Zach Mercurio joins us to discuss the power of mattering—why it's a foundational human need and how it can be cultivated through small but meaningful interactions. From leadership strategies to personal stories, we explore how feeling seen, heard, and valued changes everything.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Zach Mercurio

[3:31] Why Mattering Matters

[11:29] Purpose, Meaning, and Mattering: What’s the Difference?

[16:21] Mattering as a Survival Instinct

[26:14] “If It Wasn’t For You…”

[35:22] The Importance of Mattering in Leadership

[40:55] The Role of Mattering in Organizational Culture

[45:37] The Impact of Mattering on Employee Engagement

[49:50] Desert Island Music Picks

[52:42] Grooving Session: Mattering is Common Sense, Not Common Practice

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

More About Zach

The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio

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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Won’t Back Down

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

What if your personality isn’t fixed? Olga Khazan shares how she deliberately set out to become more extroverted, agreeable, and emotionally stable—using improv, mindfulness, and science-backed strategies. Based on her book Me, But Better, this conversation explores how real change happens, and why connecting with others may be the key to becoming who you want to be.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Olga Khazan

[5:59] Experiment: Can I Change My Personality?

[9:59] Results: What Changed, What Didn’t?

[17:43] Nature vs. Nurture in Personality

[21:46] Personality Traits as Tools for Life

[29:31] Can Older Adults Still Change?

[38:39] Solitude vs. True Connection

[43:45] Olga’s Music Playlist

[45:46] Grooving Session: Working on the Personality We Want

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

About Olga

Me, But Better by Olga Khazan

Big 5 Personality Test

Nathan Hudson’s Research

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ODESZA - The Last Goodbye

Chapell Roan - Good Luck, Babe

Hospice doctor, podcaster, and author Jordan Grumet joins us to explore why the traditional idea of “finding your purpose” might actually be making us miserable. Drawing from his work with patients at the end of life, Jordan challenges the pressure to chase big, lofty goals—or what he calls “big P” Purpose—and instead invites us to embrace “little p” purposes: the simple, joyful activities that ground us and connect us to others. From childhood passions to quiet regrets, Jordan shares practical ways to identify what truly lights you up and how to build a life that feels meaningful—without overhauling everything.

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Jordan Grumet

[7:01] Why Is Purpose So Important?

[10:52] Why Big P Goals Can Cause Anxiety

[16:43] Childhood Joys, Baseball Cards, & Writing

[19:32] You Can’t Fail Little P Purpose

[24:09] Overcoming Barriers to Purpose

[34:41] Regret vs. Disappointment

[46:25] Grooving Session: Creativity, Cadence, and Purposeful Context

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

More About Jordan

Earn & Invest Podcast

The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet

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Public Enemy - Don’t Believe the Hype

Third World - Underdog