How Jon Levy Masterfully Connects Celebrities and Influential People (And How You Can Too)

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

The greatest predictor of human longevity, apart from genetics, is close ties and social integration. According to today’s guest, research has shown that even the success of a business can be traced back to the oxytocin levels (the chemical released when you feel a connection) found in the bodies of its employees. Jon Levy is the founder and host of Influencers, a private organization that arranges dining experiences dedicated to bringing together exceptional people and thought leaders. He is also a behavioral scientist and author who has a new book coming out, titled You Are Invited, about how to create connection, trust, and a sense of belonging. In this episode, John talks about how the human brain is wired for novelty, why networking events and swag bags are a waste of time, and how to genuinely foster human connection. Tune in and learn about the IKEA effect, the Mere-exposure effect, and an art heist at the Louvre that will blow your mind!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:13] An introduction to Jon Levy.
• [01:48] John talks bout the dinners he hosts with 12 high-profile people who can only share their names or professions once they have cooked a meal together.
• [02:30] How the human brain is wired for novelty: people do really well when they’re doing something just outside their skillset.
• [03:45] The state of peaking in performance: when you’re doing something that’s fully engaging, you lose all sense of self-consciousness.
• [05:01] Jon talks about Shane Snow’s book, Smartcuts, and the value of momentum.
• [06:31] Jon shares his background as a human behavioral psychologist
• [07:55] Thoughts on Youtuber, MrBeast.
• [09:09] Jon’s main focus on increasing the connections between people.
• [10:50] How the definition of a close friend has changed: why Gen Z is the loneliest generation.
• [11:45] An introduction to Jon’s book, You're Invited; how to create connection, trust, and a sense of belonging.
• [13:04] Why Jon wrote the book: to share the importance of and misunderstandings about human connection.
• [14:38] Jon explains the IKEA effect and why we care about what we put effort into.
• [16:05] Using his book as a guide to figure out the ideal way to connect with people.
• [16:43] Jon addresses some of the commonly held misperceptions about how to meet people.[17:38] Why he found memorable stories to demonstrate his lessons.
• [18:37] An example of one of his stories is an art heist at the Louvre that demonstrates the Mere-exposure effect.
• [21:54] What else is Jon reading: Breathe about the Wim Hof method of fire breathing.
• [23:25] What breathwork has done for Jon.
• [26:30] How to find Jon’s book and other resources.

Resources From The Interview:

• Jon Levy

• You’re Invited

• You're Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence

• Influencers

• Smartcuts

• MrBeast

• The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure

• Breathe

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