From 20 Years at SNL to Creating Connection Magic with Lindsay Shookus

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