Stories, science and secrets from the world’s brightest thought-leaders. Behavioral Grooves is the podcast that satisfies your curiosity of why we do what we do. Explanations of human behavior that will improve your relationships, your wellbeing, and your organization by helping you find your groove.
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
In this special Grooving session, we unpack what happens when shared facts collapse and preferred beliefs take their place. Sparked by Kurt's firsthand experience during unrest in Minneapolis, this conversation explores why people reject lived experience, how identity defense and motivated reasoning shut down dialogue, and when it’s rational to stop trying to persuade altogether. Drawing on behavioral science, persuasion research, and real-world encounters, we examine how to choose your battles, why stories succeed where arguments fail, and what it actually takes to find common ground in a belief-first world.
5 days ago
5 days ago
Dating in 2026 feels broken. The apps promise infinite choice, rom-coms on our screens promise “the one”, and yet frustration, ghosting, and mismatched expectations seem to be more normal than anything actually working out. This week, Tim Ash, author of Primal Dating, joins us as we explore why dating in the modern world feels so unstable and why many of today’s relationship struggles aren’t personal failures, but predictable outcomes of our ancient instincts clashing with modern environments and expectations.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Tim Ash
[7:52] Behavioral tendencies and evolutionary psychology
[18:09] The role of life stages in dating
[26:17] The impact of cultural norms on dating
[30:51] The economic of dating
[35:48] The role of tech in dating
[48:33] The importance of empathy in dating
[56:58] Music talk with Tim and Tim
[1:00:45] Grooving Session: Modern dating for primordial (?) minds
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Primal Dating by Tim Ash and Dr. Limor Gottlieb
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Music Links
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Love is in the air this Valentine's Day...or is that science? Today, we're throwing it back to 2021, when we had the privilege of chatting with Logan Ury, Director of Relationship Science at Hinge, about the challenges people face in modern dating. From getting ready for a first date to maintaining a relationship long term, Logan gives us valuable insights and advice on how to overcome common hurdles and make the most out of each stage or the dating life.
So, the question of the day is - are you a maximizer, satisficer, or romanticizer? Tune in to find out.
Links
How Not to Die Alone by Logan Ury
Music Links
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Monday Feb 09, 2026
You think you know what you want in a partner, but behavioral science says attraction doesn’t work that way. Relationship scientist Paul Eastwick breaks down why dating apps and checklists fail, how attraction actually forms, and why real compatibility grows through interaction, timing, and shared history.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Paul Eastwick
[8:21] Why dating checklists and apps fail us
[14:45] The myth of universal attractiveness
[21:03] How attraction develops over time
[27:29] Is “love at first sight” a lie?
[38:13] The ‘best’ way to meet people
[47:04] The Stroop effect
[54:50] Attraction, identity, and history
[1:01:11] Desert island music picks
[1:03:55] Grooving session: trust, attraction, and relationships beyond dating
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Bonded by Evolution by Paul Eastwick
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Music Links
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Why do certain phrases stay with us for life? In this episode, were joined by James Geary, author of The World in a Phrase, to explore how aphorisms shape judgment, decision-making, and meaning. From fortune cookies to philosophy, they unpack why short sayings act as cognitive heuristics, how they guide thinking without giving answers, and why the aphorisms that serve us best often change over time, just as we do.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with James Geary
[7:30] The Laws of Aphorisms
[13:45] Finding Wisdom in Unexpected Places
[21:07] Aphorisms as Cognitive Heuristics
[29:51] The Role of Aphorisms in Decision-Making
[35:00] How Aphorisms Can Match Life Stages
[42:30] How We Can Apply Aphorisms to Daily Life
[48:06] What Do Aphorisms Mean for Me?
[59:00] Grooving Session: The World in a Phrase
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
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Musical Links
Paul Simon - Everything Put Together Falls Apart
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
Thursday Jan 29, 2026
This Grooving Session feels personal for us. We’re combining our own experiences with behavioral science to explore why civil discourse seems so fragile right now. Over the weekend, tensions rose as ICE activity increased in Minneapolis, and Kurt’s neighborhood was deeply affected. When political tension is high, factors such as fear, proximity to events, and social identity can worsen polarization. It’s easy to forget that we have more in common than we think.
We’re here to support you, and we hope this episode gives you practical ways to engage. By slowing down, avoiding online dogpiles, and starting with the question, “What do we agree on?” We can start rebuilding a sense of shared reality.
Links
Music Links
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Why do smart people keep making predictably bad decisions? Behavioral economist Alex Imas joins us to unpack The Winner’s Curse, loss aversion, and the persistent biases that shape markets, policy, and everyday choices. We explore why classic economic models fall short and what behavioral economics reveals about how humans really decide.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and speed round with Alex Imas
[11:55] The Winner’s Curse and its implications
[21:13] Behavioral economics and standard economic matters
[28:01] Loss aversion and decision-making
[35:04] Behavioral economics in policy and law
[41:00] Tom Sawyer economics
[47:30] Social media, attention, and exploitation of bias
[56:38] The importance of cooperation and social systems
[58:40] New music in 2026
[1:07:53] Grooving session: framing, preferences, and happiness
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
The Winner’s Curse by Richard Thaler and Alex Imas
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Musical Links
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
January often feels like a letdown instead of a fresh start. In this episode, we explain the behavioral science behind the January slump, why motivation drops after the holidays, and how reflection, recovery, and smaller milestones can help individuals and teams regain energy and momentum.
Topics
[0:00] Are you feeling that January Slump?
[3:34] Reflecting and recharging
[4:56] What leaders can do
[8:00] Milestones for motivation
[11:42] Final thoughts and next steps
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
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Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Boredom feels unpleasant, but that may be the point. Psychologist Dr. Erin Westgate joins us to explain why boredom is a signal rather than a flaw, how meaning and attention shape it, and what it can teach us about work, burnout, and living a psychologically rich life.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Erin Westgate
[8:05] Do we think for pleasure?
[13:11] Why men would rather shock themselves than be bored
[15:50] The MAC model
[25:23] Is boredom useful?
[29:07] Enjoyable vs. interesting experiences
[31:51] Can a boring life still be a good life?
[39:58] Boredom and burnout at work
[49:39] Is boredom good or bad?
[52:38] Designing better environments for bored people
[58:31] Desert island music
[1:02:17] Grooving Session: Boredom and meaning in life
©2026 Behavioral Grooves
Links
A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning
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Musical Links
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
It’s Throwback Thursday at Behavioral Grooves, and we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations with bestselling author Jonah Berger on the surprising power of words. Tiny shifts in language can shape behavior, influence relationships, and even change how others see us. Jonah reveals the “magic words” that captivate, motivate, and persuade, and shares practical tips for turning actions into identities, priming behavior with language, and making every word count.
Topics
[3:27] Welcome and speed round questions.
[5:09] Why asking for advice makes us actually seem smarter.
[7:17] Using abstract vs. concrete language.
[12:42] How Jonah researched the use of language.
[16:49] How can our language affect our relationships.
[19:31] Turning actions into identities.
[22:47] Priming behavior with language.
[25:00] Do the lyrics of songs help explain their success?
[28:27] Grooving Session with Tim and Kurt on why words matter.
Links
Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way by Jonah Berger
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