Nudge

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

June 30, 2025 25 mins
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. ---  Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/0d88279296 Read Will’s book: https://shor...
Mark as Played
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 Creativity study: https://ibb.co/FbxxN...
Mark as Played
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.  ---  Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/0d88279296 Read Will’s book: https://shorturl.at/yUGRC Visit Will’s website: https://www...
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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 increase reviews by 400%  Why “The...
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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.  ---  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 Buy Louis's book: https://link.stfo...
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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 Patrick’s newsletter: https://...
Mark as Played
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 41%. And the irrational addi...
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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 book: https://www.bloomsbury...
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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 still works today. How to tackle o...
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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: Why investing time and effo...
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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) became the foundation for Purd...
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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-22213187/  Watch Nudge on You...
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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 technique that beats cramming ...
Mark as Played
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 9-fold.  The four predictions...
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March 24, 2025 28 mins
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 happened, and why the Satanic Panic w...
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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. insights from Gerd Gigerenzer). ...
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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 ex...
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March 3, 2025 28 mins
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 pre...
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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, jing...
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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 apolo...
Mark as Played

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