Stuart King designs evidence-based interventions for children and adults to change their behavior and manage their weight. He has worked with the UK’s NHS as an Obesity Lead, as a Senior Scientist in the Obesity and Healthy Weight Team, and is now the CEO and Head of Distraction at his company, BeeZee Bodies. The firm provides behavior change services across all of England.
Our conversation was recorded just after the World Health Organization had declared the coronavirus a pandemic, but before countries like Italy and Spain had ordered more severe lockdown measures. In this dynamic world, it’s important to know that because, as Kurt and Tim like to say, context matters!
Stuart’s observations on behavioral science combine his scholarly knowledge of the literature and a very practical approach to applying those principles. We found his ideas about the Whole Systems Approach, growth mindset, and the power of defaults very interesting.
We hope you will, too.
PS…it’s regrettable when we make mistakes, but it’s on us to call them out. At about 1:15:30 in this episode, Tim said two erroneous things that necessitate correction. First, the Symphony he’s referring to is the 5th Symphony, not the 9th. And second, the composer was Beethoven, not Bach. Such an error is unexplainable and somewhat unbelievable given his familiarity with both composers. We ask you to forgive this error, and enjoy a listen to Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (favorite!) on Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
© 2020 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Stuart King: https://beezeebodies.com/meet-the-team/
Lady Gray Tea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Grey_(tea)
Real World Behavioural Science Podcast: https://beezeebodies.com/professionals/real-world-behavioural-science-podcast/
“Habit Before the Habit”: https://beezeebodies.com/habit-before-the-habit/
Habitus: http://routledgesoc.com/category/profile-tags/habitus
Pierre Bourdieu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu
Rich Sheridan: https://menloinnovations.com/services/keynotes-and-talks
Menlo Innovations: https://menloinnovations.com/
Tim Chadborn: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/author/tim-chadborn/
Dan Ariely: http://danariely.com/
Whole Systems Approach: https://publichealthreform.scot/whole-system-approach/whole-system-approach-overview
Carol Dweck “Mindset”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Dweck
Susan Michie, PhD: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/people/susan-michie
Jim McManus: https://www.health.org.uk/fellow/jim-mcmanus
Common Biases & Heuristics: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XHpBr0VFcaT8wIUpr-9zMIb79dFMgOVFRxIZRybiftI/edit#
How to Stop Autoplay on Netflix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hoTWLQsECU
Birdsongs inspiring human music: https://theconversation.com/birdsong-has-inspired-humans-for-centuries-is-it-music-79000
Behavioral Grooves Patreon Site: https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves
Kurt Nelson, PhD: @WhatMotivates
Tim Houlihan: @THoulihan
Musical Links
Stephen Fretwell “Emily”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPD9RXFJAao
Valentina Lisitsa “Rachmaninoff 1st Piano Sonata”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_KbyDBvxrU
Tim Houlihan (on Soundcloud): https://soundcloud.com/timhoulihan
Nathan Carter “Wagon Wheel”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3h6Nr1Smw0
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, conducted by Herbert von Karajan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI
Share, Like, Comment: Sandra Matz PhD Exposes The Truth Behind your Digital Footprint
3 Ways to have a Positive Chat About Vaccine Hesitancy with Friends and Family
How a Compelling Story Packs a Persuasive Punch with Melanie Green
Secrets of Subtraction: Donut Holes, Lego and Bruce Springsteen with Leidy Klotz
Observing the Non-Obvious: How to Spot Trends Around You with Rohit Bhargava
Why It's Astoundingly Easy, But Not Better, to Be Tribal with Tim Ash
Scrutinizing Hype: Powerful lessons from The Hype Handbook with Michael F. Schein
A Thousand Thanks: A Lifetime of Experiments and Gratitude with AJ Jacobs
Linda Thunstrom: Are Thoughts and Prayers Empty Gestures to Suffering Disaster Victims?
GAABS and Improving the Future for Every Applied Behavioral Scientist
Dessa: The Attention Shepherd on the Curious Act of Being Deeply Human
Jonathan Mann: Is it Possible to Design an Experience?
Why We Need Robots with Kind Faces with Bertram Malle
The Myth of the "Relationship Spark" with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD)
How Shelley Archambeau Flies Like an Eagle
On Fake Memories and Whistleblowers with Nuala Walsh
How Chaning Jang Works Around Not Being WEIRD
The Counterintuitive Persuasion of The Catalyst with Jonah Berger
Time is Money – How Do You Value It?
How Decision Making is Critical for Back Country Skiers and Sex
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Poetry of Science
Hidden Brain
Proxy with Yowei Shaw
Invisibilia
The Science of Happiness