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PODCAST

Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan

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.

science social sciences

All Episodes

84:27

The Psychology of Habits | Charles Duhigg

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/10/05

What does it really take to change a habit? Charles Duhigg, journalist and author of The Power of Habit, joins us to explore how our understanding of habits has evolved and why lasting change may start with changing how we see ourselves. From the “habit window” and keystone habits to habit chaining and identity shifts, we challenge long-held assumptions about willpower and explore how small changes in behavior and perspective can lead to lasting transformation.Topics [0:00] The Food Noise and

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44:12

What We Got Wrong About the Stanford Prison Experiment

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/28

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 Texier and Gina Perry, who uncovered a much messier story behind the research we learned about in school. What can these experiments actually tell us about human behavior, and what happens when researchers become more invested in a specific conclusion than challenging their own assumptions?Topics [0:00] Two Famous

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0:54

Behavioral Grooves: Behavioral Science Explained

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/23

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 the world around us.

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77:13

Behavioral Economics: When Markets Clash with Morals...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/21

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 economist Alvin “Al” Roth joins us to explore the behavioral science behind controversial markets, from repugnance and social norms to black markets, incentives, and informed consent. We also dig into his work redesigning the kidney exchange market and how asking a different question can open up new possibilities for solving

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51:20

Bridging the Gap Between Behavioral Science & Policy...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/18

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 Association with founders Sim Sitkin and Craig Fox and incoming leader Crystal Hall. We talk about bridging the gap between research and practice, the growing importance of interdisciplinary behavioral science, and why understanding the human side of AI may be one of the field's biggest opportunities.Topics [0:00] What Is

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68:30

How to Make Work Fun | Bree Groff

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/14

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 in the way we interact, communicate, and lead can make work more human and mostly fun, most days. We talk about work-life balance, chronic overwork, psychological safety, AI, and the importance of protecting the relationships, health, creativity, and small moments of joy that make our lives meaningful.Topics [0:00] Intro and

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65:04

The Behavioral Science of Psychological Safety |...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/09/07

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 miscommunications can affect our work environments, what to do when you notice them, and how to build healthier teams by breaking old conflict patterns before they start. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Jeremy Pollack [9:20] Can our brains rewire conflict patterns? [14:21] The neuroscience behind conflict

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75:50

How to Disagree Better | Julia Minson

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/31

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 different from our own and how openness, curiosity, and humility can lead to more productive conversations. We also get practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations, from asking better questions to understanding what we actually know versus what we’re simply assuming.Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with

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97:52

The Science Behind Constraints | David Epstein

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/27

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, spark creativity, and help us make better decisions. With author David Epstein, we look at how creatives like Bach and Dr. Seuss used constraints to generate new ideas, and how identifying bottlenecks at work can help us focus on the problems that matter most. We’ll also share practical ways to embrace constraints, think

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80:43

The Science of Trust, Identity, and Tension | Claude...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/24

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 to do with prejudice than we think. In his new book, Churn, Claude explores how identity threats can affect our performance and relationships, why we fear being misjudged, and how empathy, listening, and understanding can help reduce that tension and foster trust. We discuss why context matters, how our attitudes can follow

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88:30

How Culture Shapes Human Behavior | Oliver Sweet

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/17

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 behavior, from communication and cultural norms to social media, artificial intelligence, and changing generational values. We discuss the psychology and anthropology of culture, how "vibe shifts" emerge, whether technology is making us more narcissistic, and what AI could mean for collaboration, empathy, creativity, and

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63:16

Has Social Media Stolen Your Individuality? |...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/10

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 chronic self-doubt to the future of human agency, we explore what it means to build an authentic identity in an increasingly performative digital world.Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Patricia Martin [9:18] From Research to Me-Search [13:10] Why the Self Has Become a Consumer Product [19:24] Persona Fog,

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82:54

You're Not the Only One Feeling Lonely | Bill von Hippel

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/08/03

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 to build stronger relationships without giving up the conveniences of modern life.Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Bill von Hippel [11:09] Were hunter-gatherers actually happier? [15:40] Why evolution favors connection over autonomy [22:43] How cities created innovation (and loneliness) [31:16] The cost of

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73:50

The Truth About Crime Prevention | Jennifer Doleac

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/27

What actually stops crime? Economist Jennifer Doleac joins us to explore the behavioral science behind safer communities, revealing why certainty of consequences, not harsher punishments, is the key to changing behavior and how evidence can lead to smarter criminal justice policy.Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Jennifer Doleac [9:15] How an economist found criminal justice [13:56] Why DNA databases reduce crime [16:53] Certainty vs. severity of punishment [21:11] Redemption,

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34:00

Is AI Making Us Dumber? (Part 2)

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/23

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 surrender, creative convergence, trust erosion, and the new challenges facing managers as the race to adopt AI takes over corporate America. If you want to improve human connection and navigate AI's impact thoughtfully, take a listen to this episode. We have a few ideas that just may help. Topics [0:00] Intro: What is cognitive

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68:02

Climate Advice You’ve Never Heard | Liz Dunn &...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/20

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 Jiaying Zhao to explore how behavioral science can help us focus on the environmental choices that matter most, why social influence is more powerful than guilt, and how small, joyful decisions can create lasting change. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Liz Dunn & Jiaying "JZ" Zhao [9:03] Why Your Neighbors

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28:07

The Real Danger of AI (Part 1)

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/16

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 1 of our deep-dive into modern AI, we're exploring the behavioral science behind AI adoption, why "work slop" is becoming a growing problem, and how you can use AI to strengthen, rather than damage, your workplace and teams. Topics [0:00] We need to talk about AI [5:19] How AI changes collaboration and mentoring [10:14]

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87:15

Why Employees Hate Change | Julia Dhar

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/13

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 science behind successful change. From curiosity and anxiety to psychological safety, AI, and the difference between change fatigue and change disappointment, Julia shares practical strategies that help leaders turn good ideas into lasting change. Topics [0:00] Introduction and speed round with Julia Dhar [10:34] The

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71:40

Throwback Monday: Does Democracy Need a Rebrand? | AJ...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/06

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. Constitution. From tricorn hats and quill pens to rediscovering “Election Cakes,” AJ explores how early American civic life blended community, ritual, and democracy. We also dig into “epistemic humility” and Benjamin Franklin’s warnings about misinformation, which remain strikingly relevant today. Sit back, pop your

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69:09

The Godfather of Influence: The Lasting Impact of...

Behavioral Grooves Podcast ·

2026/07/02

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 of Influence through real-world business examples, hear how Cialdini's ideas inspired organizations around the world, and learn why colleagues like Angela Duckworth, Adam Grant, Dan Pink, and Katie Milkman believe his greatest contribution goes far beyond research. Join us as we celebrate the ideas and the person who helped

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