Best Procrastination Research Group Podcasts (2025)

1
Tiny Habits Create Big Change 13:27

14h ago13:27

13:27

In this week’s episode, we explore the science of less is more, for habits, that is. Inspired by BJ Fogg’s behavior model, we unpack how anchoring micro-actions (like flossing one tooth or taking one deep breath), can help us build momentum, identity, and sustainable routines. If you’re trying to start new habits - journaling, working out, or final…

1
Using Pre- and Post-Mortems to Reach Your Goals 11:52

7d ago11:52

11:52

This week on Behavior Shift, we’re sharing two powerful tools from the behavioral science playbook - pre-mortems and post-mortems. Planning ahead and recapping what happened are useful tools no matter what your goal is, and these techniques will help you anticipate failure before it happens and learn from both wins and losses after the fact. Whethe…

1
The Goal Gradient Effect 12:39

14d ago12:39

12:39

Ever wonder why, once you can see the finish line, you start to sprint? Whether it’s a race, a project, or your tenth cup of coffee on a 12-punch card, it feels like when the end is near, we get much more determined to complete our goals. This is called the Goal Gradient Effect, and it’s the topic of this week’s episode. From rats in mazes to mile …

1
The 6 Goal Categories That Shape Your Life 8:57

24d ago8:57

8:57

In this episode, we lay out a simple framework to help you think more strategically about your goals—not just what you're aiming for, but where you're focusing your energy. We introduce six key areas of life that most goals tend to fall into and share how reflecting on these can unlock more balance, motivation, and meaning. With a few practical que…

1
Know Your "True Self" and Achieve Your Dreams 17:25

1M ago17:25

17:25

Before you set your next big goal, ask yourself this: Do you really know what you want, or are you just chasing someone else’s dream? In this episode, we peel back the layers of goal-setting and uncover the foundational question that too many people skip: Who are you, really? Tune in to this insightful episode to reconnect with yourself, reestablis…

1
Transform Your Brain with the Power of Gratitude 10:34

1M ago10:34

10:34

Social media, bleak news cycles, and daily stressors can make it hard to focus on what’s going right, but there’s a powerful, research-backed way to shift your mindset - gratitude. Gratitude rewires your brain for positivity, boosts emotional well-being, and even improves sleep and relationships. Want a happier, more positive mindset? Discover how …

1
The Magic of Implementation Intentions 4:54

1M ago4:54

4:54

Ever felt motivated just because you thought you were making progress? You’re not alone. Illusory progress is a real psychological phenomenon that can help you stay on track with your goals. In this episode of Brain/Shift, we discuss the fascinating phenomenon of how perceived progress can accelerate motivation. We break down how this works and sim…

1
You Need a Brain Break! 6:36

2M ago6:36

6:36

Feeling drained in the middle of your workday? You’re not alone. This week, we’re breaking down the power of Brain Breaks - short, intentional pauses that help refresh your mind, boost productivity, and improve your well-being. We explain how to make work breaks happen, the benefits of taking them, and practical strategies you can integrate to put …

1
Behavior Stacking: The Power of Compounding Behaviors 11:02

2M ago11:02

11:02

Behavior stacking is a simple yet powerful strategy to achieve your goals by building small, consistent habits. This week on Behavior Shift, we discover how these small actions can lead to exponential growth through the magic of neuroplasticity. Whether you’re aiming for better health, career growth, or personal development, behavior stacking can b…

1
How To Break Down Big Goals Into Achievable Steps 7:48

2M ago7:48

7:48

Feeling overwhelmed by a big Keystone Goal? It doesn’t have to be that way! This week on Behavior Shift, we’re diving into the essential process of breaking down your life-changing goals into manageable steps. Whether you’re planning to run a marathon, write a book, or tackle any ambitious project, this episode will show you how to set effective mi…

1
Embracing Sacrifice to Achieve Your Goals 6:01

2M ago6:01

6:01

When achieving big goals, we often focus on what we need to add—new habits, routines, or productivity hacks. But what if the real key to success is actually about subtraction? In this episode, we dive into the sacrifices and trade-offs that come with pursuing meaningful goals. We explore the tough but necessary question: What do you have to give up…

1
Why You Need to Set Keystone Goals 14:12

3M ago14:12

14:12

What separates an ordinary goal from a truly life-changing one? In this episode, we explore Keystone Goals—those pivotal objectives that create a ripple effect, transforming multiple areas of your life. Whether it’s launching a business, prioritizing your health, or becoming more present for your family, these goals act as guiding forces, aligning …

