This show will help you understand human behavior and psychology so you can better navigate your personal and professional life and better connect with people. The host Zachary Elwood, known for his Reading Poker Tells trilogy of books, talks with a wide range of guests who have unique real-world insights, including: law enforcement professionals, behavior and psychology researchers, sports analysts, visa officers, jury consultants, political researchers, mental health experts, and many more. What drives this show is the idea that truly understanding people requires patience, nuance, and a willingness to question simplistic ideas and assumptions. There are more than 200 episodes. To learn more details, see transcripts, and sign up for updates, go to www.behavior-podcast.com.
Chart trend
Position in the Social Sciences chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#10#18JunJulAugSep
#5
all-time peak
264
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Army Psy-Op veteran talks influence, blowback, psy-op myths, and more
#27 trending · Social Sciences
A talk with an Army Psychological Operations soldier about what military psy-op work really involves—and how different the reality is from many people's ideas about the n
Aug 28 1 h 28 min
Army Psy-Op veteran talks influence, blowback, psy-op myths, and more
#27 trending · Social Sciences
A talk with an Army Psychological Operations soldier about what military psy-op work really involves—and how different the reality is from many people's ideas about the n
Aug 28 1 h 34 min
Can computers spot lies better than humans?, with Bennett Kleinberg
Can machines spot a lie better than we can? I talk with psychology researcher Bennett Kleinberg, whose work brings together psychology, machine learning, natural-language
Aug 12 1 h 00 min
Can computers spot lies better than humans?, with Bennett Kleinberg
Can machines spot a lie better than we can? I talk with psychology researcher Bennett Kleinberg, whose work brings together psychology, machine learning, natural-language
Aug 11 1 h 04 min
Inside a Scientology e-meter auditing session, with Chris Shelton
Former Scientologist Chris Shelton spent thousands of hours using the e-meter to "audit" fellow members of the Church—but what does the device actually measure, and why d
Aug 1 1 h 23 min
Inside a Scientology e-meter auditing session, with Chris Shelton
Former Scientologist Chris Shelton spent thousands of hours using the e-meter to "audit" fellow members of the Church—but what does the device actually measure, and why d
Aug 1 1 h 29 min
How Pete Blair scored 100% in a deception detection study
In a 2014 deception detection study, Pete Blair made 33 judgments—and got all 33 right. That paper was titled “Expertise in deception detection involves actively promptin
Jul 24 1 h 03 min
How Pete Blair scored 100% in a deception detection study
In a 2014 deception detection study, Pete Blair made 33 judgments—and got all 33 right. That paper was titled “Expertise in deception detection involves actively promptin
Jul 24 1 h 08 min
Behaviorally, poker and interrogations are very different
Zach Elwood, author of influential books on poker tells and host of the People Who Read People podcast, joins The Deductionist podcast for a wide-ranging conversation abo
Jul 10 49 min
Behaviorally, poker and interrogations are very different
Zach Elwood, author of influential books on poker tells and host of the People Who Read People podcast, joins The Deductionist podcast for a wide-ranging conversation abo
Jul 10 54 min
Understanding defenses of the polygraph, with David Goldberg
Polygraphs are a controversial tool in criminal investigations: critics argue they're too unreliable to trust, while proponents say that, even if they’re not perfect, the
Jul 1 1 h 19 min
Understanding defenses of the polygraph, with David Goldberg
Polygraphs are a controversial tool in criminal investigations: critics argue they're too unreliable to trust, while proponents say that, even if they’re not perfect, the
Jul 1 1 h 25 min
The push for science-based interrogation approaches, with Maria Hartwig and Christian Cory
In real or fictional criminal interrogation scenes, you've probably seen the approach where police barge in and confront the suspect with the evidence, trying to get them
Jun 20 53 min
The push for science-based interrogation approaches, with Maria Hartwig and Christian Cory
In real or fictional criminal interrogation scenes, you've probably seen the approach where police barge in and confront the suspect with the evidence, trying to get them
Jun 20 58 min
Reading behavior in The Traitors and other social deduction games, with Zack Davies (UK season 2)
Zack Davies was a standout contestant on the popular reality TV show The Traitors (UK, season 2). The Traitors is what is called a social deduction game, similar to the g
Jun 13 1 h 00 min
Reading behavior in The Traitors and other social deduction games, with Zack Davies (UK season 2)
Zack Davies was a standout contestant on the popular reality TV show The Traitors (UK, season 2). The Traitors is what is called a social deduction game, similar to the g
Jun 13 1 h 04 min
How digital investigators expose lies and find truth, with OSINT pro Craig Silverman
How do digital/open-source investigators uncover hidden truths and expose lies? World-renowned digital sleuth Craig Silverman shares important lessons he's learned from y
Jun 5 58 min
How digital investigators expose lies and find truth, with OSINT pro Craig Silverman
How do digital/open-source investigators uncover hidden truths and expose lies? World-renowned digital sleuth Craig Silverman shares important lessons he's learned from y
Jun 5 1 h 02 min
Secret Service agent on building rapport, reading people, and polygraphs | Brad Beeler
How much can we really learn from people's words and behavior—and where do we risk fooling ourselves? In this talk, former Secret Service agent and polygraph examiner Bra
May 30 1 h 06 min
Secret Service agent on building rapport, reading people, and polygraphs | Brad Beeler
How much can we really learn from people's words and behavior—and where do we risk fooling ourselves? In this talk, former Secret Service agent and polygraph examiner Bra
May 30 1 h 10 min
Chart positions
Where People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 13, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Wonderfully produced podcast, excellent guests & topics delivered with technical accuracy and professionalism.
iCKR · Aug 2026
It’s a top
Tier podcast. The host is exceptional , brilliant and generous. I love the topic matter. The narcissist abuse episode I got hit hardest with because I experienced and still am enduring ten years later - everything she mentioned and multiplied . I love psychology in general and I’ve looked into a few shows and not one is as articulate, and well versed by the speakers that share on the show and he lets them fully have the stage. I appreciate his candor, intelligence and alll of his guests and how he allows them to speak unlike most who want to talk more than listen. Brilliant!!! Keep going! Do not stop this show!
Rebeccha_Label · Jan 2026
I’m always interested to see what topic you’re going to talk about, and as a former Trader Joe’s crew member, I was stoked to listen to the one about whether or not we are forced to ask questions at the checkout. Twiggy gave some good thoughts on it, but she completely overlooked the MAIN reason this type of interaction is encouraged… it’s so that the customer has an awesome experience, feels welcome and heard, and goes away feeling like they are an active part of their neighborhood store. It isn’t taught with a strict “you must say these certain thing” attitude. It is more like training the crew to really want to connect with the customers, learn their names, get to know them on a personal level as humans, not just as bodies walking through the door buying stuff. The company respects its crew enough to allow this type of interaction to enhance their work rather than detract from it. They treat us this way, so we are free to treat the customers this way.
So, Twiggy’s answers were way more surface-level than the TJ’s ethos actually is at its depths. Maybe it’s because she worked there during the pandemic, and she wasn’t thinking of this as much - maybe it was more transactional because of the fear and uncertainty? But I’ll say I loved my time at TJ’s, it’s a great company, and you should definitely buy more than snacks there… they carry most of the basics you need, just not the name brands you are used to. 😁
Amy-n-ok · Feb 2025
I’m in my car a lot due to my medical sales job. Zach’s interviews are always interesting and informative and make the hours I spend behind the wheel tolerable. It’s a great break from listening to music or the typical talk radio stations and there is always something to be learned from each of his guests and from him.
Smotherday · Jul 2024
The host is particularly susceptible to the “both sides” form of bias. Aka, when you reduce an argument down to two sides, then give sides equal weight. He’s not particularly specific when he says “both sides do XYZ” so the listener doesnt know if hes referencing random people on the internet, or actual public figures associated with a party or movement. This creates an illusion to the listener to automatically believe the false equivalence being drawn. I was hoping this would be a cool new pod to add to my list, but only a fee episodes in I noticed this pattern. It sounds like hes trying to stay neutral, rather than consistent. This is a common bias amongst people who try to do “political bridge builing”. As the right wing becomes farther right, political bridge builders move with them, this is what leads to our country as a whole moving farther right. Its coddling, and coddling right wingers rather than developing mechanisms of accountability is truely dangerous for society.
Frantzeska1995 · Jan 2026
This was my first time listening to your podcast—I was drawn in by your description that you dig into why people think the way they do. I was genuinely interested in hearing your conversation with Elizabeth, but I left the episode disappointed.
Despite the premise of exploring different viewpoints, the discussion felt entirely one-sided. Elizabeth claimed not to be fully aligned with one political side, but much of what she shared clearly reflected MAGA-style conservative views. That’s fine in itself—every perspective is worth hearing—but what really stood out was your complete agreement with everything she said.
At one point, when she mentioned having criticisms of Republicans, you actually shut that down and steered things back to criticizing liberals. There was no pushback, no challenge, and no real attempt to show another side. You even explicitly said you feel the exact same way she does across the board.
That’s not what I expected from a podcast that claims to explore why people think the way they do. Honest conversations require tension, curiosity, and a willingness to examine all sides. I hope future episodes reflect that more closely.
Durden · Jun 2025
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