The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana

What if oversharing isn’t something to fix, but something to use?This week on The Connection Code, we’re joined by Leslie John. She's a behavioral scientist, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing Together, we unpack one of the biggest myths about connection: that saying “too much” is a social mistake. Leslie explains why what we call oversharing is often just … sharing and why it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to build trust, deepen relationships, and move from acquaintance to real friendship. We talk about:The science behind self-disclosure and why it literally activates the brain’s pleasure centers The “overshare hangover” (and why it’s usually misleading)How to go from small talk to meaningful connection without making it weirdWhat crying at work actually communicates (and how to handle it)The difference between TMI (too much information) and TLI (too little information)Why the biggest regrets in life often come from what we didn’t say Plus, we share our own stories of oversharing gone right (and wrong), and what it really looks like to build connection in real time.If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “did I say too much?” this episode might change how you see it forever.Mentioned in this episode:Leslie John's Website: https://www.proflesliejohn.comArthur Aron’s “36 Questions That Lead to Love”Leslie's book, Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing

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 meansHow healthy conflict can actually make friendships strongerThe difference between connection and friendship (and why you need both)What to do if you’re always the one initiating plansWhy women’s friendships are both complicated and essential for our healthHow 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 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 forIn this conversation, we explore:Why most people don’t actually know their values and how to find themHow values shape your decisions (often subconsciously)Why Suzy believes networking is broken—and what to do insteadThe 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-auditWe 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 adultSuzy Welch - visit her websiteSuzy Welch - Take the Values Bridge Assessment

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 talkThe surprising psychology behind asking people for helpWhat makes a team truly intelligent (hint: it’s not IQ)Why people should introduce their connections more often, not lessHow vulnerability actually builds trust fasterWe 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 websiteThe Influencers DinnerJon Levy's new book: Team IntelligenceJon Levy's TED Talk "What Makes us Influential"

(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.

(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.

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.

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 solvableHow shared timing and life stage fast-track meaningful connectionWhat Georgia learned from becoming a parent abroadThe power of “organized friendship” for adultsFundraising, entrepreneurship, and building a mission-driven company while pregnantWhy connection should be part of healthcare, not an afterthoughtThis 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 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.

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 ReflectionsJeana 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 WalkCasper ter Kuile (author of How We Gather and The Power of Ritual) Rachel’s Dream Guests:Gayle KingJenna Bush HagerPriya 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.

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 everythingThe hidden cost of technology on attention and connectionHow she rebuilt her identity after burnoutThe importance of following joy — not just successThis 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 CoEffectCarla Piñeyro Sublett on LinkedInHenry Crown Fellowship — the leadership program she references“Dances with Whales” expeditions — from her transformative trip experienceThursday Murder Club book series — Jeana’s “Show & Tell” pick

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 winThe 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 cornerFind Jason on social:Jason Hammel (site & IG) — more writing, speeches, and kitchen life. @jasonhammelLula Cafe on Instagram — menus, collabs, and event drops. @lulacafe

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-careHow DJ’s “Joy GPS” system keeps her grounded and energizedThe role of food as connection—from pizza croutons to family recipes that keep loved ones closeWhy being interested instead of interesting is the secret to effortless friendshipsHow flexible eating (and living!) lets us say yes to joy and connection without rigid rulesIf 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:DJ’s Website: djblatner.comThe Flexitarian Diet by DJ Blatner (top-rated every year on U.S. News)The Superfood Swap by DJ BlatnerBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia NagoskiPlay: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart BrownLaura Vanderkam’s work on time and memoryChef @donaldduckconfit who was the chef at the @savorwe dinner Rachel mentioned