The Human Behavior Podcast
by The Human Behavior Podcast
The Human Behavior Podcast helps professionals see more, assume less, and make better decisions when the stakes are high. Human behavior experts Greg Williams and Brian Marren examine the patterns behind what people say and do, using Human Behavior Pattern Recognition & Analysis to build clearer thinking, better judgment, and more effective communication.
Episodes
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Negative Space; Understanding What You CAN'T See
Send us Fan Mail You rarely get the whole picture before you have to make a decision. So how do you make sense of what you can’t see without filling in the blanks with a story that’s wrong? In this episode of The Human Behavior Podcast, Brian Marren and Greg Williams explore negative space: how…
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Better Tools, Better Judgment?
Send us Fan Mail Better tools. More information. But are we making better decisions? An alert tells you a vehicle may be stolen. What do you actually know, and what have you already started assuming? This week on The Human Behavior Podcast, Brian Marren and Greg Williams use Flock cameras and...
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Knowing When To Stop: Avoiding the Escalation Trap
Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to wreck a hard-won calm is to say one more thing. In this episode, dig into the escalation trap that shows up in boardrooms, squad cars, kitchens, and group texts: the moment an interaction starts to stabilize, we keep pressing because we still feel the original...
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When Technology Outpaces Human Performance with Alan Kearney
Send us Fan Mail Night vision keeps getting smarter, but our brains do not update on the same schedule. We’re joined by defense expert Alan Kearney, a former Irish Defence Forces officer who now works in European defense industry, to explore a problem that reaches far beyond goggles and helmets:...
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Probability & Language; The Cost of Being Certain
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re talking about probabilistic thinking and why language matters more than most people realize. The central idea is simple: most bad decisions don’t come from a lack of information, they come from mislabeling information. When we apply labels too early, we...
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Detecting A Cunning Opponent
Send us Fan Mail Your gut has tried to warn you before. That flicker when someone lingers by a bathroom door, shadows you to the elevator, or blocks your path with a smile and a prop—it’s not paranoia, it’s a baseline breaking. We dig into a practical method for spotting a cunning opponent early,...
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"Darwin's People" by Brian Moon
Send us Fan Mail When decisions can’t wait for perfect data, you need methods that actually work in the real world. We sit down with Brian Moon to pull naturalistic decision making out of journals and into the field where cops, medics, operators, and executives make consequential calls under...
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Your Internal Baseline
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we’re flipping the lens inward. You’ve heard us talk about reading the world around you — the external baseline — but what about reading yourself? What It Is (Street Definition) Your internal baseline is your mental operating system. It’s the framework that...
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Baseline + Anomaly = Decision
Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and highly practical episode, we unpack one of the most important (and misunderstood) aspects of human behavior analysis: the concept of baseline plus anomaly equals decision (B + A = D). During the episode, we dive deep into why our cultural obsession with "red...
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How Practice Saved My Life: Applying HBPR&A Under Fire
Send us Fan Mail What happens when theory meets reality in a life-or-death situation? Dan Chavez found out firsthand when he and his wife suddenly found themselves in the middle of an active shooter incident. In this riveting conversation, Dan walks us through the split-second decisions that…
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How To Ask Better Questions
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you missed something important? The truth is, you probably did; and it's likely because you didn't ask the right questions. In this illuminating episode, we dive deep into the art and science of asking better questions –...
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Do You REALLY Remember?
Send us Fan Mail What if your memory's "flaws" are actually its most powerful features? The startling truth is your memory was never designed to function like a perfect recording—it's a creative, adaptive system built to help you survive and thrive. Those moments when you confidently recall...
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What Problem Does This Solve?
Send us Fan Mail We explore why organizations rush toward new tech, convinced that shiny equipment will solve their deepest problems when often the issues are fundamentally about training, judgment, and decision-making. • The Boeing 737 MAX case study demonstrates how technological "fixes"…
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If It Walks Like A Duck
Send us Fan Mail Mental errors don't just lead to embarrassing moments—they can be fatal. When your brain categorizes something as familiar and routine, it filters out critical information that could save your life. The duck versus platypus problem perfectly captures this dangerous cognitive…
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The Parking Lot
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Website: https://www.arcadiacognerati.com/podcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thehumanbehaviorpodcast?si=Lzs4y2RuO_5N2UcV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanbehaviorpodcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ArcadiaCognerati More about Greg and Brian:...
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Recognition Primed Decision Making: Dr. Gary Klein
Send us Fan Mail Gary Klein, renowned cognitive psychologist and pioneer of the Recognition-Primed Decision Model, takes us deep into the minds of experts operating under the most demanding conditions. Drawing from decades studying firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military personnel,...
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What's Shaping Your Perceptions?
Send us Fan Mail The sciences behind human behavior are complex, yet the practical applications are what truly matter in our daily lives. In this illuminating discussion, we peel back the layers of scientific theory to reveal how concepts like gestalt psychology, emergence, and reification shape...
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The Gift of Time & Distance
Send us Fan Mail What if you could spot danger before it materializes? What if your decision-making advantage wasn't about reacting faster, but about seeing what others miss entirely? The gift of time and distance isn't just tactical jargon—it's a profound cognitive framework that separates...
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Masters of Uncertainty
Send us Fan Mail Are you overwhelmed by uncertainty? In our latest episode, we tackle the intricate relationship between uncertainty, risk, and the anxiety they provoke. As we explore the brain science behind these emotions, we break down how they influence our decision-making and daily lives.…
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John A. Dailey "Tough Rugged Bastards"
Send us Fan Mail Today, we have a truly special guest: John A Dailey—a retired Marine Corps Force Recon sniper, founding member of MARSOC, the Marine Corps’ first official unit under SOCOM, and author of Tough Rugged Bastards. If you’re curious about how an elite group of Marines forged a…
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Hardwired For Outrage
Send us Fan Mail What if fear, rather than fairness or loyalty, is the ultimate compass guiding our moral judgments? On this episode of the Human Behavior Podcast, we explore this provocative question inspired by Elizabeth Colbert's article in the New Yorker. Joining us is moral psychologist Kirk...
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Violence is a Language
Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the complex relationship between violence and communication, positing that violence can be a maladaptive language used by individuals when they feel unheard or powerless. The hosts discuss behavioral distinctions, the significance of feeling heard, and how...
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Orientation: How We Make Sense
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how our brains transform chaotic sensory inputs into meaningful information that guides our actions and decisions? Tune in to uncover the fascinating mechanisms behind human perception and orientation, and how these processes are essential for navigating…
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Doug Laux "Left of Boom"
Send us Fan Mail What if building a genuine connection could be the key to cracking complex intelligence operations? This episode features Doug Laux, a former CIA case officer and bestselling author of "Left of Boom," who lifts the veil on his secretive world. Doug shares stories from his time...
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The Perception of Time
Send us Fan Mail Hello everyone and welcome back to The Human Behavior Podcast! After a brief hiatus filled with some exciting projects, I'm thrilled to jump into a topic that's both timeless and timely—the concept of time itself. In this episode, Greg and I unravel the complexities of how we...
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"Anything Can Happen" is a Myth
Send us Fan Mail This week, we're debunking the myth that "anything can happen." In today's episode, we'll explore how adopting this mindset can increase uncertainty and cognitive load—especially in high-risk environments—and how it might set us up for failure. Instead of believing that "anything...
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Why High Functioning Teams Fail
Send us Fan Mail In this week's podcast episode, we are joined by one of our Advisory Board members, Dr. Joan Johnston, to talk about why high functioning teams fail. With over 30 years of experience working with the Department of Defense, Dr. Johnston is an expert on decision making and…
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School Safety and Security with Dr. Kenneth Trump
Send us Fan Mail Join us this week us for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Kenneth Trump, a renowned authority in school safety with a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years. Dr. Trump takes us on a compelling journey from his early days tackling gang issues in Cleveland schools to...
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Unmasking Intent
Send us Fan Mail This week we are “unmasking” a landmark case from New York that challenges our views on policing, legislation, and the balance between security and civil liberties. During the episode we explore the arrest of an 18-year-old under a new mask ban law, delving into the legal and...
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How To Talk To Anyone
Send us Fan Mail Did you know that mastering the art of small talk could change your life? Join us for a fascinating journey into the world of effective communication and information gathering, where Greg and I bring our contrasting styles to the forefront. From hostage negotiations to courtroom...
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Threshold For Action
Send us Fan Mail Humans are great at pattern recognition, but we often fail at the analysis portion because we have to rely primarily on subjective interpretations of events. So, this week, we are talking about the difficulty in determining when a situation has met a threshold for action, and we...
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Talk Behavior to Me: Kendall Ryndak-Samuel
Send us Fan Mail This week we are joined by a very special guest, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Kendall Rindak-Samuel. Kendall joined us to talk about the fascinating world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), showing how it can transform fields like education, sports, and corporate systems.…
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Thomas Crooks: A Behavioral Profile
Send us Fan Mail This week, we bring you an analysis of one of the most alarming events in recent history: the attempted assassination of Donald Trump by Thomas Crooks. We dive deep into the psychological profile of Crooks, examining how his actions challenge our preconceived notions of what…
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Our Need For Social Validation
Send us Fan Mail Historically, in-person communal gatherings met our needs for social validation and even stress relief. But today, those needs are met through rapid online interactions that fail to provide many of the important elements that are necessary for appropriate feedback. In this week’s...
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Currency v. Proficiency
Send us Fan Mail Are you in a profession where being up-to-date on your certifications isn’t enough to guarantee success in high-stakes situations? This week, we delve into the often-overlooked difference between currency and true proficiency in training. Inspired by a thought-provoking article...
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Cultivating Curiosity
Send us Fan Mail This week we are talking about curiosity, and it isn't just for kids! Imagine how your life could change if you harnessed the power of curiosity in understanding human behavior. This episode explains how we cultivate curiosity amidst the distractions of our tech-driven world....
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Zero Tolerance or Zero Thought?
Send us Fan Mail Today, we are dissecting the complexities and unintended consequences of zero tolerance policies through real-life examples, starting with the recent tragic shooting at Benito Juarez High School in Chicago. This incident exposes the bureaucratic hurdles and miscommunication that...
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Communication: Men v. Women
Send us Fan Mail This week we are discussing some of the common myths about gender differences in communication. From the misconception that women talk more than men to the reality of who interrupts more frequently, we sift through scientific studies and personal anecdotes to bring clarity to…
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"Criminals Are Made, Not Born"
Send us Fan Mail This week we are stepping into the shadows of the past as we uncover the chilling realities and patterns behind one of America's darkest days, the 1927 Bath Township School Massacre. But this isn't just a history lesson; it's an urgent call to foster vigilance and critical...
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Deception Detection
Send us Fan Mail This week we are jumping into the world of everyday lie detection, where even seasoned professionals grapple with biases and contextual cues. Through a blend of anecdotes and psychological insights, we illuminate the complex interplay between deceivers and those in pursuit of...
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When Instinct Meets Intuition
Send us Fan Mail This week we are unpacking the mysterious forces of instinct and intuition and explaining how these twin navigators steer our survival strategies as well as our everyday choices. During the episode we reveal how primal behaviors and nuanced judgments not only coexist but often...
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The Science of Scams
Send us Fan Mail Today we are discussing some of the psychological reasons behind why we are all prone to getting scammed! For the show we answered three main questions: Why do scams work? What is the psychology behind scams? And, Who is prone to falling for scams? During the episode we explain…
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Memory Is Fiction
Send us Fan Mail Today we are talking about the capabilities and limitations of our Memory and how it can be affected by a number of different external and internal influences. During the episode we explain how and why our brain creates false memories, how memory-emotion links are formed, the...
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O.B.E.
Send us Fan Mail Today we are talking about something that affects our perception and our cognitive performance, even before we realize it’s an issue! It’s something we call “O.B.E.” which stands for Overcome By Emotion or Overwhelmed By Events. During the episode we define in great detail what…
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Killing Complacency
Send us Fan Mail Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s episode of the Human Behavior Podcast. For this episode we are defining a term that you’ve likely heard before called Complacency. We’ve all heard the saying that “complacency kills” or had someone tell us not to get complacent but I…
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Culture Doesn't Matter
Send us Fan Mail Today we are talking about culture and why it matters less than what people think, especially when it comes to reading human behavior. Understanding culture is laboriously slow, heavily nuanced, and in today’s world of mass communication and global connectivity humans have the...
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Connecting The Dots
Send us Fan Mail Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s episode of the Human Behavior Podcast. Today’s episode is sort of the next step after last week’s episode where we discussed how important it is to focus on the background action or the context or “scene” that you are observing because…
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Non-Standard Observations
Send us Fan Mail Hello everyone and welcome to this installment of the Human Behavior Podcast. Today we are talking about the most important element of understanding, or “reading,” human behavior, which is the background action, the context, the setting of the scene that provides the relevance…
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About The Show
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Website: https://www.arcadiacognerati.com/podcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thehumanbehaviorpodcast?si=Lzs4y2RuO_5N2UcV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanbehaviorpodcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ArcadiaCognerati More about Greg and Brian:...
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Trust Your Gut
Send us Fan Mail This week we are talking about intuition and what it really means to “trust your gut.” Just like our previous episodes we are going to start out by reading an article that Greg wrote where he highlights several examples of people who DIDN’T “trust their gut” and it lead to some...
About this show
The Human Behavior Podcast helps professionals see more, assume less, and make better decisions when the stakes are high. Human behavior experts Greg Williams and Brian Marren examine the patterns behind what people say and do, using Human Behavior Pattern Recognition & Analysis to build clearer thinking, better judgment, and more effective communication.
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The Human Behavior Podcast
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