The Importance of Rationality in Innovation

What happens when you bring three behavioural science gurus into a world-famous recording studio? Find out on three special episodes of the Human Risk podcast.

Rory Sutherland, Gerald Ashley and Paul Craven have all been on the show before (links below), both individually and as duets. As the show approaches its 250th episode, I thought I’d invite them all back together for a recording session in Abbey Road Studios.

For this first of three episodes, I asked Rory, Gerald and Paul a question that was inspired by our location: what makes things a hit? Why do some things go viral and others don’t?

What emerged was a wide-ranging conversation that explored:

• why predicting hits is unpredictable;
  
  
• how bubbles can have positive outcomes;
  
  
• the role that emergence and chance play in driving innovation;
  
  
• how trends evolve over time;
• the role that labelling and branding play in determining what we like and don't;
• how fashions and preferences change over time;

and much, much more...

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more:

Rory on his own talking about ‘Compliance’: https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/rory-sutherland-on-compliance/

Gerald on his own talking about ‘Uncertainty’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/gerald-ashley-on-uncertainty/

Paul on his own talking about ‘Magic, Money & The Mind’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/paul-craven-on-magic-money/

Rory and Gerald Part One talking about ‘Networks’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/rory-sutherland-gerald-ashley/

Rory and Gerald Part Two talking about ‘Prosilience’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/gerald-ashley-rory-sutherland/

Paul and Gerald Part One ‘Statistics, Spreadsheets & Scams’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/gerald-ashley-paul-craven/

Paul and Gerald Part Two ‘Context, Consequences & Changeability’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/paul-craven-gerald-ashley/

Rory and Paul Part One ‘Alchemy & Magic’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/rory-sutherland-paul-craven-on-alchemy-magic/

Rory and Paul Part Two ‘Magic & Alchemy’ - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/paul-craven-rory-sutherland-on-magic-alchemy/