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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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

When author and leadership facilitator Rosi Greenberg found herself overwhelmed by self-doubt, she did something unexpected: she gave her inner critic a name — Sam — and drew him into a whimsical, deeply personal book that blends creativity, vulnerability, and behavioral insight. In this episode, Rosi shares how visualizing and engaging with that critical voice helped her build emotional resilience and lead with more empathy. Together, we explore how naming your inner critic can reframe fear, unlock creative expression, and reshape how we show up for ourselves and others.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Rosi Greenberg

[8:22] The birth of Sam

[11:00] From depression to creative healing

[16:50] How self-soubt shows up in leadership

[24:08] Working with leaders on self-doubt

[35:35] Reframing the Inner Critic

[47:00] Letting go of “shoulds”

[50:28] Desert island music

[52:00] Grooving Session: framing, leadership, and self-talk

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Everyone Has a Sam by Rosi Greenberg

The Inner Critic on YouTube

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This is Me - Ke$ha

Psychologist Shige Oishi joins us to explore the three dimensions of a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. He shares insights from decades of research into subjective well-being and reveals how personality traits, life experiences, and cultural contexts shape what we consider a “good life.” From challenging the “happiness trap” to embracing life’s rich diversity, this conversation is a roadmap for deeper self-reflection and greater fulfillment.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Shige Oishi

[10:28] The Happiness Trap

[18:38] Eudaimonic and Hedonic Approaches to Happiness

[27:30] The Correlation Between Psychological Richness and Personality

[35:00] Gratitude and Social Connection

[44:10] What Makes a Happy Society?

[48:00] Desert Island Music

[1:05:25] Grooving Session: How to Pursue a Fulfilling Life

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Shige

Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi

Happiness is Everything, or Is It?

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Charlie Parker - Honeysuckle Rose

Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Joy Spring

From candy at checkout to calm music and “limit 4” signs, grocery stores are packed with subtle nudges that influence your behavior. In this month's bonus groove, we uncover the psychological tricks behind supermarket design and how to shop more intentionally.

[0:00] Intro: The Psychology of Supermarkets

[3:54] Techniques to Make You Buy

[9:47] Checkout Lane Temptations

[11:34] How Music Influences What You Buy

[13:44] Free Samples!

[15:01] Final Takeaways and Practical Tips

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

In-store Music Affects Product Choice

Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value by William Poundstone

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