I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Nintendo Brain Training. I’ve always thought it’d make me smarter. Most people agree. I asked 25 Brits, and 24 said it “helps their memory.” And yet, my guest on Nudge, Prof Dan Simons, thinks we’re all wrong. So, does Nintendo brain training work? Well, in today’s episode of Nudge, I find out. First, I analysed the dozens of ads Nintendo had put out. I share the psychological nudges they used to persuade us and how they made their game so popular. Then, I ru...
Oct 14, 2024•38 min
This advice has changed the way I work. Professor Adam Alter covers the science behind creativity, Bob Dylan’s songwriting tricks, Pfizer’s profitable pivot, Pixar’s crowd-based wisdom, and one study that changed my perspective on creativity. Adam’s book: https://adamalterauthor.com/anatomy Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Mike Temple’s Blowin’ cover: https://youtu.be/tFgohZ8xtnI?si=z0LYO9E2qX5PCEEw
Oct 07, 2024•31 min
Professor Danny Zane told me to slightly change how I promote my products. His advice increased my sales by 600%. Today, on Nudge, I reveal what he told me. Danny’s webpage at Lehigh: https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/daniel-zane The email engagement results: https://im.ge/i/The-email-engagement-results.fEAXyX The sale results: https://im.ge/i/The-sale-results.fEAos9 Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Sep 30, 2024•28 min
Tesco is the largest UK employer. They conduct almost 1 million interviews a year, yet I think they might be pointless. Today, I will share psychological studies showing common interview flaws. I explain why so many of us are bad at predicting what others think and suggest a better way to conduct interviews. Thinking Fast and Slow: https://tinyurl.com/msd3kz9b Talking to Strangers: https://tinyurl.com/yewvrwb5 Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Sep 23, 2024•19 min
Fraudsters use four common tactics to con you. These tactics have been proven to work in scientific labs, adopted by the world’s best marketers, and used by scammers to manipulate and persuade. Are you being conned? Find out on today’s episode of Nudge with Dan Simons. Dan's book: https://www.dansimons.com/NobodysFool.html Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Sep 16, 2024•43 min
There’s a strange ritual Messi does at the start of every game that helps make him great. This ritual also helps job candidates succeed in interviews, sketch comedians create better jokes, and helped A-ha write Take On Me. To hear what it is, listen to bestselling author Adam Alter teach me the science behind beating procrastination. Adam’s book: https://adamalterauthor.com/anatomy Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Sep 09, 2024•27 min
Whether clinking a glass with a friend, blowing on a cake, touching wood for good luck or tapping the plane before boarding, most of us have at least one weird ritual. Today’s guest, Harvard Professor Mike Norton, studied them for years. In today’s Nudge episode, he shares his findings. It turns out that those odd rituals are more important than we think. Mike’s book Ritual Effect: https://tinyurl.com/mwbvws3n Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Sep 02, 2024•31 min
I didn’t pay them. I didn’t force them. I didn’t even try to persuade them. No, to convince these 8 influencers I used an extremely powerful psychological bias. This same bias has been used to sell one thousand pounds of cheese in three hours, turn greedy bankers into charitable donors, and (potentially) save us from nuclear war. Listen to find out how I persuaded 8 influencers to promote this podcast. The (free) Science of Persuasion course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course The Science o...
Aug 26, 2024•21 min
I interviewed a (former) mind reader. He still reads minds today, but not for gimmicks. Instead, he uses his powers to help companies increase their sales. Today on Nudge, he shares 21 psychology-inspired tips that are proven to increase revenue. Nick's newsletter: https://www.kolenda.io/ Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Aug 19, 2024•26 min
The bestselling author of The Power of Habits and Supercommunicators shared his top communication advice. Today, on Nudge, I tested Charles Duhigg's advice on four strangers. Will his advice make me more popular? Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.ck.page/72cea6802d Charles's book Supercommunicators: https://tinyurl.com/447wkpmz Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Aug 12, 2024•41 min
Facebook has developed AI that’s smart enough to manipulate and persuade humans. Political spinsters have used it to persuade voters. Scam artists used it to con thousands of people at scale. Yet, I’m most worried about how AI might take my job, how AI is almost certain to become a better podcaster, writer, and marketer than me. Today, I share what happens when AI can persuade humans, and I suggest a way for all of us to keep our jobs in an AI-dominated world of work. The Coming Wave: https://ti...
Aug 05, 2024•25 min
What do Maradona’s Hand of God and Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” have in common? Both might be due to cognitive biases. Today, on Nudge, Nuala Walsh shares seven cognitive biases that shape our decisions and might ruin my life. Nuala’s book: https://www.nualagwalsh.com/ Nuala’s TED talk: https://youtu.be/xLSAkVxPOk0?si=PPjFSAO7tk8VszPM Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Jul 29, 2024•28 min
He lied to his students, his friends, and his family. He fabricated data in 57 separate studies. He publicised racist views as scientific fact. And for a decade, he got away with it. Today, I share how one of the world’s most popular behavioural scientists fooled the world. Nobody’s Fool: https://tinyurl.com/yv6pf93v Influence: https://www.influenceatwork.com/store-new/ Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Jul 22, 2024•30 min
In today’s episode of Nudge, Rory Sutherland explains how to Sell a £500 hoover Make a flight delay pleasurable Improve the London Tube map Persuade more effectively Make any cafe more popular Stop drink drivers It’s a cracker. (A version of this episode was released in 2021, but it’s been heavily edited so still worth tuning in to). Access the bonus episode here: https://nudge.ck.page/a48dd10ceb Rory’s book Alchemy: http://tinyurl.com/3ucjy6rz Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudge...
Jul 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 191
What do election winners have in common? What makes a speech more persuasive? Are there tactics that every politician follows? And can we use these same tactics in our day-to-day work? I’ve spent the past week listening to nothing but election winning speeches. Today, I share what makes an election winning speech. Derek’s book Hit Makers: https://tinyurl.com/yeymzds8 Jonah’s book Magic Words: https://jonahberger.com/magic-words/ Follow the Nudge Newsletter (it’s free): https://www.nudgepodcast.c...
Jul 08, 2024•25 min•Ep. 190
In today’s episode of Nudge, Rory Sutherland explains: The reason behind Brexit How doormen were undervalued What bees teach us about creativity The problem with R&D Amazon’s two way door Don’t miss this. (Warning this episode contains explicit language). Access the bonus episode here: https://nudge.ck.page/a48dd10ceb Rory’s book Alchemy: http://tinyurl.com/3ucjy6rz Sign up to the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list
Jul 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 189
In the 5 years I’ve spent creating this show, I’ve learnt a lot about advertising. Today, I share six evidence-based principles that are proven to improve any ad. If you want to understand why you buy the things you buy, then tune in. Join the free Science of Persuasion Course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course
Jun 24, 2024•17 min•Ep. 188
I guarantee that the words you use to win arguments are ineffective. I don’t think you’re a lousy persuader, I think we all are. Today, world-leading neuroscientist Tali Sharot shares her decade-long research into persuasion. She tells me that the way I argue is ineffective and reveals how to win any argument. Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.ck.page/de30a8ac24 Tali’s book, Look Again: https://tinyurl.com/5n8p3btb Tali’s lab: https://affectivebrain.com/?page_id=161 Sign up to my newslette...
Jun 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 187
I’ve tested 100s of psychological tactics on my email subscribers. Today, I reveal the 10 tactics that actually work. Join the free Science of Persuasion Course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course My endowment test: https://tinyurl.com/bv2umtup My scarcity nudge: https://tinyurl.com/376stytp My loss aversion nudge: https://tinyurl.com/5hyh9y4h My experiment with International Podcast Day: https://im.ge/i/PrV4l9 My consistency experiment: https://bit.ly/3sABZTU My curiosity gap experiment: h...
