Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan
Behavioral Grooves Podcast

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.

  1. -4 J

    The Truth About Work and Life Balance | Christopher Michaelson

    Is Your Job a Calling or a Burden? This week, we jump into the deep and sometimes challenging question: what role does work play in a meaningful life? Christopher Michaelson, one of the co-authors of Is Your Work Worth It?  joins us to explore the philosophical and practical aspects of how we view work—as a job, a career, or a calling—and the impacts each perspective can have on our sense of purpose and fulfillment. While a calling can give us profound motivation, Christopher warns that it can also lead to burnout and even exploitation. One of the most poignant moments in our conversation reflects on research from 9/11, which reveals that for two-thirds of the victims, work was not a defining element in their life stories. This insight reminds us of the importance of balancing work with other meaningful aspects of life. Christopher also shares insights from his personal family history and invites us to redefine success beyond professional or financial achievements. Together, we consider how our “90-year-old self” might view the decisions we make about work and purpose today, and how these choices impact our journey toward a balanced life. Join us as we dig into the importance of examining our relationship to work to ensure it truly aligns with our broader life goals and values. ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Intro [4:11] Speed round [12:32] Exploring the nature of work [22:40] Is having “a calling” a bad thing? [36:24] Redefining success [48:30] Desert island music [53:48] Grooving Session: Work-life balance and living in the moment ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Links Is Your Work Worth It?: How to Think About Meaningful Work Christopher Michaelson 9/11 Portraits of Grief Project Musical Links Phillip Glass “Prophecies”  Allison Russell “Nightflyer”  Boy Genius “Not Strong Enough

    1 h 10 min
  2. 4 NOV.

    Democracy at the Crossroads: Beyond Party Lines

    Has Behavioral Grooves turned into a political podcast? Not really (ok, maybe kinda it has - but for just a few weeks, we promise ). With the 2024 election days away, however, it’s felt nearly unavoidable for many people, including us. Attending the Norms and Behavior Change Conference (NoBeC), titled, Democracy Under Threat, sparked some essential thoughts and insights that we feel compelled to share. Democracy relies on fragile social norms that are under serious threat right now. From startling statistics about the rise of autocracies worldwide to the surge in misinformation, it’s clear that a renewed commitment to democratic norms is needed now more than ever. So, here’s a crucial question for all of us to consider: Is party loyalty more important than the stability of our democracy? Join us to rethink democracy—not just as a system but as a collective responsibility – bound together by shared beliefs. Your voice matters, your vote is essential, and together, we can help fortify democracy. If you don’t have a plan for where and when you’re going to vote, put one together. Get a friend to vote with you. You may feel disenfranchised or fatigued or angry or sad…just make sure you vote. And put a happy spin on your voting experience: celebrate the fact that we can vote by baking an election cake (or election pie or even election cookies) to bring to the polls! Democracy is fragile, please treat it with respect. ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Special Thanks to: Cristina Bicchieri, Kaushik Basu, Diana Mutz, Gretchen Helmke, Horacio Larreguy, Christoph Abels, Ryan Enos, Robert Talisse, Giulia Maimone, Erik Groenendyk, Nikos Nikiforkis, Cesar Nuñez, Karine Nyborg, Jan Voelkel and Ryan Enos for their participation in NoBeC and their fascinating research! Topics [0:08] Understanding Democracy and Social Norms [3:07] The Fragility of Democracy [9:34] Polarization and Media Influence [17:43] The Role of Political Elites [19:55] Gratitude and Closing Thoughts ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Links Find Your Polling Place Polarization Series Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics Cristina Bicchieri Kaushik Basu Diana Mutz Gretchen Helmke Horacio Larreguy Christoph Abels Ryan Enos Robert Talisse Giulia Maimone Erik Groenendyk Nikos Nikiforkis Cesar Nuñez Karine Nyborg Jan Voelkel

    22 min
  3. 28 OCT.

