Bobbi Wegner: Culture Is Relationship at Scale | Work 20XX Ep 61

Bobbi Wegner is a clinical psychologist, Harvard lecturer, and Founder and CEO of Groops — a psychology-based coaching platform built on a simple, solid premise: people are social beings, hardwired for connection. "Animals in suits" was her phrase.

In this episode, Bobbi makes the case that culture is relationship at scale. Not the posters on the wall. Not the values deck. The actual strength of the connections between the people doing the work, accumulated one interaction at a time.

We cover:

• Why AI adoption is fundamentally a behavior change problem — and why most companies are treating it like a software rollout
• The thoughts-feelings-behavior chain that drives every business outcome anyone actually cares about
• The impossible squeeze on middle managers right now, asked to hold teams together while navigating their own uncertainty
• The bifurcation Bobbi sees coming: companies that double down on people plus the tool, versus companies using AI as cover to cut

When people are stressed and uncertain, their amygdalas are getting beat up all day long. A stressed, defensive amygdala is not a connecting brain. It's a surviving brain. And that shows up directly on the bottom line.

Good psychology is good business. Bobbi makes the case.

Recorded live at Running Remote 2026, Austin, Texas.

Guest: Bobbi Wegner, Founder & CEO, Groops | drbobbiwegner.com | joingroops.com

Work 20XX explores the future of work, distributed teams, and human performance in the age of AI. Hosted by Jeff Frick.

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