Behavioral Grooves: Behavioral Science Explained

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1. 

   E584 · 12 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

   The Science of Violence | Dr. Gary Slutkin

   What if violence is contagious? Dr. Gary Slutkin argues that violence spreads like an epidemic, and that public health strategies can help stop it. We explore social pain, belonging, violence interrupters, and the science behind preventing violence before it spreads. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Dr. Gary Slutkin [8:23] Why Do We Treat Violence as a Moral Problem? [11:25] What Happens When Our Diagnosis Is Wrong? [20:00] Exposure, Susceptibility, and the Pain of Violence [25:12] Can Belonging Stop the Cycle of Violence? [31:26] Finding the Warning Signs Before Violence Happens…

2. 

   E583 · 5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

   The Psychology of Habits | Charles Duhigg

   What does it really take to change a habit? Charles Duhigg, journalist and author of The Power of Habit, joins us to explore how our understanding of habits has evolved and why lasting change may start with changing how we see ourselves. From the “habit window” and keystone habits to habit chaining and identity shifts, we challenge long-held assumptions about willpower and explore how small changes in behavior and perspective can lead to lasting transformation. Topics [0:00] The Food Noise and GLP-1s [10:47] Speed Round with Charles Duhigg [16:50] The Habit Loop: What We Get Right and Wrong…

3. 

   E581 · 28 Sep 2026 · 44 min

   What We Got Wrong About the Stanford Prison Experiment

   Have we misunderstood two of psychology’s most famous experiments? We revisit the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Robbers Cave experiment with science historians Thibault Le Texier and Gina Perry, who uncovered a much messier story behind the research we learned about in school. What can these experiments actually tell us about human behavior, and what happens when researchers become more invested in a specific conclusion than challenging their own assumptions? Topics [0:00] Two Famous Experiments, One Bigger Problem[6:47] Part One: The Stanford Prison Experiment[12:26] Were the Guards…

4. 

   E580 · 21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

   Behavioral Economics: When Markets Clash with Morals | Al Roth

   Horse meat, kidneys, prostitution. What happens when the things people want to buy, sell, and trade collide with what society has deemed “off-limits”? Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin “Al” Roth joins us to explore the behavioral science behind controversial markets, from repugnance and social norms to black markets, incentives, and informed consent. We also dig into his work redesigning the kidney exchange market and how asking a different question can open up new possibilities for solving seemingly impossible problems. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Alvin “Al” Roth [9:21] What…

5. 

   E579 · 18 Sep 2026 · 51 min

   Bridging the Gap Between Behavioral Science & Policy | BSPA

   What happens when behavioral science leaves the classroom and enters the real world? In this special episode, we explore the past and future of the Behavioral Science & Policy Association with founders Sim Sitkin and Craig Fox and incoming leader Crystal Hall. We talk about bridging the gap between research and practice, the growing importance of interdisciplinary behavioral science, and why understanding the human side of AI may be one of the field's biggest opportunities. Topics [0:00] What Is the Behavioral Science & Policy Association? [7:45] BSPA's First Big Breakthroughs [12:12] How…

6. 

   E578 · 14 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

   How to Make Work Fun | Bree Groff

   What if work didn’t have to be something we simply “get through” five days a week? This week, we sit down with Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun, to explore how small changes in the way we interact, communicate, and lead can make work more human and mostly fun, most days. We talk about work-life balance, chronic overwork, psychological safety, AI, and the importance of protecting the relationships, health, creativity, and small moments of joy that make our lives meaningful. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Bree Groff [9:45] Treat your brain like a Stradivarius [13:18] Why this…

7. 

   E577 · 7 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

   The Behavioral Science of Psychological Safety | Jeremy Pollack

   This week, Dr. Jeremy Pollack joins us to explore the neuroscience of conflict, trust, mistakes, uncertainty, and psychological safety. We discuss how these obstacles and miscommunications can affect our work environments, what to do when you notice them, and how to build healthier teams by breaking old conflict patterns before they start. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Jeremy Pollack [9:20] Can our brains rewire conflict patterns? [14:21] The neuroscience behind conflict resolution [19:50] How organizational systems can fuel conflict [32:32] Creating psychological safety at work…

8. 

   E576 · 31 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

   How to Disagree Better | Julia Minson

   Disagreements are inevitable, but they don’t have to become conflicts. Harvard Kennedy School professor Julia Minson joins us to explore why we struggle to see perspectives different from our own and how openness, curiosity, and humility can lead to more productive conversations. We also get practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations, from asking better questions to understanding what we actually know versus what we’re simply assuming. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Julia Minson [6:16] Does Feeling Heard Make Us More Receptive? [19:23] Why Context Matters in…