Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan
  • 4.9 (103)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
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. 2D AGO

    Why Brands That Get Personal Win Big | Ken Hughes

    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 emotional connections in a digital world. From painting his toenails to drinking his own urine (seriously), Ken shares lessons from a year of trying something new every day—alongside sharp insights on how companies can break out of routine thinking, embrace vulnerability, and create customer experiences that truly matter. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Hughes [10:44] Efficiency vs. Creativity: Why Getting Lost Matters [14:54] Creativity in the Workplace [24:38] Emotional Loyalty and Brand Intimacy [30:40] Brand Intimacy Examples: United and Virgin Airlines [39:48] Emotional Intelligence in Leadership [45:57] Advice for Leaders on Navigating Change [48:13] Desert Island Music [51:01] Grooving Session: The Role of Diversity and Creativity at Work ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links About Ken Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Musical Links U2 - Vertigo Sting - Shape of My Heart

    1h 11m

  2. JUL 7

    Why Do We Struggle to Talk About Money? | Abby Davisson

    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. She shares her 5C framework for making confident choices, reveals how love and money are more connected than we think, and offers practical tools to navigate values, identity, and financial conversations—no matter your relationship status. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Abby Davisson [7:59] What Factors Influence Relationship Satisfaction [13:05] The 5C Framework for Decision Making [22:46] Applying 5C to Different Life Stages [32:23] Balancing Finanvial Decisions and Relationships [39:00] Desert Island Music [45:00] Grooving Session: Identity, Emotion, and Applying 5C to Your Life ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links More About Abby Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap For Life’s Biggest Decisions by Myra Strober and Abby Davisson Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Music Links Beyoncé - American Requiem The Beatles - Come Together

    1h 1m

  3. JUN 30

    The Real Reason Remote Work Works | Raj Choudhury

    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 Links About Raj The World is Your Office by Raj Choudhury Tulsa Remote Program Make My Move - Remote Work Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Musical Links Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love Tagore - Unending Love

    1h 14m

  4. JUN 26

    Why Do Superstitions Feel So Good?

    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 Links Join our Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

    20 min

  5. JUN 23

    Your Product Design Is Biased—Here’s How to Fix It | Alexis Mook PhD

    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 Links Alexis on LinkedIn Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Musical Links Miley Cyrus - Flowers Blink-182 - All the Small Things

    1h 1m

  6. JUN 17

    The Five Words That Change Lives | Zach Mercurio

    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 Links More About Zach The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Music Links Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Won’t Back Down Foo Fighters - The Pretender

    1h 12m

  7. JUN 9

    Can You Change Your Personality? | Olga Khazan

    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 Links About Olga Me, But Better by Olga Khazan Big 5 Personality Test Nathan Hudson’s Research Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Musical Links ODESZA - The Last Goodbye Chapell Roan - Good Luck, Babe

    1h 4m

  8. JUN 2

    Lessons on Life From Hospice Patients | Jordan Grumet

    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 Links More About Jordan Earn & Invest Podcast The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Musical Links Public Enemy - Don’t Believe the Hype Third World - Underdog

    1h 1m
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4.9
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    490
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Behavioral Grooves . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Behavioral Grooves Podcast

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