Podcast Summary: Unemployable with Jeff Dudan

Episode #238: The Fastest Way to Earn Trust in Business with Communication Expert Rachel DeAlto
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Jeff Dudan
Guest: Rachel DeAlto

Overview

In this episode, Jeff Dudan interviews communication and relatability expert Rachel DeAlto about her journey from litigation and psychology to reality TV, her exploration of the concept of relatability, and how authentic human connection drives trust and success in business. Together, they dig into the changing dynamics of networks, practical strategies for building trust, and why respect, intentionality, and genuine curiosity are the new power moves for entrepreneurs and leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Shallow vs. Deep Networking in Modern Business (00:59–04:22)

• Social Media and Shallow Connections:
  Rachel highlights how technology and platforms like LinkedIn foster “large, shallow networks” rather than deep relationships.

  "We’re accumulating things and people and networks…thousands of quote unquote connections, and yet you don’t know half the people." (Rachel, 01:13)

• The Value of Old-School Networking: Rachel reminisces about her father’s Rotary Club experience, contrasting it with modern, digital-first interactions.

• Face-to-Face Still Matters:
  Professional advancement is still driven by personal presence and relationships, not just online connections.

  "The data shows…the people that get promoted are still the people that have FaceTime." (Rachel, 03:33)

Relatability as a Business Superpower (04:22–06:11)

• First Impressions and Relatability:
  Jeff introduces the idea that being relatable goes beyond being liked or trusted—it's about how you make someone feel within seconds.
• Rachel’s Discovery:
  Rachel didn’t set out to become a relatability expert. Upon leaving the TV show "Married at First Sight," she was overwhelmed by fan feedback labeling her as "relatable."

  "It was thousands of messages, and probably 60 to 70% of them use the same word." (Rachel, 05:00)

Rachel’s Unconventional Career Path (09:15–14:26)

• From Law to TV:
  Rachel shares her initial career in law, how a dislike for corporate law led her to litigation, and the unexpected twists that took her to reality TV.
• Startup Failure and Resilience:
  Rachel discusses launching a dating startup that quickly failed when competitor apps emerged, and how that led her to media appearances and keynote speaking.

  "We had…front page of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Oprah called…but then…all the apps launched…absolutely dead in the water." (Rachel, 14:28)

The Mechanics of Building Relatability (20:23–23:01)

• The Connect–Communicate–Inspire Framework:
  Rachel urges new entrepreneurs to focus first on inspiration—knowing your purpose—then connecting and communicating genuinely.

  "What is my purpose? What am I doing? What is the reason why I got into this business?" (Rachel, 21:55)

• Practical Tips for Immediate Connection:

  • Eye contact and warm body language
  • Sincere curiosity—ask questions, don’t just talk about yourself

    "Curiosity is one of the most undervalued ways of making people feel connected to you immediately." (Rachel, 22:04)

• Intentionality in Networking:
  Set clear intentions before each interaction to foster genuine connections and avoid social autopilot (26:04).

The Power of Curiosity & Deep Questions (27:29–31:57)

• Jeff’s Conference Networking Strategy:
  Only aims to connect deeply with 6–8 people at events, not everyone, to build real relationships.

• The Tiberius Success Formula:
  Five key questions (e.g., where are you from? How did you get here?).

• Building Trust through Curiosity:
  Asking open-ended, origin-story questions deepens rapport and trust.

• Reference: New York Times’ “36 Questions to Fall in Love” (31:00)

  "Pull some of those first questions out and all of a sudden you start to understand people and you make them feel like they're seen and heard." (Rachel)

Respect as the Foundation of Trust (32:05–36:59)

• Research-Backed Importance of Respect:
  Rachel’s proprietary research shows respect is the most sought-after trait from leaders.

  "Respect is the manifestation of believing another person has value." (Rachel, 34:13)

• Restoring Lost Respect:
  Requires massive intentional effort; sometimes irreparable.

