Podcasts about behavioral sciences

About this episode:   Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most widely used class of antidepressants. While these medications have undoubtedly saved lives, they have also gained scrutiny for having significant side effects and being difficult to taper off of. In this episode: Two psychiatrists talk about the existing recommendations for deprescribing and why SSRIs remain a critical treatment tool despite pressure from federal health officials to wean Americans off of them. Guest:  Dr. Paul Nestadt is an associate professor of Mental Health who studies the epidemiology of suicide and serves as the primary supervising psychiatrist for the Johns Hopkins Hospital Anxiety Disorders Clinic. Dr. Jimmy Potash, MPH, is the director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Host:  Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Show links and related content:  Kennedy Starts a Push to Help Americans Quit Antidepressants—The New York Times Prescriptions for Antidepressants Increasing among Individuals with no Psychiatric Diagnosis—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms—Lancet Psychiatry Changes in antidepressant use by young people and suicidal behavior after FDA warnings and media coverage: quasi-experimental study—BMJ Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Older Adults in Primary Care—JAMA Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Get personalized root-cause care with Empower Functional Health.Learn more at empowerfunctionalhealth.com_____What if chronic stress is the real reason chronically ill patients fail to heal, no matter what protocol they follow? Dr. Stephen Sideroff has spent decades researching exactly what happens to the nervous system under prolonged stress, and what he's found challenges how most practitioners think about root-cause healing. In this episode, he reveals what conventional medicine gets wrong about stress, why some people are wired to stay stuck, and what it actually takes to get the body back into a state where healing is even possible. Watch the full interview to find out.Dr. Stephen Sideroff is a clinical psychologist, resilience researcher, and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA. He is the founder of the UCLA Stress Strategies program and author of The Path: Mastering the Nine Pillars of Resilience and Success, a comprehensive framework built on decades of clinical research into stress, neurofeedback, and what separates people who heal from people who stay stuck.We discuss the following: Nervous system BalanceThe four horsemen of stressRecognizing signs of poor stress managementWhy recovery after stress matters Resilience, trauma, and childhood wiringHow to start managing stress Breaking the negative mindset cycleRethinking therapy and ruminationWhy change is so hardGetting chronically ill patients unstuckProtecting your energy from social mediaJudy's reflection and the Wholeness Method_____EPISODE RESOURCESWholeness Method WebsiteDr. Stephen Sideroff's WebsiteDr. Stephen Sideroff's YouTubeQuantum Leadership PodcastThe Path: Mastering the Nine Pillars of Resilience and Success Book_____WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We're breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore what triggers the personalization backfire effect and why the same ad can feel helpful one day and invasive the next. Topics covered:[01:20] "Triggering the Personalization Backfire Effect: The Moderating Role of Situational Privacy Concern"[02:45] How the study tested three levels of ad personalization[04:27] When more personal data actually hurts performance[06:10] Privacy sensitivity isn't a fixed personality trait[07:10] Contextual targeting vs. identity-based targetingTo learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.Resources: Kim, H., & Han, S. (2025). Triggering the personalization backfire effect: The moderating role of situational privacy concern. Behavioral Sciences.Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

On today's podcast, we discuss how consumers decide what's worth buying, why we spend hours trying to save $10 on groceries but think nothing of spending thousands on a vacation, how uncertainty influences the way people make decisions, and why being a smart shopper is becoming part of our identity. Tune in for a discussion featuring Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Senior Analyst Grace Broadbent, and Ayelet Fishbach, Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-frugal-rich-how-consumers-decide-whats-worth-it © 2026 EMARKETER

Yaara Zisman-Ilani is an associate professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Barnett College of Public Health and in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, both at Temple University. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. Y. Zisman-Ilani and Others. Pharmacotherapeutic Decisions in Autism. N Engl J Med 2026;395:214-217.

Social anxiety icebreakers. Third spaces. Slumber parties with old friends. Helping out strangers. And why primates are wired to be better connected than we are now. Dr. Nicholas Epley – a distinguished Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago and the author of “A Little More Social” – explains how important social activity is for physical and mental health, why people are experiencing a friendship recession, how texting affects your hormones, how seeing other cultures can shape your life, the world's friendliest cities, and the low expectations keeping us feeling lonely. Also: don't be afraid to pick up the phone.  Visit Dr. Epley's website Buy his books, A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection and Mindwise: Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want A donation went to Ruby's Rainbow More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES), Awe Psychology (WONDER), Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Awesomeology (GRATITUDE FOR LITTLE THINGS), Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE), Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS), Mythology (STORYTELLING) Jarrett Sleeper's “30 Words for Love – a long poem”  400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes Sponsors of Ologies Transcripts and bleeped episodes Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard challenge some of marketing's biggest assumptions about consumer research. They explore why people often can't explain their own decisions, why A/B tests outperform surveys, and how observing real behavior leads to stronger insights and better marketing decisions. 

This week on The Conscious Consultant Hour, Sam welcomes Robert Weisz, Ph.D., retired clinical psychologist, consultant, and trainer whose fifty years of practice have moved fluidly across the worlds of Ericksonian hypnosis, shamanic healing, mindfulness, and nondual wisdom.Robert is co-author of the newly released Mindfulness-Based Somatic Emotional Processing: A Guide for Patients and Therapists. He has taught through Southwestern College, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Webster University, the University of Wyoming, and New Mexico Highlands University, and served as co-founder and director of the Milton Erickson Institute for Clinical Hypnosis and Behavioral Sciences of New Mexico for forty years.Robert's path into this work began well before his career did. Born in Lima, Peru, in 1944 to German-Jewish parents who had fled the Holocaust, he spent his early years moving through Peru, Bolivia, and Chile before immigrating to the United States at thirteen. That early experience of exile and adaptation seeded a lifelong curiosity about the human mind and the resilience of the spirit. His doctoral research in sleep and dreams gave way to decades of clinical practice, community mental health work, and a deep involvement with Ericksonian hypnotherapy. Alongside all of this, drawn by the healing potential of altered states, he spent thirty years studying with shamans and healers in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and the United States, letting that ancient knowledge shape and inform his clinical understanding.Together, Sam and Robert explore what it means to help people heal at the meeting place of body, mind, and spirit. They discuss the somatic wisdom the body carries long after the thinking mind has moved on, the emotional patterns that live beneath cognition, and the mindful presence that allows what is held to finally be released. Drawing on Robert's new book, they look at how mindfulness-based somatic emotional processing offers patients and therapists a grounded, integrative path into deep healing. This episode is an invitation to trust the intelligence of the body, to soften into what wants to be known, and to remember that healing rarely happens through the mind alone.Tune in and share your own questions and comments about somatic healing on our YouTube livestream or on our Facebook page.https://amzn.to/4eSchBYwww.MBSEP.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Dr. Abbie Marono, behavioral scientist, author, and international expert on trust, influence, body language, and human behavior.Dr. Marono has trained the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and numerous federal agencies on behavioral analysis, interviewing, and nonverbal communication. In this conversation, she explains how to better understand people, build trust faster, communicate more effectively, and become a stronger leader by learning the science behind human behavior.Beyond the research, Abbie shares her incredible personal journey through addiction, homelessness, trauma, and rebuilding her life into one dedicated to helping others better understand themselves and the people around them.Topics covered in this episode:How to read body language without falling for common mythsWhy body language often reveals more than wordsThe science behind trust, influence, and first impressionsFight-or-flight responses and what they reveal about behaviorSelf-soothing behaviors, confidence, and anxiety cuesWhy context and cue clusters matter more than individual gesturesThe psychology of negotiation and influenceEmotional regulation and the hidden side of leadershipHow curiosity creates stronger conversations and better outcomesDr. Marono's journey from addiction and homelessness to becoming a leading behavioral scientistHealing from trauma and rebuilding self-agencyTraining the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and federal agenciesWhy the best negotiators stop trying to "win"Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, salesperson, negotiator, or simply someone who wants to better understand people, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately in both business and everyday life.Follow Dr. Abbie Marono:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbiemarono LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbiemarono Website: https://www.abbiemarono.comFollow Kyle Matthews:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylematthewsceo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kylematthewsceo X: https://x.com/kylematthewsceo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylematthewsceo00:00 Listen to Understand 00:45 Meet Dr. Abbie Marono 02:47 Why Body Language Matters 04:33 Fight or Flight Signals 06:29 Confidence and Self-Soothing 08:39 Reading Proximity Cues 12:11 Smiles and Building Trust 14:52 Influence vs. Manipulation 16:03 Addiction, Homelessness & Recovery 22:15 The Turning Point 23:14 Rebuilding After Trauma 27:56 Back to School & Finding Mentors 32:48 Research, Joe Navarro & Behavioral Science 41:48 Reading Context, Not Just Cues 43:57 Trauma and Mental Contamination 48:52 Intuition vs. Trauma 49:26 A Relationship Turns Dark 50:48 Betrayal and Assault 51:36 Feeling Trapped 53:14 Family, Healing & Recovery 54:29 The Science of Emotional Shutdown 56:23 Healing Through Safe Relationships 59:03 The Hidden Half of Leadership 01:01:39 Joe Navarro's Influence 01:06:10 Training Federal Agents 01:08:54 Building Trust Under Stress 01:12:08 Executive Blind Spots 01:19:50 Why Personal Becomes Professional 01:21:31 Self-Reflection and Shame 01:23:41 Rapid Fire: Body Language 01:28:54 Negotiation: Drop the Goal 01:31:42 Closing Thoughts

Send us Fan MailCan using your smartphone on the toilet increase your risk of hemorrhoids?In this episode of WTF Health News, Dr. Eeks explores one of the strangest health headlines of the year—and yes, it's based on a real scientific study.Researchers found that adults who reported using smartphones while sitting on the toilet had a 46% higher likelihood of hemorrhoids compared with people who didn't bring their phones to the bathroom. But does that mean your phone causes hemorrhoids?Not exactly.Dr. Eeks breaks down what the study found. Topics discussed include: Can smartphone use increase the risk of hemorrhoids?  Why prolonged toilet sitting may matter more than straining  The surprising study linking phones and hemorrhoids  Why smartphone apps may distort our perception of time  The difference between correlation and causation  How technology quietly changes everyday human behavior If you've ever found yourself scrolling on the toilet for "just a minute"...this episode might make you think twice.Source: Smartphone use on the toilet and the risk of hemorrhoids, Plos 0ne, 2025. About WTF Health NewsWTF Health News is a recurring series within Causes or Cures, where Dr. Eeks breaks down strange, surprising, and occasionally ridiculous health headlines with evidence, context, and a healthy dose of dry humor.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. Keep Causes or Cures Ad-Free with Listener SupportYou can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Follow Public Health is WeirdOr Facebook here.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her Newsletter here! (the bits not posted on socia media)Support the show

In the final episode of our Robert Cialdini series, we explore the extraordinary legacy of one of behavioral science's most influential thinkers. We revisit the seven Principles of Influence through real-world business examples, hear how Cialdini's ideas inspired organizations around the world, and learn why colleagues like Angela Duckworth, Adam Grant, Dan Pink, and Katie Milkman believe his greatest contribution goes far beyond research. Join us as we celebrate the ideas and the person who helped shape modern behavioral science. Topics [0:00] From Utility Bills to Global Impact [9:17] Full Cycle Social Psychology Explained [16:00] Why Business Became a Partner in Behavioral Science [22:47] The Seven Principles in Action [30:20] Behavior Change for Good and Real-World Research [45:49] The Ethical Compass Behind Influence [52:39] Why Influence Still Matters Today [58:02] A Career That Changed Behavioral Science [1:04:08] Daniel Kahneman on Cialdini's Legacy [1:08:04] Closing Thoughts ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves

Building a high-performing team isn't about being the smartest person in the room, it's about making everyone feel seen enough to speak up. When you build a culture around psychological safety, you aren't just protecting feelings; you're scaling excellence. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon speaks with with MichaelAaron Flicker. MichaelAaron is an entrepreneur, behavioral science strategist, founder of the Consumer Behavior Lab and CEO of XenoPsi Ventures, a brand incubator powering some of America's fastest-growing companies. MichaelAaron partners with CEOs and executive teams to apply behavioral science to leadership, culture, and growth, helping organizations unlock performance by better understanding human behavior. A co-author of “Hacking the Human Mind”, MichaelAaron's work has been featured in Fast Company and other leading publications, and has earned recognition including NJBIZ's “40 Under 40” and multiple appearances on the Inc. 5000 list. MichaelAaron also hosts The Behavioral Science for Brands podcast, exploring how science and leadership intersect to build stronger teams and organizations. We're excited to have MichaelAaron with us today, where we'll explore how psychological safety can become central to a management philosophy, and the leadership behaviors that build trust, accountability, and high-performing teams, especially during times of change, uncertainty, and growth.   For more information about “Hacking the Human Mind” by Co-authored by MichaelAaron Flicker, please visit: https://www.hackingthehumanmind.com For more information about MichaelAaron Flicker and the Consumer Behavior Lab, please visit: https://theconsumerbehaviorlab.com Listen to The Behavior Science for Brands Podcast at: https://theconsumerbehaviorlab.com/podcast-overview.php If you're interested in Consumer Behavior Lab Consulting and Training, please visit: https://theconsumerbehaviorlab.com/work-with-us.php For more information about the Hacking The Human Miind Masterclass, please visit: https://theconsumerbehaviorlab.com/masterclass.php

Traditional discipline punishes disruptive students by isolating them. But bad behavior is actually just a data point.In this episode, I sit down with Matt Shenker—a licensed therapist, the Lead Guide at Alpha Scottsdale, and a behavioral science expert with years of experience specializing in ADHD. Matt breaks down a massive systemic flaw: the education system doesn't have a knowledge gap when it comes to behavior management...it has an implementation gap.This episode is a goldmine for any parent or educator who deals with challenging behavior (hint: it's all of us!), offering extremely practical shifts that truly change how we achieve positive growth.

