Bad Decisions

Mini episode 25: Why do good companies stay with bad software? Dec 07, 2022

Liam from Albert Park wants to know why bad software is wearing us down

Mini episode 24: Why do we love celebs with dad bods? Nov 16, 2022

Emma from Canberra wants to know why we dread the shred and go jelly for the belly

Mini episode 23: Why do I keep paying for insurance that I never use? Oct 21, 2022

Francis from Carlton wants to know why she feels so unsure about staying insured.

Mini epsiode 22: Why did my pay rise buzz wear off so quickly? Oct 09, 2022

Jenny from Sandringham wants to why her pay rise has left her feeling flat

Mini epsiode 21: Why have I stopped (compulsively) checking my investments? Sep 17, 2022

Jonathan from Lightsview wants to know why he's suddently less invested in investing

Mini episode 20: Why don’t waiters just write down my order? Aug 31, 2022

Katrina from East Gardens wants to know why waiters love to wait to complete your order

Mini episode 19 - Why is it 11:11 every time I look at my watch? Aug 05, 2022

Ross from Holland Park wants to know if his watch is broken or if it's a sign from above

Mini episode 18 - Why does everyone think they’re a great driver? Jul 20, 2022

Marcie from Docklands wants to know why we we're all racing laps like Ricciardo

Mini episode 17 - Why do smart people believe dumb horoscopes? Jul 06, 2022

Millie from Coogee wants to know why we can't help but look into the crystal ball.

Mini episode 16 - Why do groups of adults argue over who gets to pay the bill? Jun 22, 2022

Gerard from Cremorne wants to know why the gloves have to come off when the cheque arrives?

Mini episode 15 - Why do these things always happen to me? May 25, 2022

Elliot from Preston wants to know why he's always such a disaster

Mini episode 14 - Why does everyone remember Kodak as a failure? May 07, 2022

Nicole from Chatswood wants to know why the Kodak moment was one worth forgetting?

Mini episode 13 - Why did I buy so many pairs of sweatpants? Mar 11, 2022

Holly from Brighton wants to know why counting her sweats has got her sweating

Mini episode 12 - Why do I keep paying for a gym membership I never use? Feb 25, 2022

Richard from Annandale wants to know why his wallet's getting a bigger work out than his gym membership

Mini episode 11 - Why do people stay in jobs they hate? Dec 17, 2021

Amanda from Paddington wants to know why it’s so hard for ‘her friend’ to quit her joyless job.

Mini episode 10 - Why aren’t we shopped out by Boxing Day? Dec 02, 2021

Lauren from Prahran wants to know why people still shop after Christmas drops.

Mini episode 9 - Why do people pay so much for diamonds? Nov 19, 2021

In this episode of Bad Decisions, Jeremy from Kooyong wants to know why people are willing to cough up big for carats.

Mini episode 8 - Why is there a $140 option at my local car wash? Nov 05, 2021

Dustin in Fairfield wants to know why people splash out more than $100 for suds and water.

Mini episode 7 - Why do people pay $7 for toast at a cafe? Oct 22, 2021

Lydia in Claremont wants to know why cafes can charge big bucks for a little bread

Mini episode 6 - Why won’t anyone pay me what my car is actually worth? Oct 08, 2021

Sophia in Glenelg wants to know why nobody seems willing to 'pay the cost to be the boss' of her "really awesome little Mazda".

Mini episode 5 - Why do i get so many notifications about the status of my parcel? Sep 24, 2021

Marcel in Camberwell wants to know why DHL insists on telling him every intricate detail about his new tennis racquet's cross continental journey.

Mini episode 4 - Why do I keep ordering the same burrito? Sep 10, 2021

Adam from Bondi wants to know why he cant say no to that bur-ri-to

Mini Episode 3 - Why do cans of Coke, diet Coke and Coke Zero all suddenly look the same? Aug 25, 2021

Bianca from Prahran wants to know what's behind Coca Cola's gigantic packaging u-turn.

Mini Episode 2 - Why do people queue up outside full restaurants? Aug 13, 2021

A very hungry Laurence from Elizabeth Bay wants to know why more people don't just cross the street.

Mini Episode 1 - Why do we keep the boxes from expensive shoes and handbags? Jul 26, 2021

Carli from Melbourne gets us rolling with a listener question that's way too close to home.

An update from the Bad Decisions team Jul 26, 2021

We've got some big news from Dan and Dr Mel (OK fine, mainly just Dr Mel). What's happening? When? Why? How? Then what? Great questions. Invest the seven minutes (or three and a half at double speed) and all will be revealed.