• Differences Across Genders:
  Men often rate authenticity as critical; women don’t list it as highly.

  "Women didn't even have it in the top 10…men had it as the top three." (Rachel, 36:02)

Communication, Timeliness, and Showing Value (37:06–38:48)

• What Response Time Signals:
  Delays in response unintentionally communicate someone's value (or lack thereof) to you.

  "If somebody doesn’t matter to me, then it doesn’t matter when I respond." (Rachel, 37:29)

• Leadership Practice:
  Jeff’s "sunset rule": respond to all messages by day’s end.

Distraction as the Modern Obstacle to Connection (41:13–44:47)

• Distraction is Enemy #1:
  Leaders cite lack of time, but distraction from devices/social media is the real obstacle.

  "When I do talk to leaders, the number one reason they give me for not leading…the way they would prefer is time." (Rachel, 41:13)

• Mindful Use of Technology:
  Tools are necessary but should not replace real relationships or serve as an excuse.

Authenticity on Social Media (47:22–48:50)

• Biggest “Don’ts”:
  Don’t attempt to be someone you’re not; don’t seek perfection; avoid over-scripting.

  "When they really show up trying to be someone that they're not…you can smell it." (Rachel, 47:31)

• Consistency Beats Perfection:
  Show up regularly—authentically—in content and in person.

Practices for Presence & Self-Care (53:24–56:41)

• Hypnotherapy & Meditation:
  Rachel discusses hypnotherapy as "supercharged meditation" and the importance of having a grounding routine, whether meditation, journaling, or exercise.

  "Everybody has to find what brings them back to themselves." (Rachel, 55:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Relatability’s Surprise Power:

  “I just was a talking head on television. I started to study it…relatability is something that people can do and learn and really be beneficial to whatever relationship you’re looking to build.” (Rachel, 05:00)

• On Making Connections:

  “Get out of your house, get off your phone, find some sort of way to connect with people…that’s how you’re going to build those relationships, especially from a professional standpoint.” (Rachel, 03:33)

• On Respect:

  “Respect is the manifestation of believing another person has value.” (Rachel, 34:13) “We have missed the mark. We're trying to build a house on a foundation that's not there.” (Rachel, 33:00)

• On Social Media Authenticity:

  “Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Don’t try to be perfect…We can feel that within seconds.” (Rachel, 47:31)

• On Intentional Networking:

  “The beauty of that, too, is if you say six to eight [targets], and you’re on number four, you’re like, okay, I got two more people to meet at least. It's brilliant.” (Rachel, 31:00)

• On Practical Connection Tools:

  “Curiosity is one of the most undervalued ways of making people feel connected to you immediately.” (Rachel, 22:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Relatability & Shallow Connections: 00:59–04:22
• Rachel’s Reality TV & Relatability Origin Story: 05:00–06:11
• Career Journey: Law, Startups, Failure: 09:15–14:26
• Framework for Building Relatability (Connect, Communicate, Inspire): 20:23–23:01
• Networking, Curiosity, Deep Questions: 27:29–31:57
• The Role of Respect: 32:05–36:59
• Communication Timeliness & Value: 37:06–38:48
• Distractions as Barriers to Leadership & Connection: 41:13–44:47
• Do’s and Don’ts for Social Media Authenticity: 47:22–48:50
• Daily Practices for Authenticity & Self-Care: 53:24–56:41

Final Rapid Fire

If you had one sentence to make an impact in somebody's life, what would that be?

"Take care of each other. That's it." (Rachel, 59:01)

Contact & Wrap-Up

• Find Rachel: racheldealto.com and all social media platforms @RachelDeAlto (57:25)
• Closing Thought: The episode rounds out with reflections on grounding practices, consistency in relationships, and the reminder that at the root of all trust and connection is the willingness to show up authentically and take care of each other.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone building a business, team, or network—and especially for those striving to become more relatable, trusted, and genuinely connected leaders.