The Behavioral Design Podcast: Recent Episodes
Samuel Salzer
How can we change behavior in practice? Listen in as hosts Samuel Salzer and Aline Holzwarth speak with leading experts on all things behavioral science, design and beyond. The Behavioral Design Podcast from Habit Weekly and the Center for Advanced Hindsight at Duke University provides a fun and engaging way to learn about applied behavioral science and how to design for behavior change in practice.
Season 4 Finale: Our Most Controversial AI Takes
We wrap up Season 4 of the Behavioral Design Podcast with a different kind of conversation. Instead of looking outward at our guests’ insights, Aline and Samuel turn the mic on themselves, reflecting on the season, what we’ve learned, and the boldest, most controversial opinions we hold about AI.
From questions about whether AI can truly emulate human qualities to fears of a future where we slowly de-skill ourselves by over-relying on machines, this episode is part reflection, part confessional.
Highlights include:
- A look back at the season’s most surprising and provocative guest takes on AI
- Why AI optimism often lives closest to where experts work—and where skepticism still lingers
- The heated debate over AI companions: comforting helpers or human connection killers?
- Our personal, unfiltered takes on AI’s hidden risks, including cognitive offloading and the myth of collaboration
- The strange and perhaps surprisingly useful role of AI “oracles” in our own lives
This is the perfect sendoff for Season 4: A candid, wide-ranging discussion about the future of AI, human behavior, and what it all means for how we live, think, and connect.
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Season 4 Recap: Can AI Capture a Whole Season?
In this special recap episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel reflect on the ambitious arc of Season 4—our deep dive into the intersection of behavioral science and artificial intelligence. From empathic chatbots to algorithmic sameness, AI co-therapists to synthetic friendships, we explored how AI is reshaping human behavior, relationships, and decision-making.
But here’s the twist: the second half of this episode isn’t hosted by us. It’s AI. Using transcripts from every conversation this season, we asked our AI co-hosts to generate a narrated summary of the biggest ideas and themes that emerged across episodes. Can AI recap a whole season better than we can? Is this the beginning of our own replacement?
Along the way, we revisit:
- How AI is changing the emotional landscape of our lives
- Why automation and personalization are both liberating and limiting
- What happens when algorithms replace—not just supplement—human judgment
- The ethical fault lines of psychological targeting, autonomy, and consent
- Whether behavioral science can keep up with the pace and power of AI
If you missed any episodes or want a distilled tour of the season, this is the one to listen to.
Next up: our Season Finale, featuring Aline and Samuel’s most controversial takes on AI 🍿
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Productivity in the Age of AI with Oliver Burkeman
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel are joined by Oliver Burkeman, journalist and bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks, to explore what it means to live and work meaningfully in an era of accelerating AI.
Together, they examine how AI tools are reshaping our relationship with time, focus, and control—from email-writing assistants to algorithmic scheduling and optimization. Oliver shares his thoughts on how these technologies, while promising to save us time, often pull us deeper into compulsive productivity loops and distract us from the deeper questions: What are we optimizing for? And what does it mean to spend our time well?
The conversation covers:
- The seduction of infinite optionality and why AI might make it worse
- Whether AI-generated outputs dull our creative instincts or free them
- Why doing fewer things might become even more important in the AI era
- The psychological cost of outsourcing decisions to machines
- How behavioral science can help people reclaim agency and meaning in a world of hyper-efficiency
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the tension between automation and intention—especially those wondering how to stay human in the loop.
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
AI Co-Therapists with Alison Cerezo
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel talk with Dr. Alison Cerezo, a clinical psychologist, professor, and Senior Vice President of Research at Mpathic, a company developing AI tools that support therapists in delivering more empathetic and precise care.
They explore the growing role of AI in mental health, from real-time feedback during therapy sessions to tools that help clinicians detect risk, stay aligned with best practices, and reduce bias. Alison describes how Mpathic works as a co-therapist—supporting rather than replacing the human element of therapy.
The conversation also digs into larger questions:
- Can AI feel more empathetic than humans?
- How do we avoid over-reliance on machines for emotional support?
- And what does it really mean to design AI that complements rather than competes with people?
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of therapy, empathy, and AI—and what it looks like to build systems that enhance human care, not undermine it.
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Empathic Machines with Michael Inzlicht
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel are joined by Michael Inzlicht, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and co-host of the podcast Two Psychologists Four Beers. Together, they explore the surprisingly effortful nature of empathy—and what happens when artificial intelligence starts doing it better than we do.
Michael shares insights from his research into empathic AI, including findings that people often rate AI-generated empathy as more thoughtful, emotionally satisfying, and effortful than human responses—yet still prefer to receive empathy from a human. They unpack the paradox behind this preference, what it tells us about trust and connection, and whether relying on AI for emotional support could deskill us over time.
This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in the intersection of psychology, emotion, and emerging AI tools—especially as machines get better at sounding like they care.
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
How Do You Build a Moral AI? with Jana Schaich Borg
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel are joined by Jana Schaich Borg, Associate Research Professor at Duke University and co-author of the book “Moral AI and How We Get There”. Together they explore one of the thorniest and most important questions in the AI age: How do you encode human morality into machines—and should you even try?
Drawing from neuroscience, philosophy, and machine learning, Jana walks us through bottom-up and top-down approaches to moral alignment, why current models fall short, and how her team’s hybrid framework may offer a better path. Along the way, they dive into the messy nature of human values, the challenges of AI ethics in organizations, and how AI could help us become more moral—not just more efficient.
This conversation blends practical tools with philosophical inquiry and leaves us with a cautiously hopeful perspective: that we can, and should, teach machines to care.
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Topics Covered:
- What AI alignment really means (and why it’s so hard)
- Bottom-up vs. top-down moral AI systems
- How organizations get ethical AI wrong—and what to do instead
- The messy reality of human values and decision making
- Translational ethics and the need for AI KPIs
- Personalizing AI to match your values
- When moral self-reflection becomes a design feature
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: AI Alignment — Mission Impossible?
04:00 Why Moral AI Is So Hard (and Necessary)
07:00 The “Spec” Story & Reinforcement Gone Wrong
10:00 Anthropomorphizing AI — Helpful or Misleading?
12:00 Introducing Jana & the Moral AI Project
15:00 What “Moral AI” Really Means
18:00 Interdisciplinary Collaboration (and Friction)
21:00 Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Approaches
27:00 Why Human Morality Is Messy
31:00 Building a Hybrid Moral AI System
41:00 Case Study: Kidney Donation Decisions
47:00 From Models to Moral Reflection
52:00 Embedding Ethics Inside Organizations
56:00 Moral Growth Mindset & Training the Workforce
01:03:00 Why Trust & Culture Matter Most
01:06:00 Comparing AI Labs: OpenAI vs. Anthropic vs. Meta
01:10:00 What We Still Don’t Know
01:11:00 Quickfire: To AI or Not To AI
01:16:00 Jana’s Most Controversial Take
01:19:00 Can AI Make Us Better Humans?
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Let me know if you’d like an abridged version, pull quotes, or platform-specific text for Apple, Spotify, or LinkedIn.
Understanding AI Risks with Peter Slattery
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel are joined by Peter Slattery, behavioral scientist and lead researcher at MIT’s FutureTech lab, where he spearheads the groundbreaking AI Risk Repository project. Together, they dive into the complex and often overlooked risks of artificial intelligence—ranging from misinformation and malicious use to systemic failures and existential threats.
Peter shares the intellectual and emotional journey behind categorizing over 1,000 documented AI risks, how his team built a risk taxonomy from 17,000+ sources, and why shared understanding and behavioral science are critical for navigating the future of AI.
This one is a must-listen for anyone curious about AI safety, behavioral science, and the future of technology that’s moving faster than most of us can track.
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LINKS:
- Peter's LinkedIn Profile
- MIT FutureTech Lab: futuretech.mit.edu
- AI Risk Repository
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Enter the AI Lab: Insights from LinkedIn Polls and AI Literature Reviews
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Samuel Salzer and Aline Holzwarth explore how AI is shaping behavioral design processes—from discovery to testing. They revisit insights from past LinkedIn polls, analyzing audience perspectives on which phases of behavioral design are best suited for AI augmentation and where human expertise remains crucial.
