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.

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 how life’s hardest moments can become catalysts for clarity, connection, and profound transformation.

Only days after her final breast cancer surgery, Carlie shares her story with extraordinary honesty: from receiving her own diagnosis as a breast cancer surgeon, to choosing to pause her medical career, homeschool her children, and take her family on a bold global reset. Together, they talk about grief, resilience, friendship, identity, motherhood, marriage, and the people who show up when everything changes.

This episode is about what it means to stop, listen, and realign (and how connection becomes the foundation for healing). We discuss:

✨ Carlie’s diagnosis and the emotional impact of becoming both doctor and patient
✨ The wake-up call that led her to reshape her life and priorities
✨ How community and unexpected support became a lifeline during treatment
✨ Why she chose to step away from her career and begin a year of world travel with her family
✨ The courage to share her story publicly and the overwhelming response that followed
✨ Practical breast health guidance: when to start mammograms and who to see
✨ What true wellness really means — physically, emotionally, and spiritually
✨ The healing power of friendship and family connection during crisis

Dr. Carlie Thompson is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist and associate professor of surgery at UCLA Health. She is also a breast cancer survivor whose personal journey has reshaped her mission: helping women reconnect with themselves and redefine what it means to truly be well.

Follow Carlie’s journey and her work in women’s health at @drcarliethompson on Instagram & Facebook

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 Reflections

Jeana 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 Walk

• Casper ter Kuile (author of How We Gather and The Power of Ritual)

Rachel’s Dream Guests:

• Gayle King

• Jenna Bush Hager

• Priya 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.

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 anchored in generosity, inclusion, and heart.

She opens up about the loss of her twin sister Julie and the creation of her nonprofit Friends of Julie, which helps young storytellers discover confidence and purpose. The conversation spans motherhood, mentorship, Hollywood hustle, and the quiet power of staying true to yourself.

In Jolene’s world, connection isn’t just networking—it’s fuel for persistence, healing, and impact.

In this episode:

• Broken English Productions

• Friends of Julie

• @jolene_rodriguez_ on Instagram

• Border Hunter Trailer (Sony)

• Variety: 10 Producers to Watch – Jolene Rodriguez

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 everything
• The hidden cost of technology on attention and connection
• How she rebuilt her identity after burnout
• The importance of following joy — not just success

This 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 CoEffect
• Carla Piñeyro Sublett on LinkedIn
• Henry Crown Fellowship — the leadership program she references
• “Dances with Whales” expeditions — from her transformative trip experience
• Thursday Murder Club book series — Jeana’s “Show & Tell” pick

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 can teach us about being better friends, colleagues, and connectors. Expect laughter, self-awareness, and even a few cringe-worthy personal stories (like the time Rachel asked a near-stranger for a celebrity birthday video … and lived to regret it).

They’ll unpack:

• • How to ask for introductions without making it transactional
  • The art of following through on favors and commitments
  • Why “we should” is the most overused phrase in connection
  • The beauty of being inclusive at events — and how to be the person who invites others in
  • Simple scripts for repairing connection missteps (and why an authentic apology still matters)

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  And stay tuned for Show & Tell, where Jeana shares the Washington Post article that proves almost everything is better with friends, and Rachel spotlights a Chicago restaurant’s inspiring story of community support after tragedy struck.

  
  

  Media:

  • 🗞️ Washington Post: “Doing almost anything is better with friends” — the article Jeana references in Show & Tell.

  • 📚 Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering — the book that inspired Rachel’s “No Small Talk” event format.

  • 💌 GoFundMe for Dear Margaret Restaurant — the fundraiser Rachel started to help support a beloved neighborhood spot after a fire.

  • 🎧 Related episode: “Condensed Connections: Building Bonds on a Deadline” with Lindsay Shookus

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:

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• Lula Cafe — the Logan Square institution. https://www.lulacafe.com/
• 2024 James Beard Award (Outstanding Hospitality) — Lula Cafe’s national win
• The 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 corner

Find Jason on social:

• Jason Hammel (site & IG) — more writing, speeches, and kitchen life. @jasonhammel
• Lula Cafe on Instagram — menus, collabs, and event drops. @lulacafe

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 Mary and il Carciofo. He opens up about the friendships forged on the line, the mentors who shaped him (Stephanie Izard, Tony Mantuano, Art Smit, and Bill Kim), and the bold choices that built his career.

We explore how authenticity shows up in friendships, leadership, and in the kitchen. He also shares why every chef (and every human) needs a friend like Joe’s lifelong hype man, Matt.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to stay true to yourself while building something big, this conversation is for you.

In the episode:

• Rose Mary Restaurant
• Il Carciofo
• BLVD
• Top Chef (Bravo) Season 15
• No Kid Hungry (Joe’s advocacy work mentioned in the episode)
• Between Bites (the storytelling dinner series referenced in the conversation)
• New York Times piece by Samin Nosrat on dinner rituals
• The New York Times piece reacting to the weekly dinner ritual by Melissa Kirsch

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  Follow us:

  • Follow Joe Flamm on Instagram