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 journalism, publishing, and producing a Broadway show.

The conversation spans everything from the power of early support in someone’s journey, to the art of making and keeping friendships through life’s busiest seasons. Alicia also drops real-world advice on building authentic (and sometimes transactional) relationships, why specificity matters when networking, and how to ask for help (even when it feels hard).

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to thread the needle between warmth and ambition, or wondered how to maintain connection through life’s chaos, this one’s for you.

Follow everyone you hear in this episode:

• Alicia Menendez
• Jeana Anderson Cohen
• Rachel Gilman Rischall

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 “life’s whispers,” the comfort and clarity that can come from connecting with the other side, and how Rebecca views mortality and purpose through a spiritual lens. You’ll hear practical tips for recognizing signs, insights into what “heaven” might feel like, and stories that may just change the way you see the world around you.

Plus, don’t miss the full-circle moment of Rachel’s manifestation journey that brought this conversation to life.

Follow Rebecca on Instagram at @mediumrebeccarosen

Thank you for listening to The Connection Code with Rachel and Jeana. This production is edited by Ben Kliever.

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. Sarrah opens up about her own experience navigating an aggressive cancer diagnosis during COVID, her unexpected village of support, her radical approach to staying embodied through movement, and the miraculous journey to her son, Chance.

Along the way, the conversation touches on vulnerability, spirituality, finding joy in the messiest moments (a practice Sarrah calls joy mining) and how connections, both online and IRL, have shaped her survival and purpose.

If you need a dose of perspective, hope, or permission to slow down and savor the sweetness that exists alongside struggle, this episode will stay with you long after you listen.

Listen in for stories about:

• How to show up (and how to ask!) when someone is going through something hard
• The power of being specific when offering or requesting help
• The life-changing impact of a single supportive conversation
• Sarrah’s candid, joyful take on motherhood after surrogacy
• Why perfection is boring and joy is always worth mining

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  Follow everyone you hear in this episode:

  • Jeana Anderson Cohen
  • Rachel Gillman Rischall
  • Sarrah Strimel Bentley

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 relationships while navigating overwhelm. They talk about mental health, the myth of multitasking, and the emotional cost of doing too much. Rachel shares a moving story about how her friendship radar was wrong at first impressions, and Jeana brings in insights from Reddit on rejection and connection.

Then the twins join, and we’re treated to some surprisingly thoughtful (and adorably unfiltered) questions and insights. The girls ask what makes a connection meaningful, how to know if it’s a good one, and whether their moms have really taught them anything about friendship. The result? A cross-generational conversation that reminds us connection can start anywhere—at school, camp, or even a bowling alley.

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 hustle to co-founding the award-winning Boka Restaurant Group.

Kevin shares how ambition once filled a void in his life, the emotional toll of connection in hospitality, and how he’s learning to live more authentically in his second act. With vulnerability, laughter, and one unforgettable bobcat story, this episode is a masterclass in personal reinvention, friendship, and the power of dropping the mask.

References:

• Kevin's upcoming book – The Bottomless Cup
• Brené Brown – Braving the Wilderness
• Brené Brown – Atlas of the Heart
• Robin Dunbar - Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships
• Amy Poehler’s Podcast - Good Hang
• Friendship (Upcoming film starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson)
• Robin Dunbar – “Sex Differences in Close Friendships and Social Style”
• Generous Assumptions – A Brené Brown principle on approaching others’ behavior with compassion

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 applies to starting fresh in a new town, and together they brainstorm a game plan for creating community from scratch.

In Show & Tell, Jeana shares why “conspicuous creation” (aka creating in public) helped make Petite Acres a reality, while Rachel brings the most jaw-dropping Wall Street Journal group chat drama you’ve ever heard. They break down why group trips fail, why someone must be in charge, and why “we should” isn’t a plan.

Plus: how to build rituals to keep friendships strong, what to do when your thank-you notes get critiqued, and a tear-worthy Connection Conversation spotlighting astronaut and IVF advocate Kellie Gerardi.

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, and community. That theme flows seamlessly into Sarah's story, from being a college athlete to becoming what she calls the "social chair" of her life, building a network that’s equal parts powerful and deeply personal.

They discuss:

• How movement can create shared goals, belonging, and identity
• The incredible true story behind Sarah’s debut book Runs in the Family (out June 3!)
• Why women need to embrace shameless self-promotion (and how Sarah is channeling "Instagram carousel energy" to sell her book)
• The delicate art of generous networking and what it means to give without expecting a return
• The joy and meaning behind the parties Sarah throws—and what they teach us about gathering in a disconnected world

You’ll also hear what Jeana learned about sports from Sarah, what Rachel’s twins are up to, and why every episode should end with a compliment.

Whether you’re a sports fan or just a fan of friendship, this one will make you want to text someone just to say hi. And make sure to pre-order the book at https://tinyurl.com/RITFbook.

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 his comfort zone and into the spotlight, and how the community he built continues to shape the future of independent media.

The trio dives into the vulnerability of reinvention, the impact of childhood experiences, the challenges of being always-on in a 24/7 news cycle, and how to balance ambition with being present. Plus, they solve (maybe?) Mosh’s community platform dilemma live on the pod.

If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out or dreamed of building something meaningful, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

0:00 – 5:20 | The Year of Intros & the Etiquette of Declined Connections

Jeana and Rachel tally up their introduction counts and explore the social nuance of when someone says “no thanks” to a connection.

5:21 – 10:00 | The Power of One Person’s Encouragement

Rachel and Jeana reflect on pivotal moments when someone’s words changed their paths—and why those small nudges matter.

10:01 – 17:20 | Meet Mosh: The Man Behind Mo News

They welcome Mosh and unpack the role of names, introductions, and super connectors—including his wife, Alex.

17:21 – 23:30 | Mo News Origin Story

Mosh shares how a pandemic project turned into a news empire, all thanks to a little push (and some fights) with Alex.

23:31 – 27:30 | From News-Obsessed Kid to Newsroom Disruptor

A young Mosh trades ice cream for the Chicago Tribune, gets kicked out of class for asking too many questions, and dreams big.

27:31 – 30:25 | Navigating Belonging and the Long Echo of High School

The group explores how early feelings of otherness shape adult identity—and how parenting today demands balance between protection and resilience.

30:26 – 33:30 | Investing in the Future of Mo News

Should Mosh take on outside investors or crowdsource from the community? Rachel and Jeana weigh in with passion and pragmatism.

33:31 – 38:15 | The New Media Model: Listening to Your Audience

Mosh explains how audience questions and DMs help shape Mo News coverage—and why that’s changing how journalism is done.

38:16 – 43:00 | Real-Time Reporting & the Pressure of 24/7 Coverage

What it’s like to report during life’s big (and little) moments, from birthday parties to breaking news.

43:01 – 48:00 | The Future of the Mo News Community

Slack? Circle? WhatsApp? Mosh talks about the challenge of building a connected community—and maybe lands on a solution live.

48:01 – 54:00 | Burnout, Boundaries, and Being Present

Mosh opens up about the tension between growing a brand and showing up for the people who matter most.

54:01 – End | Closing Gratitude + Where to Find Mo News

Rachel and Jeana reflect on the conversation, and Mosh shares where to follow along (plus a teaser for what’s next at Mo News).