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.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 44:12
Have we misunderstood two of psychology’s most famous experiments? We revisit the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Robbers Cave experiment with science historians Thibault Le…
Sep 23, 2026 · 0:54
Why do we do what we do? Behavioral Grooves explores the science of human behavior with researchers, authors, and thinkers who help us make sense of ourselves, each other, and…
Sep 21, 2026 · 1:17:13
Horse meat, kidneys, prostitution. What happens when the things people want to buy, sell, and trade collide with what society has deemed “off-limits”? Nobel Prize-winning…
Sep 18, 2026 · 51:20
What happens when behavioral science leaves the classroom and enters the real world? In this special episode, we explore the past and future of the Behavioral Science & Policy…
Sep 14, 2026 · 1:08:30
What if work didn’t have to be something we simply “get through” five days a week? This week, we sit down with Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun, to explore how small changes…
Sep 7, 2026 · 1:05:04
This week, Dr. Jeremy Pollack joins us to explore the neuroscience of conflict, trust, mistakes, uncertainty, and psychological safety. We discuss how these obstacles and…
Aug 31, 2026 · 1:15:50
Disagreements are inevitable, but they don’t have to become conflicts. Harvard Kennedy School professor Julia Minson joins us to explore why we struggle to see perspectives…
Aug 27, 2026 · 1:37:52
What if constraints could actually make us more creative? This week, we use behavioral science to explore how limits on our time, resources, and choices can focus our attention,…
Aug 24, 2026 · 1:20:43
What happens when we enter a conversation with someone we assume is different from us? Social psychologist Claude Steele argues that the tension and nerves we feel may have less…
Aug 17, 2026 · 1:28:30
How does culture shape the way we think, behave, and interact with one another? In this episode, anthropologist Oliver Sweet explores the hidden social rules that influence human…
Aug 10, 2026 · 1:03:16
Who are you when no one is watching? We welcome author Patricia Martin to discuss how social media, algorithms, and AI are reshaping our sense of self. From persona fog and…
Aug 3, 2026 · 1:22:54
Why does modern life leave so many of us feeling disconnected? We explore the surprising evolutionary forces behind loneliness, autonomy, and technology, and share practical ways…
Jul 27, 2026 · 1:13:50
What actually stops crime? Economist Jennifer Doleac joins us to explore the behavioral science behind safer communities, revealing why certainty of consequences, not harsher…
Jul 23, 2026 · 34:00
AI can make us more efficient, but it can also change how we think, collaborate, and trust one another. As we continue to groove on AI, we dig into the concepts of cognitive…
Jul 20, 2026 · 1:08:02
Climate change conversations often focus on sacrifice, but what if the path to a healthier planet also made us happier? We sit down with Leave the Lights On authors Liz Dunn and…
Jul 16, 2026 · 28:07
AI is making work faster, but at what cost? It's weakening collaboration, eroding culture, and spawning new problems and costs that most organizations didn't see coming. In Part…
Jul 13, 2026 · 1:27:15
Why do so many organizational change initiatives fail? This week, we’re joined by behavioral economist Julia Dhar, co-author of How Change Really Works, to explore the behavioral…
Jul 6, 2026 · 1:11:40
We’re taking a holiday break this week and revisiting a favorite conversation with AJ Jacobs about his year-long experiment living by 18th-century principles inspired by the U.S.…
Jul 2, 2026 · 1:09:09
In the final episode of our Robert Cialdini series, we explore the extraordinary legacy of one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers. We revisit the seven Principles…
Jun 29, 2026 · 1:19:39
In the second episode of our three-part series, we go back into the time machine to see what shaped Robert Cialdini into one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers.…
Jun 25, 2026 · 1:13:40
We kick off our three-part series on Robert Cialdini by exploring the research, mentors, and discoveries that shaped one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers. From…
Jun 22, 2026 · 1:09:52
As we celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, we sit down with Neri Karra Sillaman to explore what immigrant entrepreneurs can teach us about resilience, leadership, and long-term…
Jun 18, 2026 · 1:22:48
In keeping with our themes of mattering, meaning, and connection this June, we wanted to reshare a conversation with had with author Emily Falk. In this conversation, we decode…
