Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Marcus Buckingham joins us to challenge the belief that success comes from doing what you’re good at. Using decades of research, he argues that what truly drives performance and fulfillment is something else entirely: love. In this episode, we explore why most workplace strategies miss the mark and how focusing on what gives you energy can reshape the way you think about work, and maybe even life.

Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Marcus Buckingham

[11:17] The Science of Excellence

[17:53] The Importance of Love in Business

[22:04] Experiences → Behaviors → Outcomes

[32:03] The Myth of Linear Improvement

[40:25] The Five Feelings of Love

[1:00:49] Red Threads and Experience Intelligence

[1:08:18] The Role of AI in Designing Love

[1:11:30] Why You Shouldn’t Go to a Coldplay Concert

[1:18:43] Disney’s Approach to Experience Design

[1:30:19] Grooving Session: The Power of Love in Work

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Marcus

The Buckingham Institute 

Design Love In by Marcus Buckingham

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Musical Links
Coldplay - Fix You

Coldplay - Violet Hill (Live)

What does it mean to truly “click” with someone—and why does it matter so much at work? With researcher Maya Rossignac-Milon, we explore the science of shared reality and how authentic, off-script interactions lead to stronger relationships, greater meaning, and better performance. This episode reframes connection not as a bonus, but as a core driver of success.

Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Maya Rossignac-Milon

[10:11] Defining Shared Reality

[14:43] Reality and Work Performance

[19:22] How Shared Reality Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

[24:28] Research and Collaboration

[27:41] The Benefits of Riffing

[37:29] Shared Reality and Romantic Partners

[42:32] Fighting a Culture of Individualism

[50:20] Desert Island Music

[54:20] Grooving Session: Finding Alignment and Making Connections

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Maya

Measuring Shared Reality

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Music Links
Gunnar Haslam - Kenosha

Basic Channel - Phylyps Trak

Are nudges enough to change behavior at scale? Nick Chater argues they’re not. In this episode, we explore the limits of individual-focused solutions and why lasting change often requires shifting systems, not just choices.

Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Nick Chater

[13:00] What Does Nudging Really Do?

[18:30] I-Frame vs S-Frame Thinking

[25:00] Nudges and Politics

[28:09] Limitations in Public

[33:39] System vs Individual Responsibilities

[42:04] Case Study: Retirement Saving Systems

[49:01] Are We Solving the Right Problems?

[55:00] Can We Fix Broken Systems?

[1:00:06] Green Eggs and Ham - a Solution

[1:06:12] Desert Island Music

[1:09:20] Grooving Session: Systemic Issues, Evolutionary Tendencies

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Nick

It’s On You by Nick Chater and George Lowenstein 

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Music Links
Bach - Mass in B Minor

John McLaughlin - Stella by Starlight/My Favourite Things

AI pioneer Sandy Pentland joins us to explore how storytelling and shared wisdom shape human culture, and how artificial intelligence could either strengthen or freeze that process. From the history of AI to the future of democracy, we discuss collective intelligence, distributed decision-making, and how AI tools might actually improve civic dialogue if designed the right way.

Topics
[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Sandy Pentland

[8:09] Could AI make society less intelligent?

[12:21] What “shared wisdom” really means

[18:28] Culture, stories, and how societies evolve

[23:50] Information overload in the digital age

[30:23] Why shared goals (a “North Star”) matter for progress

[34:10] The history of AI: booms, winters, and lessons learned

[42:46] Can AI improve democracy?

[49:13] The danger of algorithmic “rich get richer” systems

[54:19] Grooving Session: storytelling, culture, and collective intelligence

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Sandy

Shared Wisdom: Cultural Evolution in the Age of AI by Sandy Pentland

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Musical Links
Devo - Whip It

Flight of the Conchords - Robots (The Humans Are Dead)

What truly helps people live longer, healthier lives? In this episode, we talk with journalist and author Ken Stern about the science behind longevity and why social connection may matter more than diet or exercise alone. From loneliness being compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day to cultures that keep older adults engaged through work and community, we explore how purpose, relationships, and social structures shape healthy aging.

Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Stern

[6:47] Big Cities vs Rural Living and Life Expectancy

[10:22] Are We Overvaluing Diet and Exercise?

[16:34] Why Loneliness Is Worse in the U.S.

[23:35] The Blue Zones Debate

[26:18] How to Build Stronger Social Connections

[30:25] Rethinking Retirement and Purpose

[40:28] Why Generational Mixing Matters

[44:41] Intergenerational Communities and Empathy

[53:50] Desert Island Music

[58:11] Grooving Session: How to Live Your Best (and Longest) Life

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Ken

The Longevity Project

Healthy to 100 by Ken Stern

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Musical Links
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark

U2 - With or Without You