AI pioneer Sandy Pentland joins us to explore how storytelling and shared wisdom shape human culture, and how artificial intelligence could either strengthen or freeze that process. From the history of AI to the future of democracy, we discuss collective intelligence, distributed decision-making, and how AI tools might actually improve civic dialogue if designed the right way.

[0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Sandy Pentland

[8:09] Could AI make society less intelligent?

[12:21] What “shared wisdom” really means

[18:28] Culture, stories, and how societies evolve

[23:50] Information overload in the digital age

[30:23] Why shared goals (a “North Star”) matter for progress

[34:10] The history of AI: booms, winters, and lessons learned

[42:46] Can AI improve democracy?

[49:13] The danger of algorithmic “rich get richer” systems

[54:19] Grooving Session: storytelling, culture, and collective intelligence

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Sandy

Shared Wisdom: Cultural Evolution in the Age of AI by Sandy Pentland

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Devo - Whip It

Flight of the Conchords - Robots (The Humans Are Dead)

What truly helps people live longer, healthier lives? In this episode, we talk with journalist and author Ken Stern about the science behind longevity and why social connection may matter more than diet or exercise alone. From loneliness being compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day to cultures that keep older adults engaged through work and community, we explore how purpose, relationships, and social structures shape healthy aging.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Ken Stern

[6:47] Big Cities vs Rural Living and Life Expectancy

[10:22] Are We Overvaluing Diet and Exercise?

[16:34] Why Loneliness Is Worse in the U.S.

[23:35] The Blue Zones Debate

[26:18] How to Build Stronger Social Connections

[30:25] Rethinking Retirement and Purpose

[40:28] Why Generational Mixing Matters

[44:41] Intergenerational Communities and Empathy

[53:50] Desert Island Music

[58:11] Grooving Session: How to Live Your Best (and Longest) Life

©2026 Behavioral Grooves

About Ken

The Longevity Project

Healthy to 100 by Ken Stern

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Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark

U2 - With or Without You

Innovation does not always come from inventing something entirely new. Often, the natural world has already solved the problem. In this throwback conversation, we explore the concept of biomimicry with behavioral scientist Sam Tatam, author of Evolutionary Ideas: Unlocking Ancient Innovation to Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges. We discuss how looking to nature can inspire creative solutions in behavioral science and beyond, from the principles of biomimicry to frameworks like the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the Goal Gradient theory. Along the way, we also wander into lighter territory, chatting about the musical artist Sam once traveled to Italy with and the cultural differences between pubs in London and Sydney.

[4:59] Welcome and speed round questions.

[13:23] What is biomimicry?

[18:20] TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and evolutionary thinking.

[25:32] How language can be a liberator for innovation.

[29:28] Categorizing biases into patterns.

[34:58] What is the Goal Gradient Theory and why isn’t it applied more often?

[9:14] Five psychological contradictions.

[47:26] What music would Sam take to a desert island?

[51:03] Grooving Session: Evolutionary Ideas.