Tim Houlihan & Dr Kurt Nelson on Behavioural Experiments, Podcasting, and Innovation

The Human Risk Podcast

What role does experimentation play in making big life and creative decisions? What lessons can podcasters teach us about effective communication in business?

Show Summary

To answer these questions, in this festive episode, I’m thrilled to welcome back two friends of the show, two of my favorite podcasters, Tim Houlihan and Kurt Nelson, co-hosts of the Behavioral Grooves podcast.
Known for their brilliance in behavioral science and knack for experimentation, Tim and Kurt bring unique insights into podcasting, creativity, and decision-making. Together, we dive into their individual projects and collective experiments that push the boundaries of podcasting.
Tim shares his personal behavioral experiment—searching for a new home through a disciplined, satisficing approach. He reveals the challenges and joys of balancing criteria while navigating the stress of decision-making. Meanwhile, Kurt and Tim reflect on their podcasting journey, exploring creative formats like episodic series and Groove Jams.
They also discuss how podcasting can be a powerful tool for internal corporate communication, offering insights into storytelling and audience engagement.
This conversation is packed with reflections on experimentation, the value of adaptability, and how behavioral science can improve our personal and professional lives.
Whether you're a fan of behaviorual science, a podcast enthusiast, or someone looking for fresh perspectives, this episode will inspire and entertain.

Guest Biographies
Tim Houlihan is a seasoned behavioral science communicator. He brings years of expertise in applying behavioral insights to real-world challenges, focusing on decision-making, innovation, and communication.

Kurt Nelson is a behavioral scientist with a passion for leveraging psychology to inspire better outcomes in business and life. Known for his engaging storytelling, Kurt brings deep knowledge of behavioral principles to both podcasting and corporate consulting.
Both of them co-host the fabulous BeSci podcast, Behavioral Grooves, has become a go-to resource for exploring behavioral science concepts through fascinating interviews and creative formats. With over 450 episodes, they continue to redefine the podcasting space.


AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
(02:00) - Tim's Behavioural Science Experiment of where he should live
(11:32) - Decision-Making and Satisfaction in Housing
(17:26) - Navigating Choices
(21:21) - The Power of Corporate Podcasting
(35:01) - Effective Communication in Organizations
(47:08) - Exploring the Evolution of Behavioural Science Podcast Mini-series
(55:47) - Selecting Podcast Guests
(59:18) - Building Genuine Connections Through Podcasting
(01:07:23) - Future Plans for Behavioral Grooves Podcast
(01:13:24) - Behavior Shift with an 'f'
(01:22:53) - Impact of Behavioural Science Applications
Links
Behavioral Grooves podcast: https://behavioralgrooves.com/
Their first ever Groove Jam with me! https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/historys-biggest-what-ifs/
Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-houlihan-b-e/
Kurt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtwnelson/
Hartmut Rosa's book Resonance - https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=resonance-a-sociology-of-our-relationship-to-the-world--9781509519897
Google's Notebook LLM whcih produces an AI-generated 'podcast' summary of documents: https://notebooklm.google/