Send us Fan MailWhy People Don't Decide: The Science of Ethical Persuasion with Patrick Van Der BurghtHave you ever presented a great idea, made a compelling offer, or shared a logical argument only to hear... nothing?Many people assume a lack of action means someone said "no." But what if they simply didn't make a decision?In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Kendra Corman welcomes back persuasion expert Patrick Van Der Burght to explore the science behind how people actually make decisions and why understanding that process can dramatically improve your communication, marketing, sales, leadership, and business results.Patrick is a Founding Member of the Cialdini Institute, a Cialdini Certified Trainer and Coach, business partner of Dr. Robert Cialdini, and author of How to Hear Yes More Often. Drawing on decades of research and real-world experience, he explains why most decisions are made intuitively rather than logically and how businesses can ethically influence outcomes without manipulation.Together, Kendra and Patrick discuss:• The difference between System 1 and System 2 thinking• Why logical arguments alone often fail to persuade• The hidden cost of customer indecision• The Seven Universal Principles of Persuasion• Practical ways to apply persuasion in presentations, marketing, sales, and leadership• How reciprocity, social proof, authority, liking, unity, consistency, and scarcity influence behavior• Why ethical persuasion builds long-term trust and loyalty• Common mistakes businesses make when trying to influence decisions• How to communicate value without sounding pushy• The dangers of manufactured scarcity and misleading marketing tacticsOne of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that influence isn't about convincing people to do something they don't want to do. It's about understanding how people naturally make decisions and communicating in ways that help them confidently move forward when your solution aligns with their needs.Whether you're a business owner, marketer, salesperson, leader, speaker, or entrepreneur, this episode offers practical insights you can start applying immediately.Be sure to listen to Patrick's previous appearance on Imperfect Marketing (Episode 337) for even more examples and strategies from the world of ethical persuasion.Connect with Patrick Van Der BurghtPatrick Van Der Burght is a Founding Member of the Cialdini Institute, Cialdini Certified Trainer and Coach, and author of How to Hear Yes More Often. Since 2000, he has helped organizations and professionals apply the science of ethical persuasion to improve communication, influence, leadership, and business performance.Website: https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-van-der-burght/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ethicalpersuasionFor more marketing insights, business strategies, and expert interviews, subscribe to Imperfect Marketing and never miss an episode.#Persuasion #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Sales #Communication #Influence #Entrepreneurship #CustomerPsychology #MarketingStrategy Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Julia Minson has spent 25 years studying disagreement—not how to win arguments, but how people actually engage with views that conflict with their own. She's a Harvard professor, a behavioral scientist, and the author of How to Disagree Better. This conversation gets into the heart of her research.One of the most useful ideas in the episode: being receptive in your own head doesn't count. Your counterpart can't read your mind. If you want them to feel heard, you have to signal it out loud—with specific language, in real time. Julia's HEAR framework (Hedging, Emphasizing agreement, Acknowledging, Reframing) gives you an actual tool to do that.We also get into why asking “why do you believe that” changes a conversation more than almost anything else—and why so much of the enmity in our society isn't really about what people believe, but about what we assume their beliefs say about them.If you've ever walked away from a hard conversation feeling like the other person wasn't really listening—or wondering if you were—this episode is worth your time. Julia's book is How to Disagree Better, and you can find her at disagreeingbetter.com.Learn more about and connect with Julia Minson in the full show notes for this episode at www.DeratetheHate.com.  We've forgotten what it feels like to have a real conversation.The week of August 10th, join AllSides for a live conversation about the American Dream — how we're thinking about it and navigating the challenges.Your insights will be anonymized and included in a report to help leaders better understand how people see this issue.Sign up today at allsides.com/derate-hate The world is a better place if we are better people. Be grateful for all you've got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow the DTH podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube,  Substack Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America's largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

In keeping with our themes of mattering, meaning, and connection this June, we wanted to reshare a conversation with had with author Emily Falk. In this conversation, we decode what goes on behind the scenes with our decisions - everything from what to eat for breakfast to how to respond to trolls on social media - and how emotional, rational, and social information is integrated by the brain to guide our choices. Emily's book is now available on paperback wherever you get your favorite reads.  ©20256 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Emily Falk [8:29] Understanding Value Calculations [12:58] Research Methods and fMRI [18:01] Self-Relevance and Social Relevance Systems [28:41] Defensiveness and Social Norms [40:49] The Importance of Being "In Sync" [58:17] The Role or Music in Self/Social Relevance [1:07:45] Grooving Session: Communication, Social Norms, and Behavioral Science at Work ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links About Emily What We Value by Emily Falk

In this episode of the Get Plugged In podcast, Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the Society of Actuaries Research Institute, explores the intersection of behavioral science and artificial intelligence in insurance. Dale is joined by Peter Hovard, VP, Chief Behavioural Scientist at Reinsurance Group of America and PhD in Experimental Psychology, and Rosmery Cruz, Executive Director of Behavioural Data Science for a discussion on how behavioral insights and AI are reshaping insurance decisions, product design, communication, and sensitive consumer interactions. Listeners will hear practical perspectives on how behavioral science has already improved insurance experiences, how AI may change consumer expectations, and what exciting developments may be ahead for actuaries and insurance professionals. Listen in to learn how behavioral science and AI can help rethink the future of insurance. Visit our Artificial Intelligence landing page Send us your feedback at AI-Insights@soa.org

In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard explore how behavioral science can improve e-commerce performance. From why perfect reviews reduce trust to how scarcity boosts value perception, they unpack practical ways brands can increase conversion, reduce friction, and shape buying decisions online. 

Are you missing out? Get special announcements, event invites, articles, and more in the Wise Squirrels Substack newsletter: wisesquirrels.com/newsletter. Dr. Maggie Sibley is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist at Seattle Children's Hospital. Get show notes, links, leave comments, and more at wisesquirrels.com. Sponsors This episode is sponsored by our friends at Inflow and Littlebird. Inflow: Equips people with ADHD with the skills and support they need to reach their full potential. Take the free ADHD traits quiz at wisesquirrels.com/inflow. Littlebird: The only full-context AI assistant that already knows your work. Get a free trial plus $20 off your first month of Littlebird Plus at wisesquirrels.com/littlebird. Support & Credits ⭐ Your kind rating and review help new listeners discover the show. Please take a moment to leave us yours and follow to receive new episodes. Thanks to our supporters, sponsors, and Jason Falls at the MPN Network for hosting. Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only & should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider or medical professional for personalized advice regarding any medical condition or treatment. Contact us: Have questions, comments, guest suggestions, or sponsorship inquiries? We'd love to hear from you. Say hello at hello@wisesquirrels.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The challenging field of family law is a vital part of the litigation profession, demanding an understanding of both the law and the psychological trauma that can dramatically affect the well-being of children and others caught in the middle. Guest Ashish Joshi is a Michigan attorney and author who has devoted his career to helping those struggling through the most difficult situations imaginable. Family violence, coercion, and control are, unfortunately, a huge and often under recognized part of our legal reality. The field of family law can include issues including parental alienation, child abduction, the weaponization of children and their relationships with sparring parents, gaslighting and manipulation, and even complicated adjacent areas of law such as hidden assets, stalking, and pet abuse. Family law litigation requires a complex skill set and mental toughness, but it's a vital part of our lives. Joshi shares how practicing in the field involves working with people going through the worst period of their lives, the protection of innocent and powerless victims, and the field of psychology and human behavior. Looking for a challenge and the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life? Family law litigation is a demanding and rewarding field. Also in this episode, quick tips from Erin Clifford, managing director at Clifford Law Offices, about avoiding legal burnout. Have a question, comment, or suggestion for an upcoming episode? Get in touch at MRogson@SkywardInsurance.com or JAReederJr@gmail.com. Resources Mentioned:  “Litigating Family Violence: A Practitioner's Handbook” by Ashish Joshi “Cross Examining Experts in the Behavioral Sciences,” by Demosthenes Lorandos “Justin Fairfax Killed His Estranged Wife and Himself 2 Weeks Before a Court Deadline to Move Out,” Associated Press  American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section

We're speaking with University of Chicago Behavioral Science Professor Ayelet Fishbach about lessons from her book, Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation for academics. We speak about setting the right kinds of goals, finding our motivations, dealing with negative feedback, organizing our days, and collaborating effectively with others. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

