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Octopus Garden - The Beatles

Musical Links

Changes - David Bowie

7 days ago

Throwback Thursday: Fighting Imposter Syndrome at Work | Martin Gonzalez

7 days ago

In our June throwback episode (and in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month), we're revisiting our conversation with Marin Gonzalez about leadership, self-doubt, and the challenges of building a successful team. Martin shared with us his experience as both an immigrant and an entrepreneur, offering a candid look at how he overcame imposter syndrome, navigated uncertainty, and ultimately helped create organizational cultures where people could thrive. We loved the vulnerability, insights, and practical lessons Martin brought to our conversation, and we hope it inspires you to solve problems and find greater fulfillment in your professional life.

Topics

[5:58] Introduction and Speed Round

[10:16] What is a bonfire moment?

[14:02] Why soft skills are more important than soft skills

[17:54] Leadership styles and their impact on success

[22:37] Common start-up traps

[32:10] Startup myths, leadership, and best practices

[41:11] Overcoming blind spots and insecurities in leadership

[46:43] Imposter Syndrome and gender stereotypes

[55:04] Productivity, creativity, and music preferences

[1:01:14] Grooving Session: Leadership, emotional intelligence, and scaling business

Links

“The Bonfire Moment - Bring Your Team Together to Solve the Hardest Problems Startups Face” by Joshua Yellin and Martin Gonzales

About Martin

Monday Jun 08, 2026

Fame, Incels, and the Need to Matter | Rebecca Goldstein

Monday Jun 08, 2026

Author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins us to explore “the mattering instinct,” the deeply human need to feel significant, worthy, and justified in our own eyes. From “mattering projects” and morality to fame, incels, AI, and entropy, this conversation dives into the psychological and philosophical forces shaping how we search for meaning and purpose in our lives.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Rebecca Goldstein

[7:12] What is the “Mattering Instinct”?

[11:57] Why Mattering Creates Conflict

[15:11] Depression, Despair, and Significance

[26:42] The Four “Mattering” Types

[32:34] Fame, Recognition, and Validation

[41:38] Incels, Radicalization, and the Search for Meaning

[46:19] Ethics, Entropy, and Human Flourishing

[51:59] Desert Island Music

[59:17] Grooving Session: Defining Mattering

Links

About Rebecca

The Mattering Instinct by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

Musical Links

Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love

Monday Jun 01, 2026

The Hidden Rules of Lucky People | Judd Kessler

Monday Jun 01, 2026

What if luck has less to do with chance and more to do with understanding the systems around us? We talk with Judd Kessler about the hidden markets shaping opportunities in everything from concert tickets and jobs to relationships and organ transplants. Together, we explore why so many systems feel unfair, how behavioral economics can improve them, and why learning the rules behind these invisible structures may be the key to getting a little luckier in life.

Topics

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Judd Kessler

[13:18] The Hidden Markets Behind Organ Donation

[18:30] Market Design in Medicine

[29:13] How Incentives Work

[35:30] TSA PreCheck, Scarcity, and Making Better Systems

[40:14] The Ticketmaster Problem

[46:20] The Ticketmaster Solution

[53:34] Hidden Markets in Podcasts and Beyond

[59:18] “The Room Where it Happens” with Lin-Manuel Miranda

[1:05:30] Desert Island Music Picks

[1:08:00] Grooving Session: Creating Luck Wherever You Go

Links

About Judd

Lucky by Design by Judd Kessler

Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

Musical Links

The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Monday May 25, 2026

How the Spaces Around Us Shape Our Lives | Leidy Klotz

Monday May 25, 2026

Why do some spaces energize us while others drain us? This week, Leidy Klotz joins us to explore how our homes, workplaces, and everyday environments shape our behavior, creativity, and well-being. Drawing from his new book, In a Good Place, Leidy explains why humans crave agency, competence, and connection, and how the spaces around us can either support or suppress those needs.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Leidy Klotz

[11:01] The Concept of “Good Place”