The discussion then shifts to AI-driven literature reviews, comparing the effectiveness of various AI tools for synthesizing research. Samuel and Aline assess the strengths and weaknesses of different platforms, diving into key performance metrics like quality, speed, and cost, and debating the risks of over-reliance on AI-generated research without human oversight.
The episode also introduces Nuance’s AI Lab, highlighting upcoming projects focused on AI-driven behavioral science innovations. The conversation concludes with a Behavioral Redesign series case study on Peloton, offering a fresh take on how AI and behavioral insights can reshape product experiences.
If you're interested in the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and research methodologies, this episode is packed with insights on where AI is excelling—and where caution is needed.
LINKS:
- Nuance AI Lab: Website
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction and Recap of Last Year's AI Polls
06:27 AI's Strengths in Literature Review
15:12 Emerging AI Tools for Research
19:31 Evaluating AI Tools for Literature Reviews
23:57 Comparing Chinese and American AI Tools
26:01 Evaluating Literature Review Outputs
28:12 Critical Analysis and Human Oversight
35:19 The Worst Performing Model
37:21 Introducing Nuance's AI Lab
38:51 Behavioral Redesign Series: Peloton Example
45:21 Podcast Highlights and Future Guests
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
When to AI, and When Not to AI with Eric Hekler
"People are different. Context matters. Things change."
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, Aline is joined by Eric Hekler, professor at UC San Diego, to explore the nuances of AI in behavioral science and health interventions. Eric’s mantra—emphasizing the importance of individual differences, context, and change—serves as a foundation for the conversation as they discuss when AI enhances behavioral interventions and when human judgment is indispensable.
The discussion explores just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI), the efficiency trap of AI, and the jagged frontier of AI adoption—where machine learning excels and where it falls short. Eric shares his expertise on control systems engineering, human-AI collaboration, and the real-world challenges of scaling adaptive health interventions. The episode also explores teachable moments, the importance of domain knowledge, and the need for AI to support rather than replace human decision-making.
The conversation wraps up with a quickfire round, where Eric debates AI’s role in health coaching, mental health interventions, and optimizing human routines.
LINKS:
- Eric Hekler:
TIMESTAMPS:
02:01 Introduction and Correction
05:21 The Efficiency Trap of AI
08:02 Human-AI Collaboration
11:04 Conversation with Eric Hekler
14:12 Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions
15:19 System Identification Experiment
28:27 Control Systems vs. Machine Learning
39:44 Challenges with Classical Machine Learning
43:16 Translating Research to Real-World Applications
49:49 Community-Based Research and Context Matters
59:46 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
01:08:27 Final Thoughts on AI and Human Evolution
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Sci-Fi and AI: Exploring Annie Bot with Sierra Greer
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel dive into the ethical, emotional, and societal complexities of AI companionship with special guest Sierra Greer, author of Annie Bot. This thought-provoking novel explores AI-human relationships, autonomy, and the blurred line between artificial intelligence and the human experience.
Sierra shares her inspiration for Annie Bot and how sci-fi can serve as a lens to explore real-world ethical dilemmas in AI development.
- The conversation covers the concept of reinforcement learning in AI and how it mirrors human conditioning
- The gender dynamics embedded in AI design, and the ethical implications of AI companions.
- The discussion also examines real-life cases of people forming deep emotional bonds with AI chatbots
The episode rounds out with a lively quickfire round, where Sierra debates whether AI should replace lost loved ones, act as conversational assistants for introverts, or intervene in human arguments.
This is a must-listen for fans of sci-fi, behavioral science, and those fascinated by the future of AI companionship and emotional intelligence.
LINKS:
- Sierra Greer website
- Annie Bot – Official Book Page
- Goodreads Profile
TIMESTAMPS:
01:43 AI Companions: A Controversial Opinion
05:48 Exploring Sci-Fi and AI in Literature
07:42 Introducing Sierra Greer and Her Book
09:12 Reinforcement Learning Explained
15:47 Diving into the World of Annie Bot
23:17 Power Dynamics and Human-Robot Relationships
32:31 Humanity and Artificial Intelligence
41:31 Autonomy vs. Agreeableness in Relationships
43:20 Reinforcement Learning in AI and Humans
46:13 Ethics and Gaslighting in AI
48:57 Gender Dynamics in AI Design
57:18 AI Companions and Human Relationships
01:06:45 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
01:12:39 Final Thoughts and Controversial Opinions
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
AI and Behavioral Science in Public Policy with Laura de Moliere
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel Salzer is joined by Laura de Moliere, a behavioral scientist with deep expertise in applying behavioral insights to public policy. As the former head of behavioral science at the UK Cabinet Office, Laura has worked at the intersection of behavioral science and policymaking during some of the most high-stakes moments in recent history, including Brexit and COVID-19.
Samuel and Laura explore the evolving role of AI in behavioral science, reflecting on how AI can enhance decision-making, improve policymaking, and surface unintended consequences. Laura shares her AI “aha moment”—when she realized the potential of large language models to support policymakers in making more behaviorally informed decisions.
The discussion also covers the promises and perils of AI in behavioral science, the potential of synthetic users to test interventions, and the growing challenge of balancing AI’s capabilities with human biases and policymaking needs. The episode wraps up with a playful quickfire round, where Laura debates the use of AI in everything from tax optimization to gamified urinals.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and public policy, offering a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the future of AI in decision-making.
LINKS:
•Laura de Moliere:
•LinkedIn Profile
•INCASE Framework on Unintended Consequences
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 A Surprise Gift
05:38 Reflections on 2025
09:28 AI and Behavioral Science
19:29 Introducing Laura de Moliere
21:30 Start of Laura interview
33:08 Applying Behavioral Science to AI and Government
35:16 Behavioral Science and AI: Use Cases and Impacts
36:32 Understanding and Interacting with AI Models
47:43 Synthetic Users and Their Potential
01:01:08 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
01:06:35 Controversial Opinions on AI
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Predictions for 2025: AI, AGI, and the Future of Behavioral Science with Jared Peterson
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel is joined by Jared Peterson, a behavioral scientist and expert in decision science at Nuance Behavior. Together, they explore some of the most pressing questions and exciting developments at the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and the future of human-centered design.
The conversation highlights key advancements from 2024, including the rise of multimodal AI, breakthroughs in AI agents, and the transformative use of AI in scientific research. Samuel and Jared share bold predictions for 2025, tackling questions like:
- Will AI agents become trusted coworkers?
- Can AI revolutionize science?
- And how should we navigate the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI)?
The discussion is packed with hot takes, nuanced perspectives, and thoughtful reflections, including Jared’s controversial prediction about the future of AI in predicting research replicability.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its implications for behavioral science, creativity, and society at large.
For questions or comments - email samuel@nuancebehavior..com
LINKS:
- Jared's website
- Jared's linkedin
- The Science of Context
- A Failure to Disagree
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Meet Jared Peterson: Behavioral Scientist and AI Expert
01:01 – Reflections on 2024: Key Breakthroughs and Predictions
03:36 – The Multimodal Evolution of AI
10:06 – AI Surpassing Human Benchmarks
21:25 – The Rise of AI Agents and Synthetic Content
35:18 – Musical Turing Test: AI vs. Eurovision
43:26 –Predictions for 2025: AI Coworkers and Beyond
44:06 – AI Coworkers: The Future of Work?
51:11 – AI in Science: Revolutionizing Research
01:05:56 – The Hype and Reality of AGI
01:10:42 – Adoption Challenges and Future Predictions
01:25:40 – Final Thoughts and Controversial Predictions
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Exploring Psychological Targeting and the Power of AI with Sandra Matz
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel sit down with Sandra Matz, leading expert on psychological targeting and Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School.
As a computational social scientist, Sandra uses Big Data analytics and experimental methods to study human behavior, uncovering how psychological traits influence business outcomes like financial well-being, consumer satisfaction, and team performance.
The conversation covers how digital footprints from social media, GPS data, and more are leveraged to create psychological profiles, shaping everything from advertisements to decision-making. Sandra provides unique insights into the controversial Cambridge Analytica case and discusses the democratization of personalized content generation through tools like ChatGPT.
