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
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.
The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.
Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!
And now - this week's episode!
In this episode of Behavioral Grooves, psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris—creators of the famous Monkey Business Illusion and authors of Nobody’s Fool—unpack why we so often fall for fraud, scams, and flashy but misleading science. They explain how our biases and love of appealing stories make us vulnerable, and why blanket skepticism isn’t practical. Instead, they share tools for spotting deception, insights into fixing flawed research incentives, and a simple but powerful rule of thumb: trust the people who admit when they’re wrong.
Links
Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!
Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It by Daniel Simons & Chris Chabris
Music Links
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Employee engagement scores have been stuck for decades—but belonging and wellbeing might be the missing pieces. We talk with Mark Crowley about why emotions drive behavior, how rituals create culture, and why leading with heart is actually the smartest path to performance.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and speed round with Mark Crowley
[9:05] Why leaders dismiss engagement scores
[11:28] The power of asking “How do you feel?”
[16:50] Reciprocity and authentic care
[20:08] Belonging as the greatest driver of wellbeing
[24:55] Why old leadership myths persist
[28:20] Positive emotions as “emotional currency”
[31:51] Balancing care with accountability
[35:05] Rituals that build culture (and candy stories)
[42:11] Advice for new managers
[46:24] Mark’s desert island music picks
[48:39] Grooving session takeaways
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!
The Power of Employee Well-Being by Mark Crowley
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.
The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.
Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!
Now, onto the episode!
Distinguished psychologist Arie Kruglanski joins us to unpack his groundbreaking research on motivation and the human quest for significance—the drive that fuels our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We explore how goals serve motivational needs, why intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are more connected than they seem, and how the universal desire for significance can be channeled in both positive and destructive ways. Arie also shares insights from his influential 3N Model of Radicalization, offering a hopeful perspective on how education and alternative pathways can redirect this powerful drive toward more constructive ends.
Links
Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!
Music Links
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Cognitive scientist Steve Sloman joins us to discuss The Cost of Conviction, exploring how sacred values shape our decisions and why they often lead to polarization. From zealotry to the social roots of belief, Steve reveals why convictions are more borrowed than built—and what this means for hot-button debates in politics, public health, and business. Most importantly, he shares how reframing conversations can reduce outrage, build humility, and open the door to better dialogue across divides.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Steve Sloman
[7:49] How Your Community Shapes Your Beliefs
[13:05] Sacred Values vs. Consequentialism
[19:25] The Psychology of Convictions
[24:48] Do We Only Trust In-Group Experts?
[33:59] The “Sacred Value Trap”
[40:35] How Framing Shifts Consumer Behavior
[47:45] Desert Island Music
[51:59] Grooving Session: How Can We Reframe Our Sacred Values?
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Behavioral Grooves Live Event!
The Cost of Conviction by Steve Sloman
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.
The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.
Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!
Now, onto the episode!
In this episode of Behavioral Grooves, we sit down with behavioral economics pioneer George Loewenstein, whose groundbreaking research has shaped our understanding of decision-making, risk, incentives, emotions, and so much more. Though not a household name, George is a legend in the field—so much so that Richard Thaler dedicated his book Misbehaving to him. Our conversation explores his latest work on boredom, a surprisingly understudied emotion, and what it reveals about attention, productivity, and even workplace meetings. Along the way, we touch on curiosity, music, and why boredom itself may hold the key to unlocking deeper flow and focus.
Links
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Psychologist and author Dr. Bob Rosen joins us to discuss his book Detach and how hidden attachments—like perfectionism, control, and success—often masquerade as virtues while quietly holding us back. We explore practical strategies for self-awareness, facing fears, and transforming attachments into aspirations so you can thrive in work and life.
Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Bob Rosen
[9:28] Western vs Eastern Psychology
[12:00] Overcoming Attachments and Building Self-Awareness
[21:23] Leadership and Trust in Hybrid Work
[31:48] Internalized Agesim and What It Means
[35:41] Embracing the Ups and Downs of Life
[41:18] Attachment to Life, Loss, and Building Connection
[49:49] Desert Island Music
[52:46] Grooving Session: Focus and Reflection for a Better Life
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.
The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.
Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!
Now, onto the episode!
The notion of merging psychology with economics initially faced staunch skepticism, with errors perceived as random rather than systematic. However, everything changed when psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky joined forces, armed with groundbreaking ideas about human decision-making. Their meticulous research not only introduced a fresh perspective on understanding people’s choices but also ignited the flames of Behavioral Economics. Through collaboration with other influential figures in the field, including Richard Thaler, their work spearheaded a transformative movement that challenged conventional economic assumptions, propelled novel ideas forward, and seamlessly integrated psychological theories into economic theory and practice.
Monday Sep 01, 2025
Monday Sep 01, 2025
Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, reveals why teams—not lone geniuses—drive innovation, how group identities invisibly shape our behavior, and why structure beats process when it comes to collaboration. With lessons drawn from Harry Potter, jazz improvisation, and decades of research, this episode explores the hidden power of teams and how to unleash it.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics
[0:00] Introduction: Your Invited to a Behavioral Grooves Celebration!
[3:46] Speed Round with Colin Fisher
[9:02] Who was the real villain in Harry Potter?
[15:45] The Myth of "The Lone Genius"
[22:30] What Jazz Can Teach Us About Group Collaboration
[33:10] The Hidden Power of Being a Team
[37:40] The Role of Structure in Team Performance
[42:35] Belonging and Group Membership
[50:21] Jazz and Team Synergy
[53:17] Grooving Session: The Importance of Team Cohesion
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
The Collective Edge by Colin Fisher
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Musical Links
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.
The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.
🎉 Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!
Now, onto our first episode in the countdown - Value of an Open Mind with Jonathan Malesic!
Writer and philosopher Jonathan Malesic explores the dangers of “knowingness”—our tendency to act like we already understand something when we don’t—and how it stifles learning, politics, and even science communication. Drawing on his experience teaching writing, Jonathan argues that writing is not just about words on a page but about cultivating empathy and moral imagination. We also dive into the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and why, despite their usefulness, they can’t replace the human capacity to truly connect with an audience. Together, we unpack what it means to stay humble, keep learning, and communicate more meaningfully in a noisy world.
Links
Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!
The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives by Jonathan Malesic
Music Links
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Jay Vidyarthi blends Silicon Valley design expertise with mindfulness practice to show how you can “fight design with design” and create a healthier, more joyful relationship with your tech. Instead of guilt or digital detoxes, he offers strategies for reframing boundaries into rituals, focusing on what’s good about your devices, and making intentional use easy by shaping your environment.
Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Jay Vidarthi
[9:40] Reconciling Tech and Mindfulness
[15:26] Practical Strategies for Managing Tech
[25:00] The Importance of Tech Design
[32:28] The Impact of AI
[38:18] Self-Awareness to Prevent Burnout
[47:00] Embracing Uncertainty
[50:39] Desert Island Music
[56:28] Grooving Session - Using Tech Joyfully
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Join the Behavioral Grooves community
Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube
Music Links
The White Stripes - Blue Orchid