Jun 15, 2026 · 1:17:30
Why do smart organizations become slow, bureaucratic, and resistant to change? Phil Le-Brun and Jana Werner, authors of The Octopus Organization, explore why so many companies…
Jun 11, 2026 · 1:33:31
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…
Jun 8, 2026 · 1:16:40
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…
Jun 1, 2026 · 1:25:04
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…
May 25, 2026 · 1:04:25
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,…
May 21, 2026 · 1:21:30
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…
May 18, 2026 · 1:36:22
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…
May 11, 2026 · 58:23
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…
May 4, 2026 · 1:07:50
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…
Apr 27, 2026 · 58:42
Fear at work isn’t obvious, but it is powerful. In this episode, Tom Rieger explains how fear of loss drives silos, misalignment, and inefficiency, and why AI and remote work may…
Apr 20, 2026 · 1:06:14
Should influence be about getting to “yes”? With Brian Ahearn, we explore a more ethical approach where persuasion is a responsibility, humility drives leadership, and real…
Apr 16, 2026 · 1:08:40
What if the key to growth isn’t finding better answers, but asking better questions? In our April throwback episode, we revisit our conversation with Elizabeth Weingarten on her…
Apr 13, 2026 · 1:46:04
Marcus Buckingham joins us to challenge the belief that success comes from doing what you’re good at. Using decades of research, he argues that what truly drives performance and…
Apr 6, 2026 · 1:09:49
What does it mean to truly “click” with someone—and why does it matter so much at work? With researcher Maya Rossignac-Milon, we explore the science of shared reality and how…
Mar 30, 2026 · 1:39:23
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…
Mar 23, 2026 · 1:13:27
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…
Mar 16, 2026 · 1:14:56
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…
Mar 12, 2026 · 1:08:14
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…
Mar 9, 2026 · 1:14:45
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…
Mar 2, 2026 · 49:53
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…
Feb 23, 2026 · 1:13:07
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…
Feb 19, 2026 · 52:28
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…
Feb 16, 2026 · 1:21:22
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…
Feb 12, 2026 · 1:28:37
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…
Feb 9, 2026 · 1:20:22
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…
Feb 2, 2026 · 1:15:54
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,…
Jan 29, 2026 · 55:39
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…
Jan 26, 2026 · 1:25:46
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…
Jan 22, 2026 · 12:38
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,…
Jan 19, 2026 · 1:20:18
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…
Jan 15, 2026 · 46:48
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…
Jan 12, 2026 · 1:09:31
What if the key to better work isn’t doing more, but moving more, resting better, and thinking differently? Dr. Natalie Nixon joins us to unpack her Move, Think, Rest framework…
Jan 5, 2026 · 21:47
In this annual “best of the best” episode, we revisit the behavioral science books that most influenced our thinking this year. Rather than ranking titles, we explore what made…
Dec 29, 2025 · 53:28
Happy New Year, Groovers! This week, we're taking some time-off and sharing an oldie but a goodie - our conversation with Ayelet Fishbach. The start of a new year often brings…
Dec 22, 2025 · 23:54
Why do holiday rituals matter so much to our happiness and sense of connection? In this pre-Christmas special, we unwrap (ho ho ho…) the behavioral science behind gatherings and…
Dec 15, 2025 · 1:09:55
Individual emotional intelligence matters — but teams thrive when EI is built together, not carried by a few well-developed individuals. In this episode, Vanessa Druskat explains…
Dec 8, 2025 · 1:08:49
Executive coach and author Muriel Wilkins joins us to unpack the invisible beliefs that quietly shape how we lead. We explore why curiosity is the starting point for…
Dec 4, 2025 · 32:53
In this special episode inspired by questions from our Facebook Community , we explore why big change feels intimidating even though most transformation happens quietly in our…
Dec 1, 2025 · 1:34:12
Is violence caused by “bad people,” too many guns, or something deeper? In this episode, University of Chicago researcher Jens Ludwig reveals why most violent acts stem not from…
Nov 27, 2025 · 9:44
Why does gratitude feel so easy to feel yet so hard to say? In this Thanksgiving grooving session, we unpack the psychology behind our awkwardness around expressing…
Nov 24, 2025 · 1:07:50
Harvard instructor Margaret Andrews joins us to explore why effective leadership starts with self-awareness. We discuss blind spots, emotional intelligence, team norms, and the…
Nov 17, 2025 · 1:12:37
What if the gender revolution never finished? Economist Corinne Low joins us to unpack why women have transformed the workforce while men’s roles at home have barely changed.…
Nov 10, 2025 · 1:21:20
Financial advisor and author Mark Matson joins Behavioral Grooves to explore what the American Dream means today—and whether it’s truly attainable for everyone. We dig into his…
Nov 3, 2025 · 1:00:25
How does framing influence the way we think, feel, and act? Sociologist and author Mikael Klintman joins us to explore how framing shapes nearly every part of life — from art and…
Oct 31, 2025 · 18:39
Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves! In the spirit (OoooOoo) of the holiday, we're resharing one of our old episodes exploring the spooky side of biases - why we have them,…
Oct 27, 2025 · 21:03
This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and…
Oct 20, 2025 · 58:31
Psychologist and author Dr. Wolfgang Linden joins us to explore why so much of our stress comes not from events themselves, but from our attempts to control them. Drawing on 40+…
Oct 16, 2025 · 1:27:23
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…
Oct 13, 2025 · 1:24:26
We explore the hidden forces of status and anointment with Professor Toby Stuart, author of Anointed: How Status Shapes Our Lives. Status influences careers, relationships, and…
Oct 9, 2025 · 1:15:51
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…
Oct 6, 2025 · 1:04:31
Don Kieffer, co-author of There’s Got to Be a Better Way, shares why “common sense” often misguides leaders and how dynamic work design helps organizations thrive. From calling…
Oct 2, 2025 · 1:18:21
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…
Sep 29, 2025 · 1:11:11
Richard Shotton joins us to reveal the behavioral science secrets behind 17 iconic brands — from Guinness and Snickers to Apple and Dyson. He explains how psychological biases…
Sep 25, 2025 · 1:16:26
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…
Sep 22, 2025 · 1:06:34
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…
Sep 18, 2025 · 1:14:28
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…
Sep 15, 2025 · 1:02:58
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…
Sep 11, 2025 · 51:16
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…
Sep 8, 2025 · 1:06:13
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…
Sep 4, 2025 · 42:14
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…
Sep 1, 2025 · 1:12:01
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…
Aug 28, 2025 · 1:02:35
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…
Aug 25, 2025 · 1:06:33
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…
Aug 21, 2025 · 30:22
When life feels chaotic, how do we stay grounded? In this bonus episode, we reflect on a few years of personal upheaval and explore how temporal uncertainty affects our…
Aug 18, 2025 · 1:20:28
Why do we instinctively form groups, follow leaders, and defend traditions—even when it hurts us? Columbia professor Michael Morris joins us to explore the three tribal…
Aug 11, 2025 · 1:13:43
Dr. Daniel Crosby joins us to explore the soul of wealth — and why your bank account isn’t the best measure of a meaningful life. We dig into behavioral finance, how to align…
Aug 4, 2025 · 1:05:55
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…
Jul 28, 2025 · 1:21:30
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…
Jul 24, 2025 · 17:45
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…
Jul 21, 2025 · 1:17:23
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…
Jul 14, 2025 · 1:11:27
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…
Jul 7, 2025 · 1:01:14
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.…
Jun 30, 2025 · 1:14:07
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…
Jun 26, 2025 · 20:11
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…
Jun 23, 2025 · 1:00:39
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…
Jun 17, 2025 · 1:12:29
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…
Jun 9, 2025 · 1:03:43
What if your personality isn’t fixed? Olga Khazan shares how she deliberately set out to become more extroverted, agreeable, and emotionally stable—using improv, mindfulness, and…
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