Behavioral Grooves Podcast · July 20 · 1 hr 8 min

Climate Advice You’ve Never Heard | Liz Dunn & Jiaying Zhao

Climate change conversations often focus on sacrifice, but what if the path to a healthier planet also made us happier? We sit down with Leave the Lights On authors Liz Dunn and Jiaying Zhao to explore how behavioral science can help us focus on the environmental choices that matter most, why social influence is more powerful than guilt, and how small, joyful decisions can create lasting change. Topics [0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Liz Dunn & Jiaying "JZ" Zhao [9:03] Why Your Neighbors Influence You More Than Climate Facts [13:09] High Impact Climate Choices That Actually Matter [17:05] Scarcity, Happiness, and Enjoying More by Having Less [24:00] Leave the Lights On: The Carbon Math That Changes Everything [27:05] Why Where You Live Matters More Than You Think [31:17] Remote Work, Happiness, and Carbon Emissions [37:34] Everyday Climate Decisions That Make the Biggest Difference [42:10] Creating Upward Spirals of Joy [44:49] Why Sharing Your Choices Influences Others [47:57] The Environmental Cost of AI [50:58] Desert Island Music Picks [53:42] Grooving Session: Show Don't Tell Leadership ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Leave the Lights On by Liz Dunn and Jiaying Zhao About Liz About JZ Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Music Links Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do Counting Crows - Round Here Justin Bieber - Daisies Mozart - Symphony No. 40

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Climate change conversations often focus on sacrifice, but what if the path to a healthier planet also made us happier? We sit down with Leave the Lights On authors Liz Dunn and Jiaying Zhao to explore how behavioral science can help us focus on the environmental choices that matter most, why social influence is more powerful than guilt, and how small, joyful decisions can create lasting change.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Liz Dunn & Jiaying "JZ" Zhao

[9:03] Why Your Neighbors Influence You More Than Climate Facts

[13:09] High Impact Climate Choices That Actually Matter

[17:05] Scarcity, Happiness, and Enjoying More by Having Less

[24:00] Leave the Lights On: The Carbon Math That Changes Everything

[27:05] Why Where You Live Matters More Than You Think

[31:17] Remote Work, Happiness, and Carbon Emissions

[37:34] Everyday Climate Decisions That Make the Biggest Difference

[42:10] Creating Upward Spirals of Joy

[44:49] Why Sharing Your Choices Influences Others

[47:57] The Environmental Cost of AI