Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Paul Eastwick, relationship scientist and author, challenges how we think about attraction. He explains why checklists and apps mislead. He explores how attraction develops over time, the role of shared history and rituals, and better ways to meet people through real social networks and activities.

James Geary, author and aphorist behind The World in a Phrase, explores why short sayings stick and shape judgment. He outlines the laws of aphorisms and shows how they act as cognitive heuristics. Conversations cover how aphorisms guide decisions, shift with life stages, and can be found in unexpected places like songs and children’s books.

They discuss a surge of ICE activity in Minneapolis and its impact on neighborhood safety. They recount protests, viral videos, and the online backlash that followed. They explore how identity, conformity, and motivated reasoning deepen division. They offer practical ways to slow down, find shared values, and prioritize local, humane conversations.

Alex Imas, behavioral economist and co-author of The Winner’s Curse, explains why smart people make predictably bad choices. He discusses the winner’s curse, loss aversion, auctions, and how biases shape markets and policy. He also explores attention, tech exploitation of bias, constructed preferences, and why no single behavioral theory fits all situations.

Discover why January can feel like a slump and the behavioral science behind post-holiday drops in motivation. Hear why reflecting before resetting helps and why taking a week or two to recharge matters. Learn how managers can spot low energy and why short milestones and brain breaks rebuild momentum quickly.

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. Topics [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 Links About Erin A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Musical Links 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. Topics [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. Links About Jonah Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way by Jonah Berger Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Music Links Suzanne Vega, DNA - Tom's Diner  RUN DMC - Walk This Way (ft. Aerosmith)

Natalie Nixon, PhD, creativity strategist and author of Move. Think. Rest. explains her MTR framework in a fresh, human-centered way. She discusses movement hygiene like walking meetings, why rest scales creativity, and how to embrace ambiguity. Practical prototyping tips and playful rituals for sustaining creative grooves are highlighted.

They revisit standout behavioral science books that reshaped their thinking this year. Topics include psychological richness versus happiness, redefining wealth beyond money, and how social context shapes beliefs. They cover teamwork and leadership, making people feel they matter, behavioral economics, and practical behavioral science in marketing and everyday life.

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 Topics [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 Links About Ayelet Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation Music Links Best of NPR Tiny Desk