Behavioral Grooves Podcast

U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Musical Links

Randy Crawford - Rio de Janeiro Blue

Freaky Friday: Grooving on Scary Biases Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves! In the spirit (OoooOoo) of the holiday, we're resharing one of our old episodes exploring the spooky side of biases - why we have them, and how we can overcome them. Tune in while you're painting your face for that halloween party, or maybe play it on the speakers outside to really scare the kids with some cold hard science.

No tricks, just treats — and by treats, we mean thoughtful behavioral science stories told without ads or sponsors.

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The Science of Superstition: Why Our Brains Believe in Magic Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.”

Topics

[0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves!

[2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality

[6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions

[9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives

[14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder

[16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals

Links

Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition.

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Music Links

Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

The Lies We Believe About Control | Dr. Wolfgang Linden Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Psychologist and author Dr. Wolfgang Linden joins us to explore why so much of our stress comes not from events themselves, but from our attempts to control them. Drawing on 40+ years of research and clinical experience, he breaks down the “illusion of control” and argues that we only truly have power over two things: how we respond and where we direct our energy. We dive into his emotion–thought–behavior framework, the dangers of suppressing emotions, and how small shifts in attention and behavior can interrupt toxic cycles. From relationships to health to life goals, Wolfgang shows how letting go can actually give us more peace, more agency, and a clearer path forward—sometimes even by knowing when to quit.

Topics

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Dr. Wolfgang Linden

[6:08] Emotions: friend or foe?

[13:38] Behavior change and depression

[17:51] When to persist vs. when to quit

[26:23] Stress, values, and life priorities

[31:39] Saying yes to opportunities

[36:05] What to do when stuck in a rut

[43:37] Desert Island music

[48:36] Grooving session: attention, focus, and letting go

Links

About Dr. Wolfgang Linden

The Illusion of Control: A Practical Guide to Avoid Futile Struggles by Wolfgang Linden

Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath

Musical Links

Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished)

Eight Years Grooving: How to Decide | Annie Duke (Republish) Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

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!

And for our final throwback...

Annie Duke returns to discuss her book How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices, a practical guide that helps readers apply decision-making strategies in everyday life. Annie walks us through concepts like the Archer’s Mindset, Free Rolls, and the surprising benefits of negative thinking, all designed to improve goal-setting and outcomes. Blending behavioral science with her signature clarity—and even a few musical shoutouts to Jack White—Annie offers listeners concrete tools to make smarter decisions and, ultimately, happier lives.

Links

How to Decide by Annie Duke

Music Links

Jack White - Archbishop Harold Holmes

Why Who You Know Still Matters | Toby Stuart Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

We explore the hidden forces of status and anointment with Professor Toby Stuart, author of Anointed: How Status Shapes Our Lives. Status influences careers, relationships, and how we perceive art, yet as AI blurs traditional markers of merit, society is increasingly relying on shortcuts like pedigree and recognition. We examine the risks, opportunities, and compounding effects of status, revealing how small advantages snowball into lifelong impacts and challenging listeners to rethink how status shapes their world.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Toby Stuart

[8:43] Status-based Bias

[13:49] Status in Art, Music, and Science

[26:34] The Power of Anointment and Status Transfer

[39:39] Status Hierarchies, Networks, and Social Groups

[43:23] The Cosmic Lottery

[48:06] The Future of Status in an AI World

[58:47] What is the Matthew Effect?

[1:01:50] Grooving Session - What Does Status Really Mean?

Links

Behavioral Grooves Live in Minneapolis!

More About Toby

Anointed by Toby Stuart

Duke Ellington - Take the “A” Train

Music Links

Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Eight Years Grooving: Why People Succeed | Bob McKinnon (Republish) Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

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!

And now - our throwback of the week!

Bob McKinnon—host of the Attribution podcast and author of America’s Dreaming—joins us to unpack the stories we tell about success and failure. Bob challenges the “fundamental attribution error,” showing how luck, privilege, and social connections shape life outcomes far more than we often admit. Together, we explore the ethics of marketing, the hidden role of systemic barriers, and how reframing our narratives can foster empathy and bridge divides. With storytelling, history, and even music woven in, this conversation reveals how compassionate curiosity can help us see both ourselves and others more clearly.

Links

America's Dreaming by Bob McKinnon

Music Links

Neil Diamond - I am…I said

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

You’re Right - Meetings Are the Worst | Don Kieffer Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Don Kieffer, co-author of There’s Got to Be a Better Way, shares why “common sense” often misguides leaders and how dynamic work design helps organizations thrive. From calling meetings the worst form of organizational abuse to showing why managers can become their own obstacles, Don explains how making work visible and partnering with people closest to the work can unlock both adaptability and efficiency.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Don Kieffer

[7:14] What Leaders Consistently Get Wrong

[10:29] Dynamic Work - What Is It?

[18:42] The Hot Stove Problem

[22:56] When the Boss Becomes the Problem

[28:18] The Power of Whiteboards

[36:01] Meetings: The Worst Form of Organizational Abuse

[42:46] Jazz, Improv, and Better Work Design

[45:44] Grooving Session - Handoffs, Huddles, and Making Work Work

Links

There’s Got to Be a Better Way by Nelson Repenning and Donald Kieffer

About Don Kieffer

John Coltrane - My Favorite Things

Music Links

Pandora Jazz Station

Eight Years Grooving: Delighting in Death | Jodi Wellman (Republish) Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

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!

And now - this week's episode!

Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once, joins us for a lively and irreverent conversation on how facing our mortality can motivate us to live more fully. Together, we explore why life should be about more than routines and to-do lists, and how prioritizing joy, gratitude, and connection can help us make the most of the limited Mondays we have left. Blending humor with inspiration, Jodi challenges us to be more intentional with our time and to embrace the art of truly living.

Links