The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana

Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall
  • 5.0 (37)
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The Connection Code is a show about the relationships that make your life and work just a little bit better.

  1. 2d ago

    The Connection You Can’t Get From a Screen: What Summer Camp Teaches Us About Connection

    What happens when kids put down their phones and have the freedom to simply be kids? Rachel and Jeana sit down with Tommy Hoffman, executive director of Herzl Camp, to explore why summer camp remains one of the rare places where young people can practice the art of conversation, navigate conflict, develop independence, and form meaningful friendships through repeated, real-life experiences. Tommy shares how returning to camp after a 30-year career helped him find his “A+” calling—and what he has learned from watching hundreds of campers grow, connect, try new things, and become more confident in who they are. Together, they discuss camp as a sanctuary for childhood, the difference between witnessing connection through a screen and experiencing it for yourself, and the lessons adults can borrow from camp to build richer relationships of their own. Plus, Rachel and Jeana tackle one of the least glamorous—but most important—parts of adult friendship: Who is responsible for making the plans? They talk about the invisible labor of being the group planner, rotating responsibility, creating standing dates, and why we could all use more low-pressure “barefoot plans.” Media within: Herzl CampThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtEventually Ticketing — with code CONNECT10 for 10% off the first yearCut article about the AI-driven summer camp hereThis Closure Instagram video discussing the weight of being the friend who makes plans!

  2. Aug 27

    What We’ve Learned About Making (and Keeping) Friends from 50 episodes

    We’re back for Season 3—and after 50 episodes of talking about friendship, connection and the relationships that make life better, we’ve learned a few things. In this season opener, Rachel and Jeana look back at the conversations from Season 2 that have stayed with them, changed their behavior and even sparked new friendships in real life. They talk about why friendship can feel harder in adulthood, the invisible work of being the person who always makes the plans, the vulnerability of feeling left out, and why chemistry alone isn’t enough to turn someone into a close friend. They revisit lessons from guests including Danielle Bayard Jackson on why friendship requires effort, Leslie John on the power—and limits—of vulnerability, Sara Haines on curiosity as a tool for connection, Laura Sanchez Greenberg on building a personal board of directors, Suzy Welch on the freedom to disagree, and more. Plus: the unexpected connections that continued after the microphones turned off, why adults might secretly be craving friendship camp, the beautiful story of Japan’s “wind phone,” and one very small-world dinner party moment that proves you really never know where a cold email might lead. Season 3 is here. Let’s get connected. In this episode: Why friendship doesn’t have to feel effortless to be meaningfulThe emotional sting of a friendship misunderstandingWhat 50 episodes have taught us about vulnerability and curiosityWhy adults need more unstructured time togetherHow to stop defaulting to “What do you do?”The Season 2 conversations Rachel and Jeana are still thinking aboutWhat happens when podcast connections become real-life friendshipsThe case for friendship campMentioned in this episode: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Leslie John, Sara Haines, Laura Sanchez Greenberg, Suzy Welch, Morgan Radford, Dr. Carly Thompson, Shabnam Mogharabi, Lilliana Vazquez, Lily Engelbret and Sarah Spain. This episode is sponsored by Eventually, event ticketing and registration that lives directly on your website without per-ticket fees. Visit eventuallyticketing.com/theconnectioncode and use code CONNECT10 for 10% off your first year.

  3. Jul 8

    Run Toward the Thing that Scares You with Peloton Instructor Kirsten Ferguson

    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 herePeloton's Call Yourself a Runner programKirsten'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.

  4. Jul 1

    How Curiosity, Confidence & Connection Build a Career with Lilliana Vazquez

    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.

  5. Jun 24

    Mosheh Oinounou (Mo News) Revisited: Trust, Fatherhood, and Looking Up From the Phone

    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 workThe pressure of building a business in a 24/7 news cycleHow admitting mistakes can actually build trustThe rise of parasocial relationships and creator-led mediaWhat Mosh knows about himself today that he didn't know a year agoThis 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 NewsMo News InstagramBooks: Nowhere for Very LongYesteryearOne Golden SummerMad MabelRevealing

  6. Jun 17

    The Friendship Questions We've Never Asked Each Other

    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 teachesThe surprising difference between jealousy and judgmentHow to stop comparing your path to someone else'sWhy not every friendship needs to be a best friendshipThe 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 thinkThe role friendship plays in building a meaningful lifePlus: 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 AcresPetite Acres: Petite AcresListen to our episode with Laura Sanchez GreenbergListen to our episode with Lily Engelbret on autism and friendship

  7. Jun 3

    Why is adult friendship so hard? (And how do we make our relationships better?)

    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.

  8. May 27

    A firsthand look at connection and autism featuring Lily Engelbret

    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 likewhy autism can look different in every personthe emotional toll of trying to “fit in”how adults can better support autistic kidswhy asking “What would help right now?” matters more than “What’s wrong?”how connection changes when someone truly understands your experienceIt’s a moving, funny, deeply human conversation about being understood ... and creating space for people to show up as themselves.

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5
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About

The Connection Code is a show about the relationships that make your life and work just a little bit better.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jeana Anderson Cohen and Rachel Gillman Rischall
  • Show Website
    The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana

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