what makes a friendship truly great?
In this warm and lighthearted conversation, Susan Chen and Rachel Gross reflect on the joy, honesty, laughter, and deep care that allow friendship to flourish. Having met during their Vedic Meditation teacher training in India, their friendship has grown into a space of unwavering support, deep empathy, and a lot of laughing along the way.
Together they explore how consciousness shapes the way we show up for each other, and why friendship can become one of the most beautiful and transformative relationships in our lives.
They will also speak to something many adults quietly experience but rarely talk about. How do we cultivate meaningful friendships later in life? And how do we recognise the ones that truly feel aligned?
Expect stories, insights, and a few gentle reminders about the magic of wholeheartedly celebrating another human being.
Length: 90 minutes
Cost: Free with RSVP
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Susan Chen is a US-based Vedic Meditation teacher and the Director of Programming for Thom Knoles' Vedic Meditation programs. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years on Wall Street, tried 37 types of yoga and meditation, and eventually learned Vedic Meditation while still working as a portfolio manager on a trading desk. It gave her the two best years of her career, and after finding a source of happiness she never thought possible while still "achieving," she left to teach full-time. Today, she works with high performers who have tried every hack and app and are quietly wondering why none of it stuck. She teaches people how to stop pushing through and start enjoying success without the stress.
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Rachel Gross is a Vedic Meditation teacher and co-founder of Be Here Nowra, a community dedicated to teaching people a simple practice for deep rest in daily life, easing stress and allowing for more happiness.
Known for her warm, intuitive, and grounded approach, Rachel teaches in a way that is both gentle and direct, with a natural ability to meet people where they are while also encouraging them to discover something deeper for themselves.
She trained under Thom Knoles and continues her study with regular time in India. Her teaching is shaped as much by her own experience as by the tradition itself, drawing on time in the music industry, law, living in different countries, and a number of significant experiences that have added depth and perspective.
She lives on the South Coast of New South Wales with her husband Barron and their daughter Rosie, where their life revolves around family, community, and an ongoing exploration of living more in tune with nature’s rhythms, seasons, and cycles.