People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast

Zachary Elwood

This show will help you understand human behavior and psychology so you can better navigate your personal and professional life and better connect with people. The host Zachary Elwood, known for his Reading Poker Tells trilogy of books, talks with a wide range of guests who have unique real-world insights, including: law enforcement professionals, behavior and psychology researchers, sports analysts, visa officers, jury consultants, political researchers, mental health experts, and many more. What drives this show is the idea that truly understanding people requires patience, nuance, and a willingness to question simplistic ideas and assumptions. There are more than 200 episodes. To learn more details, see transcripts, and sign up for updates, go to www.behavior-podcast.com.

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217 episodes
Updated Saturday

Episodes217

Newest first

Oct 8, 2024 · 41 min
What’s the problem with the Myers-Briggs personality test?, with Randy Stein
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test is used by many organizations and consultants, but it's been criticized by many as pseudo-science that's unhelpful, and even harmful. I talk to Randy Stein, who has researched the Myers Briggs and personality tests in general. Topics discussed include: the reasons people object to the Myers Briggs test; the downsides of personality tests that group people into boxes (as opposed to using a spectrum-like approach); the Forer effect, where peo
Oct 1, 2024 · 32 min
Some useful and reliable poker tells: A talk with Zach Elwood
This episode includes part of a poker tells webinar that I, Zach Elwood, did with Terry Wood, owner of PokerRailbird.com. I'm the author of three respected books on poker tells, including Exploiting Poker Tells and Verbal Poker Tells. My first book, Reading Poker Tells, has been translated into eight languages. You can learn more about my poker tells work at readingpokertells.com. Topics discussed: two important categories of poker tells; some specific examples of poker tells (including eye cont
Sep 26, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
Chase Hughes, NLP, & hypnosis: A "top-secret" military spin on old NLP seminar ideas
This is my third episode about Chase Hughes, the self-titled “#1 expert in behavior and influence.” My first episode about him examined his early deceptions and exaggerations, and his involvement in pick-up artistry and vitamin supplement sales. In this one, I talk about how Chase’s work relates to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and NLP-related hypnosis. Long story short: Chase has used the NLP trainer template but repackaged it with a military/secret-agent/MK-Ultra-type spin. I examine the
Sep 16, 2024 · 38 min
We’re MASSIVELY overstating our political violence problem — and that’s dangerous! | Sean Westwood
Many surveys and headlines have claimed there's a large percentage of Americans who support political violence. Some estimates have been around 25% – and some have gone as high as 40%! This is very scary; it ramps up fears of a violent and chaotic American future, and even fears of a civil war. But political polarization researchers like my guest Sean Westwood have shown that many people are massively overstating the problem. And that overstatement is leading to hysterical and unhelpful framings
Sep 9, 2024 · 29 min
Angry Chase Hughes’ fans lash out after his lies are revealed
This is a follow up to my last episode, in which I shared information about the many lies of Chase Hughes, the self-described “#1 expert in behavior and influence.” Some of the fans of Chase Hughes and the show he’s on, The Behavior Panel, responded in angry, unreasonable ways, personally insulting me and downplaying the significance of Chase’s many deceptions. Some of the people who responded in these ways, from what I’ve been told, are also social media content moderators who work for Chase Hu
Sep 2, 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
The Chase Hughes con: Alleged expert in behavior/influence has history of lies
An examination of the deceptive and strange background of Chase Hughes, who refers to himself as the “#1 expert in behavior and influence.” A popular YouTube show that he’s on, the Behavioral Panel, gets millions of views. Dr. Phil has called him the “best on the globe.” But Chase’s career is built on a foundation of lies and exaggerations — not only in the behavior and psychology space, but also in other pursuits, including pick-up artistry and vitamin supplements. He has made many grandiose cl
Aug 26, 2024 · 1 hr 5 min
I think astrology is bullshit. I interviewed an astrologist.
I talk to a professional astrologist named Ophira Edut. I myself don't believe in astrology but I was interested in asking her questions I've wanted to ask about astrology, and about belief in astrology. Topics include: why she believes in astrology, how her beliefs in that relate to other beliefs (like Reiki or other metaphysical ideas), people's negative views about astrology (including the view that people promoting astrology are doing harm); the importance of engaging respectfully with peopl
Aug 19, 2024 · 17 min
Fake psychology/behavior expert Jack Brown analyzes Trump's behavior
I talk again about fake behavior expert Jack Brown, whose pseudoscientific behavior analysis work I devoted a past episode to. Brown got some recent attention in a Raw Story article for an analysis he wrote about how Trump's body language at a press conference showed that Trump was lying. Topics discussed include: the silliness of Brown's work and why it's silly; tips for recognizing fake behavior experts; how this stuff connects to toxic political polarization; why you should care about pushing
Aug 13, 2024 · 7 min
A cry for help from failed podcast host and author Zachary Elwood
Apologies for the sad clickbait-y title. I'll be okay. I was trying to be a little funny. This is just some updates on things I've been working on and how you might help me if you'd like to do so. Or apart from helping me, you might like learning some details about how my books and podcast have been doing (spoiler alert: not great).
Aug 5, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
Psychological tactics magicians use to misdirect attention and manipulate audiences | Anthony Barnhart
A talk with psychologist and magician Anthony Barnhart focused on how magicians misdirect attention and manipulate an audience. Other topics include: the role blinking can play in misdirections; acts that claim to use psychology and behavior-manipulation to achieve magic-like effects (e.g., Derren Brown’s act); neuro-linguistic programming (NLP); a magic show Tony was impressed by recently and why he was impressed, and more.
Jul 31, 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
Objections to efforts to reduce American political polarization
Media bias specialist Vanessa Otero, founder of Ad Fontes Media, talks to me (Zach Elwood) about my books aimed at reducing toxic political polarization in America. Topics discussed include: common objections to and skepticism about this work (for example, views that those working on depolarization are "helping the bad guys"; why overcoming objections is so important; how conflict makes people behave in ways that amplify the toxicity of the conflict (often without knowing it); our distorted view
Jul 21, 2024 · 58 min
The psychology of how minor language choices can influence and manipulate, with Liz Stokoe
Liz Stokoe, author of "Talk: The Science of Conversation," explains how language choices can impact and manipulate us, often without us being aware of it.
Jul 14, 2024 · 51 min
If lie detectors don't work, why are they used?, with Leonard Saxe
A talk with psychologist Leonard Saxe, who is known for, amongst other things, his research into lie detectors (also known as polygraphs). Topics discussed include: why polygraphs and other forms of deception detection are unreliable; the use of polygraphs as a tool to extract information and confessions; the Richard Ames case, which involved a high-level CIA employee spying for the Soviet Union and beating a polygraph when questioned; a story where someone’s life was ruined due to cops trusting
Jul 3, 2024 · 24 min
Indicators that a 2020 video depicting racist harassment was staged
A video from 2020 seemed to show a racist woman harassing a black jogger. It was widely shared, but it turns out it was staged. I examine the clues that it was staged.
Jun 24, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
The awe and horror of existence, with existential psychologist Kirk Schneider
Psychologist Kirk Schneider talks about how confronting the core existential stressors in life (like fear of death and fear of meaninglessness) can help one lead a better, more happy life.
Jun 16, 2024 · 21 min
Life is *%$@ing strange: how does that relate to existential psychology?
Thoughts about how an awareness of life's strangeness might impact us, both positively and negatively, and how that might relate to existential psychology concepts. Topics include: how an awareness of life's strangeness might be seen to be a core existential stressor (like the fear of death, or fear of isolation); how this might relate to religious/spiritual experience; how this might relate to traumatic experience and PTSD; how being aware of life's strangeness might make one more likely to emb
Jun 1, 2024 · 1 hr 3 min
Psychological tactics in waiting tables and running restaurants, with Robin Dibble
A talk with Robin Dibble, an experienced Albuquerque-area service industry professional who’s worked in every aspect of the business, from waiting tables, to cooking, to managing restaurants and night clubs. Topics include: psychological strategies servers use to get more tips; how menu design can affect what people order; reading customer satisfaction as a restaurant manager; the factors in deciding to cut someone off from drinking; lighting and acoustics considerations when designing a comfort
May 21, 2024 · 1 hr 6 min
Two former congresspeople, a Democrat and a Republican, discuss political polarization
I talk to former members of the House of Representatives Luke Messer (Republican) and Elizabeth Esty (Democrat). We talk about: political polarization; their experiences being in congress during such a highly polarized period of time; their ideas for reducing toxic polarization, and more.
May 13, 2024 · 1 hr 3 min
The complexity of aphantasia, inner narration, and other inner experiences, with Russell Hurlburt
A talk with Russell Hurlburt, who’s researched inner experience for more than five decades. He is the author of 6 books and many articles on the topic of mental experience. Topics discussed include: The difficulty of describing inner experience; the ambiguities in the classification of “aphantasia” (reporting no visual qualities in one’s thought processes); the ambiguities in the “inner monologue” concept; thought on whether dreams are visual or not; and more.
May 7, 2024 · 42 min
The psychology of bus driving: reading the behavior of pedestrians, riders, and other drivers
A talk with Brendan Bartholomew, who's a professional bus driver in San Francisco. We talk about the role understanding and predicting human behavior can play when driving a city bus. Topics discussed include: the importance of thinking ahead about potential pedestrian/traffic dangers; how bus drivers know who’s waiting for a bus and who’s not; thoughts on handling unruly and/or mentally ill passengers; how modern rideshare and scooter traffic have changed things for bus drivers.