Whether you're curious about personality psychology, the ethics of data privacy, or the evolving role of AI, this episode is a must-listen.
LINKS:
-
Sandra Matz:
- Sandra's Website
- Her New Book: Mindmasters
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Relevant Research and Resources:
-
Cambridge Analytica and the Evolution of Psychological Targeting
- The Social Dilemma Documentary
- Big Five Personality Model Explained
- Moral Foundations Theory Overview
TIMESTAMPS:02:03 – Personality Tests
09:23 – ChatGPT Gift Experiment
19:50 – Introducing Sandra Matz
21:35 – Understanding Psychological Targeting
24:27 – Real-World Examples and Implications
34:58 – Cambridge Analytica and Data Privacy
39:38 – The Social Dilemma and Personality Representation
41:19 – Understanding Personality Traits
43:49 – Dynamic Personality and Context
46:26 – AI's Role in Psychological Targeting
50:32 – Generative AI and Personalized Content
58:40 – Ethical Considerations and Future of AI
01:11:40 – Final Thoughts and Sandra’s New Book
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Behavior Change Score with Roos van Duijnhoven
In this special episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel continues the mini-series featuring expert practitioners from the Nuance Behavior team. This week’s guest is Roos van Duijnhoven, a behavioral scientist with a deep passion for designing human-centered digital solutions that drive meaningful behavior change.
Samuel and Roos explore a wide range of topics, including the Behavior Change Score Framework, strategies for improving onboarding and retention in digital health products, and the importance of focusing on real-world behavior (‘big E’ engagement) versus in-app behavior (‘little e’ engagement). They also dive into insights from Nuance Behavior’s ‘Behavior Change Score Report,’ which evaluates fitness apps and provides actionable lessons for designing more effective digital interventions.
This episode offers a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in applying behavioral science to digital product design and health interventions!
LINKS:
- Roos's LinkedIn
- The Behavior Change Score Report
- Nuance Behavior Website
- Engagement with Heather Cole-Lewis
TIMESTAMPS
00:36 Meet Roos van Duijnhoven
01:06 Recap of Susan Murhpy episode
07:31 Insights from the Behavior Change Score Report
20:14 Big E vs. Little e Engagement: Real-World vs. In-App Behavior
26:31 Controversial Opinions: Electric Bicycles
29:32 Conclusion and Farewell
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
Real-Time Behavior Change Algorithms with Susan Murphy
In this thought-provoking episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel explore the cutting edge of AI in behavioral science with Professor Susan Murphy, a world-renowned expert in statistics and behavioral research.
The conversation dives into Susan's groundbreaking work on micro-randomized trials and just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI) to create personalized, real-time behavior change algorithms. Together, they explore the role of reinforcement learning in adapting interventions over time, tackling ethical challenges, and sustaining user engagement in a rapidly evolving world.
This episode also includes a fun "To AI or Not to AI" quickfire round and Susan’s reflections on the "frontier" nature of behavioral science today, making this a must-listen for anyone passionate about technology, psychology, and innovation.
LINKS:
- Susan Murphy's Faculty Page
- Learn more about JITAI
- Heart Steps Study
-
Nuance Behavior Website
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TIMESTAMPS
01:00 – AI Voice Assistants in Everyday Life
07:22 – Introduction to Susan Murphy
08:06 – Micro-Randomized Trials Explained
11:08 – Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAI)
27:19 – Reinforcement Learning and Behavioral Science
35:15 – Adaptive Algorithms for Personalized Support
40:30 – Micro-Randomization and Personalized Interventions
45:19 – Maintaining Engagement in Digital Interventions
49:51 – The Frontier Nature of Behavioral Science
51:39 – Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
57:13 – Ethical Considerations in AI and Behavioral Science
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro
AI Chatbots and Synthetic Users with Hassan Aleem
In this special episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, host Samuel kicks off a new mini-series featuring expert practitioners from the Nuance Behavior team.
This week’s guest is Hassan Aleem, a respected behavioral practitioner with a Ph.D. in neuroscience and extensive experience in industries like fintech, health wearables, and public health.
Together, Samuel and Hassan explore the fascinating intersection of AI and behavioral science. They discuss AI’s impact on user research, the opportunities and challenges of AI-powered chatbots, the role of synthetic users in behavioral research, and the potential of AI to streamline literature reviews.
The conversation culminates in a thought-provoking discussion: can AI truly understand and design for beauty?
This episode is packed with insights on how AI can enhance behavioral science practice while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human expertise.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to the Behavioral Design Podcast
02:00 Meet Hassan Aleem: Neuroscientist and Behavioral Practitioner
02:37 Exploring AI in Behavioral Science
03:42 The Role of AI in User Research
10:21 Chatbots and Behavioral Design
18:50 AI in Literature Reviews and Research
34:59 Can AI Understand Beauty?
40:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
LINKS:
- Hassan's LinkedIn
- Nuance Behavior Website
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Using AI to Change Human Behavior
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline Holzwarth and Samuel Salzer explore the fascinating intersection of AI and behavioral science with Amy Bucher, Chief Behavior Officer at Lirio.
Together, they dive into the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI with behavioral science for health interventions, focusing on the critical need to design AI tools with human behavior in mind.
Key topics include the role of reinforcement learning and precision nudging in behavior change, the importance of grounded behavioral insights to cut through AI hype, and Amy’s experiences with personalized health interventions.
Amy also sheds light on the effectiveness of digital tools in behavior change and shares her vision for the future of AI in behavioral health.
Tune in for an insightful discussion on how behavioral science can shape the next generation of AI-driven health interventions!
LINKS:
Amy Bucher
- Lirio Website
- LinkedIn Profile
Further Reading on AI and Behavioral Science:
- How Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are Used in Digital Behavior Change Interventions: A Scoping Review
- The Power of Large Behavior Models in Healthcare Consumer Engagement
- Moral Agents for Sustainable Transitions
- Personalized Digital Health Communications to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination in Underserved Populations: A Double Diamond Approach to Behavioral Design
- The Patient Experience of the Future is Personalized: Using Technology to Scale an N of 1 Approach
- Digital Twins and the Emerging Science of Self: Implications for Digital Health Experience Design and “Small” Data
- Feasibility of a Reinforcement Learning–Enabled Digital Health Intervention to Promote Mammograms
- Precision Nudging and Health Interventions
- Reinforcement Learning in Behavior Change
TIMESTAMPS:
00:30 Behavioral Science and AI: A Crucial Intersection
07:44 Introducing Amy Bucher
10:43 Scoping Review on AI in Behavior Change
16:05 Challenges and Misconceptions in AI
22:07 Reinforcement Learning and AI Agents
28:40 Designing Interventions with AI and Behavioral Science
31:32 Operationalizing Behavior Change Techniques
35:25 Challenges in Measuring Engagement
42:43 The Role of Behavioral Science in AI
46:53 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
49:25 Controversial Opinions on AI
53:52 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgements
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Debunkbot and Other Tools Against Misinformation
In this follow-up episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline Holzwarth and Samuel Salzer welcome back Gordon Pennycook, psychology professor at Cornell University, to continue their deep dive into the battle against misinformation.
Building on their previous conversation around misinformation’s impact on democratic participation and the role of AI in spreading and combating falsehoods, this episode focuses on actionable strategies and interventions to combat misinformation effectively.
Gordon discusses evidence-based approaches, including nudges, accuracy prompts, and psychological inoculation (or prebunking) techniques, that empower individuals to better evaluate the information they encounter.
The conversation highlights recent advancements in using AI to debunk conspiracy theories and examines how AI-generated evidence can influence belief systems. They also tackle the role of social media platforms in moderating content, the ethical balance between free speech and misinformation, and practical steps that can make platforms safer without stifling expression.
This episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding how to counter misinformation through behavioral science and AI.
LINKS:
Gordon Pennycook:
- Google Scholar Profile
- Twitter
- Personal Website
- Cornell University Faculty Page
Further Reading on Misinformation:
- Debunkbot - The AI That Reduces Belief in Conspiracy Theories
- Interventions Toolbox - Strategies to Combat Misinformation
TIMESTAMPS:
01:27 Intro and Early Voting
06:45 Welcome back, Gordon!
07:52 Strategies to Combat Misinformation
11:10 Nudges and Behavioral Interventions
14:21 Comparing Intervention Strategies
19:08 Psychological Inoculation and Prebunking
32:21 Echo Chambers and Online Misinformation
34:13 Individual vs. Policy Interventions
36:21 If You Owned a Social Media Company
37:49 Algorithm Changes and Platform Quality
38:42 Community Notes and Fact-Checking
39:30 Reddit’s Moderation System
42:07 Generative AI and Fact-Checking
43:16 AI Debunking Conspiracy Theories
45:26 Effectiveness of AI in Changing Beliefs
51:32 Potential Misuse of AI
55:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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The Role of Misinformation and AI in the US Election with Gordon Pennycook
In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, hosts Aline and Samuel explore the complex world of misinformation in the context of the U.S. elections with special guest Gordon Pennycook, a psychology professor at Cornell University.
The episode covers the effects of misinformation on democratic participation, and how behavioral science sheds light on reasoning errors that drive belief in falsehoods. Gordon shares insights from his groundbreaking research on misinformation, exploring how falsehoods gain traction and the role AI can play in both spreading and mitigating misinformation.
The conversation also tackles the evolution of misinformation, including the impact of social media and disinformation campaigns that blur the line between truth and fiction.
Tune in to hear why certain falsehoods spread faster than truths, the psychological appeal of conspiracy theories, and how humor can amplify the reach of misinformation in surprising ways.
LINKS:
Gordon Pennycook:
- Google Scholar Profile
- Personal Website
- Cornell University Faculty Page
Further Reading on Misinformation:
- Brandolini’s Law and the Spread of Falsehoods
- Role of AI in Misinformation
- The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
03:14 Behavioral Science and Misinformation
05:28 Introducing Gordon Pennycook
10:02 The Evolution of Misinformation
12:46 AI’s Role in Misinformation
14:51 Impact of Misinformation on Elections
21:43 COVID-19 and Vaccine Misinformation
26:32 Technological Advancements in Misinformation
33:50 Conspiracy Theories
35:39 Misinformation and Social Media
42:35 The Role of Humor in Misinformation
48:08 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
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In this spine-chilling Halloween special of the Behavioral Design Podcast, co-hosts Aline Holzwarth and Samuel Salzer take listeners on a journey into the eerie intersection of AI and behavioral science. They explore the potential ethical and social consequences of AI, from our urge to anthropomorphize machines to the creeping influence of human biases in AI engineering.
The episode kicks off with the hosts sharing their favorite Halloween costumes and family traditions before delving into the broader theme of Frankenstein as an apt metaphor for AI. They discuss the human inclination to attribute human qualities to non-human entities and the ethical implications of creating machines that mirror humanity. The conversation deepens with reflections on biases in AI development, risks of ‘playing God,’ and the tension between technological progress and human oversight.
In a thrilling twist, the hosts read a co-authored sci-fi story written with ChatGPT, illustrating the potential dark consequences of unchecked AI advancement. The episode wraps up with Halloween-themed wishes, encouraging listeners to ponder the boundaries between human and machine as they celebrate the holiday.
Timestamps:
03:38 – Frankenstein: Revisiting the original story
09:09 – Frankenstein’s Modern AI Metaphor: Parallels to today’s technology
18:06 – Reflections on AI and Anthropomorphism: The urge to humanize machines
36:31 – Exploring Human Biases in AI Development: How biases shape AI
42:06 – Trust in AI: Human vs. algorithmic decision-making
46:45 – The Personalization of AI Systems: Pros and cons of tailored experiences
49:10 – The Ethics of Playing God with AI: Examining the risks
55:56 – Concluding Thoughts and Halloween Wishes: Reflecting on AI’s duality
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
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In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we delve into the world of AI recommender systems with special guest Carey Morewedge, a leading expert in behavioral science and AI.
The discussion covers the fundamental mechanics behind AI recommendation systems, including content-based filtering, collaborative filtering, and hybrid models. Carey explains how platforms like Netflix, Twitter, and TikTok use implicit data to make predictions about user preferences, and how these systems often prioritize short-term engagement over long-term satisfaction.
The episode also touches on ethical concerns, such as the gap between revealed and normative preferences, and the risks of relying too much on algorithms without considering the full context of human behavior.
Join co-hosts Aline Holzwarth and Samuel Salzer as they together with Carey explore the delicate balance between human preferences and algorithmic influence. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of AI-driven recommendations!
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LINKS:
Carey Morewedge:
- Google Scholar Profile
- Carey Morewedge - LinkedIn
- Boston University Faculty Page
- Personal Website
Understanding AI Recommender Systems:
- How Netflix’s Recommendation System Works
- Implicit Feedback for Recommender Systems (Research Paper)
- Why People Don’t Trust Algorithms (Harvard Business Review)
- Nuance Behavior Website
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The 'Do But Not Recommend' Game
07:53 The Complexity of Recommender Systems
08:58 Types of Recommender Systems
12:08 Introducing Carey Morewedge
14:13 Understanding Decision Making in AI
17:00 Challenges in AI Recommendations
32:13 Long-Term Impact on User Behavior
33:00 Understanding User Preferences
35:03 Challenges with A/B Testing
40:06 Algorithm Aversion
46:51 Quickfire Round: To AI or Not to AI
52:55 The Future of AI and Human Relationships
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
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In the latest episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we are excited to launch Season 4 with an in-depth exploration of how behavioral science and AI converge, setting the stage for an engaging and thought-provoking season.
This episode tackles big questions around AI’s growing influence, offering insights into both its promise and its challenges, especially as they relate to human behavior and decision-making.
Join co-hosts Aline Holzwarth and Samuel Salzer as they introduce key themes for the season, including the profound implications of AI on behavioral science and society at large. The episode opens with breaking news from the AI world, such as the significance of neural networks, which serve as the foundation of modern AI systems. The hosts explain how neural networks work and contrast them with the extraordinary complexity of the human brain.
The episode covers essential concepts for behavioral scientists, including large language models (LLMs), the backbone of generative AI, as well as prompt engineering and AI agents. These tools are transforming fields from healthcare to customer service, and the hosts break down their real-world applications, highlighting how they are used to enhance decision-making, automate workflows, and drive personalized interventions.
Samuel and Aline debunk several common myths about AI, such as whether generative AI truly enhances creativity or if more complex models are always better. They also explore algorithmic bias versus human bias, discussing how AI can both amplify and address societal inequities depending on how it is designed and implemented.
In “To AI or Not to AI”, this season’s quickfire round, the hosts weigh in on whether they’d trust AI for tasks like driving their kids to daycare or offering relationship advice, sparking a thought-provoking discussion on AI’s role in everyday life.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the evolving relationship between behavioral science and AI, offering both high-level insights and detailed explorations of the real-world implications of these technologies.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to the Behavioral Design Podcast02:36 Breaking News04:30 Understanding Neural Networks09:38 The Beauty and Complexity of the Human Brain17:37 Season Preview21:53 Meet Your Hosts29:00 Nuanced Behavior30:43 AI 101 for Behavioral Scientists44:14 Debunking AI Myths01:02:15 To AI or Not to AI: Quickfire Round01:14:45 Final Thoughts
LINKS:
- Geoffrey Hinton’s Talk on AI and John Hopfield’s Contributions to Neural Networks
- Sherry Turkle’s Memoir “The Empathy Diaries”
- Marvin Minsky and the Concept of the Brain as a Machine
- Cassie Kozyrkov’s Blog on Machine Learning
- Sendhil Mullainathan’s Paper on Algorithmic Fairness
- Generative AI enhances individual creativity but reduces the collective diversity of novel content
- Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
- Biased Algorithms Are Easier to Fix Than Biased People
- Nuance Behavior Website
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Interesting in collaborating with Nuance? If you’d like to become one of our special projects, email us at hello@nuancebehavior.com or book a call directly on our website: nuancebehavior.com.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
Every Monday our Habit Weekly newsletter shares the best articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive premium content from the world of behavioral science and business.
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We've reached the end of Season 3! 🎉
In this finale, we give you the inside scoop on topics behavioral design from 2023. From our favorite resources to AI to films, we explore all things behavioral design, so you too are in the inside scoop! All resources are linked below. Enjoy!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting us throughout the year! We appreciate you! 🙏 🙌
Gratitude:
- A systematic review of the strength of evidence for the most commonly recommended happiness strategies in mainstream media | Nature Human Behaviour (Dunigan Folk & Elizabeth Dunn)
- No Sweat book - Michelle Segar
- Preregistering, transparency, and large samples boost psychology studies’ replication rate to nearly 90% | Science
- High replicability of newly discovered social-behavioural findings is achievable | Nature Human Behaviour
Favorite Resources:
- BehaviorBytes
- Women in Behavioral Science and the Women in Behavioral Science LinkedIn group – Darcie Piechowski
- Lesson on Fraud and Whistleblowing – Zoe Ziani
- Choice Overload: It’s not about the number – Hassan & Roos
- 7 Routes to Applied Behavioural Science Experimentation and Observation – Affective + OECD
- Mapping Behavioural Journeys – Common Thread
- A Manifesto for Applying Behavioral Science – The Behavioural Insights Team
- Behavioral Science as a Specialization – Connor Joyce
- The Science of Context – Jared Peterson
Top 10 films:
- Fallen leaves
- Close
- Passages
- Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- Past Lives
- Beau Is Afraid
- One Fine Morning
- Barbie
- Oppenheimer
- Infinity Pool
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Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 💊
In this bonus series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at the seemingly simple, yet tremendously important, pill bottle.
Previous guest, Aarthi Rao, took her stab at designing the best pill bottle, so we decided to deep dive into all things behavioral design in the pill bottle world, ourselves! Easy, attractive, social, personalized...tune in to learn more, this one was a lot of fun!
Thank you to all of our listeners for supporting our podcast. Tune in next week for our Season 3 finale!
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Aarthi Rao leads behavioral insights at Cityblock Health, as their Vice President of Behavioral Insights and Strategic Engagement Innovation. Aarthi also founded the Design and Innovation Lab at CVS Health.
Aarthi has successfully merged human-centered practices, such as design thinking, with behavioral science at Cityblock. She is a strong advocate for merging qualitative and quantitative methods to better design patient experiences. Today we spoke to Aarthi about how to reach hard-to-reach communities, designing the perfect pill bottle that fits into a patient’s healthcare ecosystem, and so much more. Enjoy!
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Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
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Steph Habif is known for a range of health behavior research and strategy, and for leading behavioral science at Tandem Diabetes. Today we chat with Steph about what she’s doing at Tandem to design for diabetic patients, working at the intersection of behavioral science and human-computer interaction. We also went over what Steph called behavioral science's branding problem.
Do you know someone who would enjoy Behavioral Design? Please tell them about us! Thanks for listening!
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Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀. Members get access to extensive content databases, calls with field leaders, exclusive offers and discounts, and so much more.
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Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 🗓️In this bonus series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at the all-so-famous, yet simple, calendar. Previous guests, Laurie Santos, Linda Babcock & Ashley Whillans all spoke to us about time, so we decided it was "time" (get it) to discuss it in more detail!Tune in to learn more about our love/hate relationship with the calendar, the pros and cons between more or less calendar, and so much more! Who knew calendars were so much fun?--Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro. Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
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In this episode, we speak with Linda Babcock, Professor of Economics and former dean at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). She’s also the founder and faculty director of the Program for Research and Outreach on Gender Equity in Society (PROGRESS), also at CMU.
Linda has a new book, The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work. During our conversation, we speak with Linda about why and what leads women to take on more "non-promotable tasks", how the work environment influences this and why the expectation is there in the first place. Happy listening!
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In this episode, we speak with Mitesh Patel, a leading expert on the use of nudges, gamification, and wearables to improve health. Mitesh founded and led the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and is currently the Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Ascension.
During our converstation, Mitesh discusses examples of behavioral design in the wild and how they can be used to encourage people to engage in healthy behaviors. Together we explore the topic of gamification and its potential use in encouraging exercise and discuss the application of behavioral science in healthcare. The episode includes a product deep dive into gyms and how they can be optimized using behavioral design principles. We hope you enjoy this episode!
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Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 🚗
In this fun bonus series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at products discussed in past episodes of the show. In this episode, we are discussing the product "Autonomous Vehicles", following up on our conversation with Nick Chater from last week.
Tune in to learn more about how we would re-design Autonomous Vehicles, our own behavioral considerations, and what we can learn from this as behavioral designers. Happy listening!
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PS. The If books could kill podcast episode on nudging can be found here.
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In this episode, we're thrilled to host Nick Chater, an esteemed Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Nick is a leading figure in his field, focusing his research on the cognitive and social foundations of rationality. He is the co-founder and Director of the research consultancy Decision Technology Ltd, and has written engaging books like "The Language Game: How Improvisation Created Language and Changed the World" and "The Mind is Flat: The Remarkable Shallowness of the Improvising Brain".
Join us as we delve into a captivating conversation with Nick on the application of behavioral science to public policy. We discuss the fascinating interplay between various branches of behavioral science and their implications in real-world policy decisions, bridging the gap between theory and practice. For our product deep-dive, we navigate the intriguing world of autonomous vehicles, examining their design and impact through the lens of behavioral science. In addition, we explore Nick's provocative paper co-authored with George Loewenstein on I frames vs. S frames.
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In this episode we are delighted to welcome Paul Bloom, a distinguished developmental psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Paul has authored seven books, including Aginst Empathy and his most recent, Psych: The Story of the Human Mind. He is one of the leading thinkers in psychology and has dedicated his career to exploring how people, both children and adults, make sense of the world through language, morality, pleasure, pain, and religion.
Join us as we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Paul about the different subfields of psychology and what they can bring to the real world, from neuroscience to developmental psychology, cognitive, social, and clinical. This discussion evolves into a stimulating debate on the extent to which academia can truly contribute to industry.
For our product deep-dive, we challenge Paul to consider how concepts and methods from behavioral science could be used to improve the Bible, and delve into his perspective on the age-old question of nature versus nurture in shaping our lives. This episode should be a fascinating listen for anyone interested in the human mind, behavioral science, and the intersection between academia and industry.
Relevant links
- Paul's website
- Buy Psych: The Story of the Human Mind
- Check out Paul's podcast series Psych, hosted with our friend Dave Pizarro exploring concepts from his book
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Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 🎤
In this fun bonus series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at products discussed in past episodes of the show. In this episode, we are discussing the product "Conferences", following up on our conversation with Dave Pizarro from last week.
Tune in to learn more about how we would re-design conferences, what they have in common with weddings, and what we can learn from this as behavioral designers. Happy listening!
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In this episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we are delighted to speak with Dave Pizarro, esteemed professor at Cornell and Chief Science Officer at BE Works. Dave's extensive experience offers a unique perspective on the applications of behavioral science in both academic and industry settings.Join us as we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dave about his research on moral views and how they shape judgments and behavior. We delve into the power and intricacies of reinforcement, the challenges of conducting research and translating findings in an industry context, and Dave's most controversial opinion in behavioral science. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of behavioral science in academia and the real world, and the potential for collaboration between the two spheres.Relevant links Dave’s website Dave’s Twitter Dave’s podcastSupport the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro (yes, same guy!).Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/behavioral-design-podcast/message
Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 🤿
In this new series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at products discussed in past episodes of the show. In this episode, we are discussing the product "toothbrush", following up on our conversation with Heather Cole-Lewis from last week.
Tune in to learn more about how we would re-design a toothbrush, and what we can learn from this as behavioral designers.
*This episode was scheduled for Wednesday, but was delayed due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience!
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In the latest episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we are thrilled to have Heather Cole-Lewis, a renowned Behavioral Epidemiologist and Health Equity Clinical Scientist at Google. Heather is best known for her groundbreaking Big E, little e framework in the realm of digital health interventions.
Join us as we dive into an engaging discussion with Heather about the intricacies of engagement in digital health interventions, including a deep dive into her Big E, little e model. Heather shares her unique insights on redesigning a product we all use on a daily basis, demonstrating a targeted approach that considers factors such as a person's background, goals, and specific context.