[18:26] Psychological Needs and Space

[26:44] Making Purposeful Decisions for Spaces

[34:02] Designing Spaces for Growth and Belonging

[45:09] Creating Groovy Spaces

[50:03] Grooving Session: Practical Tips for Designing Better Spaces

Links

About Leidy Klotz

In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz

Bruce Springsteen - Racing in the Street

Musical Links

Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender

Thursday May 21, 2026

Throwback Thursday: The #1 Way to Live a Happy Life | Shige Oishi

Thursday May 21, 2026

In this throwback episode, we're determined to be happy. Psychologist Shige Oishi joined us to explore the three dimensions of a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. He shared insights from decades of research into subjective well-being and revealed how personality traits, life experiences, and cultural contexts shape what we consider a “good life.” From challenging the “happiness trap” to embracing life’s rich diversity, this conversation is a roadmap for deeper self-reflection and greater fulfillment.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Shige Oishi

[10:28] The Happiness Trap

[18:38] Eudaimonic and Hedonic Approaches to Happiness

[27:30] The Correlation Between Psychological Richness and Personality

[35:00] Gratitude and Social Connection

[44:10] What Makes a Happy Society?

[48:00] Desert Island Music

[1:05:25] Grooving Session: How to Pursue a Fulfilling Life

Links

About Shige

Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi

Happiness is Everything, or Is It?

Charlie Parker - Honeysuckle Rose

Musical Links

Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Joy Spring

Monday May 18, 2026

Why We’re Lonely Together | Nick Epley

Monday May 18, 2026

Why do we avoid talking to strangers when connection is exactly what we need most? This week, Nick Epley returns to explore the psychology of “under-sociality” and why we consistently underestimate how rewarding social interaction can be. Nick explains why even small moments of openness, from conversations with strangers to deeper honesty with the people around us, can dramatically improve happiness, trust, and belonging. Turns out, the biggest social risk often isn’t reaching out, it’s staying quiet.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Nick Epley

[10:40] The Paradox of Being Social

[19:12] Experiments and Findings

[26:20] How Being Social Impacts Your Health

[32:27] The Challenges of Being Social - Political Divides

[46:00] Introverts, Extroverts, and What Maslow Got Wrong

[54:30] Loneliness, Survival, and the Need to Belong

[1:02:18] Grief, Adoption, and the Power of Connection

[1:12:56] Desert Island Music

[1:15:42] Grooving Session: Leadership, Conversation, and Connection

Links

About Nick

A Little More Social by Nick Epley

Matt Kearney - Ships in the Night

Musical Links

Rufus Wainwright - Across the Universe (Cover)

Monday May 11, 2026

The Biggest Mistake We Make About Others - Behavioral Grooves LIVE

Monday May 11, 2026

In this 500th episode celebration, we reflect on eight years of behavioral science insights, from habits and decision-making to why we so often misunderstand each other. Joined live by Nick Epley, we run a real-time experiment that reveals the gap between what we expect from conversations and what actually happens, and why asking better questions can transform how we connect.

Topics

[0:00] Eight Years, 500 Episodes, and Counting!

[6:28] Introducing Nick Epley

[11:24] Understanding Social Cognition

[15:32] Strategies for Improving our Communication

[21:36] Live Experiment - Talking to Strangers

[37:34] Lessons Learned from 8 Years Podcasting

[43:45] The Importance of Social Connections and Compassionate Curiosity

[51:00] Coming Soon to Behavioral Grooves

Links

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

Musical Links

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

Monday May 04, 2026

Why Don’t I Feel Loved? | Sonja Lyubomirsky

Monday May 04, 2026

What if the issue isn’t whether people love you, but whether you actually feel it? In this episode, Sonja Lyubomirsky joins us to explore the gap between being loved and feeling loved, and why that disconnect happens. Drawing from her book How to Feel Loved, we talk about the psychology behind connection, challenge common myths like love languages, and dig into how curiosity, vulnerability, and better conversations can help you build more meaningful relationships.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Sonja Lyubomirsky

[11:08] Being Loved vs. Feeling Loved

[14:14] Why Love Doesn’t Always “Land”

[19:42] Deep Conversations vs. Small Talk

[23:47] Vulnerability: The Key to Real Connection

[32:01] What Are Love Mindsets?

[37:24] Psychological Barriers to Feeling Loved

[44:53] The #1 Happiness Tip

[50:51] Are Love Languages Real?

[53:23] Music, Focus, and Flow

[56:21] Grooving Session: Letting Love In

Links

Groove vs Grind Survey

About Sonja

How to Feel Loved by Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis