Episodes | Behavioral Grooves

January Blues? How to Rest, Reflect, and Restart

The holidays are over, the calendar is wide open, and suddenly the energy you had a few weeks ago is just…gone. While January is…

Why We Get Bored | Erin Westgate

What is your boredom trying to tell you? This week on Behavioral Grooves, we sit down with psychologist Dr. Erin Westgate, one of the…

The Productivity Myth Causing Your Burnout | Natalie Nixon, PhD

We spend so much time trying to optimize productivity that we may be undermining the very thing we’re chasing: creative, meaningful work. In this…

Best Behavioral Science Books of 2025 (According to us)

Every year, we talk with dozens of authors on Behavioral Grooves, and every year, we read far more books than we can possibly recommend…

Why We Gather: The Psychology of Holiday Rituals

The holiday season brings families together, but why do gatherings and rituals matter so much to our holiday happiness? In this pre-Christmas special, we…

The Secret Ingredient of High-Performing Teams | Vanessa Druskat

Emotional intelligence in individuals is often celebrated in the business world — but what if the real unlock isn’t a smarter leader, but a…

Why Great Leaders Still Get Stuck

Most leaders believe their biggest obstacles are external – the environment, the workload, the team, but what if your biggest obstacles actually came from…

Why Expectations Shape Who We Become

Change often feels monumental when we talk about it, but as we explore in this special episode — inspired by questions from our Facebook…

Why Split-Second Thinking Fuels Violence | Jens Ludwig

We often frame violence in America as a battle between “good” and “bad” people, or as the sticking point in the never-ending political debate…

The Science of Being Thankful

A Note from our Team: This Thanksgiving, support the science you love. Behavioral Grooves is independent, ad-free, and listener-powered. If our episodes bring you…

The Leadership Wake-Up Call | Margaret Andrews

Is leadership just about guiding others—or does great leadership require understanding yourself first? In this week’s episode, we sit down with Margaret Andrews, Harvard…

Why the Gender Revolution Stopped Halfway | Corinne Low

What if the gender revolution never finished? This week, economist Corrine Low holds a mirror up to us, asking us to examine our own…

Is the American Dream Dead? | Mark Matson

What does the “American Dream” really mean in 2025—and is it still within reach for everyone? Financial advisor and author Mark Matson joins us…

The Trick That Shapes Every Choice You Make | Mikael Klintman

How does framing influence the way we think, feel, and act? Sociologist and author Mikael Klintman, an expert in the field, joins us to…

The Science of Superstition: Why Our Brains Believe in Magic

Halloween might be filled with ghosts, ghouls, and eerie coincidences, but our fascination with superstition goes far beyond one spooky night. In this spooktacular…

The Lies We Believe About Control | Dr. Wolfgang Linden

What if most of the stress and frustration we face isn’t from what’s happening – but how we’re trying to control it? Psychologist and…

Why Who You Know Still Matters | Toby Stuart

Are status and “who you know” still the ultimate keys to success? In this week’s conversation, we dive into the hidden forces that shape…

You’re Right – Meetings Are the Worst | Don Kieffer

What if everything you thought about “common sense” about running a business was actually leading you astray? Don Kieffer, co-author of There’s Got to…

The Secret Psychology Behind 17 Iconic Brands | Richard Shotton

What makes some of the world’s most successful brands stick in our minds — and in our shopping carts? Behavioral scientist and author Richard…

The #1 Driver of Employee Wellbeing | Mark Crowley

Why have decades of employee engagement surveys failed to move the needle? Mark Crowley believes it’s because we’ve been measuring the wrong things. Instead…

The Hidden Cost of Your Values | Steve Sloman

Do our convictions come at a cost? This week, we sit down with cognitive scientist and author Steve Sloman to unpack how the sacred…

Perfectionism Is Holding You Back | Bob Rosen

What if the very traits we celebrate—success, control, perfection—are actually weighing us down? In this episode of Behavioral Grooves, we sit down with psychologist,…

Why Most Teams Fail (and How to Fix Them) | Colin Fisher

What makes some groups thrive while others fall apart? Colin Fisher, associate professor at University College London and author of The Collective Edge, joins…

Everything You’ve Heard About Screen Time Is Wrong | Jay Vidyarthi

In a world where headlines warn us daily about the dangers of screen addiction, Jay Vidyarthi offers a refreshing perspective: what if we simply…

How to Stay Grounded When Life Feels Chaotic

Life rarely unfolds in a straight line—and when things feel uncertain, it can rattle even the most grounded among us. In our August bonus…

Why Do Culture Wars Happen? | Michael Morris

Why do we instinctively form groups, follow leaders, and defend traditions—even when it hurts us? This week, Michael Morris joins the Behavioral Grooves crew…

Get Real About Money | Daniel Crosby

Is wealth just a number in your bank account? According to Dr. Daniel Crosby, it’s much more than that—it’s a reflection of what you…

How to Silence Self-Doubt | Rosi Greenberg

What do you do when that little negative voice in your head won’t shut up? If you’re author Rosi Greenberg, you give that voice…

The Happiness Secret You’ve Been Missing | Shige Oishi

Is happiness just about feeling good? For decades, researchers thought so. But Shige Oishi, a leading psychologist and professor, joins us this week to…

Science-Backed Tips to Make Work Worthwhile | Wes Adams & Tamara Myles

What makes work truly meaningful—and why should leaders care? In this episode, we sit down with Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, co-authors of Meaningful…

Why Brands That Get Personal Win Big | Ken Hughes

Is “brand loyalty” a myth? In this fast-moving episode, we sit down with Ken Hughes, a global expert on human behavior and customer experience,…

Why Do We Struggle to Talk About Money? | Abby Davisson

What do career moves, relationship milestones, and family planning all have in common? According to Abby Davisson, co-author of Money and Love: An Intelligent…

The Real Reason Remote Work Works | Raj Choudhury

What if work wasn’t a place, but a possibility? In this episode, we sit down with economist and author Raj Choudhury, whose groundbreaking research…

Why Do Superstitions Feel So Good?

Why do we cling to rituals that we know don’t impact outcomes? In a speculative conversation full of superstition, Kurt shares the story of…

Your Product Design Is Biased—Here’s How to Fix It | Alexis Mook PhD

What if your product design process was riddled with invisible biases—and you didn’t even know it? This week, we go corporate with Alexis Mook,…

The Five Words That Change Lives | Zach Mercurio

Have you ever felt invisible at work, like your contributions didn’t matter? You’re not alone. According to Zach Mercurio, that feeling isn’t just uncomfortable—it…

Can You Change Your Personality? | Olga Khazan

What if you could intentionally change your personality? Journalist and author Olga Khazan set out to answer that question by embarking on the most…

Lessons on Life From Hospice Patients | Jordan Grumet

What if everything you’ve been told about finding your purpose is actually making you feel worse? This week, we’re joined by Jordan Grumet—a podcaster,…

How to Get Unstuck: Behavioral Science Strategies

In this special episode of Behavioral Grooves, we discuss what keeps us stuck — and more importantly, how we can get unstuck. Drawing on…

The Top Reason You Make Bad Decisions – And How to Stop | Emily Falk

How do our brains choose what’s important to us? Emily Falk, neuroscientist and author of What We Value, joins us to decode what goes…

Our Best Hope for Global Change | Faisal Naru

In this month’s bonus episode, we investigate the dramatic rise of behavioral science in public policy with Faisal Naru, a global expert on the…

6 Ways Questions Can Transform Your Life | Elizabeth Weingarten

In a world obsessed with answers, Elizabeth Weingarten invites us to pause — and reconsider the power of the question. In this question-provoking episode,…

The #1 Reason You Aren’t Happy – Yet. | Mark Fabian

Is happiness the ultimate goal, or just a side effect of a life well-lived? This week, we’re joined by economist, philosopher, and author Mark…

4 Powerful Ways to Make Conflict Less Stressful | Dr. Joel Salinas and Bob Bordone

Conflict is all around us – yet we’re taught to avoid it at all costs. In a world that can sometimes feel like conflict…

Want to Close the Gender Gap? Start Here | Kweilin Ellingrud

We’re all familiar with the term “glass ceiling”—but what if the real issue for women in the workplace starts much earlier? In this episode,…

Are You Being ‘Reasonable’ – Or Just Privileged? | Dr. Rosalind Chow

Why do we resist social change even when it’s clearly for the greater good? In this enlightening episode, we’re joined by Rosalind Chow, social…

Reclaim Your Brain and Escape Digital Chaos | Richard Cytowic

Curiosity often leads to unexpected discoveries. For neuroscientist Richard Cytowic, it was the word “synesthesia” that sparked a lifelong fascination to know more. In…

How to Spark Creativity in Work & Life | Matt Arnold and Adam Hansen

Innovation isn’t just for inventors and artists—it’s hardwired into our DNA. Yet, many of us mistakenly believe we “aren’t creative,” holding ourselves back from…

Mailbag: Ask Us Anything!

It’s about time we put Kurt and Tim in the hot seat! This week, we’re turning the tables and making them answer your questions….

The Existential Playbook: How to Make Sense of Your Life | Dr. Steve Heine

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? Dr. Steve Heine, cultural psychologist and author of Start Making Sense, joins us in exploring…

Work Isn’t Fair—Here’s How to Fix It | Iris Bohnet

What does it take to make work truly fair? This week, we dive into the science of workplace bias and equity with Iris Bohnet,…

The 10 Conversations You Need to Master at Work | Melody Wilding

Can you “manage up” at work without coming across as a total kiss-ass? This week, we sit down with Melody Wilding, executive coach and…

Why Self-Improvement Is Holding You Back | Oliver Burkeman

What if the key to a fulfilling life isn’t about gaining complete control, but accepting that we never truly will? This week, we sit…

Groove Jams: What’s Your Vice?

If you could remove one vice from your life, what would it be? In this episode of Groove Jams, Tim and Kurt sit down…

Lost Touch? How to Rebuild Friendships and Strengthen Your Social Life | Adam Dorsay

With digital interactions on the rise, what does it truly mean to connect? Dr. Adam Dorsay, clinical psychologist and author of Super Psyched, joins…

Fact-Checking Love: The Truth About Romance Movies | Eli Finkel and Paul Eastwick

Romantic comedies have shaped how we think about love, but how much of what Hollywood portrays is scientifically accurate? In this month of love,…

The Science of a Thriving Relationship | Rachel Glik

Can a relationship thrive on love alone? Probably not. It takes personal growth, prioritization, and shared purpose to truly nurture what this week’s guest,…

Why Is Everyone So Angry? The Science of Outrage | Kurt Gray

Why do we classify some people as victims and others as villains? This week, we dive into some morally gray territory with none other…

Turn a Negative Trait into Your Greatest Strength | Jenny Wood

What would happen if we redefined personality traits that society deemed “negative”? In this captivating conversation with former Google exec and author of Wild…

Groove Jams: Inside the Creation of Rock’s Greatest Albums

If you’ve ever wondered what puts the “Groove” in Behavioral Grooves, this episode has the answer! We’re diving headfirst into the mesmerizing world of…

The Data and Influence Behind Your Digital Footprint | Sandra Matz

What if every digital interaction you had—every like, purchase, or GPS ping—could be used to create a detailed map of who you are? Sandra…

Behavioral Science Hacks for Everyday Life | Eva van den Broek and Tim den Heijer

How can a tiny fly in an airport urinal transform human behavior? This week, we sit down with Eva van den Broek and Tim…

Kickstart the New Year and Achieve Your Goals | Ayelet Fishbach

Happy New Year, Groovers! The start of a new year often brings fresh goals, ambitious resolutions, and a renewed sense of motivation. But what’s…

2024’s Best Books to Transform Work, Life, and Thinking

Want to help us improve Behavioral Grooves? Take our listener survey here! Looking for your next great read? We’ve got you covered! It’s time…

Groove Jams: Hypothetical Hangouts – Who Would You Choose?

If you could spend a whole day with any historical figure, who would it be—and why? In this solo-sode of Groove Jams, we dive…

Toxic Productivity Is Sabotaging Your Success | Israa Nasir

What happens when the pursuit of productivity starts to damage your health, relationships, and happiness? In this episode, we explore the concept of Toxic…

What If There’s a Better Way to Solve Your Hardest Problems? | Wendy Smith

Have you ever felt stuck between two seemingly opposite choices or found yourself seeing the world in absolutes? This week, we’re joined by Dr….

The Influence Equation: Simple Steps to Persuade Better | Steve Martin

How can the science of persuasion reshape your workplace? This week, we sit down with Steve Martin to discuss the principles behind his latest…

Stress-Busting Tips for the Holidays (and Beyond!)

Between job uncertainty, political tension, holiday anxiety, and the general state of the world, stress and emotional exhaustion are at an all-time high. In…

The Simple Shift That Transforms Employee Engagement | Brad Shuck

What makes a workplace truly thrive? This week, Brad Shuck returns to share how practicing gratitude as an intentional discipline can transform employee engagement…

Groove Jams: Immortality–Blessing or Curse?

What would you do differently if you could live for 1,000 years? In this episode of Groove Jams, we’re joined by fan-favorite Annie Duke…

The Downside of Dream Jobs | Jennifer Totsi-Kharas

This week, we continue exploring jobs, careers, and callings with Jen Totsi-Kharas, co-author of Is Your Work Worth It? For a deeper dive into…

The Truth About Work and Life Balance | Christopher Michaelson

Is Your Job a Calling or a Burden? This week, we jump into the deep and sometimes challenging question: what role does work play…

Democracy at the Crossroads: Beyond Party Lines

Has Behavioral Grooves turned into a political podcast? Not really (ok, maybe kinda it has – but for just a few weeks, we promise…

Get Out and Vote!

A special message from Kurt and Tim, all the way from Philadelphia: November 5th is fast approaching, and now, more than ever, participating in…

Groove Jams: We’re Throwing Out the US Constitution!

What if you could give the U.S. Constitution a makeover? Ahead of the 2024 U.S. election, AJ Jacobs joins Kurt and Tim to dive…

How Can We Revive Our Democracy? | AJ Jacobs

Ahead of the 2024 US Election, Kurt and Tim sit down with bestselling author and serial experimenter AJ Jacobs to discuss his latest project,…

The Loneliness Epidemic: Why Are We Avoiding Social Interactions? | Nick Epley

Why do we avoid the very thing that could bring us more joy—connecting with others? In this episode, behavioral scientist and human interaction expert…

Groove Jams: History’s Biggest What-ifs

Ever wondered what it would be like to snag a backstage pass to history’s biggest moments? In Groove Jams’ maiden voyage, Kurt, Tim, and…

Top Secrets to Customer Success | Arsanas Savas and Dave Norton

Co-hosts, meet co-creation! This week, Kurt and Tim are joined by special guests Aransas Savas and Dave Norton, hosts of the Experience Strategy Podcast….

Coming Soon: Groove Jams!

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for (even if you didn’t know you were waiting)… Introducing Groove Jams! Tim and Kurt are…

Top Tips to Transform Your Business | Scott Young

Now…back to work! We’re back to the weekly grind this week on Behavioral Grooves and exploring a topic Kurt and Tim know like the…

Breaking the Cycle of Polarization: What You Can Do for the 2024 Election

So…is there hope? Kurt and Tim think so! In this wrap-up of our polarization series, Kurt and Tim reflect on how much the political…

A Less Polarized Future: Real Solutions to Heal Our Divided World

In the final episode of the polarization series, Kurt and Tim delve into “affective polarization,” where emotional distrust, rather than ideological differences, has deepened…

Are We Acting Differently Because of Politics? Here’s What the Research Shows

Why do we so easily form ‘us vs. them’ mentalities, and how does it impact our society? In the second part of this series,…

What’s Really Driving Political Polarization? The Science Explained

Are we more divided than ever? How can people see past their differences and come together for the greater good? In this three-part series,…

Healthy Habits Made Simple | Monica Reinagel

Do you struggle with maintaining healthy eating habits? Are you, like Kurt, stashing Oreos in the basement to avoid temptation? Believe it or not,…

The Secret Lives of Cows | Gregory Berns

Get ready for a moo-ving conversation! This week, Kurt and Tim sit down with Gregory Berns, a psychology professor at Emory University, to explore…

Crack the Code: How Women Can Win Big at Work | Alison Fragale

Do women in the workplace have to choose between being likable and assertive? This week, Alison Fragale, author of The Likable Badass joins Kurt…

Why Generational Labels Are Holding Your Company Back | Jessica Kriegel

Are generational labels dead weight? This week—after many technical difficulties and a nearly-forgotten anniversary—Kurt talks with organizational culture expert Jessica Kriegel about generational divides…

EPISODE 429

The Real Reason Some People Succeed | Bob McKinnon

This week, we dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Bob McKinnon, host of the Attribution podcast and author of America’s Dreaming. Bob unpacks the…

EPISODE 428

The Habit Blueprint: Breaking Bad (Habits)

Double the Episodes, Double the Insights! This week, Kurt and Tim are back at it, diving deeper into the world of habits, rituals, and…

EPISODE 427

The Habit Blueprint: How Routines and Rituals Shape Our Lives

Ever wonder why some habits stick effortlessly while others feel impossible to maintain? In this episode, Kurt and Tim explore the powerful forces of…

EPISODE 426

Delighting in Death | Jodi Wellman

“Here is a small fact: You are going to die.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief This week, Kurt and Tim confront death. Well…

EPISODE 425

Building Better Conversations | David Robson

How can we turn disagreements into opportunities for growth and connection? In this episode, Kurt and Tim dive into the science of meaningful conversations…

EPISODE 424

Willpower Myths Busted: How to Truly Reach Your Goals [Republish]

Mythbusters or Behavioral Grooves? This week, we step back in time with Kurt and Tim (2023) to tackle the common belief that willpower alone…

EPISODE 423

Unmasking AI | Ben Manning

Is AI about to take over the world, or is it simply…misunderstood? Tim takes on a solo-sode with guest Ben Manning, a PhD candidate…

EPISODE 422

To Save or to Spend? Finding Financial Balance | Scott Rick

Budget hotel or 5-star experience? Pack a lunch or grab it to-go? Save your money or spend it? Are you a tightwad or a…

EPISODE 421

Inner Power: Secrets to Self-Compassion and Intuition | Emma Seppälä

Take a deep breath. Step outside. Smell the coffee. Tune in to Behavioral Grooves. This week, Kurt and Tim sit down with Emma Seppälä,…

EPISODE 420

Behavioral Science in the Workplace: Tips and Strategies | Becky Frayer

This week on Behavioral Grooves, things get personal – or at least professionally personal – as Kurt and Tim are joined by Becky Frayer,…

EPISODE 419

Question Everything: The Power of Critical Thinking | Alex Edmans

How often do you question the ‘facts’ you encounter in everyday life? This week, Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies, joins Kurt and…

EPISODE 418

The Benefits of Shades of Gray Thinking | Saul Perlmutter & Rob MacCoun

How do we make sense in a world that often seems nonsensical? In this week’s episode, Kurt and Tim team up with Saul Perlmutter…

EPISODE 417

Break Free from Insecure Attachments | Dr. Judy Ho

Have you ever wondered how your childhood experiences influence your adult relationships and behaviors? This week, Kurt and Tim jump into attachment theory with…

EPISODE 416

Turn Self-Doubt into Success | Martin Gonzalez

Have you ever struggled with the pitfalls of imposter syndrome in the workplace? Been wracked with self-doubt when leading your teams? Join Kurt and…

EPISODE 415

Unlearning Silence | Elaine Lin Hering

When was the last time you wanted to speak up, but were too afraid to? This week, embark on a riveting exploration of silence…

EPISODE 414

Ketamine Therapy: A New Frontier in Mental Health | Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo

Ketamine therapy has recently been a hot topic in the mental health industry, but what exactly is ketamine therapy? Who is it for, and…

EPISODE 413

The Surprising Benefits of Talking to Strangers | Nick Epley [Republish]

Originally published as Why Talking To Strangers Is Actually Good For Your Wellbeing | Nick Epley Embark on a journey of rediscovery as we…

EPISODE 412

Ask the Right Question, Get the Best Answer | Jeff Wetzler

Could asking the right questions transform your conversations? That’s the question of the week for Kurt and Tim, as they delve into the power…

EPISODE 411

Break Autopilot with Intentional Living | Norman Farb and Zindel Segal

Ever find yourself coasting on autopilot a bit too often in your daily routine? Seeking ways to be more present and truly connect with…

EPISODE 410

The Secret Power of Rituals | Michael Norton

What separates a ritual from a habit? Join Kurt and Tim this week as they delve into the intriguing world of rituals and habits…

EPISODE 409

The Science of Influence: Nudges in Action | Silvia Saccardo

Dive deep into the realm of behavioral science with Kurt and Tim this week as they explore the scalability of behavioral nudges and interventions…

EPISODE 408

Unlock Workplace Happiness | Gonzalo Camiña Ceballos

Curious about how prioritizing happiness can transform leadership and workplace dynamics? Well, look no further than this week’s discussion with Gonzalo Camiña Ceballos, CEO…

EPISODE 407

Tuned In or Tuned Out? | Nuala Walsh

So many voices, who do we listen to? The loudest, most senior or most popular voice? Our lives are rife with pivotal moments yet…

EPISODE 406

The Burnout Breakthrough | Kandi Wiens

March always feels like one of those months where you hit a slump. Work is back in full force, there are no holidays in…

EPISODE 405

Turning Anxiety into Assurance | Dr. Julia DiGangi

We’re back to our regularly scheduled program this week and full of energy – or should we say Energy Rising? Join Kurt and Tim…

EPISODE 404

Grooving On: Starting a Movement

In their final wrap-up, Kurt and Tim reflect on their recent series “They Thought We Were Ridiculous” and the insightful conversations they shared with…

EPISODE 403

Grooving On: Side Projects

Join Kurt and Tim as they exhale a collective sigh of relief and take a moment to reflect on the completion of their monumental…

EPISODE 402

…Ridiculous Ep. 5: The Future

Exploring the future of Behavioral Economics, we talked to three young researchers who are pushing the field further. A new generation of researchers is…

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…Ridiculous Ep. 4: Behavioral Economics Goes Mainstream

Eventually, Behavioral Economics emerged as an influential perspective. It’s become mainstream in Economics, and it’s helped inform programs and policies that affect real people…

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…Ridiculous Ep. 3: Children of Unlikely Parents

Behavioral Economics was using psychology to understand economics, but what did economists and psychologists think about their unexpected marriage? Slowly, this fledgling field weathered…

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…Ridiculous Ep. 2: Importing Psychology

The notion of merging psychology with economics initially faced staunch skepticism, with errors perceived as random rather than systematic. However, everything changed when psychologists…

EPISODE 398

…Ridiculous Ep. 1: Beyond Anomalies

For decades, neoclassical economists clung to the belief that humans are rational decision-makers, but a daring group of social scientists dared to question this…

EPISODE 397

Make Great Decisions | Elspeth Kirkman

Feeling indecisive? Ever wondered what it takes to master the art of decision-making? Join us on a thrilling journey with Elspeth Kirkman, the brilliant…

EPISODE 396

Trailer: They Thought We Were Ridiculous

Anticipation mounts as the countdown begins! Prepare to immerse yourself in the riveting saga of They Thought We Were Ridiculous, set to premiere and…

EPISODE 395

Unlocking Intimacy: The Power of Questions | Topaz Adizes

Could asking a question be the key to deepening your relationship? In this special Valentine’s Day episode, Kurt and Tim dive into the intricacies…

EPISODE 394

The Key to Boosting Retirement Savings | John Beshears

Ever wonder how to boost your retirement savings? Could it be that the subtle art of behavioral economics holds the answer? This week, Tim…

EPISODE 393

Decoding Behavior Change | Bri Williams [Republish]

It’s time for a throwback episode! Dive into the land down under of behavioral sciences with Bri Williams, a trailblazer in applying behavioral principles…

EPISODE 392

Mapping Out Our Minds | Linnea Gandhi

Set sail into the uncharted waters of behavioral science with Kurt and Tim on a captivating journey led by PhD candidate Linnea Gandhi. Together,…

EPISODE 391

Adapt, Recover, Grow: Mastering Resilience | Dr. Jonathan DePierro

What is resilience, and how can we cultivate it in our lives? In this episode, delve into the fascinating world of resilience with an…

EPISODE 390

Cracking the Communication Code | Ben Guttmann

Kurt and Tim kick off the new year with communications expert Ben Guttmann in an episode on simplifying messages. Ben’s seemingly simple lessons pack…

EPISODE 389

Groove Through 2023: A Year in Review with Kurt and Tim

Happy New Year from Kurt and Tim! As we reflect on the past year, join us in revisiting some of the most impactful and…

EPISODE 388

Grooving with Knowledge: Kurt and Tim’s Best Behavioral Science Books of 2023

Continuing their pursuit of knowledge, Kurt and Tim explore the impactful books that have shaped their perspectives in 2023. They unwrap the highlights of…

EPISODE 387

Balancing Work Friction and Fatigue | Huggy Rao

Have you or someone you know fallen victim to the detrimental effects of Jargon Monoxide? If so, there might be compensation waiting for you….

EPISODE 386

The Eight Superpowers of Confidence | Lisa Sun

Step into a captivating conversation as Tim and Kurt engage with Lisa Sun, the author of Gravitas. Lisa introduces the intriguing concept that each…

EPISODE 385

Rethinking Behavioral Science | Adam Mastroianni

While Tim finds himself confined to a plane, Kurt engages in a captivating one-on-one session with researcher Adam Mastroianni. Together, they delve into the…

EPISODE 384

Navigating Societal Rifts | Michèle Lamont

Tensions around the dinner table? Trouble finding common ground with friends and family? Renowned sociologist Michèle Lamont joins Tim and Kurt to unravel why…

EPISODE 383

Evolving Minds and Attention Spans | Gloria Mark PhD

Ever feel your attention… drifting? Want to get better at being present? Join Kurt and Tim as they delve into the world of shrinking…

EPISODE 382

The Power of Brevity | Todd Rogers

Does everybody skim? Todd Rogers, co-author of “Writing for Busy Readers” joins Kurt and Tim to discuss just that. In this insightful episode, Todd…

EPISODE 381

Unlocking the Power of Effective Communication | Matt Abrahams

Communication is a vital skill we all use, but do we truly understand its profound impact on our lives? Join Kurt and Tim as…

EPISODE 380

Why Sleep Is Vital for Academic Success | David Creswell PhD

We all know we need a good night’s sleep but sleep researcher, David Creswell PhD has studied how our performance is actually affected by…

EPISODE 379

Bridging Behavioral Science Concepts and Applications | Connor Joyce

Connect behavioral science theory and research to practical applications. Connor Joyce founded the Applied Behavioral Science Association and he shares his perspectives on different…

EPISODE 378

The 5 Healthy Brain Habits Of A Neuroscientist | Dr Daniel Almeida [Republish]

What life habits keep our brain healthy? How does our mind respond to trauma? And why does the way we talk about suicide and…

EPISODE 377

Reading the Air: Using Self-Awareness to Make the Workplace Work for You | Michelle King

Why is work so difficult for so many of us? Why are we not connected to the organization in ways to help us advance…

EPISODE 376

Grooving on Knowing Thyself: Why Figuring Out Who I Am is Easier Than You Thought.

