Episodes

  • The best of Nudge in 2024
    Jan 6 2025
    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 rates (feat. Todd Rogers). Why our behaviours often shape our attitudes—rather than the other way around (feat. Rory Sutherland). The surprising persuasive power of swear words in reviews and advertising (feat. Sarah Moore). A hostage negotiator’s secret for winning arguments (feat. Chris Voss). ---- 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/ ---- Sources: Epstein, Leonard H., Katelyn A. Carr, Meghan D. Cavanaugh, Rocco A. Paluch, and Mark E. Bouton (2011): “Long-term habituation to food in obese and nonobese women,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94(2), 371–376. Adams, Gabrielle S., Benjamin A. Converse, Andrew H. Hales, and Leidy E. Klotz (2021): “People systematically overlook subtractive changes,” Nature, 592, 258–261. Rogers, Todd, and Jessica Lasky-Fink (2020): “Write shorter messages,” Harvard Kennedy School. Boomerang (2016): “7 Tips for Getting More Responses to Your Emails—Backed by Data,” Boomerang Blog. Rosset, Evelyn (2008): “It's No Accident: Our Bias for Intentional Explanations,” Psychological Science, 19(6), 566–572. Lafreniere, Katherine C., Sarah G. Moore, and Robert J. Fisher (2022): “The Power of Profanity: The Meaning and Impact of Swear Words in Word of Mouth,” SAGE Open. Westerholm, Jim (2017): “Damn good coffee: Swear words and advertising,” Mälardalen University. van Kleef, Gerben A., Carsten K. W. De Dreu, and Antony S. R. Manstead (2004): “The Interpersonal Effects of Anger and Happiness in Negotiations,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 86, No. 1, pp. 57–76. This episode contains swear words.
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    37 mins
  • Every trick Steve Jobs used to persuade in 68 minutes
    Dec 30 2024
    I’ve scoured his 38-year career and documented every persuasion tactic he’s used. Here’s how Steve Jobs became the most successful CEO of all time. Sign up to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Subscribe to Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • I changed one sentence and got 20% more views
    Dec 23 2024
    I tested a fairly unknown persuasion principle on 96 loyal Nudge listeners. It made my message 20% more effective. To hear how and why, listen to the latest episode of Nudge with the fantastic Bas Wouters, best-selling author and CEO of the Cialdini Influence. Bas’s book Online Influence: https://www.onlineinfluence.com/book-online-influence/ Cialdini’s latest edition of Influence: https://tinyurl.com/2sdz9524 Join the Nudgers: https://forms.gle/wyKZB9SrHKnFks7G6 Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
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    25 mins
  • This Harvard prof made my emails 3.5x better
    Dec 16 2024
    I’ve spent weeks writing handwritten letters rather than emails. I’m running an experiment inspired by today’s guest, Harvard Professor Mike Norton. Mike’s the scientist behind the IKEA Effect, and in today’s Nudge, he explains how that bias could help me gain more reviews. Did it work? Find out on today’s episode of Nudge. Mike’s book Ritual Effect: https://tinyurl.com/mwbvws3n Watch Nudgestock: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgestock Control emails: https://im.ge/i/Control-emails.fEPKZW Handwritten emails: https://im.ge/i/handwritten-emails.fEPfX0 Stats for the control email: https://im.ge/i/Control.fEP9YK Stats for the handwritten email: https://im.ge/i/Handwritten-variant.fEP5hF Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
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    25 mins
  • 17½ persuasion tactics in 28 minutes
    Dec 9 2024
    This is one of my favourite interviews of the year. Listen, and you’ll learn why you should go last in a job interview, why you should pay incentives out in regular but smaller sums, and how you should always list your benefits in threes. Steve’s book: https://tinyurl.com/23u5aysv Steve’s website: https://influenceatwork.co.uk/ Subscribe to the Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
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    29 mins
  • I watched 300 TV ads: Here’s how they nudge you
    Dec 2 2024
    I spent four hours watching 300 ads back to back. Today, I reveal how they use psychological principles to persuade you. Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
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    46 mins
  • The Psychology Behind a Perfect (SaaS) Website
    Nov 25 2024
    The world’s best websites follow psychology-backed rules. Today’s guest, Thomas McKinlay, has read over 500 scientific marketing papers to figure out how to create a perfect website. On this episode of Nudge, he shares all the secrets. Thomas’s newsletter: https://www.sciencesays.com Subscribe to the Nudge newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Get the bonus episode: https://nudge.ck.page/2a6d523eea
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    23 mins
  • Can I create a viral YouTube video?
    Nov 18 2024
    In today’s episode, I use a marketing psychology principle to try to go viral on YouTube. Did it work? Listen to find out. Effortful YouTube video: https://youtu.be/L6ueaBYDop8?si=5kHrlW66Fdzk6yTb Effortless YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bhMCGaRsyUQ?si=LSXqZExxOZX7gIji Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile
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    28 mins