Change Wired

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you keep making choices that don't align with your goals, despite your best intentions? The answer might surprise you. And it's not about willpower or discipline.  What happened when my family's Wi-Fi unexpectedly died during my parents' visit revealed a profound truth about human behavior. My father, who had been refusing physical activities for days due to arthritis, suddenly suggested a bike ride.  Behavioral scientists have a term for this phenomenon: choice architecture. Research shows that modifying your environment is dramatically more effective at changing behavior than simply trying to exercise more discipline.   This isn't just theoretical, governments worldwide have implemented these principles to encourage everything from increased savings to healthier lifestyles, not by convincing people intellectually but by making the desired choices easier to make. The most powerful environmental factor? Your social circle. The people you surround yourself with shape your decisions even more strongly than your physical surroundings, which explains why joining a group with respected peers is more effective than any solo willpower effort.  The most common mistake I see among intelligent, accomplished individuals is overestimating their capacity for consistent willpower. No matter how smart you are, your brain is fundamentally designed to conserve energy, which means you'll almost always default to the path of least resistance.  The solution isn't to double down on discipline but to strategically redesign your environment so the right choice becomes the ONLY available choice.  Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this message and help us create more positive impact by rating and reviewing the podcast on your favorite platform.  Let's get wired for change!  Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

Ever wondered why changing habits feels like an uphill battle?What if culture change, product design, or even personal transformation wasn’t guesswork but a process as reliable as engineering?In this episode of Change Wired, I sit down with behavioral scientist, author, and “empathetic scientific activist” Matt Wallaert to talk about the science - and the humanity - behind designing change that actually happens.We get into everything from M&Ms to meeting culture, VR boxing to corporate ethics, and why fuzzy words in leadership are killing your results. Matt breaks down how all behavior results from competing forces. Matt demonstrates how small environmental changes can create massive behavioral shifts.Perhaps most fascinating is Matt's insight into organizational change. While companies obsess over changing customer behavior, they often neglect internal behavior design. "Fuzzy leadership language" about wanting "more engaged employees" or "better culture" fails because it doesn't translate to specific, observable behaviors. Matt provides a framework for creating workplaces where people thrive by applying the same rigor to internal behaviors that companies apply to customer acquisition.Whether you're looking to transform personal habits, lead organizational change, or design products that genuinely improve lives, this episode offers effective frameworks for making behavior change systematic, ethical, and effective.We dive into:Why defining specific behaviors is the missing first step in almost every change effortThe difference between naïve behavior change and evidence-based designHow to think about promoting vs. inhibiting pressures (and why it matters more than motivation)Real-life examples from parenting, product design, and internal culture changeEthics in behavioral science: intention–action gaps, autonomy, and long-term thinkingHow leaders can stop hiding behind values statements and start engineering cultures that workIt’s practical. It’s funny in places. And it might just make you rethink the way you design… everything.BIO, Links & Resources MentionedMatt’s Website: mattwallaert.com Free Behavioral Science Course: SIDE Model Training (recently made free)Matt’s book: Start at the End: How to Build Products That Create ChangeConnect with Matt on LinkedInFor almost 20 years, Matt Wallaert has been applying behavioral science to practical problems.  After leaving academia, his career as an executive lead from startups (Thrive, Churnless) to the Fortune 500 (Microsoft, CapGemini) and back again, before founding BeSci.io (Behavioral Science in organizations), where he and the world’s most experienced behavioral science leaders help companies grow applied behavioral science capabilities within their organizations.These days, Matt is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Oceans, helping to bring high-quality job opportunities to international markets so that talented people don’t have to emigrate to grow. More about Matt Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

The ability to adapt and change has never been more critical than in today's rapidly evolving world. Yet most of us unwittingly sabotage our own cognitive flexibility through one common mistake: keeping yourself stuck in unhelpful thought patterns.  And it starts with sleep...  Sleep isn't merely rest, it's when your brain performs its most sophisticated work.  During those precious hours, your neural networks physically restructure, processing new information and connecting it with existing knowledge. Research consistently shows that sleep-deprived individuals significantly underperform on learning tasks, regardless of whether they involve physical skills or mental concepts. By sacrificing sleep in the name of productivity, you're actually preventing your brain from developing the very flexibility needed to navigate complex challenges, learn and find the most effective solutions.  The most powerful tool for breaking this cycle of not sleeping and being stuck in outdated belief patterns is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT, the basics of which you will learn today). The revolutionary insight of CBT is recognizing how our thoughts directly shape our ability to change and solve novel problems - and how questioning those thoughts can transform it.  Ready to transform your sleep and unlock your cognitive flexibility and learning potential? Tune in, question your thinking and get ready to change.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

Let's unlock the secret relationship between your biology and psychology that determines your energy levels, mood, and ability to create meaningful change in your life.   How's your energy each morning? Before coffee? Your ability to have a great sleep most nights? Without meds, Netlix or booze?  THAT determines your quality of life more than anything.  Discover the science-backed morning ritual that naturally optimizes your energy without caffeine or sugar. This simple practice signals your brain's internal clock to produce the perfect cortisol pattern: high in the morning for sustained energy and gradually decreasing to support restful sleep.  Learn why most people experience the opposite pattern (low morning energy, high evening alertness) and how this disrupts everything from immune function to cognitive performance.  You'll also learn surprising energy hacks including the proper timing for melatonin supplementation, how grapefruit naturally extends cortisol effects, and why morning hydration and movement amplify your energy activation.  This episode bridges cutting-edge neuroscience with actionable steps anyone can implement immediately. Whether you struggle with morning grogginess, afternoon slumps, or evening insomnia, these biological interventions create the foundation for optimal performance, mood, and fulfillment.  Ready to charge your biological battery correctly? Your brain, body, and goals will thank you.  Want to transform your energy cycle?  Try Angela's seven-day protocol and experience the difference. Connect on Instagram @AngelaBrainBodyCoach or email info@yourbestculture.com to continue your journey toward optimal energy and meaningful personal growth.  Let's dig in!    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

You can't force humans to thrive—you have to design for it.”  ~ Anish Padinjaroote  What if the secret to building a thriving workplace culture that builds great companies and humans wasn't about control, but about intentional design and extreme trust, spreading things that work like a virus?  Welcome to a fascinating conversation with Anish Padindrarote, a workplace architect with 23 years of global experience.Anish shares a revolutionary formula for culture change: daily behaviors multiplied by leadership actions, divided by system friction. This simple equation unlocks profound insights into why some workplace cultures succeed while others struggle despite good intentions. His approach challenges conventional wisdom, suggesting we design systems for the 98% of employees who want to contribute meaningfully, rather than focusing on controlling the problematic 2%.  During our conversation, Anish unpacks why most organizations fail at scaling culture, revealing how we should think of culture as something that's "caught, not taught" – requiring contagious behaviors rather than cascading policies. You'll learn why treating employees as adults remains revolutionary in corporate environments and how verbalizing values as actions rather than nouns transforms abstract concepts into lived experiences.  One of the most powerful moments comes when Anish describes the difference between creating a "manicured garden" versus a "regenerative forest" when it comes to culture. The former barely survives storms, while the latter thrives through adaptation and deep-rooted strength.  In the age of AI, Anish offers crucial perspectives on what makes human contribution uniquely valuable and how culture serves as the operating system that enables human-centered approach to work for humans and business.   Whether you're leading a team of five or an organization of thousands, this episode provides practical wisdom for creating magnetic cultures where both people and performance flourish.  🛠️ Some practical tools you’ll learn about:  Weekly Town Halls for scaling trust and transparency  People Advisory Model for transforming managers into leaders  Living Values playbook (with real-life behavioral examples)  Culture Index Score: an emerging framework for measuring cultural health  Microcultures and Culture Stretching vs. “Culture Fit”  Ritual design as behavior design for scaling transformation  ... and more!  Anish's BIO:  A workplace architect and strategist with over 23 years of experience across four continents. Anish, has transformed organizations from nimble startups to global enterprises across Banking, Retail, Energy, and Tech.  He has mastered the art of building high-performance, people-first cultures that drive real business results. From founding a behavioural science + AI startup to seamlessly integrating post-merger teams, he specialize in creating environments where talent thrives and innovation flourishes.   Connect & Follow:   🔗 Anish on LinkedIn  Read Anish's thought-provoking posts on leadership, culture, and the future of work.   If you’re a leader navigating transformation, don’t miss this episode.  Listen now. Reflect later. Grow always.  Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

Feeling stuck in your career or business path? Or unclear? That frustrating thought, "I want to work on interesting projects, and I'm not doing that right now" - might be your wake-up call for change.  This episode unveils four powerful questions from behavioral scientist Matt Wallert that will transform how you approach your next professional chapter. Rather than randomly trying new opportunities, these questions create a framework to filter what truly matters to you. I walk through each question while sharing my personal answers to show how this process works in practice.  The answers will connect to your lived experiences and pain points you've encountered. For me, it revealed two driving themes: helping unlock human potential that's left unexplored and fixing systems that harm rather than help - this method will help you understand driving themes of your life. Understanding these core motivators has changed how I evaluate opportunities.  This framework works equally well for individual reflection or as a group exercise with teams or family members. Try these questions yourself, then share them with someone navigating their own transition.  Time to tune up your career GPS! Tune in!    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

Have you ever felt that nagging urge to grow and transform without knowing exactly where you're headed?  That uncomfortable space between knowing you need change and not having a clear destination can feel like being lost at sea – eager to move but unsure which direction leads to land.  Drawing from my coaching experience and personal journey, this episode unveils a powerful alternative to traditional goal-setting that works brilliantly during times of transition and uncertainty. Rather than forcing yourself to define an end destination you genuinely can't envision, I share how creating "pacts" – short-term, focused commitments to specific actions – can provide structure, learning, and forward momentum.  You'll discover how one CEO I'm working with reclaimed control of his days through a simple 5-minute morning practice, and how a senior professional navigating career transition used targeted exploration to uncover her path forward. I outline the 4 essential elements that make pacts effective. This approach transforms vague aspirations like "get better at ..." into concrete actions that generate real insights.  Whether you're reimagining your career, pivoting your business, or simply feeling called toward something new without knowing what, this episode offers a practical framework for progress.  By embracing experimentation and committing to process over predetermined outcomes, you'll learn how to navigate uncertainty with confidence, curiosity, and purpose. What tiny experiment might unlock your next chapter?  Listen and find out how to start moving forward, even when the destination remains unclear.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

Theme: Decision-making, leadership, behavioral science & leading change through uncertain times  🔍 What you’ll learn from this episode  Why most organizations fail at evidence‑based decision-making — the difference between gathering data to justify an outcome versus following a robust method without attachment to conclusions. (Discovery VS Confirmation Bias)  The paradox of positive outcomes — how positive results can mislead us just as much as failures, and why leaders need to focus on process quality instead of just the results  What real confidence in leadership looks like today — the power to say “I don’t know,” create safe guardrails, and delegate decisions while rewarding rigor over having answers  Why culture must be embedded in systems, not slogans — how leaders can model uncertainty, incentivize behavioral habits, and build structures that align every function with strategy  How to operationalize feedback loops — creating transparent, actionable cycles of signal gathering, reflection, course correction, and escalation from frontline teams to leadership  Strategic thinking recalibrated for accelerated change and AI — moving from annual planning to continuous, small‑batch strategic change; scenario thinking to build resilience and adaptiveness  Where behavioral science and leadership intersect — using both to redesign systems, clarify roles, and shift outcomes at scale  🧠 Why it matters  As AI accelerates disruption and uncertainty becomes routine, organizational decision-making, even more than technology, will define who succeeds or fails. This conversation equips leaders with the mindset, tools, and culture needed to lead through ambiguity, design better systems, and foster distributed decision-making that scales.  🎧 Who should listen  Executives steering transformation or digital/AI change  HR and strategy leaders trying to embed behavioral practices into their culture  Change agents looking for frameworks to link strategy, systems, and growth  Anyone curious about behavioral science, systems thinking, or leadership for the 21st century  📢 Next steps & resources  Explore Brooke’s work at Converge: convergehere.com - find details on strategy + culture transformation, the ACT framework, Brooke's keynotes and more. Or reach out to Brooke directly at brooke@convergehere.com to inquire about transformation facilitation, keynotes, or workshops.  If you’re ready to shift from process‑blind decisiveness to strategic clarity, to lead with confidence in uncertainty, and build cultures where change sticks and works - this episode is for you.  🎙️ Listen now, share with a leader who’s steering transformation - this one shifts how you think about change.  Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

What happens when we become so fixated on our flaws that we miss the strengths hiding in plain sight? For years, I've watched people struggle with change not because they weren't trying hard enough, but because they were looking in the wrong direction.  The science of "inattentional blindness" explains why we miss critical solutions when we're hyper-focused on problems.  Just like participants who fail to spot a gorilla walking across a basketball court because they're busy counting passes, we miss our own strengths and resources when we're fixated on fixing what's broken. This psychological phenomenon creates a self-defeating cycle of demotivation and missed opportunities.  Through my two decades in coaching, I've discovered that the most powerful transformations happen when we flip the script.  Rather than obsessing over weaknesses, "awesome-based coaching" leverages what's already working. Drawing from principles developed by Precision Nutrition and my own experience transforming habits, I share practical ways to apply this strength-based approach to everything from health habits to business building. Whether you're struggling with personal change, leading a team, or trying to transform an entire system, this episode offers a refreshing alternative to the "fix what's broken" mentality that dominates our culture. As it turns out, you don't need more discipline or willpower - you need to recognize and build upon the strengths you already possess.  Join me in exploring how to create lasting change by focusing not on what's wrong, but on what's possible.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

The universal tension between seeking comfort and pursuing growth creates an internal tug-of-war we all experience. What if this conflict isn't a flaw, but a feature of our neurobiology designed to serve our triving?  Drawing from insights by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and personal development pioneer Tony Robbins, this episode reveals how our brains are simultaneously wired for 2 opposing forces: homeostasis (maintaining balance and comfort) and reward-seeking (driving us toward exploration and growth). This biological reality explains why we can genuinely want two contradictory things at once - to stay comfortable and to challenge ourselves.  What's particularly fascinating is how different people are naturally calibrated on this spectrum.  Some individuals, like Richard Branson or Tony Robbins, appear wired for perpetual growth. For these "explorers," the answer to "When is it enough?" is simply "Never" - their fulfillment comes from the pursuit itself. Others naturally gravitate toward maintaining and improving existing conditions. Both tendencies serve important functions, and neither is inherently superior.  Understanding your natural tendencies can dramatically improve decision-making. If you recognize yourself as growth-oriented, you can stop questioning why comfortable situations never satisfy you for long. For those working with others - whether as managers, partners, or parents - this understanding helps position people according to their strengths rather than fighting their nature.  Share this episode with someone struggling with whether to stay comfortable or venture into something new.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation ConsultantEXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH