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Behavioral Grooves Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Kurt Nelson, PhD and Tim Houlihan
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.
Latest Episodes
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- 2 days ago1h 13m
The Truth About Crime Prevention | Jennifer Doleac
What actually stops crime? Economist Jennifer Doleac joins us to explore the behavioral science behind safer communities, revealing why certainty of consequences, not harsher punishments, is the key to changing behavior and how evidence can lead to smarter criminal justice policy. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Jennifer Doleac [9:15] How an economist found criminal justice [13:56] Why DNA databases reduce crime [16:53] Certainty vs. severity of punishment [21:11] Redemption, incentives, and justice [25:05] Second chances for first-time offenders [30:50] Jobs, criminal records, and Ban the Box [37:57] When good intentions backfire [44:08] Rethinking prisons and parole [50:24] Why evidence struggles to shape policy [57:58] Desert Island Music [1:00:30] Grooving Session - Reforming our criminal justice systems ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Jennifer The Science of Second Chances Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Musical Links Miley Cyrus - Used to Be Young Zach Bryan - I Remember Everything
- 6 days ago34 min
Is AI Making Us Dumber? (Part 2)
AI can make us more efficient, but it can also change how we think, collaborate, and trust one another. As we continue to groove on AI, we dig into the concepts of cognitive surrender, creative convergence, trust erosion, and the new challenges facing managers as the race to adopt AI takes over corporate America. If you want to improve human connection and navigate AI's impact thoughtfully, take a listen to this episode. We have a few ideas that just may help. Topics [0:00] Intro: What is cognitive surrender? [4:15] How to use AI without giving up critical thinking [9:33] Why teams become less innovative [15:25] How AI quietly erodes workplace trust [20:42] Why AI-generated communication feels disingenuous [24:06] The growing strain on frontline managers [30:39] Helping organizations build healthier AI practices Links The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking
- 1 weeks ago1h 8m
Climate Advice You’ve Never Heard | Liz Dunn & Jiaying Zhao
Climate change conversations often focus on sacrifice, but what if the path to a healthier planet also made us happier? We sit down with Leave the Lights On authors Liz Dunn and Jiaying Zhao to explore how behavioral science can help us focus on the environmental choices that matter most, why social influence is more powerful than guilt, and how small, joyful decisions can create lasting change. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Liz Dunn & Jiaying "JZ" Zhao [9:03] Why Your Neighbors Influence You More Than Climate Facts [13:09] High Impact Climate Choices That Actually Matter [17:05] Scarcity, Happiness, and Enjoying More by Having Less [24:00] Leave the Lights On: The Carbon Math That Changes Everything [27:05] Why Where You Live Matters More Than You Think [31:17] Remote Work, Happiness, and Carbon Emissions [37:34] Everyday Climate Decisions That Make the Biggest Difference [42:10] Creating Upward Spirals of Joy [44:49] Why Sharing Your Choices Influences Others [47:57] The Environmental Cost of AI [50:58] Desert Island Music Picks [53:42] Grooving Session: Show Don't Tell Leadership ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Leave the Lights On by Liz Dunn and Jiaying Zhao About Liz About JZ Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Music Links Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do Counting Crows - Round Here Justin Bieber - Daisies Mozart - Symphony No. 40
- 1 weeks ago28 min
The Real Danger of AI (Part 1)
AI is making work faster, but at what cost? It's weakening collaboration, eroding culture, and spawning new problems and costs that most organizations didn't see coming. In Part 1 of our deep-dive into modern AI, we're exploring the behavioral science behind AI adoption, why "work slop" is becoming a growing problem, and how you can use AI to strengthen, rather than damage, your workplace and teams. Topics [0:00] We need to talk about AI [5:19] How AI changes collaboration and mentoring [10:14] Cultural Thinning and Work Slop [15:10] Slop in action [20:20] What happens when AI is implemented poorly [25:14] Mitigating AI's Negative Impacts [26:55] Coming next: Trust, leadership, and cognitive surrender
- 2 weeks ago1h 27m
Why Employees Hate Change | Julia Dhar
