Money & Behavior Podcast

Research says the answer is both yes and no. In this episode, Dr. Charles explores the science behind money and well-being, including why income matters, where its benefits begin to fade, and what actually contributes to a meaningful and satisfying life. If you've ever chased "just a little more," this conversation may change the way you think about money forever.

Why do so many people feel unfulfilled after reaching their biggest goals? In this episode, Dr. Charles  explores the psychology of achievement, purpose, and personal growth through the story of Roger Bannister and the first four-minute mile. Drawing on research in motivation, flow, and behavioral psychology, he explains why humans aren't wired for permanent comfort, why retirement may not be...

Why do you fear a question mark more than a guaranteed loss? In this episode of the Money & Behavior Podcast , we break down the exhausting psychological weight of uncertainty. Whether you are waiting for delayed medical results, anticipating corporate layoffs, or watching market volatility shake your retirement portfolio, the human brain treats ambiguity as an active threat. Discover why your...

Why do big goals so often fail? We love big goals...Big announcements. Big plans. Big reinventions. But what if the reason most goals fail is because they’re too big? In this episode, we explore why small wins, tiny habits, and visible progress may be the real secret to lasting change in money, behavior, and life.

Dr. Charles opens the final episode of the Numb Podcast by talking about 1972 Eastern Airlines Flight 401 and how it demonstrates the limits to our attention. He then talks about how we tend to be the genesis of many of our own digital distractions. He then outlines how to address and limit our distractions in our work and lesiure. Finally, he spends time answering listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show talking about the challenges and misconceptions as it relates to productivity. He then shares several components of the new Productivity Resource document, walking through ways to address Email Overload and unproductive and expensive meetings for both you and your team.  He then closes with a "thrilling" song reference and answers some listener emails. For more...

Dr. Charles opens the show by addressing some of the emails related to holiday arguments. He then outlines how costly distractions are for organizations, outlining some of the primary causes for both office employees and those working from home. He then shares several steps both employees and  organizations can take to be more focused and productive. He then quotes a song, tells a story, and talks...

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing common family arguments during the holidays. He then discusses why being wrong is valuable to our growth and how focusing on our weaknesses leads to better productivity in our work and personal lives. He then answers some listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show outlining the costs of distraction to both corporations as well as employees and how it impacts both our professional and personal lives. He then outlines 6 things we can do to be more focused in our work and fight-off the "productivity pirates." Finally, he responds to multiple listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show talking about how people are so stressed these days and then dives into some of the root causes of this stress as it relates to the Information Age. He then talks about five ways we can better manage all of this stress. He tells an awful joke as an aside and then ends the show by quoting an old song and answering some listener email. 

Dr. Charles opens the show answering some listener emails regarding goal setting. He then talks about texting and some of the challenges that come from it...including coining the phrase, "trash-texting." He then closes talking about texting etiquette and answering listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing the different forms of motivation and how they impact almost all aspects of our lives. He talks about good and bad phlebotomists before talking about how social media can help (and sometimes impede) our motivation to engage others as well as meet our health/fitness goals. He then answers a few listener emails and talk about confirmation bias. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing the historic 1964 Surgeon General's announcement of the dangers of smoking and draws a comparison between the negative impacts of smoking and social media use, specifically as it relates to regulation. He talks about potential paths forward in finding a balance between capitalism and protection. He closes with another quote from a country music song. 

Dr. Charles discusses how we are currently living in an attention economy, the currency associated with it, and ways that we can thrive in this age when it seems as if everything is designed to hijack our attention. He then answers some listener email and for the first time ever, quotes a country music song. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing the reasons why we avoid information, whether our financial information, health information, or our interpersonal relationships. He then talks about ways we can stop avoiding uncomfortable circumstances and information to be more successful in our work and personal lives. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing some of the research behind pseudo-profound bullshit, including why some are susceptible to it as well as the implications of it as it relates to our work, personal lives, and fake news. He then dives into what makes good listeners (and bad listeners), sharing  five steps we can take to become better listeners at work and in our personal lives. He then answers...

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing Urban Dictionary. He then talks about the challenges associated with information overload in the workplace and most importantly, what to do about it. He answers a few listener emails and closes this episode by attempting to rap. 

Dr. Charles discusses the research about choice and how the nearly 35,000 choices we make per day are so taxing for us. He also compares the success of arranged versus non-arranged marriages as well as the distinction between satisfiers and maximizers. He closes with song lyrics and answers a few listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing the recent trend of bad behavior in society since the pandemic. He then welcomes author and psychotherapist Linda Bloom back to the show to discuss why we are experiencing all of this bad behavior, the stress that causes it, and what to do about it. Dr. Charles then answers some listener emails. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing California. He then shares a study that connects depression symptoms with susceptibility to COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. He then outlines the causes, symptoms, and ways to alleviate digital fatigue. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing his journey into the desert and the benefits of "being present" even during a difficult experience (running out of gas). He then talks about recency bias: How it impacts our investment decisions, behavior, and what we can do to combat it. 

It is the confirmation bias episode. Dr. Charles opens Season 2 talking about how confirmation bias affects our personal lives, our work, and even  medical diagnoses. He then answers listener email and quotes a song. 

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing everything from airport security lines to Hallmark Christmas movies. He then talks about the science of reflection as we consider this past year. Finally, he discusses New Year's resolutions and how we can create an environment that will help us attain our goals. 

Dr. Charles opens the show sharing details of his most recent trip. He then shares research regarding the use of multiple screens simultaneously and  how it impacts both our stress level as well as our memory. He then responds to select listener emails.

Dr. Charles opens the show discussing a situation he had in a bar. He then welcomes Dr. Gloria Mark from the University of California-Irvine to discuss email- the stress associated with it, how it impacts our attention, and whether or not it helps us be more productive.  They discuss solutions for both individuals and companies to manage their email inboxes without the inboxes managing them. He th...