IC Connections

It’s  Rapid Fire time  on IC Connections ⚡️✨ In Episode 12, Hallmark favorite, actress, producer, philanthropist—and all-around heart-led human— Nikki DeLoach joins me for a fast-paced, feel-good, and surprisingly meaningful round of questions. We jump from  Hallmark tropes and cozy romance debates  to Mickey Mouse Club nostalgia , pop culture favorites, and the quirks that make Nikki… Nikki. Bu...

Ep. 011 | From Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to Hallmark Magic: Connection, Caregiving & Purpose with Nikki DeLoach In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Nikki DeLoach — actress, writer, producer, philanthropist, advocate, mom, wife… and yes, one of the iconic members of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club . From her 90s Disney beginnings to becoming one of Hallmark’s leading ladies, Nikki’s car...

Ep. 010 | Solo Session: The Unexpected Reset, Motherhood & Me This episode is a little different — it’s just you and me. No guest, no co-host, no chaos… well, actually there is chaos, but it’s mine.  Back in May, I got laid off. Yep. Not on my 2024 bingo card. And while I can laugh about it now, it absolutely sent me into a full identity crisis, a motherhood juggling act, and a “who am I witho...

🎙️  Ep. 009 | Rapid Fire Sour Hour: Warheads, Wild Questions & Rico 💥😝 Things get  sour, spicy, and slightly chaotic  in this hilarious episode of  IC Connections ! Rico Gardner is back for another  rapid-fire challenge , but this time—with a twist. 💣 Every question comes with a Warhead, and let’s just say… not all answers (or reactions) are sweet. From pop culture hot takes to real talk ab...

  Ep. 008 | Boo’d Up & Ghosted: Rico’s Spooky Dating Tales  This episode is giving  rom-com meets horror movie  energy.  Rico Gardner is back—and this time, we’re diving into his spooky dating life and social adventures just in time for Halloween! From ghosting (literally ) to swiping through dating app profiles, we’re talking about all the tricks, treats, and terrifying truths about dating in...

🎧  Ep. 007 | Rapid Fire with Carolina Márquez This one’s pure  connection energy ! ⚡️ I put Carolina Márquez in the hot seat for a round of rapid-fire questions — and she did  not  hold back. From her go-to comfort meal 🍲 and guilty pleasures 👀 to what truly makes her feel  seen  💫 — we dive into fun, vulnerable, and unexpectedly deep answers that show just how real she is. Get ready for laug...

🎙️ Ep. 006 | Carolina Márquez: Roots, Resilience & The Power of Being Real In this episode, I sit down with Carolina Márquez , an advocate, storyteller, and force of authenticity who’s redefining what it means to live with purpose. We talk about our shared connection through Roots & Wings , her work supporting immigrant rights, and how tragedy reshaped her view of life. Caro opens up about...

🎙️ Ep. 005 | Rapid Fire Connection with Justin In this episode, I put Justin in the hot seat for a Rapid Fire round that’s equal parts heart and humor. From his go-to coffee order to what “home” feels like and the song that makes him the main character — we dive into the small moments that reveal who we really are. We talk connection, authenticity, and the magic in everyday details — from guilty p...

🎙️ Ep. 004 | Rapid Fire Connection with Rico In this episode, things get fast, funny, and surprisingly deep as my best friend and reality TV enthusiast Rico Gardner joins me for a round of rapid-fire questions! ⚡️ From guilty pleasures to what truly makes him feel connected to others, no topic is off-limits. We talk personality quirks, the power of vulnerability, and why being authentic (even in...

🎧 Ep. 003 | Justin Givens: Music, Friendship & Life LessonsIn this episode of IC Connections, I sit down with Justin Givens—an educator, music enthusiast, and one of my husband’s best friends (which makes him my inherited bestie too!).We talk about what it means to grow through life’s challenges, why empathy matters, and of course, how music has the power to connect us all. From the stories o...

✨ Ep. 002 | Rico’s Unofficial Reality TV CastingWelcome back to IC Connections with Ilyana Capellan—a podcast where I explore what connects us all as human beings through real, meaningful conversations. In this episode, I sit down with my best friend, Rico Gardner—a PR professional, reality TV enthusiast, and (in my opinion) the greatest undiscovered reality star out there. Rico’s humor, honesty,...

✨ Episode 1: Welcome to IC Connections with Ilyana CapellanIn this very first episode of IC Connections, I step into the spotlight to share the heart behind this podcast and what you can expect in the episodes ahead. I’ve always been more comfortable asking the questions than answering them, but in this episode I open up about my journey—from working as a TV news reporter and lifestyle host to em...