Taking Chances with Vanessa and Noelle

Do you have "lifetime" friends? The kind you can contact after a month or a year or even longer, and you pick right back up where you left off? For Vanessa, Cole Magrini is one of those friends. They've known each other for over a decade and have the kind of rapport that only comes with long familiarity and deep, mutual affection. Relationships like these are so important -- they're the family we choose, and who choose us. In this podcast, Vanessa, Cole, and Noelle talk about the importance of friendship and how friends ground us even as we grow and change. But even connections like these need attention. If you haven't talked to a long-time friend in a while, it's time to reconnect. Grab your phone, fire up the Chances App, and make a date to do an activity together!  Have a Zoom call, play an online game, grab dinner at a restaurant that practices safe social distancing, go out for a run together, talk into the wee hours of the morning, the way you used to. Whatever you do together, enjoy rediscovering someone you've known forever.

NOTE: If you're having trouble with the audio on this episode, you may need to refresh the podcast in your app. Our apologies! The world is slowly beginning to open up, and we don't know about you, but Team Chances is itching to get out and DO THINGS. Safely, using masks and hand washing and social distancing, of course, but we're really looking forward to seeing our friends IRL instead of on screens. We love connecting -- whether that's with current friends or new ones, in person or on screens -- but we really love combining friends with activities! That's why we made Activities such a big part of our Chances App: so you can find people who also want to go for a hike, eat sushi, go to the beach, or play online games.  It makes hanging out so much easier. Instead of a bunch of people trying to make a decision, YOU pick a day, time, and activity, and invite contacts on Chances. They RSVP, you meet, and you get to the fun part right away. We brought America's Dad back to talk about how to create fun activities and events to enjoy with friends. Keep connections with friends strong, discover new connections, and make some great memories with the Chances App activities!

Rob Lipschutz, aka “America’s Dad,” joins his daughters to talk about relationships from a Gen X perspective. Is forming a new relationship — of any kind — any different now?   Let’s face it: initiating a new relationship, whether it’s friends or study buddies or something more romantic, isn’t easy. A little kid trying to make friends in a new neighborhood might need grandma to be his wingman. A little girl might need Mom’s help and a birthday backpack to find her new best friend. And young adults could benefit from some help as well.   The Chances App helps smooth the awkwardness of forming new relationships. By adding the open and honest communication of Intentions, Chances helps you meet where “your paths cross,” as co-founder Vanessa says.   Hear more in this podcast with Vanessa, Noelle, and America’s Dad.

In this podcast, Vanessa and Noelle interview Baraka Beckett, offensive lineman for the Bruins, junior, and sociology major. They talk about life as a UCLA athlete, how athletes are maintaining relationships in COVID, and how COVID has affected the social life at UCLA. Being a D1 athlete takes an enormous amount of dedication and discipline - two attributes Baraka applies to his studies as well as his athletic career. While his "50 percent football / 50 percent academics" life doesn't leave room for much else, he still finds time for his friends. But maintaining relationships with others is hard when your life is as full as Baraka's. Hear how's he's finding ways to stay grounded and connected, including using the Chances App to focus on building quality relationships over quantity. 

Modern technology is great during a pandemic: we can meet on Zoom, have safe Facetimes when we can't meet face-to-face, even get together virtually to play games and watch movies. But none of that quite matches up to IRL meetings. Vanessa and Noelle talk about how to deal with this new (and hopefully temporary) reality and get the best out of an often pretty lonely situation. PS: if you're the hot guy in the brown truck, the Chances app is available from the App Store starting January 27. Just sayin'.  

Let us paint you a picture: someone you have a crush on says, "I like you" and walks away.  What do you do? Do you.... A. Assume you are now a "thing" and start planning a romantic getaway? B. Call your best friend and talk for hours about your crush's exact words, tone of voice, expression, body language, and posture and what they all might mean? C. Assume you're firmly in "the friend zone" and plow through several pints of Ben & Jerry's in despair? Yeah, not knowing your crush's intentions toward you can be a kind of emotional torture.  And it's not just romantic relationships! Maybe you want to be friends with that cool person you work with, but you're not sure they feel the same. Or know you exist. Sisters Vanessa and Noelle have been there! Hear the hilarious story of the #chopstick, and find out how they're helping others get to genuine connections faster and with a few less pints of ice cream.

Sisters Vanessa and Noelle are inviting you to take a chance with them! If you've ever moved to a new town, traded high school for college, or started a new job, you know what it's like to feel intimidated and out of place. Starting over is rough, especially when you don't know anyone. But what a difference a friend makes, right? Connecting with someone is a shot of instant courage and makes even that awkward newness feel fun and exciting. So if you ever feel lonely or out of place (or even if you don't!) well, you've got friends. Join Vanessa and Noelle every two weeks for tips on how to make genuine connections with others, ideas for things to do on a date or when you're just hanging out, and lots of laughs. And be sure to connect with them on Instagram @thechancesapp and download their social relationship app Chances!

Finding people you can be yourself with can be really hard, whether you're looking for a romantic relationship, a study buddy, or someone to go to basketball games or have a beer with. Sisters Vanessa and Noelle Lipschutz are Seattleites who moved to LA not long before COVID struck, and they know how lonely it can be trying to make connections in a new place. It's hard enough in normal times; it's nearly impossible during a lockdown.  Traditional ways of meeting others were out, thanks to COVID, and the standard "dating" apps just didn't work for these Gen Z sibs. They created the Chances app for young adults like themselves who are looking for genuine connections. In this podcast, Vanessa and Noelle will explore all kinds of relationships, from romantic to friends, to all the in-betweens. They'll share their ridiculous stories (ever told someone you just met that you're gassy? Oh yeah. Noelle's been there), and if you give them a shout on Instagram, they might share yours too. Find out how to make great connections and step outside your comfort zone. Are you ready to take a chance with us?