Katy Milkman is an award-winning behavioral scientist and the James G. Dinan Professor
at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She hosts Charles Schwab’s
popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and is the co-founder and co-director of The Behavior Change for Good Initiative. She has worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart and Morningstar. Her research is regularly featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and NPR.
Topics
[1:33] What it means to align one’s actions with their goals and dreams
[2:41] Why change is difficult
[6:51] Katy’s thoughts on the barrier of conformity
[8:37] Katy discusses laziness
[12:20] The power of elastic habits
[21:09] How to avoid flaking out
[29:01] How to create a fresh start
[39:21] Why a fresh start can be a setback to some
[45:06] What “temptation-bundling” is
[48:33] Katy’s thoughts on self-control
[51:14] How the power of social forces can boost self-control
[54:15] Can positive behavioral interventions create meaningful change?
[56:12] Does age have an impact on the ability to change?
[58:46] When should we seek change vs. self-acceptance?
[1:02:26] What behavioral changes make a better academic?