Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

Musical Links

The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

How the Spaces Around Us Shape Our Lives | Leidy Klotz May 25, 2026

Show notes

Why do some spaces energize us while others drain us? This week, Leidy Klotz joins us to explore how our homes, workplaces, and everyday environments shape our behavior, creativity, and well-being. Drawing from his new book, In a Good Place, Leidy explains why humans crave agency, competence, and connection, and how the spaces around us can either support or suppress those needs.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Leidy Klotz

[11:01] The Concept of “Good Place”

[18:26] Psychological Needs and Space

[26:44] Making Purposeful Decisions for Spaces

[34:02] Designing Spaces for Growth and Belonging

[45:09] Creating Groovy Spaces

[50:03] Grooving Session: Practical Tips for Designing Better Spaces

Links

About Leidy Klotz

In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz

Bruce Springsteen - Racing in the Street

Musical Links

Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender

Throwback Thursday: The #1 Way to Live a Happy Life | Shige Oishi May 21, 2026

Show notes

In this throwback episode, we're determined to be happy. Psychologist Shige Oishi joined us to explore the three dimensions of a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. He shared insights from decades of research into subjective well-being and revealed 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.

Topics

[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

Links

About Shige

Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi

Happiness is Everything, or Is It?

Charlie Parker - Honeysuckle Rose

Musical Links

Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Joy Spring

Why We’re Lonely Together | Nick Epley May 18, 2026

Show notes

Why do we avoid talking to strangers when connection is exactly what we need most? This week, Nick Epley returns to explore the psychology of “under-sociality” and why we consistently underestimate how rewarding social interaction can be. Nick explains why even small moments of openness, from conversations with strangers to deeper honesty with the people around us, can dramatically improve happiness, trust, and belonging. Turns out, the biggest social risk often isn’t reaching out, it’s staying quiet.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Nick Epley

[10:40] The Paradox of Being Social

[19:12] Experiments and Findings

[26:20] How Being Social Impacts Your Health

[32:27] The Challenges of Being Social - Political Divides

[46:00] Introverts, Extroverts, and What Maslow Got Wrong

[54:30] Loneliness, Survival, and the Need to Belong

[1:02:18] Grief, Adoption, and the Power of Connection

[1:12:56] Desert Island Music

[1:15:42] Grooving Session: Leadership, Conversation, and Connection

Links

About Nick

A Little More Social by Nick Epley

Matt Kearney - Ships in the Night

Musical Links

Rufus Wainwright - Across the Universe (Cover)

The Biggest Mistake We Make About Others - Behavioral Grooves LIVE May 11, 2026

Show notes

In this 500th episode celebration, we reflect on eight years of behavioral science insights, from habits and decision-making to why we so often misunderstand each other. Joined live by Nick Epley, we run a real-time experiment that reveals the gap between what we expect from conversations and what actually happens, and why asking better questions can transform how we connect.

Topics

[0:00] Eight Years, 500 Episodes, and Counting!

[6:28] Introducing Nick Epley

[11:24] Understanding Social Cognition

[15:32] Strategies for Improving our Communication

[21:36] Live Experiment - Talking to Strangers

[37:34] Lessons Learned from 8 Years Podcasting

[43:45] The Importance of Social Connections and Compassionate Curiosity

[51:00] Coming Soon to Behavioral Grooves

Links

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

Musical Links

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

Why Don’t I Feel Loved? | Sonja Lyubomirsky May 04, 2026

Show notes

What if the issue isn’t whether people love you, but whether you actually feel it? In this episode, Sonja Lyubomirsky joins us to explore the gap between being loved and feeling loved, and why that disconnect happens. Drawing from her book How to Feel Loved, we talk about the psychology behind connection, challenge common myths like love languages, and dig into how curiosity, vulnerability, and better conversations can help you build more meaningful relationships.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Sonja Lyubomirsky

[11:08] Being Loved vs. Feeling Loved

[14:14] Why Love Doesn’t Always “Land”

[19:42] Deep Conversations vs. Small Talk

[23:47] Vulnerability: The Key to Real Connection

[32:01] What Are Love Mindsets?

[37:24] Psychological Barriers to Feeling Loved

[44:53] The #1 Happiness Tip

[50:51] Are Love Languages Real?

[53:23] Music, Focus, and Flow

[56:21] Grooving Session: Letting Love In

Links

Groove vs Grind Survey

About Sonja

How to Feel Loved by Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis

Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It

Musical Links

The Lumineers - Stubborn Love

The Silent Killer in Your Workplace | Tom Rieger Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Fear at work isn’t obvious, but it is powerful. In this episode, Tom Rieger explains how fear of loss drives silos, misalignment, and inefficiency, and why AI and remote work may be making things worse, instead of better.

Topics

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Tom Rieger

[8:43] The Impact of Fear on Organizations

[16:26] Behavioral Economics and Organizational Fear

[23:39] The Role of AI in Organizational Fear

[31:25] The Challenge of Breaking Status Quo

[37:50] Advice to Managers and Leaders

[39:59] Desert Island Music

[43:24] Grooving Session: Breaking Fear Down

Links

About Tom

Breaking the Fear Barrier by Tom Rieger

Andrés Segovia - Leyenda by Albeniz

Music Links

Boston - More Than a Feeling

How to Influence Others (Ethically) | Brian Ahearn Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Should influence be about getting to “yes”? With Brian Ahearn, we explore a more ethical approach where persuasion is a responsibility, humility drives leadership, and real impact comes from helping others make better decisions.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Brian Ahearn

[8:10] The Line Between Influence and Manipulation

[12:25] Why Intent Matters in Persuasion

[16:40] Aligning Influence with Personal Values

[21:05] The Role of Humility in Leadership

[25:30] Emotional Reactions and Decision-Making

[30:15] Influencing Hearts vs Minds

[35:40] Small Actions, Identity, and the Consistency Principle

[42:41] Desert Island Music

[50:31] Grooving Session: Helping People Decide Better

Links

About Brian

Influence People

Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around

Music Links

Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

Throwback Thursday: The Life-Changing Importance of Questions | Elizabeth Weingarten Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

What if the key to growth isn’t finding better answers, but asking better questions? In our April throwback episode, we revisit our conversation with Elizabeth Weingarten on her book How to Fall in Love with Questions, where we explore how embracing uncertainty can lead to greater self-awareness, resilience, and connection. Through practice and mindset shifts, Elizabeth tells us all the ways questions can lead to clarity and confidence.

Elizabeth's book is available on paperback starting 4/15/26. If you're interested in learning more, grab your copy today!

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Elizabeth Weingarten

[11:04] The Power of Loving Questions

[15:50] The Biological Need for Certainty

[21:48] The Role of Patience in Asking Questions

[39:18] Questions and the Role of Behavioral Science

[47:57] Desert Island Music

[50:38] Grooving Session: The Value of Sitting With Questions

Links

More About Elizabeth

Better Life Lab

How to Fall in Love with Questions

Torch Leadership