Behavior Gap Radio

1527 | Keeping Comparison Alive

1526 | Keeping Options Open Is the Risk

1525 | Trading options for energy

1524 | Entrepreneur...or artist?

1523 | Restless & Settled

1522 | Thoughts on Delegation

In this episode, Carl rethinks delegation through a simple lesson from an emergency room doctor: Focus on doing what only you can do. He explores the hidden costs of delegation, from training and mistakes to the cognitive load of checking someone else’s work, and asks whether the real goal is not to delegate tasks, but to delegate ownership. It’s a practical reflection on deleting, automating, delegating, and knowing when the simplest answer might be to just do the thing yourself. 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/

1521 | Experts for Answers. Peers for Change

In this episode, Carl explores an important distinction in the craft of advice: Experts are useful when we need answers, but peers may be far more valuable when we need to change. Drawing on his experience with structured peer groups, he reflects on why behavior change often requires autonomy, reflection, accountability, and repeated practice rather than more expertise. It’s a thoughtful look at when to teach, when to step back, and how creating the right conditions can help people discover and act on their own answers. 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/

1520 | The Ann Garcia Principle

In this episode, Carl shares one of his favorite decision-making frameworks, something he calls the Ann Garcia Principle: make the decision, then spend your energy making it the right one. Rather than exhausting ourselves trying to guarantee the perfect choice in advance, Carl explores what happens when we choose thoughtfully, commit, and redirect all that energy toward making the decision work. From choosing a dream school to deciding where to live, it’s a different way to approach uncertainty when we simply can’t know everything ahead of time. 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/

1519 | You Will Call It Fate

In this episode, Carl explores the hidden forces beneath the problems we can see. Using everything from back pain to fear about the markets, he reflects on how easily we focus on the presenting symptom while missing the deeper stories, habits, fears, and assumptions driving it. Inspired by Carl Jung’s idea that what remains unconscious can quietly direct our lives, Carl suggests a simple place to begin: Notice what keeps happening, get curious, and ask, “I wonder what that’s about?” 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/

1518 | Clear Mind

In this episode, Carl reflects on the value of having a clear, settled mind, using the image of a perfectly still alpine lake. When someone arrives carrying fear, stress, uncertainty, and everything else life has thrown at them, what would it mean to absorb that energy, respond with just the right ripple, and then settle again? It’s a thoughtful exploration of presence, nervous systems, and the extraordinary value of becoming someone who helps other people feel settled simply by being around them. 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/