Episodes
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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
LinksAbout Raj
The World is Your Office by Raj Choudhury
Tulsa Remote Program
Make My Move - Remote Work
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Musical LinksLeonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Tagore - Unending Love
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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
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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
LinksAlexis on LinkedIn
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Musical LinksMiley Cyrus - Flowers
Blink-182 - All the Small Things
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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
LinksMore About Zach
The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio
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Music LinksTom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Won’t Back Down
Foo Fighters - The Pretender
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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 science-backed strategies. Based on her book Me, But Better, this conversation explores how real change happens, and why connecting with others may be the key to becoming who you want to be.
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Olga Khazan
[5:59] Experiment: Can I Change My Personality?
[9:59] Results: What Changed, What Didn’t?
[17:43] Nature vs. Nurture in Personality
[21:46] Personality Traits as Tools for Life
[29:31] Can Older Adults Still Change?
[38:39] Solitude vs. True Connection
[43:45] Olga’s Music Playlist
[45:46] Grooving Session: Working on the Personality We Want
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksAbout Olga
Me, But Better by Olga Khazan
Big 5 Personality Test
Nathan Hudson’s Research
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Musical LinksODESZA - The Last Goodbye
Chapell Roan - Good Luck, Babe
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Hospice doctor, podcaster, and author Jordan Grumet joins us to explore why the traditional idea of “finding your purpose” might actually be making us miserable. Drawing from his work with patients at the end of life, Jordan challenges the pressure to chase big, lofty goals—or what he calls “big P” Purpose—and instead invites us to embrace “little p” purposes: the simple, joyful activities that ground us and connect us to others. From childhood passions to quiet regrets, Jordan shares practical ways to identify what truly lights you up and how to build a life that feels meaningful—without overhauling everything.
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Jordan Grumet
[7:01] Why Is Purpose So Important?
[10:52] Why Big P Goals Can Cause Anxiety
[16:43] Childhood Joys, Baseball Cards, & Writing
[19:32] You Can’t Fail Little P Purpose
[24:09] Overcoming Barriers to Purpose
[34:41] Regret vs. Disappointment
[46:25] Grooving Session: Creativity, Cadence, and Purposeful Context
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksMore About Jordan
Earn & Invest Podcast
The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet
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Musical LinksPublic Enemy - Don’t Believe the Hype
Third World - Underdog
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In this monthly bonus episode, we tap into insights from our Facebook community to explore what keeps us feeling stuck in our habits and goals. With help from behavioral science, we unpack the hidden forces behind inertia, fear, and comfort zones — and share practical strategies to break free. If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and get back in your groove, this one’s for you.
Topics[0:00] Behavioral Boot Camp!
[2:15] Insights from Groove Questions
[6:34] Self-Confidence
[10:03] Risk Aversion and Community Support
[13:25] Final Thoughts - Trust Your Instincts!
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksBehavioral Grooves on Substack
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How do our brains choose what’s important to us? Emily Falk, neuroscientist and author of What We Value, joins us to decode what goes on behind the scenes with our decisions - everything from what to eat for breakfast to how to respond to trolls on social media - and how emotional, rational, and social information is integrated by the brain to guide our choices.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Emily Falk
[8:29] Understanding Value Calculations
[12:58] Research Methods and fMRI
[18:01] Self-Relevance and Social Relevance Systems
[28:41] Defensiveness and Social Norms
[40:49] The Importance of Being "In Sync"
[58:17] The Role or Music in Self/Social Relevance
[1:07:45] Grooving Session: Communication, Social Norms, and Behavioral Science at Work
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksAbout Emily
What We Value by Emily Falk
Communication Neuroscience Lab
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Music LinksIndigo Girls - Galileo
Dar Williams - As Cool As I Am
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Faisal Naru traces the explosive growth of behavioral science in policy from 2010 to today, highlighting how Global South nations are using it to address complex problems like poverty and public health. He makes the case for embedding behavioral science teams into organizations long-term—moving from quick “silver bullet” fixes to enduring “golden nuggets” of insight.