If you've ever been told to "move on" from grief, Episode 436 of the Grief and Happiness podcast will change how you think about healing forever. Michael Reed, who lost his wife and both daughters in the Gatlinburg wildfire, reveals why the five stages of grief are a myth and shares the moment he finally smiled at a memory before the tears came.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(00:04) Introduction to Michael Reed and his story of loss (01:26) Losing his wife and daughters in the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire (04:01) Why the five stages of grief are a myth (06:11) The taboo around men expressing grief and the power of vulnerability (07:30) How a late-night Facebook post launched his writing career (08:45) Why all grief — from divorce to empty nesting — is fundamentally the same (10:26) The difference between moving on and moving forward (13:48) The moment he smiled at a memory before the tears came (16:06) What makes Michael a natural writer and the courage it takes to be vulnerable (19:18) How dreams and signs from loved ones keep connection alive (24:30) Healing in your grief — not from it (25:54) Where to find Michael's books and free grief resourcesMichael Reed is an author, speaker, and certified grief coach whose work focuses on grief, psychological adaptation, and long-term healing following traumatic loss. On November 28, 2016, he lost his wife Constance and both daughters, Chloe and Lily, in the wildfire that devastated Gatlinburg, Tennessee — a tragedy that became the catalyst for his life's mission. That journey produced his bestselling book The Million Stages of Grief, which challenges the oversimplified five-stage model and honors the deeply individual nature of loss, followed by The Million Stages of Healing and a children's book, The Owl and the Ladybug. Michael is also a certified grief coach pursuing a degree in Behavioral Science, and serves as president of Emily's Grief and Happiness Alliance nonprofit.In this episode, Michael shares the raw philosophy behind his writing — that grief isn't limited to death, but encompasses any significant loss, and that its universality is precisely what connects us. He recounts how a middle-of-the-night journal entry posted on Facebook sparked his entire authorship career, and introduces his newest book, The Million Stages of Healing, built around the distinction between moving on and moving forward — carrying love for those we've lost into each new day. A turning point he describes is smiling at a photo of his daughter Lily and realizing he had taken his first step toward healing. He speaks openly about vulnerability, signs from loved ones, and the particular stigma men face around expressing grief.Connect with Michael Reed:WebsiteInstagramTikTokBook: Michael Reed - The Million Stages of GriefLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Summary:    Mudita Khurana — Tech Lead at Airbnb and the person who always says, “I got this” No Password Required Season 7: Episode 6 - Mudita Khurana   Mudita Khurana is a Tech Lead for Automated Tooling and Vulnerability Management at Airbnb, where she focuses on building modular, scalable security systems in an era of rapidly evolving AI threats. Before Airbnb, she spent nearly a decade in security roles across Accenture, Meta, and PwC, making bold career pivots along the way, including turning down a PwC return offer to join Facebook's product security team. In this episode, Mudita shares her journey from a family of doctors in India to Carnegie Mellon and into the heart of Big Tech security. She discusses what it means to thrive as a non-traditional engineer in a deeply technical field, why she stepped back from management to get closer to the work, and how she thinks about building security tooling that won't be obsolete in three months. Jack Clabby and co-host Kayley Melton, recording live from Tampa B-Sides at the University of South Florida, talk with Mudita about imposter syndrome, AI's curveballs for security teams, leadership without a leadership title, and the importance of community in staying on top of a field that never stops moving. She also reflects on what great mentorship looks like early in a career and why clarity, ownership, and consistency are the leadership qualities she keeps coming back to. In the Lifestyle Polygraph, Mudita firmly plants her flag in the Harry Potter universe as Hermione, explains why Deadpool doesn't qualify as a superhero, debates gym vs. nature as a reset strategy, and reveals her dream remote work base: a high-altitude Buddhist mountain town in the Himalayas.   Follow Mudita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muditakhurana/     In this episode: Mudita shares her unconventional path into cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of mentorship and curiosity (0:25 - 1:37) The significance of mentorship, especially Vandana Verma, in her career development (2:26 - 4:00) Transition from management to technical IC roles and why staying close to technical work matters (9:29 - 10:23) The influence of her education at Carnegie Mellon and how it broadened her problem-solving skills (6:23 - 7:41) Navigating imposter syndrome and embracing challenges as growth opportunities (3:26 - 5:29) How AI is changing cybersecurity strategies—building modular, layered systems for agility (15:31 - 16:26) The importance of community, trust, and consensus in cybersecurity decision-making (17:06 - 17:47) Mudita's favorite places for remote work and balancing planning with spontaneity in travel (23:01 - 24:13) Her personal approach to wellness, exercise, and resets during busy days (21:32 - 22:36) Her unique perspective on superhero characters, favorite places, and cultural roots (18:54 - 19:36, 25:19 - 26:21) Timestamp Highlights: (00:25) Mudita's 10-year journey into cybersecurity starting from India (02:26) Mentorship's critical role in her growth and her admiration for Vandana Verma (09:29) Transition from management back to technical roles and why staying close to the work matters (15:31) How AI fosters layered, modular security systems for faster adaptation (17:06) The importance of community and trusted information sources in security (21:32) Reset routines—gym versus nature hikes—and staying grounded during busy days (25:19) Leh, Ladakh: Mudita's ideal remote work location nestled in Himalayan beauty Resources & Links: Vandana Verma - Influential mentor in cybersecurity ThreatLocker - Supporter of this podcast Cyber Florida – The Mother Ship

How the 90s favorite $4 billion bookstore chain sleepwalked into bankruptcy...

In this episode of the Healthcare Success podcast, Stewart Gandolf speaks with Karen Sussman Horgan, CEO of Val Health, about the critical role behavioral science plays in healthcare—and why AI alone isn't enough to drive meaningful change.

If you've ever wondered why some brands just seem to "stick" while others fade into the noise, the answer might have less to do with budget and more to do with brain science. On this episode of the Agents of Change podcast, I sat down with MichaelAaron Flicker, CEO of XenoPsi Ventures and co-author of Hacking the Human Mind, to dig into the behavioral triggers behind some of the most iconic marketing campaigns in history. The best part? These aren't strategies reserved for Fortune 500 companies. MichaelAaron breaks down exactly how small and mid-sized businesses can put these same psychological principles to work today. https://www.theagentsofchange.com/624 Need help with your branding, website, or digital marketing? Reach out to me (Rich Brooks!) today at https://www.takeflyte.com/contact

In this episode, MichaelAaron Flicker and Richard Shotton explore how agencies can use behavioral science to build stronger brand strategies. From the mere-exposure effect to the halo effect and goal dilution, they unpack why consistency, focus, and clear communication often outperform complexity and constant reinvention. 

In this episode of PsychopharmaPearls, Dr. Andy Cutler talks with Dr. Leslie Citrome about akathisia, a common but often misdiagnosed antipsychotic side effect that can look like agitation, anxiety, irritability, or worsening psychiatric symptoms. They discuss how to recognize akathisia in clinical practice, distinguish it from true agitation, identify key timing and symptom clues, and avoid common treatment mistakes, including why benztropine is not an appropriate treatment for akathisia.  Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at New York Medical College and an internationally recognized expert in psychopharmacology and clinical trial interpretation. He has authored more than 600 scientific publications and frequently lectures on applying research findings to real-world psychiatric practice.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and EMA Wellness. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.   Fall Congress   Get $100 off NEI Fall Congress registration with code POD26. Go to https://nei.global/fall to sign up today!   Never miss an episode!

In 2001, Portugal decriminalised the possession and use of all illicit drugs. It was a move designed to mitigate the country's public health crisis, which at the time meant Portugal had one of the worst rates of overdose deaths in Europe, as well as the highest rate of HIV among drug users. Whilst drugs remained illegal, users did not receive a criminal record but were instead referred to rehabilitation and treatment programmes. It was an approach that proved so successful, that it has remained in place for a quarter of a century. But just over 10 years after its introduction, Portugal's drugs policy started to come under strain as the country's economic crisis and subsequent austerity measures led to budget cuts for drug services. More recently the rising cost of living has diverted people's attention from investment in this field. On top of this, the trafficking of cocaine and newer substances into the country along with changing demographics is putting decriminalisation under strain. So, on The Inquiry this week, we're asking ‘Is Portugal's drugs policy in need of reform?' Contributors: Joana Teixeira, President of the Board of Directors, Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD), Lisbon, Portugal Luís Mendão, Director General, Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos (GAT), Lisbon, Portugal António Leitão da Silva, Chief of Police, Braga, Portugal Keith Humphreys, Esther Ting Memorial Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, California, USA Presenter: David Baker Producer: Jill Collins Technical Producer: Toby James Editor: Tom Bigwood Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey(Photo: Discarded drug paraphernalia. Credit: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn't a lack of ambition or skilL but outdated operating systems we've never questioned?Mitch Shepard lives at the intersection of truth-telling, leadership, and systems change. She's an Applied Behavioral Scientist, Chief Truth Teller, and CEO of HUMiN, Inc., and a trusted advisor to leaders at some of the world's most influential companies.In this unfiltered conversation, the throughline is clear: we must all embrace authentic leadership, equity, and courage to be fully human at work and in life.This is a bold, honest, and expansive conversation about legacy. How leaders can do truly great work by creating equity, telling the truth, and inviting men and women alike to bring all of who they are so we can solve hard problems together.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…How leaders can stop performing and start telling the truthWhy can't we keep focusing on “fixing the women” and instead must confront the systems we operate withinThe tension and power between masculine and feminine leadership, and why embracing both makes leaders strongerHow societal expectations shape what we teach young men and women about success, and how we can model something healthier for our kidsHow to sell your strengths better when they defy outdated normsHow to honor people for who they are, not who the system rewards them for pretending to be"If you observe environments, it turns out men really are more likely to have the masculine traits in excess or higher quantities, women are more likely to have feminine ones. But this is where the narrative has to shift. None of us are off the hook on learning ALL the skills." — Mitch Shepard Episode References: Outward Bound: outwardbound.org The Athena Doctrine: goodreads.com/book/show/16250170-the-athena-doctrine“Prime Minister” Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34965625/ The Empathy Edge: Ilana Ben-Ari: How the Empathy Toy is Changing the WorldClaude Silver: Leading with Heart at Vayner MediaAbout Mitch Shepard: Chief Truth Teller and CEO, HUMiN, Inc.Mitch Shepard is an Applied Behavioral Scientist and trusted advisor to some of the world's top leaders. She began her career leading wilderness expeditions through the rivers, canyons, and peaks of Utah and Colorado, guiding teams to achieve bold goals in unpredictable environments.That foundation, combined with a formal education in Economics and Behavioral Science, prepared Mitch for two decades navigating the equally wild terrain of corporate America. She has since built three companies and coached hundreds of leaders across tech and biotech - from scrappy startups to the Fortune 500.Mitch is known for her candor, warmth, truth-telling, and sharp strategic mind. She is also an author, mama, wife, sought-after speaker, cancer ass-kicker, social justice warrior—and passionate global citizen.Mitch's first book, Lessons From My Daughter, will explore the generational updating of our operating systems from one generation of women to the next. Connect with Mitch: HUMiN Inc: humininc.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitchshepard Facebook: facebook.com/mitch.loomisshepard Instagram: instagram.com/mitchshepard Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossLinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

This episode is sponsored by Deel.Hire, manage and pay – anyone, anywhere: https://www.deel.com/nickdayhr/In this episode of @thehrldpodcast Nick Day is joined by Jackie Dube, Chief People Officer at The Predictive Index, with over two decades of experience helping organizations unlock performance through behavioral science and talent optimization. Grounding her work in a simple but powerful belief, that happy, aligned people do better work and live better lives, Jackie brings both the science and the human heart to one of the most pressing challenges facing workplaces today.Jackie brings a rare blend of behavioral expertise and people leadership into the world of HR and organizational performance. Together, Nick and Jackie explore why so many employees, despite better tools, more flexibility, and greater leadership investment than ever before, still feel a deep sense of emptiness at work, and what leaders can actually do about it.This conversation unpacks what it truly means to align people with their work from the inside out. Nick and Jackie discuss why engagement and meaning are not the same thing, how the four behavioral drives of dominance, extraversion, patience, and formality determine what energizes or drains each employee, and why the same task can be deeply motivating for one person and completely demotivating for another. They explore how hiring for speed quietly erodes culture, why interpersonal conflicts at work are almost always behavioral mismatches rather than personality clashes, and how leaders can use the three whys technique to reconnect people to organizational purpose.They also cover the four forces of engagement, the role of pulse surveys in detecting disengagement early, and how AI adoption is creating a new wave of workforce fear that behavioral science is uniquely equipped to address. The discussion highlights PI's J-curve framework for navigating change, why transparency around AI matters more than most leaders realize, and how understanding what drives each individual is the foundation of a truly high-performing team.In a world shaped by remote work, rapid AI adoption, and growing disconnection, this episode examines why behavioral science may be the most practical and powerful tool HR and L&D professionals have in 2026 to restore meaning, motivation, and performance across their organizations.A must-listen for HR leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone ready to stop guessing what their people need and start building workplaces where people are genuinely wired to thrive.Enjoyed this? Check out our sister podcast @thepayrollpodcast for more great content!Connect with Jackie Dube & The Predictive Index:Predictive Index: https://www.predictiveindex.comPredictive Index behavioural science insights: https://www.predictiveindex.com/blog/Jackie Dube's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-dube/Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Stay tuned for the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast, brought to you by Nick Day, CEO at JGA Recruitment, landing soon!Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Why Work Feels Empty in the Modern Workplace(01:40) Meet Jackie Dube, Chief People Officer at The Predictive Index(02:28) Jackie's Origin Story, From Family Therapy to HR(05:30) How Behavioral Science First Clicked for Jackie(08:33) What Is Driving the Emptiness at Work Today(12:44) How Organizations Unintentionally Drain Meaning from Work(14:39) Early Warning Signs of Disengagement and How to Spot Them(16:22) The Four Behavioral Drives and How They Shape the Way We Work(20:13) How Behavioral Differences Create Motivation or Demotivation(22:52) Why Engagement and Meaning Are Not the Same Thing(27:31) AI Adoption, Workforce Fear and the J-Curve Framework(36:01) How The Predictive Index Helps Organizations Build Meaning and Performance