“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Are you tired of that ditty? We are. How are you…

EPISODE 375

Why You Never Feel Good Enough As A Perfectionist | Thomas Curran

Conscientiousness, perseverance and meticulousness are all words associated with perfectionism. But perfectionism comes from a deeper sense of inadequacy, of not feeling good enough….

EPISODE 374

Overcome Chronic Busyness With A Growth Mindset | Eduardo Briceño

Doing, doing, doing. We can get stuck in a perpetual state of busyness to get things done. But being in a chronic “performance zone”…

EPISODE 373

Volunteering for Well-Being: How Team Rubicon Helps Volunteers and Communities | David Burke and Patti Norberg

Volunteering improves psychological well-being. Team Rubicon has researched this positive effect, not just on the communities it serves, but also on the well-being of…

EPISODE 372

Our Quest to Feel Significant And How It Affects Our Behavior | Arie Kruglanski PhD

We all want to feel significant. This drive for significance ultimately fuels our cognition, emotions, and actions. Distinguished psychologist Arie Kruglanski discusses motivation, cognition,…

EPISODE 371

How Best to Create a Culture of Learning | Sarah Nicholl

This podcast will give you the tools and techniques to foster a learning culture in your organization. Whether you work at a junior level…

EPISODE 370

Imperfectly Perfect: The Science of Human Decision Making | Lionel Page

Humans have limited information processing abilities and cannot possibly evaluate all possible options when making a decision. However, describing people merely as irrational paints…

EPISODE 369

Want To Make Tomorrow Better? Get To Know Your Future Self Today | Hal Hershfield

How can we make better choices today to benefit our future selves? Hal Hershfield outlines strategies like visualizing your future self, writing letters, making…

EPISODE 368

Money, Success and the Cult of Never Enough | Manisha Thakor

The “cult of never enough” encourages the belief that more money, possessions and achievements will make us happy. But Manisha Thakor has learnt through…

EPISODE 367

All The Ways Into Behavioral Science (And No, You Don’t Need a PhD) | Merle Van Den Akker

The world of applied behavioral science has never been better. So how do you get your foot in the door to have a career…

EPISODE 366

Confidence, Certainty and Control: The Map to Success | Peter Atwater

What exactly is confidence? Peter Atwater describes it as the feelings of certainty and control that we have about our future self. He explains…

EPISODE 365

The Psychology of Scams: Why We Fall for Fraud and How to Protect Yourself | Daniel Simons & Christopher Chabris

Splashy headlines, sensational findings and world-first results grab our attention but they also leave us vulnerable to deception. Constantly being skeptical of research is…

EPISODE 364

People Want Answers: How to Communicate in a Crisis with Christopher Reddy

Between disinformation and misinformation, it’s difficult to know what and who to trust, especially during a crisis. When disaster does strike, it is critical…

EPISODE 363

The Value of an Open Mind and How To Overcome Knowingness | Jonathan Malesic

When we pretend to know something that we don’t or start a comment with “everyone knows that…”, we create an atmosphere where answers become…

EPISODE 362

Feeling Stuck? Steps To Get Out Of Your Rut And How Music Helps | Adam Alter

We all get stuck. In relationships, in jobs or in creative endeavors. It’s a universal experience, yet most people feel incredibly lonely when they’re…

EPISODE 361

Are You A People Pleaser? Learn To Say No More with Vanessa Patrick PhD

Saying yes to tasks that we want to say no to is a common problem. But how do we decide which requests to turn…

EPISODE 360

What Do You Think? How To Improve Your Perspective And Your Life | Woo-Kyoung Ahn PhD

Understanding how we think can change our thinking. From confirmation biases, to uncertainty, to overconfidence, we are all blessed with the same thinking patterns…

EPISODE 359

How We’re Missing The Point With The Gender Pay Gap | Alex Imas PhD

If you compare executive pay of men and women in C suite jobs, you will often not find a discrepancy in their wages. You…

EPISODE 358

Want People To Comply With Rules? Start With Trust | Christian Hunt

Want people to comply with rules at work? Stop assuming that they are going to break the rules. The vast majority of people want…

EPISODE 357

Grooving on Goals: The Magic of Goals [Republish: Episode 27]

Goals are as common and as misunderstood as mobile phones. We think we know how to use them, but we don’t get it right…

EPISODE 356

Groove Track | Why It Takes More Than Willpower To Reach Your Goals

Between setting your goals and reaching your goals, there is a void that we assume willpower can fill. But to achieve success, it takes…

EPISODE 355

Why Random Rewards Feel So Much Better Than Earned Ones with Richard Shotton

Earning your 10th cup of coffee for free isn’t nearly as satisfying as being randomly awarded a free coffee from your barista. These uncertain…

EPISODE 354

Want Marketing That’s Effective? Use a Behavioral Science Perspective | Nancy Harhut

Interested in a secret, underused marketing trick? Use rhyme in your design! You may easily recall examples like “Bounty: the quicker picker upper” or…

EPISODE 353

Can Psychology Tell Us What Makes A Good Life? With Paul Bloom, Part 2

Is a happy life one that is abundant with pleasure? Or one without pain? Or one that overcomes struggle? The quest for a good…

EPISODE 352

Psychology: Should Freud Still Be On The Syllabus? Paul Bloom, Part 1

Ask someone to name a famous psychologist and there’s a good chance they’ll say Sigmund Freud. Describing a person as “anal” or rebuking someone…

EPISODE 351

What Do You Really Want? Understand The Desires We All Share | Charlotte Fox Weber

With curiosity we can figure out what we actually want. Sometimes what we desire makes us feel uncomfortable, and as a therapist, our guest…

EPISODE 350

How One Small Word Can Transform Our Motivation, Success And Relationships | Jonah Berger

Words matter. Unbelievably, tiny changes to language can have a big effect on behavior. Hear bestselling author, Jonah Berger reveal the magic words that…

EPISODE 349

A Guide To The Ambitious Future of Behavioral Science with Michael Hallsworth PhD

What lies ahead for applied behavioral science? How can we learn from the massive growth in the field over the last 15 years? Our…

EPISODE 348

Surprising Ways To End Poverty and Solve Climate Change with Erik Angner PhD

What if there was a way to end poverty and solve climate change, that might actually work. Shouldn’t we try it? Our guest Erik…

EPISODE 347

Why You Don‘t Need to be Powerful to be Influential | Vanessa Bohns

To be influential you do not require power, but wielding your influence is powerful. Vanessa Bohns, social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at…

EPISODE 346

You Work. You Parent. But Can You Also Thrive? | Yael Schonbrun PhD

Working and parenting often feel like being pulled in two different directions. But what if we could reframe our thinking and actually appreciate that…

EPISODE 345

The Tools You Need To Embrace Uncertainty | Nathan and Susannah Harmon Furr

We all face uncertainty at some point in our lives. But do we embrace it or resist it? Our thoughts about uncertainty and ambiguity…

EPISODE 344

How To Frame Incentives To Drive The Desired Behavior | James Castello

If you want to incentivize an outcome, don’t just focus on the final reward, hone in on the behavior that will drive the result….

EPISODE 343

The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury, featuring guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD [Republish]

First impressions matter but when it comes to dating, don’t get blown away by the myth of the “relationship spark”. Some people can instead…

EPISODE 342

Why Resilience Is More Than Just Bouncing Back | Gabriella Rosen Kellerman MD

There are actually 5 drivers of resilience; optimism, self compassion, cognitive agility, self efficacy and emotional regulation. We dive deep into each of these…

EPISODE 341

Why Human Connection Is The Key To Effective Branding | Matt Johnson

To get under the skin of how branding works, what makes it effective and how to build a successful brand, we talk with Matt…

EPISODE 340

Why The Best Choice Can Sometimes Be An Imperfect Choice | Michelle Segar PhD

Context heavily influences our behavior (regular listeners of the show know our “context matters” mantra well!). Sometimes, because of what life throws at us,…

EPISODE 339

How Behavioral Science Can Tackle Misinformation And Obesity | Evelyn Gosnell

Small changes can have big effects. Standing on a different set of scales can affect our weight loss journey and adding friction to the…

EPISODE 337

The 3 Step To Getting Your Groove Back In The New Year

Finding your groove – ever wondered what that actually means? And why is this podcast really called Behavioral Grooves?! Kurt and Tim explain what…

EPISODE 336

Make It Scale: How To Drive Behavior Change Initiatives | Neela Saldanha PhD

Scaling behavioral science initiatives from a small research study to a large population is a topic we have enjoyed delving into this year with…

EPISODE 335

The Best Behavioral Science Books Of 2022 (According to Kurt and Tim!)

One of the ways we find our groove is through knowledge – sometimes new ideas, sometimes repeated ideas that are presented in new ways….

EPISODE 334

How the Right Journal Can Help You Reach Your Goals in 2023

Want to start a journaling habit but are worried you won’t stay motivated? Having the right journal, that is designed using behavioral insights to…

EPISODE 333

How Game Theory Can Be Used To Explain Human Behavior | Erez Yoeli

We know human behavior isn’t rational. But this episode illustrates behavior using a surprising concept – game theory. This eye opening conversation with Erez…

EPISODE 332

Do One Small Thing Every Day That Scares You | Scott Simon

Exercising your courage muscle every day and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, can have remarkable effect on your mindset and really influence…

EPISODE 331

Want To Join A Secret Club? With Michael F. Schein

If you were sent an exclusive invite to a secret society, would you accept? If you knew only a few people in the world…

EPISODE 330

How To Redesign Social Media Better So That It’s Actually Sociable

The web was intended to be a way of creating genuine connections with others, but we’re all sadly familiar with the detrimental ways it…

EPISODE 329

Groove Track | Tale of Two Markets: Do We Help People Only For Money Or Candy?

Would you help change a stranger’s tire? How about if they offered you $20? Or, what if instead of money, they offered you some candy? We often…

EPISODE 328

Why Do Good People Let Bad Things Happen? With Max Bazerman

We find it easy to condemn wrongdoers, after they’ve been called out. But why do we often let unethical behavior occur around us, and…

EPISODE 327

A Proven Way Expectations Can Unlock A More Positive Life | David Robson

How we think about the world can drastically influence how we navigate through it. Cutting edge research proves that reframing our mindset to be…

EPISODE 326

Grooving on Cheating: Kurt, Tim, Christian Hunt, and Koen Smets

Cheating is all around us. Is it on rise? It appears to be so, but why? Christian Hunt, the founder and host of Human…

EPISODE 325

Can You Unlearn History And Still Love Your Country? With Dolly Chugh

Learning ALL the parts of our country’s history can be very uncomfortable. Not just in the US, but around the world, there are usually…

EPISODE 324

How To Get Comfortable With Uncertainty: The Ambiguity Mindset with Debbie Sutherland

People don’t hate change, they hate the ambiguity that comes with change. Organizational psychologist, Dr Debbie Sutherland PhD, shares the tools we can use,…

EPISODE 323

Quit: Why We Do It Too Late and How To Get Better At It with Annie Duke

Walking away is never easy. Whether it’s quitting a job, a relationship or an expedition to the peak of Mount Everest, we have a…

EPISODE 322

Four Steps To More Effective Conversations | Chuck Wisner

Conversations are vital to our existence – after all, we talk with people every day. But have you ever dissected what makes a conversation…

EPISODE 321

How To Have A Conversation About Racism | Robert Livingston

Racism is solvable, but that doesn’t mean we will solve it. To close the gap between the probable and possible, we need to have…

EPISODE 320

Visualize A Horse…But What If You Actually Can’t? Aphantasia Explained With Dr Adam Zeman

Close your eyes and visualize a horse. Most people can picture the outline of the body, the color of the horse and the unique…

EPISODE 319

Want to Know How Priming Works? It Starts With Your Conscious, Not Your Unconscious | John Bargh

“The primary source of unconscious priming…is your conscious experience.” Our consciousness is where we bring everything together, where we integrate and form a rich…

EPISODE 318

Rory Sutherland: The Opposite of a Good Idea is a Good Idea [Republish]

Rory Sutherland is a British advertising executive who became fascinated with behavioral science. Between his TED talks, books and articles, he has become one…

EPISODE 317

How Good People Fight Bias | Dolly Chugh [Republish]

Psychology and neuroscience have proven that our minds do things on autopilot. These shortcuts (or heuristics) are laden with unconscious biases, which are juxtaposed…

EPISODE 316

Groove Track | No, Short-Term Rewards Don’t Drain Long-Term Motivation

For many years, the general consensus by many researchers and practitioners was that providing people with short-term extrinsic rewards sapped their long-term motivation. This…

EPISODE 315

The Power of Unity: Robert Cialdini Expands His Best Selling Book Influence [Republish]

The GodFather of Influence, Robert Cialdini joins us on Behavioral Grooves to share his motivation for expanding his bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of…

EPISODE 314

Groove Track | 12 Words That Improve Company Performance

Priming studies have had some negative press over the past ten years – some of it justified, some of it not. In this groove…

EPISODE 313

Delusions Can Actually Be Useful: Hidden Brain’s Shankar Vedantam Reveals How [Republish]

Shankar Vedantam is the host of the wildly popular podcast, Hidden Brain and esteemed author of the book Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox…

EPISODE 312

How To Find Meaning IN Life | Dr Brian Lowery PhD

Three things generate a sense of meaning IN life; Coherence – can you make sense of the world? Purpose – do you feel a…

EPISODE 311

How Do Incentives Actually Impact Motivation? | Dr Indranil Goswami PhD

Incentives can improve motivation. But what actually happens when the incentive is removed? An influential body of research previously suggested that extrinsic rewards have…

EPISODE 310

Why You Can’t Find a Cab When It’s Raining – Groove Track

Groove Track | Why can’t you find a cab in the rain? We take a deep dive exploring the 1997 study “LABOR SUPPLY OF…

EPISODE 309

Can You Really Love Things As Much As People? With Aaron Ahuvia

Love connects us to things in a deep way. But when we say we love our car, or we love our favorite beach, or…

EPISODE 308

The Loss of Common Sense: How To Gain A Little Perspective | Martin Lindstrom

Disembarking people from a plane, row by row during the height of COVID, but then cramming all the passengers into a bus to the…

EPISODE 307

Groove Track | Mind Over Milkshakes: Why Expectations Matter A Lot

A deep dive exploring the 2011 paper by Alia Crum, William Corbin, Kelly Brownwell, and Peter Salovey called “Mind Over Milkshakes: Mindsets, Not Just…

EPISODE 306

Trust Your Gut? Only If The Data Supports It | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

When making big decisions, people often go with what feels right – who we marry, where we live, what career we pursue. We base…

EPISODE 305

Changing Our Mind: Exploring How Mental Illness Is Managed with Daniel Bergner

Over the last 50 years, little has changed for the pharmaceutical management of mental illness. This is troublesome, but not unsolvable, according to The…

EPISODE 304

Finding Out What Your Customers Want and Why It Matters | Andrea Belk Olson

Customer feedback lacks two fundamental pieces of information: context and behavior. Traditional methods of insight, like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and customer feedback…

EPISODE 303

From Distracted To Focused: Nir Eyal’s Secrets On How To Be Indistractable

Utilizing the power of identity by proudly declaring yourself as indistractable can be a persuasive step in becoming the kind of person we want…

EPISODE 302

You Have Dignity Because You’re Human, Not Because You Work | Jonathan Malesic

Mitt Romney once mistakenly quipped that people were either “makers or takers” echoing a common sentiment among US politicians that by working we provide…

EPISODE 301

How To Fix Burnout (Hint: It Isn’t Another Yoga Session) | Jennifer Moss

We’ve been programmed to treat burnout as a self-care issue, as if we’re just one yoga session or a relaxation app away from fixing…

EPISODE 300

You Can Change Someone’s Mind But Are You Sure You Want To? | David McRaney

We all know someone who believes in conspiracy theories and we wish we could change their mind. It is possible. There are techniques that…

EPISODE 299

Changing The World with Persistent Optimism | Dr. Paul Zeitz

What if we were so optimistic, nothing ever felt like an obstacle, only an opportunity? As an unapologetic optimist, Dr. Paul Zeitz has overcome…

EPISODE 298

Want To Improve Your Kid’s Behavior? Start With Your Own | Sue Donnellan

Many of us struggle with the demands of parenting. Our response to feeling overwhelmed can be to try and control our kids’ behavior. But…

EPISODE 297

Three Easy Ways to Nurture A Child’s Brain Development | Dana Suskind MD

World-class pediatric surgeon, social scientist, and best-selling author Dr Dana Suskind MD talks about the Three T’s (tune in, talk more and take turns)…

EPISODE 296

Fail to Scale: Why Good Research Doesn’t Always Make Great Policy | John A. List

Lots of us have good ideas, some even back their ideas up with successful research. So why do these good ideas fail to scale…

EPISODE 295

For Revolutionary Solutions, Look To Evolutionary Ideas | Sam Tatam

Innovation doesn’t always require inventing new solutions to problems; chances are that evolution has already solved the issue with a unique design. This simple…

EPISODE 294

Why Mindset Matters Most: The Secrets of Achievement | Paul Szyarto

A goal is a stepping stone on the way to a higher achievement, not an end point. By reframing our expectations, we can transform…

EPISODE 293

Women Do Too Much Non-Promotable Work: How To Say No More with Linda Babcock

Women are more likely to volunteer for a non-promotable task at work, than men. But why do women volunteer themselves more? What repercussions does…

EPISODE 292

How The Invisible Influence of Culture Shapes Our Behavior | Michele Gelfand

The culture we live in has an invisible influence over our individual and collective behaviors. The tendency towards openness or order in a society…

EPISODE 291

The Psychological Benefits of Using a Process to Achieve an Outcome | Joseph Keebler PhD & Peter Krask

Processes decrease our cognitive load and increase our productivity. On Behavioral Grooves we have talked with out guests a lot about habits and routines,…

EPISODE 290

Transport Your Thinking; Why We Need To Reframe Travel | Rory Sutherland & Pete Dyson

Transporting humans from A to B is about more than just speed, efficiency and duration. Comfort, Wi-Fi access, entertainment and our habits, among many…

EPISODE 289

Why Not All Nudges Work ”In The Wild” | Nina Mazar PhD & Dilip Soman PhD

Read Nudge and you are inspired by how behavioral science works. But how can we translate and scale behavioral science effectively into policies and…

EPISODE 288

The Steps Needed To Empower the Powerless | Julie Battilana PhD

Personality or wealth are often assumed to be prerequisites to gaining power, something that is only garnered by having control over others. An organization…

EPISODE 287

Why Talking To Strangers Is Actually Good For Your Wellbeing | Nick Epley

Do you strike up a conversation with a stranger on a plane or while waiting in line? If you don’t already, you will after…

EPISODE 286

If You’re Wrong It’s Meaningless, But If I’m Wrong It’s Valuable | Peter Montoya

As the political divide between left and right widens in the US and around the world, we seem to spend increasing amounts of time…

EPISODE 285

The Three Phases of Growth and Learning | Whitney Johnson

We are always learning, whether it’s changing careers or learning a new instrument. But how do we transition from the curiosity stage, to completely…

EPISODE 284

Mindset Matters Most: Top Tips from The Sales Evangelist, Donald C. Kelly

Creating a motivating mindset is the most important component of any sales role. In fact, it’s a critical component of everything we do, but…

EPISODE 283

Is The Anus Really The Key To All Intelligent Life? | Henry Gee

Paleontologist Henry Gee humorously explains to us why the anus was the key to large animals evolving, how the large size of our “dangly…

EPISODE 282

Why Applying Behavioral Science to Public Policy Delivers Better Policy | David Yokum PhD

Connecting evidence-based behavioral science with public policy has been shown to deliver more effective government policies that strengthen communities. And there’s no-one better to…

EPISODE 281

Why Leaders Need To Care For People, Not Manage Them | Sesil Pir

Control is the opposite of caring. And a caring mindset is one of the most important things a leader can possess. In a caring…

EPISODE 280

Do We Judge Others By The Way They Speak? | Katherine Kinzler PhD

We gravitate to people who are like us; our “tribe”. One factor that we use to assume that others are like us, is by…

EPISODE 279

We Are Greater Together; The Power Of Belonging | Dominic Packer PhD

We all have an inherent need to belong. And the groups we feel part of actually shape our behavior, more than we realize. They…

EPISODE 278

How Can Smart, Kind People Harness Their Influence? | Zoe Chance

Influential is probably not a word you use to describe yourself if you are the quiet/smart/kind type of person. Furthermore, you probably have misconceptions…

EPISODE 277

No Regrets? Really? Why Regrets Actually Bring Us Hope | Daniel H. Pink

No regrets is a phrase thrown around like a badge of honor. Tattoos, songs and marketing taglines all boast this notion of curating a…

EPISODE 276

How To Stay Motivated So You Exceed Your Goals | Ayelet Fishbach PhD

When we set goals, we’re excited, engaged and motivated to complete them. But after a while, the momentum can slow, we lose enthusiasm and…

EPISODE 275

A Long, Happy Life? The Impacts of Increasing Our Longevity | Bradley Schurman

Societies around the world are getting older; a combination of people living longer and having fewer children. The 85+ population is now the fastest…

EPISODE 274

Why Finding Pleasure in Life is a Painful Journey | Paul Bloom

Why do people train for a marathon? Listen to sad music? Eat really spicy food? All of these activities induce a painful response, yet…

EPISODE 273

How Collaboration is Growing Behavioral Science: Learnings from BX Arabia

BX Arabia is a regional behavioral insights conference that started in 2018 to emphasize the application of behavioral science in the Global South. Kurt…

EPISODE 272

How To Turn Your Creative Dreams Into Reality | Jeff Madoff

If you have a creative vision, how do you focus your skills on making it happen? Can you turn your dream into a career?…

EPISODE 271

How To Create New Goals That Will Really Motivate You in 2022

It’s the time of year for setting New Year’s resolutions. But how can you set goals that you will actually achieve? Will you look…

EPISODE 270

The Behavioral Science Books We Just Couldn’t Put Down in 2021 With Louise Ward

What a year for books 2021 has been! It seems like authors, editors and publishers have all been working overtime this year to bring…

EPISODE 269

More Than Just A Checklist: How to Effectively Apply Behavioral Science | Torben Emmerling

Applying Behavioral Science insights at work takes more than just another checklist or document, it’s about creating an environment that enables people to make…

EPISODE 268

Our Love Of Music And The Influence Of The Pandemic With Mark Thorley

Where and how we listened to music shifted during the pandemic. But the music industry itself had to quickly adapt in 2020 to how…

EPISODE 267

Please Help Us by Voting for Behavioral Grooves – it takes 10 seconds

Habit Weekly, a wonderful organization founded by Samuel Salzer, is asking people to weigh in on their favorite podcast by casting a vote at…

EPISODE 266

Trust: The Four Key Steps to Genuinely Build It | Sandra Sucher

In 2021, people started to trust business organizations more than governments, NGOs or the media, according to global research by the Edelman Trust Baraometer….

EPISODE 265

Focus More on HOW to Think, and Less on WHAT to Think | Dr. Howard Rankin PhD

If we are open minded, we challenge our beliefs and accept that our thinking can, at times, be misguided. After all, our thoughts are…

EPISODE 264

Need a Laugh to Get Through Your Workday? Dan Hill

Need some respite from the work day grind? Join the fun on this episode for a light-hearted take on workplace humor. Dan Hill delivers…

EPISODE 263

Feeling Fearful: Why People Seek Out Conspiracy Theories | Eric Oliver

What makes us more likely to believe in conspiracy theories? Can our religious beliefs or political affiliations determine whether we’re less likely to believe…

EPISODE 262

Why We Are More Vulnerable To Harmful Conspiracy Theories Than We Think | Andy Norman

Misinformation is like a virus, spreading quickly and propagating in a way that doesn’t benefit its host. Andy Noman describes harmful ideas as acting…

EPISODE 261

Conspiracy Theories: How To Talk to A Science Denier | Lee McIntyre

How do you respond to someone who says “the earth is flat” or “Covid is a hoax”? Before we can try and reason with…

EPISODE 260

Conspiracy Theories: Hidden Brain‘s Shankar Vedantam | The Delusion of Nations

Host of Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam talks with us about the powers: both useful and harmful, of our delusional thinking. Nations are an…

EPISODE 259

Halloween Special: Grooving on Scary Biases

Listen to Kurt and Tim’s spooky Halloween Special about some common biases that can seem a bit scary. But don’t fear, the scariest thing…

EPISODE 258

Why Does Rude Behavior Really Bother Us So Much? | Trevor Foulk PhD

Rudeness is contagious, in a similar way to a virus. When experiencing a rude encounter, our brain perceives it like a threat. And once…

EPISODE 257

Helping People To Assemble Better Decisions | Eric J. Johnson

How do we make decisions? What factors influence the final outcome? Do default settings change our preferences? Every decision we make; from choosing something…

EPISODE 256

Anxiety at Work: Why We Feel It and How To Manage It | Chester Elton

Anxiety in the workplace has always been present, even pre-pandemic but rates of anxiety, particularly among young employees, have worsened since 2020. So what…

EPISODE 255

The 5 Healthy Brain Habits Of A Neuroscientist | Dr Daniel Almeida

What life habits keep our brain healthy? How does our mind respond to trauma? And why does the way we talk about suicide and…

EPISODE 254

Money Does Boost Happiness, But Not The Way We Think It Does | Daniel Crosby

The clearest indicators of our financial solvency are based on the behaviors we exhibit with our investments. Dr. Daniel Crosby PhD is a psychologist,…

EPISODE 253

Why You Don‘t Need to be Powerful to be Influential | Vanessa Bohns

To be influential you do not require power, but wielding your influence is powerful. Vanessa Bohns, social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at…

EPISODE 252

Leading Human™: How to Avoid Burnout and Create a Positive Organization

Employee burnout, The Great Resignation, Office Covid Regulations; these are all major concerns for leaders in the workplace right now. But how can managers…

EPISODE 251

Kwame Christian: On Compassionate Curiosity, Social Justice Conversations, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch [Republish Episode 178]

[NOTE: This episode is republished from #178 in October 2020.] Kwame Christian, Esq. is the author of “Nobody Will Play With Me: How to…

EPISODE 250

Vaccinating the World: How Behavioral Science Helps. With Michael Coleman

How can behavioral science aid the mammoth task of vaccination the world against Covid? What common barriers cause vaccine hesitancy in populations around the…

EPISODE 249

Can People Learn to be Better at Thinking? With Richard E. Nisbett

Few psychologists in the world have contributed more to scientific discovery than our guest Richard E. Nisbett. He joins us to discuss his latest…

EPISODE 248

Do We Control Situations or Do Situations Control Us? With John Bargh

Can we control our unconscious behavior? How much does the situation we’re in control us? Can we prime people to behave a certain way?…

EPISODE 247

Stanford Prison Experiment, 50 Years On: What Have We Really Learnt? With Dr Philip Zimbardo

The Stanford Prison Experiment has been the topic of movies, newspaper articles, textbooks and TV shows. Extensively published controversy has surrounded the social psychology…

EPISODE 246

[INTERVIEW] Are You More Honest with Google or Your friends? With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The truth is we divulge more information to Google that we do to our friends, our family or even our doctors. Our social media…

EPISODE 245

[GROOVING SESSION] Are You More Honest with Google or Your friends? With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

This follow-up episode is a free-flowing Grooving Session where Tim and Kurt chat about their discussion with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (Episode 246). You’re more than…

EPISODE 244

[INTERVIEW] Does Money Really Make You Happy? The Research with Johannes Haushofer

What link is there between happiness and income? Does winning the lottery make you happier? What does the research say about poverty and our…

EPISODE 243

[GROOVING SESSION] Does Money Really Make You Happy? The Research with Johannes Haushofer

Kurt and Tim discuss the links between poverty and mental health, how higher income is linked to better well-being, and the idea of a…

EPISODE 242

[INTERVIEW] Smart Behavioral Economics Secrets Every Marketer Needs with Melina Palmer

What does your customer want but can’t tell you? What effective marketing techniques use behavioral economics? If only you had a way of understanding…

EPISODE 241

[GROOVING SESSION] Smart Behavioral Economics Secrets Every Marketer Needs with Melina Palmer

How can your organization improve its marketing messaging using proven behavioral science techniques? As part of our series on Marketing & Employee Engagement this…

EPISODE 240

[INTERVIEW] Why Good, Honest Employees Really Do Steal With Kelly Paxton

Do honest people steal? Our guest, Kelly Paxton investigates and researches low level crimes such as book-keeping fraud; also known as Pink Collar Crime….

EPISODE 239

[GROOVING SESSION] Why Good, Honest Employees Really Do Steal With Kelly Paxton

Continuing our series on Marketing and Employee Engagement this month, we were joined by Kelly Paxton on our latest interview episode: Why Good, Honest…

EPISODE 238

Who Makes You Feel Grateful? Tell Them! With Chester Elton

When did a colleague last thank you for your work? Managers generally underappreciate their employees, but more importantly, they tend to undervalue the benefits…

EPISODE 237

[INTERVIEW] Attention: How to Capture It and Keep It with Ben Parr

What is the science behind capturing people’s attention? And what do you do after you have someone’s attention; what is your intention? Is our…

EPISODE 236

[GROOVING SESSION] Attention: How to Capture It and Keep It with Ben Parr

Continuing our series on Marketing and Employee Engagement this month, we were joined on our latest interview episode (#237) by Ben Parr, author of…

EPISODE 235

[INTERVIEW] Make Choice Rewarding: Behavioral Insights in Marketing with Matthew Willcox

Welcome to our series of episodes on Marketing and Employee Engagement. We’ll be sharing insights into how to apply behavioral science in business. And…

EPISODE 234

[GROOVING SESSION] Make Choice Rewarding: Behavioral Insights in Marketing with Matthew Willcox

We’re doing things a little differently this month on Behavioral Grooves. Instead of discussing Matthew Willcox’s interview in our Grooving Session at the end…

EPISODE 233

Katy Milkman: How to Make Healthy Habits that Actually Last [GROOVING SESSION]

We’re doing things a little differently this week. Instead of discussing Katy Milkman’s research at the end of our interview (Episode 232), we’ve decided…

EPISODE 232

[INTERVIEW] Katy Milkman: How to Make Healthy Habits that Actually Last

We all appreciate a fresh start. Time to start again. A clean slate. Maybe we want to go to the gym more often, eat…

EPISODE 231

Why We Work At Our Best, When We Feel At Our Best with Larry Senn

Today’s guest is Dr. Larry Senn, PhD, a pioneer in the field of corporate culture. He founded Senn Delaney as a culture shaping firm…

EPISODE 230

How Good People Fight Bias with Dolly Chugh

Dolly Chugh is an award-winning associate professor and social psychologist at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Her research focuses on…

EPISODE 229

From Holding the Mic to Theory of Mind: Rob Leonard’s Love of Language

Talk about a unique career path! From performing at Woodstock before Jimi Hendrix, with his band Sha Na Na, to now being a Forensic…

EPISODE 228

Getting to Yes, And…Behavioral Grooves: Two Podcasts in One

This episode is a Behavioral Grooves first: we bring you our first ever joint podcast! Mid-way through the episode the tables turn and our…

EPISODE 227

Get More from Reading your Favorite Books with Pique founder Bec Weeks

On this episode of Behavioral Grooves we chat with the founder of the engaging new app PIQUE. Bec Weeks is a behavioral scientist turned…

EPISODE 226

The Power of Unity: Robert Cialdini Expands His Best Selling Book Influence

The GodFather of Influence, Robert Cialdini joins us again on Behavioral Grooves to share his motivation for expanding his bestselling book Influence: The Psychology…

EPISODE 225

Behind NOISE and Beyond The Book: Linnea Gandhi Shares her New Course on Noise

Linnea Gandhi is one of our favorite people to talk with and we had the pleasure of welcoming Linnea back to Behavioral Grooves recently….

EPISODE 224

Why Is Noise Worse Than Bias? Olivier Sibony Explains

NOISE is set to be the next behavioral science bestseller. Daniel Kahneman, Cass Sunstein and Olivier Sibony describe noise as the unwanted variabilities in…

EPISODE 223

How Behavioral Science Can Impact Nonprofits: The Inspiring Story at Save The Children

Allison Zelkowitz seized the opportunity to use behavioral science at Save The Children to make a big impact on global projects. By building a…

EPISODE 222

How Delusions Can Actually Be Useful: Shankar Vedantam Reveals How

In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Shankar Vedantam, host of the wildly popular podcast, Hidden Brain and esteemed author of the new…

EPISODE 221

Donating Our Money Is Irrational, So Why Do We Do It? Tim Kachuriak Explains Our Motivations

Tim Kachuriak is the founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consulting firm that works with businesses,…

EPISODE 220

How Do You Become Influential? Jon Levy Reveals His Surprising Secrets

Our guest, Jon Levy, is arguably one of the most influential behavioral scientists in the world. Over 10 years ago, Jon founded The Influencers…

EPISODE 219

Why Music Makes You Feel Better with Pablo Ripollés and Ernest Mas Herrero

In this episode we are thrilled to be discussing our two favorite topics: human behavior and music. We learn that music, more than any…

EPISODE 218

Share, Like, Comment: Sandra Matz PhD Exposes The Truth Behind your Digital Footprint

Our guest this week, Sandra Matz PhD exposes the truth behind our online presence. In our conversation, Sandra reveals that with simple analytics, the…

EPISODE 217

3 Ways to have a Positive Chat About Vaccine Hesitancy with Friends and Family

Research is showing that there are four broad groups of people who are the most vaccine hesitant: African Americans Latinos Women between the ages…

EPISODE 216

How a Compelling Story Packs a Persuasive Punch with Melanie Green

Dr. Melanie Green is a professor at Ohio State University. She joined us on the podcast to explain how the power of a compelling…

EPISODE 215

Secrets of Subtraction: Donut Holes, Lego and Bruce Springsteen with Leidy Klotz

Leidy Klotz is the Copenhaver Associate Professor of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research fills in underexplored overlaps…

EPISODE 214

Observing the Non-Obvious: How to Spot Trends Around You with Rohit Bhargava

Rohit Bhargava is on a mission to help everyone in the world become a non-obvious thinker. In this episode, he talks with us about…

EPISODE 213

Why It’s Astoundingly Easy, But Not Better, to Be Tribal with Tim Ash

Tim Ash is a very interesting guy. He is both an authority on evolutionary psychology and digital marketing, which puts him in pretty rarified…

EPISODE 212

Scrutinizing Hype: Powerful lessons from The Hype Handbook with Michael F. Schein

Michael F. Schein is a hype specialist and the author of The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Secrets from the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult…

EPISODE 211

A Thousand Thanks: A Lifetime of Experiments and Gratitude with AJ Jacobs

AJ Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer, and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers, including The Year of Living Biblically, that…

EPISODE 210

Linda Thunstrom: Are Thoughts and Prayers Empty Gestures to Suffering Disaster Victims?

Linda Thunstrom, PhD is a Swedish economist working as an assistant professor of economics at the University of Wyoming. (That’s in Laramie, Wyoming, not…

EPISODE 209

GAABS and Improving the Future for Every Applied Behavioral Scientist

GAABS is an organization that was recently founded to act as an accrediting body for applied behavioral scientists. GAABS is The Global Association of…

EPISODE 208

Dessa: The Attention Shepherd on the Curious Act of Being Deeply Human

Dessa is a singer, rapper, writer, speaker, science and philosophy connoisseur, podcast host, and ice cream flavor inventor. (Her flavor is Dessa’s Existential Crunch…

EPISODE 207

Jonathan Mann: Is it Possible to Design an Experience?

Can you design an experience for someone else? Jonathan Mann, the Vice President of User Experience at Renaissance Learning says, “Umm, not really.” Prior…

EPISODE 206

Why We Need Robots with Kind Faces with Bertram Malle

Bertram Malle, PhD teaches social cognitive science and social psychology at Brown University, he’s the author of dozens of articles and has focused his…

EPISODE 205

The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD)

Logan Ury studied psychology at Harvard, was a TED Fellow, then became a behavioral scientist at Google, where she ran Google’s behavioral science team…

EPISODE 204

How Shellye Archambeau Flies Like an Eagle

Shellye Archambeau is the author of “Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms.” It’s part memoir, part inspiration,…

EPISODE 203

On Fake Memories and Whistleblowers with Nuala Walsh

Nuala Walsh is a strategic adviser with MindEquity, working with organizations to create reputation, commercial and cultural change. She is a global leader, an…

EPISODE 202

How Chaning Jang Works Around Not Being WEIRD

Chaning Jang is the CSO of the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and has helped lead the organization since 2013. He is responsible for…

EPISODE 201

The Counterintuitive Persuasion of The Catalyst with Jonah Berger

Jonah Berger is a marketing professor in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the internationally best-selling author Contagious and Invisible Influence….

EPISODE 200

Time is Money – How Do You Value It?

Recently, NPR’s Planet Money penned an article about how much our time is worth based on some research that was sponsored by the rideshare…

EPISODE 199

How Decision Making is Critical for Back Country Skiers and Sex

Have you ever been caught in an avalanche or spoken to someone who survived? In this episode, you’ll hear what living through an avalanche…

EPISODE 198

The Role of the Unconscious in Everyday Behaviors with Joel Weinberger

Joel Weinberger is a Professor of Psychology at the Derner Institute at Adelphi University with Postdoctoral training in motivation at Harvard University. He is…

EPISODE 197

Successful New Year’s Resolutions in 4 Quick Tips

If you’re like the rest of us, your new year’s resolutions don’t last beyond St. Valentine’s Day. That’s okay – it’s normal. The trouble…

EPISODE 196

Living Happier By Making the World Better with Max Bazerman

Max Bazerman is the Jesse Isidor Strauss Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and is the author of “Better, Not Perfect.” It…

EPISODE 195

Reflecting on the Best Podcast Insights from 2020

This is THE episode to listen to if you have missed the last 90 episodes. We can all agree that 2020 has been one…

EPISODE 194

The 10 Best Behavioral Science Books for 2020

Pretty much everyone around the world agrees that 2020 was a challenging year and we’re glad it’s all but over. However, 2020 was a…

EPISODE 193

How to Deal With Anxiety Over COVID Vaccines

Are the new COVID-19 vaccines are safe? It will probably take time to know for sure; however, this week Kurt and Tim discuss the…

EPISODE 192

Amy Bucher on Participatory Design, Trust and Engaging Your Audience

Amy Bucher, PhD is the Vice President of Behavior Change Design at Mad*Pow and the author of “Engaged,” a new book on how to…

EPISODE 191

Evolving HR Using Behavioral Science with Ryan McShane

Ryan McShane is the President and CEO of HR Evolution, a consultancy that designs systems that support employee alignment to organizational purpose through HR…

EPISODE 190

Cornelia Walther on POZE: Pause, Observe, Zoom in, and Experience

Cornelia Walther has spent most of her professional career with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP). She was…

EPISODE 189

Kevin Vallier: What to Do About Polarization

Kevin Vallier, PhD is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University, where he directs their Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law programs….

EPISODE 188

Improve Productivity by Making Your Workforce Psychologically Safe

[NOTE: This episode was originally published as a Weekly Grooves podcast. We wanted to share it with our Behavioral Grooves listeners and we hope…

EPISODE 187

Bill von Hippel on The Social Leap, Context, and Max Weinberg

Bill von Hippel, PhD is an evolutionary psychologist from Alaska who has lived in Australia for more than 20 years. Bill teaches at the…

EPISODE 186

World Kindness Day Through a Behavioral Lens

World Kindness Day is November 13th and has been celebrated in many countries around the world since 1998. World Kindness Day was developed to…

EPISODE 185

How Do We Deal with Disinformation?

[NOTE: This episode was originally published under our sister-podcast, Weekly Grooves. We are republishing it here to share relevant behavioral science information. We hope…

EPISODE 184

Elspeth Kirkman and Michael Hallsworth on Designing Behavioral Interventions

CORRECTION: In this episode, we incorrectly state that Michael Hallsworth started the BIT North American team. In fact, the BIT North America team was…

EPISODE 183

Iowa Caucus Conspiracy Theories – How to Inoculate Yourself

[NOTE: This episode was originally published under our sister-podcast, Weekly Grooves. In our effort to share relevant behavioral science information, we are republishing it…

EPISODE 182

Rippling with Jez Groom and April Vellacott

Jez Groom and April Vellacott, our guests in this episode, are co-authors of “Ripple – The Big Effects of Small Behavior Changes in Business.”…

EPISODE 181

Grooving: The Single Largest Driver of Misinformation

[NOTE: This episode was originally published under our sister-podcast, Weekly Grooves. In our effort to share relevant behavioral science information, we are republishing it…

EPISODE 180

Vote Now (for Behavioral Grooves)

The presidential election is going full tilt in the United States and we want to emphasize the importance of acting on your constitutional rights…

EPISODE 179

Play, Reciprocity and Context: The Keys to Happy Communities with Jessica Mayhew

Jessica Mayhew, PhD teaches Biological Anthropology as well as Primate Culture & Cognition at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. She got our attention…

EPISODE 178

Kwame Christian: On Compassionate Curiosity, Social Justice Conversations, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Kwame Christian, Esq. is the author of “Nobody Will Play With Me: How to Use Compassionate Curiosity to Find Confidence in Conflict.” He is…

EPISODE 177

Matt Johnson & Prince Ghuman on Mid-Liminal Marketing and the Ethics of Applied Neuroscience

Matt Johnson, PhD and Prince Ghuman are the authors of “Blindsight: the mostly hidden ways marketing shapes our brains.” We caught up with them…

EPISODE 176

Annie Duke on How to Decide

Annie Duke first guested on Behavioral Grooves on Episode 31, which was released on September 30, 2018. For some reason, the three of us…

EPISODE 175

Andy Luttrell: Pro’s and Con’s of Persuasion When Issues are Moralized

Andy Luttrell, PhD is an assistant professor of psychological science at Ball State University and the podcaster/host of Opinion Science, one of Kurt and…

EPISODE 174

Secrets to a Successful Marriage with Eli Finkel

Eli Finkel, PhD is a social psychology professor who studies interpersonal attraction, marriage, and how our social relationships influence our goal achievement. He is…

EPISODE 173

Grooving: Colleges and the Coronavirus

[NOTE: You may or may not know that Kurt and Tim host a sibling podcast called Weekly Grooves. We thought this was such an…

EPISODE 172

How to Talk to Your Friends About Their Conspiracy Theories with Eric Oliver

Eric Oliver, PhD is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Although the majority of his work is squarely in the…

EPISODE 171

Self Control, Belonging, and Why Your Most Dedicated Employees Are the Ones To Watch Out For with Roy Baumeister

Roy Baumeister, PhD is a world-renowned researcher known for his work on the subjects of willpower, self-control, and self-esteem and how they relate to…

EPISODE 170

Seven Questions to Assess the Psychological Safety of Your Teams with Susan Hunt Stevens

Susan Hunt Stevens is the Founder and CEO of WeSpire, a technology platform that helps achieve the company’s goals through better employee engagement. WeSpire…

EPISODE 169

Eugen Dimant, PhD: What To Do About Bad Apples

[NOTE: Republished in its entirety from original episode #104 on December 15, 2019.] Eugen Dimant, PhD is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Master of…

EPISODE 168

The Stages of Grief, Pandemics and the Psychology of Protests with Nicole Fisher

Nicole Fisher, DrPH is the president of Health and Human Rights Strategies and is a regular contributor to Forbes magazine on social justice issues….

EPISODE 167

How Babies’ Faces on Shop Doors Can Reduce Crime: With Tara Austin

Tara Austin is a strategist and was recently the Chief Strategy Officer for Kindred in London. Many of us know her for her public…

EPISODE 166

Elspeth Kirkman: Best Models for Identifying a Problem

Elspeth Kirkman is responsible for BIT’s work on health, education, and local government. Prior to this role, she oversaw the establishment and growth of…

EPISODE 165

Shlomi Ron: Visual Storying Telling In a Time of Crisis

Shlomi Ron is the CEO of the Visual Storytelling Institute. He co-founded the institute after 20 years of digital marketing with some of the…

EPISODE 164

Steve Wendel, PhD: Designing for Behavior Change

Stephen Wendel, PhD is an applied behavioral scientist who studies how digital products can help people take action more effectively. He currently serves as…

EPISODE 163

Robert Cialdini, PhD: Littering, Egoism and Aretha Franklin

[NOTE: This episode is republished from #50 in January 2019.] Robert Cialdini, PhD is counted among the greatest psychological researchers alive today and his published…

EPISODE 162

Grooving: On the Principle of Scarcity

[NOTE: This episode is republished from #74 in June 2019.] This episode is a discussion on the principle of scarcity. Kurt and Tim attempt…

EPISODE 161

Katy Milkman, PhD: Using Behavior Change for Good

[NOTE: This is a republished episode from #99 in November 2019.] Katy Milkman is no ordinary behavioral scientist. She’s a Professor of Operations, Information…

EPISODE 160

Grooving: On Goals and Goal Setting

[NOTE: This episode is republished from #92 in October 2019.] Goals are often misunderstood. Goals are much more than just objectives that are handed…

EPISODE 159

Covid-19 Crisis: Caroline Webb, Senior Advisor at McKinsey, on The Value of Where We Place Our Attention and Amplifying Certainty

Caroline Webb, a Senior Advisor at McKinsey, is an executive coach, author, and speaker specializing in insights from behavioral science to improve our lives…