Behavioral Grooves Podcast

This Grooving Session feels personal for us. We’re combining our own experiences with behavioral science to explore why civil discourse seems so fragile right now. Over the weekend, tensions rose as ICE activity increased in Minneapolis, and Kurt’s neighborhood was deeply affected. When political tension is high, factors such as fear, proximity to events, and social identity can worsen polarization. It’s easy to forget that we have more in common than we think.

We’re here to support you, and we hope this episode gives you practical ways to engage. By slowing down, avoiding online dogpiles, and starting with the question, “What do we agree on?” We can start rebuilding a sense of shared reality.

Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid

Just Neighbors

Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis

Why do smart people keep making predictably bad decisions? Behavioral economist Alex Imas joins us to unpack The Winner’s Curse, loss aversion, and the persistent biases that shape markets, policy, and everyday choices. We explore why classic economic models fall short and what behavioral economics reveals about how humans really decide.

[0:00] Introduction and speed round with Alex Imas

[11:55] The Winner’s Curse and its implications

[21:13] Behavioral economics and standard economic matters

[28:01] Loss aversion and decision-making

[35:04] Behavioral economics in policy and law

[41:00] Tom Sawyer economics

[47:30] Social media, attention, and exploitation of bias

[56:38] The importance of cooperation and social systems

[58:40] New music in 2026

[1:07:53] Grooving session: framing, preferences, and happiness

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

The Winner’s Curse by Richard Thaler and Alex Imas

About Alex

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Fontaines DC - I Love You

ALEXSUCKS - The Gutter

January often feels like a letdown instead of a fresh start. In this episode, we explain the behavioral science behind the January slump, why motivation drops after the holidays, and how reflection, recovery, and smaller milestones can help individuals and teams regain energy and momentum.

[0:00] Are you feeling that January Slump?

[3:34] Reflecting and recharging

[4:56] What leaders can do

[8:00] Milestones for motivation

[11:42] Final thoughts and next steps

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

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Boredom feels unpleasant, but that may be the point. Psychologist Dr. Erin Westgate joins us to explain why boredom is a signal rather than a flaw, how meaning and attention shape it, and what it can teach us about work, burnout, and living a psychologically rich life.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Erin Westgate

[8:05] Do we think for pleasure?

[13:11] Why men would rather shock themselves than be bored

[15:50] The MAC model

[25:23] Is boredom useful?

[29:07] Enjoyable vs. interesting experiences

[31:51] Can a boring life still be a good life?

[39:58] Boredom and burnout at work 

[49:39] Is boredom good or bad?

[52:38] Designing better environments for bored people

[58:31] Desert island music

[1:02:17] Grooving Session: Boredom and meaning in life

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Erin

A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning

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Patty Scialfa - Rumble Doll

Beethoven - Symphony No.7 in A major op.92 - II, Allegretto

It’s Throwback Thursday at Behavioral Grooves, and we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations with bestselling author Jonah Berger on the surprising power of words. Tiny shifts in language can shape behavior, influence relationships, and even change how others see us. Jonah reveals the “magic words” that captivate, motivate, and persuade, and shares practical tips for turning actions into identities, priming behavior with language, and making every word count.

[3:27] Welcome and speed round questions.

[5:09] Why asking for advice makes us actually seem smarter.

[7:17] Using abstract vs. concrete language.

[12:42] How Jonah researched the use of language.

[16:49] How can our language affect our relationships.

[19:31] Turning actions into identities.

[22:47] Priming behavior with language.

[25:00] Do the lyrics of songs help explain their success?

[28:27] Grooving Session with Tim and Kurt on why words matter.

About Jonah

Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way by Jonah Berger

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Suzanne Vega, DNA - Tom's Diner 

RUN DMC - Walk This Way (ft. Aerosmith)

What if the key to better work isn’t doing more, but moving more, resting better, and thinking differently? Dr. Natalie Nixon joins us to unpack her Move, Think, Rest framework and explain why creativity thrives when we step away from hustle culture. From walking meetings and daydreaming to embracing ambiguity and redesigning how we work, this episode offers a powerful reframe for anyone feeling burned out or stuck.

[0:00] Introduction and speed round with Natalie Nixon

[10:20] Burnout, hustle culture, and redesigning how we work

[16:12 Productivity myths from the Industrial Revolution

[20:34] Movement hygiene and the benefits of walking

[26:39] The Move, Think, Rest model

[30:27] How to embrace ambiguity instead of fighting it

[38:27] The importance of scaling rest

[44:38] How Natalie finds her groove

[48:25] Grooving Session: Reframing productivity and creativity 

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

MTR Challenge

Natalie Nixon

Move. Think. Rest. By Natalie Nixon, PhD

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Check out Natalie Nixon's Playlist for:

Move

Think

Rest

In this annual “best of the best” episode, we revisit the behavioral science books that most influenced our thinking this year. Rather than ranking titles, we explore what made each book impactful; from happiness and psychological richness to leadership, teams, and behavioral economics, and why these ideas continue to challenge how we think, work, and live.

[0:00] Can we really rank “best” books?

[2:08] Book Giveaway - How to join

[3:34] Psychological richness and happiness

[5:50] Redefining wealth beyond money

[7:21] The illusion of self-derived beliefs

[8:25] Getting out of your own way

[11:11] The power of mattering at work

[13:21] Rethinking happiness

[15:01] Behavioral science in the real world

[16:45] Behavioral economics

[19:52] Behavioral science in marketing and advertising

[20:19] Closing thoughts and community invite 

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Life in Three Dimensions – Shigehiro Oishi

The Soul of Wealth – Daniel Crosby

The Knowledge Illusion – Steven Sloman

Detach – Bob Rosen

The Collective Edge – Colin Fisher

The Power of Mattering – Zach Mercurio

What We Value – Emily Falk

Beyond Happy – Mark Fabian

The Doors You Can Open – Rosalind Chow

The Housefly Effect – Eva van den Broek & Tim den Heijer

The Winner’s Curse – Richard Thaler & Alex Imas

Meditations for Mortals – Oliver Burkeman

Hacking the Human Mind – Richard Shotton

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Groovy Listening 2025 Playlist

Happy New Year, Groovers! This week, we're taking some time-off and sharing an oldie but a goodie - our conversation with Ayelet Fishbach. 

The start of a new year often brings fresh motivation...and then we burnout. But why? In this recast, we are joined by Dr. Ayelet Fishbach to explore why willpower-driven resolutions fail and how behavioral science offers a smarter way to set goals that last. Through an examination of her research, we unpack meta-motivation, the problem with "the middle" and how you can design your goals better so that they carry momentum through January and beyond. 

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Motivation and Willpower - a New Perspective with Ayelet Fishbach

[3:19] The Marshmallow Test and Its Misinterpretation

[7:52] Meta Motivation and Its Implications

[14:28] The Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

[18:17] Problems Around Goal Achievement

[32:41] The Important of Aspirational Goals

[42:58] Strategies for Overcoming the Problem of "the Middle"

[48:33] Key Takeaways

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Ayelet

Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation

Best of NPR Tiny Desk

Why do holiday rituals matter so much to our happiness and sense of connection? In this pre-Christmas special, we unwrap (ho ho ho…) the behavioral science behind gatherings and traditions—from Thanksgiving dinners to baking cookies and watching favorite holiday movies. Learn how rituals differ from habits, why they help reduce anxiety, and how small, intentional moments can strengthen belonging, refresh traditions that feel stale, and make the holiday season feel more meaningful and enjoyable.

[0:00] Understanding the Importance of Gatherings and Rituals

[5:19] The Role of Multiple Groups in Identity

[8:06] Defining Rituals

[14:13] Maintaining the Meaning of Rituals

[19:00] Practical Ways to Add Intention to the Holidays

[22:15[ A Question for Your Next Gathering

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

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Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song

Tim Minchin - White Wine in the Sun

Individual emotional intelligence matters — but teams thrive when EI is built together, not carried by a few well-developed individuals. In this episode, Vanessa Druskat explains why high-performing groups rely on shared norms that create psychological safety, trust, and collaboration. We talk through her research-backed framework for turning work groups into emotionally intelligent teams, how leaders can shape better environments, and why optimism is a surprisingly powerful tool for motivation and change.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Vanessa Druskat

[7:08] What is Team Emotional Intelligence?

[13:02] Leader Behavior vs Team Norms

[18:24] The Discovery of “the Nine Norms”

[26:34] Engaging Stakeholders Beyond the Team

[33:19] Belonging Needs and Conformity

[42:01] Optimism As a Leadership Tool

[47:21] Coaching for Hope vs Problems

[50:42] Desert Island Music

[54:14] Grooving Session: A+ Teams vs A+ Individuals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Vanessa

The Emotionally Intelligent Team

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Van Morrison - Days Like This

John Prine - In Spite of Ourselves