Jun 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 186
This is surely the most persuasive message on earth? It made 22,000 Brits agreed to 1,000 hours of community service, including, but not limited to; cleaning toilets at festivals, scraping chewing gum off the streets, and manually relieving sewer blockages. In today’s episode, Harvard Professor Todd Rodgers explains how. Access the bonus episode here: https://nudge.ck.page/b64397a286 Writing for Busy Readers book: https://writingforbusyreaders.com/ Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.n...
Jun 03, 2024•25 min•Ep. 185
Warning. This episode contains explicit language. In 2018, KFC told the world they FCK’d up. Today on Nudge, Professor Moore shares the science behind swearing and reveals if swearing in ads helps or hinders a brand. Access the bonus episode here: https://nudge.ck.page/e1bed9bc16 Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list
May 27, 2024•25 min•Ep. 184
It seems inevitable to us now that someone would eventually land on the moon. But back in 1962 that wasn’t so certain. With the ever-rising costs of the Apollo space program, and a huge amount of tax needed from each US citizen, JFK struggled to convince people. That was until one speech on a sunny day in September. This speech went down in history, persuading the nation to reach for the moon. In today’s Nudge, I explain the psychological tactics Kennedy used to make that speech so compelling. S...
May 20, 2024•26 min•Ep. 183
Chris Voss, the FBI’s former chief hostage and kidnapping negotiator, shares how to succeed in any negotiation. Chris’s newsletter: https://www.blackswanltd.com/the-edge Chris’s book: https://www.blackswanltd.com/never-split-the-difference Follow the Nudge newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
May 13, 2024•28 min•Ep. 182
Chris Voss, former chief hostage and kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, shares the worst negotiation mistakes you can make. Chris’s newsletter: https://www.blackswanltd.com/the-edge Chris’s book: https://www.blackswanltd.com/never-split-the-difference Follow the Nudge newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
May 06, 2024•26 min•Ep. 181
In the 5 years I’ve run Nudge, I’ve interviewed 10 experts on pricing. These aren’t run-of-the-mill LinkedIn gurus. They’re peer-reviewed researchers from some of the world’s most prestigious universities. Today, I reveal their top 10 pricing tips. Join the free Science of Persuasion Course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course
Apr 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 180
In today’s episode of Nudge, Rory Sutherland explains: When to tell smokers to quit smoking How to double McDonald’s orders Ways to make Londoners recycle Why pensions schemes are broken How to make high earners pay more tax You won’t want to miss this. (Warning this episode contains explicit language). Rory’s book Alchemy: http://tinyurl.com/3ucjy6rz Sign up to the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list
Apr 22, 2024•33 min•Ep. 179
I’ve spent 200 hours interviewing persuasion experts. Today, I share the persuasion tactics that actually work. Join the free Science of Persuasion Course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course Reddit ads: https://imgur.com/a/BsCwx7n Reddit ads results: https://imgur.com/a/iEB4W79
Apr 15, 2024•18 min•Ep. 178
I wish I had followed Prof Todd Rodgers’ advice earlier. Writing for Busy Readers book: https://writingforbusyreaders.com/ Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Churchill’s plea for brevity: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/churchills-call-for-brevity/
Apr 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 177
I used to love football, but nowadays I’m indifferent towards it. Today on Nudge, Professor Sarah Moore explains why. Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list
Apr 01, 2024•24 min•Ep. 176
In today’s episode of Nudge, Uri Gneezy explains why Amazon paid staff $5,000 to quit, how he got Singapore taxi drivers to walk more, and how Pret made their staff friendlier. Uri’s book Mixed Signals: https://tinyurl.com/28mh4kke Follow the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Uri's previous episodes on Nudge: Episode One / Episode Two
Mar 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 175
