Can You Change Your Personality? | Olga Khazan

What if your personality isn’t fixed? Olga Khazan shares how she deliberately set out to become more extroverted, agreeable, and emotionally stable—using improv, mindfulness, and science-backed strategies. Based on her book Me, But Better, this conversation explores how real change happens, and why connecting with others may be the key to becoming who you want to be.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Olga Khazan

[5:59] Experiment: Can I Change My Personality?

[9:59] Results: What Changed, What Didn’t?

[17:43] Nature vs. Nurture in Personality

[21:46] Personality Traits as Tools for Life

[29:31] Can Older Adults Still Change?

[38:39] Solitude vs. True Connection

[43:45] Olga’s Music Playlist

[45:46] Grooving Session: Working on the Personality We Want

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Links

About Olga

Me, But Better by Olga Khazan

Big 5 Personality Test

Nathan Hudson’s Research

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Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

Musical Links

ODESZA - The Last Goodbye

Chapell Roan - Good Luck, Babe