#163: The Science of Habits – Amanda Rebar on What Really Drives Human Behavior
From The Crux of the Story by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez
March 5, 2026 · 42 min
About this episode
Professor Amanda Rebar discusses the hidden forces that shape human behavior and the implications for health and policy.
Behavioral scientist Professor Amanda Rebar unpacks the hidden forces that shape what we do—and what we fail to do. As Director of the Motivation of Health Behaviors Lab at the University of South Carolina, Rebar is a leading voice on habits, automatic processes, and the unconscious evaluations that guide our health, our choices, and our daily routines. She explains why willpower is overrated, how emotions and instant “good/bad” reactions drive behavior, and explores with us the implications for policymakers and communicators and the use of nudges in public health and in messaging. The conversation explores digital interventions, AI, big data, physical activity, mental health, and the future of behavior change. A must-listen for leaders, communicators, and anyone curious about why we behave the way we do—and how to design environments that help us do better.
People in this episode
Hosts: Gary Sheffer, Mike Fernandez
Guest: Amanda Rebar
Topics covered
- habits
- human behavior
- health
- emotions
- public health
- behavior change
- nudges
Keywords
- behavioral science
- willpower
- digital interventions
- AI
- big data
- mental health
- physical activity
- nudges
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of South Carolina
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