Behavior Gap Radio

In this episode, Carl takes on the wild, stretchy nature of time—why we can procrastinate for months on a task that only takes minutes. He explores Parkinson’s Law, the mental weight of unfinished tasks, and the surprising productivity gains of adding constraints. With practical tools like the two-minute rule and a three-hour workday experiment, Carl invites you to test the "time illusion" for yourself and reclaim your attention, energy, and calendar.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode, Carl explores a powerful framework for navigating creative and financial risk: understanding whether you're playing a luck-based or skill-based game. Drawing on insights from Michael Mauboussin’s book, The Success Equation, Carl explains why sharpening your decision-making process is essential in luck-driven environments—like markets or venture capital—while skill-building is key in more predictable terrain. Knowing the difference just might change the way you approach your next big move.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode, Carl shares a personal experiment in breaking free from the “dopamine machine”—those tempting websites and distractions that quietly steal our time. He talks about using defensive measures like locking down access, creating space between stimulus and response, and replacing old habits with more meaningful activities. Along the way, he reflects on meditation, addiction, and the surprising power of simply noticing what we feel instead of trying to suppress it.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode, Carl explores what he believes is the greatest risk of all—not failure, but waking up one day and realizing we haven’t been the person we hoped to be. He reflects on daily regrets, the subtle ways distraction can derail our intentions, and why ignoring that quiet sense of misalignment only makes it worse. Most importantly, he offers a gentle reminder: notice the feeling, use it to course-correct, and begin again.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode, Carl dives into one of his most-quoted ideas: "Risk is what's left over after you think you've thought of everything." He unpacks the concept of residual risk, why it matters in everything from investing to skiing, and how small, safe-to-fail actions can help us navigate uncertainty. Plus, he explores the idea of general resilience—the kind of strength that helps you deal with the unknown unknowns.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a simple but powerful idea: When something feels too scary—whether it’s launching a business, writing a book, or making a big change—just make it smaller. He introduces the concept of microactions: tiny steps that feel almost too small to matter but are exactly what we need to get unstuck and start moving.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a powerful mindset for navigating uncertainty—whether it’s a looming recession or just a vague feeling of unease. Borrowing from his backcountry experience, he introduces the idea of a “flight to simplicity” as a way to reduce exposure to risk. From creative businesses to household budgets, Carl walks through practical ways to make things simpler, delay big decisions, and regain clarity—especially around the margins.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl explores the terrifying beauty of doing work no one asked for. He challenges the conventional path of chasing demand and instead makes a case for following the quiet compulsion to create—especially when it feels scary, uncertain, or totally invalidated. If you’ve ever felt called to make something simply because it lights you up, this one's for you.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl questions the very idea of financial "problems." What if most of what we worry about isn’t actually a problem at all—just imagined futures that may never happen? He explores how shifting our mindset (and maybe even our language) can help us stop spinning in thought and start doing the simple things that actually move us forward.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/ 

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares one of the most powerful tools he's ever created: The Overnight Test. Through stories of stocks, cabins, businesses, and even old clothes, Carl explores how this simple mental exercise helps reveal when we’re making emotional decisions disguised as financial ones. If you’ve ever struggled to let go of something—just because it’s always been there—this one’s for you.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/