People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast

What’s the problem with the Myers-Briggs personality test?, with Randy Stein

Some useful and reliable poker tells: A talk with Zach Elwood

Chase Hughes, NLP, & hypnosis: A "top-secret" military spin on old NLP seminar ideas

We’re MASSIVELY overstating our political violence problem — and that’s dangerous! | Sean Westwood

Angry Chase Hughes’ fans lash out after his lies are revealed

The Chase Hughes con: Alleged expert in behavior/influence has history of lies

I think astrology is bullshit. I interviewed an astrologist.

Fake psychology/behavior expert Jack Brown analyzes Trump's behavior

A cry for help from failed podcast host and author Zachary Elwood

Psychological tactics magicians use to misdirect attention and manipulate audiences | Anthony Barnhart

Objections to efforts to reduce American political polarization

The psychology of how minor language choices can influence and manipulate, with Liz Stokoe

If lie detectors don't work, why are they used?, with Leonard Saxe

Indicators that a 2020 video depicting racist harassment was staged

The awe and horror of existence, with existential psychologist Kirk Schneider

Life is *%$@ing strange: how does that relate to existential psychology?

Psychological tactics in waiting tables and running restaurants, with Robin Dibble

Two former congresspeople, a Democrat and a Republican, discuss political polarization

The complexity of aphantasia, inner narration, and other inner experiences, with Russell Hurlburt

The psychology of bus driving: reading the behavior of pedestrians, riders, and other drivers