Throwback Thursday: The Secret Key to Decision-Making | Emily Falk

Throwback Thursday: The Secret Key to Decision-Making | Emily Falk

In keeping with our themes of mattering, meaning, and connection this June, we wanted to reshare a conversation with had with author Emily Falk. In this conversation, we decode what goes on behind the scenes with our decisions - everything from what to eat for breakfast to how to respond to trolls on social media - and how emotional, rational, and social information is integrated by the brain to guide our choices. Emily's book is now available on paperback wherever you get your favorite reads.  ©20256 Behavioral Grooves Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Emily Falk [8:29] Understanding Value Calculations [12:58] Research Methods and fMRI [18:01] Self-Relevance and Social Relevance Systems [28:41] Defensiveness and Social Norms [40:49] The Importance of Being "In Sync" [58:17] The Role or Music in Self/Social Relevance [1:07:45] Grooving Session: Communication, Social Norms, and Behavioral Science at Work ©2025 Behavioral Grooves Links About Emily [https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/emily-falk-phd] What We Value by Emily Falk [https://www.amazon.com/What-We-Value-Neuroscience-Choice/dp/1324130717/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0]

The Common Trap Companies Fall For | Phil Le-Brun & Jana Werner

Why do smart organizations become slow, bureaucratic, and resistant to change? Phil Le-Brun and Jana Werner, authors of The Octopus Organization, explore why so many companies fall into the trap of becoming “Tin Man Organizations” and what leaders can do instead. We discuss distributed decision-making, psychological safety, incentives, organizational learning, and why adaptability, not control, is often the key to long-term success. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Jana Werner and Phil Le-Brun [9:25] What “Bulls!t Bingo” Reveals About Corporate Language [17:18] Psychology as a Leadership Tool [25:14] Explaining Octopus Organization [32:10] Challenges of Tin Man Organizations [39:13] The Role of Psychology for Transformation [45:56] Complex vs Complicated Systems [50:50] Building an “Octopus Soundtrack” [54:13] Grooving Session: Incentives, Rewards, and Recreating Systems ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links The Octopus Organization by Phil Le-Brun and Jana Werner [https://www.theoctopusorganization.com/] About Jana [https://www.fastcompany.com/user/janawerner] About Phil [https://www.fastcompany.com/user/phillebrun] 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 Octopus Garden - The Beatles [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De1LCQvbqV4] Changes - David Bowie [https://youtu.be/4BgF7Y3q-as?si=TDNpSQaEau36JkjH]

Throwback Thursday: Fighting Imposter Syndrome at Work | Martin Gonzalez

In our June throwback episode (and in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month), we're revisiting our conversation with Marin Gonzalez about leadership, self-doubt, and the challenges of building a successful team.  Martin shared with us his experience as both an immigrant and an entrepreneur, offering a candid look at how he overcame imposter syndrome, navigated uncertainty, and ultimately helped create organizational cultures where people could thrive.  We loved the vulnerability, insights, and practical lessons Martin brought to our conversation, and we hope it inspires you to solve problems and find greater fulfillment in your professional life.  Topics  [5:58] Introduction and Speed Round [10:16] What is a bonfire moment? [14:02] Why soft skills are more important than soft skills [17:54] Leadership styles and their impact on success [22:37] Common start-up traps [32:10] Startup myths, leadership, and best practices [41:11] Overcoming blind spots and insecurities in leadership [46:43] Imposter Syndrome and gender stereotypes [55:04] Productivity, creativity, and music preferences [1:01:14] Grooving Session: Leadership, emotional intelligence, and scaling business ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links  “The Bonfire Moment - Bring Your Team Together to Solve the Hardest Problems Startups Face” by Joshua Yellin and Martin Gonzales [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-bonfire-moment-martin-gonzalezjoshua-yellin] About Martin [https://www.bonfiremoment.com/about/]

Fame, Incels, and the Need to Matter | Rebecca Goldstein

Author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins us to explore “the mattering instinct,” the deeply human need to feel significant, worthy, and justified in our own eyes. From “mattering projects” and morality to fame, incels, AI, and entropy, this conversation dives into the psychological and philosophical forces shaping how we search for meaning and purpose in our lives. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Rebecca Goldstein [7:12] What is the “Mattering Instinct”? [11:57] Why Mattering Creates Conflict [15:11] Depression, Despair, and Significance [26:42] The Four “Mattering” Types [32:34] Fame, Recognition, and Validation [41:38] Incels, Radicalization, and the Search for Meaning [46:19] Ethics, Entropy, and Human Flourishing [51:59] Desert Island Music [59:17] Grooving Session: Defining Mattering ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Rebecca [https://rebeccagoldstein.com/] The Mattering Instinct by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein  [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mattering-instinct-how-our-deepest-longing-drives-us-and-divides-us-rebecca-newberger-goldstein/e6ad38a44c3fb1c8?ean=9781324096856&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 Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 [https://youtu.be/Czsd13Mmcg0?si=3QGEE_kpuUHtqosf] Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love [https://youtu.be/NGorjBVag0I?si=V4zGKgXlpiZfMdqt]

The Hidden Rules of Lucky People | Judd Kessler

What if luck has less to do with chance and more to do with understanding the systems around us? We talk with Judd Kessler about the hidden markets shaping opportunities in everything from concert tickets and jobs to relationships and organ transplants. Together, we explore why so many systems feel unfair, how behavioral economics can improve them, and why learning the rules behind these invisible structures may be the key to getting a little luckier in life. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Judd Kessler [13:18] The Hidden Markets Behind Organ Donation [18:30] Market Design in Medicine [29:13] How Incentives Work [35:30] TSA PreCheck, Scarcity, and Making Better Systems [40:14] The Ticketmaster Problem [46:20] The Ticketmaster Solution [53:34] Hidden Markets in Podcasts and Beyond [59:18] “The Room Where it Happens” with Lin-Manuel Miranda [1:05:30] Desert Island Music Picks [1:08:00] Grooving Session: Creating Luck Wherever You Go ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Judd [https://juddbkessler.com/] Lucky by Design by Judd Kessler [https://bookshop.org/p/books/lucky-by-design-the-hidden-economics-you-need-to-get-more-of-what-you-want-judd-kessler/ecf5465c33f3211a?ean=9780316566827&next=t&next=t&affiliate=2344] 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 Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso [https://youtu.be/eVli-tstM5E?si=_ephj5ZTeXlPMO0c] The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds [https://youtu.be/l7x-0c9jl4Y?si=6aQ-YfhstQjQGQKX]