Nudge

This behavioural scientist spent one year doing a new thing every week. He tried acupuncture, gambling, day-trading and dancing. He visited Just Stop Oil meetups, cuddle workshops, and psychic readings. He killed a chicken, drank breastmilk, and bungee jumped. Did it make him happy? (And is there science to back up his ideas? --- Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/64d1602e73 Follow Pa...

In just 27 minutes, you can learn 7 scientifically backed marketing tactics to apply to your website today.  You’ll learn:  How one word increased my email open rate by 6.4%. The tiny reward that helped a cafe generate 1,276 5-star reviews. Why adding steps increased job applicants by 20%. How “you’ll lose X” reduced customer cancellations by 90%. The irrelevant reason that boosted conversions by...

Oatly, Tony’s, Ecosia and more all use behavioural science to persuade you. Today, author and founder Chris Baker explains how.  You’ll learn about:  Tony’s viral advent calendar.  Oatly’s tiny change that transformed the coffee industry.  Ecosia's smart nudge to keep users hooked.  And one behavioural science principle Chris used to launch his brand.  ---  Use code Obsolete25 for 25% off Chris’s...

Why did Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, and Henri Poincaré all follow the same four-hour rule? In this episode, bestselling author Oliver Burkeman returns to explain why three to four hours of focused work might be the secret to productivity and peace. Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d You’ll learn: The 3–4 hour rule: why it worked for Darwin, Trollope, and Dickens and sti...

Could staring at a painting for three hours make you more productive?  In this episode, I try a strange experiment inspired by bestselling author Oliver Burkeman. Based on lessons from his book Four Thousand Weeks, I stare at Picasso’s Guernica for three hours. No phone, no distractions, just a notepad and mic. Did I go mad?  Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d You’ll learn:...

How did a marketing campaign lead to one of the worst public health disasters in American history?  In this episode, I investigate the rise and fall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical empire they built, and the marketing tactics that got millions addicted to opioids. You’ll learn: How reframing turned OxyContin from a last resort into a “safe” everyday drug. Why a vague letter (not a study)...

Today's episode of Nudge is a little different. The no-nonsense marketing expert Louis Grenier gives his uncensored, uncut, and explicit take on marketing (and life). ---  Buy Louis's book: https://link.stfo.io/amazon Sign up for STFO: https://www.stfo.io/newsletter Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22...

There is one straightforward trick to help you remember more. Today, Dr. Ranganath reveals why testing yourself (even when you fail) can supercharge your memory.  You’ll learn: Why re-reading notes doesn’t work, but testing yourself does. How a study with dental students proved the power of error-driven learning. Why guessing the answer before hearing it makes information stick. The science-backed...

Back in 1923, Claude Hopkins wrote the definitive book on advertising. David Ogilvy said the book “changed his life,” and over eight million copies of the book have been sold. But are the 102-year-old tips still accurate today? In this episode of Nudge, I find out.  You’ll learn: Why the phrase “Food Shot Through Guns” helped sell more cereal.  How a sewing machine manufacturer increased his sales...

In 1980, Michelle Smith published a book that triggered the Satanic Panic, a worldwide fear that Satan worshippers were recruiting millions to embrace satanism.  Today, I explore the surprising science of false memories with Dr. Charan Ranganath, author of Why We Remember. Dr. Ranganath reveals how memory is more imagination than recollection, why some people vividly remember things that never hap...

Elon Musk’s hiring strategy goes against conventional wisdom—he asks just two questions and relies on gut instinct. But does it actually work? Today, Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer reveals why Musk’s method might be smarter than traditional hiring processes and explores the psychology behind better decision-making. You’ll learn: Why Musk’s hiring heuristic could outperform complex selection methods (feat....

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 co...

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 player...

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 199...

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-l...

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 A...

Join the Nudge Unit: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort

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...

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...

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 (fea...

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.theinvisiblegori...

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...

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 position...

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 insigh...

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 rat...