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Faisal Naru
[6:42] Behavioral Science Policy Units and Global Trends
[15:23] Global Approaches - North vs. South
[24:33] How Different Systems Support Behavioral Science
[36:25] The Golden Nuggets of Behavioral Policy
[48:55] Desert Island Music
[51:22] Grooving Session: The Future of Behavioral Science
LinksAbout Faisal
OECD
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Musical LinksBob Marley - Is This Love
Dizee Rascal - Baseline Junkie
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What if the key to growth isn’t finding better answers, but asking better questions? In this episode, Elizabeth Weingarten shares insights from her book How to Fall in Love with Questions, exploring how embracing uncertainty can lead to greater self-awareness, resilience, and connection. Blending personal stories, behavioral science, and wisdom from poet Rilke, she introduces the idea of a “questions practice” — a mindset shift that helps us navigate life’s toughest moments with curiosity and clarity.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Elizabeth Weingarten
[11:04] The Power of Loving Questions
[15:50] The Biological Need for Certainty
[21:48] The Role of Patience in Asking Questions
[39:18] Questions and the Role of Behavioral Science
[47:57] Desert Island Music
[50:38] Grooving Session: The Value of Sitting With Questions
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksMore About Elizabeth
Better Life Lab
How to Fall in Love with Questions
Torch Leadership
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Music LinksSteely Dan - Do It Again
Chapell Roan - Pink Pony Club
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Economist and philosopher Mark Fabian joins the show to explore how we can move beyond the pursuit of happiness toward a deeper, values-driven life. Drawing from behavioral science, philosophy, and his new book Beyond Happy, Mark challenges the idea of happiness as an end goal and introduces the concept of “generalized flow.” From escaping the hedonic treadmill to cultivating self-awareness and community, this episode is a guide to rethinking what it means to live well.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Mark Fabian
[8:56] Concept of Well-Being and Happiness
[15:45] How to Live a Valuable Life
[25:19] How to Discover Your Core Self
[32:54] Self-Actualization and Community
[42:42] The Role of Flow and Zest in a Good Life
[51:05] Desert Island Music
[56:18] Grooving Session: Zest, Identity, and Reframing Happiness
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksMore about Mark
Beyond Happy by Mark Fabian
Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi’s research on Flow
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Musical LinksThe Weeknd - House of Balloons
Yuzo Koshiro - Streets of Rage
Hamilton - Wait For It
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What if we stopped trying to win or avoid conflict—and instead built the resilience to grow through it? In this episode, neurologist Joel Salinas and conflict resolution expert Bob Bordone offer a powerful reframe on disagreement, showing how neuroscience and self-awareness can help us break old patterns and build stronger relationships.
Topics[0:00] BG Special Announcement!
[1:15] Intro and Speed Round with Joel and Bob
[6:29] What is Conflict Resilience?
[10:41] The Neuroscience Behind Conflict
[18:35] Understanding Our Reflexive Conflict Responses
[25:03] Practical Applications and Examples
[32:15] Neuroplasticity and Changing How We Handle Disagreement
[42:15] Building a Culture of Conflict Resilience at Work
[49:45] Dolly Parton: A Model for Growth?
[53:15] Desert Island Music Picks
[55:15] Grooving Session: Conflict Resilience at Work and Beyond
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksConflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In
More About Joel Salinas
More About Bob Bordone
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Music LinksLady Gaga - Abracadabra
Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather
Philip Glass - Prophecies
Kelly Clarkson - Because of You
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In this special republish episode science journalist David McRaney joins us to explore the surprising science behind belief, persuasion, and why minds change. We discuss tribal truth, perceptual differences (remember the dress?), and why Step Zero—examining why you want to change someone’s mind—is essential for meaningful dialogue.
Topics[4:18] Welcome and speed round questions.
[11:18] How minds change vs. how to change minds.
[14:35] How is elaboration different from learning?
[27:27] Mini Grooving Session on the difference between beliefs, opinions and attitudes.
[34:09] Why do you want to change someone’s mind?
[41:03] The moment David realized he should question why, not just how to change minds.
[52:55] Mini Grooving Session on why to change minds.
[57:27] Why some see the dress as gold & white and some see it as blue & black.
[1:18:28] Mini Grooving Session on the dress and the crocs.
[1:22:15] Truth is tribal.
[1:35:33] Mini Grooving Session on having a social safety net.
[1:40:38] What was the catalyst for David becoming interested in conspiracy theories?
[1:46:19] How to get people off the conspiratorial loop?
[1:51:23] What musical artists would David take to a desert island?
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksHow Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
More on David McRaney
You Are Not So Smart Podcast
Wallisch, Pascal & Karlovich, Michael. (2019). Disagreeing about Crocs and socks: Creating profoundly ambiguous color displays
The dress
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Music LinksRadiohead - No Surprises
Colin Stetson - Spindrift
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Kweilin Ellingrud, McKinsey’s Global Chief of Diversity and Inclusion, joins us to discuss The Broken Rung—the missed first promotion that derails many women's careers before they even begin. She shares how to build “experience capital,” why soft skills matter more than we think, and how the right first moves can lead to long-term equity and empowerment. With practical advice for women and leaders alike, this episode is a call to action to fix the ladder from the bottom up.
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Kweilin Ellingrud
[5:39] What is the “Broken Rung”?
[12:00] Strategies for Overcoming the Broken Rung
[20:36] Building Skills to Future-Proof Careers
[30:39] Addressing Biases and Cognitive Biases
[35:47] Personal Health and Financial Well-being
[41:10] Desert Island Music
[43:19] Grooving Session - Networking, Bias, and Building Experience Capital
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksThe Broken Rung - by Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and Mareia del Mar Martinez
More About Kweilin
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Musical LinksShakira - La Tortura
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You
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Dr. Rosalind Chow joins us to explore how status, power, and perspective shape what we view as “reasonable”—and why marginalized voices are often held to a different standard. From stalled DEI efforts to the illusion of objectivity among dominant groups, Rosalind challenges us to rethink who gets to define what counts as change.
Topics[0:00] Intro and Speed Round
[6:26] The difference between sponsorship and mentorship
[10:13] Why corporate relationships are important
[16:05] Why DEI efforts often stall
[27:00] The moral cost of assimilations
[31:20] Well-meaning allies
[46:56] Desert Island music
[50:15] Grooving Session - The importance of Mentorship
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksAbout Rosalind Chow
The Doors You Can Open - by Rosalind Chow
The Social Psychology of Inequality - CUNY Graduate Center
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Music LinksRent - La Vie Boheme
Beatles - Revolution
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Neuroscientist Richard Cytowic takes us on a journey through the world of synesthesia and how it reveals the fascinating ways our brains interpret reality. But that’s just the beginning. We dive into the challenges of our Stone Age brains in the digital age, busting the multitasking myth, exploring the cognitive costs of social media, and discovering why silence and imagination are more crucial than ever. Tune in to reclaim your focus and rethink your relationship with technology.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics[0:00] Intro: Synesthesia and Richard Cytowic
[4:11] Speed Round: Nature vs Nurture?
[10:06] Social Media - Necessary evil?
[17:52] The myth of multitasking
[28:54] The importance of boredom
[37:06] Why silence is essential
[45:32] Emotional intelligence and resilience
[52:31] Grooving Session: Digital media, mental health, and what lies ahead
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksYour Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age
About Richard Cytowic
Synesthesia
The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
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Musical LinksBabbling Brook - Background Noise for Work
Forest and River Sounds - Relaxing Background Noise
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Creativity isn’t reserved for the select few—it’s in all of us. This episode explores the science behind innovation with experts Matt Arnold and Adam Hansen, uncovering why we doubt our creative abilities and how to overcome the cognitive barriers that stifle new ideas. From breaking free of negativity bias to embedding innovation into workplace culture, this conversation is packed with insights to help you unlock your full creative potential.
