Behavioral Grooves Podcast

If you could spend a whole day with any historical figure, who would it be—and why? In this solo-sode of Groove Jams, we dive into this fascinating question, blending philosophy, psychology, and a bit of fun as we unpack our companion picks.

From deep questions to unexpected lessons, we explore the impact of history’s iconic figures and the timeless wisdom they could offer. Who would you choose? Tune in for a playful and thought-provoking journey into the "what ifs" of history.

Check out the video version of this episode on YouTube!

Want to win a free book? Write us a review, screenshot it, and send it to our producer [email protected] for your chance to win!

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Want to win a free book? Write us a review, screenshot it, and send it to our producer [email protected] for your chance to win!

[0:00] Introduction and a Behavioral Grooves giveaway!

[6:59] Speed Round with Israa Nasir

[12:36] Red Flags of Toxic Productivity

[18:04] Slowing Down to Speed Up

[24:47] Generational and Social Influences

[30:07] Myths of Productivity

[35:00] Emotional Awareness and Self-Reflection

[45:23] Practical Advice for Avoiding Toxic Productivity

[53:01] Desert Island Music

[57:50] Grooving Session: Awareness, slowing down, and finding balance

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Take the Behavioral Grooves Survey!

More About Israa

Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More

The Spotlight Effect and Social Anxiety

Let’s End Toxic Productivity

Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime 

John Mayer - Free Fallin’ 

Ghazal Music - Rafta Rafta Wo Meri

Have you ever felt stuck between two seemingly opposite choices or found yourself seeing the world in absolutes? This week, we’re joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, author of Both/And Thinking, to uncover how embracing paradoxes can help us tackle life’s toughest problems. Wendy shares how shifting from an “either/or” to a “both/and” mindset can unlock better decision-making, foster creativity, and provide solutions to today’s complex challenges—from personal dilemmas to organizational leadership.

In our Grooving Session, we dive deeper into the concept of “both/and” thinking and explore its applications in leadership, personal decision-making, and workplace dynamics. We examine the evolutionary roots of black-and-white thinking and discuss why embracing nuance is more important than ever in our interconnected world. Whether you’re navigating hybrid work policies, parenting challenges, or major life decisions, this perspective offers a fresh lens to solve problems both big and small.

The easiest choice you’ll make today? Saying yes to this episode! Join us for an insightful conversation with Wendy and find out why even ice cream dilemmas are worth a second thought.

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Introduction - Ice Cream Dilemmas and Both/And Thinking

[6:14] Speed round with Wendy Smith

[14:22] Understanding Paradoxes and Both/And Thinking

[23:19] Practical Applications of Both/And Thinking

[33:25] Challenges and Emotional Complexity

[40:12] Using Both/And Thinking in Leadership and Personal Life

[45:58] Desert Island Music

[47:42] Grooving Session: How to Embrace Both/And Thinking in Your Everyday Life

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems

Wendy Smith, PhD

Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

What is Both/And Thinking?

The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go 

Wicked - Defying Gravity

How can the science of persuasion reshape your workplace?

This week, we sit down with Steve Martin to discuss the principles behind his latest book, Influence at Work, and unpack the “influence equation”—a powerful framework that blends evidence, economics, and emotion to drive ethical and effective persuasion. Steve shares actionable strategies for crafting influence, highlighting how small tweaks in incentives and timing can lead to surprising and meaningful behavioral shifts.

We also dive into why behavioral insights shouldn’t be confined to a single department. Steve argues for embedding these principles across an organization, emphasizing how doing so can elevate decision-making, foster collaboration, and drive positive outcomes at every level.

Whether you're leading a team, managing a project, or navigating workplace dynamics, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom to help you integrate behavioral science into your day-to-day decisions and harness the power of influence for good. Tune in to learn how understanding and applying these insights can transform not just your organization, but your role within it.

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro: The Power of Influence in Behavioral Science

[3:51] Speed Round with Steve Martin

[10:56] The Influence Equation and its Applications

[17:12] Everyday Applications of Behavioral Science

[35:41] The Role of Emotion and Timing in Influence

[42:35] Desert Island Music

[46:21] Grooving Session: Influence, the Importance of Incentives, and the Future of Behavioral Science

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Influence At Work: Capture attention, connect with others, convince people to act

About Steve Martin

Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists

Influence by Robert Cialdini

ELO - Mr. Blue Sky 

New Order - Blue Monday 

The Beatles - Come Together 

Between job uncertainty, political tension, holiday anxiety, and the general state of the world, stress and emotional exhaustion are at an all-time high. In this special ‘emergency episode’ ahead of the holidays, we break down why humans often unintentionally create stress through perception—and how our brain’s negativity bias amplifies it.

As you prep your holiday meal, tune in for science-backed strategies to reduce stress, from naming emotions and reframing self-talk to cultivating gratitude. We’ll also explore the power of healthy habits like sleep, exercise, and digital detoxes, plus how social connections—whether with loved ones or strangers—can help build resilience.

Later in the episode, producer Caroline shares her inspiring journey fostering rescue dogs and how it strengthened her sense of purpose and self-efficacy during tough times.

Join us for this timely discussion, and connect with the Groove Community on Facebook to share your own stress-busting tips. Wishing you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Emotional exhaustion and stressors

[5:25] Coping with stress and emotional awaredness

[15:27] Gratitude and journaling practices

[26:08] Healthy habits and reducing stress

[34:58] Social connection and purpose

[39:51] Volunteering and personal growth

[45:12] Conclusion: Managing stress and finding community

 ©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Daily Shift Journal

Join our Groove Community!

“A Life Worth Breathing” by Max Strom

Follow Caroline’s Foster Journeys!

What makes a workplace truly thrive? This week, Brad Shuck returns to share how practicing gratitude as an intentional discipline can transform employee engagement and appreciation. We dive into Brad’s three key factors driving workplace culture and productivity, exploring real-world examples illustrating how companies can breathe new life into struggling cultures.

Brad challenges the traditional approach to workplace morale—hint: pizza parties won’t cut it. He emphasizes that culture isn’t a top-down directive; it grows from the ground up. While managers and team leaders may not control the entire organizational culture, their influence at the team level is powerful. They play a vital role in fostering belonging and purpose for employees.

If you’re ready to spark a workplace revolution—one where employees feel safe to speak up, innovation thrives, and gratitude becomes second nature—tune in to hear Brad’s firsthand strategies for transforming your company culture today.

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro - Gratitude in corporate culture

[5:35] Speed Round with Brad Shuck

[10:54] The role of gratitude in organizational success

[14:42] What role do leaders play in shaping culture?

[22:31] The challenges of cultivating gratitude in a fast-paced work culture

[37:18] Desert Island Music

[41:02] Grooving Session: Work, gratitude, and psychological safety

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Brad Shuck

Studies by Brad (et al…)

Above the Line vs Below the Line Leadership

What is Psychological Safety?

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah 

Mumford & Sons - Ghosts That We Knew 

Woody Guthrie - Tear the Fascists Down 

What would you do differently if you could live for 1,000 years? In this episode of Groove Jams, we’re joined by fan-favorite Annie Duke to dive headfirst into the wild possibilities of a much longer life. The conversation kicks off with a controversial babysitting prank that sparked Annie’s lifelong fear of death, leading to a lively debate about how immortality could reshape society. Would 80-year-old presidents be no big deal? Would archaeology become the most boring subject ever? Join us as we unravel ethical dilemmas, debate questionable life choices, and find out if Annie can finally conquer her fear of mortality. 

Don’t wait 1,000 years to tune in—hit play now while it’s still relevant!

This week, we continue exploring jobs, careers, and callings with Jen Totsi-Kharas, co-author of Is Your Work Worth It? For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our conversation with Jen’s co-author, Christopher Michaelson, on last week’s episode!

We sit down with Jen to explore the complex nature of work and how it can be defined as a job, career, or calling, with a particular focus on the potential downsides people face when they try and pursue their “callings”. While having a strong calling can boost engagement and life satisfaction, it also has its risks, including over-commitment, burnout, and a disconnection from the practical realities of one’s career.

Discover who has stronger work satisfaction - orchestral musicians or prison guards, and explore how expectations and daily demands shape well-being across professions.  Together with Jen, we discuss how calling can change over time and the importance of self-discovery in aligning work with personal values and aspirations.  There is value in finding meaningful work, even if it’s not a perfect calling, and Jen helps us explore the need for a balanced approach that considers both passion and practicality in our career choices. 

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro: Dream job or prison guard?

[4:44] Speed Round with Jen Totsi-Kharas

[10:17] Happiness in “callings” vs. “jobs”

[15:27] The benefits and downsides of callings

[29:46] The difference between callings and jobs

[34:42] The role of callings in different professions

[40:44] The importance of finding meaningful work

[46:37] Grooving session: understanding the nuances of work satisfaction

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Jennifer Tosti-Kharas

Is Your Work Worth It?: How to Think About Meaningful Work

Zookeepers, Callings, and the Double-edged Sword of Deeply Meaningful Work

Indigo Girls Closer to Fine

Tori Amos Cornflake Girl (Live)

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

[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

Is Your Work Worth It?: How to Think About Meaningful Work

Christopher Michaelson

9/11 Portraits of Grief Project

Phillip Glass “Prophecies” 

Allison Russell “Nightflyer” 

Boy Genius “Not Strong Enough

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!

[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

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