Nudge

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. 

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 di

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 S

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 tha

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: http

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

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

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 to

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 bia

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 psych

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:

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

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 L

“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 g

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 re

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 Oc

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 explain

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/4shYO

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

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