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
Topics[0:00] Introduction - Are We Natural Innovators?
[6:57] What Blocks Innovations
[12:28] The Power of Brain Breaks
[19:34] Leadership and Fostering Innovation
[29:44] The Interaction of Behavioral Science and Innovation
[40:20] Practical Tips to Foster Creativity
[49:10] How Organizations Can Utilize Innovation
[58:15] How to Overcome Negativity and Bias in Brainstorming
[1:08:09] Innovation Challenges at Big Companines
[1:17:00] Psychological Safety in Innovation
[1:34:45] Why Businesses Struggle with Long-Term Innovation
[1:42:15] Practical Steps for Bringing Innovation to Work
[1:47:30] Grooving Session: Innovation, Science, and How to Manage
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksContact Matt Arnold
Contact Adam Hansen
How to Write One Song by Jeff TweedyOrbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon MackenziePredictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
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Music LinksBillie Holiday - Blue Moon
Woody Guthrie - Tear the Fascist Down
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It’s about time we put Kurt and Tim in the hot seat! This week, we’re turning the tables and making them answer your questions. Pulling from our recent listener survey, they sit down with their producer to tackle everything from the making of Behavioral Grooves to insights on behavioral science—and, of course, the all-important question of what they’d do with a hippo-sized corgi. Tune in for a fun, behind-the-scenes bonus episode!
Check out our YouTube for a video version of this episode!
Topics[0:00] New to BG - Ask Us Anything!
[2:03] How Kurt and Tim Met
[4:24] Inspiration to Join Behavioral Science
[8:08] Behavioral Grooves’ Origin Story
[19:28] Behavioral Science Myths and Misconceptions
[30:04] Adopting Behavioral Science in Workplaces
[43:15] Fields That Need Behavioral Science
[47:34] Rhino or Corgi?
Have a Question?Fill out this survey for a chance to be featured on our next AMA!
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Dr. Steve Heine, cultural psychologist and author of Start Making Sense, joins us to explore the psychology of meaning. We discuss the four essential connections that shape a fulfilling life, why existential anxiety is on the rise, and how nostalgic reflection and storytelling help us make sense of our experiences. Plus, we dive into his “meaning audit” tool—a practical way to strengthen purpose and connection.
Topics[0:00] Intro - Did Kurt take a psychology class?
[5:24] Speed Round with Dr. Steve Heine
[8:54] Was Sisyphus actually happy?
[10:37] The importance of process over destination
[19:48] Cultural differences in meaning-making
[25:10] Why we rationalize our life choices
[31:17] How storytelling shapes our identity
[42:46] Practical tips for building a meaningful life
[48:42] Grooving session: Building community and connecting with each other
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksStart Making Sense by Dr. Steve Heine
More about Dr. Steve Heine
Joseph Campbell's The Hero’s Journey
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Music LinksTalking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
The Beatles - Don’t Let Me Down
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Can we design workplaces to be truly fair? Behavioral economist Iris Bohnet joins us to explore how implicit biases, stereotypes, and in-group preferences shape decision-making in the workplace—and what we can do about it. From the impact of blind auditions to the power of small structural changes, we dive into science-backed strategies for fostering more equitable organizations.
Topics[0:00] Episode Intro - Can We Make Work Fair?
[5:58] Speed Round with Iris Bohnet
[7:29] The Hidden Impact of In-Group Bias
[14:35] Implicit Bias and the IAT Test - Explained
[18:44] Nature vs. Nurture in Bias
[24:45] Case Study: NYC Fire Department and Hiring Reform
[35:41] The Power (and Pitfalls) of Incentives and Fairness
[41:35] Desert Island Music
[45:23] Grooving Session: The Impact of In-Group Bias on Organizations
©2025 Behavioral Grooves
LinksIris Bohnet’s book: Make Work Fair
Take the Implicit Association Test (IAT)
Study on NYC Fire Department’s hiring process
About Iris Bohnet
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Music LinksAdele - Make You Feel My Love
Bob Marley - Is This Love
Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer
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