to her work.

A centerpiece of the conversation is Morgan’s story about Nancy Han at ABC News, who invested in her early career, pushed her toward excellence, and ultimately helped put her on air. The story becomes a beautiful meditation on mentorship, visibility, and the power of one person believing in you.

The episode then turns deeply personal. Morgan recounts a reporting story that changed her understanding of love and motherhood — a family who chose to adopt a high-school-aged basketball player. Witnessing that “chosen love” expanded her definition of family and later shaped how she thinks about her own life and future possibilities.

Morgan reflects candidly on becoming a mother herself, calling it “the most healing thing” she has ever done. She shares why she wants her daughter to know she is not only loved, but liked, and how parenting has widened (not narrowed) her ambition and creativity.

The conversation also explores Morgan’s debut novel, "Now Then," and how fiction allowed her to give shape, meaning, and emotional truth to experiences that journalism alone could not hold. Writing became a necessary creative outlet and a new way of understanding her own life.

In true Connection Code style, Morgan speaks beautifully about friendship and reconnection and offers advice to her younger self: be bolder, ask for the coffee, and don’t be afraid of connection.

She closes by naming her dream connection: filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose storytelling across mediums gives life cultural and emotional shape.

This episode is generous, vulnerable, and illuminating — one that lingers long after you press pause.

Find Morgan: @morgankradford on Instagram and on NBC News Daily.

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of breast cancer, medical trauma, and serious illness. Please take care while listening, especially if these topics are close to home.

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall sit down with Dr. Carlie Thompson, a breast surgical oncologist, mother of two, and breast cancer survivor, to explore how life’s hardest moments can become catalysts for clarity, connection, and profound transformation.

Only days after her final breast cancer surgery, Carlie shares her story with extraordinary honesty: from receiving her own diagnosis as a breast cancer surgeon, to choosing to pause her medical career, homeschool her children, and take her family on a bold global reset. Together, they talk about grief, resilience, friendship, identity, motherhood, marriage, and the people who show up when everything changes.

This episode is about what it means to stop, listen, and realign (and how connection becomes the foundation for healing). We discuss:

✨ Carlie’s diagnosis and the emotional impact of becoming both doctor and patient
✨ The wake-up call that led her to reshape her life and priorities
✨ How community and unexpected support became a lifeline during treatment
✨ Why she chose to step away from her career and begin a year of world travel with her family
✨ The courage to share her story publicly and the overwhelming response that followed
✨ Practical breast health guidance: when to start mammograms and who to see
✨ What true wellness really means — physically, emotionally, and spiritually
✨ The healing power of friendship and family connection during crisis

Dr. Carlie Thompson is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist and associate professor of surgery at UCLA Health. She is also a breast cancer survivor whose personal journey has reshaped her mission: helping women reconnect with themselves and redefine what it means to truly be well.

Follow Carlie’s journey and her work in women’s health at @drcarliethompson on Instagram & Facebook

Season 2 of The Connection Code kicks off with a heartfelt conversation between Jeana and Rachel reflecting on what Season 1 taught them about friendship, creativity, and community — and what they hope to build together in the year ahead. From personal connection goals and the surprising science of friendship to dream guests and real-life Connection Code gatherings, this episode sets the tone for a season rooted in intention, curiosity, and meaningful relationships.

In This Episode: Season 1 Reflections

Jeana and Rachel revisit the original “joy metrics” that guided the podcast:

• Are we having fun? (Yes — this podcast has become their favorite hobby.)

• Are we connecting people? (Absolutely — including real-life introductions sparked by the show.)

• Are we receiving meaningful feedback? (Listeners from beyond their personal networks are engaging deeply.)

• Is it worth the time? (Unquestionably.)

• Are guests recommending new guests? (A powerful “daisy chain” of incredible women.)

They also reflect on how the podcast has deepened their own friendship — shared history, mutual friends, and an expanding sense of “group” in their lives.

Jeana’s Focus: Creating meaningful friendships where she lives and learning to join groups rather than always lead them.

Rachel’s Focus: A “One-a-Day” connection practice: reaching out intentionally to one person every day with a simple message of gratitude, care, or curiosity.

Rachel notices her mood and energy dramatically improve on recording days — something Jeana connects to the neuroscience of friendship: the brain releases oxytocin and dopamine in social bonding, producing effects similar to MDMA. In other words, deep conversation and human connection literally make us feel better.

Rachel’s Pick: A New York Times story by Katherine Rosman about a group of six women who have met consistently for 44 years — a masterclass in commitment, vulnerability, and lifelong friendship.

Jeana’s Pick: Insights from Why Brains Need Friends on the power of “loose ties” — the small, everyday interactions with strangers (baristas, neighbors, commuters) that significantly boost mood and wellbeing. Studies show even brief conversations with strangers improve daily happiness.

Together, they explore how both close ties and loose ties are essential for a thriving social life.

Jeana’s Dream Guests:

• Ty Haney (community-first business building)

• Founder of Girls Who Walk

• Casper ter Kuile (author of How We Gather and The Power of Ritual)

Rachel’s Dream Guests:

• Gayle King

• Jenna Bush Hager

• Priya Parker (The Art of Gathering)

They also share a vision of bringing The Connection Code to life with in-person gatherings — possibly at Petite Acres.

In the Season 1 finale of The Connection Code, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Rischall sit down with film producer Jolene Rodriguez, CEO of Broken English Productions and one of Variety’s “10 Producers to Watch.” Jolene’s story is a testament to what happens when connection meets courage, from keeping her intern badge and showing up at Sony Pictures until she earned a job, to building a career anchored in generosity, inclusion, and heart.

She opens up about the loss of her twin sister Julie and the creation of her nonprofit Friends of Julie, which helps young storytellers discover confidence and purpose. The conversation spans motherhood, mentorship, Hollywood hustle, and the quiet power of staying true to yourself.

In Jolene’s world, connection isn’t just networking—it’s fuel for persistence, healing, and impact.

In this episode:

• Broken English Productions

• Friends of Julie

• @jolene_rodriguez_ on Instagram

• Border Hunter Trailer (Sony)

• Variety: 10 Producers to Watch – Jolene Rodriguez

This week on The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with Carla Piñeyro Sublett — former CMO of IBM, recovering tech executive, and founder of Co-Effect, where she helps people and organizations find more human-centered ways to work.

Carla shares her remarkable story of walking away from a high-powered tech career, taking her family offline for a year to reconnect, and rediscovering her purpose, “to be in service of humanity.” She opens up about her “100 first dates” experiment that helped her realign her professional values, what it means to work with an open heart, and why vulnerability is a leadership superpower.

The conversation covers:

• The year Carla’s family went device-free and how it changed everything
• The hidden cost of technology on attention and connection
• How she rebuilt her identity after burnout
• The importance of following joy — not just success

This one’s for anyone rethinking what a holistic approach to life and work really looks like.

Resources and links:

• Let's Go There (Carla's podcast)
• Carla's company, The CoEffect
• Carla Piñeyro Sublett on LinkedIn
• Henry Crown Fellowship — the leadership program she references
• “Dances with Whales” expeditions — from her transformative trip experience
• Thursday Murder Club book series — Jeana’s “Show & Tell” pick

This week, it's just Rachel and Jeana.

No guest. No expert. Just two friends asking each other the friendship and connection questions they've always wanted to explore.

Why do some friendships feel effortless while others require more work? How do you handle jealousy when a friend gets something you want? What do you do when judgment sneaks into a relationship? And how many friendships do we actually need to feel connected?

Along the way, Rachel and Jeana discuss:

• Why maintaining your network is a life skill no one teaches
• The surprising difference between jealousy and judgment
• How to stop comparing your path to someone else's
• Why not every friendship needs to be a best friendship
• The categories of friends we all need (fun friends, deep-talk friends, emergency friends, and more)
• How to identify your "people"
• Why taking the call matters more than you think
• The role friendship plays in building a meaningful life

Plus: Jeana shares a major milestone for Petite Acres, and Rachel reflects on the overwhelming response to Lily's episode about autism and friendship.

