Dive into the minds of Kurt and Tim as they spotlight the must-read behavioral science books of 2023. From navigating uncertainty to mastering effective communication, these curated gems promise fresh insights and transformative perspectives. Join the conversation and enrich your understanding of human behavior with this insightful guide to the top reads of the year.

Huggy Rao joins Kurt and Tim to emphasize the need for clear and transparent communication to escape the wearisome trap of workspeak, termed ”jargon monoxide.” The conversation concludes with Kurt and Tim exploring strategies for reframing friction as an opportunity for improvement rather than a hindrance.

Dive into the transformative world of confidence with Lisa Sun in this episode. Discover the mindset superpowers that empower leadership, achievement, and self-belief. Join Tim and Kurt as they explore gender differences, societal perspectives, and practical strategies for building unwavering confidence.

Delve into the world of behavioral science with Kurt and researcher Adam Mastroianni as they explore its history, current state, and future possibilities. Uncover hidden truths, challenge assumptions about academia, and spark innovation in this thought-provoking conversation. Is risk-taking the key to progress, and how does our academic system play a role? Join us for a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of behavioral science.

Join sociologist Michelle Lamont, Tim, and Kurt as they explore pressing societal issues from tribalism to media polarization. Lamont offers expert insights and inspires change by discussing the transformative power of reframing narratives to cultivate hope. Dive into a conversation challenging stereotypes, promoting a society where everyone feels valued. Don’t miss the Grooving Session, where Tim and Kurt encourage listeners to strengthen the recognition of our shared humanity. Tune in for a...

Feel your attention drifting? Learn to be present with Kurt and Tim as they explore shrinking attention spans with researcher Gloria Mark. In this attention-grabbing episode, witness the evolution of brains and behavior in today’s distracting world. It’s a journey into our evolving minds, offering practical tips to thrive in an era where distraction seems inevitable.

Todd Rogers, co-author of ”Writing for Busy Readers,” joins Tim and Kurt to discuss the game-changing principles for effective written communication in the digital age. Gain insights into leveraging powerful writing techniques for goal achievement, overcoming common challenges, and staying abreast of evolving trends shaped by social media. Join the discussion on mastering impactful communication and discover practical strategies for navigating the complexities of contemporary writing.

Communication is a vital skill we all use, but do we truly understand its profound impact on our lives? Join us as we engage in a captivating conversation with communication expert Matt Abrahams. Matt, an accomplished author, educator, and co-host of ”Think Fast, Talk Smart,” takes us on a journey into the heart of effective communication. Discover the secrets to spontaneous speaking, hone your communication skills with practical insights, and learn to conquer anxiety.

We all know we need a good night’s sleep but sleep researcher, David Creswell PhD has studied how our performance is actually affected by sleep. He has even found a predictive correlation between student’s college GPA scores and their sleep duration.

Connect behavioral science theory and research to practical applications. Connor Joyce founded the Applied Behavioral Science Association and he shares his perspectives on different behavioral science roles.

What life habits help keep our brain healthy? How does our mind respond to trauma? And why does the way we talk about suicide and depression make such a difference to those who are struggling with their mental health? We discuss all these topics with neuroscience researcher Dr Daniel Almeida

Why is work so difficult for so many of us? Why are we not connected to the organization in ways to help us advance our careers and garner the best assignments? Dr. Michelle P. King is a researcher and author who answers these questions and more. She joins us to discuss strategies from her book, “How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself.”

“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Are you tired of that ditty? We are. How are you supposed to know what you love if we don’t 100% know who we are?

Conscientiousness, perseverance and meticulousness are all words associated with perfectionism. But perfectionism comes from a deeper sense of inadequacy, of not feeling good enough. Constantly striving to prove yourself leads to anxiety, depression and burnout. Researcher Thomas Curran describes perfectionism in detail, why it’s getting worse and what we can do about it.

Doing, doing, doing. We can get stuck in a perpetual state of busyness to get things done. But being in a chronic “performance zone” can lead to stagnation over time. The “learning zone”, however, is when we take a step back to reflect on our experiences and look for ways to improve. That’s where a growth mindset comes in - actually believing that we can get better.

Volunteering improves psychological well-being. Team Rubicon has researched this positive effect, not just on the communities it serves, but also on the well-being of its 170,000 volunteers. The organization applies military expertise and speed to provide fast response and social support to those who have suffered a disaster. We learn from David Burke and Patti Norberg about the many benefits they have found with volunteering.

We all want to feel significant. This drive for significance ultimately fuels all of our cognition, emotions, and actions. Distinguished psychologist Arie Kruglanski discusses motivation versus cognition, goal systems, radicalization, and his recent work on the quest for significance.

Learning is like exercise. Once you develop a healthy habit, you need to keep going! But how do you foster a learning culture in your organization? Sarah Nicholl addresses the role of leadership, AI, context and habit formation in this discussion about her book “Learning Habits”.

Human decision making is not perfectly rational. There can, in fact, be benefits to the biases we hold. Lionel Page PhD discusses rationality, completeness, and how humans make decisions based on anticipated utility and loss aversion.

How can we make better choices today to benefit our future selves? Hal Hershfield outlines strategies like visualizing your future self, writing letters, making commitments, and recognizing that your preferences will change over time.

The ”cult of never enough” encourages the belief that more money, possessions and achievements will make us happy. But Manisha Thakor has learnt through personal experience that emotional wealth is more important than financial wealth. Listen to learn how to redefine your success.

The world of applied behavioral science has never been better. So how do you get your foot in the door to have a career in the field? You may be surprised to learn that it doesn’t have to involve achieving a PhD. Merle van den Akker discusses her career journey from academia into the corporate world, and what we can learn from it.

Peter Atwater discusses his ideas around confidence, certainty and control as key factors that determine how we feel. He explains The Confidence Map framework and how our horizon preferences change based on our level of confidence.

Splashy headlines, sensational findings and world-first results grab our attention but they also leave us vulnerable to deception. Constantly being skeptical of research is an impractical stance, so how do we avoid being fooled by fraud? Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris tell us exactly how.

Between disinformation and misinformation, it’s difficult to know what and who to trust, especially during a crisis. When disaster does strike, it is critical that scientific information is communicated clearly. Oceanographer Christopher Reddy discusses his experiences relaying vital information during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.