Curious Minds at Work
Want to get better at work? At managing others? Managing yourself? Gayle Allen interviews experts who take your performance to the next level. Each episode features a book with insights to help you achieve your goals.
Episodes
September 19, 2026 • 52 mins
We’ve all had moments when we’re not sure whether to say something. A friend is making a mistake. A colleague seems upset. We have something personal we want to share. Do we speak up? Stay quiet? And how do we know which choice is the right one?
Social psychologist Vanessa Bohns studies what happens in these moments. She’s a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of the new book, Sh...
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September 5, 2026 • 44 mins
When it comes to enhancing mental performance, we’re all looking for an edge. And while a healthy diet, regular exercise, and ample rest support healthy brain function, they can only get us so far.
What really matters when it comes to improving our focus, regulating our emotions, or planning for our future, is taking a moment to think before we think. And to do that, we need to understand how our brains do these things, and ...
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August 22, 2026 • 45 mins
Opportunities for human connection are all around us. When we’re in a café. At a restaurant. In a checkout line. Each instance is an opportunity for small talk with a stranger. And these interactions can yield big benefits.
Unfortunately, most of us are missing out. We’re not aware of how powerful these experiences can be. And that’s where researchers are sharing some incredible findings. University of Sussex ps...
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August 8, 2026 • 53 mins
Most of us ruminate. We get caught in a loop of thoughts that replay over and over again. It’s as if our brain is stuck in a place we don’t want to be, yet we can’t break free. Over time, those repetitive thoughts can become the lens through which we see ourselves, other people, and the world—and that lens is often shaped more by fear than reality.
Donna Jackson Nakazawa can help us break the cycle. An awar...
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July 25, 2026 • 51 mins
Most of what we hear about the middle part of our lives is untrue. It’s focused on the myth of the midlife crisis rather than the realities of these years. This can create a sense of dread for a period of time with tremendous upside.
Margie Lachman has spent her career studying midlife. She's author of the book, Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife, Professor of Psychology at Brandeis University, and an expert in adult develo...
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July 11, 2026 • 50 mins
There are times in our lives where we feel stuck, be it personally or professionally. It might be in our career. It might in a relationship.
We’re smart, so we try to think our way out of it. But when we’re really stuck, thinking can turn into ruminating. And the more we think, the more we stay stuck. That’s when the labeling kicks in. The voice in our head labels us lazy, or crazy, or just plain unmotivated.
T...
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June 27, 2026 • 49 mins
No one wants to feel like a sucker. In fact, the very thought of being one – of playing the fool – shapes our behavior in powerful ways.
But what if our fear causes us to make choices that aren’t good for us? Or worse, what if people weaponize our fear in order to dominate or disempower us?
Tess Wilkinson-Ryan has written a stunning book on the topic called, Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our ...
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June 13, 2026 • 52 mins
Runners have pacers to help them manage their energy throughout a race. They couple that with a training program that balances extreme and moderate effort with rest. Research shows that this balanced approach ensures a stronger performance.
Like professional athletes, we, too, seek high performance. But we may not realize that, like runners, we need to manage the pace of our lives.
That’s where science journalist Elizabet...
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May 30, 2026 • 43 mins
There’s a lot to be said for the excitement we feel when we first set a goal for ourselves. The sense of exhilaration can give us the momentum we need to get started.
But when the exhilaration wears off – and it usually does – we’re faced with a choice. Will we revert to old habits or develop new ones?
These moments are what Jonathan Rhodes calls choice points, and the decisions we make can really add up...
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May 16, 2026 • 57 mins
We think we need complete freedom to achieve our goals. But maybe freedom is the problem. What if, instead, constraints are what we really need?
That’s the question David Epstein was curious about.
David Epstein is author of the bestselling books, Range and The Sports Gene. In his latest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, he combs through the research and tracks down the stories of just how powerful cons...
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May 2, 2026 • 54 mins
We live in a world of markets. The ones we can easily see, like grocery stores or restaurants. And the ones that are less obvious, like college admission, waitlists, even your schedule.
Yet these less obvious markets play an important role in our lives. That’s why I wanted to speak with University of Pennsylvania economist, Judd Kessler, author of the book, Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get What You Want...
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April 18, 2026 • 46 mins
It would be great if we could gain success overnight. In a matter of hours, we’d be happier, smarter, maybe even wealthier. But when we step back and assess how much time success actually takes, we can feel overwhelmed.
Those are the feelings Eric Zimmer certainly had. Faced with his own challenges, he knew he needed to change. And, over time, his curiosity about what change actually requires led him to the field of behavior...
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April 4, 2026 • 51 mins
When life gets hard, humor can feel like a luxury. Like an indulgence we don’t deserve or have time for. But science tells a different story.
Researchers have learned that humor can help with healing and grief, and it can improve our social connections. And innovators often call out the role fun plays in getting curious and acting on their ideas.
One of these innovators is Chris Duffy, a stand-up comedian, TV writer, and ho...
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March 21, 2026 • 59 mins
Anthony Klotz believes we’re just one event away from quitting our jobs. Anthony is a professor of organizational behavior at University College London’s School of Management and the person who coined the phrase, “the Great Resignation.” He’s also author of the book, Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters.
Anthony’s research shows just how much leaders and employees need to learn ...
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March 7, 2026 • 40 mins
In those moments when we want to disagree, why do we often stay silent? At those times when we want to opt out, why do we often just go along?
A key reason is that it’s hard to defy. It’s hard to question the way something’s always been done. To challenge comments, behaviors, and systems. Yet it’s in those moments of defiance that we flex our values and craft an identity.
That’s why I wanted to talk ...
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February 21, 2026 • 49 mins
When it comes to our health and well-being, something’s missing from the checklist. Sure, we’ve got to get enough sleep, eat healthfully, exercise, and socialize. But one thing rarely makes the list – the arts.
Singing. Dancing. Drawing. Visiting a museum. Going to a concert. Researchers are finding that these activities are not only entertaining, but they impact health and longevity in incredibly positive ways.
...
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February 7, 2026 • 51 mins
Relationships that thrive have characteristics that rarely appear by accident. Instead, their design is often intentional, even if the designers are unaware of the formula.
That’s where Dan Coyle comes in. Curious about how some leaders craft strong relationships and successful outcomes, he spent time studying their methods. Dan shares what he learned in his latest book, Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfil...
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January 24, 2026 • 51 mins
Most of us long to connect and, as social creatures, it makes sense that we not only want this but need human relationships to live a healthy life.
With numbers on loneliness and polarization continuing to climb, I wanted to speak with someone who’s focused on the antidote, that is, connection. It led me to speak with Kate Murphy, author of the book, Why We Click: The Emerging Science of Interpersonal Synchrony.
Kate&rsquo...
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January 10, 2026 • 52 mins
Decisions tax our brains. Whether it’s deciding which shows to watch or which products to buy, the choices are endless and can feel exhausting.
That’s where status comes in.
Researchers have learned that status is a mental short-cut we turn to when we’re feeling stuck. It’s an invisible force that guides decision-making and drives our choices.
And it comes at a cost.
Toby Stuart has written a book on sta...
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December 26, 2025 • 53 mins
Each day, millions of doctors write prescriptions for drugs intended to help their patients. But what if many of our modern health ailments, like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, would benefit as much, if not more, from a social prescription?
What if nature, art, movement, and service could reduce our symptoms, decrease doctor visits, and improve our health?
These are questions Julia Hotz set out to answer. Julia is author ...
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