Why does gratitude feel so easy to feel yet so hard to say? In this Thanksgiving grooving session, we unpack the psychology behind our awkwardness around expressing appreciation—from miscaliberated assumptions to the belief that people can “just tell” how grateful we are. Drawing on research from Nick Epley and others, we explore how gratitude rewires the brain, boosts well-being, and strengthens relationships, and we share simple, science-backed nudges to help you connect more deeply with the people you love this holiday season.

A Note From Our Team:

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©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] What is Gratitude?

[1:51] Barriers to Expressing Gratitude

[3:44] Nudges for Practicing Gratitude

[6:54] The Power of In-Person Gratitude

[8:30] Closing Thoughts: Happy Thanksgiving!

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

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Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant

Vintage Thanksgiving Playlist

Harvard instructor Margaret Andrews joins us to explore why effective leadership starts with self-awareness. We discuss blind spots, emotional intelligence, team norms, and the internal work leaders must do to better understand their impact. Margaret offers practical tools for developing people and navigating organizational context, showing how self-understanding reshapes culture, communication, and long-term leadership success.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Margaret Andrews

[7:10] What Managers Get Wrong

[16:59] Challenges of Leading Others

[21:42] Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

[27:20] The “Best Boss” Exercise

[35:54] Leading for the Long Term

[39:56] Advice for New Managers

[44:19] Desert Island Music

[49:38] Grooving Session: Self-Awareness, Biases, and Leadership Takeaways

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Margaret

Manage Yourself to Lead Others by Margaret C. Andrews

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Rod Stewart - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Nina Simone - Feeling Good

What if the gender revolution never finished? Economist Corinne Low joins us to unpack why women have transformed the workforce while men’s roles at home have barely changed. Drawing on insights from her book Having It All, Corinne reveals why so many families are stretched thin, caught between data, social pressure, and outdated norms. Together, we explore what it means to “have it almost,” and how smarter boundaries, parental leave, and fairer divisions of labor could finally help us reach true balance at home and at work.

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Corinne Low

[8:30] Gender Roles in Parenting

[18:58] Behavioral and Social Norms in Parenting

[27:32] Economic Models and Marriage

[38:29] Paternity Leave and Gender Roles

[44:18] Structural Changes and Workforce Adaptations

[52:49] Desert Island Music

[55:26] Grooving Session: Finding Balance at Home and at Work

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Corinne

Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours by Corinne Low, PhD

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Pearl Jam - Even Flow

The Beatles - Now and Then

Financial advisor and author Mark Matson joins Behavioral Grooves to explore what the American Dream means today—and whether it’s truly attainable for everyone. We dig into his view that fulfillment comes from mindset, not money, and examine how behavioral biases can sabotage our financial decisions. But as we discuss the tension between personal responsibility and systemic headwinds, we also ask: can discipline and optimism alone really guarantee success?

[0:00] A quick word with Kurt and Tim - Struggling with the American Dream

[5:08] Speed Round with Mark Matson

[9:20] Cognitive Biases in Investing

[16:00] Victimhood vs Agency

[23:58] Why Investors Are Their Own Worst Enemy

[27:12] Behavioral Economics and Bad Decisions

[38:45] The Three Rules for Smarter Investing

[44:58] Defining “Enough”

[51:13] How to Find Purpose and Find Your Groove

[58:50] Desert Island Music Picks

[1:01:12] Grooving Session: Nuance, Privilege, and Perspective

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

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About Mark

Experience the American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life by Mark Matson

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Billy Joel - We Didn’t Start the Fire

Morgan Wallen - I Got Better

How does framing influence the way we think, feel, and act? Sociologist and author Mikael Klintman joins us to explore how framing shapes nearly every part of life — from art and politics to health and everyday conversations. We discuss how subtle shifts in language and context can change our perceptions, why framing itself is neutral but powerful, and how expanding or contracting our frames can unite or divide us. Tune in for practical insights on recognizing framing in action and using it to see the world differently.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Mikael Klintman

[6:29] Framing: A Double-Edged Sword?

[13:02] The Art of Social Influence

[17:07] Rough and Smooth Framing

[22:54] Frame Expansion and Contraction

[30:12] Behavioral Economics and Framing

[36:25] Framing in Everyday Life

[41:23] Music and Framing

[48:04] Grooving Session: Using Framing to Reframe Your Own Mindset

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Mikael

Framing: The Social Art of Influence by Mikael Klintman

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U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Randy Crawford - Rio de Janeiro Blue

Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves! In the spirit (OoooOoo) of the holiday, we're resharing one of our old episodes exploring the spooky side of biases - why we have them, and how we can overcome them. Tune in while you're painting your face for that halloween party, or maybe play it on the speakers outside to really scare the kids with some cold hard science.

No tricks, just treats — and by treats, we mean thoughtful behavioral science stories told without ads or sponsors.

Help Behavioral Grooves stay independent and science-focused by becoming a paid subscriber or making a one-time donation. Support our work

This Halloween, we dive into the spooky science of superstition—why we knock on wood, wear lucky socks, and believe in things that defy logic. From the psychology of control and uncertainty to research on how superstition both stresses and strengthens us, we mix science, humor, and a dash of Stevie Wonder to show why “superstition ain’t the way.”

[0:00] Happy Halloween from Behavioral Grooves!

[2:08] Common superstitions and their rationality

[6:40] Psychological and cultural aspects of superstitions

[9:13] Superstitions: The positives and negatives

[14:36] The hidden wisdom of Stevie Wonder

[16:14] Why we should be curious about our rituals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition

Delacroix, Eva & Valérie Guillard. (2008). Understanding, defining and measuring the trait of superstition.

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Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Nightmare Before Christmas - This Is Halloween

Psychologist and author Dr. Wolfgang Linden joins us to explore why so much of our stress comes not from events themselves, but from our attempts to control them. Drawing on 40+ years of research and clinical experience, he breaks down the “illusion of control” and argues that we only truly have power over two things: how we respond and where we direct our energy. We dive into his emotion–thought–behavior framework, the dangers of suppressing emotions, and how small shifts in attention and behavior can interrupt toxic cycles. From relationships to health to life goals, Wolfgang shows how letting go can actually give us more peace, more agency, and a clearer path forward—sometimes even by knowing when to quit.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Dr. Wolfgang Linden

[6:08] Emotions: friend or foe?

[13:38] Behavior change and depression

[17:51] When to persist vs. when to quit

[26:23] Stress, values, and life priorities

[31:39] Saying yes to opportunities

[36:05] What to do when stuck in a rut

[43:37] Desert Island music

[48:36] Grooving session: attention, focus, and letting go

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Dr. Wolfgang Linden

The Illusion of Control: A Practical Guide to Avoid Futile Struggles by Wolfgang Linden

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Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath

Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished)