What do Alchemy and Magic have to do with human decision-making?
On this episode, I’m joined by two Behavioural Science gurus who have both been on the show before: Rory Sutherland and Paul Craven. Rory is the author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense. Paul Craven is a magician and member of the prestigious Magic Circle. So that’s both bases covered!
Since the show is approaching its 200th episode — this is the 199th — I thought I ought to celebrate it. So I did what we always do when we celebrate special occasions and decided to replicate the winning formula I used last time. On that occasion, I was joined by Rory Sutherland and Gerald Ashley. Since then, I’ve also recorded a doubleheader with Gerald and his and Rory’s good friend Paul Craven. Like Rory and Gerald, Paul has also done a solo appearance on the show.
So for two episodes, I’m joined by Rory Sutherland and Paul Craven.
In our discussion — and I’m just talking about this episode here — we talk about framing, ethics, Sludge, electric cars, the best joke at this year’s Edinburgh festival — warning, it’s an adult joke — the Pratfall Effect, or why making mistakes can make us seem more human, ho one man saved the world from a nuclear war, the Beatles, how we look at data and so much more. Links to all of those are below.
Paul Craven - https://www.paulcraven.com/
Rory Sutherland - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorysutherland/?
Rory’s book Alchemy - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/430379/alchemy-by-rory-sutherland/9780753556528
Economist Nicholas Gruen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Gruen
French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Eug%C3%A8ne_Robert-Houdin
Former guest Gerald Ashley referring to Paul as a conman - https://twitter.com/HumanRiskLtd/status/1395316840105234432?s=20&t=7v2vbVi0FoiyzozKY9soug
Marks & Spencer’s ‘Dine In For Two’ Deal - https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/dine-in
Edward De Bono - https://www.debono.com/
Germany’s ’two click to unsubscribe’ law - https://www.thelocal.de/20220303/how-germany-is-making-is-easier-for-consumers-to-cancel-contracts/
Sludge - https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2021/09/29/you-cant-nudge-if-youve-got-sludge/
[Warning: the most controversial show note ever. Contains adult content. Spanish Comedian Ignacio Lopez on Dogging. Here’s what the term means: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogging_(sexual_slang)].
Here’s the joke: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=246981890669484
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The BBC series My Life As A Rolling Stone - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0018zwp/my-life-as-a-rolling-stone
The Donald Trump video where he spends a lot of time choreographing a glass of water - https://www.indy100.com/celebrities/donald-trump-interview-table-water
The movie ‘The Big Short’ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Short_(film)
Nick Leeson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Leeson
Rogue Trader, the movie about Leeson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_Trader_(film)
Stanislav Petrov, the man who presented World War Three - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov
Gerd Gigerenzer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_Gigerenzer
Gerd’s book Risk Savvy - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/181878/risk-savvy-by-gigerenzer-gerd/9780241954614
The Chinese Maths problem featuring 26 sheep and 10 goats - https://www.businessinsider.com/viral-chinese-math-question-2018-1?
To hear previous episodes of the show featuring:
Paul - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/paul-craven-on-magic-money/
Rory - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/rory-sutherland-on-compliance/
Rory & Gerald Ashley Part One - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/rory-sutherland-gerald-ashley/
Rory & Gerald Ashley Part Two - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/gerald-ashley-rory-sutherland/
Paul & Gerald Ashley Part One - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/gerald-ashley-paul-craven/
Paul & Gerald Ashley Part Two - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/paul-craven-gerald-ashley/