Nudge

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 t...

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://tinyur...

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 pod...

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

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/...

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 sugges...

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://nu...

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) Nud...

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/a48dd1...

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: htt...

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 News...

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

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: htt...

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: ht...

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...

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

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...

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

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

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

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://...

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

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/

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

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