Behavior Gap Radio

Hosted by Carl Richards

Business Investing

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Episodes

619

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Greetings, Carl here. This podcast is super simple, it's me wandering through the world noticing things about how to align my use of capital (time and money) with what is actually important to me. -Carl

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60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 14876 min

1480 | More or Enough?

In this episode, Carl reflects on a powerful idea from E. F. Schumacher and the subtle stories we tell ourselves about consumption. Drawing on Schumacher’s concept of “Buddhist economics,” he explores how modern culture has gradually transformed consumption from a means to an end—from a tool that serves a meaningful life into a goal in itself. It’s a thoughtful invitation to reconsider what consumption is actually for and whether we’ve mistaken the vehicle for the destination.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/

June 15, 2026Episode 14869 min

1479 | Sometimes the Body Knows First

In this episode, Carl returns to his exploration of the idea that feelings are data, taking a closer look at a belief he’s carried for years: The body often knows something before the mind can explain it. As he digs into the research behind that intuition, he reflects on the subtle signals we experience physically and what they might reveal about decisions, relationships, and the choices we make around money. It’s an exploration of the connection between awareness, intuition, and the possibility that our bodies may be offering information long before our conscious minds catch up.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/

June 12, 2026Episode 14858 min

1478 | You Already Know

In this episode, Carl explores the surprising information hidden inside resistance. Inspired by a conversation at a recent retreat, he reflects on the difference between asking, “What am I going to do next?” and asking, “What am I resisting?” Instead of treating resistance as something to overcome, Carl wonders whether it might be a valuable signal—pointing toward something important, unresolved, or worth exploring. It’s a thoughtful look at curiosity, self-awareness, and what our reluctance might be trying to teach us.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/

June 10, 2026Episode 14846 min

1477 | Feelings Function as Information

In this episode, Carl continues his exploration of the idea that feelings are data by introducing the concept of “affect as information.” Drawing from established research, he examines how we constantly use our emotions as a source of information when making decisions—often without realizing it. Rather than treating feelings as something separate from rational thinking, Carl explores how they may be an essential part of how humans navigate uncertainty, assess situations, and make sense of the world, especially when it comes to money and the choices that matter most.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/

June 9, 2026Episode 14834 min

1476 | Without Feeling, Thinking Gets Worse

In this episode, Carl lays out the first claim in a growing body of work he’s developing around a simple but provocative idea: Feelings are data. Not just emotions to be managed or ignored, but early-stage information that often arrives before words, analysis, or conscious thought. Carl explores how feelings can signal what matters, what feels safe or threatening, and where our values are being honored or violated—making the case that they deserve a place alongside facts and spreadsheets in the way we make decisions about money and life.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/

June 8, 2026Episode 14824 min

1475 | Feelings Are at the Center

In this episode, Carl begins a deeper exploration of a simple but often overlooked idea: Feelings are data. Challenging the common assumption that emotions are somehow less valuable than spreadsheets, analysis, or technical expertise, he starts building a case that our feelings deserve a legitimate place in decision-making. Drawing from research, experience, and years of conversations around money, Carl explores what might change if we treated emotions not as distractions from the truth, but as information worth paying attention to.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/

June 5, 2026Episode 14819 min

1474 | Financial Planning Begins With Feeling

In this episode, Carl explores a provocative idea: What if financial planning is less about thinking and knowing, and more about feeling? Drawing on conversations from retreats and The Collective, he reflects on the possibility that our bodies often recognize truth before our minds can explain it. Whether it’s fear, excitement, resistance, or alignment, Carl argues that paying attention to what we feel may be one of the most overlooked skills in helping people build a healthier relationship with money and make better decisions about their lives.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/

June 4, 2026Episode 14802 min

1473 | A Partner, Not a Path

In this episode, Carl reflects on what people are really looking for when facing an uncertain future. More often than not, it’s not a perfect plan, a case study, or a detailed roadmap. It’s a companion—someone willing to walk alongside them through uncertainty with wisdom, presence, and care. Carl explores the limits of prediction, the reality of not knowing what comes next, and why the most valuable role an advisor, friend, or partner can play is not providing certainty, but offering steady companionship on the journey.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/

June 3, 2026Episode 14796 min

1472 | The Time to Awareness

In this episode, Carl explores a simple sketch that captures a powerful idea about personal growth: the relationship between stimulus, response, and awareness. Early on, our reactions can feel automatic, with no space between what happens and how we respond. But over time, awareness begins to show up—first after the fact, then closer and closer to the moment itself. Carl reflects on how real change often starts not by controlling our reactions, but by simply noticing them, and how cultivating that awareness can gradually create more space, choice, and freedom in our lives.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/

June 2, 2026Episode 14786 min

1471 | Rough Stone Rolling

In this episode, Carl explores the idea of public work as a spiritual practice and reflects on the uncomfortable emotions that surface when we compare ourselves to others. After seeing someone launch a project similar to one he’d been thinking about for years, Carl examines his own reactions: jealousy, insecurity, ego, and the stories we quickly tell ourselves. He shares why building a business, making art, and doing work in public can become powerful opportunities for self-awareness, growth, and refinement, if we’re willing to pay attention to what gets stirred up along the way.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/