Nudge

Ever wonder how stupid people get such important jobs? It might be down to overconfidence. We all assume we’re better at our jobs than others. In this episode, best-selling author Will Storr and I look into the science behind overconfidence. We cover the confirmation bias, status, capitalism, communism, and why 100s of my listeners say they’re above-average cooks.  My survey results: https://tinyu...

Most of us struggle to stay motivated. That’s normal. A lack of motivation is something that can affect us every day. Perhaps you’re struggling to stay motivated at work, or perhaps you need to motivate your team. It’s hard. So, here are some tips on how to find your intrinsic motivation from an expert Professor Ayelet Fishbach, author of the bestselling motivational science book Get It Done.  Aye...

Changing someone’s mind is tough. But there’s one tactic that makes it much easier. Listen and you’ll learn how Trump convinced millions to support him, why Shakespeare became so popular, why Star Wars broke Hollywood, and a simple trick to get any job you want. Learn more about Will: https://willstorr.com/ Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https...

In this episode, we explore the story of how 15-year-old Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg became a global climate icon. From giving schoolroom presentations to inspiring speeches at rallies and the UN, we detail the communication strategies that made her message stand out and captivated audiences worldwide. We also examine the behavioural science principles behind her success and how you can appl...

Ever worried about someone stealing your phone at the beach? Well, there’s one thing you can do to make your phone 4x safer. It involves using a psychology-inspired principle to change behaviour. On this show, you’ll learn what it is, and why it’s important to marketers. Today, Nancy Harhut and I will cover five more marketing principles. Plus, I’ll share my real-world experiments to reveal which...

In this show, I share 5 ads that changed the world. Some have changed our morning routines, and others have changed our Christmas celebrations. Some have determined the leaders we pick and others have altered the wars we fight in. Whether we like it or not, advertisements have changed our world, and in today’s Nudge. I’ll show you how.  Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Sign up f...

Curious about the persuasive power of familiarity? Ever wondered how on earth Trump won? In this episode, I reveal how Donald Trump used mere exposure to convince millions to follow him. Tune in to learn how repeated exposure may have influenced public opinion and contributed to Trump's problematic success as a politician. Plus, we'll discuss the potential drawbacks of relying on mere exposure and...

I’ve spent $1,000s testing marketing principles for this show. Some work. Some don’t.  In this episode, Nancy Harhut and I put these principles to the test in a set of real-life experiments. You’ll learn what works, and what doesn't.  Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Scarcity experiment: https://bit.ly/3TZx2Qk Endowment experiment: https://bit.ly/3N6Gtey Loss aversion experiment...

After reviewing 100s of studies on happiness, I’ve discovered the worst ways to spend your money (according to science).  Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6

In this episode NYT-bestselling author Daniel Pink shares a science-based approach to the art of persuading, selling, and bagging yourself a raise. Plus you’ll learn how the Haka helps the All Blacks stay #1, the persuasive trick that convinced jurors OJ wasn’t guilty, and the pitch Ronald Regan used to win the election.    Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Dan’s book To Sell Is...

Could you fall in love with AI? From hologram weddings to humanized brands, today we dive into the psychology behind our love towards objects and ask, is this just a weird one-off or a hint at what's to come? Joining us is Aaron Ahuvia PhD, keynote speaker, author, and world-leading expert on brand love.  Read Aaron’s book: https://thethingswelove.com/ Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/...

MrBeast has captured the attention of the world. His YouTube videos have been viewed 26 billion times. He has more subscribers than the population of Russia. He turns over more than $50 million each year, and he’s just 24. Today, I’ll explain how he did it. I’ll walk through the subtle yet significant psychological tactics MrBeast uses to draw in viewers and turn them into fans. MrBeast is probabl...

According to a 2020 Swedish study, most lottery winners see no notable improvement in happiness or mental health. This begs the question; can you pay to live a happier life? In this episode I dig into the psychology behind money, covering why scarcity beats abundance, learning if experiences trump materials, and determining what’s the best thing to spend money on to increase your happiness.  Sign...

