What happens when a connection fails—and what do we learn from it? In this special episode, Rachel and Jeana welcome Rachel’s sister, Laura Engelbret, a fluent Spanish speaker and longtime English Language (EL) teacher, who shares her powerful story of moving to Oaxaca, Mexico after college.
What began as a dream of adventure turned into one of Laura’s hardest moments of rejection—but also a turning point that shaped her career, her resilience, and her philosophy on connection. Laura takes us from that difficult experience to her 13+ years as an educator, where she now helps immigrant students and their families feel safe, welcomed, and at home in new communities.
Along the way, Jeana and Rachel reflect on their own “connection fails” and the lessons they learned from being fish out of water. Together, the conversation explores resilience, empathy, and the practical and emotional work it takes to build bridges in life, work, and school.
If you’ve ever felt out of place—or wondered how to help others feel like they belong—this episode will inspire and encourage you to rethink what real connection means.
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