Familie gilt als etwas für immer. Aber was passiert, wenn Eltern und Kinder einander den Rücken kehren? In dieser Folge sprechen Leon und Atze über Kontaktabbrüche in Familien – ein Thema, das viele betrifft und über das trotzdem erstaunlich wenig gesprochen wird. Wir schauen auf die aktuelle Forschung: Wie häufig kommt ein Kontaktabbruch tatsächlich vor? Und woran erkennt man den Unterschied zwischen einer schwierigen und einer wirklich schädlichen Beziehung? Außerdem geht es um Schuld, Trauer, Hoffnung und die Frage, ob Distanz manchmal die gesündeste Form von Nähe sein kann. Fühlt euch gut betreut Leon & Atze Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonwindscheid/ https://www.instagram.com/atzeschroeder_offiziell/ Mehr zu unseren Werbepartnern findet ihr hier: https://linktr.ee/betreutesfuehlen Tickets: Atze: https://www.atzeschroeder.de/#termine Leon: https://leonwindscheid.de/tour/ Quellen Arránz Becker, O., & Hank, K. (2022). Adult children's estrangement from parents in Germany. Journal of Marriage and Family, 84(1), 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12796 Blake, L. (2017). Parents and children who are estranged in adulthood: A review and discussion of the literature. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 9(4), 521–536. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12216 Conti, R. P. (2015). Family estrangement: Establishing a prevalence rate. Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science, 3(2), 28–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/jpbs.v3n2a4 Maidenberg, M. (2021, June 28). What adult children need their parents to understand. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-your-best-self/202106/what-adult-children-need-their-parents-to-understand Reczek, R. (2026). Redoing family after estrangement. Journal of Marriage and Family. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.70065 Reczek, R., Stacey, L., & Thomeer, M. B. (2023). Parent–adult child estrangement in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality. Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(2), 494–517. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12898 Terra Xplore: Prof. Dr. Krüger-Kirn erklärt überhöhte Mütter-Ideale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZIx9GtNjws The New Yorker: Why so many people are going no contact with their parents. https://rhet315.domains.trincoll.edu/class-blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ResearchOpinion-Why-So-Many-People-Are-Going-No-Contact-with-Their-Parents-_-The-New-Yorker.pdf Uhrig, S. (2024, February 22). Warum Kinder den Kontakt zu ihren Eltern abbrechen. Spektrum der Wissenschaft. https://www.spektrum.de/news/warum-kinder-den-kontakt-zu-ihren-eltern-abbrechen/2196507 Empfehlungen Betreutes Fühlen: “Innere Konflikte - wie man sie erkennt und was hilft” (05.05.2026): https://betreutesfuehlen.podigee.io/343-innere-konflikte-wie-man-sie-erkennt-und-was-hilft Redaktion: Julia Ditzer Produktion: Murmel Productions

Vor dem Gesetz sind wir alle gleich und frei. Aber sind wir es wirklich? Nein. Wer hat Macht über uns und über wen haben wir Macht? Und ab wann wird soziale Macht zu Beherrschung und zu einem Problem? Ein Vortrag der Philosophin Tamara Jugov.Tamara Jugov ist Professorin für Praktische Philosophie an der TU Dresden. Ihre Forschungsschwerpunkte liegen im Bereich der analytischen politischen Philosophie und der Sozialphilosophie.Ihren Vortrag "Macht, interpersonale und strukturelle Beherrschung. Eine philosophische Perspektive" hat sie am 20. April 2026 im Rahmen des Studium Generale der Universität Mainz innerhalb der Reihe "Wie wir miteinander umgehen. Macht, Fairness und soziale Beziehungen" gehalten.**********In dieser Folge mit: Moderation: Katrin Ohlendorf Vortragende: Tamara Jugov, Professorin für Praktische Philosophie an der TU Dresden**********HörtippDer Tag, ein Podcast des Deutschlandfunks**********Ihr hört in diesem Hörsaal:2:21 - Vortragsbeginn2:42 - Fall 1: Professor und Mitarbeiterin4:27 - Fall 2: Sexistisches Eherecht6:11 - Struktur des Vortrags8:18 - Die philosophische Diskussion um den Machtbegriff26:24 - Interpersonale Beherrschung44:48 - Beispiel Elon Musk, Politik und Überreichtum48:47 - Strukturelle Beherrschung57:34 - Fazit: Worin besteht das normative Problem?1:00:33 - Hörtipp**********Quellen aus der Folge:Dahl, Robert A. 1957: The Concept of Power, in: Behavioral Science, 2(3), 201-215. Haslanger, Sally 2012: Resisting Reality. Social Construction and Social Critique, New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Jugov, Tamara: Geltungsgründe globaler Gerechtigkeit. Campus Verlag, 2024. Jugov, Tamara: Soziale Macht als Potentialität. In: Barbara Vetter/Christof Rapp: Potentialität, Philosophische Symposien der DFG, Vol. 2 (2023), 1-32, Fachinformationsdienst Philosophie. Petti, Philip 1997: Republicanism. A Theory of Freedom and Government, Oxford University Press **********Mehr zum Thema bei Deutschlandfunk Nova:Klassismus: Der Stempel der sozialen HerkunftSoziale Ungleichheit: Warum unsere Körper politisch sindLeistung: Kein Maßstab für eine gerechte Gesellschaft**********Den Artikel zum Stück findet ihr hier.**********Ihr könnt uns auch auf diesen Kanälen folgen: TikTok und Instagram .

Welcome to Season 3 of Ten to the Fifteenth: From Serendipity to Science, a 7 part mini-series in which we'll introduce you to the extraordinary world of brain stimulation. Huge shout outs to: Collin Price, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, who was first author, champion, and all-around hero in bringing this season to life; Robert Scaramuccia, our amazing (and amazingly patient!) producer; to all of our guests this season; and to the rest of team NNCI for all of their hard work behind the scenes. In our first episode, Dr. Noah Philip takes us back to the beginning… This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

When was the last time you sparked up a conversation with a stranger and surprised yourself with how good it felt? Behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley, author of A Little More Social, returns to the podcast to discuss with Michael why we systematically underestimate how positively strangers respond, how connection supports happiness, health, and longevity, and the key mechanisms behind our social pessimism (misjudging warmth vs. competence, overlooking reciprocity, and self-fulfilling avoidance). Nicholas shares research on how quickly people update after a conversation and how fast those gains can fade, plus practical “easy choice” experiments like asking someone to take your photo or simply asking, “Can you tell me your story?” Plus, in a special post-interview discussion, listener-turned-friend of Michael's, therapist Dr. Jennifer Kauder, joins Michael to reflect on voice vs. text, comfort-zone challenges, and why real-time connection changes everything.Listen and Learn: The surprising benefits of connecting with people you don't know, and why our minds trick us into fearing these interactions that can lengthen and enrich our livesPsychological traps that make us overly pessimistic about reaching out to others, and why we miss out on deeper, happier connections due to misplaced expectations Research on why trying to push past social awkwardness just once isn't enough, and why our brains quickly forget positive interactions Why our confidence drops right before we approach someone new, the psychology behind why starting a conversation is much easier than anticipating it, and how small mindsets can instantly dissolve social anxiety A simple, foolproof question that skips past awkward small talk, ignites genuine curiosity, and uncovers the fascinating, hidden storiesResources: A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593319543 Nicholas' Website: https://www.nicholasepley.com/Nicholas Epley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-epley/ Michael's Confidence Course: https://herold.coach/courseRejection Proof by Jia Jiang: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780804141383 About Nicholas EpleyNicholas Epley is the John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research, at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He studies social cognition—how thinking people think about other thinking people—to understand why smart people so routinely misunderstand each other. He teaches an ethics and happiness course to MBA students called Designing a Good Life. His research has appeared in more than two dozen empirical journals, been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Wired, and National Public Radio, among many others, and has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Templeton Foundation. He has been awarded the 2008 Theoretical Innovation Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the 2011 Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the 2015 Book Prize for the Promotion of Social and Personality Science, and the 2018 Career Trajectory Award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology. Epley was named a “professor to watch” by the Financial Times, one of the “World's Best 40 under 40 Business School Professors” by Poets and Quants, and one of the 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics in 2015 by Ethisphere. He is the author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want. His new book, A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection, was published in May! (Our UK listeners will find the book titled Hello: The Unexpected Power of Choosing To Connect)Related Episodes422. Mindwise with Nicholas Epley454. Remain Calm. Confidence Ahead with Michael Herold313. ACT-Informed Exposure for Anxiety with Brian Pilecki and Brian Thompson393. Supercommunicators with Charles Duhigg360. The Laws of Connection with David RobsonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Founder's Sandbox, host Brenda McCabe sits down with behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to explore the surprising power of human connection. Drawing on decades of research and his new book A Little More Social, Epley reveals why we consistently underestimate how positive social interactions can be—and how small choices, like expressing gratitude or starting a conversation, can significantly improve our well-being, relationships, and workplace culture. Together, they discuss the science behind social connection, the hidden barriers that hold us back, and practical ways leaders and professionals can build more resilient, purpose-driven organizations through simple, intentional human interactions. You can find out more about Nicholas and his book at: about Nicholas Epley Accolades Nicholas Epley Book him for for speaking events at: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/nicholas-epley/ or pre order his new Book out May 19, 2026: A Little More Social Here: Amazon, Bookshop) You can also find his book Mindwise here: Amazon, Bookshop transcript: 00:04 Welcome back to the Founders Sandbox. I am Brenda McCabe, your host. Now in the fourth season, my mission with this podcast is really to bring in company owners, founders, 00:31 professionals, board directors that like me share a common mission, which is making change in the world through enterprises, small, medium or large. em And each of my guests um have em in their own ways built resilient, scalable, well-governed businesses um to really make that change. And I'm absolutely delighted to have Professor Epley, Nicholas Epley, 01:01 from the University of Chicago as my guest for this month. um Welcome to the Founder's Sandbox. Thank you, Brenda. This is a delight for me to have a former student back with me in conversation. I love it. It's amazing. I've been pursuing you for at least two years, and I kept getting delayed because of his writing a book. And today we're going to talk about um his new book that will be launching on May 19th, A Little More Social. 01:31 So before we get into the material, I need to make a proper introduction as I do to all my guests, all right? So um Nicholas Eppoli, he is the John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is an author. We'll get into some of his work today. And he has many other accolades. 01:59 that are just too many to go through here because we'll eat into valuable time. And he has back to back podcast to announce his new book. I do want to call out one accolade. You were named by Ethicast, I guess, a business leader in ethics back in 2018. And business ethics, as we all know, corporate governance is very near and dear to my heart. So those accolades will be in the show notes. 02:29 em Dr. Epley, or Professor Epley as I'll call you, right? You study social cognition, how thinking people think about other thinking people to understand why smart people so routinely misunderstand each other. He teaches an ethics and happiness course to MBA students called Designing a Good Life. I was a... 02:56 an alumnus. I took your course back, think in 2017, 2018. So you're going to be forever a professor to me. All right. So I often speak of your class designing a good life and the pro-social exercises and other stats and experiments that now that you have this book out, I realized you were using the classrooms. Yes, I was. Yeah, I was doing a lot of the experiments in the class. I mean, the best way to teach 03:25 people something is not to tell them the thing, but to show them the thing. And so I could tell you that reaching out and expressing gratitude makes you feel better, makes other people feel better than you think, but more powerful is actually have you do it. Right. So we're going to talk about the book. And I think it's in chapter seven that you talk specifically about how gratitude is such a powerful mechanism. um Again, my guest here, I like to uh 03:56 kind of identify resiliency, purpose driven or scalable. m I think that what you teach and what we're gonna hear about here for my listeners is an example of resiliency practices. And I believe it's very much key in bringing it back to my listeners, Professor Upley is I work with a lot of company owners, business leaders who I think would benefit from learning some of these practices outside of the classroom today. anyway. 04:23 I took your class back in, I think, in 2017, pre-pandemic and in person. And my life has uh really been impacted in an incredibly positive way. I bring it into my personal life, some of these experiments that you're going to share with my listeners, as well as the classroom, where I do teach business ethics. And I have them um do a personal responsibility statement uh at the end of their. 04:51 their semester with me. That is awesome. So again, accolades. Thank you to you. So with my guests, I want you to make a little introduction and share your origin story. Why did you choose to become what's called a behavioral scientist? I won't make it too long. I do remember I got to college. I wanted to be a football player, college football player, small college division three. 05:20 at St. Olaf. I went to St. Olaf because I liked the football coach. I thought I was going to be a biologist. I took those classes. They were totally boring, but I took an intro psychology class, which was all self paced. It was supposed to take a semester to do. I was done with it about a third of the way through the semester. I just ate it all up. I went through it like wildfire, which I took as an indication that this is something I might be interested in. 05:51 I started reaching out to faculty, started doing research. And one day my senior year, early my senior year in college, my em undergraduate advisor grabbed a book down from the shelf and handed it to me and said, I think you might find this to be interesting. It was Tom Gilovich's book, How We Know What Isn't So. And the book describes how the psychological processes that give us beliefs and expectations and opinions about the world, thoughts about other people. 06:20 can often lead us astray, give us perceptions and beliefs that differ from the way the world actually is. And I found the work so fascinating. I read that book in a day. I took it and I went right through it. And I thought, that is the thing I wanna do. I wanna do research like that. I couldn't think of anything else more interesting to do than that. So I applied to a PhD program to Cornell University, which is where Tom is on the faculty. I applied to a bunch of others too. 06:49 em I was fortunate enough uh that I was waitlisted at Cornell, somebody declined their offer, and I got in as a PhD student. And the rest then is kind of one lucky break after another, after another, after another, after another, things working out well. And me just following things that seemed interesting at the time. em I was lucky to have Tom as a PhD advisor. 07:16 We started working on really interesting things. My first year there, turns out we underestimate how positively others judge us when we do something that we're kind of embarrassed about. Other people cut us a lot more slack than we think. And that interest in understanding, and in particular, understanding how well we understand the minds of others was something we were working on right away. And that interest... 07:44 just as grown and grown and grown and grown and grown. I've stopped thinking about other things. It's the only thing I kind of can think about. And the mistakes we make about the minds of other people are all around us and problematic. And so that's how I got here. Thank you for sharing that. um And specifically at this time in 2026, uh 08:11 So how does the mind of a behavioral scientist work? What experiments do you whip up to test some of the hypotheses? All right. for your first book, right, there was some, right. And the preface of your second book, you said, that morning I decided to test a different approach. As a psychologist, I try to understand human behavior using experiments. 08:34 But this time I decided to put myself into an experiment instead of ignoring the person who just sat down next to me, I would try to connect. So how does work? So one, I think the important thing about being a researcher, we're all researchers out there in the world in our own ways, right? So founders are starting companies and they're doing research constantly about what works and what doesn't. 08:59 As a scientist, we get to run experiments that sometimes have a little more control over them than what you have out there in the world. But the thing that is common to both the scientist and the founder or to almost anyone out there in the world is that you ask why questions. And so as a scientist, it's not so much the experiments we conduct that are critical, although those are critical. The critical thing is that you... 09:28 We look at the world in a slightly different way than others might and therefore notice things that other people might not notice. And that's where our hypotheses, our ideas come from. So one morning on the train, for instance, I was coming in to the University of Chicago where you know all too well where I work uh and I live on the far South side. And I was writing a chapter for MindWise, which was my first book describing how we have this mind uniquely equipped for brain uniquely equipped for connecting with the minds of others. 09:58 And I was describing how we often and why we misunderstand each other. And I was writing one of those chapters describing how we've got this brain uniquely equipped for connecting with others, made happier and healthier by connecting with others. And yet I was sitting on the train and I had this kind of eureka moment. Here we all were, and I've been doing this for years by now. Here we all were sitting on this train, highly social animals, made happier and healthier connecting with each other. And we were all ignoring each other. We're not connecting at all, treating the person next to us. 10:27 Like a lamp shade, right? And that was where I thought that seems weird. Does this make sense that we do this? Social connection is a choice. It's a decision about whether we reach out and engage with somebody or hold back. And that was the thing that I noticed. That was the perspective that other people might not have is that that's a choice and understanding that our perceptions are sometimes wrong or miscalibrated. 10:55 suggests that sometimes we can make those choices wrong, make them incorrectly or unwise. And so that morning I decided to enroll myself in an experiment. I had a woman come sit down next to me. I was probably at this time, I'm 51 right now, I was probably in my mid 30s, 35 or something like that at the time. This woman, she's probably 55 or so, African-American woman, uh clearly dressed for work, uh really looking sharp, had this beautiful red hat on. 11:24 almost like a bonnet, had this big wide brim. It was beautiful. uh And I decided that morning to put myself in an experiment. What would happen if I actually engaged in conversation and to really pay attention to what happened, right? Because that's another thing we do as researchers is we measure things closely. We pay close attention in our measurement. So I just started having conversation. I opened up with a pretty weak joke. uh I said, I love your hat. I have one just like it, right? 11:54 Yeah, not in the conversation hall of fame there, right? uh But she turned to me and she just like lit up. I remember so distinctly the reaction was like she'd almost looked like a different person. Her face, the face that we carry around with us, the dead face, right? Our resting Grinch face is kind of Grinchy, right? But as soon as you engage with somebody, you perk up, your face smiles, your eyes lighten, you look. 12:23 almost like a different person. So she turned to me lit up and uh the conversation then just flowed pretty easily. We had a nice conversation, half hour, time went really fast. As I got up to leave, I remember she held my wrist uh as I was getting up just to express some sincerity and she said, thank you so much for talking with me today. It wasn't just like, hey, that was lovely. We really meant it, like it was nice. 12:52 And the thing that I remember so clearly is that it wasn't just nice, it was surprisingly nice. That surprisingly part is critical because there was a gap between how I believed the conversation might turn out. I a nervous, what do I have in common with this person? I don't know. Will it go well? Do they really want to talk to me? Probably not. Will she misunderstand while I'm talking to her? Maybe. 13:17 You know, mistakenly think I'm hitting on her or something or make her feel uncomfortable instead of just having a nice conversation between two human beings. So all that stuff was going through my head, but it was misplaced. It was wrong. And so the conversation wasn't just positive. It was surprisingly positive. And that insight that social connection is a choice and that our choices could be wrong led me to run a bunch of experiments to test whether this is just something unique. 13:45 to me as a kind of weirdo or whether this is something we might see a little more widely. And so we started running experiments on the train that I ride. We recruited people for an experiment. We randomly assigned them to do one of three things, to either try to have a conversation with a person who sits down next to them that morning, so this is the connection condition, to... 14:11 keep to themselves that morning and just enjoy their solitude or to do whatever they normally do. 14:17 At the end of the survey, they reported how the conversation actually made them feel, how positive it made them feel on a couple of different measures. And then we asked another group, we asked them to predict how they would feel if they were actually in that situation. To report their beliefs, their expectations about how they would feel. Because that's what actually drives your behavior. It's not how you actually feel. You don't know how you're gonna feel. You're projecting, right? Yes. It's not gonna happen, yeah. Exactly. So you sit down and you think, well. 14:45 what would happen if I did this? Those are your expectations. And people's behavior is driven by their expectations. And what people expected was that they would have a more positive commute if they kept to themselves than if they had a conversation with somebody, which is what people are doing, right? So they're behaving rationally in line with their expectations. But when we actually had people do these things and report how they actually felt at the end, it was those in the connection condition. 15:12 that actually had the more positive commute and those in the solitude condition who kept it themselves had the least positive commute. People's expectations weren't just wrong, they were precisely backwards. They thought that keeping it in themselves would make them happier. In fact, connecting with somebody else is what would make them happier. And that was just the tip of a very big iceberg. For the last decade and a half, it just, we've been seeing these things all over the place. I'm like a guy with a hammer who sees nothing but nails. 15:41 I can find these phenomena all over the place now. So it's nearly two decades of research. That first experiment, you speak to it in the second book. don't know whether you also put it into the first book. It is wise to understand what others think, believe, feel and want, which is your first book. um So two decades later and pushing your five years of writing and you were avoiding. 16:09 being a guest on my podcast and that rightly so. Yes, took a long time. But as then. of 2026, your book, A Little More Social is being released. And we'll have how to get that book in the show notes as well after this podcast goes live. So what I wanted to do is really ask you what made you want to release it now in 2026, right? And 16:39 Again, I was able to get a pre-read of some of the material and uh while not stealing your thunder, what I was, I like how you've set the sections or the why questions. So back to the empirical, right? Research you do as a social scientist. Why, why not? What if, what now are the four sections of the book? But I will tell you this, I read the prologue and when I started reading chapter one, I was depressed. It was really hard to go on. 17:08 So I'm warning, just so with that, I'm not gonna give the spoiler alert. What made you want to publish this year finally after two decades and right? So I will say that I think the message of the book is fundamentally empowering, not depressing. It was just first chapter. I was like, wow. Just the first chapter maybe about the importance of social connection and how we're not choosing it. But once you see that, 17:38 Once you see that your beliefs about other people might be off a little bit, it's an invitation to test those. And to see places where you and your life are holding yourself back, not because social connection is unpleasant or you're not good at it, but because you're not even trying and finding out that you could be wrong. And once you start to see that the bars in front of you that are holding you back from reaching out and engaging with others, 18:05 having stronger relationships, communicating more clearly, having more joy and enjoyment in your life and making people around you better. Once you start seeing that those bars that are holding you back sometimes, making you overly fearful about engaging are actually made out of pasta noodles, it's easy to break through them. It is empowering. The people I talk to a lot in this book who spend a lot of time talking to other people, almost all describe themselves as having a superpower that other people don't have. 18:35 They're not afraid of engaging. And hence they don't hold themselves back from opportunities that they could have in the better life that tends to follow when we're connected well with other people. As to why 2026, I wish I could say it was something like market timing. I was getting exactly right. The world is a disaster, is a dumpster fire at the moment. are uh going deeper, deeper into loneliness in our lives. The world's a mess. 19:03 hostile and violent and unfriendly and we're trying to pull back from this. I wish I could say it was market timing. uh It wasn't market timing exactly. It was more, uh I don't know what the right word for it is in the innovator world, but I didn't have the product until today. Right. Or serendipitous as well. Serendipitous. Yes, serendipitous. I do think there's a timeless element to this too, which is, it is always the case, I think. 19:32 I don't think these phenomena are totally new. There are new elements to them, but there are times where we can always make our relationships a little bit better. But yes, right now there is some serendipity, I think. We could really use it right now. I agree. Tell me how it is to make a choice. So we all are different human beings, right? Talk about human beings. 20:01 condition, right? We're very social and some of us are more introverted than extroverted. how, and with your book, how can we be more empowered to make that choice? So I think the important insight from behavioral science here is that social connection and therefore the happiness and wellbeing and relationships that follow from that is to some extent a choice that we make. All social interactions that we have a choice over 20:29 you get to a point where you have to decide, I refer to it as the choice, because I think it is arguably the most important choice we make over and over and over and over again, which is, do I reach out and engage with you or do I hold back? And that choice, the choice shows up in lots of different forms. Do I talk with a stranger? Do I type to you or pick up the phone and talk to you? Do I... 20:56 ask deep and meaningful questions or do I hold back? Do I share this compliment or this feeling of gratitude or request for help or honest piece of advice for you, honest feedback? Do I share those things or do I hold them back? So the choice masquerades in lots and lots of different ways, but at its core is this conflict between approaching, wanting to engage and fear or avoidance, being nervous about it, right? And when both of those things are strong, we get 21:26 approach avoidance conflicts where we'd like to do this thing, but we're nervous. I'd like to go up and talk to that other CEO I'd like to meet, but maybe they don't want to talk to me. That's approach avoidance conflict. What we find in our work is that, well, other researchers have found that these two systems in our brain are independent of each other. That's approach and avoidance. Approach and avoidance. Yeah. The factors that govern approach, the system that governs approach in our brain is different from the system that governs avoidance. Okay. 21:55 That's how you can get both of them being very strong at the same time. They're not dynamic with each other. They can operate independently. And when you don't have any interest to approach or any interest to avoid, then you're indifferent, right? But the opposite of that is approach avoidance. And um people do vary a little bit in the strength of these two motives, uh in what guides their choice. 