PODCAST · business
Nudge
by Phill Agnew
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
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Do AI bosses need to be famous?
I think Sam Altman of OpenAI has deliberately tried to build his fame. While other CEOs keep a low profile, he spends 95% of his time evangelising. In this episode of Nudge, I explain why. --- Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Subscribe to my newsletter:...
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Why this man spent 3 years driving to Australia
Wiebe Wakker spent three years driving from the Netherlands to Australia. Today on Nudge, we learn why. And we study the psychology of dedication. Listen to the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/7ec0a99ab3 Warning, today’s episode contains explicit language. --- Listen to the bonus episode:...
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Does male insecurity increase Ferrari sales? (And 6 more psych-myths)
Are men who are insecure about their manhood more likely to buy sports cars? Do memes work for government communication? Does brand colour change the products we buy? And will an AI ever replace a police interrogator? These are some of the questions Jo Evershed, a psychological scientist and CEO,...
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The huge restaurant chains masquerading as independents
Every weekend, thousands of Brits order takeaways from independent restaurants. Or do they? Because these independent restaurants aren’t actually what they seem. Pizza Hut, Prezzo, Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas and many more chains are rebranding their food on delivery apps to appear like an...
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I tested Rory Sutherland’s business advice
Nine months ago, I started to apply one of Rory Sutherland’s most common bits of business advice. Today on Nudge, I share what happened and if I think it works. --- Get my 40 small bets: https://nudge.kit.com/c69cd49a9a Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Join 12,199...
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The worst mistake to make on Dragon’s Den / Shark Tank
There’s one simple tactic that makes entrepreneurs 6x more likely to get funding. At least that’s according to today’s guest on Nudge, Harvard Professor Leslie John. She’s spent her career studying decision-making and reveals why: - Flawed leaders inspire more trust - Authenticity gets you job...
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Are metrics controlling your life?
Have you ever finished a book you dislike just to say you’ve finished it? Have you loaded up Duolingo at 11:55pm to keep the streak alive? Have you felt the crushing disappointment of realising you forgot to record your run for Strava? If so, metrics might be controlling your life. And…
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The mental tricks used to break the 2-hour marathon
On April 26th, 2026, Sebastian Sawe did what many thought was impossible. Running the marathon in under two hours. Today on Nudge, I explain the psychological tricks Sawe may have used to break the record. --- Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Unlock the Nudge Vaults:...
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How much should you reveal to your co-workers
In 1997, Miss USA won Miss Universe with one perfectly judged answer. She revealed just enough to charm, but not enough to shock. Harvard professor Leslie John says that's scientifically proven to persuade. Her research shows revealers are more likeable, more hireable, and even more dateable. In...
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Katy Milkman: “Here’s how to make exercise fun”
Katy Milkman shares one technique that could keep you exercising for 55% longer. --- Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Katy’s book: https://amzn.to/3RF63xA Katy’s podcast: https://www.schwab.com/learn/choiceology…
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Why fear won’t always persuade
To persuade someone, most of us are tempted to use fear. We tell clients how much they’ll struggle if they pick a competitor. We tell our kids how they’ll lose TV time if they don’t finish their homework. We plead with our partners to kick bad habits by highlighting how unhealthy it’s making…
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How these two marketers manipulate your music taste
In a fairly inconspicuous SXSW podcast, two marketers shook the music industry. Jesse Coren and Andrew Spelman, two co-founders at Chaotic Good, explained how they make bands go viral. Their methods shocked people. Today on Nudge, I reveal how these two marketers use psychological hacks to...
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Can balsamic vinegar make beer better?
In 2007, two Harvard researchers added a splash of balsamic vinegar to beer. When drinkers knew the beer contained vinegar, they hated it. But when the researchers told them “this is our MIT brew," the majority loved it. The study reveals the secrets behind marketing. On today’s episode of Nudge...
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88 out of 90 people fall for this bias. Do you?
Imagine you’re a chef. You are shown the recipe for a soup. It has five ingredients. You’re told to improve the recipe. What do you do? 96% of people reveal a bias when answering this question. And that bias makes marketing less effective, communication less engaging and products less appealing....
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Will the UK’s social media ban backfire?
The British government recently announced a ban on all social media usage for children up to the age of 16. But will the ban work? Today on Nudge, I explore the psychology of restrictions, bans and friction. Warning: this show is restricted to those aged 16 or over. --- Become an FSB member:...
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Katy Milkman: Learn how to change habits in 39 minutes
World-leading behaviour change expert Katy Milkman details how to change your habits. --- Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Katy’s book: https://amzn.to/3RF63xA Katy’s podcast: https://www.schwab.com/learn/choiceology...
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Were the 2018 Gatwick drones real?
In December 2018 Gatwick Airport shut down. 109 eyewitnesses reported sighting 170 drone flights over the airport. All flights were grounded, and the nation braced for a terrorist attack. But what if those sightings weren’t real but instead an imagination caused by expectations? In today’s…
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Do broken windows cause crime?
The broken windows theory suggests that one broken window can cause a neighbourhood to descend into disrepair. But is it true? Today, with the award-winning professor Leidy Klotz, we investigate the broken windows theory and explain how environments shape our behaviour. --- Become an FSB member:...
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“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)…
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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...
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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…
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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. --- Owain’s book: https://amzn.to/4smVtrP Owain’s company CogCo:...
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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. --- Richard’s book Quirkology: https://amzn.to/4shYOJ6 Richard’s book 59 Seconds: https://amzn.to/3Pf9pWI Richard’s SubStack: https://richardwiseman.substack.com/ Join 11,934 readers of...
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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...
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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)…
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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. --- Listen to the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/40414a1b44 Nir’s book Beyond Belief:...
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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…
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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...
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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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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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. --- Come to Uplift Live:...
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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. --- Subscribe to the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults See Agent Spark in action at gwi.com/spark Read Mehdi’s book…
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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. --- Tom and Luan’s book: https://amzn.to/49aZnh3 Unlock the Nudge Vaults:...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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. ---- Subscribe to the Nudge Vaults:...
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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...
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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.) --- Adam’s agency: https://thinkerbell.com/ Adam’s books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B07K5R1MTX Sign up for my newsletter:...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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. --- Watch the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/a53ff22931 Read Adam’s…
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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…
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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...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Nudge have?
Nudge currently has 313 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Nudge about?
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.
How often does Nudge release new episodes?
Nudge publishes regularly with 313 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Nudge?
You can listen to Nudge 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 Nudge?
Nudge is created and hosted by Phill Agnew.
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