Nudge
Nudge is the UK's #1 marketing podcast, breaking down the hidden psychology behind what we do and why we do it. No BS, just smart, science-backed insights that actually work.
Episodes
“How we used nudges reach £12 billion in sales” Octopus Energy's Pete Miller
Octopus Energy went from £0 in revenue to £12 billion in 10 years.
Today, on Nudge, I chat with their first employee Pete Miller, who explains how they used nudges to grow.
Hear why they:
1) Encourage customers to spin a wheel to reward metre readings.
2) Give away free electricity at 4pm.
3) Play you the number one song from the year you turned 14.
4) And gave away 40,000 electric bla
Enhanced Games: Did the $320m marketing stunt backfire?
The Enhanced Games, hosted in Las Vegas last Saturday, made a bold claim.
With the use of performance-enhancing drugs, enhanced athletes would break not just personal records but world records.
And the end goal? To sell those same drugs to the masses.
It’s arguably the biggest marketing stunt of the year so far, and today on Nudge I reveal the psychology behind it.
Did the Enhanced Games su
What makes a good logo?
In this episode, I chat to Pete Miller, part of the co-founding team at Octopus Energy, who helped design one of the most recognisable new logos in Britain.
Hear how Octopus used two proven psychological principles to build a logo people remember (and why those same principles are being ignored by most of the industry).
You'll learn:
- Why a distinct logo made one beer taste 5% better
- How a
How peer pressure built a $5 billion fitness revolution
In Singapore, a group of runners charge 50p per kilometre to run on strangers' Strava accounts.
That's how far people will go to look fit online.
This episode explains the psychology behind why being watched changes everything.
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Owain’s company CogCo: https://cogco.co/
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Prof Wiseman: “My (Failed) Search for the World's Funniest Joke”
Professor Richard Wiseman searched for the world’s funniest joke.
He found it.
But it wasn’t what he expected.
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Richard’s book Quirkology: https://amzn.to/4shYOJ6
Richard’s book 59 Seconds: https://amzn.to/3Pf9pWI
Richard’s SubStack: https://richardwiseman.substack.com/
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Why willpower alone doesn’t work
Three thousand years ago, Odysseus tied himself to a mast to resist the Sirens.
He didn't trust his willpower, so he removed the choice entirely.
Today, Owain Service, co-founder of the Behavioural Insights Team and CEO at CogCo, calls that a commitment device.
And modern evidence shows it works for everything from saving money to staying married.
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Owain’s book: https://amzn.to/4smVtrP
Prof Wiseman: “This is how you spot a liar”
Warning, you’ll hear a lie in this episode.
You won’t be told it's a lie.
And 29% of those who listen probably won’t spot the lie. But if you listen till the end, you’ll learn the proven tips to spot lies like these.
Today on Nudge, Professor Richard Wiseman explains:
1) How to spot a liar
2) What makes someone lucky
3) If we’re really separated by six connections
4) And why enlarged
Nir Eyal “Why These £39 Placebo Pills Actually Work”
There's a pill on Amazon called Fukitol.
It contains nothing. And yet people buy it, swear by it, and give it five stars.
Today, Nir Eyal explains the remarkable science behind why placebos work.
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Nir’s book Beyond Belief: geni.us/beyondbelief
Nir’s free belief change guide: nirandfar.com/belief-change
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What the World’s ‘Best Chat-Up Line’ Reveals About Human Psychology
Professor Richard Wiseman wanted to discover the world’s #1 chat-up line.
But in doing so, he discovered several secrets behind human psychology.
On today’s Nudge he covers:
1) Why councils shouldn’t pay people to sweep litter
2) How a saleswoman doubled her likeability
3) The picture Richard uses to never lose his wallet
4) And the #1 chat-up line
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Richard’s book Quirkology: htt
Learn psychological pricing in 24 minutes
I get a lot of questions about pricing.
Should I start with our most expensive item first?
Should I use precise prices instead of rounded ones when negotiating?
Should I name competitors when comparing prices?
Today, with pricing expert Dr Markus Husemann-Kopetzky we work through eight different psychological pricing tips in just 24 minutes.
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Will Guidara: How Cognac solved a major problem at the world’s #1 restaurant
Most restaurants have a major problem.
Paying the bill.
Give the bill too early, and the customer feels rushed. Too late, and they feel ignored.
To solve this problem (and many more), Will Guidara turned to behavioural science.
And his solution helped his restaurant become the world’s best.
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Listen to the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/aeea58886f
Will’s book Unreasonable Ho
How this fraudster sold fake Scottish tea to the rich & famous
In 2015, the media became obsessed with one man’s attempts to grow tea in the Scottish Highlands.
The BBC profiled him on the One Show. Radio reporters flocked to interview him. Even the Chinese national news agency reported his work.
Tam O’Braan (as he was then known) was the first to ever sell Scottish tea, and the press went wild.
Fornum and Mason bought his leaves. The Dorchester created
Will Guidara: “Here’s how I built the world’s #1 restaurant"
Will Guidara is the co-founder and restaurateur behind the world’s best restaurant.
But Will’s not a standard restaurateur. He didn’t just focus on creating the best food.
He used psychology and behavioural science to build the best experience.
Listen to learn how his restaurant became #1 by using anchoring, reciprocity and many more psych principles.
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Can this “magic” number change your behaviour?
Do nine-ending prices really work?
Will £9.99 sell more than £10.00? Can it be used for high-quality products? What about hedonic products? Can it be used on speed limits?
For years this debate has raged on. But today on Nudge, I speak with pricing expert Dr Markus Husemann-Kopetzky to settle the argument.
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Are we all just status-seeking monkeys?
Today on Nudge, Professor Katie Slocombe shares how chimpanzees handle power, build alliances, and jostle for status in their troop.
It’s the first time on Nudge that we’ve looked at the primate roots of leadership and influence, with plenty of insight into how we humans behave at work (and everywhere else). Don’t miss it.
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“These two words increased sales by 18%.” Robert Cialdini
16 years ago a chain of Chinese restaurants wanted to increase sales without changing the price.
They didn’t change the product.
The service.
The chef.
The food.
Instead, they changed two words on their menu and increased sales by 18%.
The restaurants used the advice of today’s guest on Nudge, Robert Cialdini.
Today, Cialdini explains the social proof principle, sharing how changing
When you can’t stop seeing the thing you’ve just discovered
I watched Home Alone and suddenly started hearing the theme tune everywhere.
I thought I was going insane.
But Tom Bowden-Green and Luan Wise explained that I actually fell for a fairly well-known bias.
A bias you’ve almost certainly experienced as well.
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Unlo
The Psych-Trick Behind One of the Decade’s Fastest Growing Orgs
HelloFresh is one of the fastest-growing companies of the past 20 years.
And it’s down to one, relatively simple behavioural science tactic.
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Real-world examples of cognitive biases
Most of us are completely oblivious to the cognitive biases that dictate how we live our lives.
Today, with Tom Bowden-Green and Luan Wise, we cover seven cognitive biases that all of us fall for.
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“This common pricing strategy is completely wrong!” Robert Cialdini
“Say you’ve calculated your price and it comes out at £120,121.
Most would round it down to £120,000.
That’s completely wrong.”
That’s what Robert Cialdini told me on the latest episode of Nudge.
He also explained why the Prime energy drink first succeeded and then flopped.
How Disney kept us hooked on classic movies.
And how he applies the authority bias to sell his own products.
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Robert Cialdini: “This study on 6,700 websites proved my principle!”
This study analysed 6,700 websites in an unprecedented A/B test.
The results proved something that Dr Robert Cialdini had been preaching for years.
Today, on Nudge, Robert Cialdini joins me again, covering another of his seven principles of persuasion.
And I share a marketing lesson that (I think) every business needs to know.
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The Secret Behind KFC’s Success
KFC keeps its recipe secret.
It’s stored in a vault in an unknown location.
Only two KFC executives know the ingredients.
Neither are allowed to fly on the same plane.
But this secrecy is illogical. The recipe isn’t important.
Today on Nudge, Richard Shotton explains how the secrecy makes customers more loyal.
He shares his favourite ad of all time, and we run one of his experiments on
Why is it so hard to say no?
In 1963, the Milgram experiments revealed something unsettling.
Most people kept administering what they believed were painful electric shocks, not because they wanted to, but because they couldn’t bring themselves to say no.
In this episode, my guest shares why we agree to extra projects, unpaid favours and unreasonable requests even when we know we shouldn’t.
I’m joined by behavioural scie
The top 9 tips from 55 Nudge episodes in 2025
In today’s special end-of-year episode, you’ll hear the best insights from Nudge in 2025.
Hear from Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer, Richard Shotton, Bas Wouters, Philip Graves, Prof. Matt Johnson and a Behavioural Insights Team director.
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The nudge that persuaded Aussies to stop speeding
How would you encourage Australians to drive slower?
That’s what today’s guest on Nudge, Adam Ferrier, had to do.
Being an applied behavioural scientist, he tackled this challenge in a novel way.
Listen to hear about his interesting campaign, how Jaws killed surfing and the secret behind Derren Brown’s “hypnosis” trick.
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Watch the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/66dcb18641
Adam’s
Don’t listen to this podcast
Seriously.
Don’t listen to this episode.
Whatever you do.
Don’t.
Press.
Play.
(Warning: this episode contains explicit language.)
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Why We’re Irrationally Loyal to Amazon Prime
2 out of 3 internet users in the USA pay for Prime.
Yet, most of them are irrationally loyal.
They feel like the subscription provides more cost savings than reality.
Today, on Nudge, Richard Shotton and I explore the behavioural science behind Amazon Prime.
We look at the sunk-cost fallacy and pennies-a-day effect to explain why so many are irrationally loyal to Amazon Prime.
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Robert Cialdini: "Everyone Should Memorise This Persuasion Principle"
His book Influence sold 5 million times.
He’s known as the Godfather of Influence.
He’s arguably the best-known behavioural science practitioner.
And he’s finally (after years of pestering) joining me on Nudge.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I present:
Robert Cialdini and the persuasion principles that EVERYONE should memorise.
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Cialdini’s Influence Unleashed Event: https://cialdini.
Why Everyone’s Suddenly Drinking Aperol Spritz
It’s the most popular cocktail in America.
But prior to 2015, almost nobody had heard of it.
So, how did Aperol Spritz become the world’s drink of choice?
By leveraging a well-known behavioural bias in a totally unique way.
Join Richard Shotton as he explains why suddenly everyone started drinking Aperol Spritz.
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Five science-backed tips to become a better leader
My guest on today’s episode of Nudge has spent decades studying leaders.
I asked Prof. Adam Galinsky to share his top five (evidence-backed) leadership tips.
Want to become a better leader?
This is the episode for you.
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What Marge Simpson Can Teach You About Leadership
In 1989, The Simpsons released Itchy & Scratchy & Marge.
It’s a classic Simpson’s episode filled with slapstick humour, dry jokes, and smart gags.
And yet, behind all the humour, there’s an important lesson about leadership.
Today, Chief Behavioural Scientist Micheal Hallsworth explains what Marge Simpson can teach you about leadership.
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Read the Hypocrisy Trap: https://amzn.to/47vhx
Are leaders born or are they made?
Are inspiring leaders born or are they made?
That’s what Adam Galinsky, the Columbia Business School professor, has spent the past two decades studying inspiring leaders.
On today’s episode of Nudge, he shares his groundbreaking research into inspiration, reciprocity, repetition and visionary statements that reshaped how I saw leadership.
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Read Adam’s book: https://amzn.to/4htZCGc
Sig
How did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?
Britain’s most popular pint has a major flaw.
It takes 2 minutes to pour.
This should put people off. Most of us don’t love waiting at the bar.
And yet, despite this flaw, one in every nine British pints sold is Guinness.
Why?
Well, today’s guest, behavioural scientist Richard Shotton, says it’s down to some evidence-backed consumer psychology.
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Read Hacking The Human Mind: https:
The Surprising Menu Psychology Behind Five Guys’ Success
Five Guys was the fastest-growing fast food chain in the world.
And that’s partly due to one clever bit of menu psychology.
Today on Nudge, Richard Shotton explains:
- The psychology behind the Five Guys menu
- How Kraft made a healthier Mac & Cheese (without losing customers)
- Why 99% of marketers would have ruined Pumpkin Spice Latte
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Read Hacking The Human Mind: https://amzn.to
Why did Partygate Make Voters so Angry?
In 2020, the UK government told its citizens not to meet in groups of more than two.
Despite this rule, the UK government were caught holding lockdown-breaking parties, which involved the Prime Minister.
This ultimately led to Boris Johnson’s resignation in July 2022, but why?
Why did this specific scandal make voters so angry?
Today, with the Chief Behavioural Scientist at the Behavioural
How HubSpot’s CMO Uses AI: 4 Important Tips
Kipp Bodnar is HubSpot’s CMO. He’s also an AI expert. Today, I interview him about how he uses AI, how he expects marketing teams to change, and his four tips to help you adopt AI in your business.
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How sights, smells and sounds alter what you buy
In 2011, Coca-Cola introduced a white version of their Coca-Cola can. The drink inside was identical to original Coca-Cola, but customers drinking from this white can hated the taste.
The white can made buyers think the Cola tasted worse.
To explain why, I need to delve into the science of sensehacking. With Professor Adrian North, I’ll explain why tennis players grunt loudly, why cars smell d
Is this famous team-building model wrong?
Is the classic forming, storming, norming, performing model wrong? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher challenges one of the most famous team-building frameworks and reveals what really drives teams to succeed.
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Why (often) you're less productive in a team
Ever felt like your team isn’t pulling its weight or sat through a meeting where nothing gets done? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher reveals why sometimes it’s actually better to work alone than in a group.
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Why AI-generated content won't move you
Most people prefer AI art until they know it’s AI-generated.
Today on Nudge, Professor of Consumer Psychology Matt Johnson explains why.
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This small change can make a politician electable
What determines who you vote for?
You probably think it's due to rational reasons.
Economy. Sustainability. Immigration. Growth.
But research shows that your choice of vote isn’t as logical as you might expect.
In fact, all of our votes can be swayed by a largely irrelevant factor.
And this factor can be used to change what we eat, wear, drink and buy.
Hear how, on today’s episode of Nu
When Schiphol Airport shredded 400 squirrels (and why no one was to blame)
Have businesses become less accountable?
If something goes wrong with your flight, train, or takeaway, you’ll probably struggle to get a helpful response from someone.
Today’s guest on Nudge, economist Dan Davies, says this is by design.
He calls them Unaccountability Machines, and they’re taking over.
He explains that they’ve caused the world’s largest defamation settlement against Fox News,
Dissecting Zohran Mamdani’s winning marketing tactics
I joined The Hustle Daily Show to chat about NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's and how his campaign cracked the code of modern political psychology by embracing vulnerability, leading with policy over aesthetics, and masterfully triggering psychological reactance against establishment dismissal. I chatted with The Hustle Daily Show's Jon Weigell about attention economy, authenticity and psych
Did I Get It Wrong? | Revisiting Priming
A few weeks back I debunked five studies on priming.
But did I get it wrong?
Today’s guest on Nudge thinks I missed something.
Tune in to hear consumer behaviour expert Philip Graves explain his view on priming.
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‘New Coke’ and the marketing blunder of the century
In 1985, Coca-Cola changed its flavour.
You probably know that this was a complete failure.
‘New Coke’ was discontinued after just 79 days.
But you probably don’t know the true reason why New Coke failed.
Many claim it was due to poor market research, but today’s guest on Nudge, leading consumer behaviour expert Philip Graves, disagrees.
Philip says New Coke failed not because the research wa
How your brain can reveal what you buy
Paul Zak can predict what customers buy without speaking to them.
He’s even able to boost charitable donations by spraying a donor with hormones.
Find out how in today’s episode of Nudge.
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How this indie movie used psychology to beat Hollywood
97% of independent films fail. Boiling Point did not. Today, I chat with executive producer Paul Mellor to learn how this movie applied psychological principles to outperform its peers and compete against blockbusters like James Bond.
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Why naming a dish “field-grown” doubled sales
How would you encourage sustainable behaviour?
You might assume logical messages work best.
Stuff like “the average three-hour flight creates ~250–400 kg of CO₂”.
But today’s guest on Nudge has tested logical messages.
And they don’t work.
Today on Nudge, Toby Park from the Behavioural Insights Team explains how renaming a meat-free dish doubled its sales. Why targeting home-movers made
Three tricks Super Mario uses to keep gamers hooked
Super Mario Bros is 40 years old. It’s an incredibly simple game (it takes up the same memory as a smartphone wallpaper), yet it’s incredibly popular. Over 40 million people have played it. Why? Because it’s packed with psychological tips that hook players in and keep them playing. Today, Ramli John explains the subtle behavioural science tricks Super Mario games use to keep us playing.
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Ram
This single text made girls 45% more likely to get vaccinated
Can one text message save 100s of girls from cervical cancer? Today on Nudge, Niall Daly and Dr Giulia Tagliaferri discuss their county-wide study involving 55,000 girls. Their experiment had some eye-opening results, so I decided to copy it. I ran my own study on my listeners to see if I could increase my sales. Did it work? Listen to find out.
My study emails: https://ibb.co/HTdMDHxT
My st
A surprisingly effective way to persuade (almost) anyone
It’s a psychological principle that helped end South African apartheid.
It reversed the Pope’s declining popularity.
It reduced university students’ binge drinking by 30%.
And can predict romantic breakups with 60% accuracy.
Today, bestselling author Will Storr reveals the surprisingly effective way to persuade (almost) anyone.
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Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/0d88279
I debunked psychology’s greatest myth
I interviewed 60 Brits to debunk one of psychology’s greatest myths. Priming is one of the best-known biases in behavioural science. Kahneman mentions it 35 times in his best-selling book Thinking Fast and Slow. And yet, I’m not convinced it really works. In five separate experiments, I tested it. Does priming work, or is it a myth?
The studies:
Authenticity study: https://ibb.co/5W14DM2N
Cre
The surprising true story behind “the greatest ad ever made”
Most marketers will remember Apple’s 1984 ad.
Many consider it the “greatest ad of all time”.
But you probably don’t know that just 12 months earlier, Apple released a similar ad that failed.
Why?
Today on Nudge, bestselling author and storytelling expert Will Storr explains why.
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Instagram failed until it made THIS simple change
Instagram wasn’t always a runaway success. The first version of the app flopped.
However, the Instagram founders were taught a behavioural science model that transformed their work.
Today on Nudge, Bas Wouters, an expert behavioural science practitioner, explains Instagram's changes and how you can follow their model to improve your online marketing.
You’ll learn:
How a simple question can
I tested this marketing guru’s advice. Was it a waste of time?
I gave this marketing expert one hour to create an unforgettable ad.
I showed his ad to 30 Brits and measured exactly how memorable it was.
Does his marketing advice work?
Or is it a waste of time?
Listen to find out.
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Learn more about Voxpopme: https://www.voxpopme.com/
Kopi Luwak control ad: https://ibb.co/NgXY0HZ0
Kopi Luwak ad Louis’s variant version: https://ibb.co/ymQG433V
A year-long happiness experiment: Try one new thing a week (did it work?)
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?
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Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/64d1602e73
Fo
Learn 7 scientifically-backed marketing tips in 27 minutes
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 conversio
Six eco-brands using psychology to sell
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.
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Use code Obsolete25 for 25% off C
Oliver Burkeman: “Most scholars worked for just 4 hours a day”
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
Oliver Burkeman: “I stared at a painting for 3 hours straight”
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
The most destructive ad campaign in history
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 st
Louis Grenier’s Extremely Uncensored Take on Marketing
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).
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One simple trick to improve your memory
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-ba
Will tips from a 102-year-old marketing book work in 2025?
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 s
Can you implant fake memories?
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 ha
Elon Musk’s Controversial Interview Question
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
Surprising truths about memory with Dr. Ranganath
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
Should you trust your gut?
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 pl
“99.9% of ads are genuinely awful” Tom Goodwin
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
7 marketing psychology tips you can apply today
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 volum
Tiny nudges that can drastically improve your life
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 Schiph
Introducing: Nudge Unit
Join the Nudge Unit: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort
Why most bestselling business books are BS
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 confirmat
Can 10,000 hours of practice make you great?
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 Atki
What sets top negotiators apart?
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 (f
Can you see the invisible gorilla?
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.theinvisiblegor
Francesca Gino Scandal: What Really Happened
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).
T
Can I fool veteran marketers with my AI fakery?
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 posi
The experiment every marketer should know
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.
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Inspired by the
The best of Nudge in 2024
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
