106 episodes

This is a podcast aimed at better understanding other people, and better understanding ourselves. For details, see www.behavior-podcast.com. On this podcast I (Zach Elwood) talk to people from a wide range of fields about how they analyze and make use of human behavior and psychology. I also sometimes focus on understanding political polarization. Popular episodes include: indicators of healthy & unhealthy relationships, reading poker tells, indicators of fake online reviews, and interrogation techniques (to name a few). My main claim to fame is my poker tells work: my first book, Reading Poker Tells, has been translated into 8 languages. My research into deceptive online activity has been featured in the Washington Post, NYT, Buzzfeed, and more. Advertised podcasts below...

People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast Zachary Elwood

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.4 • 165 Ratings

This is a podcast aimed at better understanding other people, and better understanding ourselves. For details, see www.behavior-podcast.com. On this podcast I (Zach Elwood) talk to people from a wide range of fields about how they analyze and make use of human behavior and psychology. I also sometimes focus on understanding political polarization. Popular episodes include: indicators of healthy & unhealthy relationships, reading poker tells, indicators of fake online reviews, and interrogation techniques (to name a few). My main claim to fame is my poker tells work: my first book, Reading Poker Tells, has been translated into 8 languages. My research into deceptive online activity has been featured in the Washington Post, NYT, Buzzfeed, and more. Advertised podcasts below...

    Behavioral analysis in aviation security, with Philip Baum

    Behavioral analysis in aviation security, with Philip Baum

    Aviation security professional Philip Baum talks about analyzing behavior for aviation security and risk assessment purposes, and for security purposes in general. Topics discussed include: looking for deviations from the baseline behaviors normal in an environment; successes of behavioral analysis for security purposes; what can make some of this work controversial; thoughts on what aviation security does wrong. 
    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 54 min
    Poker tells in a hand from the World Series of Poker Ladies Event, with Lara Eisenberg

    Poker tells in a hand from the World Series of Poker Ladies Event, with Lara Eisenberg

    A talk with poker player Lara Eisenberg, who won the 2021 World Series of Poker Ladies Event, and who cashed in a 2022 World Poker Tour event for $481,000. Topics we talk about include: how her thoughts about poker tells have changed over time; some specific behaviors from a poker hand from the Ladies Event; some behavioral patterns she noticed in herself; the anxiety involved in bluffing; and skydiving, which Lara has done competitively. 
    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 29 min
    The illusions of memory and self, with Anne Wilson

    The illusions of memory and self, with Anne Wilson

    A talk with social psychologist Anne Wilson about memory and how we define who we are. Topics discussed include: the nature of self; the nature of memory; the fallibility of our memories; the theory of temporal self appraisal (which is about how we experience ourselves as being close to or far away in time from different versions of ourselves); false memories; the role creative storytelling plays in constructing our views of self and the world; and political polarization. 


    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 46 min
    My book Defusing American Anger is out

    My book Defusing American Anger is out

    Some updates about: the release of my Defusing American Anger book (available at www.american-anger.com); some depolarization-aimed videos I put on YouTube; and my upcoming interview with Robert Talisse, author of Sustaining Democracy. 
    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 3 min
    On the loneliness of leaving one's cult, with Calvin Wayman

    On the loneliness of leaving one's cult, with Calvin Wayman

    Calvin Wayman was raised in a fundamentalist Mormon cult, with four mothers and 44 siblings. This world was everything he had known. At the age of 30, he left that world, and was effectively on his own, isolated from everything that had previously given his life meaning. We talk about that experience with a focus on the existential feelings of isolation and loneliness that accompanied it. Topics discussed include: how he began to question his world; factors he sees as present that made him someone willing to question things; Plato's allegory of the cave; The Matrix and our willingness to take the "red pill"; how his community and family reacted to his decision; the human desire for certainty; and more. 
    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 58 min
    On psychopaths, dark traits, and "dark empaths," with Nadja Heym

    On psychopaths, dark traits, and "dark empaths," with Nadja Heym

    A talk with Nadja Heym, a psychology researcher who specializes in dark traits, like psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism, and who has researched so-called "dark empaths": people with dark traits who have a good amount of empathy. We delve into some nuance in the area of psychopathy. Topics discussed include: How she defines psychopathic traits; The misuse of the term "psychopath" (and related misuse of other terms like "narcissist"); Can we say from a brain scan if a brain is "psychopathic"?; "Bad seed"-like concepts of how psychopaths arise; Can an environment (like a highly competitive job) make someone have more psychopathic traits?; What are "dark empaths"? 


    Support the showTo learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
165 Ratings

165 Ratings

reallygreatproduct ,

Interesting and insightful

Pros:
Fascinating takes! I really enjoy the topics and conversations. I’ve listened to a range of psychology podcasts and really appreciate the breadth, depth and originality of this one.

Cons:
I agrée with what’s been said about potential for production quality improvement. I also occasionally notice an overuse of yes/no questions during interviews, which seems to stilt conversation at times.

Overall I’m really enjoying and will keep listening!

TianaX ,

Great podcast

Unique guests and episode ideas among a sea of repetitive psychology podcasts

Real Fathers Of Philadelphia ,

Great episode

The episode with Calvin wayman was really great. I enjoy the show from beginning to end… informative and enlightening to know about the inner workings of a culture outside of my own. As a black man hearing how his ppl view my ppl was typical, but to hear his view was reassuring, Calvin I wish you all the best.

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