Travis Makes Money: TMF PREVIEW | Make Friends with Behavioral Scientist, Jon Levy

Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Jon Levy, Behavioral Scientist
Preview of episode on Travis Makes Friends

Episode Overview

This episode features a sneak peek from Travis's main show, Travis Makes Friends, where he speaks with behavioral scientist Jon Levy. The conversation zooms in on the value of relationships—how connections, rather than lone effort or generic advice, are key to success and career growth. Jon Levy breaks down the nuances between types of social ties, shares his personal journey from struggling entrepreneur to world-class connector, and offers actionable advice (and hard truths) about how meaningful networks are built and maintained.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Loose & Dormant Ties

• (00:39–01:46)
  • LinkedIn studies confirm people overwhelmingly find jobs through "loose" or dormant ties (former classmates, old colleagues) rather than close friends.
  • Jon Levy: "The people you hang out with probably all know each other...if you want a job at a company and you don’t know people there, chances are your immediate circle doesn’t either. It’s the people you’re loosely connected to" (00:57).
  • Being a decent, genuine person leaves doors open with these contacts, who are generally happy to connect if approached respectfully.

2. Jon Levy’s Personal Turning Point

• (01:49–02:53)
  • Jon recounts his struggles: "I was overweight, broke, underemployed...setting an alarm every day at 6am and then hitting snooze...Why can’t I get my life in order?" (01:49).
  • Despite being smart and hardworking, he couldn't break the cycle until he started learning what drives influential people to connect.
  • He spent a year modeling these behaviors and finally began to build meaningful, high-value relationships.

3. How (Not) to Approach Successful People

• (02:53–05:34)
  • Don’t send generic requests like “can I pick your brain over coffee?”
    • Jon Levy: “If somebody calls you up and says, hey Travis, you’ve been really successful, can I take you out for coffee and pick your brain?...it’s weird.” (03:18)
  • Travis Chappell: “Picking my brain does not sound fun for either one...frankly, if I’m going to let somebody pick my brain, it’s going to be my six-year-old son.” (04:09)
  • Successful people aren’t opposed to helping, but are very conscious of wasted time; you have to show you’re serious and will implement their advice.

4. Actions Speak Louder Than Questions

• (06:32–08:52)
  • Most people who reach out for advice never actually follow through.
    • Travis: “He said, you know, something I appreciate about you is that you actually, like, do the things that I suggest that you do...do you know how many people...actually do the things I tell them? ...Zero.” (08:15–08:42)
  • If you want continued engagement from successful people, act on their advice and demonstrate the results.

5. Respecting the Knowledge & Effort Already Shared

• (07:04–07:41)
  • Don’t ask for time if you haven’t read available books or consumed free content.
    • Jon Levy: “If you’re going to ask for my knowledge and you haven’t read my book or listened to your podcast...are you kidding me?...I make nothing off of my books...if I went to all that effort, read it, absorb it, and then let’s have a conversation.” (07:06)

6. Understanding Social Pressures on Influential People

• (08:52–10:27)
  • Influential people operate under five primary social pressures, encapsulated by Jon’s acronym “STEAM”:
    1. Social clout: People want the credibility of being seen with them.
    2. Time: They want access to the influencer’s expertise and attention.
    3. Expertise: Unique knowledge only the influencer can provide.
    4. Access: Connections and doors only they can open.
    5. Money: Donations, investments, business opportunities.
  • As a result, successful people have layers of protection. Many more want these resources than can be satisfied.
    • Jon Levy: “Those five things mean that they have to have layer after layer of protection up in order to stop people from getting it. Because there are more people who want it than the resources that they have.” (10:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jon Levy, on asking for coffee meetings:
  “Don’t offer to buy somebody a cup of coffee. If they could afford to buy the coffee shop...understand the scale.” (06:22)
• Travis Chappell, on following through:
  “Picking my brain does not sound fun for either one...if I’m going to let somebody pick my brain, it’s going to be my six-year-old son.” (04:09)
• Jon Levy, on consuming existing knowledge:
  “If you’re going to ask for my knowledge and you haven’t read my book...are you kidding me?...I make nothing off of my books.” (07:06)
• Anecdote, Travis on advice:
  “It’s not difficult to be an outlier because most people just will not do what they say they will do and or will not do what is suggested they should do.” (08:42)
• Jon Levy, on social pressures:
  “They have to have layer after layer of protection up...because there are more people who want it than the resources that they have.” (10:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:39 – LinkedIn study and power of dormant ties
• 01:49 – Jon Levy’s personal turning point
• 02:53 – How not to approach successful people
• 04:09 – “Pick your brain” faux pas explained
• 07:06 – Consume existing resources before asking for time
• 08:15 – Following through on advice makes you an outlier
• 08:52 – The 5 major social pressures (“STEAM”) on influential people
• 10:19 – Why influential people must protect their time and resources

Tone & Language

• Candid, direct, and friendly, with both host and guest sharing personal experiences and hard-earned lessons.
• Practical and actionable, focused on helping listeners stand out and build genuine professional relationships.

For the full deep dive—including actionable steps and more stories—listen to the full episode on Travis Makes Friends.