Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing.
The Consumer Behavior Lab is dedicated to teaching marketersacross the United States how behavioral science principles can beapplied to help their brands. By decoding the underlying motivationsof how consumers make decisions, the CBL seeks to make a betterindustry - where both brands and agencies put proven sciencebehind their decision making.
Episodes
102 episodes
Interview: Kevin Chesters, co-author of The Creative Nudge, on why great creativity requires discomfort, not consensus
In this episode, we speak with Kevin Chesters, author of The Creative Nudge and ex-CSO at Ogilvy UK, about the behavioral science of creativity. Kevin explains how small tactics can boost creativity, why time pressure kills it, and how organiza...
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1:01:59
Inside Hacking the Human Mind: lessons from the world’s most effective brands
In this episode, we celebrate our new book Hacking the Human Mind. We share our favorite chapters, unpack the behavioral science behind the brands featured, and reflect on what we’d add if we were w...
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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48:08
MichaelAaron Flicker and Richard Shotton on 100 episodes of behavioral science, brands, and ideas that actually work
In this 100th episode, MichaelAaron and Richard look back on their favorite moments from the podcast so far, including standout brand case studies like Guinness and Aperol, and key behavioral science principles like the generation effect and re...
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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42:13
Interview: Tim den Heijer, author of The Housefly Effect, on how friction, incentives, and context shape behavior
In this episode, we chat with Tim den Heijer, co-author of the best-selling book, The Housefly Effect, about how small and often overlooked details can have a large impact on behaviour. Tim unpacks some key ideas from his book, including how to...
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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51:43
Interview: Tara Austin, behavioral strategist at Ogilvy, on how small behavioral cues drive large-scale change
In this episode, we sit down with Tara Austin, Partner at Ogilvy. Tara shares the behavioral science principles for creating effective communications. We discuss a broad range of campaigns, from using scarcity to drive demand for KFC's $1 chips...
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Season 1
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Episode 98
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1:02:14
CBL Rewind: How behavioral science explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail - and how to fix them
In this episode, we revisit episode 25 to explore why most New Year’s resolutions fail—and how behavioral science can help. From public commitment to habit stacking and friction reduction, we unpack practical strategies for making resolutions m...
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Season 1
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Episode 97
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33:12
CBL Rewind: Phil Agnew, host of Nudge, on social proof, curiosity gaps, and ethical influence
We’re revisiting our chat with Phil Agnew, creator of the Nudge podcast, to explore how behavioral science shows up in everyday marketing. From pricing to persuasion, Phil shares examples and tactics that continue to resonate.
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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38:56
Interview: Jo Arden, strategist and Campaign contributor, on why hope and humor make messages stick
In this episode, Jo Arden - Chief Strategy Officer at AMV BBDO and Campaign contributor - shares how hope, humor, and smart messaging can drive behavior change. From Stoptober to herpes awareness, we explore the behavioral science behind emotio...
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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33:43
How small behavioral nudges can transform culture and performance at work
In this episode, we explore how to apply behavioral science to drive culture change and performance inside organizations. From using social proof and friction reduction to regret lotteries and purposeful work, we unpack four practical nudges th...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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48:12
Interview: Susan Weinschenk, author of 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People, on the psychology behind effective user experience
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Susan Weinschenk - behavioral scientist and best-selling author of 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People. Susan uncovers the science behind attracting attention, boosting memory and explains when...
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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47:53
Behavioral Science For Agencies: Copywriting
In this episode, we explore how behavioral science can improve copywriting. From the power of concrete language to the surprising upside of shorter, simpler messages - and why framing things as losses can be more persuasive than gains - this ep...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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38:58
Interview: Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, on how great stories persuade and inspire action
In this episode, we talk with Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, about why humans are wired for narrative. From identity and status to simplicity and surprise, Will shares how marketers can craft stories that persuade, stick, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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51:44
How BMW leveraged the fresh start effect to win over new drivers
In this episode, we explore how BMW used behavioral science to grow consideration by targeting fresh starts like home buying, leveraging price relativity with luxury context, and exploiting proximity to boost brand perception. It's a clever use...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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39:58
How Halloween candy can teach marketers about choice, memory, and reward
In this special Halloween-themed episode, we explore three behavioral science principles with surprising brand applications: how variety bias can help challenger brands, why ending on a high note matters, and how uncertain rewards can drive mor...
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Season 1
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Episode 89
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33:50
Behavioral science for agencies: Pitching
In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard explore ways that behavioral science can improve the agency pitch process. From the illusion of effort to the stolen thunder effect and extremeness aversion, this episode unpack practical ways agencies ...
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Season 1
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Episode 88
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41:12
Interview: Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational, on unfakeable signals, friction, and trust in brands
In this episode, Dan Ariely joins us to explore how brands build trust, communicate authentically, and reduce friction. From peacocks to pricing to motivational t-shirts, he unpacks the behavioral signals that shape consumer perception and driv...
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Season 1
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Episode 87
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48:23
Interview: William Poundstone, author of Priceless, on anchoring, fairness, and the myth of “fair value”
In this episode, we talk with William Poundstone, author of Priceless, about how pricing psychology shapes behavior. From anchoring and fairness to flat-rate bias, we explore how marketers can use behavioral science to influence value perceptio...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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49:29
Interview: Adam Alter, NYU marketing professor and author of Irresistible, on nine-enders, fluency, and naming that sells
This week we’re joined by Adam Alter to explore the behavioral forces that drive decision-making. From the psychology of getting unstuck to the power of fluency, labeling, and context, Adam shares practical insights for marketers looking to cha...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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54:32
Interview: Orlando Wood, author of Lemon and Look Out, on why showmanship beats salesmanship
In this episode, Orlando Wood shares why today’s ads often fail to capture attention—and what brands can do about it. From the power of characters and music to the science of right-brain appeal, he reveals how to make advertising more effective...
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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1:00:35
Hacking the Human Mind - Book Preview: Pringles
MichaelAaron and Richard open with a sneak preview of their upcoming book, Hacking the Human Mind. Next, they revisit the Pringles case study from way back in Episode 7 - a new form factor, a sticky rhyme (“once you pop…”), and the power of flu...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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19:07
How Heinz used precision and the pratfall effect to make its ketchup unforgettable
This episode dives into the behavioral science behind Heinz’s iconic brand. Discover how specificity, self-deprecating honesty, and inviting consumer participation help make Heinz ketchup more memorable, trusted, and irresistible at the table.
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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28:13
Interview: Nancy Harhut, author of Using Behavioral Science in Marketing, on the behavioral triggers that boost engagement
This week, behavioral marketer Nancy Harhut joins the podcast to explore how science-backed tactics like social proof, cognitive fluency, and personalization can lift engagement and boost conversions. Hear how she helped brands like Nationwide ...
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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48:49
How Klarna uses present bias and temporal reframing to make shopping feel irresistible
This episode unpacks the behavioral science behind Klarna’s success. Learn how the brand uses present bias and temporal reframing to reduce friction at checkout, increase willingness to pay, and reshape how consumers perceive cost—without relyi...
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Season 1
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Episode 80
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31:36
Hacking the Human Mind - Book Preview: Häagen-Dazs
In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard share a first look at their upcoming book Hacking the Human Mind, a guide to applying behavioral science for brand growth. Then, they revisit the Häagen-Dazs case study—exploring how foreign branding an...
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Season 1
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Episode 79
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18:50
Interview: Uri Gneezy, author of Mixed Signals, on why misaligned incentives backfire
In this episode we speak with Uri Gneezy, behavioural economist and professor at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego. Uri is the author of Mixed Signals and The Why Axis. In the episode, he explores how poorly designed incentives can ...
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Season 1
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Episode 78
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52:34
