What truly helps people live longer, healthier lives? In this episode, we talk with journalist and author Ken Stern about the science behind longevity and why social connection may matter more than diet or exercise alone. From loneliness being compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day to cultures that keep older adults engaged through work and community, we explore how purpose, relationships, and social structures shape healthy aging.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Stern

[6:47] Big Cities vs Rural Living and Life Expectancy

[10:22] Are We Overvaluing Diet and Exercise?

[16:34] Why Loneliness Is Worse in the U.S.

[23:35] The Blue Zones Debate

[26:18] How to Build Stronger Social Connections

[30:25] Rethinking Retirement and Purpose

[40:28] Why Generational Mixing Matters

[44:41] Intergenerational Communities and Empathy

[53:50] Desert Island Music

[58:11] Grooving Session: How to Live Your Best (and Longest) Life

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Ken

The Longevity Project

Healthy to 100 by Ken Stern

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Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark

U2 - With or Without You

Innovation does not always come from inventing something entirely new. Often, the natural world has already solved the problem. In this throwback conversation, we explore the concept of biomimicry with behavioral scientist Sam Tatam, author of Evolutionary Ideas: Unlocking Ancient Innovation to Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges. We discuss how looking to nature can inspire creative solutions in behavioral science and beyond, from the principles of biomimicry to frameworks like the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the Goal Gradient theory. Along the way, we also wander into lighter territory, chatting about the musical artist Sam once traveled to Italy with and the cultural differences between pubs in London and Sydney.

[4:59] Welcome and speed round questions.

[13:23] What is biomimicry?

[18:20] TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and evolutionary thinking.

[25:32] How language can be a liberator for innovation.

[29:28] Categorizing biases into patterns.

[34:58] What is the Goal Gradient Theory and why isn’t it applied more often?

[9:14] Five psychological contradictions.

[47:26] What music would Sam take to a desert island?

[51:03] Grooving Session: Evolutionary Ideas.

Why do we say yes when we mean no? In this episode, we talk with Sunita Sah about the psychology of compliance and defiance. From Stanley Milgram’s experiments to the hidden force of insinuation anxiety, we explore why compliance is not the same as consent and how to train yourself to act in alignment with your true values.

[0:00] Intro and speed round with Sunita Sah

[14:57] Stanley Milgram’s Shock Experiments

[20:19] Defiance and True Consent

[29:18] Insinuation Anxiety and Conflict of Interest

[36:44] The Power of the Pause

[39:40] Stages of Defiance

[44:13] Moral Mavericks and Defiance Practice

[50:55] Desert Island Music

[56:17] Grooving Session: Conformity vs. Blind Compliance

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

Defy by Sunita Sah

About Dr. Sunita Sah

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The Cure - Pictures of You

Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence