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 meaningful
• The emotional sting of a friendship misunderstanding
• What 50 episodes have taught us about vulnerability and curiosity
• Why adults need more unstructured time together
• How to stop defaulting to “What do you do?”
• The Season 2 conversations Rachel and Jeana are still thinking about
• What happens when podcast connections become real-life friendships
• The case for friendship camp

Mentioned 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.

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 here
• Peloton's Call Yourself a Runner program
• Kirsten'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.

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.