1 Oct 2026
Ep. 43: The Friend-Making Superpower: How Rachel Magario Connects With Anyone
Making friends as an adult can feel intimidating, and this conversation with Rachel Magario will leave you feeling hopeful about it. Recorded in person in Denver, Colorado, this episode of the Connectedness Podcast is a heartfelt chat between two friends of 29 years about how to make friends, keep them, and stay kind to yourself along the way.
Rachel Magario is a motivational speaker and AI strategist who was born in Brazil, moved to the U.S. for college, and has built a life around community, resilience, and authentic connection. In this episode she shares the three things that help her make friends wherever she goes: building a relationship with yourself, putting yourself out there without taking it personally, and bringing fun and real presence into every room.
In this episode, we talk about:- How to make friends as an adult, even when you feel nervous or out of place - Why community carried Rachel through some of the hardest seasons of her life- What a latin dance convention taught us about friendship (Rachel made at least five new friends in one day!) - Living with ADHD and giving yourself compassion on your slow days - Recovering from heart bypass surgery and listening to what your body needs - Friendship ghosting: why it hurts, how to respond, and why grace goes both ways- Moving 29 times and learning to connect quickly with new people
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Welcome to the Connectedness Podcast (live from Denver)
1:06 Rachel's story: Brazil, college in the U.S., and reinventing your identity
3:18 Greater Than Your Condition: Rachel's new Substack newsletter
3:47 How community and friends help you get through hard times
5:25 Why we're together this weekend: the Brazilian zouk convention
7:07 Heart bypass surgery, recovery, and getting her energy back
8:02 ADHD, self-compassion, and working with your natural cycles 10:08 Rachel's friend-making superpower
10:54 Moving 29 times and learning to connect fast
11:57 Three keys to making friends as an adult
12:23 What salsa class taught Rachel about collecting information
13:44 Put yourself out there: the AirPods story
15:08 When Rachel lost her friend-making powers and how she got them back
16:00 Why being present is the real game changer
16:26 The dance class moment that could have ruined her day
17:41 Friendship ghosting and what to do when someone pulls away
19:54 Extending grace to others (and to yourself)
20:24 Closing thoughts and where to find Rachel
🔗 CONNECT WITH RACHEL MAGARIO Substack (Greater Than Your Condition): https://substack.com/@rachelmagario
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmagario/
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Have you ever made a new friend in an unexpected place? Or been ghosted by someone you cared about? Share your story in the comments and send Rachel some love. Your stories help other people feel less alone.
If this episode spoke to you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who could use a little encouragement. It truly helps more people find the Connectedness Podcast.
The Connectedness Podcast explores friendship, romance, belonging, and the relationships that make life richer. New conversations are shared regularly, so subscribe to join us.#ConnectednessPodcast #HowToMakeFriends #AdultFriendship #Friendship #Ghosting #ADHD #Connection
