Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Cognitive scientist Steve Sloman joins us to discuss The Cost of Conviction, exploring how sacred values shape our decisions and why they often lead to polarization. From zealotry to the social roots of belief, Steve reveals why convictions are more borrowed than built—and what this means for hot-button debates in politics, public health, and business. Most importantly, he shares how reframing conversations can reduce outrage, build humility, and open the door to better dialogue across divides.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Steve Sloman

[7:49] How Your Community Shapes Your Beliefs

[13:05] Sacred Values vs. Consequentialism

[19:25] The Psychology of Convictions

[24:48] Do We Only Trust In-Group Experts?

[33:59] The “Sacred Value Trap”

[40:35] How Framing Shifts Consumer Behavior

[47:45] Desert Island Music

[51:59] Grooving Session: How Can We Reframe Our Sacred Values?

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Behavioral Grooves Live Event!

About Steve

The Cost of Conviction by Steve Sloman

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Paul Simon - The Boxer

Neil Young - Rockin’ in the Free World

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin’

This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.

The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.

Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!

Now, onto the episode!

In this episode of Behavioral Grooves, we sit down with behavioral economics pioneer George Loewenstein, whose groundbreaking research has shaped our understanding of decision-making, risk, incentives, emotions, and so much more. Though not a household name, George is a legend in the field—so much so that Richard Thaler dedicated his book Misbehaving to him. Our conversation explores his latest work on boredom, a surprisingly understudied emotion, and what it reveals about attention, productivity, and even workplace meetings. Along the way, we touch on curiosity, music, and why boredom itself may hold the key to unlocking deeper flow and focus.

Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!

About George

Psychologist and author Dr. Bob Rosen joins us to discuss his book Detach and how hidden attachments—like perfectionism, control, and success—often masquerade as virtues while quietly holding us back. We explore practical strategies for self-awareness, facing fears, and transforming attachments into aspirations so you can thrive in work and life.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Bob Rosen

[9:28] Western vs Eastern Psychology

[12:00] Overcoming Attachments and Building Self-Awareness

[21:23] Leadership and Trust in Hybrid Work

[31:48] Internalized Agesim and What It Means

[35:41] Embracing the Ups and Downs of Life

[41:18] Attachment to Life, Loss, and Building Connection

[49:49] Desert Island Music

[52:46] Grooving Session: Focus and Reflection for a Better Life

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!

About Bob

Detach by Bob Rosen

Healthy Companies

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Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale

Laura Branigan – Gloria

This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.

The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.

Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!

Now, onto the episode!

The notion of merging psychology with economics initially faced staunch skepticism, with errors perceived as random rather than systematic. However, everything changed when psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky joined forces, armed with groundbreaking ideas about human decision-making. Their meticulous research not only introduced a fresh perspective on understanding people’s choices but also ignited the flames of Behavioral Economics. Through collaboration with other influential figures in the field, including Richard Thaler, their work spearheaded a transformative movement that challenged conventional economic assumptions, propelled novel ideas forward, and seamlessly integrated psychological theories into economic theory and practice.

Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, reveals why teams—not lone geniuses—drive innovation, how group identities invisibly shape our behavior, and why structure beats process when it comes to collaboration. With lessons drawn from Harry Potter, jazz improvisation, and decades of research, this episode explores the hidden power of teams and how to unleash it.

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Introduction: Your Invited to a Behavioral Grooves Celebration!

[3:46] Speed Round with Colin Fisher

[9:02] Who was the real villain in Harry Potter?

[15:45] The Myth of "The Lone Genius"

[22:30] What Jazz Can Teach Us About Group Collaboration

[33:10] The Hidden Power of Being a Team

[37:40] The Role of Structure in Team Performance

[42:35] Belonging and Group Membership

[50:21] Jazz and Team Synergy

[53:17] Grooving Session: The Importance of Team Cohesion

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Behavioral Grooves LIVE!

About Colin

The Collective Edge by Colin Fisher

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Miles Davis - So What

Miles Davis - Freddie the Freeloader

Steely Dan - Do It Again

This October, we’re celebrating 8 years of Behavioral Grooves! To mark the occasion, we’re digging into our archives and re-sharing some of our most popular and thought-provoking conversations every Thursday for the next two months.

