MicroBehaviors

Feb 21 2023 14 ep. 25 mins 1k
MicroBehaviors Podcast artwork

These tales of con-men, cave dwellers, and African hunters aren’t just gripping audio-dramas. They reveal secrets about your own behavior. In each episode, Andrew Webb helps you learn and implement MicroBehaviors: small actions from the best research that you can do today. So you flourish at home, work, and in relationships. (For primary sources and extended research visit www.mymicrobehaviors.com)

  Education  History  Society & Culture
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The Bloodiest Match: How to Improve Your Stories

Feb 21 2023 20 mins  
He couldn’t throw another punch because every bone in his hand was broken. Details like these are great for stories, but they impact a listener in ways far more than mere entertainment. Learn to match your stories with the right situation, and give your communication a "punch" ... See what we did there? (Story Science, Mirror Neurons, Neural Coupling)

(Bonus) How to Redirect Your Fear: The Bridge Jump

Feb 20 2023 9 mins  
When David Kirk looked over the suspension bridge he was faced with the dizzying reality...somebody had to jump first. Bungee jumping was in its infancy, and Kirk borrowed the idea from the Vanuatu Vine Jumpers. But both of them used the same trick to overcome fear. And it's a perfect MicroBehavior in our first bonus episode.

Jane Austen was NOT Romantic

Feb 18 2023 13 mins  
It was Jane Austen’s most romantic writing. But underneath there was a deeper desire. Something we all share. A thirst for more information. Learn how Three Magic Minutes can radically change the way you process the information around you.

Overcoming Stress and Fear: The Courageous Actor

Feb 17 2023 42 mins  
The country’s most famous actor was nearly crushed by a train. The Dangerous Sports Club introduces the world to a new extreme sport. And the most awkward interview on record. All of these teach us about stress and fear. They’ll also reveal the secret to managing them in everyday life.(Value Affirmations, Cortisol, Neuroplasticity)

A slave? No, a King.

Feb 14 2023 15 mins  
Nobody expected much from her, but Suzie King Taylor had grit. A lot of it. Every obstacle they threw her way actually helped her learn more. Whether washing out bloody laundry, staving off Smallpox, or fighting with the soldiers on the front line. She shows us that there are hidden gems for those who embrace the difficulty of learning. (System 2, Cognitive Disfluency, Dual Process

I’m 'Addicted' to My Phone: Escaping the Digital Cave

Feb 10 2023 46 mins  
He spent six months alone in a cave underground. Darkness. Bats. And a whole lot of guano! This modern caveman was also a product and victim of technology...something we can all relate to. Thankfully, digital expert Amy Blankson, the Luddites, and an accidental invention all teach us how to find happiness with our tools. (Digital Wellness, Habits, Switching Costs, Cognitive Load)

Peer Pressure in Hollywood

Feb 07 2023 23 mins  
He ignored scripts and even slapped actors to get them ready for the scene. Hollywood would never be the same because one maverick wasn’t willing to conform to the traditional rules. It's never easy to dismiss the opinions of peers. We like to adopt something called ½ Inch Thinking. But don't worry, this episode will give you one MicroBehavior to avoid the comforts of the crowd.

Part 2 - How to Change Your Habits

Feb 03 2023 41 mins  
At exactly 4:50 AM the entire country gathered to change one of their cherished traditions. Pandemonium? Or a perfect template for changing habits in our own lives? BJ Fogg—Head of Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab—would argue the latter. Leave this episode with one of the most fundamental MicroBehaviors to change your own habits.

Part 1 - Blind Habits that Can Save You

Feb 03 2023 37 mins  
Flying alone at 14,000 feet Jim suffers a stroke. How will he land safely? Another man’s habits save an entire country from annihilation. These are stories you can’t make up! But you can make up the myths we believe about habits...like how long does it take for a habit to form (hint: it’s not 21 days).

The Paradox of Wisdom: Gambling with the Mind

Jan 31 2023 37 mins  
Sam hates gambling. So why does he end up a victim of loan sharks and con-men? The answer is only obvious after we evaluate the mind’s fascinating journey from birth to death. Our brains rewire with every decision we make, for better or worse. And wisdom isn’t always about being right.(Schema, Cognitive Attractors, neuroplasticity, Mental Models)