B.E. GOOD! by BVA Nudge Unit: Recent Episodes

BVA Nudge Unit

We speak with leaders in the field of behavioral science to get to know more about them, their work, and its application to emerging issues. Listen in for fresh insights, inspiration and to hear about some of the latest evolutions in the field. Behavioral Economics for good: Nudging better business and better lives!

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🎙️ In this episode, we're excited to welcome Todd Rogers, co-author of the insightful book, Writing for Busy Readers. Known for his groundbreaking research leveraging behavioral science to enrich communication, Todd's expertise has earned national acclaim. As a distinguished professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and co-founder of social enterprises, the Analyst Institute and EveryDay Labs, Todd shares a wealth of knowledge about the transformative power of effective communication.

During this conversation, we’ll explore:

📖Factors that influence reading comprehension

🚀Strategies to achieve clarity and better reader engagement

💡 Real-world examples of effective communication strategies

To learn more about Rogers and his work visit his website at www.writingforbusyreaders.com. Interested in receiving feedback firsthand? Try the “AI for Busy Readers” tool to enhance your writing skills using OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult.
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🧐 We are honored to have the opportunity to welcome Dan Ariely, the esteemed James B. Duke Professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, for a second time to engage in a captivating conversation in this podcast episode.

In this episode, we explore the world of misbelief and its impact on decision-making:

  • 📖 Dan discusses the inspiration behind his latest book, "Misbelief – What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things," drawn from personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 🔎 Learn about Dan’s unique research approach, which combines scientific experiments with interviews and insights from individuals who hold misbeliefs.
  • 🧠 Explore the concept of the misbelief funnel and its four stages, illustrating how stress, misinformation, cognitive biases, and social forces contribute to the spread of misbelief.
  • 🗺 Discover how misbelief shapes our perceptions, decision-making processes, and vulnerability to misinformation in today’s complex world.
  • 🦉Dan expresses optimism for the future of behavioral science and the resilience and understanding of humanity.

💌To learn more about Dan and his work, visit his website : https://danariely.com/

Let us know what you think on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. 

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🧐 In this engaging podcast episode, we have the privilege of welcoming Vincent Pons, associate professor at the Harvard Buisness School and distinguished Ph.D. graduate of MIT. His research is dedicated to understanding democratic systems and developing practical ways to improve them. As such he frequently collaborates with renowned institutions like the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).

During our conversation, Pons sheds light on critical aspects of voter behavior, political preferences, and innovative strategies to enhance civic participation 💌.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion as we explore:

  • The factors that influence voter participation
  • How voter preferences are shaped by the environment
  • The impact of representativeness on election results
  • How elections impact policies and economic performance

To learn more about Vincent and his work visit his website at vincentpons.org or check out his monthly column in Les Echos.

👉Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com.

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In this episode of the B.E. Good! Podcast, we welcomed Professor Vanessa Patrick-Ralhan, author of the newly published book, “The Power of Saying No : The New Science of How to Say No That Puts You in Charge of Your Life”.

With an impressive career that spans academia and multinational agencies like Ogilvy & Mather and J. Walter Thompson, Vanessa is a leading authority in consumer behavior and psychology 🧠. Her extensive research, featured in top-tier journals, has left an indelible mark on the field. During this episode, Vanessa shares her expertise on how to master the art of saying ‘no’ and why embracing an empowered refusal is essential for effective decision-making ✅.

🧐 In this episode we’ll cover:

  • The psychology behind the ‘yes reflex’: why we often agree when we’d rather decline
  • Empowering strategies for saying no that reflect your values and personal identity
  • The hidden skills that arise from refusing with conviction

To learn more about Vanessa and her work visit her website at vanessapatrick.net or find her on Twitter @vpatrick23.

📩 Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com.

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In this episode of the B.E. Good! Podcast, we speak with Hal Hershfield, author of the new book “Your Future Self—How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.”

Hal is a renowned expert in marketing, decision-making, and psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, with his work being featured in esteemed media outlets like the Guardian, BBC, NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and NPR. In this episode, we discuss his captivating work exploring the disconnect between our present and future selves and practical ways to make better choices for the future.

You’ll learn:

📅 Why the present day takes precedence over planning for the future.

🧠 How our preferences change over time and why acknowledging these changes is important.

🚀 The ways connecting with your future self can lead to smarter long-term decisions.

To learn more about Hal and his work visit: halhershfield.com or find him on Twitter @HalHershfield.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com.

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In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Sander van der Linden, who is Professor of Social Psychology and Society and Director of the Social Decision-Making Lab at Cambridge University. From a young age, he was intrigued as to why people tend to easily believe what they are told. This has led him to research social influence and persuasion processes, authoring about 150 papers on the subject and the recently published book Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity.

During this conversation, you will learn:

  • How misinformation works.
  • Factors that make us susceptible to it.
  • Which are the most common misinformation techniques.
  • Why prevention is so much better than cure.
  • Potential solutions to fight misinformation in this complex world.

To learn more about Sander and his work, visit the Sander van der Linden Official Siteand play the free games developed by him and his colleagues.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult.

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com.

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Listen in on our conversation with Uri Gneezy, a professor of Economics and Strategy at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego, and an expert in designing behavioral science-based incentives. Uri is the author of the recently published book, Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work, which explores how incentives really work in the real world. In this episode, Uri tells us about the key elements at work in incentive design and his real-life experience influencing behaviors. He has worked with a variety of companies to help them define the right incentives to change the behavior of their audiences, always putting good intentions at the core of the approach.

During the conversation, we explored:  - Why incentives are not just incentives, but signals that convey information - How incentives are social - Why behavioral science is the key ingredient to design effective incentives - How to avoid creating the wrong incentives - Real-life examples of how to change consumer, employee, and citizen behavior

To learn more about Uri and his work, visit Uri Gneezy Official Site (gneezy.com).  Let us know what you think on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. 

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com .

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In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Julia Dhar. As a Partner at the Boston Consulting Group, Julia leads BeSmart, the firm’s Behavioral Economics and Insights initiative. With her background as a behavioral economist, she advocates for the use of behavioral insights to enhance product and service design across public and private organizations. Julia’s extensive experience includes advising and implementing behavior change initiatives across a range of sectors including finance, education, social welfare, and more. During our conversation we explored: - How individuals and organizations can positively influence their own lives and work through the thoughtful application of behavioral science - The business of being busy: discussing the ways in which people disproportionately hide their busyness and the need to identify non-promotable tasks - The challenges of change aversion and the need to ensure that people feel equipped to cope with change and keep up with a constantly evolving world - Human-centric and science-informed approach to change management We conclude by discussing Dhar’s hopeful vision for a world in which organizations prioritize the humans that will be changing, rather than the systems and processes that need to change, and the importance of strong connections between academic and business communities To learn more about Dhar and her work, visit Home - BCG Henderson Institute. Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com. BCG Henderson Institute.com

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Welcome to our latest episode, where we explore the fascinating field of behavioral genetics with a true expert on the subject. Robert Plomin is a renowned psychologist and geneticist who has dedicated his career to the study of behavioral genetics. He is a Professor of Behavioral Genetics at King's College London and has authored over 800 research articles and several books, including Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are. His groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the field of behavioral genetics and has led to a deeper understanding of how genetics and the environment interact to shape human behavior. During the conversation, we covered: - The important role that genetics plays in shaping behavior, personality, and mental health - Behavioral genetics and the future of effective intervention design - The complex balance between nature and nurture To learn more about Plomin and his work, you can find his latest book Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, available for purchase at various online and in-person retailers. Join the conversation and share your thoughts about this podcast on Twitter @BVANudgeConsult. Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com

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In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Geoffrey L. Cohen who is Professor of Psychology and the James G. March Professor of Organizational Studies in Education and Business at Stanford University. Professor Cohen’s research examines the processes that shape people’s sense of belonging and self-concept, and the role that these processes play in various social problems. He has studied the big and small threats to belonging and self-integrity that people encounter in school, work, health care settings, politics, communities, and relationships. Geoff has just published the book “Belonging – The Science of creating connection and bridging divides”.During this conversation you’ll learn:•Why Belonging is so important for human beings •What are the main causes of the crisis of belonging •What are the major elements that contribute to damage the feeling of belonging •What are the concrete actions that could implemented to be successful at reinforcing the sense of belonging: wise interventions, situations crafting…•What are the advices Geoff would give to a leader to reinforce the sense of belonging at work, in school and in politicsTo learn more about Geoff and his work, visit https://www.geoffreylcohen.com/Let us know what you think about the episode on Twitter @BVANudgeConsultDon’t have social media? Our inbox is always open at contact@bvanudgeconsulting.com

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Join us as we speak with Nir Eyal, a leading authority on the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. In this episode, he shares his insights on how to improve decision-making through intentional design strategies. As the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable, Nir's work has been recognized as some of the best leadership and business books of the year by Amazon and the best personal development books by Audible. His extensive experience in the tech industry gives us a front-row seat to the companies that have changed the lives of billions of users through their ability to navigate human behavior.During the conversation, we learned:- 3 reasons why building healthy habits is the key to winning over your customers - How to create effective triggers for product design - The key principles of the Hooked Model in building user habits - How to proactively manage distractions and make the most of your time - Ethical considerations for making products that stick To learn more about Nir and his work, visit Nir Eyal Official Site: Articles, Videos, and Newsletter (nirandfar.com).

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In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vanessa Bohns, PhD, renowned social psychologist and author of the new book, You Have More Influence Than You Think. An expert in social influence, her work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and The Economist. Bohns offers valuable insight for recognizing the effects of our actions on others, re-examining our fear of rejection, and exerting influence with care. During this conversation you’ll learn: - How to rethink your perspective on social influence and persuasion - The illusion of invisibility - why people notice you more than you realize - Recognizing your influence and avoiding missed opportunities - Why saying no is not as easy as it seems - The importance of understanding power dynamics

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In this episode, we speak with Eric J. Johnson, the Director of the Center of Decision Sciences at Columbia University’s Business School and author of the new book, Elements of Choice. His research gives us valuable insight into how we can implement intentional design strategies to overcome common faults in our decision-making and enable better choices.

During the conversation, we learned: - The importance of conscious and intentional design - 3 questions designers should be asking themselves when developing elements of choice - How to create effective defaults (hint: use these 3 elements--ease, endowment, endorsement) - How to navigate customizable choice environments, also known as choice engines - Variability in nudge effects and the ethics of choice architecture

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B.E. GOOD! Podcast By BVA Nudge Unit - Bill Von Hippel by BVA Nudge Unit

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B.E. GOOD! Podcast By BVA Nudge Unit - John List: The Voltage Effect by BVA Nudge Unit

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B.E. GOOD! Podcast By BVA Nudge Unit - Ayalet Fishbach: Get it Done by BVA Nudge Unit

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We speak with Dr. Dominic Packer, Professor of Psychology at Lehigh University on a new book he co-authored called “The Power of Us – Harnessing our shared identities for personal and collective success” as well as: - The definition of “social identities,” and how they influence your behavior - One big factor that is driving political polarization - How to practice “transformational leadership” - Why understanding social identities is a critical part of tackling the big challenges that humanity faces like inequality, climate change and threat to democracy.

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In the first B.E. GOOD! Podcast episode of 2022, we speak with Professor Liam Delaney, the Head of the Department of Psychological & Behavioural Science (PBS) at the London School of Economics.

Please join us to hear: • How growing up in Ireland during a recession drove Liam’s interest in economics and psychology

• Professor Delaney’s approach to (and learnings from) measuring emotions and real world economic preferences

• Why ethics needs to be salient in behavioral science

• His vision and hopes in bringing together academics and practitioners at the LSE

• Liam’s perspective on how behavioral science can help policymakers in facing COVID and other crises

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Nobel-prize winning economist and co-author of “Nudge”, Professor Richard Thaler is our guest in this new episode of the B.E. GOOD! Podcast by BVA Nudge Unit.

He is the Charles Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and studies behavioral economics and finance as well as the psychology of decision making.

Eric Singler and Scott Young speak with Professor Thaler about his most recent book "Nudge: The Final Edition", his personal journey and “greatest discovery”, and the biggest change he’s seen in the field of Behavioral Economics over the past decade.

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In this episode of the B.E. Good! Podcast by BVA Nudge Unit, we speak with Neela Saldanha, an Applied Behavioral Scientist whose work focuses on the intersection of behavior change and poverty alleviation. We learn about her journey from marketing & consulting at PepsiCo, to the many applications of behavioral science to public health, livelihoods and education across the world.

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Dans cet episode du podcast B.E. Good ! de la BVA Nudge Unit, nous nous entrenons, en français, avec notre invité Olivier Sibony, ancient partner chez McKinsey, professeur de stratégie et de prise de décision à HEC Paris et à Oxford, et auteur de plusieurs livres sur l’effet des biais cognitifs et comportementaux, en particulier sur la décision stratégique, l’innovation et la transformation. Notre conversation est centrée sur le dernier livre d’Olivier Sibony, NOISE - Pourquoi nous faisons des erreurs de jugement et comment les éviter, qu’il a co-écrit avec le prix Nobel Daniel Kahneman l’un des pionniers des sciences comportementales et co-auteur du livre Nudge, Cass Sunstein.

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In this episode, we have our 2nd conversation with Cass Sunstein, the American legal scholar and Professor at Harvard Law School, the co-author of Nudge and a pioneer in the application of Behavioral Science to public policy.

This conversation centers on Cass’ latest book, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, which he co-authored with Nobel Prize winning Professor Daniel Kahneman and Professor Olivier Sibony.

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In this episode, we speak with Katy Milkman, a Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the host of the popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology and the co- founder and co-director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative, a research center with the mission of advancing the science of lasting behavior change.

Katy is also the author of a new book: How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, which was just released earlier in May.

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In this episode, we speak with Piyush Tantia, the Chief Innovation Officer and a Board Member at ideas42, an organization that he co-founded.

ideas42 is a non-profit organisation that uses insights from behavioral science to improve lives, build better systems and policies, and drive social change. It is one of the leading practitioner organisations in our field and has contributed greatly to the growth of behavioral science over the past decade. During our conversation with Piyush, we discussed: 

• The birth of ideas42, including two key decisions that positioned it for long-term success

• The challenge of scaling interventions globally – and importance of detail in adapting them to local cultures

• The range of skills needed to be successful in applying Behavioral Science (and why a PhD is not needed!)

• How COVID has forced ideas42 to adjust its mentality and approach to advising governments and organisations

• The “customization” opportunity presented by integrating AI and machine learning with Behavioral Science

• Three conscious shifts that are critical to the future of Behavioral Science

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, professor of psychology at Northeastern University. Dr. Barrett is one of the top 1% most cited scientists in the world, and the author of two acclaimed books on the brain: How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life Of The Brain, and Seven And A Half Lessons About The Brain. Her research examines emotion, behavior, and how the brain creates both.

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ashley Whillans, Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School in negotiations, organizations and markets and is the author of the new book, Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life. Her research mainly focuses on understanding how the daily and long-term decisions that people make about time and money (in their personal lives, their relationships, and at work) impact their wellbeing.

During our conversation, we learned: - Some common time traps we all fall into, including “time confetti” - 3 key time affluence strategies: Finding Time, Funding Time, and Reframing Time - How to spend your money to make you happier (spoiler: it’s with time-saving purchases) - The best way to use your time when you find yourself with 30 minutes between meetings - How organizations and governments can help everyone be able to put time first in their everyday lives

To learn more about Ashley and her work, visit https://www.awhillans.com/

Let us know what you think about the episode on Twitter @BVANudgeUnit.

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open: contact@bvanudgeunit.com

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Robert Frank, professor of economics at Cornell University's Graduate School of Management. A prolific author, Dr. Frank's most recent book is Under The Influence: Putting Peer Pressure To Work. His research examines breakdowns in traditional decision models, including both inefficiencies in collective actions and departures from rational choice in individuals.

During our conversation we learned: • Different ways the traditional Rational Choice model breaks down • How context affects our judgements and decisions • Why people work for the good of groups... and why & when they don't • Best approaches to change someone's mind • How behavioral contagion propagates actions within groups

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In this very special episode, we turn the microphone on Eric Singler: the Founder, CEO and President of the BVA Nudge Unit. He is also Global Managing Director of the BVA Group, one of the 15 largest consulting and market research firms in the world (www.bva-group.com). Eric is a “slasher”: he is an entrepreneur, a marketing & research expert, a pioneer in applied behavioural sciences, an author and a lecturer. Listen in to hear about: - How Eric first discovered and became excited about the field of behavioral science - Which significant ‘aha’ moment led to the founding of the BVA Nudge Unit back in 2013 - The inspiration behind his three books: Nudge Marketing, Green Nudge, and Nudge Management - How behavioral science can be better leveraged in the private sector

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We speak to Dr. Michael Hallsworth, Managing Director – North America for the Behavioural Insights Team and an Assistant Professor (Adjunct) at Columbia University. Michael has been a leading figure in developing the field of applying behavioral science to government and public policy and is co-author of the book, Behavioral Insights.

Listen in to hear about:

– How a hand washing study helped Michael realize the power of behavioral science – What Michael has learned from working with David Halperin and helping launch the BIT – The three elements that define behavioral insights – Two primary communications challenges tied to the COVID vaccine

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In our next episode we speak to Annie Duke, former professional poker player and author in behavioral decision science and decision education. She is also author of Thinking in Bets and How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices.

Listen in to hear about: - Annie's framework and six step process to make better decisions and avoid traps - Annie's unusual career path from cognitive psychology to poker - How very few decisions in life are chess-like – almost every decision is more poker-like - Annie's motivation for writing "How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices" - Annie's vision of the future of behavioral science

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Listen in to hear about… - How to change minds and incite action - Why traditional approaches to change are so ineffective - What the key barriers are to change and how to mitigate them - The mistake that many business leaders and governments make in trying to drive change - What Jonah has learned from studying urban legends and the spread of disinformation

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On our next episode we speak to Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and author of the books Teaming and The Fearless Organization. In this episode we dive into:

  • The importance of psychological safety within organizations and its direct link to preventing failures.
  • Why organizations fail at psychological safety, including why employees fail to use their voice.
  • The best nudges to support the behaviors that lead to psychological safety in organizations.
  • Advice for leaders navigating the uncertainty of today’s world.

To learn more about Amy Edmondson and her publications, you can visit her HBS profile page here.

Let us know what you think about the episode on Twitter @BVANudgeUnit.

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open: contact@bvanudgeunit.com

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On our next episode we speak to Iris Bohnet, the Academic Dean of Harvard Kennedy School and author of the book What Works: Gender Equality by Design. In this episode we dive into:

– The application of behavioral economics, including the use of role models and norms, to accelerate gender equality

– The role and impact of Diversity Training programs in the private sector, and what the data really shows

– The ways in which Harvard has applied gender equality nudges to its environment and hiring processes

– The differential impact of current events and remote working on men and women

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Dilip Soman is a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics and serves as a Director of the Behavioural Economics in Action Research Centre at Rotman [BEAR]. His research is in the area of behavioural science and its applications to consumer wellbeing, marketing and policy.

Please join us to hear…

• How Dilip’s mechanical engineering experience with earth-moving machines got him interested in behavioral science

• Three things that Dilip learned from Richard Thaler as a PhD Student at University of Chicago

• The story behind Dilip’s pioneering MOOC – and several big ideas from his book, The Last Mile

• Two big issues that Dilip thinks will be the future of behavioral science

• Where Dilip sees “win-win-win” opportunities for businesses, consumers and society

For more, check out Dilip’s book, The Last Mile.

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Join us to hear:

  • How using mind maps to better understand the biases in recruitment changed the UK civil service’s approach to talent acquisition in the late 1990s/early 2000s

  • How reading the book Nudge while in Vietnam, confirmed Faisal’s curiosity and focus on understanding context, culture and behavior

  • How do you integrate Behavioral Science into organizations and really mainstream it

  • The importance of data and evidence to advance Behavioral Science as a field

  • The power of Behavioral Science to change policy and reform in the public or private sector for the benefit of people and business

  • How the diversity of thought and backgrounds of practitioners in Behavioral Science are helping to improve the field

  • How the talent pool of young enthusiastic behavioral scientists in academia and private enterprise inspires Faisal about the future of our world and development of the field

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Listen in to hear:

– How a VCR changed everything for Kelly and got her interested in behavioral sciences

– Kelly’s roots in financial services and building empirical models to help predict risk

– How she learned that listening to people never helps us get at what they truly need and value

– The most satisfying aspect of Kelly’s 10+ years of applying behavioral science

– Kelly’s perspective on freedom, unity and liberty – and how this relates to the American and Canadian responses to COVID-19

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Caroline Webb: Upgrade Your Workday with Behavioral Science Our sixth episode features Caroline Webb, workplace productivity expert and author of the best-selling book How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life, which has been published in over 60 countries and in 14 languages. In this episode we learned: - What a “good day” at work looks like - How to avoid common productivity traps - Advice on making the best decisions in the workplace - The key things to say to persuade organizational leaders to adopt behavioral science learnings - Tips on working from home, as an employee or a manager, during the coronavirus pandemic

To learn more about Caroline and her work, visit www.howtohaveagoodday.com

Let us know what you think about the episode on Twitter @BVANudgeUnit.

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open: contact@bvanudgeunit.com

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During our fifth episode we speak to Harvard Business School’s Mike Luca and Max Bazerman, co-authors of the book The Power of Experiments: Decision Making in a Data-Driven World.

In this episode we dive into:

• How experiments were a necessary condition for the development of behavioral economics, and how without them, applied behavioral economics consultants would not exist.

• The birth of experimentation in business and the role experiments are playing in shaping customer behavior.

• Why the tech sector has been a leader in this space, and how the rest of the private sector can catch-up.

• Advice to grow better leaders, including the role of intuition in decision making and what the data tells us.

• A perspective on experimentation in the context of our rapidly changing world.

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Please join us to hear…

  • How an “Economics of Happiness” conference and a chance meeting with Daniel Kahneman changed Paul’s life

  • Why people are often poor at predicting how health issues will impact our happiness

  • Why we all need to “chill out”, stop reaching - and care less about others’ life choices

  • What organizations can do to promote happiness in the workplace

  • How the lockdown is experienced differently - and one positive outcome that Paul hopes will come from this crisis

  • And why sometimes it’s better not to think about what’s next!

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Research conducted by Wendy Wood, psychologist and worldwide expert in habits, tells us that nearly 43% of the time people are engaging in habits, repeating behaviors that they’ve done in the past, in the same context, while they’re thinking about something other than what they’re doing.

We spoke with Wendy Wood, the author of "Good Habits, Bad Habits, the science of making positive changes that stick", where we unpack what she’s learned over her 30+ year career studying habits.

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In our next episode of B.E. GOOD!, we will be speaking with Cass Sunstein, one of the leading legal scholars who, for the past fifteen years, has been at the forefront of behavioral economics.

Cass is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School and a prolific author, including the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, which has had an enormous impact in the field.

In this episode, we will:

  • Learn how Cass came to collaborate with his friend Richard Thaler - and to work for President Obama, as the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.  
  • Hear his advice for policymakers and behavioral scientists in helping to combat both the coronavirus crisis and political polarization.  
  • Get Cass’ perspective on the power of behavioral science to make workplaces happier and more productive.  
  • Get a preview of his upcoming work on information disclosure – and hear why we all underestimate the importance of “cognitive scarcity”.

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During our first episode we are speaking with Dan Ariely, James B. Duke professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and author of three New York Times best-selling books, including Predictably Irrational. In this episode we dive into:

• Dan’s frightening experience as a hospital patient, which later prompted him to launch an inquiry on how we can die better. • How finding his writing voice took him a while, and how his “cookbook” is still in the works. • Why an alternate career choice of becoming a politician wasn’t for him. • How making the invisible visible became one of his most important pieces of research. • What prompted him to say “the more I study decision-making, the more I'm willing to be paternalistic.” • And the link between office furniture, employee salaries and company profitability.

For more information on Dan, you can visit him at www.danariely.com

Let us know what you think about the episode on Twitter @BVANudgeUnit.

Don’t have social media? Our inbox is always open: contact@bvanudgeunit.com