Behavioral Grooves Podcast Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan

Ever find yourself coasting on autopilot a bit too often in your daily routine? Seeking ways to be more present and truly connect with your habits to enhance your life? Join Kurt and Tim on a profound exploration into the world of sense foraging and breaking free from autopilot habits.
In this enlightening episode, Kurt and Tim are joined by special guests Norman Farb and Zindel Segal, esteemed researchers in psychology and neuroscience, and co-authors of the insightful book "Better in Every Sense." Together, they delve into the transformative power of intentional sensory exploration, curiosity, and savoring to elevate everyday experiences. Dive into the complexities of modern life, including the challenges of stress, burnout, and dysregulation, while gaining valuable insights into understanding your ‘default mode’ and the pivotal role of the salience network in directing your focus to the present moment.
Discover actionable strategies for integrating sense foraging into your daily life, from relishing the flavor of your morning coffee to heightening your awareness of the sensations in your environment. In their grooving session, Kurt and Tim underscore the importance of breaking away from habitual routines and fostering mindfulness to improve decision-making and overall well-being. Whether you're seeking to shift your perspective or embark on a journey toward intentional living, this episode offers invaluable guidance to kickstart your transformation. Tune in now and take the first step toward finding your groove!
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics 
[5:10] Intro and speed round
[7:30] Default mode - breaking out and toggling in
[11:56] House of Habit
[18:42] Perceptual inference and active inference
[23:53] How foraging leads to a better life
[29:26] Toggle in for engagement and break away from default mode
[39:12] Sensory engagement and learning
[44:33] Hearing vs. listening
[46:58] Desert island music
[53:44] Grooving session: habits, autopilot, and how to create your own groove moments
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links 
Better in Every Sense: How the New Science of Sensation Can Help You Reclaim Your Life
Norman Farb
Zindel Segal
Default Mode Network (DMN)
Paying Attention to Senses Can Help Reset the Mind
Musical Links 
The Rolling Stones “Winter”
Underworld “Born Slippy” 
Cream “Sunshine of Your Love” 
A Tribe Called Quest “Can I Kick It?” 
 

What separates a ritual from a habit? Join Kurt and Tim this week as they delve into the intriguing world of rituals and habits with special guest Mike Norton, acclaimed author of The Ritual Effect. Together, they explore the nuances that distinguish rituals from mere habits, shedding light on how rituals infuse our daily lives with meaning and significance.
According to Michael, rituals are more than just actions; they're meaningful celebrations or purpose-driven practices that elevate our routines. From something as simple as brushing your teeth to larger group activities, the trio discusses how rituals add depth and emotion to our everyday experiences.
As the episode unfolds, Kurt, Tim, and Mike examine how rituals impact not only individuals but also relationships and work teams. They navigate the delicate balance between rituals that unite and those that divide, emphasizing the importance of consensus in fostering a sense of belonging and satisfaction.
Through personal anecdotes and keen insights, the trio offers listeners a thought-provoking journey into the profound influence of rituals on behavior, perceptions, and relationships. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion! Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the rituals that shape our lives. And if you enjoy the episode, be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform—we'd love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation.
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics 
[5:33] Intro and speed round
[10:24] Is brushing your teeth a ritual?
[14:00] The benefits and limitations of rituals and habits in daily life
[20:19] Rituals in relationships
[24:00] The meaning behind group rituals
[33:20] Corporate team-building activities
[42:33] The role of music in cultural rituals and traditions
[51:27] Grooving session: Rituals and their meanings in daily life
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links
The Ritual Effect
Michael Norton
Michael's TED Talk - Why Rituals Matter
Musical Links
The Band “Atlantic City”
Gillian Welch “I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll”
Buddy Holly “Rave On”
Arlo Guthrie “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”
 

Dive deep into the realm of behavioral science with Kurt and Tim this week as they explore the scalability of behavioral nudges and interventions through the groundbreaking research of Silvia Saccardo. Discover how Silvia's work sheds light on the effectiveness of interventions, from COVID-19 vaccination reminders to improving student sleep habits.
Unveil the nuanced impact of nudges and their effectiveness for motivated individuals, as Silvia shares insights from her studies and personalized intervention strategies. In their discussion, Kurt and Tim dissect the implications of Silvia's research, emphasizing the importance of precision in deploying nudges for maximum scalability and impact.
Join the conversation to learn how understanding behavioral principles can revolutionize intervention customization, catering to diverse contexts, populations, and behaviors. Gain invaluable insights into shaping habits effectively through cues and rewards, empowering you to encourage desired behaviors in everyday life. Tune in and unlock the secrets of behavioral science with practical applications.
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics 
[6:17] Intro and speed round
[11:18] Scalability and the effectiveness of interventions
[14:19] COVID vaccination reminders: Study
[26:15] Sleep interventions and their impact on academic performance: Study
[34:21] The effectiveness of cue rewarding in sleep interventions
[40:12] The impact of small incentives of sleep habits
[47:19] Desert island music
[51:39] Grooving Session: Nudges, scalability, and interventions in behavioral science
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Silvia Saccardo
Behavioral Nudges Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations
Improving Educational Performance Through Better Sleep Habits
Musical Links
Måneskin “OFF MY FACE”
Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer”
Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud”

