Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Throwback Thursday: The Myth of the "Relationship Spark" | Logan Ury

Love is in the air this Valentine's Day...or is that science? Today, we're throwing it back to 2021, when we had the privilege of chatting with Logan Ury, Director of Relationship Science at Hinge, about the challenges people face in modern dating. From getting ready for a first date to maintaining a relationship long term, Logan gives us valuable insights and advice on how to overcome common hurdles and make the most out of each stage or the dating life.  So, the question of the day is - are you a maximizer, satisficer, or romanticizer? Tune in to find out.  Links About Logan [https://www.loganury.com/] How Not to Die Alone by Logan Ury [https://amzn.to/3rNowqu] Music Links Hamilton - Satisfied [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Dl0uZhPvs&list=RDH7Dl0uZhPvs&start_radio=1] Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9nt5IHGVmQ&list=PL1MmSFklByDBhEcojNsGKzCG2bhE8P2Qw]

What Dating Apps Miss About Attraction | Paul Eastwick

You think you know what you want in a partner, but behavioral science says attraction doesn’t work that way. Relationship scientist Paul Eastwick breaks down why dating apps and checklists fail, how attraction actually forms, and why real compatibility grows through interaction, timing, and shared history. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Paul Eastwick [8:21] Why dating checklists and apps fail us [14:45] The myth of universal attractiveness [21:03] How attraction develops over time [27:29] Is “love at first sight” a lie? [38:13] The ‘best’ way to meet people [47:04] The Stroop effect [54:50] Attraction, identity, and history [1:01:11] Desert island music picks [1:03:55] Grooving session: trust, attraction, and relationships beyond dating ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Paul Eastwick [https://pauleastwick.com/pauleastwick] Love Factually [https://www.lovefactuallypod.com/] Bonded by Evolution by Paul Eastwick [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723049/bonded-by-evolution-by-paul-eastwick/] Join us on Substack! [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/] Join the Behavioral Grooves community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025501742354651] Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@behavioralgrooves] Support Behavioral Grooves [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fbgpodcast.substack.com%2F] Music Links Pink Floyd - Hey You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPrte-OhUh4&start_radio=1] Nobuo Uematsu - One Winged Angel [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzQE_7mn8ts&start_radio=1]

How Small Phrases Make Big Impacts | James Geary

Why do certain phrases stay with us for life? In this episode, were joined by James Geary, author of The World in a Phrase, to explore how aphorisms shape judgment, decision-making, and meaning. From fortune cookies to philosophy, they unpack why short sayings act as cognitive heuristics, how they guide thinking without giving answers, and why the aphorisms that serve us best often change over time, just as we do. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with James Geary [7:30] The Laws of Aphorisms [13:45] Finding Wisdom in Unexpected Places [21:07] Aphorisms as Cognitive Heuristics [29:51] The Role of Aphorisms in Decision-Making [35:00] How Aphorisms Can Match Life Stages [42:30] How We Can Apply Aphorisms to Daily Life [48:06] What Do Aphorisms Mean for Me? [59:00] Grooving Session: The World in a Phrase ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About James [https://jamesgeary.com/] The World in a Phrase [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-world-in-a-phrase-a-brief-history-of-the-aphorism-second-edition-james-geary/e2e9f3ea7fc16d67?ean=9780226838601&next=t&next=t] Join us on Substack! [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/] Join the Behavioral Grooves community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025501742354651] Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@behavioralgrooves] Support Behavioral Grooves [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fbgpodcast.substack.com%2F] Musical Links Leonard Cohen - Anthem [https://youtu.be/1jzl0NlTmzY?si=O93HcHTBv_Y5glFA] Paul Simon - Everything Put Together Falls Apart [https://youtu.be/E1dMPwSfHmg?si=PUVlRGXvJGWL-Cz8]

Finding Common Ground

This Grooving Session feels personal for us. We’re combining our own experiences with behavioral science to explore why civil discourse seems so fragile right now. Over the weekend, tensions rose as ICE activity increased in Minneapolis, and Kurt’s neighborhood was deeply affected. When political tension is high, factors such as fear, proximity to events, and social identity can worsen polarization. It’s easy to forget that we have more in common than we think. We’re here to support you, and we hope this episode gives you practical ways to engage. By slowing down, avoiding online dogpiles, and starting with the question, “What do we agree on?” We can start rebuilding a sense of shared reality. Links Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid [https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/official-migrant-solidarity-mutual-aid-network?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadQUShOb97wJBTGgcltsoqrFlPUOqOot5xkai424UeX1LY_OY-uumm5hbjCbQ_aem_3yqdqwBg9cz2TubHymNB2Q] Just Neighbors [https://www.justneighbors.org/] Music Links Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis [http://youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w&feature=youtu.be]

Why Rational People Make Irrational Choices | Alex Imas

Why do smart people keep making predictably bad decisions? Behavioral economist Alex Imas joins us to unpack The Winner’s Curse, loss aversion, and the persistent biases that shape markets, policy, and everyday choices. We explore why classic economic models fall short and what behavioral economics reveals about how humans really decide. Topics [0:00] Introduction and speed round with Alex Imas [11:55] The Winner’s Curse and its implications [21:13] Behavioral economics and standard economic matters [28:01] Loss aversion and decision-making [35:04] Behavioral economics in policy and law [41:00] Tom Sawyer economics [47:30] Social media, attention, and exploitation of bias [56:38] The importance of cooperation and social systems [58:40] New music in 2026 [1:07:53] Grooving session: framing, preferences, and happiness ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links The Winner’s Curse by Richard Thaler and Alex Imas [https://www.amazon.com/Winners-Curse-Behavioral-Economics-Anomalies/dp/1982165111] About Alex [https://www.aleximas.com/] Join us on Substack! [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/] Join the Behavioral Grooves community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025501742354651] Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@behavioralgrooves] Support Behavioral Grooves [https://bgpodcast.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fbgpodcast.substack.com%2F] Musical Links Fontaines DC - I Love You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty9Pcg3qrmU&start_radio=1] ALEXSUCKS - The Gutter [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAYQhuTQt0E&start_radio=1]