Get More from Reading your Favorite Books with Pique founder Bec Weeks
06/06/21 • 53 min
On this episode of Behavioral Grooves we chat with the founder of the engaging new app PIQUE. Bec Weeks is a behavioral scientist turned accidental entrepreneur! By joining forces with some of the brightest minds in behavioral science, including partners Sendhil Mullainathan, Eldar Shafir and Mike Norton, they have developed an amazing app that accompanies your favorite books.
Pique takes users' interests in books to a new level with their slogan: Don't just read the book. DO the book. By using insights from psychology research, the app creates three-minute adventures that change how you see yourself and others. Pique helps you DO things. They know that just reading books doesn’t lead to change. Doing leads to change. That’s where the app can help.
Pique has created curious, engaging content from some of the bestselling books from the last year:
- Katy Milkman's new book “How to Change” https://amzn.to/2RSeJCj
- Lidy Klotz “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less” https://amzn.to/3p6XcT0
- Annie Duke “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices” https://amzn.to/3yRPWyO
- And many more.
You can check out the new app Pique here: https://getpique.app.link/4voB1E9VOgb. But first, listen in to Bec's chat with us.
What You Will Learn About In This Episode(2:38) Welcome and speed round
(5:06) What is Pique?
(12:50) Why humor is an important part of the app
(17:03) Why is the app called Pique?
(21:13) How Bec has used analytics and algorithmic techniques
(23:05) Bec’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur
(26:49) The surprises of being an entrepreneur
(32:43) How Bec first became interested in behavioral science
(34:37) What music would Bec take to a desert island?
(41:11) Grooving Session
I you are a regular listener to Behavioral Grooves, we would really appreciate your support by writing us a podcast review or becoming a Behavioral Grooves Patreon Member at https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves. Thank you!
© 2021 Behavioral Grooves
LinksBec Weeks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becweeks/
Pique: https://getpique.app.link/4voB1E9VOgb
Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir “Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much” https://amzn.to/3uzvyz2
Ashley Whillans “Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life” https://amzn.to/3wSy4lD
Wendy Wood “Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick” https://amzn.to/2TzXxSr
Dolly Chugh “The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias” https://amzn.to/34BinTD
Katy Milkman “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” https://amzn.to/2RSeJCj
Annie Duke “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices” https://amzn.to/3yRPWyO
Lidy Klotz “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less” https://amzn.to/3p6XcT0
Mike Norton and Elizabeth Dunn “Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending” https://amzn.to/3c8Mlm1
Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas “Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)” https://amzn.to/3paWZhB
Daniel Kahneman “Thinking Fast and Slow” https://amzn.to/3fZDvbA
Episode 205: The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD) https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/the-myth-of-the-relationship-spark-with-logan-ury-featuring-a-guest-appearance-by-christina-gravert-phd/
Episode 220: How Do You Become Influential? Jon Levy Reveals His Surprising Secrets https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/how-to-be-influential-jon-levy/
Episode 38: Linnea Gandhi: Crushing On Statistics https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/linnea-gandhi-crushing-on-statistics/
Epis...
On this episode of Behavioral Grooves we chat with the founder of the engaging new app PIQUE. Bec Weeks is a behavioral scientist turned accidental entrepreneur! By joining forces with some of the brightest minds in behavioral science, including partners Sendhil Mullainathan, Eldar Shafir and Mike Norton, they have developed an amazing app that accompanies your favorite books.
Pique takes users' interests in books to a new level with their slogan: Don't just read the book. DO the book. By using insights from psychology research, the app creates three-minute adventures that change how you see yourself and others. Pique helps you DO things. They know that just reading books doesn’t lead to change. Doing leads to change. That’s where the app can help.
Pique has created curious, engaging content from some of the bestselling books from the last year:
- Katy Milkman's new book “How to Change” https://amzn.to/2RSeJCj
- Lidy Klotz “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less” https://amzn.to/3p6XcT0
- Annie Duke “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices” https://amzn.to/3yRPWyO
- And many more.
You can check out the new app Pique here: https://getpique.app.link/4voB1E9VOgb. But first, listen in to Bec's chat with us.
What You Will Learn About In This Episode(2:38) Welcome and speed round
(5:06) What is Pique?
(12:50) Why humor is an important part of the app
(17:03) Why is the app called Pique?
