

Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing.
Consumer Behavior Lab
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
Mentioned books

21 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 52min
Interview: Tim den Heijer, author of The Housefly Effect, on how friction, incentives, and context shape behavior
Tim den Heijer, a creative strategist and author of The Housefly Effect, dives into how small details shape behavior in marketing. He shares quirky insights like the power of product naming, the pitfalls of misapplied incentives, and how emotional ads can misfire. Tim emphasizes the importance of understanding loss aversion and discusses innovative strategies like temptation bundling to shift behavior. He also highlights how social signals influence decisions, urging marketers to consider people's loyalty to their past behaviors over brands.

26 snips
Jan 7, 2026 • 1h 2min
Interview: Tara Austin, behavioral strategist at Ogilvy, on how small behavioral cues drive large-scale change
Tara Austin, a Behavioral and brand strategist at Ogilvy, breaks down how small behavioral cues can prompt big changes. She discusses innovative campaigns, like using baby faces on shop shutters to curb vandalism, and highlights the impact of scarcity on demand, evidenced by KFC's $1 chips promotion. Tara emphasizes the importance of creativity in marketing, especially in an age dominated by AI, and shares insights on audience analysis for effective segmentation. She also advocates for psilocybin access to improve mental health, showcasing her multifaceted approach to behavior and marketing.

Dec 31, 2025 • 33min
CBL Rewind: How behavioral science explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail - and how to fix them
Explore why New Year’s resolutions often fail and how behavioral science provides the keys to success. Discover the impact of public commitments and effective strategies like habit stacking. Learn how reducing friction can enhance positive behaviors, like increasing vegetable consumption. Personal stories illustrate practical applications of these techniques, revealing actionable methods for sticking to resolutions. Plus, recommendations for impactful books on building lasting habits round out this insightful discussion.

16 snips
Dec 24, 2025 • 39min
CBL Rewind: Phil Agnew, host of Nudge, on social proof, curiosity gaps, and ethical influence
Phil Agnew, a Senior product marketer at Buffer and the creative mind behind the Nudge podcast, dives into the fascinating intersection of behavioral science and marketing. He discusses how insights like social proof and curiosity gaps shape consumer behavior. Phil critiques the ethics of influence, drawing lessons from the Theranos case. He emphasizes the power of small experiments for marketers to refine strategies and shares practical tips for using special occasions to boost promotions. A must-listen for anyone wanting to enhance their marketing savvy!

Dec 17, 2025 • 34min
Interview: Jo Arden, strategist and Campaign contributor, on why hope and humor make messages stick
Jo Arden, Chief Strategy Officer at AMV BBDO, shares insights from her impactful career in public health and brand strategy. She highlights how hope and humor can enhance messaging, using the successful Stoptober campaign as a prime example. Discussion revolves around emotional resonance and the effectiveness of celebrity messengers in health campaigns. Jo emphasizes the power of positive communication to counter stigma and engage audiences, along with practical advice for marketers to trust their instincts in crafting messages.

8 snips
Dec 10, 2025 • 48min
How small behavioral nudges can transform culture and performance at work
Discover how small behavioral nudges can reshape workplace culture and boost performance. Explore the concept of aligning employee actions with marketing goals. Learn why traditional cash incentives might not always be the best choice and how holistic motivators can drive change. Delve into practical nudges like reducing friction in tasks and leveraging social proof to encourage positive behaviors. Find out how purpose-driven work and innovative lottery designs can enhance motivation and compliance among employees.

Dec 3, 2025 • 48min
Interview: Susan Weinschenk, author of 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People, on the psychology behind effective user experience
In this engaging conversation, Susan Weinschenk, a behavioral scientist and author, reveals how psychology shapes user experience design. She discusses effective visual tactics, like using contrasting colors and emotional imagery, to capture attention. Susan emphasizes the importance of storytelling in design, and how to balance friction for better engagement. She also shares insights on memory enhancement and the impact of culture on design. With practical tips for communicators, this talk is a treasure trove for anyone looking to improve their design approach.

Nov 19, 2025 • 39min
Behavioral Science For Agencies: Copywriting
Explore how behavioral science revolutionizes copywriting. Discover the compelling power of concrete language and why shorter messages are often more effective. Learn about the impact of loss framing on persuasion and how it can outperform traditional gain strategies. Hear about memorable brand taglines and B2B examples that utilize visualization to drive engagement. Lastly, practical tips for agencies on crafting impactful copy are revealed, emphasizing simplicity, memorability, and strategic framing.

16 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 52min
Interview: Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, on how great stories persuade and inspire action
In this engaging discussion, Will Storr, bestselling author and journalist, dives into the power of storytelling and its impact on persuasion in marketing. He explores how humans are inherently wired for narratives that shape identity and belief. Storr explains the concept of 'story-being' and illustrates it with the example of Theranos, showing how seductive narratives can overshadow rational thinking. He also highlights the importance of identity-driven advertising, the simplicity of messaging, and how curiosity can ignite engagement.

10 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 40min
How BMW leveraged the fresh start effect to win over new drivers
Explore how BMW cleverly used behavioral science to win over new drivers. The conversation highlights targeting life events to create more openness to change. Discover the fresh start effect and how it influences consumer behavior during key moments. Learn about price relativity and how luxury comparisons can boost brand appeal. The mere proximity effect reveals how surrounding luxury ads can elevate perception. Personal road trip tales add a fun twist to the insightful marketing strategies discussed.


