

The Behavioral Design Podcast
Samuel Salzer and Aline Holzwarth
How can we change behavior in practice? What role does AI have to play in behavioral design? Listen in as hosts Samuel Salzer and Aline Holzwarth speak with leading experts on all things behavioral science, AI, design, and beyond. The Behavioral Design Podcast from Habit Weekly and Nuance Behavior provides a fun and engaging way to learn about applied behavioral science and how to design for behavior change in practice. The latest season explores the fascinating intersection of Behavioral Design and AI. Subscribe and follow! For questions or to get in touch, email podcast@habitweekly.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 25, 2023 • 51min
Behavioral Public Policy with Nick Chater
In this insightful discussion, Nick Chater, a Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School, explores the intersection of behavioral science and public policy. He highlights the challenges of integrating autonomous vehicles into society and the critical role of effective communication in human-machine interactions. Chater also critiques the focus on individual actions versus systemic changes, advocating for innovative policy framing to foster public support. Additionally, he delves into the complexities of public health policies, such as smoking regulations, and the impact of behavioral nudges.

May 10, 2023 • 52min
Getting Psych'd with Paul Bloom
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
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com

May 3, 2023 • 34min
Product Deep Dive: Conferences 🎤
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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We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and ideas for future episodes! Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.

Apr 26, 2023 • 59min
Controversial Opinions with Dave Pizarro
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 podcast
Support 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

Apr 16, 2023 • 33min
Product Deep Dive: Toothbrush
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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We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and ideas for future episodes! Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.

Apr 5, 2023 • 54min
Engagement with Heather Cole-Lewis
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 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com

Mar 29, 2023 • 26min
Product Deep Dive: Personality Tests
Dive into the intriguing world of personality tests! The hosts share personal experiences and discuss how these assessments can reveal insights about ourselves and others. They tackle the controversial role of personality tests in recruitment, weighing their effectiveness against potential biases. Learn about popular tests like DISC and their cultural ramifications, particularly in Sweden. Plus, enjoy a humorous reflection on past blunders as they emphasize the importance of accuracy and audience engagement. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion!

Mar 22, 2023 • 59min
Personality with Sanjay Srivastava
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.
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com

Mar 15, 2023 • 18min
Product Deep Dive: Co-living Spaces
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
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.

Mar 8, 2023 • 50min
Happiness Design with Laurie Santos
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
Support the podcast by joining Habit Weekly Pro 🚀
The song used is Murgatroyd by David Pizarro.
Get in touch via podcast@habitweekly.com