PODCAST · business
Bad Decisions
by Dan & Mel
Bad Decisions is the podcast that helps marketers understand why we choose what we choose, why we think what we think, and how to exploit this stuff for fun and commercial gain.
Episodes
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A special something for the original Bad Decisions fans
Sure, it's been almost three years since our last episode so you'd be forgiven for thinking we retired, fell out, were replaced by AI or just completely got over Behavioural Science - but you'd be wrong on all counts! Instead, we (OK fine, mainly Dan) has been busy cooking up something brand new...
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Mini episode 25: Why do good companies stay with bad software?
Liam from Albert Park wants to know why bad software is wearing us down
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Mini episode 24: Why do we love celebs with dad bods?
Emma from Canberra wants to know why we dread the shred and go jelly for the belly
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Mini episode 23: Why do I keep paying for insurance that I never use?
Francis from Carlton wants to know why she feels so unsure about staying insured.
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Mini epsiode 22: Why did my pay rise buzz wear off so quickly?
Jenny from Sandringham wants to why her pay rise has left her feeling flat
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Mini epsiode 21: Why have I stopped (compulsively) checking my investments?
Jonathan from Lightsview wants to know why he's suddently less invested in investing
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Mini episode 20: Why don’t waiters just write down my order?
Katrina from East Gardens wants to know why waiters love to wait to complete your order
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Mini episode 19 - Why is it 11:11 every time I look at my watch?
Ross from Holland Park wants to know if his watch is broken or if it's a sign from above
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Mini episode 18 - Why does everyone think they’re a great driver?
Marcie from Docklands wants to know why we we're all racing laps like Ricciardo
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Mini episode 17 - Why do smart people believe dumb horoscopes?
Millie from Coogee wants to know why we can't help but look into the crystal ball.
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Mini episode 16 - Why do groups of adults argue over who gets to pay the bill?
Gerard from Cremorne wants to know why the gloves have to come off when the cheque arrives?
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Mini episode 15 - Why do these things always happen to me?
Elliot from Preston wants to know why he's always such a disaster
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Mini episode 14 - Why does everyone remember Kodak as a failure?
Nicole from Chatswood wants to know why the Kodak moment was one worth forgetting?
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Mini episode 13 - Why did I buy so many pairs of sweatpants?
Holly from Brighton wants to know why counting her sweats has got her sweating
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Mini episode 12 - Why do I keep paying for a gym membership I never use?
Richard from Annandale wants to know why his wallet's getting a bigger work out than his gym membership
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Mini episode 11 - Why do people stay in jobs they hate?
Amanda from Paddington wants to know why it’s so hard for ‘her friend’ to quit her joyless job.
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Mini episode 10 - Why aren’t we shopped out by Boxing Day?
Lauren from Prahran wants to know why people still shop after Christmas drops.
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Mini episode 9 - Why do people pay so much for diamonds?
In this episode of Bad Decisions, Jeremy from Kooyong wants to know why people are willing to cough up big for carats.
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Mini episode 8 - Why is there a $140 option at my local car wash?
Dustin in Fairfield wants to know why people splash out more than $100 for suds and water.
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Mini episode 7 - Why do people pay $7 for toast at a cafe?
Lydia in Claremont wants to know why cafes can charge big bucks for a little bread
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Mini episode 6 - Why won’t anyone pay me what my car is actually worth?
Sophia in Glenelg wants to know why nobody seems willing to 'pay the cost to be the boss' of her "really awesome little Mazda".
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Mini episode 5 - Why do i get so many notifications about the status of my parcel?
Marcel in Camberwell wants to know why DHL insists on telling him every intricate detail about his new tennis racquet's cross continental journey.
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Mini episode 4 - Why do I keep ordering the same burrito?
Adam from Bondi wants to know why he cant say no to that bur-ri-to
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Mini Episode 3 - Why do cans of Coke, diet Coke and Coke Zero all suddenly look the same?
Bianca from Prahran wants to know what's behind Coca Cola's gigantic packaging u-turn.
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Mini Episode 2 - Why do people queue up outside full restaurants?
A very hungry Laurence from Elizabeth Bay wants to know why more people don't just cross the street.
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Mini Episode 1 - Why do we keep the boxes from expensive shoes and handbags?
Carli from Melbourne gets us rolling with a listener question that's way too close to home.
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An update from the Bad Decisions team
We've got some big news from Dan and Dr Mel (OK fine, mainly just Dr Mel). What's happening? When? Why? How? Then what? Great questions. Invest the seven minutes (or three and a half at double speed) and all will be revealed.
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Authority bias: Why nine in ten dentists recommend this episode
Doesn't it seem strange that from the moment we're born, we're taught that following instructions is the right thing to do? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the authority bias, and why carrying around a clipboard could be the best thing you ever do.
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The Scarcity Bias: why you always want what you can’t have
Given the choice between two items, why do our brains try to convince us to choose the rarer one? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Scarcity Bias, and why people line up for days to buy sneakers.
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Commitment Bias: Why you should shout it out loud
Ever stuck to your guns even though you knew deep down you were wrong? In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack the Commitment Bias and how to make sure your New Years Resolution actually sticks this time.
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A special announcement from Bad Decisions
Dan shares some big news on the launch of the first ever Built on Behaviour Bootcamp.
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Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why you might know just enough to be dangerous
Ever notice how novices tend to be highly opinionated, while those with more experience are a little less sure? In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack the Dunning-Kruger Effect, and why your social media feed is often so infuriating.
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Pratfall Effect: Why you can afford to make a mistake
People and brands often go to great efforts to manage the impressions others form of them, but what if we stopped trying to be perfect, and instead owned our flaws? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Pratfall effect, and why tripping up the stairs on your way to a presentation could be a...
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Reciprocity Bias: Why you should always buy the first coffee
It might not always feel like it, but we’re wired with an inherent desire to cooperate and collaborate with others. That means when someone does us a favour, we can’t help but want to settle the score. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider how this social and emotional drive can direct people to...
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Ostrich effect: Why you really should just go to the doctor
If information can help us make good decisions, why would we sometimes actively avoid it? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the ostrich effect, and how brands can overcome the tendency we have to bury our heads in the sand.
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Zero Risk Bias: Why there’s so much value in nothing
Turns out that one of the most ‘sure things’ in life, is people’s likelihood of picking a ‘sure thing’. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at how we make choices around risk, and why our desire to avoid uncertainty can sometimes end up costing much more.
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Barnum Effect: Why smart people believe ridiculous things
Do you generally feel like you’ve got your life together, but sometimes wonder what the hell you’re doing? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Barnum effect and why 'clairvoyant' could still be a promising career choice
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Halo Effect: Why judging a book by its cover is pretty much unavoidable
Why is it that the baddies in cartoons are always so ugly? And why do we assume that handsome people are also going to be charismatic? In this episode, Mel and Dan look at why neat hair and a firm handshake are more important than we could ever imagine.
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Mere Exposure Effect: Why turning up is half the battle
What is it that makes retro fashion take off, and is the Eurovision completely rigged? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore what happens when we see, hear or experience the same thing over and over again.
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Status Quo Bias: Why old, stubborn people kind of have a point
Everybody loves change, right? Hell no! And it’s not entirely our fault. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore why we'll often go to huge lengths just to make sure everything stays exactly the same.
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Projection Bias: Why shopping whilst hungry is a terrible idea
We all know that empathy is in short supply, but we often don’t realise how hard it is to be empathetic towards our future selves. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at what happens when we try to make decisions for tomorrow based on how we feel today.
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Effort Bias: Why you should let them see you sweat
Why do we teach kids that it's all about the effort, when as adults, we're far more concerned about the outcomes. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at why 'quicker and easier' could be the exact opposite of what we really want.
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Spotlight effect: Why nobody else notices the ketchup stain on your shorts
Ever wondered why making the smallest faux pas can ruin your entire day? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the spotlight effect, and how it influences our perception of how much attention people are actually paying towards us (and our ads).
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Zeigarnik effect: Why you want to know what happens in this episode
What happens when memories or tasks are unfinished, and why is it that they seem to stick in our heads? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Zeigarnik effect and how we can use it to create stronger memories, stop procrastinating, and keep customers thinking about us long after our ads have run.
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Focusing illusion: Why we don’t really need a pay-rise
If you won the lottery, would you be happier? Although the answer may seem obvious, our perceptions of what’s important to us don’t always match the reality. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider how we can use the magic of the focusing illusion to capture consumers’ attention.
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Ben Franklin effect: Why we should all be asking for way more favours
Social convention suggests that if you want to make a new friend, you should do something nice for them. But according to Ben Franklin, we’ve been doing it all wrong. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore how we can use non conventional techniques to gain our customers’ trust and loyalty forever...
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Framing effect: Why we like our milk fat-free and our luxury cars full price
Would you enjoy your beef more if it was 75% lean or 25% fat? That’s weird. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the framing effect - and how what we’re presented with is far less important than how it’s packaged.
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Hot Hand Fallacy: Why we love seeing hot streaks
You’ve just made your last three shots, won your last three hands or closed your last three deals. What do you think will happen next? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the fallacy - and reality - of ‘catching fire’ in games, business and life.
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Planning Fallacy: Why the best laid plans always go awry
Do you find that things always take longer than you thought? Are you always running late? What if we told you it was all because you’re an irrational optimist? Chances are, you wouldn’t change a thing. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider the planning fallacy, and how our optimistic view of the...
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Mental Accounting: Why we’ll probably die broke
A hundred dollars is a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, right? Well, no. Not according to our brains. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore how mental accounting influences the way we spend and save, and how brands can use this knowledge to make bank.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Bad Decisions is the podcast that helps marketers understand why we choose what we choose, why we think what we think, and how to exploit this stuff for fun and commercial gain.
HOSTED BY
Dan & Mel
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bad Decisions have?
Bad Decisions currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bad Decisions about?
Bad Decisions is the podcast that helps marketers understand why we choose what we choose, why we think what we think, and how to exploit this stuff for fun and commercial gain.
How often does Bad Decisions release new episodes?
Bad Decisions has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bad Decisions?
You can listen to Bad Decisions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bad Decisions?
Bad Decisions is created and hosted by Dan & Mel.
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