(21:13) How Bec has used analytics and algorithmic techniques
(23:05) Bec’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur
(26:49) The surprises of being an entrepreneur
(32:43) How Bec first became interested in behavioral science
(34:37) What music would Bec take to a desert island?
(41:11) Grooving Session
I you are a regular listener to Behavioral Grooves, we would really appreciate your support by writing us a podcast review or becoming a Behavioral Grooves Patreon Member at https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves. Thank you!
© 2021 Behavioral Grooves
LinksBec Weeks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becweeks/
Pique: https://getpique.app.link/4voB1E9VOgb
Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir “Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much” https://amzn.to/3uzvyz2
Ashley Whillans “Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life” https://amzn.to/3wSy4lD
Wendy Wood “Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick” https://amzn.to/2TzXxSr
Dolly Chugh “The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias” https://amzn.to/34BinTD
Katy Milkman “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” https://amzn.to/2RSeJCj
Annie Duke “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices” https://amzn.to/3yRPWyO
Lidy Klotz “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less” https://amzn.to/3p6XcT0
Mike Norton and Elizabeth Dunn “Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending” https://amzn.to/3c8Mlm1
Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas “Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)” https://amzn.to/3paWZhB
Daniel Kahneman “Thinking Fast and Slow” https://amzn.to/3fZDvbA
Episode 205: The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD) https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/the-myth-of-the-relationship-spark-with-logan-ury-featuring-a-guest-appearance-by-christina-gravert-phd/
Episode 220: How Do You Become Influential? Jon Levy Reveals His Surprising Secrets https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/how-to-be-influential-jon-levy/
Episode 38: Linnea Gandhi: Crushing On Statistics https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/linnea-gandhi-crushing-on-statistics/
Epis...
Previous Episode
The Power of Unity: Robert Cialdini Expands His Best Selling Book Influence
The GodFather of Influence, Robert Cialdini joins us again on Behavioral Grooves to share his motivation for expanding his bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (https://amzn.to/3tyCpZ6) which now includes a completely new Seventh Principle of Influence: Unity. This additional principle can help explain our political loyalties, vaccine hesitancy and why media headlines can be so inflammatory.
Another motivation for the revised edition to the book is to include more application to the Principles of Influence. So our conversation highlights some of Bob’s advice for start-up businesses and how they can harness the principle of Social Proof. And as general advice, Bob recounts how he recently advised a teenager to be generous to others - this in turn stimulates the Rule of Reciprocity, nurturing a relationship which is mutually beneficial.
No episode of Behavioral Grooves would be complete without discussing music, even with guests we’ve interviewed before! But the theme of unity has a special significance with music and Bob highlights how music and dance bring people together and help them feel unified. Plus we get an interesting story of an experiment in France, and how a guitar case played a crucial part in one man’s luck.
We hope you enjoy our discussion with The Godfather of Influence, Robert Cialdini. Since we generously share our great content with you, perhaps you feel influenced by the Rule of Reciprocity and will become a Behavioral Grooves Patreon Member at https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves!
© 2021 Behavioral Grooves
Topics we Discuss on Unity with Robert Cialdini(3:55) Speed round
(6:50) Ideal number of stars on your online review
(9:00) Why Cialdini wrote a new edition of Influence
(12:13) The new Seventh Principle: Unity
(15:10) How to harness social proof as a start-up
(20:02) A new color of lies
(22:22) Principle of Unity with politics
(24:42) Tribalism and vaccine hesitancy
(28:35) Why Trump getting vaccinated hasn’t influenced his voters
(30:50) How framing of media headlines influences our perception of the news
(33:24) The Petrified Forest Wood Principle
(36:56) Where will the next generation of research go with Cialdini’s work?
(40:52) What advice would Cialdini give your teenager?
