Behavior Gap Radio

1574 | What Story Does Your Car Tell?

1573 | The System

1572 | What Game am I Playing?

1571 | My body did it!

1570 | Bad at Goals

In this episode, Carl explores a fundamental problem with planning: we’re not very good at knowing what we actually want. Through a conversation with a friend who's tracked his goals for 25 years, Carl reflects on how often our imagined futures change, and why that doesn’t mean we should stop setting goals. It’s an exploration of what goals can give us, even when we’re almost certainly wrong about where we’re headed. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

1569 | What's Going on at The Collective?

In this episode, Carl reflects on the kickoff retreat for Cohort 2 of The Collective and what makes this experience so different from traditional professional development. Rather than chasing tactics or business growth, the focus is on discovering what matters and learning to align our money, energy, time, and attention with it. Carl shares what he learned about the power of carefully curated peer groups, skilled facilitators, honest accountability, and creating a place where people feel safe enough to see the gap between what they say matters and how they actually live. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

1568 | Wrestling With a Thunderstorm

In this field note, Carl shares an unexpected moment from a recent Society of Advice retreat: A group of people sat quietly on a deck and watched a thunderstorm roll through the Utah mountains. What seemed like a simple pause turned into something far more meaningful, including an uncomfortable confrontation with the urge to always be doing something. Carl reflects on what silence, stillness, and a little wrestling with ourselves might reveal when we finally stop long enough to pay attention. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

1567 | The Good News!

In this field note, Carl reflects on something that became clear after a recent Society of Advice retreat: The search for a meaningful life can sometimes start to sound like a long list of hard things. But what about the wonder, joy, beauty, love, and sheer amazement of being alive? Carl explores what happens when we make room for it all, including the difficult parts, without forgetting that this whole adventure can be pretty wonderful, too. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

1566 | Maybe Just Clean the Lenses?

In this short field note, Carl shares two funny moments that left him wondering how often we put up with unnecessary discomfort without realizing there’s a simple fix. From an improperly adjusted rearview mirror to a pair of dirty sunglasses, he explores what happens when we stop struggling with something long enough to question whether it needs to be so difficult in the first place. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

1565 | My Story Caused the Pain

In this episode, Carl shares a story about an innocent email from a client that sent him into a weekend of worry, second-guessing, and unnecessary work. Looking back, he explores how quickly we can turn a simple event into a complicated story about what it means, and how our certainty about that story can cause far more pain than the event itself. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/