22:21 Extroverts tend, for instance, to have a little bit stronger approach orientation or rather a little less of the avoidance orientation. But I think the important insight is that what extroversion and introversion is really about is how you make the choice. And this is something that people, think, routinely misunderstand about what personality actually is, or at least the way we measure it as psychologists. I think that's the important thing, the way we often measure it as psychologists. 22:49 It's not describing the type of person you are. It is describing the type of choices that you make. So for instance, people might often think that introverts and extroverts, actually enjoy different things. That extroverts like talking to people, whereas introverts like talking to people less. That turns out not to be quite right. When you put people in experiments and you actually have them talk, introverts and extroverts both enjoy talking to people, right? 23:17 They both get tired talking to people later, but they're energized during it. They both actually feel more authentic when they're talking to someone and engaging in social interaction than when they're not. What differs between the two is how they make the choice and therefore what they think they will like or enjoy and therefore the habits they create and what they do. And that I think- that's kind of a revelation. uh 23:47 But psychologists have been discovering this for decades. So you go back to 1980 was the first published paper testing whether happiness or wellbeing was related to personality. Now in theory, you wouldn't expect it to be, right? Actroverts like talking to people. Proverts like uh reading books and keeping to themselves, more quiet time, Enjoying more solitude. Great, there should be no differences in happiness. We get what we want out of life. 24:16 That turns out not to be true. Extroverts tend to feel more positive, have more positive affect, more happiness in their lives than introverts full stop. And it is not a small effect, it is a huge effect. The correlation between extroversion and positive affect, essentially happiness in your life, positive mood in your life, is around 0.5, which is as big as the correlation between the heights of fathers and their sons. It's huge. It's huge, right? And so... 24:43 Psychologists learn then over time that that comes in part because extroverts tend to choose to act a little more extroverted. If you ask people to act more extroverted, everybody tends to get a little happier, uh introverts and extroverts alike. If you ask people to act more introverted, people tend to get a little less happy, introverts and extroverts alike. So I think that's a really important insight that introversion and extroversion is really about choices and habits. 25:12 more than actual experience. You know, m I extroverts to choose to do it more often. Is it a? Is it oh a game of numbers? Is it like betting? Is it just showing up for yourself more frequently? Independent of being an extrovert or introvert where I'm going is how can we apply this in the workforce with our workmates and things? Right? Is it just, you know, just choosing independent of what the outcome may be? 25:42 more often. So our data suggests that our assessment of the odds and all of life is kind of a gamble. Our choices are gambles on the future based on what we think is going to be relatively positive or not, what's going to be relatively rewarding or not. And our data suggests that we get the odds a little wrong. Extroverts and introverts both do. And actually, I don't want to focus too much on that because it's a much weaker, it's a much weaker phenomena than we actually 26:12 You might imagine that it is. People tend to think on average they're more introverted actually than they really are em because extroversion is public but introversion is private. So we all know our own private introverted side. It makes us feel unique, more unique than we actually are. But I think our data suggests not that you go out and you talk to people all the time or you share every detail about yourself. It suggests we get the odds a little bit off. 26:40 It suggests when it's easy, when it's possible to connect or to engage or when you have a thought that you could share that you think might turn, you know, be positive. If you recognize that that avoidance motivation is a little too strong. 26:55 Recognize you have to dial that back that your first thought might be overly avoidant your second thought a lot of times might suggest No, I'll give this a try. I'll give it a try. I'll give it try. I like that. Somebody said me lose right? So with that why not right part two of your book? Do you want to talk about a little bit about? The the how well you've talked about the have connection, but hello stranger, you know really just making it happen. I 27:23 I don't know whether you can make an inference into the workplace. I would like you to do that for me. Yeah. Yeah. Because we are human beings and whether we work in hybrid, we're totally remote, or we are working back in the office, we get things done through interactions with our colleagues. And so how might your work and a little more social uh make our, uh I guess, our interactions 27:53 more empowering uh and just overall lifting up. I think our data suggests that you can look for times in your life where there's kind of dead space or kind of gray space. Time where you could engage or connect with someone but are choosing not to in ways that wouldn't take you away from something. That's a place to start. Like I'm on the train in the morning coming in. 28:18 I'm just sitting there. Usually I'm not doing squat anyway. I'm scrolling my phone or reading the news. I think it's really important, but come on. Sometimes we do things, but often we're not. And that's a place that's easy for me. Like I did this morning, I had a conversation with Brenda on my train. um Brenda I've known for a while. I don't see her that often, but this morning she was on the train and we had a lovely 30 minute conversation. She gave me a hug at the end and she said I was really what she needed today. 28:48 Oh, right. And that's amazing. Yeah, she's a lovely human being. She's a great name. Yeah, she's great. But I don't see her a lot. Maybe a few times a year we'll be on the same train. But every time I see her, I know her. I remember I wrote her name down and I can have that conversation. It's easy. But that's something where I wouldn't have been. 29:13 social otherwise, it's easy to do. And if I know it's gonna be more positive than I think, then I would choose to do that than something else. When I get to my office here at the Harper Center here at Booth, I walk into the door on the way in and I got maybe a 250 yard walk up to my office here on the fourth floor. And I've started making it a habit that I take a hello walk when I come in. When I walk by people, I don't just sit there and just walk to my office. 29:42 I greet people when I'm going by. So I say hi to Nigel who's sitting there at the same table every day this winter quarter uh down uh in the winter garden here at the University of Chicago. I say hi to Keith and Mario and Linda on my way to the elevator often who are down there. These are often our staff people or uh other folks around in the business school. When I get up the elevator onto my floor, I walk past uh Jane's office and Eric's office. 30:11 uh Emma's office, Virginia's office on my way. And I say hi to people, right? Hi, Eric. Hi, Jane. Hi, Emma. Morning, Virginia, when I go by. Now, it's not taking me a lot of time, right? It's not slowing me up from anything. It's not really interrupting them too much. They're just getting started with their day. But it makes that moment brighter, right? It makes that walk better. Virginia came by my office the other day. I've gotten to know her. She's one of our new junior faculty. She came by my office. uh 30:40 to talk about the book that I've been working on to talk through it, because she found that interesting, she's an economist. I don't think she'd have done that before if I hadn't said hi. It's been nice. So, you know. So there's small, little initiatives, you just have to make the choice. They don't have to be massive things. There are many opportunities that are easy, seem small to us, they end up being, I think, 31:09 much, much bigger than we imagine them to be. And we just choose not to take them. And that seems like a tragedy. And once you start looking for these moments, these opportunities, you walk to get coffee at the office or something. Take a friend with you. Ask a colleague to walk with you. Ideas come out of those. Connections come out of those. Well, being comes out of those. You never know where it's going to go. Can you, for my listeners, discuss or share the experiment and how 31:38 people underestimate how much they'll enjoy talking to strangers or the letters of gratitude. It's your choice, you can do both. I mean, can share my own personal, know, living that. um It remains with me. I would love that. You do that. That would be great. know, the enjoying talking to strangers is uh during the last week of the course of designing, right? 32:06 a good life, we literally had to, um I think we had to report back and we had to do a kind act towards somebody that we didn't even know. Right? Yeah. Yeah. We were randomly assigned or we, right. I think you were, right. In that case, I asked you to go on and a random act of kindness for somebody. Exactly. An act of kindness. And it was amazing that then the person reacted. so it was a very, it was aha moment. Again, I'm 32:36 This was seven years ago, eight years ago. So I'm drawing a blank, but I just recall it was an amazing experience. we all kind of got to know each other's names. We were like 80 students in the classroom at that time. Another thing that I do recall with fondness is writing a thank you letter, graduate letter. you gave us the op, it was prior to getting to campus, we were to write a letter. 33:03 we could actually share with you who we writing that to. And that person had the opportunity to share with you what they felt or not. So it was kind of blind. And I did go ahead and write a thank you letter to a color out Betsy Berkamer. She's also been in my podcast, influential person in my life. uh And uh lo and behold, she wrote to you and as did other people that were recipients of a thank you letter that was two paragraphs. It made their day. 33:32 But the questions you ask, how did, you you had to get the guts up to write that letter, right? Because you had to really be touchy-feely and share a specific event for which you felt gratitude. So, yeah. So that's an, so these, the, the choice to reach out and engage with other people or hold back crops up in lots of places. So one of the things we know as psychologists is if you want to have a good day, one thing to do is to think about somebody else who you really appreciate and feel grateful to and make their day. 34:02 by writing a note to them and explaining why you feel grateful to them. What's interesting- that here on the podcast on the Founder's Standby. So this is major. Say that again. If you wanna have a good day, reach out to somebody else and make them have a good day by explaining why you're grateful to them. What's interesting though is if you ask people, can you think about somebody you feel grateful to, but who for whatever reason you haven't reached out to express this? Almost everybody can right away think, oh yeah, I can think of somebody. Why do those people exist? 34:32 Why haven't you told them? There are lots of reasons why, but one is often, it's gonna be weird. Is this the right time? What am I gonna say? Can I really put into words? All of these steel bars in front of us that we think are so powerful, but they turn out to be pasta noodles when you actually sit down to write them. So what I have you do in my class towards the end is I have you think about this person, sit down, write a note to them. 34:59 anticipate how they're gonna feel, right? If you think that they're not gonna, you you underestimate how positive it's gonna be for them, or you overestimate how awkward or weird it's gonna be, right? That creates friction. That's a barrier to reaching out and engaging them. That's your avoidance voice shouting a little too loudly in your ear, that cringe voice, that you shouldn't do this. And we can find out whether that's calibrated. So I had you predict how the recipient would feel, how- um 35:28 the extent to which they'd be surprised to learn what you're grateful for, extent to which they'd be surprised to receive how positive or negative they would feel and also how awkward they would feel. I then, if you were willing to share with me the recipient's email address, I reached out and said, well, student of my class, um sent you a gratitude note as part of a class exercise. uh They thought of you for this. And I would love it if you could just tell me how that made you feel. Maybe terrible, maybe great. 35:58 but they go to the survey, they fill it out. And then we just compare those numbers essentially. And the students are not confused. You weren't confused that this would be positive. You thought it would be good. What was surprising or what's super robust is that it's even more positive than that. So Brenda, your little two paragraphs that seemed like nice, nice, but they were really, really nice to the person who received it. You thought they would be, uh 36:27 kind of powerful, they were really powerful. She probably printed that out. I had a student this year say in class that their recipient, who was a relative of theirs actually, their recipient asked, can I print it out and put it on the wall? Oh, that's amazing. Of course they do. Yes. It matters a lot. Surprisingly a lot. That's the important thing. Surprisingly a lot. 36:56 I could go on and on with more examples of the experiments that Professor Epley made us do in class that have marked uh my life. uh I use a lot of these things with my clients or even my students. And one of which is I do have the personal responsibility statement that we wrote at the end of our... uh 37:20 with you and it had to be short and sweet. You framed it, gave it to us. want it. If we ever want to change it, we had, you know, uh a beeline to you. You can send me a note. I'll change it for you. I'll send you new one for sure. And I framed it, framed it and printed out because otherwise you never would. Right. And then it's almost like it's an accountability manager. Right. We have Professor Epley who holds us accountable. Here, by the way, is mine. Yeah. You want to see mine? 37:48 I didn't know you were going to mention it, but yeah, here it is right here. Yeah, mine's here. And actually, because I asked my students, oops, I don't know whether you see it too well. There it is. Yeah. There it is. Signature, sorry. Sorry, because I have that screen. uh And yes, I even have some students that say, Professor McKay, but it's really hard for me to write mine when you share yours. of course, I'll share it. Yeah. 38:13 You may remember I put mine up in class. I showed you in the last class what mine was. Yeah. Yes. Yes. So yes, tell me. Yes. Go on. So the purpose of that is this is really about sustainability, I think, and resilience in organizations that the business case for ethics for being good out there isn't just that it feels good, sometimes even surprisingly good, which is really what's in the book and in a little more social. 38:43 which I describe in lots of different ways. But uh the business case for ethics is really one about resilience and sustainability. That you can be a schmuck for a little while and take money from people and succeed. You can lie and cheat and steal for a little bit. It's very hard to do that for a long time. Wow. People don't want to work with you. They don't want to work for you. uh They don't want to lend you money uh if they think you're uh unethical and shady. 39:13 And so for an organization, way to design one, for founders, the way to design one that is resilient and sustainable is to make sure that your values, your mission is front and center in front of everything that you do. so identifying a powerful, identifying an actionable mission statement, like your personal responsibility statement, this is at the organizational level, is a critical first step because everything else can be woven out of that. 39:43 Those ethics have to be kept top of mind all the time, woven into how you hire people and fire people and promote people and evaluate people and what you talk about day to day and what your norms are in the organizations, what activities you do, how you financially compensate people, what kinds of non-financial incentives you have in your organization. All those need to be tied to the mission statement and to the values that those suggest so that they're kept top of mind when you're out there in the world. So they become more of your first thought. 40:13 rather than needing to be your second thought. And the personal responsibility statement functions at an individual level that way. uh It prompts you to think about what is the thing you wanna have top of mind guiding you when you're out there in the world. So mine is to teach and research so that people are inspired to make wiser decisions and live better lives. Okay, that's what I focus on. 40:39 m Mine is always be original creative, loving, giving back, thankful, spontaneous, daring yourself while being content with enough. And my podcast is actually one of those creative outlets for me. now into my fourth season, it's been amazing. You know what I like with, you know what I didn't see, m wouldn't have seen when you wrote that, but do now is the last part being satisfied with enough. That's an important bit of self. 41:06 compassion there to recognize we do what we can do, nothing more, nothing less. And we give it all we got and that is enough. So the idea is that just like with a mission statement, if you can keep that top of mind guiding your behavior, you'll be a better organization if you design that well. Same thing is true for individuals. Well, before we go to my last three questions, which is really uh the essence of what I do with... uh 41:34 Next Act Advisors, my consulting firm around resilience, purpose, and scalable. I really wanted to give you an opportunity to let my listeners know how to connect with you. It will be in the show notes. And specifically, you do speaking, you're a keynote speaker and you can be hired in different, so can you? 41:58 share a little bit of how we can connect with you and to what do you typically like to speak about when you are um hired as a speaker? Yeah, so I do a lot of uh public speaking, which I think of as just another avenue for teaching about our research, which I think is meaningful for people and can be very powerful. The speaking agency that I use is WSB. They're in Washington, DC. They're fabulous people. And I can talk about 42:28 A few things I can talk about why we misunderstand each other and how to help people understand each other better, which is really about management and leadership, all of those essential skills. And then the work that I'm doing now about human sociality is really a lot about organizational culture, uh happiness and learning. But a lot of it's about organizational culture, I think of it as. And how we uh might act in ways 42:56 uh that don't optimize our culture in ways that make it sustainable or keep us resilient or keep us happy and motivated in organization or learning as much as we could. The individual stuff people also take out of this as well. The book is really written at the individual level for you to think about yourself and your own life and why we might just like we don't act maybe exercise as much as we ought to, why you might not be as social as you could. Thankfully, exercising sucks, it's unpleasant. So we all know that. 43:26 That's hard. reaching out and connecting with other people. know. I know. Thank you. But reaching out and connecting with other people is positive. know, like, you know, it's surprisingly positive. So that's an easy habit. That's an easy habit to make. So I talk a lot about how, you know, where these barriers come from and what you can do in my presentations, what you can do to turn these into habits to make your life consistently better, resiliently. 43:54 And then for connecting with me, do use LinkedIn. I don't use a lot of social media because it makes me miserable. But I do, I have been having fun a little bit recently using LinkedIn. So that's a way, but you can also email me. That's probably the easiest way. All right. So all of this will be in the show notes and, and your book, a little more social will be released on May 19th. There'll be a launch party. I believe it's, it's available on Amazon and bookshop. 44:23 and you have your own website. again, this will be provided in the show notes. Well, I like to do around the Robin lightning question, so my guests, all of my guests get to answer three questions. I'm passionate about resilience, purpose, and scalable or sustainable. And so I'd like to ask you, Professor Apley, what does resilience mean to you? It means being able to accept the negative things that happen in our life by 44:51 but by continuing to carry on with it. So one habit that I've picked up, I don't remember that I actually did it deliberately. I sign off all of my emails, typically, not always, but usually, and I type these out. This isn't like a form with onward. um And it's kind of a mantra I keep in my mind. uh Research is hard. There's a lot of failure. There's a lot of frustration. 45:21 Writing papers is hard, getting published is hard, speaking is hard, teaching is hard. It's all hard stuff. I mean, we're all doing lots of hard things, but they're those hard things. And there are lots of setbacks. And in academia, it gets personal because the ideas are yours, just like founders, right? These ideas are your baby. They are precious to you. And when they don't work or when they're threatened, that is hard and it's threatening. But you can't get mired in that. It's easy to get stuck in that. And so I try to... 45:50 This is just a little thing I do to keep myself focused on, all right, what's next? Now what? Onward. We're gonna carry on with this. That's resilience to me. I love it. Thank you. Purpose. What does purpose mean to you? Yeah, purpose is more, I think, the long run drive. Like, why am I doing this? um What's the meaning of my work? Which is usually not something you see right in the work itself. It is above the work. It's bigger than the work. It's what's in your personal responsibility statement, right? 46:21 My research is really oriented towards trying to identify wisdom, right? That's understanding. That's what all scientists try to do. We try to understand. I don't try to advocate. I don't tell you what to do. I try to figure out what the facts are as best I can. And so that concept of wisdom, for me, that's my purpose. Just to try to figure out wisdom. That's the long run goal, the high level goal. I think that is essential for me. It's also, it is perfectly aligned with 46:50 what I'm trying to do as a researcher. Amazing. So my second to last question, scalable or sustainable? can be anything. So scalable I struggle with. As a behavioral scientist, that is hard. It's hard to take individual stuff and increase it at scale, in part because the things that you do to increase something at scale are not the things you do to make an individual life better. So at scale, 47:18 You typically don't target people's beliefs. You navigate around them in some way. So you don't tell people they ought to play more with their neighbors. You build a playground. So they're different approaches. uh So scalable, I struggle with a little bit. try to, in my research, because I'm understanding individual minds, that's where I focus. And so I make it purposefully personal, our researches. Sustainable, though, 47:47 I think our research is really all about in many ways is that at the end of the day, at the end of our experiments are questions, dependent variables. And those dependent variables are typically these days about wellbeing, some measure of wellbeing and happiness. And that is the thing that you need for sustainability to keep things going, right? To sustain yourself. 48:17 is some positive reward. That's what sustains action. m And that's what our work focuses on, think, sustainability in part because for understanding social misunderstanding, the social misunderstanding creates friction. It ruins relationships, causes ah conflict and hostility, which is not itself sustainable. We're trying to encourage some insight into what the opposite would look 48:48 Last question, Professor Epley, did you have fun in the sandbox today? It's very fun, It's great seeing you, Brenda. Makes me regret I didn't do it uh the other times you asked, but it is a lot of work to write a book. It is exhausting. it leads my students to, my PhD students and postdoc doing research with me to contemplate homicide if I don't get to their paper soon. So anyway. Well, with that. 49:17 I let's sign off. You did enjoy yourself to my listeners. If you like this episode with Professor Epley, Nicholas Epley, sign up for the monthly release where founders, business owners and professionals um share their own experiences on building scalable, resilient, purpose-driven organizations, profits for good, and making the world a better place. So thank you until next month.