We also explore the challenges of addressing health disparities and the importance of a more equitable approach to intervention development. Finally, Heather enlightens us on the significance of making a strong business case for behavioral science. This episode promises to be a captivating listen for anyone interested in digital health, behavioral science, and creating equitable solutions.
Relevant links
- Connect with Heather on LinkedIn
- Read her research paper on Big E vs Little e framework
- Read her latest paper on how Large Language Models Encode Clinical Knowledge Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
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Welcome to the latest Product Deep Dive! 🤿
In this new series of the Behavioral Design Podcast, we take a closer look at products discussed in past episodes of the show. In this episode, we are discussing the product of "personality tests", following up on our enlightening conversation with Sanjay Srivastava. Aline and Samuel explore their own experience with these tests, their practical applications, and the insights we can gain from them.
Tune in to learn more about the role personality tests play in understanding ourselves and others, and how we should think about them as behavioral designers.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and ideas for future episodes! Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
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In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Sanjay Srivastava, widely regarded as one of the world's leading personality experts. We explore various aspects of personality, from the famous Harry Potter house sorting to the intriguing curly fry problem. We delve into the impact of friction on user experience and outcomes, intentional and unintentional, and the potential of interventions based on personality traits.
We also examine the stability of personality as a construct and discuss the design and use of corporate personality tests. As you'll notice, we shift our perspectives throughout the conversation, and the discussion takes unexpected turns. We are sure this should make for an engaging listen for anyone interested in the science of personality.
Relevant links
Connect with Sanjay on LinkedIn (or Mastodon) and check out this website.
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
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Welcome to The Behavioral Design Podcast's newest series, Product Deep Dives! 🎉
In this series, we take a closer look at products discussed in past episodes of the show. In this episode, we are discussing the product of "co-living spaces" having been discussed with our guest, Laurie Santos, on an earlier episode. Aline and Samuel take a deeper look at the behavioral science of co-living spaces and share their own thoughts and experiences of shared living.
Tune in to learn more about how co-living spaces are designed to foster positive behavior, and how the concept can be applied to other spaces too.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and ideas for future episodes! Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
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In this episode, we speak with Laurie Santos, Professor at Yale. In addition to her research on primate decision-making, Laurie is an expert on the science of well-being. Her teachings on the psychology of the good life are some of the most popular of all time at Yale and on Coursera. She also has a free curriculum for high schools, and she even has her own podcast.
We chatted with Laurie about shared living spaces and the importance of being social (even when we don’t feel like being social!). We also compare happiness with psychological richness, and the pros and cons of self-monitoring. And as a special bonus, you get to hear Laurie’s expert rendition of a primate’s pant-hoot.
Relevant links
- Laurie's website and twitter
- The Happiness Lab Podcast
- Laurie's course: The Science of Well-Being
- Sedaris on Fitbits
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
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We're finally back! 🎉 In this season 3 preview episode, we sit down and nerd out about all things Behavioral Science and AI, the state of the field and what we look forward to in the upcoming season.
Thanks to you, our listeners, for patiently waiting for us to return and for supporting this podcast! We really appreciate it 😊🙏
Relevant links
- AI Edition of Habit Weekly
- Behavioral Data Science Edition of Habit Weekly
AI tools discussed
- ChatGPT
- Elephas
- Elicit
- ExplainPaper
- Jasper.ai
- MidJourney
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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We've reached the end of season 2 - yay! 🎉 In this finale, we sit down and nerd out about all things behavioral as an intervention to help Aline overcome her recent existential crisis. We explore what we have learned about human behavior in 2021, whether being happy is important, ethical challenges in the field, how we can create a bigger impact, and, our course, we complete a final round of overrated vs. underrated.
Thanks to you, our listeners for supporting us this year! We really appreciate it 😊🙏
Relevant links
Effective Altruism
- About EA
- 8000 Hours
- GiveWell
- The Effective Altruism Behavioral Science Newsletter
Research mentioned:
- A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning
- The Psychology of (In)Effective Altruism
- How Effective Altruism Can Help Psychologists Maximize Their Impact
- What works to increase charitable donations? A meta-review with meta-meta-analysis
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Irrational Labs' Lindsay Juarez about big questions in behavioral science, how to reduce misinformation on TikTok, and the importance of communities.
Lindsay is Director at Irrational Labs, working on understanding and improving people's ability to take the daily behaviors that lead to happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. She was previously Senior Behavioral Researcher roles at the Center for Advanced Hindsight and has long experience helping companies use data and behavioral science insights to create and test more effective products and processes to drive behavior change.
We had a fun conversation with Lindsay about everything existential in behavioral science, including the real impact of our field and how necessary are experiments, really? She also shares insights from a recent project aimed at reducing misinformation on TikTok. Enjoy!
Relevant links about Lindsay
- Website
- Social Media: LinkedIn & Twitter
- TikTok whitepaper
- Tim Wilson Article
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Ingrid Melvær Paulin about all things digital health behavior, Gamification, and the right behavior change metrics.
Ingrid is Director of Behavioral Insights at UnitedHealth Group. She applied behavioral science across vast areas of digital health behavior change, including previously being Director of Behavioral Insights at Rally Health and holding Senior Behavioral Researcher roles at the Center for Advanced Hindsight and Irrational Labs. She's also an amazing skier.
We had a fun conversation with Ingrid about everything digital health behavior and beyond, including the importance of focusing on the right behaviors, ways Gamification can backfire, her famous spreadsheet of BS companies around the world, and much more. Enjoy!
Relevant links about Ingrid
- Organizations spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Vtq-3NAqGrIJA155ATXrnogr0q3Q-TFYd8IdqnpxJxQ/edit?pli=1#gid=182512263
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-melvær-paulin-27543647/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ingridmpaulin?lang=en
- Medium: https://medium.com/@ingrid.melvaer
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Eric J. Johnson about all things choice architecture and choice engines.
Eric is professor at Columbia Business School at Columbia University and Director of the Center for Decision Sciences. His recently published book The Elements of Choice is a fascinating exploration of decision-making research revealing how choices are designed—and why it’s so important to understand their inner workings.
We had a fun conversation with Eric about everything choice architecture and beyond, including how to provide the right amount of options, the attributes of a good choice engine, and that there's no neutral choice architecture – the environment is always influencing our decisions one way or another. We also ask Eric to redesign popular digital products, including Tinder, Netflix, and Amazon.
Relevant links
- Eric's website
- Book: The Elements of Choice
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with the fantastic research duo Gabrielle Adams and Leidy Klotz about their work on the science of less: subtraction.
Their research on the science of problem-solving has identified this fascinating bias against subtraction. In other words, when we solve problems, we tend to favor adding things over subtracting things, even when subtraction offers a better solution. We have a massive subtraction blindspot.
We had a great discussion, exploring all aspects of subtraction, from their research to tips for how teams and individuals can overcome it and why "jeggings" are severely underrated. Enjoy!
Related links:
- Their Nature research paper
- Leidy's book - Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less
- Gabe's website
- Leidy's website
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Liz Fosslien about how to make work better using nudges (and feelings!).
Liz is the co-author and illustrator of the Wall Street Journal best-selling book No Hard Feelings and she's an expert on how to make work better. As the Head of Content at Humu, she uses behavioral science to help leaders and their teams make meaningful improvements. She's also a master illustrator and we'd be surprised if you haven't seen her "sprinkles of insights" across your social media feeds.
We have a wonderful discussion, exploring how to make work life better, managing #WFH, why we might benefit from being less passionate about work and how the nudge engine at Humu helps people work together better.
Related links:
- Liz's website
- Follow Liz on Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter.
- Her book: No Hard Feelings
- Check out Humu
- IKEA containers
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with none other than Dan Ariely.
We assume most of our listeners are already familiar with Dan's work, and we cover plenty of ground in this fun and enlightening episode. You can expect to learn about why Dan began receiving death threats from COVID deniers, strategies for overcoming vaccination hesitancy, the promise of psychedelics for treating mental health, and lessons from Dan's personal journey. We also talk about couscous!
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Jay Van Bavel about all things identity.
