Ahead of the 2024 US Election, Kurt and Tim sit down with bestselling author and serial experimenter AJ Jacobs to discuss his latest project, The Year of Living Constitutionally. AJ spent a year living life according to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, adopting 18th-century customs along the way. From wearing tricorn hats and writing with quill pens to exploring the deeper philosophical underpinnings of democracy, AJ brings history to life while reflecting on the balance between rights and responsibilities, a concept that feels more urgent than ever today.

AJ also shares his mission to revive one of America’s sweetest (and largely forgotten) traditions—Election Cakes! In the 1700s, Election Day was a festival of civic pride, complete with parades, music, and community-baked cakes shared at the polls. In true AJ fashion, he’s on a quest to bring this tradition back, reminding us that democracy can be both a serious and joyful act.

Throughout the episode, AJ, Kurt, and Tim dive into the importance of ‘epistemic humility’ - aka, the acknowledgment that we don’t have all the answers and must remain open to learning. From Benjamin Franklin’s introspection to modern-day challenges of misinformation, AJ challenges listeners to approach life and democracy with curiosity, gratitude, and a willingness to improve both ourselves and our society. So grab a slice of election cake (or pie!) and join us for this thought-provoking, timely conversation on what it means to live constitutionally.

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©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Election day traditions

[4:25] Speed round with AJ Jacobs

[9:44] Living Colonially: What I learned

[18:56] Epistemic humility and political perspectives

[23:52] Constitutional originalism

[36:29] How do we frame the constitution?

[40:40] Election cakes and celebrating democracy

[48:52] Embracing experimentation in everyday life

[52:56] Grooving session: open-mindedness, civic duty, and cake recipes

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

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AJ’s Substack

The Year of Living Constitutionally

More about AJ

The History of Election Cakes

The US Constitution

Royal American Medley - Songs of the Revolutionary War

Yankee Doodle

Why do we avoid the very thing that could bring us more joy—connecting with others?

In this episode, behavioral scientist and human interaction expert Nick Epley returns to the podcast to help Kurt and Tim explore the paradox of social connection. Despite living in a time often described as a loneliness epidemic, many of us still choose to limit our social interactions and shy away from new experiences. While we’re hardwired to thrive on positive connections, anxiety and inaccurate assumptions often hold us back. Nick sheds light on why we consistently underestimate how enjoyable social interactions will be—and how this leads to missed opportunities for meaningful connection.

Drawing from his research at Chicago’s Mindworks facility, where people from all walks of life participate in behavioral experiments, Nick shares fascinating insights into our social nature. His team’s real-world studies have uncovered how our expectations and assumptions can prevent us from fully engaging in new social experiences.

Tune in to learn how our beliefs can shape our social lives and how curiosity and openness can transform any interaction into something rewarding. Nick offers practical advice on how behavioral science can help us lead more connected, fulfilling lives. And hey, next time you’re getting your morning coffee, say hi to the barista—you never know where that small interaction might lead!

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro: Connecting with strangers

[9:50] Nick Epley and Mindworks research facility

[23:16] Experiments at Mindworks

[30:55] Insights from social interaction experiments

[39:34] The role of expectations in social interactions

[47:01] How to create positive interactions

[51:18] Grooving session: Curiosity, compassion, and engaging with strangers

©2024 Behavioral Grooves

Mindworks

About Nick Epley

Mistakenly Seeking Solitude

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Ever wondered what it would be like to snag a backstage pass to history’s biggest moments? In Groove Jams' maiden voyage, Kurt, Tim, and special guest Christian Hunt take on the ultimate bucket list item: time travel. Prepare for a wild ride that’s part history lesson, part “what could possibly go wrong?”

Tune in for a rollercoaster of laughs, deep thoughts, and ethical dilemmas as we explore the slippery slope of time-hopping. What are the risks and rewards? Could curiosity lead to chaos? And most importantly, could we save the Beatles from Yoko Ono?

Co-hosts, meet co-creation! This week, Kurt and Tim are joined by special guests Aransas Savas and Dave Norton, hosts of the Experience Strategy Podcast. Together, they take on one of the biggest challenges companies face: truly understanding what their customers want and need.

Data can be valuable, but how useful is it if you don’t fully grasp the “what” or “why” behind those numbers? Aransas and Dave explain why co-creating with customers is a more effective approach than relying solely on data or assumptions. They dive into how blending behavioral science with experience strategy can create lasting value for both customers and companies, while also breaking through common barriers like internal fears, egos, and dreaded groupthink (shudder).

Listen in to discover how experience strategy complements behavior change and why clinging to past successes can lead to blind spots in a rapidly evolving market.

Ready to take your customer experience strategy to the next level? Tune in and join the conversation—because the future of your business depends on truly understanding your customers. And share your thoughts with Kurt and Tim in our new Facebook Group!

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Book a time to talk to Tim about Behavioral Grooves here

[0:00] Introduction: Customer needs and preferences

[3:14] Housekeeping: BG Updates!

[5:29] Speed Round

[9:35] Customer trends and the importance of outside perspectives

[20:51] Challenges in engaging customers and the role of behavior change

[26:42] Common pitfalls to avoid

[30:30] Grooving session: customer engagement, listening, and considering needs

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Links

The Experience Strategy Podcast

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And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for (even if you didn’t know you were waiting)...

Introducing Groove Jams! Tim and Kurt are launching an exciting new video-first mini-series where they dive into wild hypothetical scenarios and tackle thought-provoking questions about human behavior—and so much more. With help from some fan-favorite guests, each episode kicks off with an intriguing question that pushes the limits of imagination and reveals fresh perspectives on the world. Get ready for laughs, “aha” moments, and maybe even a few WTFs, every few weeks starting this October!

Subscribe on YouTube to be the First to See Groove Jams!

Now…back to work!

We’re back to the weekly grind this week on Behavioral Grooves and exploring a topic Kurt and Tim know like the back of their hands - Behavioral Science in the workplace. Joined by Scott Young, a seasoned behavioral science practitioner with years of experience in the private sector, they dive into how we can improve work environments by tweaking work policies rather than replacing them entirely.

Scott shares insights from his work and a recent paper he authored for the Behavioral Science Policy Association about the real-world challenges behavioral science practitioners face when working with large corporations. From defining behavior change to navigating organization resistance, the trio explore the challenges of their work and offer practical solutions to overcome these barriers.

Throughout the conversation, Scott walks listeners through a multi-step process for workplace success, focusing on defining goals, understanding content, ideating interventions, and rigorously testing solutions. Tune in for a roadmap for business leaders on how to leverage these concepts effectively by aligning them with existing challenges and integrating them into everyday operations.

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro and Behavioral Grooves announcements!

[7:39] Speed round with Scott Young

[11:41] Behavioral science in the real world

[15:10] Potential of behavioral science in business

[21:41] Challenges to applying behavioral science in the real world

[31:02] How to frame behavioral science to business leaders

[36:50] Solutions and looking to the future

[41:59] Desert Island music

[46:18] Grooving Session: Integrating behavioral science into organizations

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Bridging the Divide - Scott's Paper

BeScy.org

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BSPA

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Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

Counting Crows - Hanginaround

So…is there hope? Kurt and Tim think so!

In this wrap-up of our polarization series, Kurt and Tim reflect on how much the political landscape has changed since they started recording last December. With the presidential campaign in full swing and November’s election approaching, it’s more important than ever to critically evaluate the news and information we consume.

In this quick, engaging episode, they revisit the most impactful ideas from their conversations with researchers. From “nut-picking”—focusing on extreme examples of the opposing side—to the challenge of living in a fragmented reality, Kurt and Tim discuss how we can push back against the media’s efforts to keep us divided. Instead, they urge us to focus on bridging divides and coming together for the sake of democracy.

Polarization is powerful, but it’s not unbreakable. So, stay informed, talk to each other, and most importantly—register to vote!

Register to Vote!

Ep. 434 – What’s Really Driving Political Polarization? The Science Explained

Ep. 435 - Are We Acting Differently Because of Politics? Here’s What the Research Shows

Ep. 436 - A Less Polarized Future: Real Solutions to Heal Our Divided World

In the final episode of the polarization series, Kurt and Tim delve into "affective polarization," where emotional distrust, rather than ideological differences, has deepened the divide between political parties. Drawing on insights from the recent MIT conference, they explore how these negative feelings have escalated over time. Stanford postdoc Jan Voelkl shares eye-opening research showing a marked decline in positive feelings across party lines over the past few decades.

But there's hope on the horizon! Kurt and Tim explore proven interventions aimed at reducing polarization by fostering cooperation and shared identities. Through game-based approaches and collaborative strategies, they demonstrate that cross-party cooperation is not only possible but achievable. Featured researcher Josh Green explains how his game-based method helps bridge the partisan divide, offering an optimistic outlook for improving political discourse.

The duo also speaks with Kati Kish Bar-On, a postdoc at MIT, who provides a philosophical perspective on polarization and how we engage with one another, while Yph Lelkes offers historical context and a dose of optimism for the future based on the 2022 election results.

The series concludes with a compassionate, forward-thinking conversation, offering practical strategies to critically assess polarized messaging and steps toward healing the growing political divide.

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Introduction: A final look at polarization

[4:07] Hope for American democracy - Jan Voelkl

[12:23] Game-based interventions - Josh Greene

[20:28] Polarization: a philosophical perspective - Kati Kish Bar-On

[28:28] History and hope: Yph Lelkes

[31:54] Grooving session - America, democracy, and critical thinking

[41:30] BONUS TRACK: Young scientists look at polarization - Miles and Isaac Rand

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Kati Kish Bar-on

Jan Voelkl

Josh Greene

Yph Lelkes

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