Curious about how prioritizing happiness can transform leadership and workplace dynamics? Well, look no further than this week’s discussion with Gonzalo Camiña Ceballos, CEO of BeWay, a Mexico City/Madrid-based company paving the way in bringing the principles of behavioral science to the workplace.  In this conversation, Kurt, Tim, and Gonzalo dive deep into the realms of humanistic management, personal fulfillment, and the concept of “eudaimonic leadership”, and how all these factors can make or break your experience in the workplace. 
Gonzalo emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the happiness and fulfillment of employees to achieve organizational success and challenges conventional leadership norms while advocating for a more holistic approach to employee well-being.  In a post-pandemic world where RTO mandates are on the rise, all of us need to find deeper connections and meaning in our jobs. Throughout the conversation, Gonzalo helps us to see a future where people have passion and purpose in their work and feel a greater sense of community in their daily jobs and beyond. 
Join Kurt, Tim, and Gonzalo as they navigate the intersections of leadership, happiness, and personal fulfillment, offering thought-provoking insights into redefining success and finding your groove in both work and life. Whether you're a leader seeking innovative approaches to organizational management or an individual on a quest for personal growth and self-discovery, this episode offers valuable perspectives and inspiration to guide you on your journey.
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics
[4:18] Intro and speed round
[6:55] Behavioral science in corporate work departments
[16:13] Using behavioral science in debt collection
[26:53] Career development
[31:06] Prioritizing employee happiness in business
[35:47] Leadership, employee happiness, and scalability
[41:27] Desert island music choices
[46:08] Finding one's groove in life
[54:17] Grooving session: leadership, management, and behavioral science
 
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links
BeWay - The Behavioral Way
Are Happy Employees More Productive?
Musical Links
Shakira “La Tortura”
Post Malone “Circles”

So many voices, who do we listen to? The loudest, most senior or most popular voice?
Our lives are rife with pivotal moments yet it’s harder to get decisions right. However, amidst this whirlwind, we at Behavioral Grooves recently made a resounding decision – to tune in and sit down with a guest who could help us untangle the intricacies of decision-making in the modern noisy world.
Enter Nuala Walsh, the insightful author of “Tune In – How to Make Smarter Decisions in a Noisy World”. Joining Kurt and Tim, she delves deep into the labyrinth of misjudgement, reveals the ten PERIMETERS™ traps dissecting the cognitive mechanisms that stop us hearing the voices that really matter. In this illuminating dialogue, the trio navigates the idea of psychological ‘deaf spots’ – why we tune out and offers pragmatic strategies for becoming a more powerful and influential Decision Ninja.
Discover the significance of concepts like ‘tuning in’ versus ‘tuning out’, and how our biases can be exacerbated by unchecked information filtering and neglected interpretation. Arm yourself with the revolutionary SONIC framework and explore the notion of ‘decision friction’.
Throughout the conversation, Walsh provides fascinating examples and actionable insights to recalibrate our thought processes towards more deliberate and well-considered judgement calls. Judgment isn’t taught but it is assumed especially in positions of power.
As always, our episode culminates in a Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim, where they bare personal anecdotes of cognitive biases and memory lapses – showcasing the myriad ways our judgment can be swayed.
Whether you’re grappling with a monumental decision or not, this episode is a must-listen for all. Don’t fall victim to the narrow thinking of the PERIMETERS effect – tune in and make more socially responsible decisions, not just to protect your career but to save time, money and lives.
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics 
[5:50] Introduction and Speed Round
[10:42] Tuning in/out in a noisy world
[15:13] Decision-making and the impact of individual choices
[19:48] Ethics and whistleblowers
[22:57] Cognitive biases and judgment traps
[30:14] Decision-making strategies and mindset
[37:01] Desert island music choices
[40:39] Grooving session: Attention, focus, and savoring everyday moments
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links 
Nuala Walsh's Website
Tune In 
Global Association of Applied Behavioral Sciences 
Course: The Science of Well-Being
www.mindequity.co.uk 
Musical Links 
Celine Dion “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”
Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark”
Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence”

March always feels like one of those months where you hit a slump. Work is back in full force, there are no holidays in sight, and life can start to feel a bit overwhelming like you can’t catch a break. In other words, if you’re reading this, you might be feeling burnt out.
But what exactly is burnout? Is it real? Or is it just a dramatic way of saying “I’m tired”? Join Kurt and Tim as they chat with Dr. Kandi Wiens, author of Burnout Immunity, about the very real psychological syndrome of burnout and how it can affect our day-to-day lives.  In this episode, Dr. Wiens explores the symptoms of burnout and teaches us how we can build immunity to burnout through emotional intelligence and self-awareness. 
In this insightful interview, Dr. Wiens emphasizes the signs of escalating stress levels and offers practical and easily implementable strategies for stress management in your daily life. Fighting burnout isn't just about a quick fix; it's about reevaluating work priorities and self-perception—and yes, the role of music in emotional regulation, much to Tim's joy!
The episode winds down with a grooving session between Kurt and Tim, where they discuss how they’ve experienced burnout in their own lives and offer listeners actionable steps to safeguarding against burnout and fostering emotional resilience in the workplace and beyond. If you are feeling at risk for burnout or have experienced it in the past, you won’t want to miss this episode!
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Topics 
[3:58] Introduction and Speed Round
[6:02] Burnout and common symptoms associated with it
[15:25] Workplace burnout and generational differences
[20:05] Strategies for avoiding burnout
[29:57] Managing stress and uncertainty at work
[34:26] Emotional intelligence, self-care, and negative self-talk
[39:47] Music’s role in emotional regulation
[44:56] Grooving session: Burnout, stress, and language
© 2024 Behavioral Grooves
Links 
The Burnout Quiz
Burnout Immunity: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Build Resilience and Heal Your Relationship with Work
Dr. Kandi Wiens’ Website
Musical Links
Garth Brooks “The Dance”
Dave Matthews Band “Ants Marching”