Jay is Professor at NYU and Director of the Social Identity & Morality Lab. His book "The Power of Us," co-authored with Dominic Packer, was just released on September 7th. It's a fascinating read that looks into how we can understand and harness our shared identities for personal and collective success.
In this episode, we have a fun conversation with Jay about everything identity, including why we contain multitudes and how the social needs of belonging, uniqueness and status impact our identity. We also discuss how identity can be a double-edged sword, both able to spark unity and (sometimes) create division, and why bumper stickers are overrated.
Relevant links
- Jay's website, Twitter, LinkedIn &, Instagram
- Book: The Power of Us
- Robbers Cave Experiment
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we speak with Ashley Whillans on time and how to spend it well ⏰.
Ashley is a Professor at Harvard and author of Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life. She's got a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and is an expert on time and how to spend it well. Her research investigates whether and how intangible incentives, such as experiential and time-saving rewards, affect employee motivation and well-being. She also works with organizations to help employees overcome time stress and thrive in their lives in and outside of the workplace.
In this episode, we have a fun conversation with Ashley about her book, including discussing her research on people's perception of time and decision making, how to design better products and services based on these insights, and how to best decline an invitation (you're welcome). We hope you enjoy the episode!
Relevant links
- Ashley's website, Twitter &, Instagram
Missed Habit Day? No worries, here's link to the full event recording.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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In this episode, we're speaking with behavioral science superstar Katy Milkman ⭐️
Katy has one of the most impressive resumes in the field – She's a professor at UPenn, Co-founder of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative with Angela Duckworth, Host of Choiceology podcast (much more refined than ours), and Author of a new book: How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.
Some of our favorite research from Katy includes Fresh Start Effect, Temptation Bundling, Implementation Intentions, and most recently, she's pioneered the mega-study (what works to promote exercise, vaccination)
In this episode, we have a fun conversation with Katy about her book, including discussing personalization, temptation bundling, and what type of interventions are most effective. We also talk about her recent study on regret lotteries in Philly + much more!
Relevant links
- How to Change
- Katy's website, Twitter &, Instagram
- Katy's newsletter Milkman Delivers (amazing name)
Katy's Research
- Philly regret lottery
- Temptation bundling
- Fresh Starts
- Recent mega study
- Commitment Devices
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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We're back with Season 2 - yay! We start the new season with a bang as our first guest is none other than Emily Oster. 🎉
Besides being Aline's favorite person to follow, Emily is an economics professor at Brown University and a thought-leader on data-driven parenting. She has written several best-selling books on pregnancy and parenting, all centered around a specific goal: creating a world of more relaxed pregnant women and parents.
In this episode, we have a fun conversation with Emily about her latest book, The Family Firm (out today!). We learn about her fantastic 4 Fs framework, discuss salience of risk and how that impacts decision-making, learn what science communication often gets wrong, AND why Summersalt swimwear is underrated.
Relevant links
- The Family Firm (out today!)
- Emily's website, Twitter &, Instagram
- Emily's newsletter ParentData
- Research
- Previous books Expecting Better and Cribsheet
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀 and by giving us a review on Apple Podcast. Thanks!
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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We've reached the end of season 1 - yay! 🎉 In this finale, we sit down and nerd out about all things behavioral as Aline is welcomed back from her baby cave. We explore the growing landscape of behavioral associations, the recent attempts to incentivize vaccine uptake, we languish on languishing, talk faulty risk perceptions, and, our course, complete a final round of overrated vs. underrated.
Relevant links
Recently launched behavioral associations and groups (and their abbreviations):
- GAABS - The Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists
- ABSA - Applied Behavioral Science Association
- UNBSG - UN Behavioural Science Group
- IBPPA - International Behavioural Public Policy Association
Vaccination uptake
- Lottery-Based Incentive in Ohio and COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
- Going local with the COVID-19 vaccine
Flourishing & languishing
- There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing
- The Other Side of Languishing Is Flourishing. Here’s How to Get There
- Dan Ariely on wine
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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Matt Johnson is a professor, researcher, and writer specializing in the application of neuroscience and psychology to the business world and Prince Ghuman is an experienced marketer with great experience of applying neuroscience to marketing and business strategy. Together they've written the book Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes Our Brain.
In this episode, we have a fun conversation with Matt and Prince about what the heck "Blindsight" is and what it has to do with decision-making, we dive into the ethics around using behavioral science for good (and for less obviously good “marketing” purposes) and how we can solve the thorny problem of tech addiction.
Links and resources:
- Matt's LinkedIn & Twitter
- Prince's LinkedIn & Twitter
- Their book: Blindsight
- Their certification
- Their blog
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
*This episode was recorded in Q1 of 2021
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Kelly Peters is the CEO and Co-founder of BEworks, and one of the leading voices in the world of Applied Behavioral Economics. Kelly has done some fantastic work in the field and she's a firm believer that when applied properly, scientific thinking has the power to transform society.
In this episode, Kelly shares her journey into behavioral economics, how BEworks approach their client work, challenges related to COVID-19, and much more. Hope you enjoy the episode!
Links and resources:
- BEworks's website
- Social media: LinkedIn & Twitter
- BEwork's COVID-19 related projects, including their fantastic Vaccine Hesitancy report
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
*This episode was recorded in Q1 of 2021
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Maya Shankar is the Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google and previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House's Behavioral Science Team. For good measure, she also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. Most recently, Maya launched "A Slight Change of Plans," a fantastic new podcast with Pushkin Industries.
In this episode, Maya shares her journey into behavioral science and highlights along the way, including the importance of her mentors, reminiscing about her time leading the White House's Behavioral Science Team, and whether it's harder to change minds or change behaviors.
Links and resources:
- Maya's website
- Social media: LinkedIn & Twitter
- Maya's podcast: A Slight Change of Plans
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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Logan Ury is a behavioral scientist-turned dating coach and Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science. She recently published How to Not Die Alone – a fantastic book on the surprising science that will help you find love.
We speak about all things behavioral science and modern love, including how Hinge designs the app to be deleted and common cognitive biases in dating. We also talk about how Logan became the lead of Google’s behavioral science and was later able to build a successful career combining her passion for behavioral science and relationship science. Hope you love it!
Links and resources:
- Logan's website
- Social media: LinkedIn, Twitter & Instagram
- Logan's book: How to Not Die Alone
- The Three Dating Tendencies Quiz
- Modern Love - New York Times article by Logan
- OKcupid Experiment
- Rom-Com recommendation: Hitch
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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Interested in learning more about how Behavioral Economics can be used in practice? Great, this episode is for you! It features a fun conversation with Melina Palmer, one of the leading experts in applied Behavioral Economics. Melina is the founder and CEO of the Brainy Business, teaches Applied BE at Texas A&M University and recently published her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You.
We speak about her journey and how she built her Brainy Business podcast and community, how she supports her clients to ask better questions, important principles regarding pricing, and we talk cookies! Enjoy! 🍪
Links and resources:
- Melina's website, LinkedIn and Twitter
- Her book What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You
- FREE workbook: thebrainybusiness.com/habitweekly
- Right Questions Institute - Questionstorming
- Melina sings the national anthem
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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This episode features an insightful conversation with decision-making rockstar Annie Duke. Annie barely needs an introduction, she's the best-selling author of Thinking in Bets, and most recently, How to Decide. She has made it her pursuit to help us understand how we make decisions and provide us with concrete steps and tools for improving our decision making process.
We cover several interesting topics, including Annie's journey from academia, to professional poker, to consulting and back to research. We also cover why it's so difficult to update our beliefs, why we should hone our archer's mindset, and much more. The episode even includes a special guest. Enjoy!
Links and resources:
- Annie's website, LinkedIn and Twitter
- Latest book: How to Decide
- Previous book: Thinking in Bets
- Annie's newsletter
Philip Tetlock's work
- Research
- Superforecasting book
- Podcast Interview
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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This episode features a profound conversation with world-renowned neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett. Lisa is among the top 1% of most-cited scientists in the world, with over 240 peer-reviewed scientific papers contributing to her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. Outside of the lab, she's a best-selling author and her popular TED talk has more than 6 million views. TLDR: Lisa is a rockstar 🤘.
