What if oversharing isn’t something to fix, but something to use?

This week on The Connection Code, we’re joined by Leslie John. She's a behavioral scientist, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing

Together, we unpack one of the biggest myths about connection: that saying “too much” is a social mistake. Leslie explains why what we call oversharing is often just … sharing and why it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to build trust, deepen relationships, and move from acquaintance to real friendship.

We talk about:

• The science behind self-disclosure and why it literally activates the brain’s pleasure centers
• The “overshare hangover” (and why it’s usually misleading)
• How to go from small talk to meaningful connection without making it weird
• What crying at work actually communicates (and how to handle it)
• The difference between TMI (too much information) and TLI (too little information)
• Why the biggest regrets in life often come from what we didn’t say

Plus, we share our own stories of oversharing gone right (and wrong), and what it really looks like to build connection in real time.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking “did I say too much?” this episode might change how you see it forever.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Leslie John's Website: https://www.proflesliejohn.com
• Arthur Aron’s “36 Questions That Lead to Love”
• Leslie's book, Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing

What happens when you take 16 strangers, sit them down at one table, and design every moment for connection?

This week on The Connection Code, we sit down with Shreena Amin and Chef Nicolai Mlodinow, the founders of Class Act Dining—a Chicago-based, 16-seat communal dining experience built to bring people together through food, storytelling, and intentional design.

What started as a scrappy, post-pandemic dinner party in an apartment has evolved into a full sensory experience. Today, Class act engineers connection with cocktail hour, a shared table, and a nightcap.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why connection doesn’t just happen, it’s created
• What a dinner table can teach us about belonging
• The surprising ways strangers become friends (even skeptics and introverts)
• How storytelling, space, and even menu design shape human interaction
• And the deeply personal “why” behind building a business centered on connection

From childhood memories of gathering around food to the vulnerability of not always feeling like you belong, this episode goes far beyond dining—it’s about what we’re all craving: to feel seen, included, and part of something.

Because sometimes, the shortest path to connection… is a seat at the table.

Friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson joins us for one of our favorite conversations yet, breaking down the real work behind meaningful friendships.

From why adult friendships feel harder than they used to, to the role of conflict, effort, and emotional support, Danielle shares the research-backed truths most of us were never taught.

We talk about:

• Why friendship isn’t as “natural” as we think and what that means
• How healthy conflict can actually make friendships stronger
• The difference between connection and friendship (and why you need both)
• What to do if you’re always the one initiating plans
• Why women’s friendships are both complicated and essential for our health
• How to actually be a better friend (hint: you can ask)

Plus, we get into texting habits, aggressive friendship, and the reality that relationships evolve—and that’s not a failure.

If you’ve ever wondered why friendship can feel confusing, one-sided, or harder than it “should” be, this episode will change how you think about connection.