The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana

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 , ex...

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 ho...

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...

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...

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 p...

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...

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 sus...

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...

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...

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 coachi...

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, a...

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 turn...

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...

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 tou...

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 fri...

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 journ...

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 “...

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...

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 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...

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 ap...

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, an...

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 h...

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...

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 episo...