I explore the surprising science of memory with Dr. Charan Ranganath, author of Why We Remember. Today, Dr. Ranganath reveals why forgetting isn’t a flaw but a feature of our brains and how simple strategies can dramatically improve recall. You’ll learn: Why forgetting is normal (feat. Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve). How multitasking physically changes your brain and worsens memory. Why filming concerts on your phone makes the experience less memorable. Proven techniques from memory athletes to ...
Mar 10, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Golf players, investors and CEOs perform better if they take their time. Or do they? Today, Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer reveals why intuition often outperforms complex analysis and how shortcuts can lead to smarter decisions in business, sports, and investing. You’ll learn: Why gut instinct can beat data-driven decisions (feat. insights from Gerd Gigerenzer). How firefighters, CEOs, and handball players make better choices under pressure. The dangers of overthinking—why too much time can worsen decisi...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn why so many ads today are ineffective and what marketers are getting wrong. Today, Tom Goodwin reveals the four simple truths about advertising, the surprising power of “wasted” marketing, and why aesthetics alone can make an ad more persuasive. You’ll learn: Why most digital ads fail and how short-term thinking is to blame. The hidden power of repeated exposure (feat. Moreland & Beach’s 1992 study). How slow-motion, jingles, and branding signals can make products feel more premium. Why ta...
Feb 24, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join the Nudge Unit: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort Why does a $5 Uber voucher turn angry customers into loyal fans? In this episode, Eva van den Broek and Tim den Heijer share actionable insights from their book The Housefly Effect, revealing seven marketing psychology tips you can use to grow your business. You’ll learn: How scarcity drives demand, from pineapple rentals to volume-limited products. Why a $5 apology voucher boosted Uber’s revenue (feat. reciprocity principle). How T...
Feb 17, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join the Nudge Unit: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort Can tiny nudges dramatically change our behaviour? In this episode, Eva van den Broek and Tim den Heijer explore the subtle yet powerful psychological tools that influence daily decisions, often without us realising it. You’ll learn: Why doubling the size of a plate made kids eat 41% more (feat. the Delboeuf illusion). Why Schiphol Airport painted a fly in the urinals (“The Housefly Effect”). The role of defaults in organ donation, ...
Feb 10, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join the Nudge Unit: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort
Feb 07, 2025•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Business books are everywhere, offering seemingly simple solutions to complex problems—but are they truly helpful? In this episode, Alex Edmans explores the biases that make us fall for oversimplified advice and why many popular business books fail to deliver. You’ll learn: How black-and-white thinking fuels the success of books like Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution and Start With Why. Why confirmation bias leads us to believe unproven claims (feat. Simon Sinek’s “Why” theory). The dangers of ignorin...
Feb 03, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast I explore the truth behind the famous 10,000-hour rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. Today, Prof Alex Edmans uncovers why the rule persists despite its flaws and dives into the psychological biases that make misinformation so believable. You’ll learn: Why the 10,000-hour rule isn’t as universal as it seems (feat. insights from Alex Edmans). How confirmation bias shapes beliefs—from the Atkins diet to Deepwater Horizon. The dangers of narrative fallacy in explaining success (feat. 1975 Barry ...
Jan 27, 2025•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Neil Rackham’s groundbreaking research uncovered what separates skilled negotiators from the average. Drawing insights from real-world negotiation sessions involving union disputes, management decisions, and high-stakes contracts, this episode unpacks the actual behaviour of skilled negotiations. You’ll learn: The specific ways skilled negotiators prepare differently from average negotiators (feat. 48 skilled negotiators). Why immediate counterproposals can ruin a negotiation (feat. insight from...
Jan 24, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 75% of us expect to spot the unexpected. But we’re wrong. Today on Nudge, Dan Simons shares his results from perhaps the world’s best-known psychology experiment: the Invisible Gorilla. Listen, and you’ll take part in our own audio version of his experiment, and I'll dig into research papers to learn how Dan’s findings apply to marketing. Dan’s book Invisible Gorilla: https://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/ Dan’s book Nobody’s Fool: https://dansimons.com/NobodysFool.html Outdoor Advertising Recall ...
Jan 20, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Francesca Gino scandal shook the academic world, exposing fraudulent research practices at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, Harvard Business School. This episode unpacks the details of the case, from the initial discoveries to the implications for science. You’ll learn: How a PhD student uncovered data manipulation in a high-profile study (feat. Zoe Xani’s investigation). The critical role of whistleblowers in exposing fraud (feat. Data Colada’s analysis). Key findings from ...
Jan 17, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast I put AI to the test at one of the world’s largest marketing conferences, Inbound 2024. This episode dives into the surprising results of my experiment and what they mean for the future of marketing. You’ll learn: Why AI-generated content is seen as error-free (feat. 2022 study by Henestrosa et al.). How AI compares to humans in persuading consumers (feat. 2023 meta-analysis). Why strong positioning, like Wistia’s, is key to beating AI at its own game. The marketing tasks most at risk of being t...
Jan 13, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast From curing scurvy to shaping billion-dollar business strategies, this is the story of the most important experiment in science and its profound impact on our world. ---- Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ ---- Inspired by the insights and storytelling of May Contain Lies How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – An...
Jan 10, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast I spoke to the leading behavioural science authors, researchers and practitioners in 2024. Here are their top lessons. It features insights from Tali Sharot, Todd Rodgers, Rory Sutherland, Prof. Sarah Moore, and Chris Voss. Plus, some big news for 2025. You’ll learn: Why our happiness fades, no matter how good life gets (feat. Tali Sharot). How shorter emails can drastically improve response rates (feat. Todd Rogers). Why our behaviours often shape our attitudes—rather than the other way around ...
Jan 06, 2025•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast I’ve scoured his 38-year career and documented every persuasion tactic he’s used. Here’s how Steve Jobs became the most successful CEO of all time. Sign up to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Subscribe to Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast I tested a fairly unknown persuasion principle on 96 loyal Nudge listeners. It made my message 20% more effective. To hear how and why, listen to the latest episode of Nudge with the fantastic Bas Wouters, best-selling author and CEO of the Cialdini Influence. Bas’s book Online Influence: https://www.onlineinfluence.com/book-online-influence/ Cialdini’s latest edition of Influence: https://tinyurl.com/2sdz9524 Join the Nudgers: https://forms.gle/wyKZB9SrHKnFks7G6 Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Ne...
Dec 23, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast I’ve spent weeks writing handwritten letters rather than emails. I’m running an experiment inspired by today’s guest, Harvard Professor Mike Norton. Mike’s the scientist behind the IKEA Effect, and in today’s Nudge, he explains how that bias could help me gain more reviews. Did it work? Find out on today’s episode of Nudge. Mike’s book Ritual Effect: https://tinyurl.com/mwbvws3n Watch Nudgestock: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgestock Control emails: https://im.ge/i/Control-emails.fEPKZW Handwritte...
Dec 16, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is one of my favourite interviews of the year. Listen, and you’ll learn why you should go last in a job interview, why you should pay incentives out in regular but smaller sums, and how you should always list your benefits in threes. Steve’s book: https://tinyurl.com/23u5aysv Steve’s website: https://influenceatwork.co.uk/ Subscribe to the Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Dec 09, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast I spent four hours watching 300 ads back to back. Today, I reveal how they use psychological principles to persuade you. Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Dec 02, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast The world’s best websites follow psychology-backed rules. Today’s guest, Thomas McKinlay, has read over 500 scientific marketing papers to figure out how to create a perfect website. On this episode of Nudge, he shares all the secrets. Thomas’s newsletter: https://www.sciencesays.com Subscribe to the Nudge newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Get the bonus episode: https://nudge.ck.page/2a6d523eea
Nov 25, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, I use a marketing psychology principle to try to go viral on YouTube. Did it work? Listen to find out. Effortful YouTube video: https://youtu.be/L6ueaBYDop8?si=5kHrlW66Fdzk6yTb Effortless YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bhMCGaRsyUQ?si=LSXqZExxOZX7gIji Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
Nov 18, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast I shrunk Britain’s favourite bread and showed it to a dozen Brits from Bolton. I was experimenting with shrinkflation. Companies shrink the size of their products without changing the price, benefiting from a psychological bias that means we struggle to notice small changes. Today, chatting with Grace Forell from Which?, I figure out the psychology behind shrinkflation, why it works, and I test if anyone notices my shrunken loaf of bread. Methods of Persuasion: https://www.kolenda.io/books Grace...
Nov 11, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, I try to persuade 20 total strangers to listen to Nudge. To help, I’ve asked Brain Ahearn for advice. Brian’s Tedx talk on pre-suasion has been viewed by over 1 million people. He teaches tactics that anyone can use. So, I put his advice to the test. I’ve found 40 strangers and asked them if they’d listen to Nudge, but for 20 I used Brian’s ‘pre-suasion’. Did it work? Tune in to find out. Brian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfahearn/ Brian’s website: https://influencepeople....
Nov 04, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast What makes us happy? This question generates wildly different answers. I asked four Nudge listeners and got four different answers. Being the behavioural science nerd I am, I’ve always wondered if there is a scientific answer to this question. Is there a study that reveals the secrets behind the good life? Yes, there is. It’s the longest study on human happiness ever conducted. Today, I spoke to Marc Schulz, the associate director of that study, and he shared the results. What causes a happy lif...
Oct 28, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Robert Cialdini is known to most as the godfather of influence. But is his 40-year-old book still relevant? Today, with Bas Wouters, best-selling author and CEO of the Cialdini Influence, we debate whether Cialdini’s 1984 findings still apply. How I persuaded 8 influencers to promote Nudge: https://tinyurl.com/y8dvy9xk Bas’s book Online Influence: https://www.onlineinfluence.com/book-online-influence/ Cialdini’s latest edition of Influence: https://tinyurl.com/2sdz9524 BBC’s Bickman experiment: ...
Oct 21, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 