(48:23) Music and influence
(53:05) Grooving session
Robert Cialdini's BooksInfluence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion https://amzn.to/3tyCpZ6
Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade https://amzn.to/3eGdyOW
LinksEpisode 50: Robert Cialdini, PhD: Littering, Egoism and Aretha Franklin https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/robert-cialdini-phd-littering-egoism-and-aretha-franklin/
Increase Your Influence https://www.influenceatwork.com/
Godfather 2 Movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_Part_II
Richard Thaler https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thaler
Daniel Kahneman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman
Episode 222: How Delusions Can Actually Be Useful: Shankar Vedantam Reveals How https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/shankar-vedantam-useful-delusions/
Donald Trump vaccine https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2021/04/20/trump-i-dont-know-why-republicans-are-vaccine-hesitant-again-floats-pfizer-conspiracy-theory/
Petrified Forest Wood Principle https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-shaping-us/201909/the-petrified-wood-principle
Stanley Schachter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Schachter
Jerome Singer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
Next Episode
Getting to Yes, And...Behavioral Grooves: Two Podcasts in One
This episode is a Behavioral Grooves first: we bring you our first ever joint podcast! Mid-way through the episode the tables turn and our guest interviews us! Our guest is the amazing Kelly Leonard, host of the great podcast called “Getting to Yes, And...” presented by Second City Works and WGN in Chicago. This unique conversation with Kelly, Kurt and Tim gives us a glimpse of the people behind the podcasts. It is a light-hearted, raw conversation scattered with some really personal, touching stories about challenges each of them have faced in their lives.
For over 30 years, Kelly has worked at Second City Improv - in all capacities moving up to Executive Vice President. He’s worked with some of the most unforgettable and influential comedians on the planet, such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler! His book, "Yes, And," received rave reviews in Vanity Fair and the Washington Post.
But what we really wanted to talk to Kelly about was his work as executive director of insights and applied improvisation at Second City. He now co-leads a new partnership with Booth School at the University of Chicago that studies behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. Their mission is to use humor and empathy, interactivity and dialogue, to elevate conversations and inspire people to perform better.
Kelly talks to us about what improv actually is. He believes it’s fundamentally different from comedy and says many people tell him that improv training changed their life. He likens improv to “yoga for your social skills”!
We discuss Kelly’s concept of “Yes, And”. So often as humans, our default setting when asked to be involved with something, is to do nothing or say no. But our regrets are almost always about the things that we didn't do. He describes saying “yes, and'' as a little nudge. And he has some innovative ways of sharing this idea through improv exercises
Kelly has discovered that real value is added to the “Yes, And” approach by adding a final step called “Thank You, Because”. Those are the words that help bridge a gap between us and someone else we fundamentally disagree with. By thanking someone for sharing information, their “fear brain” isn’t triggered, and they feel gratitude. The “Because” part forces us to find something in what they’ve said that is true for both of us. We then have some space to stay in the conversation together.
Our conversation with Kelly then flips! And for the first time ever on Behavioral Grooves, the interviewers become the interviewees! We delve into the behavioral science work that Tim and Kurt are passionate about; negativity bias and how to overcome it, talking to our emotions and naming our fears, the 4-Drive model of Motivation, as well as how to improve really dull work meetings!
Kurt and Tim tell us the “yes, and” story of how the Behavioral Grooves podcast actually started! And Kelly shares how an office fire was the spark that ignited his podcast journey. In this unique episode you will learn what makes these 3 great podcast hosts really tick and what techniques and exercises they use to stay positive, grateful and what they’ve learnt by saying “yes, and”.
Topics We Discuss in This Episode(3:36) Welcome to Kelly and speed round questions
(5:00) What is improv?
(10:32) The concept of “Yes, And”
(17:15) Obstacles as gifts
(20:08) Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset
(21:46) “Wish” - a resilience exercise
(23:36) Kelly talks music
(26:56) Switch! Kelly welcomes Tim and Kurt
(27:09) Negativity Bias
(29:06) Talk to the emotions
(31:23) How writing connects with your emotions
(36:44) How Kurt started his business
(37:03) The 4-Drive Model of Motivation
(39:25) How Behavioral Grooves and Getting To Yes, And podcasts started
(42:18) Meetings suck! How can we improve them?
(44:29) Emotional safety at work
(52:30) Who do Kurt and Tim REALLY want as a guest on their podcast?
(59:42) Kurt and Tim’s Yes, And stories
(1:04:18) Grooving session
LinksKelly Leonard: https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+
Second City: Secondcity.com
“Getting to Yes, And” Podcast: https://www.secondcityworks.com/podcast
Art In An Instant: The secrets of improvisation https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/lifestyle/science-behind-improv-performance/
The Big Short Movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Short_(film)
Richa...
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