Ever heard of a chicken so productive it turns homicidal?

Or an NBA player who changed the course of a season… without having impressive stats?

Me neither, until I sat down (again) with an experience designer I deeply respect, Jon Levy.

Fifteen years ago, Jon founded “The Influencers”, a secret dining experience and community, whose participants include more than 4000 leaders across industry, ranging from Nobel laureates, Olympians, and celebrities, to executives, editors-in-chief, and royalty.

What I admire about Jon’s work is the guy walks the walk.

His NYT bestselling book, You’re Invited, reveals his “secret sauce” of creating deep connection and trust that has made his dinners so successful.

This time, we’re diving into his brand new book, Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius, and what it really takes to unlock collective genius.

We talk about…

What homicidal super chickens can teach us about team dysfunction
Why your most important team members might be the ones no one’s measuring or rewarding
The ONE universal characteristic you need to be a leader that most books or business schools don’t talk about.

If you’re a leader ready to unlock the collective intelligence of your team or community, this one is for you!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00:02 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Jon Levy.

Brandon Fong welcomes listeners back and reintroduces Jon Levy—experience designer, founder of The Influencers, and bestselling author. Brandon previews the episode’s key themes: homicidal “super chickens,” overlooked team members who drive real results, and the single defining trait of leadership, all in the context of Jon’s new book Team Intelligence.

00:03:24 - Revisiting the “Lost Boy” philosophy in fatherhood.

Jon reflects on how his Peter Pan-inspired identity has evolved since becoming a father. He shares how parenting has deepened his curiosity and shifted his default response to “yes” whenever possible—challenging unnecessary social etiquette and encouraging exploration unless something is truly dangerous.

00:07:34 - Curiosity in action: forklifts, Play-Doh, and childlike wonder.

Jon describes his insatiable curiosity—from interrogating forklift operators about tensile strength to letting his kids rub Play-Doh on his belly just to explore a novel sensation. He highlights how parenting has amplified his appreciation for discovery in everyday moments.

00:14:20 - Why most advice doesn’t work (and the Warren Buffett myth).

Jon recounts a story about Warren Buffett allegedly giving the “25-5 Rule” for success—only to later deny ever using such a system. This leads into Jon’s broader point: we often attribute tidy frameworks to successful people, but their real success rarely follows universally replicable formulas.

00:16:24 - The one true characteristic of a leader.

After researching leadership for three years, Jon shares a surprising conclusion: there are no universal leadership traits across institutions or iconic figures. The only consistent definition? Leaders have followers. People follow those who make them feel a compelling future is possible—even if they’re imperfect.

00:20:46 - Borrowed answers vs. authentic alignment.

Brandon and Jon discuss the tension between learning from successful people and blindly copying them. Jon challenges Brandon to articulate his own North Star, reinforcing that success stems from aligning with your unique strengths rather than replicating someone else’s “super skills.”

00:22:57 - Freedom over scale: choosing impact on your own terms.

Jon candidly shares why he chose not to scale The Influencers into a massive organization like TED or YPO. He values creative control and personal freedom over prestige and financial upside, emphasizing self-awareness as the ultimate compass for decision-making.

00:26:52 - How Team Intelligence was born.

Jon explains his writing process for the book—starting with leadership as an “evergreen” topic, then discovering that talent and skill alone aren’t enough. He structured the book as a journey of inquiry, uncovering how leadership and team dynamics intersect.

00:35:46 - The “Too Much Talent” problem and the rise of homicidal chickens.

Jon introduces the “super chicken” experiment: when chickens were bred solely for productivity, they became violent and destructive. In contrast, breeding entire cooperative groups led to dramatically better collective outcomes. The lesson: optimizing individuals can undermine the team.

00:42:37 - The power of “glue players” who multiply performance.

Jon explains research on “glue players”—team members who amplify others’ performance by a factor of 1.6. These individuals may not shine statistically but profoundly elevate group outcomes.

00:44:26 - Shane Battier: the “no stats” all-star.

Jon dives into the NBA story of Shane Battier, whose plus-minus rating was elite despite minimal traditional stats. Battier’s high emotional intelligence, team-first mentality, and proactive preparation (including memorizing opponents’ tendencies) allowed him to dramatically improve team performance and help the Miami Heat win championships.

00:48:47 - Measuring what’s useful, not what’s easy.

Brandon connects the Battier example to the “Moneyball” principle: organizations often measure what’s visible rather than what truly drives results. They discuss how employee happiness, emotional intelligence, and invisible contributions often predict success better than traditional metrics.

00:51:26 - How to identify the “Shanes” in your organization.

Jon outlines practical strategies for spotting glue players: test for emotional intelligence, ask team members who they turn to for support, and observe who goes above and beyond for the team. The same names will surface repeatedly—those trusted connectors who create psychological safety.

00:59:38 - AI, faux emotional intelligence, and the future of leadership.

Jon predicts that AI may soon coach leaders in real-time on emotional cues, potentially boosting “faux” emotional intelligence. However, he warns that reduced social exposure and increased remote work may erode our natural interpersonal skills if we’re not intentional.

01:02:00 - Where to find Jon and his work.

Jon shares that Team Intelligence is available wherever books are sold and invites listeners to explore more about his work and community experiences.

Links and Resources:

Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius by Jon Levy
You're Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging by Jon Levy
The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure by Jon Levy
The Influencers (Jon Levy’s secret dining experience community)