    How Can We Revive Our Democracy? | AJ Jacobs

    Ahead of the 2024 US Election, Kurt and Tim sit down with bestselling author and serial experimenter AJ Jacobs to discuss his latest project, The Year of Living Constitutionally. AJ spent a year living life according to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, adopting 18th-century customs along the way. From wearing tricorn hats and writing with quill pens to exploring the deeper philosophical underpinnings of democracy, AJ brings history to life while reflecting on the balance between rights and responsibilities, a concept that feels more urgent than ever today. AJ also shares his mission to revive one of America’s sweetest (and largely forgotten) traditions—Election Cakes! In the 1700s, Election Day was a festival of civic pride, complete with parades, music, and community-baked cakes shared at the polls. In true AJ fashion, he’s on a quest to bring this tradition back, reminding us that democracy can be both a serious and joyful act.  Throughout the episode, AJ, Kurt, and Tim dive into the importance of ‘epistemic humility’ - aka, the acknowledgment that we don’t have all the answers and must remain open to learning. From Benjamin Franklin’s introspection to modern-day challenges of misinformation, AJ challenges listeners to approach life and democracy with curiosity, gratitude, and a willingness to improve both ourselves and our society. So grab a slice of election cake (or pie!) and join us for this thought-provoking, timely conversation on what it means to live constitutionally. Need help finding a voting location near you? Check here! ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Election day traditions [4:25] Speed round with AJ Jacobs [9:44] Living Colonially: What I learned [18:56] Epistemic humility and political perspectives [23:52] Constitutional originalism [36:29] How do we frame the constitution? [40:40] Election cakes and celebrating democracy [48:52] Embracing experimentation in everyday life [52:56] Grooving session: open-mindedness, civic duty, and cake recipes ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Links Join our Facebook Group! AJ’s Substack The Year of Living Constitutionally More about AJ The History of Election Cakes The US Constitution Musical Links Royal American Medley - Songs of the Revolutionary War Yankee Doodle

    1 h 12 min
  4. 21 OCT.

    The Loneliness Epidemic: Why Are We Avoiding Social Interactions? | Nick Epley

    Why do we avoid the very thing that could bring us more joy—connecting with others? In this episode, behavioral scientist and human interaction expert Nick Epley returns to the podcast to help Kurt and Tim explore the paradox of social connection. Despite living in a time often described as a loneliness epidemic, many of us still choose to limit our social interactions and shy away from new experiences. While we’re hardwired to thrive on positive connections, anxiety and inaccurate assumptions often hold us back. Nick sheds light on why we consistently underestimate how enjoyable social interactions will be—and how this leads to missed opportunities for meaningful connection. Drawing from his research at Chicago’s Mindworks facility, where people from all walks of life participate in behavioral experiments, Nick shares fascinating insights into our social nature. His team’s real-world studies have uncovered how our expectations and assumptions can prevent us from fully engaging in new social experiences. Tune in to learn how our beliefs can shape our social lives and how curiosity and openness can transform any interaction into something rewarding. Nick offers practical advice on how behavioral science can help us lead more connected, fulfilling lives. And hey, next time you’re getting your morning coffee, say hi to the barista—you never know where that small interaction might lead! ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Intro: Connecting with strangers [9:50] Nick Epley and Mindworks research facility [23:16] Experiments at Mindworks [30:55] Insights from social interaction experiments [39:34] The role of expectations in social interactions [47:01] How to create positive interactions [51:18] Grooving session: Curiosity, compassion, and engaging with strangers ©2024 Behavioral Grooves Links Mindworks About Nick Epley Mistakenly Seeking Solitude Join our Facebook Group!

    1 h 6 min
  5. 14 OCT.

    Top Secrets to Customer Success | Arsanas Savas and Dave Norton

    Co-hosts, meet co-creation! This week, Kurt and Tim are joined by special guests Aransas Savas and Dave Norton, hosts of the Experience Strategy Podcast. Together, they take on one of the biggest challenges companies face: truly understanding what their customers want and need. Data can be valuable, but how useful is it if you don’t fully grasp the “what” or “why” behind those numbers? Aransas and Dave explain why co-creating with customers is a more effective approach than relying solely on data or assumptions. They dive into how blending behavioral science with experience strategy can create lasting value for both customers and companies, while also breaking through common barriers like internal fears, egos, and dreaded groupthink (shudder). Listen in to discover how experience strategy complements behavior change and why clinging to past successes can lead to blind spots in a rapidly evolving market. Ready to take your customer experience strategy to the next level? Tune in and join the conversation—because the future of your business depends on truly understanding your customers. And share your thoughts with Kurt and Tim in our new Facebook Group! © 2024 Behavioral Grooves Book a time to talk to Tim about Behavioral Grooves here Topics [0:00] Introduction: Customer needs and preferences [3:14] Housekeeping: BG Updates! [5:29] Speed Round [9:35] Customer trends and the importance of outside perspectives [20:51] Challenges in engaging customers and the role of behavior change [26:42] Common pitfalls to avoid [30:30] Grooving session: customer engagement, listening, and considering needs © 2024 Behavioral Grooves Links  The Experience Strategy Podcast Subscribe to our YouTube for Groove Jams! Join our Groove Community!

    48 min

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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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