Authority bias: Why nine in ten dentists recommend this episode Apr 12, 2021

Doesn't it seem strange that from the moment we're born, we're taught that following instructions is the right thing to do? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the authority bias, and why carrying around a clipboard could be the best thing you ever do.

The Scarcity Bias: why you always want what you can’t have Feb 20, 2021

Given the choice between two items, why do our brains try to convince us to choose the rarer one? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Scarcity Bias, and why people line up for days to buy sneakers.

Commitment Bias: Why you should shout it out loud Dec 24, 2020

Ever stuck to your guns even though you knew deep down you were wrong? In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack the Commitment Bias and how to make sure your New Years Resolution actually sticks this time.

A special announcement from Bad Decisions Nov 19, 2020

Dan shares some big news on the launch of the first ever Built on Behaviour Bootcamp.

Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why you might know just enough to be dangerous Oct 31, 2020

Ever notice how novices tend to be highly opinionated, while those with more experience are a little less sure? In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack the Dunning-Kruger Effect, and why your social media feed is often so infuriating.

Pratfall Effect: Why you can afford to make a mistake Sep 22, 2020

People and brands often go to great efforts to manage the impressions others form of them, but what if we stopped trying to be perfect, and instead owned our flaws? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Pratfall effect, and why tripping up the stairs on your way to a presentation could be a winning strategy.

Reciprocity Bias: Why you should always buy the first coffee Aug 18, 2020

It might not always feel like it, but we’re wired with an inherent desire to cooperate and collaborate with others. That means when someone does us a favour, we can’t help but want to settle the score. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider how this social and emotional drive can direct people to pay for things they didn’t even know they wanted.

Ostrich effect: Why you really should just go to the doctor Jul 02, 2020

If information can help us make good decisions, why would we sometimes actively avoid it? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the ostrich effect, and how brands can overcome the tendency we have to bury our heads in the sand.

Zero Risk Bias: Why there’s so much value in nothing May 08, 2020

Turns out that one of the most ‘sure things’ in life, is people’s likelihood of picking a ‘sure thing’. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at how we make choices around risk, and why our desire to avoid uncertainty can sometimes end up costing much more.

Barnum Effect: Why smart people believe ridiculous things Jan 03, 2020

Do you generally feel like you’ve got your life together, but sometimes wonder what the hell you’re doing? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Barnum effect and why 'clairvoyant' could still be a promising career choice

Halo Effect: Why judging a book by its cover is pretty much unavoidable Oct 24, 2019

Why is it that the baddies in cartoons are always so ugly? And why do we assume that handsome people are also going to be charismatic? In this episode, Mel and Dan look at why neat hair and a firm handshake are more important than we could ever imagine.

Mere Exposure Effect: Why turning up is half the battle Sep 11, 2019

What is it that makes retro fashion take off, and is the Eurovision completely rigged? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore what happens when we see, hear or experience the same thing over and over again.

Status Quo Bias: Why old, stubborn people kind of have a point Jul 29, 2019

Everybody loves change, right? Hell no! And it’s not entirely our fault. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore why we'll often go to huge lengths just to make sure everything stays exactly the same.

Projection Bias: Why shopping whilst hungry is a terrible idea Jun 17, 2019

We all know that empathy is in short supply, but we often don’t realise how hard it is to be empathetic towards our future selves. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at what happens when we try to make decisions for tomorrow based on how we feel today.

Effort Bias: Why you should let them see you sweat Apr 22, 2019

Why do we teach kids that it's all about the effort, when as adults, we're far more concerned about the outcomes. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at why 'quicker and easier' could be the exact opposite of what we really want.

Spotlight effect: Why nobody else notices the ketchup stain on your shorts Mar 01, 2019

Ever wondered why making the smallest faux pas can ruin your entire day? In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the spotlight effect, and how it influences our perception of how much attention people are actually paying towards us (and our ads).

Zeigarnik effect: Why you want to know what happens in this episode Dec 19, 2018

What happens when memories or tasks are unfinished, and why is it that they seem to stick in our heads? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the Zeigarnik effect and how we can use it to create stronger memories, stop procrastinating, and keep customers thinking about us long after our ads have run.

Focusing illusion: Why we don’t really need a pay-rise Nov 21, 2018

If you won the lottery, would you be happier? Although the answer may seem obvious, our perceptions of what’s important to us don’t always match the reality. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider how we can use the magic of the focusing illusion to capture consumers’ attention.

Ben Franklin effect: Why we should all be asking for way more favours Oct 02, 2018

Social convention suggests that if you want to make a new friend, you should do something nice for them. But according to Ben Franklin, we’ve been doing it all wrong. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore how we can use non conventional techniques to gain our customers’ trust and loyalty forever more.

Framing effect: Why we like our milk fat-free and our luxury cars full price Jun 06, 2018

Would you enjoy your beef more if it was 75% lean or 25% fat? That’s weird. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the framing effect - and how what we’re presented with is far less important than how it’s packaged.

Hot Hand Fallacy: Why we love seeing hot streaks May 23, 2018

You’ve just made your last three shots, won your last three hands or closed your last three deals. What do you think will happen next? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the fallacy - and reality - of ‘catching fire’ in games, business and life.

Planning Fallacy: Why the best laid plans always go awry May 09, 2018

Do you find that things always take longer than you thought? Are you always running late? What if we told you it was all because you’re an irrational optimist? Chances are, you wouldn’t change a thing. In this episode, Mel and Dan consider the planning fallacy, and how our optimistic view of the world makes us underestimate how long things will take, and how much they'll cost.

Mental Accounting: Why we’ll probably die broke Apr 25, 2018

A hundred dollars is a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, right? Well, no. Not according to our brains. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore how mental accounting influences the way we spend and save, and how brands can use this knowledge to make bank.

Peak-End Rule: Why we all love a lolly bag Apr 11, 2018

We’d like to think it’s all about the journey, but our brain prefers to remember the outcome. In this episode, Mel and Dan discuss the peak-end rule, and how neglecting to pay attention to the end could be costing you dearly.

Sunk Cost: Why we behave so badly at the buffet Mar 28, 2018

Everybody makes bad decisions, but how do we make amends? Turns out our instincts often guide us to follow bad decisions with worse decisions. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the sunk cost fallacy, and how knowing when to cut your losses can be the smartest decision of all.

Default Bias: Why Australians take their organs to the grave Mar 14, 2018

With thousands of decisions to make every day, wouldn’t it just be way easier if some of them were made for us? In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack how the default bias influences everything from binge-watching to voter turnout, and explain how marketers can become the Kleenex of their category.

Licensing Effect: Why we order Diet Coke with our large Big Mac meals Dec 27, 2017

Ever gone shopping for someone else and decided you deserved a gift too? In this episode, Mel and Dan explore the dark side of altruism, and how the decisions we make are often guided by a desire to balance out our emotional states.

Temporal Discounting: Why we want $10 today, not $15 tomorrow Dec 13, 2017

Despite our best intentions, selecting options that provide sensible, long term benefits over impulsive, short term ones, seems pretty much impossible. In this episode, Mel and Dan explore how our desire for instant gratification can be used to market products for today, as well as products for tomorrow.

Anchoring: Why we spend too much on BBQs Nov 29, 2017

When we’re trying to determine the value of something, we tend to place far too much reliance on the first piece of information we stumble across. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at ways that pricing strategies influence our judgement, and how game shows make us feel like losers when we’re actually winning.

Confirmation Bias: Why black Jeeps are everywhere Nov 15, 2017

Turns out we really love being right. So much so that our brains systematically ignore things that don’t fit with what we already believe to be true. In this episode Mel and Dan look at how marketers can make the most of what customers already believe.

Social Proof: Why we knowingly make stupid choices with our friends Nov 01, 2017

If all of our friends jumped off a cliff, chances are we would too. Same goes if that cliff is a new restaurant, movie or fashion label. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at how our innate desire for social connection can be a marketer’s best friend.

Endowment Effect: Why we always sit in the same damn seat Oct 18, 2017

Cars, homes, pens, mugs - it doesn’t matter what it is - if it’s ours, chances are we'll think it's more valuable than it really is. In this episode, Mel and Dan look at why we're always going to be disappointed when we sell something second hand, and how marketers can make their products irrationally valuable in the eyes of consumers.

Choice Paradox: Why it’s so hard to choose a hamburger Oct 04, 2017

We all want more choices, right? Well, no. Not according to the data anyway. In this episode Mel and Dan look at how choice can adversely affect our ability to make decisions, as well as what good marketers can do to tip things in their favour.

Availability Bias: Why we massively overestimate our chances of success Sep 17, 2017

Of all the mental tasks we suck at performing, estimating the likelihood of something really good or really bad happening is right up there. In this episode, Mel and Dan unpack the ingredients that lead to our terrible mental calculations, and discuss how we can reconfigure them to create more compelling ads

Intro to Bad Decisions Sep 17, 2017

Welcome to Bad Decisions, the podcast that helps marketers understand why we choose what we choose, why we think what we think, and how to exploit this stuff for fun and commercial gain.

Each episode, Dr Melissa Weinberg (performance psychologist) and Dan Monheit (ad guy) will explore a different heuristic (behavioural quirk) that causes us to make poor decisions. In doing so, they’ll draw from the worlds of research, behavioural sciences, and cold, hard advertising.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected