The Hidden Rules of Lucky People | Judd Kessler

About this episode

The episode explores how understanding hidden markets can influence luck and opportunities in various aspects of life.

What if luck has less to do with chance and more to do with understanding the systems around us? We talk with Judd Kessler about the hidden markets shaping opportunities in everything from concert tickets and jobs to relationships and organ transplants. Together, we explore why so many systems feel unfair, how behavioral economics can improve them, and why learning the rules behind these invisible structures may be the key to getting a little luckier in life. Topics [0:00] Introduction and Speed Round with Judd Kessler [13:18] The Hidden Markets Behind Organ Donation [18:30] Market Design in Medicine [29:13] How Incentives Work [35:30] TSA PreCheck, Scarcity, and Making Better Systems [40:14] The Ticketmaster Problem [46:20] The Ticketmaster Solution [53:34] Hidden Markets in Podcasts and Beyond [59:18] “The Room Where it Happens” with Lin-Manuel Miranda [1:05:30] Desert Island Music Picks [1:08:00] Grooving Session: Creating Luck Wherever You Go ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About Judd Lucky by Design by Judd Kessler Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Musical Links Sabrina Carpenter…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kurt Nelson, Tim Houlihan

Guest: Judd Kessler

Topics covered

• luck
• behavioral economics
• hidden markets
• organ donation
• market design
• incentives
• system fairness

Keywords

• luck
• behavioral economics
• hidden markets
• organ donation
• market design
• incentives
• system fairness
• Ticketmaster
• TSA PreCheck
• Lin-Manuel Miranda

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ticketmaster

Products: TSA PreCheck

Books & works: Lucky by Design, Espresso, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

More episodes of Behavioral Grooves Podcast

• Throwback Thursday: Fighting Imposter Syndrome at Work | Martin Gonzalez · June 11, 2026 · 1h 34m
• Fame, Incels, and the Need to Matter | Rebecca Goldstein · June 8, 2026 · 1h 17m
• How the Spaces Around Us Shape Our Lives | Leidy Klotz · May 25, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Throwback Thursday: The #1 Way to Live a Happy Life | Shige Oishi · May 21, 2026 · 1h 22m
• Why We’re Lonely Together | Nick Epley · May 18, 2026 · 1h 36m
• The Biggest Mistake We Make About Others - Behavioral Grooves LIVE · May 11, 2026 · 58 min