Why do some spaces energize us while others drain us? This week, Leidy Klotz joins us to explore how our homes, workplaces, and everyday environments shape our behavior, creativity, and well-being. Drawing from his new book, In a Good Place, Leidy explains why humans crave agency, competence, and connection, and how the spaces around us can either support or suppress those needs.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Leidy Klotz

[11:01] The Concept of “Good Place”

[18:26] Psychological Needs and Space

[26:44] Making Purposeful Decisions for Spaces

[34:02] Designing Spaces for Growth and Belonging

[45:09] Creating Groovy Spaces

[50:03] Grooving Session: Practical Tips for Designing Better Spaces

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Leidy Klotz

In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz

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Bruce Springsteen - Racing in the Street

Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender

In this throwback episode, we're determined to be happy. Psychologist Shige Oishi joined us to explore the three dimensions of a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. He shared insights from decades of research into subjective well-being and revealed how personality traits, life experiences, and cultural contexts shape what we consider a “good life.” From challenging the “happiness trap” to embracing life’s rich diversity, this conversation is a roadmap for deeper self-reflection and greater fulfillment.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Shige Oishi

[10:28] The Happiness Trap

[18:38] Eudaimonic and Hedonic Approaches to Happiness

[27:30] The Correlation Between Psychological Richness and Personality

[35:00] Gratitude and Social Connection

[44:10] What Makes a Happy Society?

[48:00] Desert Island Music

[1:05:25] Grooving Session: How to Pursue a Fulfilling Life

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Shige

Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi

Happiness is Everything, or Is It?

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Charlie Parker - Honeysuckle Rose

Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Joy Spring

Why do we avoid talking to strangers when connection is exactly what we need most? This week, Nick Epley returns to explore the psychology of “under-sociality” and why we consistently underestimate how rewarding social interaction can be. Nick explains why even small moments of openness, from conversations with strangers to deeper honesty with the people around us, can dramatically improve happiness, trust, and belonging. Turns out, the biggest social risk often isn’t reaching out, it’s staying quiet.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Nick Epley

[10:40] The Paradox of Being Social

[19:12] Experiments and Findings

[26:20] How Being Social Impacts Your Health

[32:27] The Challenges of Being Social - Political Divides

[46:00] Introverts, Extroverts, and What Maslow Got Wrong

[54:30] Loneliness, Survival, and the Need to Belong

[1:02:18] Grief, Adoption, and the Power of Connection

[1:12:56] Desert Island Music

[1:15:42] Grooving Session: Leadership, Conversation, and Connection

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Nick

A Little More Social by Nick Epley

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Matt Kearney - Ships in the Night

Rufus Wainwright - Across the Universe (Cover)