What keeps us from being more social? Nick Epley calls it a “mind-reading mistake.”We all think about what others think, particularly what they think about us. The problem, says Nick Epley, is that we're almost always wrong.Epley is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection. What keeps people from engaging authentically, connecting deeply, and enjoying a meaningful social life? It comes down to an error of social cognition, “A mind-reading mistake,” Epley says. “If I don't think you want to talk to me, I won't try. And I'll never find out that I'm wrong about that.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Epley and host Matt Abrahams explore why we hold ourselves back from meaningful conversation, and what happens when we don't. From taking an interest in others to sharing more freely about ourselves, Epley shares strategies for being a little more social — and making your life considerably better as a result.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Nick EpleyNick's Book: A Little More SocialEp.133 From Good to Super: How Supercommunicators Unlock the Language of Connection Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:31) - Problems with Body Language (04:15) - Perspective Getting (07:14) - Asking Better Questions (08:41) - Moving Beyond Small Talk (10:13) - Why We Hold Back (11:33) - Advice For Introverts (15:17) - A Little More Social (18:34) - The Final Three Questions (24:45) - Conclusion

Mass shootings in the Unites States are unprecedented in advanced industrial democracies. We explore the psychological impact of these shootings on the survivors and witnesses, with a particular attention to the children who experience this trauma. What are effective actions to confront the traumas experienced by the children who survive school shootings? Overwhelming the response of mass shootings is to “do something.” But what should we as a society and as an electorate do in response to these mass shootings? [ dur: 58mins. ] Karla Vermeulen is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health and an Associate Professor of Psychology at SUNY New Paltz.She is the author of Generation Disaster: Coming of Age Post-9/11 and co-editor of Disaster Mental Health Case Studies: Lessons Learned from Counseling in Chaos. Robin Gurwitch is a Professor in the Duke University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and is Senior Advisor for the Terrorism and Disaster Program of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. She is the co-author of Children in Disasters and Trauma-Directed Interaction (TDI): An Adaptation to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Families with a History of Trauma. Resource – National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Talking to children about shooting. Heather Littleton is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Colorado, at Colorado Springs, and Research Director at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience. She is the co-author of “PTSD near and far: Symptom networks from two to 12 months after the Virginia Tech campus shootings.” And “Can people benefit from acute stress? Social support, psychological improvement, and resilience after the Virginia Tech campus shootings” as well as numerous publications on sexual violence and the trauma of the LGBTQI+ community. More resources are available at: https://www.newpaltz.edu/idmh/ https://www.nctsn.org/resources/talking-children-about-shooting This panel was recorded on June, 2022. This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker, Melissa Chiprin and Sudd Dongre. Health, Society and Culture, Mental Health, Childhood, Schools 

Nick Epley, psychologist, Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, and author of A Little More Social, joins me on this episode. Nick studies social cognition—how thinking people think about other thinking people—to understand why smart people so routinely misunderstand each other. His research has appeared in more than two dozen empirical journals and has been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Wired, and NPR, among many others. His work has also been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Templeton Foundation.

What if the psychologist sitting across from you has faced the very same darkness she's spent 40 years helping others through? In episode 261 of Joy Found Here, Dr. Celeste Birkhofer — Stanford faculty member and author of the forthcoming Beyond Quick Fixes — opens up about her own mental health struggles and the devastating loss of her son to bipolar disorder, and why she believes mental health isn't a luxury — it's a lifeline.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(3:14) How Dr. Celeste's own struggles with depression and disordered eating led her to psychology(5:00) The loss of her son to bipolar disorder and how it deepened her mission(7:47) The "false self" — why high-achievers often struggle most beneath the surface(11:20) How social media is fueling the mental health crisis in young people(13:15) Three strategies for navigating comparison: inspiration, self-compassion, and gratitude(33:21) A practical framework of self-awareness, curiosity, and compassion for when you're struggling(37:32) What emotional intelligence is — and why it matters as much as raw brain power(43:11) Why grief comes in waves and the danger of avoiding hard feelings(46:54) Why resilience must be earned through difficulty — it can't be givenDr. Celeste Birkhofer (PhD, PsyD) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 40 years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and addiction. She serves as Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Stanford Medical School's Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, sits on the Clinical Advisory Board for the JED Foundation, and is an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine. She is also the author of the upcoming Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Inner Resources for Good Mental Health and a Fulfilling Life (September 1, 2026). In this episode, Dr. Celeste Birkhofer draws on both clinical expertise and personal experience — including her own struggles with depression and disordered eating, and the loss of her son to bipolar disorder — to explore what it truly takes to prioritize mental health. She unpacks the "false self" syndrome driven by social media, shares three strategies for handling comparison (inspiration, self-compassion, and gratitude), and offers a practical framework of self-awareness, curiosity, and compassion for anyone in a tough place. She also breaks down emotional intelligence, explains why resilience must be built through difficulty rather than avoided, and closes with a powerful reminder that the brain is neuroplastic — growth is always possible.Connect with Dr. Celeste Birkhofer:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailThe fitness industry makes money when you fail. Troy Taylor spent 20 years at the top of Olympic sport, and now he's the reason Tonal keeps 99% of its members while the rest of the industry churns through them like a revolving door.He and Kevin don't talk about motivation. They talk about why motivation is the wrong thing to chase, what the actual data says about how people build a training habit that sticks, and why everything you've been told about starting a fitness program is probably backwards."It doesn't matter whether you start high or low. What mattered was a little more in week two, a little more in week three, a little more in week four."Troy worked with Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. The thing that made them exceptional? They showed up more than everyone else and worked on the things they were bad at. That's it. No secret sauce.The same principle wrecks most people's January gym resolution, and the data proves it.This one covers the behavioral science behind exercise adherence, why your first week should be embarrassingly easy, how an hour a week of lifting might be all you need, and what a VP of Performance Innovation actually does when he has 10 minutes and a deadline.Find Troy at @StrengthScienceTroy on Instagram and learn more about Tonal at tonal.com.Instagram: @kevinwhitemdYouTube: @kevinwhitemd Prime Health Associates

Psychedelic therapy is rapidly gaining traction as a promising approach for addressing substance use disorders—from alcohol and opioids to nicotine and beyond. This session will explore how psychedelic compounds like ibogaine, ketamine, and psilocybin may help interrupt compulsive cycles, uncover root causes of addiction, and support sustained recovery. Featuring Dr. Nathan Sackett of the UW Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry, this conversation will examine how pairing psychedelic compounds with evidence-based behavioral interventions could transform the treatment of addiction. Drawing on his team's cautious, research-driven approach, Dr. Sackett will discuss what's known, what remains to be discovered, and how rigorous clinical study can help bring safe, effective psychedelic-assisted therapies to those who need them most. Nathan Sackett, MD, MS, is an addiction psychiatrist and Founding Director of the UW Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry. He completed medical and nursing school at UCSF, graduate studies at UC Berkeley, and residency and fellowship training in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry at the University of Washington, where he is now a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His research explores how psychedelics can enhance psychotherapy and support lasting behavioral change. __ Psychedelic Salon: Cultivating Conscious Connections Join Seattle-based psychedelics educator and podcast host April Pride in a dynamic series co-produced with Town Hall Seattle. Psychedelic Salon explores the transformative potential of psychedelic medicines through engaging conversations, expert panels, and interactive community discussions. Rooted in scientific evidence, each event highlights unique themes—including grief, seniors, menopause, and more—emphasizing their role in mental health, spiritual growth, and personal optimization. Designed to be inclusive and insightful, this series invites attendees of all backgrounds to discover how psychedelics can foster profound connections, healing, and well-being. About April Pride April Pride is a Seattle-based creative entrepreneur and harm reduction advocate with over two decades of experience building brands at the intersection of lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, and women's health. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, and The Guardian. April is the founder of SetSet, the world's first clinician-approved woman-focused platform for safe, accessible psychedelic integration. To learn more, follow April on Substack – aprilpride.substack.com Presented by Town Hall Seattle and SetSet.  

April is the creator of Weird Spooky Storytime and the spooky girl persona @spookygirl831. With a B.A. in Social & Behavioral Science and a passion for research, April began diving into local history, folklore, legends, and paranormal stories throughout Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas. What started as late-night research rabbit holes eventually turned into creating videos about the strange and unexplained stories she was uncovering, and she never looked back. Fascinated by the paranormal for as long as she can remember, stepping into the world of spooky storytelling came very naturally, blending her love of research, local history, and all things weird and unexplained.

Welcome to episode #1035 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a time when marketers have more data, more technology and more precision than ever before… consumer trust, attention and loyalty somehow feel more fragile than ever. Few people are exploring that paradox more deeply than MichaelAaron Flicker. An entrepreneur who started his company at just fourteen years old, Michael has spent years studying the intersection of marketing, behavioral science and human decision-making (he runs an agency, vventure capital firm and leads several other businesses). His book, Hacking The Human Mind - The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 Of The World's Best Brands (along with co-author Richard Shotton), examines how brands shape perception, influence behavior and build emotional resonance… often in ways consumers barely recognize. In this conversation, Michael and I explore the growing divide inside modern marketing itself… between performance-driven optimization and the enduring power of emotional storytelling. We unpack how AI, algorithms and recommendation systems are quietly reshaping consumer agency, why the illusion of choice may be more powerful than choice itself, and how platforms increasingly mediate not just what we buy… but how we think. Michael (who also has a great podcast, The Consumer Behavior Lab) argues that while technology has evolved dramatically, human behavior has not. Scarcity, status, social proof, storytelling and emotional connection still shape our decisions… even when we believe we're acting rationally. We also discuss the dangerous temptation for marketers to chase short-term metrics while neglecting the deeper work of building lasting brand value, trust and cultural meaning. Along the way, we get into Amazon's invisible persuasion architecture, why many direct-to-consumer brands plateau, the ethical tension between persuasion and manipulation, and how AI may transform marketing from an art form into an escalating behavioral arms race. What emerges is a fascinating conversation about power, psychology and the increasingly intimate systems shaping modern commerce… and whether brands still truly understand the humans they're trying to reach. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 1:00:58. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with MichaelAaron Flicker. Hacking The Human Mind - The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 Of The World's Best Brands. The Consumer Behavior Lab. Richard Shotton. Xenopsi. Follow MichaelAaron on LinkedIn. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction to Marketing and Behavioral Science. (03:03) - The Paradox of Modern Marketing. (06:02) - The Role of AI in Consumer Decision Making. (09:00) - The Illusion of Choice in E-commerce. (12:05) - The Evolution of Marketing Metrics. (15:07) - The Changing Landscape of Brand Power. (18:12) - Understanding Human Behavior in Marketing. (20:59) - The Symbiotic Relationship Between Brands and Platforms. (24:02) - The Impact of Globalization on Consumer Choices. (33:28) - Brand Value and Consumer Loyalty. (38:16) - The Importance of Services in Marketing. (41:39) - Case Studies and Anomalies in Brand Success. (50:24) - The Role of AI in Marketing and Persuasion. (57:51) - The Shift to the Intimacy Economy.

Today's guest is Roberta Katz, Liz's faculty advisor at Stanford last year. Roberta is so fun to talk to. She's a senior research scholar at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford and a PhD Anthropologist. She is the author of the book Gen Z, Explained, a project she describes to Liz as a "second glass of wine idea." Roberta also holds as a law degree, and was previously the General Counsel of McCaw Cellular Corporation (now AT&T Wireless) and then of Netscape Corporation. From 2004 to 2017, she served under Stanford University Presidents John Hennessy and Marc Tessier-Lavigne as the Associate Vice president for Strategic Planning at Stanford.Sponsor:Welcome to our new sponsor Stanford Federal Credit Union. To use their $625 New Member offer, go to sfcu.org/liznessHOMEWORK: For more on Roberta Katz and her research on Gen Z, here are links to her book and a couple of podcast interviews:Book: GenZ Explained - The Art of Living in a Digital Age by Roberta Katz, Sarah Ogilvie, Jane Shaw and Linda WoodheadPodcast Interview: 4 Quarter Lives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8r7TNxyxw4The Minor Consult from Stanford MedicineIntergenerational anthropological field work recommended by Leah! Talk to a Gen Z or Millennial in your life, ask them what's going on and how they feel about it. Tell them about the upheavals that you remember from growing up and how you felt and how you processed.Find an activity that occurs on a semi-regular basis that you can join, like a book club or art class or whatever, that puts you around folks of all ages. If you are new to Lizness School, we suggest you listen to Season 1 to hear all about Liz's year as a Stanford Fellow. Everything from Neuroscience and Chinese History to Pickleball! Plus a great community experience with her fellow DCI Fellows.Season 2 is about how she puts her lessons to work in the wild with the help of her millennial mentor Leah Sutherland.To listen to Liz +. Leah's recap of Lizness School Season 1, go to our FINALE here.For more on Liz Dolan, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on Liz's work in podcasting, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Satellite Sisters⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Lizness School on all podcasting platforms including ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠⁠On Instagram, follow the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/liznessschool/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow Liz at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/satellitesisterliz/⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow Producer and Millennial Mentor Leah Sutherland @leahhsutherlandd on Instagram and Leah Sutherland on LinkedIn. To email Lizness School with your own voice memos/questions/thoughts/suggestions for Liz or Leah, use ⁠⁠⁠⁠liznessschool@gmail.comThe Distinguished Careers Institute is a unique program for late career people. Fellows are graduate students at Stanford University, able to take classes in any area. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete information here.⁠⁠⁠⁠Email the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠liznessschool@gmail.com ⁠See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when workplace culture stops being a program and starts becoming a pattern of connection? Nikki sits down with Dr. Iain Smith, Head of Behavioral Science at Sunny, to unpack why connection is not just a nice-to-have at work, but the foundation for meaningful, sustainable performance. Together, they explore why culture is better understood through behavior, rhythms, and relationships than through buzzwords alone. Dr. Smith shares fresh insights on digital overload, team vibrancy, Gen Z loneliness at work, and why leaders need to stop relying on more tools and start designing better ways for people to connect, contribute, and thrive. From rituals and team energy to the realities of hybrid work, this conversation is a powerful reminder that when connection comes first, culture follows. If you care about people-first leadership and building workplaces that actually work for humans, this one will stay with you.   Additional Resources: Connect with Iain on LinkedIn Learn more about Sunny Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube! Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network   Nikki's Key Takeaways: Culture reflects behaviors, not abstract values. Connection is designed through rhythms and rituals. Digital overload weakens depth, not communication frequency. Team energy is everyone's shared responsibility. Young leaders need support, practice, and real connection.  

The secret to better communication isn't adding more—it's knowing what to leave out.Communication isn't clearer when you say more — it's clearer when you say less. As David Epstein puts it, we're wired to keep adding, even when “the better solution is often what you take away.” The challenge isn't having ideas; it's choosing which one actually matters.Epstein is an author and investigative journalist known for his New York Times bestseller Range. In his latest book, Inside the Box, he explores how constraints can sharpen creativity and elevate thinking, a theme that reflects his broader work at the intersection of psychology, performance, and innovation. “If you assume someone will only remember one thing,” he explains, “decide what that is before you start talking.” That simple constraint forces clarity — and changes how we communicate entirely.In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Epstein and host Matt Abrahams unpack why limits make us better communicators and thinkers. From the dangers of “featuritis” to the creative breakthroughs sparked by restriction, they explore how blocking familiar paths leads to more original ideas and communication. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:David EpsteinDavid's Book: Inside the BoxEp.108 All In: How Improv Helps You Show Up and Communicate Well Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:18) - Featuritis & Overload (03:57) - Constraints & Creativity (08:07) - Chunking Information (09:28) - Familiarity & Innovation (10:30) - Clarifying Through Feedback (13:01) - Defining the Problem (14:23) - Precluding Default Approaches (16:03) - The Final Three Questions (23:12) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.Unleash your Superhuman potential with AI that meets you where you work. Learn more at superhuman.comJoin our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

Frederick S. Barrett, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, talks about the use of psychedelics for mental illness and the effects of President Trump's executive order speeding up research. Photo: Tabernanthe iboga, a shrub with hallucinogenic properties, grows in Cameroon. (Credit: Marco Schmidt via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.5)

President Trump has signed an executive order in support of research into whether psychedelic drugs could be used in mental health treatments. On Today's Show:Frederick S. Barrett, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and professor of the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, talks about the use of psychedelics for mental illness and the effects of President Trump's executive order speeding up research.

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