Whether you're thinking about your closest relationships or wondering who you should text back right now, this conversation is an invitation to take stock of the people who matter most.

Links and resources:

• Travel + Leisure feature on Petite Acres
• Petite Acres: Petite Acres
• Listen to our episode with Laura Sanchez Greenberg
• Listen to our episode with Lily Engelbret on autism and friendship

What happens when connection goes wrong? In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall swap stories about their biggest connection pet peeves — from transactional networking emails and unfulfilled promises to the dreaded “we should grab coffee” that never happens.

But this isn’t just a vent session. Together, Jeana and Rachel explore what these missteps can teach us about being better friends, colleagues, and connectors. Expect laughter, self-awareness, and even a few cringe-worthy personal stories (like the time Rachel asked a near-stranger for a celebrity birthday video … and lived to regret it).

They’ll unpack:

And stay tuned for Show & Tell, where Jeana shares the Washington Post article that proves almost everything is better with friends, and Rachel spotlights a Chicago restaurant’s inspiring story of community support after tragedy struck.

Media:

• 🗞️ Washington Post: “Doing almost anything is better with friends” — the article Jeana references in Show & Tell.

• 📚 Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering — the book that inspired Rachel’s “No Small Talk” event format.

• 💌 GoFundMe for Dear Margaret Restaurant — the fundraiser Rachel started to help support a beloved neighborhood spot after a fire.

• 🎧 Related episode: “Condensed Connections: Building Bonds on a Deadline” with Lindsay Shookus

James Beard Award–winner Jason Hammel, chef/owner of Chicago’s beloved Lula Cafe, joins us to unpack what hospitality really is (“empathy in action”), how a restaurant keeps its soul for 26+ years. We also touch on why showing up for staff, guests, and himself matters more than ever. We talk about teaching “service grammar” vs. cultivating a culture of generosity, the forest-like networks that sustain teams, and the art of building connection beyond the table - from Pilot Light’s food-education mission to LouLou, Lula’s intimate salon space for dinners, talks, and art.

We also get personal: Jason’s sliding-doors path from MFA writer to chef, his Italian roots (and a magical Naples wine-bar connection sparked by a handwritten note), and his honest take on rekindling long-time friendships in a busy season of life. If you care about food, community, or the craft of welcoming people well, this one will refill your “care water.”

Show Notes & Links:

• 
  
• Lula Cafe — the Logan Square institution. https://www.lulacafe.com/
• 2024 James Beard Award (Outstanding Hospitality) — Lula Cafe’s national win
• The Lula Cafe Cookbook: Collected Recipes and Stories — Jason’s debut (Phaidon).
• Pilot Light — the chef-founded nonprofit bringing food education into classrooms.
• Jason’s Welcome Conference talk (“Showing Up First for Yourself”) — on hospitality, emotional labor, and empathy.
• LouLou by Lula — the new arts/salon venue around the corner

Find Jason on social:

• Jason Hammel (site & IG) — more writing, speeches, and kitchen life. @jasonhammel
• Lula Cafe on Instagram — menus, collabs, and event drops. @lulacafe

In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with Chef Joe Flamm,Top Chef winner, restaurateur, and lifelong South Sider, whose career and character are defined by one word: authenticity.

Joe shares his journey from dropping out of college to culinary school, grinding in Chicago’s toughest kitchens, and ultimately winning Top Chef and opening acclaimed restaurants like Rose Mary and il Carciofo. He opens up about the friendships forged on the line, the mentors who shaped him (Stephanie Izard, Tony Mantuano, Art Smit, and Bill Kim), and the bold choices that built his career.

We explore how authenticity shows up in friendships, leadership, and in the kitchen. He also shares why every chef (and every human) needs a friend like Joe’s lifelong hype man, Matt.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to stay true to yourself while building something big, this conversation is for you.