Kids today, they’re lazy, entitled, and self-obsessed. Their expensive avocado toast diets and Netflix-binging weekends mean they can’t get on the housing ladder, and they’re snowflakes, lacking the resilience that older generations have. Or are they? Much of the conversation about Gen Zs and Millennials follows that trend, but is it right? And more importantly, is there any evidence to back it up...

Steve Jobs was a master of persuasion. He persuaded billions of us to buy MP3 players, laptops and phones, usually at higher prices than before. Much of this is due to technical innovations and unparalleled marketing. But some of it is down to his persuasion techniques. Techniques that all of us can adopt. In this episode, you’ll learn how Steve Jobs persuaded the world using simple techniques tha...

I’ve spent weeks analyzing Steve Jobs’ career and in today’s show, I’ll share how he uses psychological biases and principles to influence people and even manipulate them. Steve was a master of persuasion, but he wasn’t super-human, he just used simple tactics that anyone can replicate. In this two-part series, we’re going to break down how he did it, starting by explaining the persuasion tactics...

I’ve spent +30 hours this year talking to psychology experts. In today’s show, I share the 5 best lessons I’ve learnt. Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Take the Science of Marketing course: https://science-of-marketing.teachable.com/ Book recommendations:  Wanting by Luke Burgis: https://amzn.to/3i86PBb...

Stories stick in your mind. In this episode, you’ll learn why, and how you can tell a better story. Joining me today is storytelling expert Dr J.J. Peterson. We discuss the great stories behind Apple, how to make someone remember an event for 7 years, and why Tidal failed. You’ll learn how images boost memory, the best-selling book titles, and the two rules behind every good story. Try HubSpot for...

Want to make a good decision? Don’t make it in the afternoon. In today’s show, NYT bestselling author Dan Pink explains the science behind perfect timing. We share the worst decision in the history of English football, why you shouldn’t go to the hospital after lunch, and how I made people 75% more likely to listen to this podcast.  Try HubSpot for free: https://hubspot.sjv.io/jWq4k6 Dan’s book Th...

Back in the 1800s, the people of Prussia ditched their gold and silver jewellery in favour of iron jewellery. That’s right, the wealthy, reputable, noble people across the region proudly wore, iron. The reason why can explain what we choose to buy today, how much we’re willing to spend, and what we think of brands. On today’s show, I’m joined by professor Matt Johnson as we discuss why branded pai...

Are you one of those people that try to do everything? Are you a yes man/woman, keen to agree to everything at work? If you are, you might appear less productive than your peers. In this episode, I share how behavioural science can be applied at work. You’ll hear from experts Bruce Daisley and Steve Martin on how to be more productive, how to give feedback and where ‘yes men’ get it wrong. Try Hub...

Ever struggled to put your child to bed? To motivate your employee? Or to get your spouse to take the bins out? If you have, you probably struggle with selling. See selling is something all of us do. 40% of work is a “selling activity” according to Gallup. It might not involve selling a product but involves persuading, convincing and influencing someone. In today’s show, I’m joined by Luis and Fon...

Today’s title sounds like clickbait, but that’s the point. In this show, I share the history of clickbait, why curiosity can make someone seem more attractive, the science behind memory, and how I got 11k followers on TikTok in just two weeks.  Listen to the episode “How I made a Reddit ad 15% more effective”: bit.ly/3E8jpYR The data behind the TikToks: https://bit.ly/3vd5QUg Robert Cialdini’s Pre...

Julius Caesar is considered by most historians the greatest military commander of all time. You might know of his war strategies, battle tactics, and perhaps his career history. But I bet you don’t know how he convinced a continent’s population to follow him. Or how he made the region’s largest army adore him. In this episode, you’ll learn the leadership tactics that took Julius Caesar to the top....

The biggest lie in business? Maybe it’s “you have to spend money to make money”. There are plenty of examples of cost-free marketing based on proven behavioural science tactics that get results. Listen to Ogilvy’s behavioural science consultants Ella Jenkins and Mike Hughes share how to boost app downloads without spending on ads, ways to stop people throwing away bread and the world’s smartest bi...