Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Why would a CEO’s casual comment send a business scrambling? This week, we’re exploring how power, identity, and accountability shape the way we work and connect with others. Leadership coach and author Aiko Bethea joins us to unpack the gap between impact and intention, create safer workplaces where people can grow and make mistakes, and share practical ways to slow down, examine our values, and listen for connection.

Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Aiko Bethea

[10:08] Is accountability the same as punishment?

[16:22] Power, identity, and the accountability gap

[25:01] How to understand the impact we have on others

[32:13] The ham story: Why do we keep doing things this way?

[37:53] Why pumping the brakes takes more energy

[43:08] Critical curiosity as a form of accountability

[50:07] Kintsugi: Repairing relationships with gold

[55:52] Desert island picks

[59:14] Grooving session: What we learned about power

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Aiko

Anchored, Aligned, Accountable by Aiko Bethea

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Support Behavioral Grooves

Music Links
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5

Prince - Fury

Why are we becoming more divided, and how are AI and social media changing the way we relate to one another? Social psychologist Jay van Bavel, co-author of The Power of Us, explores the psychology of outrage, AI sycophancy, social identity, and the hidden costs of digital connection. Discover how leaders and organizations can rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and create healthier social norms.

Topics
[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Jay van Bavel

[13:12] Why Are We So Mean to Each Other Online?

[18:17] How Social Media Algorithms Reward Outrage

[22:31] How Online Behavior Changes Our Perception of Social Norms

[27:59] Is AI Making Us Worse at Relationships?

[34:41] The Hidden Social Costs of Remote Work and AI

[39:16] Why Individual Solutions Aren’t Enough

[43:46] Can We Push Back Against Technology’s Influence?

[46:45] What Leaders Can Do to Rebuild Human Connection

[50:56] The Time Jay Taught a Class From a Stuck Elevator

[56:00] Desert Island Music

[1:01:34] Grooving Sessions: Group Identity and Authenticity

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
About Jay

The Power of Us by Jay van Bavel and Dominic J. Packer

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Join the Behavioral Grooves community

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Support Behavioral Grooves

Music Links
Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

Radiohead - Burn the Witch

"My vote doesn't count."

Or does it?

Millions of people vote when the odds of their individual vote are a drop in the bucket, so why do we feel the need to do it? In this special mini-episode ahead of the US Midterm Elections, we explore the science behind voter turnout and the surprising power of social pressure.

So, how much of our decision to vote comes from what we believe, and how much comes from the groups we belong to and the expectations of those around us? We unpack what this reveals about human behavior and why the same social forces influence everything from volunteering to recycling.

The last day to vote is Tuesday, November 3rd. Make sure your voice is heard.

Happy Halloween! We're throwing it back as we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.”

Topics
[0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves!

[2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality

[6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions

[9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives

[14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder

[16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Links
Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition. 

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Music Links
Stevie Wonder - Superstition 

Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

Behavioral Grooves HQ is busy this week, so please enjoy a continuation of our recent conversation on habits with a throwback episode with Monica Reinagel. Please enjoy, and we'll be back with new content soon!

What if the secret to healthier habits has less to do with willpower and more to do with your surroundings? If you’ve ever hidden Oreos from yourself or struggled to stick to a diet, nutrition expert Monica Reinagel joins Kurt and Tim to explain why your environment may be sabotaging your goals, and how small changes can make healthy choices easier.

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Topics
[0:00] Oreo habits and environmental adjustments

[9:22] Introduction and speed round

[13:50] Are New Year’s Resolutions bad?

[20:08] Eating, emotions, and environment

[24:32] From opera singer to nutritionist – finding your passions

[31:35] How we can look at nutrition through behavioral science

[38:30] Tracking nutrition with the Nutrition GPA App

[45:00] Desert island music

[51:32] Grooving Session: influencing behavior by changing your environment

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Links
Behavioral Grooves Facebook Group!

Nutrition GPA app

Monica on Instagram

Change Academy Podcast

Music Links
Bach - Spirits of Meditation - Suite #5 Aria

Mozart - Symphony No. 40 in G minor