In the episode:

• Rose Mary Restaurant
• Il Carciofo
• BLVD
• Top Chef (Bravo) Season 15
• No Kid Hungry (Joe’s advocacy work mentioned in the episode)
• Between Bites (the storytelling dinner series referenced in the conversation)
• New York Times piece by Samin Nosrat on dinner rituals
• The New York Times piece reacting to the weekly dinner ritual by Melissa Kirsch

In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with the incomparable DJ Blatner, registered dietitian, sports nutritionist, bestselling author, and self-described joy evangelist.

DJ shares how she hit rock bottom despite outward success, and how reframing joy as a skill set, not a mindset transformed her life, work, and relationships.

Together, we explore:

• Why joy is a nutrient—and how to “dose” yourself daily with play, gratitude, and self-care

• How DJ’s “Joy GPS” system keeps her grounded and energized

• The role of food as connection—from pizza croutons to family recipes that keep loved ones close

• Why being interested instead of interesting is the secret to effortless friendships

• How flexible eating (and living!) lets us say yes to joy and connection without rigid rules

If you’ve ever felt burnt out by chasing outcomes or struggled to infuse more fun into everyday life, this conversation will leave you energized, smiling, and ready to add more sparkle to your week.

Mentioned in this conversation:

What does it take to build trust in just six days? Lindsay Shookus knows. After two decades producing Saturday Night Live, she’s mastered the art of forging deep bonds quickly with some of the most high-profile guests in entertainment. In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel sit down with Lindsay to talk about the “camp counselor” side of SNL, her evolution into executive coaching and public speaking, and the powerhouse community she co-founded—Women Work F#cking Hard.

You’ll hear:

• How vulnerability, humor, and listening create instant chemistry
• Why curating “heart-forward” people is the secret to meaningful events

• The “help notebook” practice Lindsay uses to turn every meeting into an opportunity to give

• Her take on teasing, therapy, and boundaries in building authentic relationships

This one is equal parts starstruck and soul-striking—you’ll leave with tools to connect faster and more deeply in your own life.

• Women Work Fucking Hard (organization co-founded by Lindsay)

• Lindsay’s Instagram: @shookusshookus

• Girls5eva (Paula Pell’s show, referenced in the episode)

• 30 Rock (where Lindsay was an associate producer, mentioned in the SNL discussion)

• New York Times article on the role of playful small talk in connection

• NYT article on belated thank-you notes and the power of gratitude

In this episode of The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel lean into a back-to-school mindset to explore the lessons we’ve learned about friendship over the years. From middle school buttons that reminded us of “the friends we’ve yet to meet” to the adult reality of friendship seasons, group dynamics, and the roles we play in our circles, this conversation gets candid about belonging, wayfinding, and why it often takes a leader to bring people together.

We also share stories of A+ friends who showed up in memorable ways, reflect on how friendships evolve in adulthood, and talk about the homework we’d give anyone looking to deepen their connections.

Stay tuned until the end for our “show and tell” — a card deck Jeana is creating for couples at Petite Acres and a gratitude practice Rachel discovered that might inspire your own rituals.

Books mentioned:

• Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
• Friends by Robin Dunbar
• Belong by Radha Agrawal
• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
• Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Other references:

• Meople – custom conversation cards Jeana collaborated with for Petite Acres couples
• New York Times article on belated thank-you notes

Follow us:

What happens when a connection fails—and what do we learn from it? In this special episode, Rachel and Jeana welcome Rachel’s sister, Laura Engelbret, a fluent Spanish speaker and longtime English Language (EL) teacher, who shares her powerful story of moving to Oaxaca, Mexico after college.

What began as a dream of adventure turned into one of Laura’s hardest moments of rejection—but also a turning point that shaped her career, her resilience, and her philosophy on connection. Laura takes us from that difficult experience to her 13+ years as an educator, where she now helps immigrant students and their families feel safe, welcomed, and at home in new communities.

Along the way, Jeana and Rachel reflect on their own “connection fails” and the lessons they learned from being fish out of water. Together, the conversation explores resilience, empathy, and the practical and emotional work it takes to build bridges in life, work, and school.

If you’ve ever felt out of place—or wondered how to help others feel like they belong—this episode will inspire and encourage you to rethink what real connection means.

Other media we discussed:

• "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin
• "Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam
• Raj Chetty’s study on cross-class friendships
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Follow us!

• Rachel on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Jeana on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Laura on Instagram and LinkedIn

In this episode of The Connection Code, we sit down with Tim Huelskamp. He's the CEO and co-founder of 1440, creator of a thriving Jeffersonian dinner series, and one of the most generous connectors we know.

Tim shares how his upbringing shaped his curiosity, why “closing the loop” is one of the most powerful (and underused) networking habits, and the intentional ways he curates gatherings to spark meaningful relationships across industries.

From his company’s vision to blend knowledge with in-person experiences, to his Saturday ritual of making thoughtful introductions, Tim offers both big-picture inspiration and practical tactics for anyone looking to deepen their connections. We also swap stories about the magic that happens when you bring the right people together, the role of specificity in asking for help, and why generosity is a winning long-term strategy in both life and business.

Whether you’re a natural connector or looking to strengthen your networking skills, this episode will inspire you to lead with curiosity, quality, and a willingness to help first.

Show Notes Links to Include:

• Subscribe to 1440’s daily newsletter

• Connect with Tim Huelskamp on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Fifth Star Funds — supporting underrepresented founders with critical early-stage funding

Friendship isn't hard because you're doing it wrong. It's hard because adulthood changes everything. This week, Rachel and Jeana unpack why friendships drift, why they break, and what actually keeps them alive.

Together, they explore the realities of friendship drift, life stage changes, geographic distance, busy schedules, and the small misunderstandings that can quietly erode even meaningful relationships. They share personal stories about friendships that changed over time, the challenges of conflict and communication, and the surprising role that proximity plays in who stays in our lives.

But this isn't just a conversation about why friendships struggle. It's also about what helps them survive. From recurring rituals and honest conversations to flexibility, generosity, and simply continuing to show up, Rachel and Jeana unpack the habits that keep friendships strong through changing seasons.

If you've ever wondered why it's harder to make plans, harder to stay close, or why someone who once felt like family slowly drifted away, this episode is for you.

Because friendship isn't effortless, but it is worth the effort.

This episode of The Connection Code is one of our most personal and eye-opening yet. Rachel and Jeana sit down with Rachel’s 12-year-old niece, Lily Engelbret, to talk about what it’s been like to learn she’s autistic. Lily shares how that has shaped the way she experiences friendship, school, masking, and connection.

With incredible honesty, humor, and wisdom beyond her years, Lily shares what autism means to her, why she prefers saying “I’m autistic” over “I have autism,” and how masking can make school feel exhausting. She also opens up about sensory overload, friendship, special interests (including SNL and Marcelo Hernandez), and the ways autism can feel both challenging and like a superpower.

The conversation explores:

• what masking actually feels like
• why autism can look different in every person
• the emotional toll of trying to “fit in”
• how adults can better support autistic kids
• why asking “What would help right now?” matters more than “What’s wrong?”
• how connection changes when someone truly understands your experience

It’s a moving, funny, deeply human conversation about being understood ... and creating space for people to show up as themselves.

Sara Haines spends her days connecting with millions of viewers on The View, but in this episode of The Connection Code, she joins us for a much more personal conversation about friendship, vulnerability, homesickness, motherhood, and the people who make us feel truly seen.

We talk about:

• why curiosity matters more than networking
• the emotional power of female friendships
• what Sara has learned from interviewing people for a living
• the “I don’t know who needs to hear this” Instagram videos that made Rachel feel like Sara is the internet’s therapist
• how becoming a parent changes the way you understand your own parents
• why Sara believes the people beside you matter just as much as the people above you
• and the surprisingly emotional reason she still cries saying goodbye to her parents

This episode is funny, unexpectedly emotional, and full of the kinds of conversations that remind you you’re not alone.