The celebration builds to our Anniversary Event on October 16th in Minneapolis, where fan favorite Nick Epley will lead the audience in a live social experiment and conversation about the science we all love.

🎉 Space is limited—grab your tickets now through the link in the show notes and join us for an unforgettable night of behavioral science, connection, and fun!

Now, onto our first episode in the countdown - Value of an Open Mind with Jonathan Malesic!

Writer and philosopher Jonathan Malesic explores the dangers of “knowingness”—our tendency to act like we already understand something when we don’t—and how it stifles learning, politics, and even science communication. Drawing on his experience teaching writing, Jonathan argues that writing is not just about words on a page but about cultivating empathy and moral imagination. We also dive into the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and why, despite their usefulness, they can’t replace the human capacity to truly connect with an audience. Together, we unpack what it means to stay humble, keep learning, and communicate more meaningfully in a noisy world.

Behavioral Grooves LIVE in Minneapolis!

The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives by Jonathan Malesic

Neil Young “Harvest Moon”

Fiona Apple “Criminal”

Jay Vidyarthi blends Silicon Valley design expertise with mindfulness practice to show how you can “fight design with design” and create a healthier, more joyful relationship with your tech. Instead of guilt or digital detoxes, he offers strategies for reframing boundaries into rituals, focusing on what’s good about your devices, and making intentional use easy by shaping your environment.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Jay Vidarthi

[9:40] Reconciling Tech and Mindfulness

[15:26] Practical Strategies for Managing Tech

[25:00] The Importance of Tech Design

[32:28] The Impact of AI

[38:18] Self-Awareness to Prevent Burnout

[47:00] Embracing Uncertainty

[50:39] Desert Island Music

[56:28] Grooving Session - Using Tech Joyfully

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Behavioral Grooves LIVE Show!

More About Jay

Reclaim Your Mind

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The White Stripes - Blue Orchid

All Them Witches - Real Hippies Are Cowboys

King Buffalo - Mammoth

When life feels chaotic, how do we stay grounded? In this bonus episode, we reflect on a few years of personal upheaval and explore how temporal uncertainty affects our decision-making and well-being. We share behavioral science tools—like micro-anchors, cognitive reframing, and environmental cues—that can help us stay centered when life refuses to slow down.

[0:00] Intro: What’s Going on with Tim?

[4:29] Impacts of Temporal Uncertainty

[9:50] Cognitive Overload and Decision Fatigue

[13:04] Strategies for Managing Uncertainty

[23:02] Social Connections and Support

[28:55] Final Thoughts and Advice

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Behavioral Grooves LIVE Show!

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Join the Behavioral Grooves community

Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

Why do we instinctively form groups, follow leaders, and defend traditions—even when it hurts us? Columbia professor Michael Morris joins us to explore the three tribal instincts—peer, hero, and ancestor—that shape how we cooperate and clash. From case studies at GM and Reddit to the surprising origins of Thanksgiving, we uncover how culture evolves—and how understanding it can make us better leaders, change-makers, and collaborators.

 ©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Michael Morris

[6:19] Understanding the Importance of Tribes

[15:05] Peer Instinct and Early Human Coordination

[21:09] Hero Instinct and Status-Seeking Behavior

[29:50] Bottom-up vs. Top-down Cultural Change

[37:58] Case Studies: GM and Reddit

[52:30] Desert Island Music

[56:49] Grooving Session: Applying Tribal Instincts to Leadership

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

More About Michael

Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together by Michael Morris

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The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone

Dr. Daniel Crosby joins us to explore the soul of wealth — and why your bank account isn’t the best measure of a meaningful life. We dig into behavioral finance, how to align spending with your values, and the power of behavioral judo: using your psychological biases to your advantage.

 ©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro and speed round with Daniel Crosby

[8:00] What does it mean for wealth to have a “soul”?

[17:00] Consumerism, comparison, and the myth of liquid happiness

[25:10] What is behavioral finance, really?

[30:20] The four big biases: ego, emotion, attention, conservatism

[37:30] Moral spending and voting with your dollars

[48:00] Good Vibrations, theremins, and musical genius

[52:00] Desert island music

[54:00] Grooving Session: The soul of wealth and behavioral judo

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

More About Daniel

The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning

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Radiohead - Creep

TURNSTILE - SEEIN’ STARS

Brian Wilson - God Only Knows