We cover several interesting topics, including why your brain is not for thinking, how prediction becomes reality, why most people are wrong in how they think about emotions, the best type of chocolate (spoiler: dark), and much more. Enjoy!
Links and resources:
- Lisa's website and Twitter
- Latest book: Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
- Previous book: How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
- Some of Lisa's selected journal publications and research papers
- Lisa's TED Talk: You aren't at the mercy of your emotions -- your brain creates them
- Jim Coan describing his heart attack on his Circle of Willis Podcast
- Dharmakīrti buddhism
Books referenced:
- Margaret Atwood books: Cat's Eye, Oryx and Crake & The Edible Woman
- Stuart Firestein books: Failure: Why Science Is so Successful and Ignorance: How it drives science
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The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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This episode features an insightful conversation with Dr. Clare Purvis, Director of Behavioral Science at Headspace. Clare is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience working in health technology, translating clinical evidence into commercially viable, engaging, and innovative digital products.
We cover several interesting topics, including how Clare transitioned from academia to the start-up world, how we can building systems of behavior change in organizations, what makes a good onboarding, and how to design for mindfulness. Enjoy!
Links:
- Clare's website and LinkedIn
- Clare is the founder of WELL, Women Entrepreneurs & Leaders Laboratory, which is the first professional organization for women clinicians and scientists leading the way in digital health.
- Aline's previous interview with Clare
- Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
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This episode features an insightful conversation with the fantastic Nina Mažar. Nina has been part of founding BEworks, BEAR (Behavioral Economics in Action at Rotman center), and the World Banks' behavioral science team. She is currently professor of marketing and co-director of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy at Boston University.
We cover several interesting topics, including how Nina got started in the field, three pieces of advice for starting a behavioral science unit, nudging for diversity and honesty, plus what to get next time you're ordering Balkan food. Enjoy!
Links:
- Nina's website, LinkedIn and Twitter
- Nina's TEDx talk on honesty and intentions
- Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
Timestamps
00:23: Episode overview
01:41: Interview begins
02:02: Nina details her background in behavioral science
04:29: How Nina’s work in both industry and academia shaped her view on behavioral science research
08:49: Nina discusses setting up the World Bank’s behavioral science unit
11:59: Nina’s advice on setting up a behavioral science team in an organisation
- Get shared buy-in within the organisation
- Data collection capacities and well-functioning internal systems
- Have a legal team on board
17:01: Reflecting on studies on dishonesty and nudging people via signature at the top
22:04: Why is the “bad apple” narrative so persistent?
24:16: How can behavioral science help counter discrimination and racism?
28:22: Countering gender bias in news reporting in Sweden via transparency
32:42: Underrated vs Overrated
- Revealed preferences
- Rationalisation
- Replication studies
- Crotian cuisine
- Bosnian cuisine
- Place’s Nina has lived
- Origami
39:02: How Nina applies behavioral science in her own life
41:03: Concluding remarks
–––––
Timestamps & shownotes compiled by Keith Broni 🏆
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
–––––
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This episode is special. It features a conversation with the world-renowned habit researcher, Wendy Wood. Wendy has devoted the last 30 years to researching how habits work and recently published the fantastic book Good Habits, Bad Habits.
The episode is packed with insights, and we cover all things habits, from the difference between habits vs. routines to the impact of reward and context on habit formation. If you're curious to understand habits better, this episode is for you!
Links:
- Wendy's website (where you can find here book) and her Twitter
- Wendy's labs habit research
- Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
Key points:
- Changing attitudes is often not enough – even when we change people's attitude, their behavior doesn't always follow. And it's the behavior we care about, what they do.
- The average person rarely distinguish between habits, behavior, intentions, beliefs and attitudes. "It's all all the same, all part of me and my decision making". It's important to differentiate these things as our brains consist of different systems that helps us accomplish different things.
- There's a habit learning system designed specifically to pick up repetition of behaviour in a given context that generated some form of reward. We can think of reward as not money, but what makes you feel good. Habits are the context response associations that you form in memory, when you repeat a behaviour, often enough for the for it to become automatic. Additionally, routines are simply sequences of habit.
- We can can change people's attitudes and beliefs for short periods, but these changes can disappear once they go back to real life if we fail to change the system. We need to understand the broader influences on someone's behavior in order to design contextual cues and rewards that helps them respond in new ways long-term.
Timestamps:00:16: Episode overview
01:33: Interview starts
02:00: Wendy details her background and how she got started researching habits
03:55: Differentiating habits and behavior
06:50: Distinguishing between routines and habits
08:10: The automaticity of bias associations compared to the automaticity of habits
10:50: Can one-off trainings really be used to create new habits
13:16: Changing day-to-day environments and systems to change habits
16:28: Sam tells an anecdote about the influence of context on habits
18:30: The temporal dynamic of habit activation
20:42: Recurring contextual associations with a habit
21:27: Internal states as context cues for habits
23:52: Incentivising habits with rewards
26:54: Case study: encouraging use of an office’s stairs over an elevator
29:40: Best way to incentivise new habits
33:57: How is frequency related to establishing a new habit
35:30: The generalisation of habits
37:10: Overrated vs Underrated
- Having a car
- Experience sampling
- Behaviorism
- The clean plate club
- Paris
- The marshmallow study
- Sidewalks
- Rituals
- Mise en place
44:47: What bad habit has been Wendy’s greatest nemesis in her personal life
47:36: Concluding remarks
–––––
Timestamps & shownotes compiled by Keith Broni 🏆
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizzaro.
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The Behavioral Design 2021 state of the field report is out 🎉 The report provides a combination of perspectives and opinions from 20+ leaders in the field on the state of behavioral design and where we're headed. Listen in on this special episode where...
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This episode features a fun conversation with the wonderful Dan Egan. Dan is the Director of Behavior Science and Investing at the innovative fin-tech company Betterment and is truly an authority on all things behavioral finance.We cover several...
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This episode features a fantastic conversation with is Amy Bucher, VP of Behavior Change Design at Mad*Pow and author of Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change. The book offers a wonderful exploration of how we can incorporate behavioral design into our...
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This episode features an interview with Behavioral Strategist, Author, and perhaps most importantly, co-host of this podcast – Samuel Salzer 🎉Aline puts Sam in the hot seat. The episode covers everything from behavioral science fiction, to why IKEA is...
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This episode features an interview with Aline Holzwarth the new co-host for this podcast 🎉Aline is an applied behavioral scientist, specializing in digital health research and scientifically informed product design. She's also the head of Behavioral...
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We all have our different rituals and that's what we'll explore in today's episode with the wonderful Nick Hobson.Nick has not only long studied the rituals of our everyday lives, but he also runs a successful consultancy helping organizations to better...
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What the heck is Behavioral Data Science? That is what I asked myself earlier this year as I got introduced to the wonderful work by today's guest of the podcast - Ganna Pogrebna.Ganna has an extremely impressive resume. She is a decision theorist and a...
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This episode is a fun two for one as it's a conversation with me and the wonderful duo, Kurt Nelson and Tim Houlihan.You're likely to recognize their voices as they host the popular Behavioral Grooves podcast where they explore the “why we do what we...
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Welcome to another episode of the Behavioral Design Podcast by Habit Weekly. This episode is a treat and an early Christmas gift since it's a conversation with truly a leader in the field - Josh Wright.Josh is the Executive Director at ideas42, which...
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This episode is a conversation with David Perrott focused on the fascinating world of self-applied behavioral science. This means what we can do with the tools and insights of behavioral science to better our own lives.David is the perfect person to...
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This episode of the Behavioral Design podcast is a conversation with Elspeth Kirkman and Michael Hallsworth. These are truly two heavy hitters when it comes to putting behavioral science to practice.Elspeth founded BIT's North American office before...
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Welcome to the Behavioral Design podcast by Habit Weekly, hosted by Samuel Salzer.This episode is a conversation with Torben Emmerling. Torben is the Founder and Managing Partner of the behavioral consultancy firm Affective Advisory and acts as...
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Welcome to the Behavioral Design podcast by Habit Weekly, hosted by Samuel Salzer.This first episode is a conversation with Stephen Wendel. Steve is one of the most experienced applied behavioral practitioners in the world. He's head of behavioral...
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