Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Finding Common Ground: When Persuasion Fails and Belief Takes Over

In this special Grooving session, we unpack what happens when shared facts collapse and preferred beliefs take their place. Sparked by Kurt's firsthand experience during unrest in Minneapolis, this conversation explores why people reject lived experience, how identity defense and motivated reasoning shut down dialogue, and when it’s rational to stop trying to persuade altogether. Drawing on behavioral science, persuasion research, and real-world encounters, we examine how to choose your battles, why stories succeed where arguments fail, and what it actually takes to find common ground in a belief-first world.

Primal Dating: What Modern Romance Gets Wrong | Tim Ash

Dating in 2026 feels broken.  The apps promise infinite choice, rom-coms on our screens promise “the one”, and yet frustration, ghosting, and mismatched expectations seem to be more normal than anything actually working out. This week, Tim Ash, author of Primal Dating, joins us as we explore why dating in the modern world feels so unstable and why many of today’s relationship struggles aren’t personal failures, but predictable outcomes of our ancient instincts clashing with modern environments and expectations. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Tim Ash [7:52] Behavioral tendencies and evolutionary psychology [18:09] The role of life stages in dating [26:17] The impact of cultural norms on dating [30:51] The economic of dating [35:48] The role of tech in dating [48:33] The importance of empathy in dating [56:58] Music talk with Tim and Tim [1:00:45] Grooving Session: Modern dating for primordial (?) minds ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Tim [https://timash.com/] Primal Dating by Tim Ash and Dr. Limor Gottlieb [https://primaldating.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] Music Links Steely Dan - FM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdoCQn_Tjac&list=RDwdoCQn_Tjac&start_radio=1] Chet Baker - Almost Blue [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5l0jkC71Yk&list=RDI5l0jkC71Yk&start_radio=1]

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]