People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The complexity of aphantasia, inner narration, and other inner experiences, with Russell Hurlburt May 13, 2024

Show notes

A talk with Russell Hurlburt, who’s researched inner experience for more than five decades. He's the author of six books and many articles on the topic of inner mental experiences. Topics discussed include: the difficulty of describing inner experience; the ambiguities in the classification of “aphantasia” (reporting no visual qualities in one’s thought processes); the ambiguities in the “inner monologue” concept; views about whether dreams are visual or not; and more.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

The psychology of bus driving: reading the behavior of pedestrians, riders, and other drivers May 07, 2024

Show notes

This is a talk with Brendan Bartholomew, who’s a professional bus driver in San Francisco. We talk about the role understanding and predicting human behavior can play when driving a city bus. Topics discussed include: the importance of thinking ahead about potential pedestrian/traffic dangers; how bus drivers know who’s waiting for a bus and who’s not; thoughts on handling unruly and/or mentally ill passengers; how modern rideshare and scooter traffic have changed things for bus drivers. This is a reshare of a talk from 2020.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

Systemic change vs. cultural change in efforts to reduce polarization, with David Foster Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

A talk with David Foster, who writes about polarization and media at knowthesystem.org and is the author of "Moderates of the World Unite!: Reworking the Political Media Complex." Topics discussed include: the optimal approach for reducing toxic political polarization (cultural change vs systemic changes); defining the word 'moderate' and examining some of the negative connotations it has; the difficulty of making changes in a polarized, high-animosity environment; why some conservatives dislike the idea of making systemic changes; the ideas in David's book for improving the media environment and political discourse.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

How simplistic ideas of power (e.g., the oppressed/oppressor framework) can reduce empathy Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Elizaveta Friesem writes about media and about social power (i.e., the power people exert over other people). I first interviewed her about media and polarization in 2021 about her book "Media Is Us." Topics we discuss here include: Michel Foucault’s ideas about power (often referenced in liberal academic world); the oppressed/oppressor framework (also often referenced); how simplistic views of social power can be divisive and result in a reduction in people's empathy; how the free will debate ties into these ideas; political polarization related to some of these ideas.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

Living without free will: A talk with physicist Daniel Whiteson Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

A talk with Daniel Whiteson, a professor of physics and astronomy, about free will, with a focus on what the effects in one's life are when one doesn't believe in free will. Topics discussed: Our thoughts on why we think free will is unlikely to exist; psychological and emotional aspects of living without a belief in free will; the anxiety and even anger that some people can have about the idea that we lack free will; the idea that a lack of belief in free will can be part of a spiritual, positive way of experiencing the world; and more.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

The news is deepening our divides. Does Tangle News have a solution? Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

A talk with journalist Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News (readtangle.com), which shares takes from across the political spectrum. I think Tangle is doing amazing work. I think the more Americans there are who read Tangle, the less toxically polarized we'll be. Topics we discuss include: aspects of Tangle News that make it depolarizing and anger-reducing; how Isaac conceives of the problem of political polarization; his work debunking "the election was stolen" narratives in 2020, and more.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

Rounders and Billions screenwriter Brian Koppelman on poker tells and reading behavior Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

A talk with screenwriter/producer Brian Koppelman, known for many TV and film projects, including the poker movie Rounders, the show Billions, and the series Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber. Topics discussed: how he decided to create Rounders; Zach's writing about unintentional poker tells/behaviors he spotted in Rounders; the allure of reading people's behavior; the difficulty of reading behaviors in most real-world situations; and the anxiety-reducing benefits of transcendental meditation.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

The psychology of poker tells: A talk with pro poker player Dara O'Kearney Feb 18, 2024

Show notes

A talk with professional poker player Dara O’Kearney about poker tells (aka, physical and verbal behaviors in poker). Dara is the co-host of the popular poker podcast The Chip Race and the author of several books, including GTO Poker Simplified. We talk about: the importance of poker tells compared to strategy; how Dara’s views on tells have changed over time; some ways poker players can get info from opponents (e.g., insulting them or being nice to them); some poker hands where opponent behaviors played a role in a decision.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

Psychological tactics in interrogations and getting confessions, with David Zulawski Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

A talk with David Zulawski from 2018. Zulawksi is an expert in interrogation and interview techniques and the cofounder of Wicklander Zulawski and Associates. Topics discussed include: Why is the non-confrontational, rapport-focused technique he recommends the best one? Why is it important to downplay the significance of a crime? Why is it important to try to prevent someone from denying the crime/accusation? Why is it important to not tell a suspect all the evidence you have against them? What are some behavioral clues a suspect is lying or telling the truth?

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

The Robbi Jade Lew poker scandal: reading behaviors and motivations, with Yakov Hirsch Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

A talk with professional poker player Yakov Hirsch about the well known high-stakes poker situation where amateur Robbi Jade Lew was accused of cheating by professional player Garrett Adelstein. We give our takes on the hand, and the overall situation, and we talk about Robbi's possible motivations and thought processes during this hand, and about what her behavior might indicate about her thinking.

Learn more about the show and get transcripts at⁠ ⁠behavior-podcast.com⁠⁠.

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