Why do so many organizational change initiatives fail? This week, we’re joined by behavioral economist Julia Dhar, co-author of How Change Really Works, to explore the behavioral science behind successful change. From curiosity and anxiety to psychological safety, AI, and the difference between change fatigue and change disappointment, Julia shares practical strategies that help leaders turn good ideas into lasting change. Topics [0:00] Introduction and speed round with Julia Dhar [10:34] The "cockpit" metaphor for leadership [17:28] Why "if you build it, they will come" doesn't work [22:13] Communication, alignment, and executive blind spots [29:08] Curiosity and anxiety during change [32:15] Gathering honest employee feedback [36:47] Leadership's role in successful transformation [38:52] Change fatigue vs. change disappointment [44:47] Why endings matter more than leaders realize [49:14] AI adoption and organizational behavior [53:27] Jazz, orchestras, and the art of change [58:09] Desert island music picks [1:04:14] Grooving Session: Turning anxiety into engagement ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Julia How Change Really Works by Julia Dhar, Kristy Ellmer, and Philip Jameson Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Musical Links Imagine Dragons - Believer Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
- 3 weeks ago1h 11m
Throwback Monday: Does Democracy Need a Rebrand? | AJ Jacobs
We’re taking a holiday break this week and revisiting a favorite conversation with AJ Jacobs about his year-long experiment living by 18th-century principles inspired by the U.S. Constitution. From tricorn hats and quill pens to rediscovering “Election Cakes,” AJ explores how early American civic life blended community, ritual, and democracy. We also dig into “epistemic humility” and Benjamin Franklin’s warnings about misinformation, which remain strikingly relevant today. Sit back, pop your headphones in, and enjoy this unique look at the American Experiment. ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Election day traditions [4:25] Speed round with AJ Jacobs [9:44] Living Colonially: What I learned [18:56] Epistemic humility and political perspectives [23:52] Constitutional originalism [36:29] How do we frame the constitution? [40:40] Election cakes and celebrating democracy [48:52] Embracing experimentation in everyday life [52:56] Grooving session: open-mindedness, civic duty, and cake recipes ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Join our Facebook Group! AJ’s Substack The Year of Living Constitutionally More about AJ The History of Election Cakes Musical Links Royal American Medley - Songs of the Revolutionary War Yankee Doodle
- 3 weeks ago1h 9m
The Godfather of Influence: The Lasting Impact of Robert Cialdini, Part 3
In the final episode of our Robert Cialdini series, we explore the extraordinary legacy of one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers. We revisit the seven Principles of Influence through real-world business examples, hear how Cialdini's ideas inspired organizations around the world, and learn why colleagues like Angela Duckworth, Adam Grant, Dan Pink, and Katie Milkman believe his greatest contribution goes far beyond research. Join us as we celebrate the ideas and the person who helped shape modern behavioral science. Topics [0:00] From Utility Bills to Global Impact [9:17] Full Cycle Social Psychology Explained [16:00] Why Business Became a Partner in Behavioral Science [22:47] The Seven Principles in Action [30:20] Behavior Change for Good and Real-World Research [45:49] The Ethical Compass Behind Influence [52:39] Why Influence Still Matters Today [58:02] A Career That Changed Behavioral Science [1:04:08] Daniel Kahneman on Cialdini's Legacy [1:08:04] Closing Thoughts ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves
- Jun 29, 20261h 19m
The Godfather of Influence: What Makes Bob Bob, Part 2
In the second episode of our three-part series, we go back into the time machine to see what shaped Robert Cialdini into one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers. We're exploring the childhood experience, career-defining decisions, undercover research, and surprising moments that led to Influence, pre-suasion, and the principles of unity. Topics [0:00] A breakup letter to social psychology [9:24] What makes Bob Bob? [16:03] Baseball, adaptability, and serendipity [23:40] Falling in love with psychology [27:46] Choosing freedom over prestige [36:44] The littering study that predicted elections [42:03] How Influence became a phenomenon [53:18] The birth of pre-suasion [1:08:18] Unity as the seventh principle [1:15:13] The legacy of Robert Cialdini [1:17:53] Coming up in Episode Three Links Influence by Robert Cialdini Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves
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About 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.
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