What happens when you’re invited to a dinner where you can’t say your last name… or what you do? I thought it was a scam—until I met Jon Levy: NYT bestselling author, behavioral scientist, and mastermind behind a wildly powerful community experience.

In this episode, Jon and I chat about why traditional networking is broken, the science of trust and connection, how to build authentic relationships (even without money or a big platform), and what people really remember about you.

If you've ever felt awkward networking or wondered how to build influence without being fake, this one’s for you. 💥

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[04:47] What is The Influencer Dinner — and how it redefines networking

[10:44] The IKEA Effect: Why effort = emotional connection

[14:38] Is belonging actually more important than food or water?

[20:34] Your friendships shape your habits — the science behind it

[25:28] Why your superpower might not scale (and what does)

[31:43] Don’t have a big platform? Host something simple and novel

[47:57] Build trust by asking for small favors — and grow from there

[56:03] Jon’s final message: The world needs your invitation

Listen to Related Episodes:

Connect With Jon Levy:

Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist, TED speaker, and author of You're Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence. He’s best known for curating The Influencers Dinner, where attendees cook together but can’t reveal their last names or professions. His work explores how connection, belonging, and trust drive behavior, relationships, and success.

Website: www.jonlevy.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonlevy

Book: You’re Invited

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For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode564

Solace by James Van Pelt (audio)