1
Welcome to Behavior Shift! 5:31

3M ago5:31

5:31

Welcome to the very first episode of Behavior Shift! This podcast is all about turning behavioral science into practical tools for real change. Hosts Ben and Kurt bring decades of expertise in behavior change and habit formation to help you understand why we do what we do—and more importantly, how to shift those behaviors for the better. Behavior S…

1
Academic Procrastination: A Graduate Student's Story 51:01

6+ y ago51:01

51:01

An interview with Mr. Bhavin Prajapati who discusses "getting stuck" with his M.A. thesis and the journey he took to both understand why he was procrastinating and what to do about it. You might be interested in reading a post that Bhavin wrote that summarizes at least part of this journey. To learn more about procrastination and our research, see …

1
ADHD , Executive Functions & Procrastination: An interesting new study 49:06

7y ago49:06

49:06

An interview with Scott Taylor who completed his undergraduate honours thesis at Carleton University. Scott studied the relations between ADHD, Executive Function and procrastination. His research is the most recent and the most rigorous study in the area. Scott explains his research and the findings, but perhaps more importantly he reflects on per…

1
Ending the Procrastination Habit 51:09

7+ y ago51:09

51:09

An interview with a first-year college student who went from procrastinator in high school to a productive, A+ student in college. Listen to how this happened. To learn more about procrastination and our research, see procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattweidinger.com…

1
Perfectionistic Concerns, Perfectionistic Strivings: There's an important difference 48:18

8y ago48:18

48:18

An interview with Dr. Fuschia Sirois (University of Sheffield) about her recently published meta-analysis relating perfectionism to procrastination. Fuschia sets the record straight by summarizing the research literature which shows how perfectionism relates to procrastination. Reference Sirois, F.M., Molnar, D.S., & Hirsch, J.K. (2017). A meta-ana…

1
Waiting for the Right Place and Right Time 1:04:49

8+ y ago1:04:49

1:04:49

An interview with Shane Littrell of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga about his procrastination research. Shane helps us understand the complex interplay of person and situation that influence our procrastination. To learn more, see procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattweidinger…

1
"Facebocrastination?" - Procrastination and Facebook 59:07

9y ago59:07

59:07

An interview with Adrian Meier (Department of Communications, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany) about the predictors of using Facebook for procrastination and its effects on students' well-being. Here's a blog post on this topic, and below that is the reference to the published study. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/201…

1
Active Procrastination: Clarifying the Concept 45:56

9y ago45:56

45:56

A chat with Shamarukh Chowdhury about her research on active procrastination. Together, we clarify the concept of procrastination and do a little "myth busting" around the concept of active procrastination; a concept that we call an oxymoron that may be better understood as two types of delay - it's not "procrastination" at all. Here's an earlier b…

1
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy 53:33

9+ y ago53:33

53:33

An interview with the psychologist Dr. Frédérick Dionne about Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Frédérick references the following website for more information: Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Want to learn more about procrastination? procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattwe…

1
I don't feel like it! I don't want to! 40:59

9+ y ago40:59

40:59

Some reflections on what to do when you don't feel like doing what you know you should be doing. Want to learn more about procrastination? procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattweidinger.com

1
Not All Delay is Procrastination 1:15:12

9+ y ago1:15:12

1:15:12

An interview with Mohsen Haghbin about his doctoral research that defined six types of delay, only two of which are procrastination. This is an important new series of studies that help us conceptualize delay in our lives. Want to learn more about procrastination? procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check h…

1
Procrastination and Media Use as Escapism 1:09:04

10y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

An interview with Sarah Kohler (University of Muenster, Germany) on media use, escapism and procrastination. Sarah presents the results of one of her studies and explains how media provides escape in our lives. She argues that some of this escape, but not all, may be considered procrastination. Given the ubiquity of media in our lives, this is an i…

1
Imagine your future self 1:04:21

10y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

An interview with Eve-Marie Blouin-Hudon (Carleton University) about her research on how imagining future self through guided meditation can decrease procrastination. Want to learn more about procrastination? procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattweidinger.com…

1
Procrastinators can still get to heaven 1:05:13

10y ago1:05:13

1:05:13

An interview with Dr. Clarry Lay (Emeritus, York University) author of Procrastinators (and Others) Can Still Get to Heaven: A Guide to Directed Everyday Living. We discuss the importance of goals, identifying prescribed behaviors to meet these goals and the centrality of our obligation to the scheduling of these behaviors in order to fulfill our p…

1
Cleaning to Procrastinate 50:36

10y ago50:36

50:36

Do you ever clean the house, a desk, your garage, whatever instead of doing a more important task? You're not alone. One of our latest research projects helps us understand why we make this choice. Want to learn more about procrastination? procrastination.ca The closing song is by singer, songwriter Matt Weidinger - check him out at mattweidinger.c…

1
Progress Not Perfection 1:18:40

10+ y ago1:18:40

1:18:40

Progress Not Perfection (PNP) is the name of a podcast hosted by Alen Standish. PNP is an audio podcast where Alen talks with others about perfectionism, procrastination, shame, anxiety and self-judgement as they try to overcome challenges such as eating disorders, reaching ideal health, meeting lifelong goals, creating works of art or becoming ent…

1
Future Self 38:55

10+ y ago38:55

38:55

Procrastinating today means more work later. Ah, but that's future self's problem, right? Oops, future self is still me, and that's one reason why we consider procrastination a self-defeating strategy. In this episode, I interview Eve-Marie Blouin-Hudon about her research relating present self to future self, the notion of self-continuity and how i…

1
Commit to Win 1:02:39

11y ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Commit to Win is the title of Dr. Heidi Reeder's new book, where she explains how to harness the four elements of commitment to reach our goals. In this podcast, Heidi summarizes key points from her research. Heidi is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Boise State University where she specializes in the study of gendered b…

1
Bedtime Procrastination 1:04:01

11y ago1:04:01

1:04:01

An interview with Dr. Joel Anderson, philosopher, researcher and lecturer Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands. Joel explains the research that has come out of the Utrecht research group - Promoting Effective Intentions: Volitional Scaffolding, Implementation Intentions, and Bedtime Procrastination - on bedtime procrastination. He introduces us …

1
Mindfulness, Meditation Resources and Procrastination 1:05:30

11y ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Meditation and procrastination? Ah, maybe tomorrow you say. When you do get a minute, check out this conversation with Tony Stubblebine from lift.do. Tony and his team have added new free resources on how to meditate at lift.do/meditation. We talk about why they have done this, and then we launch into a wide-ranging conversation about the relation …

1
A Year of Productivity 1:20:41

11+ y ago1:20:41

1:20:41

Can you imagine experimenting for a year on how to be most productive? Well, Christopher Bailey is doing just that with his ayearofproductivity.com project. Chris contacted me to talk about procrastination. He agreed to make the interview into a podcast, so I got to turn the table on him and interview him about his project as well. So, this podcast…

1
The Power of Habit: An Interview with Charles Duhigg 29:47

11+ y ago29:47

29:47

A short interview with the New York Times journalist and author, Charles Duhigg, about habits and procrastination. As in his book, Charles distills a wealth of information about habits based on the latest research in this brief discussion. Charles also has some important things to say about how to find alternatives to the procrastination habit. If …

1
To-Do Lists: The Power and Peril of a Plan 52:31

11+ y ago52:31

52:31

Advantages, disadvantages and "best practices" for to-do lists. I use one constantly. It's not a cure-all for procrastination or for making goal pursuit more successful, but this simple tool is worth talking about. It's worth trying if you haven't really embraced the power of a plan. Want to learn more? Check out procrastination.ca Like the closing…

1
Fine-tuning an Implementation Intention 39:17

11+ y ago39:17

39:17

Learn why making implementation intentions within specific events is more effective. Incredible, but true, I've finally returned to the microphone. In this episode, I explain how I beat my own potential procrastination today and got this podcast recorded and posted. I also present an answer to a listener's question about goal commitment. Spur me on…

1
A Procrastination Workshop 1:07:12

12y ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Here's an interview with Jeffrey Robinson from Student Learning Serrvices at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Jeffrey provides thoughtful reflections on how he helps students develop their own sense of agency and reduce procrastination. We discuss so much that will interest anyone who struggles with procrastination; it's certainly not limit…

1
Need a Lift? Don't we all? 1:02:07

12y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

"Build better habits. Change your life" - This is the motto on the homepage for Lift. Lift is a new tool (online and as an app) that helps you to develop new habits and to achieve your goals. In this podcast, I interview the CEO and co-founder of Lift, Tony Stubblebine. New to the podcast? Learn more about procrastination at procrastination.ca The …

1
Q&A Procrastination & Happiness 1:09:02

12y ago1:09:02

1:09:02

Dr. Pychyl is interviewed by podcaster and blogger, Evan Brand of notjustpaleo.com. Evan reaches out to health experts, entrepeneurs and doctors about health and wellness. Today, we discuss procrastination, goal pursuit and their relation to happiness. New to the podcast? Check out procrastination.ca I close the podcast with a song entitled, "Procr…

1
A Graduate Student beats her Procrastination Challenge 1:09:51

12y ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Anxiety, inertia, boredom . . . a graduate student provides insight into her challenges and her successful strategies for staying focused and getting her work done. This is an engaging interview with a graduate student who explains how she manages her own liabilities while harnessing her motivation to succeed. My comments highlight how research and…

1
Self-Compassion, Stress and Procrastination 51:41

12+ y ago51:41

51:41

An interview with Dr. Fuschia Sirois about how self-compassion plays a role in the relation between procrastination and stress. Self-compassion involves taking a kind, compassionate and accepting stance towards oneself in instances of suffering due to forces beyond one's control as well as when suffering is due to personal failings. Dr. Sirois' lat…

1
20 Tips to Reduce Procrastination 1:11:35

12+ y ago1:11:35

1:11:35

Let's start the new year right with 20 tips to help us reduce procrastination. In this interview with Angela Baker (Massey University, New Zealand), we walk through a list together discussing these 20 key strategies. Angela comments on each in relation to some of her work as a counselor, and I discuss many in relation to research. It was a delightf…

1
Key strategies to procrastinate less 55:28

12+ y ago55:28

55:28

Looking for an overview of how to stop procrastinating? Got an hour? In this podcast, Dr. Pychyl walks through the major factors related to our procrastination as well as strategies to overcome issues such as lack of commitment, defeatist attitude, weak intentions, distractions and low energy. It's a good podcast to end 2012, as we look ahead to th…

1
The Willpower Instinct 55:52

12+ y ago55:52

55:52

An interview with award-winning professor and best-selling author Dr. Kelly McGonigal. In this interview, Dr. McGonigal explains her teaching and writing about willpower, with a particular focus on her latest book, The Willpower Instinct: How self-control works, why it matters, and what you can do to get more of it. What a joy it was to interview K…

1
Fear, competence & autonomy in the prediction of procrastination 57:13

13y ago57:13

57:13

An interview with Mohsen Haghbin (Carleton University) about his most recent publication relating fear of failure and procrastination. I had interviewed Mohsen in 2010 when he helped Adam McCaffrey finish the study, but I wanted to do this again with the published paper, because the final analyses revealed some interesting findings about what affec…

1
Backsliding and Weakness of Will 1:08:39

13y ago1:08:39

1:08:39

An interview with Dr. Alfred Mele, the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University, and author of Backsliding: Understanding Weakness of Will. I've been looking forward to this interview for quite awhile, as I have read most of Al's books up to this point (he has 7 other books focused on topics such as h…

1
The Art & Science of Personal Productivity 58:29

13y ago58:29

58:29

An interview with Max Leibman author of Higher Process: The Art & Science of Personal Productivity. Max helps us consider what we really know about the science of time management and how to be more productive. If you want to learn more about procrastination, visit procrastination.ca or The Procrastinator's Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Pro…

1
Changepower! 44:15

13y ago44:15

44:15

ChangePower! - 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success - that's the title to Meg Selig's new book, and in this podcast I interview Meg to learn how we can develop changepower. This is a great conversation about habits and habit change. We all have lots to learn from Meg. You can read her Psychology Today Blog - Changepower - or you can learn more about …

1
Computers and Procrastination: The Peril and the Promise 1:09:45

13y ago1:09:45

1:09:45

"There seems to be something about computer technology and Internet connectivity that distracts us, that tempts us towards procrastination." This is the opening line of a paper co-authored by my guest today, Nick Breems. Nick is an assistant professor of Computer Science at Dordt College (Iowa) and a doctoral candidate in philosophy at the Universi…

1
Procrastination, thinking & aging 50:16

13y ago50:16

50:16

Dr. William (Bill) McCown discusses his latest research projects - each is fascinating. Bill is a researcher, clinical psychologist and university administrator. He has been doing research on procrastination for over 25 years, and he has lots to offer in this podcast. We discuss what procrastinators think about, how procrastination affects the elde…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Procrastination Research Group Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen