Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Basic Channel - Phylyps Trak

Music Links

Gunnar Haslam - Kenosha

Monday Mar 30, 2026

Are We Solving the Wrong Problems? | Nick Chater

Monday Mar 30, 2026

Are nudges enough to change behavior at scale? Nick Chater argues they’re not. In this episode, we explore the limits of individual-focused solutions and why lasting change often requires shifting systems, not just choices.

Topics

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Nick Chater

[13:00] What Does Nudging Really Do?

[18:30] I-Frame vs S-Frame Thinking

[25:00] Nudges and Politics

[28:09] Limitations in Public

[33:39] System vs Individual Responsibilities

[42:04] Case Study: Retirement Saving Systems

[49:01] Are We Solving the Right Problems?

[55:00] Can We Fix Broken Systems?

[1:00:06] Green Eggs and Ham - a Solution

[1:06:12] Desert Island Music

[1:09:20] Grooving Session: Systemic Issues, Evolutionary Tendencies

Links

About Nick

It’s On You by Nick Chater and George Lowenstein

John McLaughlin - Stella by Starlight/My Favourite Things

Music Links

Bach - Mass in B Minor

Monday Mar 23, 2026

Can AI Strengthen Democracy? | Sandy Pentland

Monday Mar 23, 2026

AI pioneer Sandy Pentland joins us to explore how storytelling and shared wisdom shape human culture, and how artificial intelligence could either strengthen or freeze that process. From the history of AI to the future of democracy, we discuss collective intelligence, distributed decision-making, and how AI tools might actually improve civic dialogue if designed the right way.

Topics

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Sandy Pentland

[8:09] Could AI make society less intelligent?

[12:21] What “shared wisdom” really means

[18:28] Culture, stories, and how societies evolve

[23:50] Information overload in the digital age

[30:23] Why shared goals (a “North Star”) matter for progress

[34:10] The history of AI: booms, winters, and lessons learned

[42:46] Can AI improve democracy?

[49:13] The danger of algorithmic “rich get richer” systems

[54:19] Grooving Session: storytelling, culture, and collective intelligence

Links

About Sandy

Shared Wisdom: Cultural Evolution in the Age of AI by Sandy Pentland

Flight of the Conchords - Robots (The Humans Are Dead)

Musical Links

Devo - Whip It

Monday Mar 16, 2026

The Real Secret to Living Longer | Ken Stern

Monday Mar 16, 2026

What truly helps people live longer, healthier lives? In this episode, we talk with journalist and author Ken Stern about the science behind longevity and why social connection may matter more than diet or exercise alone. From loneliness being compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day to cultures that keep older adults engaged through work and community, we explore how purpose, relationships, and social structures shape healthy aging.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Stern

[6:47] Big Cities vs Rural Living and Life Expectancy

[10:22] Are We Overvaluing Diet and Exercise?

[16:34] Why Loneliness Is Worse in the U.S.

[23:35] The Blue Zones Debate

[26:18] How to Build Stronger Social Connections

[30:25] Rethinking Retirement and Purpose

[40:28] Why Generational Mixing Matters

[44:41] Intergenerational Communities and Empathy

[53:50] Desert Island Music

[58:11] Grooving Session: How to Live Your Best (and Longest) Life

Links

About Ken

The Longevity Project

Healthy to 100 by Ken Stern

Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark

Musical Links

U2 - With or Without You

Thursday Mar 12, 2026

Throwback Thursday: Evolution's Secret Playbook | Sam Tatam

Thursday Mar 12, 2026

In memory of our friend, Sam Tatam. Sam was a pioneer in his field, and he joined us for a discussion full of creativity, resolve, and a love of behavioral science. He will be missed.

Innovation does not always come from inventing something entirely new. Often, the natural world has already solved the problem. In this throwback conversation, we explore the concept of biomimicry with behavioral scientist Sam Tatam, author of Evolutionary Ideas: Unlocking Ancient Innovation to Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges. We discuss how looking to nature can inspire creative solutions in behavioral science and beyond, from the principles of biomimicry to frameworks like the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the Goal Gradient theory. Along the way, we also wander into lighter territory, chatting about the musical artist Sam once traveled to Italy with and the cultural differences between pubs in London and Sydney.

Topics

[4:59] Welcome and speed round questions.

[13:23] What is biomimicry?

[18:20] TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and evolutionary thinking.

[25:32] How language can be a liberator for innovation.

[29:28] Categorizing biases into patterns.

[34:58] What is the Goal Gradient Theory and why isn’t it applied more often?

[9:14] Five psychological contradictions.

[47:26] What music would Sam take to a desert island?

[51:03] Grooving Session: Evolutionary Ideas.

Monday Mar 09, 2026

Are You Too Agreeable? | Dr. Sunita Sah

Monday Mar 09, 2026

Why do we say yes when we mean no? In this episode, we talk with Sunita Sah about the psychology of compliance and defiance. From Stanley Milgram’s experiments to the hidden force of insinuation anxiety, we explore why compliance is not the same as consent and how to train yourself to act in alignment with your true values.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and speed round with Sunita Sah

[14:57] Stanley Milgram’s Shock Experiments

[20:19] Defiance and True Consent

[29:18] Insinuation Anxiety and Conflict of Interest

[36:44] The Power of the Pause

[39:40] Stages of Defiance

[44:13] Moral Mavericks and Defiance Practice

[50:55] Desert Island Music

[56:17] Grooving Session: Conformity vs. Blind Compliance

Links

Defy by Sunita Sah

About Dr. Sunita Sah

The Cure - Pictures of You

Music Links

Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence

Monday Mar 02, 2026

What Happened to the Person I Knew? Why Relationships Change

Monday Mar 02, 2026

Relationships change because people change. In this episode, we explore what it means when someone you love no longer feels like the person you once knew. Using behavioral science, we examine why personality shifts over time, why growth does not always happen in the same direction, and how to decide whether to reconnect, recalibrate, or let go.

Topics

[0:00] Understanding Relationship Changes

[7:07] Relationship Changes Over Time

[13:28] Self-Expansion Theory and Michelangelo Phenomenon

[22:08] Growth vs. Escape: What’s Really Driving the Change?

[29:49] How to Navigate Relationship Changes

[34:00] Updating the Story of “Us”

[43:01] The Importance of Compassion

[46:00] Regret, Loss, and What to Do Next

Links

The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work by Eli Finkel

Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know

Music Links

Flora Cash - You’re Somebody Else

Monday Feb 23, 2026

Why Does Jet Lag Hit so Hard? | Daniel Forger

Monday Feb 23, 2026

What if your mood, focus, and energy aren’t random—but driven by internal clocks you rarely think about? This week, circadian rhythm expert Daniel Forger explains why jet lag hits so hard, why sleep timing may matter more than sleep duration, and what your wearable data actually means. If you’ve ever questioned your “sleep score” or wondered whether you’re a morning person by design, this conversation will change how you understand your body’s timing system.

Topics

[0:00] Psychologist Off the Clock!

[1:55] Intro and Speed Round with Daniel Forger

[5:44] Why Crossing Time Zones Messes You Up

[10:07] What Are Biological Rhythms?

[13:03] Is Your Apple Watch Accurate?

[22:44] How Your Biological Rhythms Impact Mood and Performance

[27:17] Could Humans Adapt to a 25-Hour Day?

[36:31] Circadian Rhythms and Happiness

[44:39] The Three Most Important Lessons About Biological Timing

[49:32] Bach, Pipe Organs, and Mathematical Patterns

[53:41] Grooving Session: The Intersection of Biology and Happiness

Links

About Daniel

Biological Rhythms by Daniel Forger