Dr. Paul Zak | Professor, Author, and Speaker | “Social connection is the macronutrient for emotional fitness.”

Today I'm joined by Dr. Paul Zak, a distinguished university professor at Claremont Graduate University, a pioneer in the science of trust, and one of the world’s leading researchers on the neurobiology of human connection. 

He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is ranked in the top 0.3% of the most cited scientists globally. Over the course of his career, Dr. Zak has published groundbreaking research on trust, oxytocin, and the biological foundations of cooperation, leadership, and human flourishing.

A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he has delivered talks in more than 30 countries and is a six-time TED speaker. His work has been leveraged by globally recognized organizations and audiences including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, the Association for Talent Development, ING Bank, and HSM. Through his research, writing, and speaking, Dr. Zak helps leaders better understand how trust, connection, and emotional fitness shape performance and strengthen organizations.

In this conversation, we explore the science behind trust and relationships in high-performing teams, the role of psychological safety and challenge in leadership, and why social connection may be one of the most powerful drivers of both performance and thriving. Dr. Zak also shares insights from his research on emotional fitness, why humans are biologically wired for connection, and practical ways leaders can design environments where people can perform at their best, while also living well.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[4:44] — Research Into the Neurobiology of Human Connection

[8:46] — Trust Is the Lubricant of Team Performance

[15:15] — Emotional Awareness for Leaders

[20:58] — Pushing Performers to Failure

[29:09] — Two Key Building Blocks for Trust

[34:33] — Emotional Fitness

[42:50] — Connection Is Essential to Winning

[48:50] — Invest in Human Beings, Not Human Capital

[52:34] — Lead From Love

[58:24] — Social Connection Is Key for Recovery

[1:05:26] — Kids and People Need "Time Ins" (Not Timeouts)

Learn More About Dr. Paul Zak:

• You can learn more about Dr. Zak and his work on his website here.
• You can check out his Six Emotional Wellness app here.

Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.