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
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
When author and leadership facilitator Rosi Greenberg found herself overwhelmed by self-doubt, she did something unexpected: she gave her inner critic a name — Sam — and drew him into a whimsical, deeply personal book that blends creativity, vulnerability, and behavioral insight. In this episode, Rosi shares how visualizing and engaging with that critical voice helped her build emotional resilience and lead with more empathy. Together, we explore how naming your inner critic can reframe fear, unlock creative expression, and reshape how we show up for ourselves and others.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Rosi Greenberg
[8:22] The birth of Sam
[11:00] From depression to creative healing
[16:50] How self-soubt shows up in leadership
[24:08] Working with leaders on self-doubt
[35:35] Reframing the Inner Critic
[47:00] Letting go of “shoulds”
[50:28] Desert island music
[52:00] Grooving Session: framing, leadership, and self-talk
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Everyone Has a Sam by Rosi Greenberg
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Psychologist Shige Oishi joins us to explore the three dimensions of a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. He shares insights from decades of research into subjective well-being and reveals 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
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi
Happiness is Everything, or Is It?
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Charlie Parker - Honeysuckle Rose
Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Joy Spring
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
From candy at checkout to calm music and “limit 4” signs, grocery stores are packed with subtle nudges that influence your behavior. In this month's bonus groove, we uncover the psychological tricks behind supermarket design and how to shop more intentionally.
Topics
[0:00] Intro: The Psychology of Supermarkets
[3:54] Techniques to Make You Buy
[9:47] Checkout Lane Temptations
[11:34] How Music Influences What You Buy
[13:44] Free Samples!
[15:01] Final Takeaways and Practical Tips
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
In-store Music Affects Product Choice
Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value by William Poundstone
Monday Jul 21, 2025
Monday Jul 21, 2025
Wes Adams and Tamara Miles join the show to share their 3 C’s framework—Community, Contribution, and Challenge—for creating more meaningful workplaces. Backed by large-scale research and packed with practical leadership advice, this episode explores how small moments, like a thank-you or an empowering gesture, can spark a virtuous cycle of engagement and growth.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Wes and Tamara
[7:40] The Three C’s Framework
[12:44] How Leaders Can Enhance Meaningful Work
[20:26] The Benefits of Meaningful Work
[34:10] The Three C’s in Practice
[41:42] Everyone Follows the Bride
[46:56] Desert Island Music
[51:42] The Importance of Authentic Leaders
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Meaningful Work by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Marisa Monte - Ainda Lembro (Portas Ao Vivo)
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Global behavior expert Ken Hughes joins us for a fast-paced, funny, and thought-provoking conversation about creativity, brand loyalty, and what it really takes to build emotional connections in a digital world. From painting his toenails to drinking his own urine (seriously), Ken shares lessons from a year of trying something new every day—alongside sharp insights on how companies can break out of routine thinking, embrace vulnerability, and create customer experiences that truly matter.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Hughes
[10:44] Efficiency vs. Creativity: Why Getting Lost Matters
[14:54] Creativity in the Workplace
[24:38] Emotional Loyalty and Brand Intimacy
[30:40] Brand Intimacy Examples: United and Virgin Airlines
[39:48] Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
[45:57] Advice for Leaders on Navigating Change
[48:13] Desert Island Music
[51:01] Grooving Session: The Role of Diversity and Creativity at Work
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Monday Jul 07, 2025
Abby Davisson, co-author of Money and Love, joins us to discuss why life’s biggest decisions—from careers to relationships—require both emotional insight and rational thinking. She shares her 5C framework for making confident choices, reveals how love and money are more connected than we think, and offers practical tools to navigate values, identity, and financial conversations—no matter your relationship status.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Abby Davisson
[7:59] What Factors Influence Relationship Satisfaction
[13:05] The 5C Framework for Decision Making
[22:46] Applying 5C to Different Life Stages
[32:23] Balancing Finanvial Decisions and Relationships
[39:00] Desert Island Music
[45:00] Grooving Session: Identity, Emotion, and Applying 5C to Your Life
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Raj Choudhury joins us to explore how “Work From Anywhere” is more than a trend—it’s a research-backed blueprint for improving productivity, well-being, and talent access. From managing time zones to building culture without offices, Raj breaks down what it takes to make remote work really work.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Raj Choudhury
[4:16] Benefits of Work From Anywhere
[12:14] Challenges and Solutions to Remote Work
[18:50] Real Company Examples: Zapier, Cisco, Atlassian
[24:00] Why Leaders Resist Remote Work
[35:15] Bringing WFA to Traditional Organizations
[42:30] What’s Changed since 2020
[44:00] Desert Island Music Picks
[46:00] Grooving Session: Rethinking How We View Work
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
The World is Your Office by Raj Choudhury
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Are you like Kurt, stuck wearing a pair of 'lucky socks' every time your team plays, no matter what the outcome of the game turns out to be? In this month's bonus, we explore why we hold onto superstitions, like lucky socks, even when we know they don't work. From BF Skinner's pigeons to social identity theory, we unpack the behavioral science behind our game-day rituals, however irrational, and discuss the sense of agency, control, and belonging that they create.
Topics
[0:00] Intro: Kurt's Lucky Socks
[3:38] The Placebo Effect
[7:27] Mistaking Correlation for Causation
[11:58] Social Identity and Group Belonging
[16:34] The Psychological Benefits of Superstitions
Links
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Monday Jun 23, 2025
Monday Jun 23, 2025
UX leader Alexis Mook joins us to talk about breaking bias in product design, defending the role of behavioral research inside corporate structures, and making the leap from academia to tech. From wrongful convictions to third-party testing, this conversation reveals why saying “no” might be a researcher’s greatest superpower.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Alexis Mook
[7:50] Alexis’s Role and Journey at IBM
[20:58] Challenges and Biases in UX Research
[22:03] Impact of Research on Product Development
[31:49] The Shift from Academia and Career Satisfaction
[43:10] Grooving Session: Reducing Bias and Challenging Overconfidence
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Zach Mercurio joins us to discuss the power of mattering—why it's a foundational human need and how it can be cultivated through small but meaningful interactions. From leadership strategies to personal stories, we explore how feeling seen, heard, and valued changes everything.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Zach Mercurio
[3:31] Why Mattering Matters
[11:29] Purpose, Meaning, and Mattering: What’s the Difference?
[16:21] Mattering as a Survival Instinct
[26:14] “If It Wasn’t For You…”
[35:22] The Importance of Mattering in Leadership
[40:55] The Role of Mattering in Organizational Culture
[45:37] The Impact of Mattering on Employee Engagement
[49:50] Desert Island Music Picks
[52:42] Grooving Session: Mattering is Common Sense, Not Common Practice
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube