

The Brainy Business | Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy | Behavioral Economics
Melina Palmer
Consumers are weird. They don't do what they say they will do and don't act how we think they "should." Enter Melina Palmer, a sales conversion expert with a personal mission to make your business more effective and brain friendly. In this podcast, Melina will take the complex concepts of behavioral economics (the study and science of why people buy - or not) and provide simple, actionable tips you can apply right away in your business. Whether you're a small business or thriving corporation, Melina's tips can help your business increase sales and get more customers.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 14, 2025 • 18min
523. The Power of Not Yet: How to Do More
Dive into the power of 'not yet' as a transformative mindset for achieving goals. Discover the psychological triggers behind procrastination and learn about four cognitive biases that may be holding you back. Gain practical strategies to break down your aspirations into manageable tasks while harnessing the strength of accountability. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of patience and intentional focus in entrepreneurship. Get inspired to take meaningful action in your personal and professional life!

Aug 12, 2025 • 47min
522. Behind the Mic: Crafting a Brainy Podcast
Dive into the art of podcasting with expert tips on launching and growing your show. Discover the crucial role of strategy, consistency, and audience engagement in building trust. Learn how to navigate common challenges like 'podfade' and set realistic goals. Explore the significance of understanding your listeners and crafting high-quality content. From effective branding to practical planning tools, gain insights that can elevate your podcasting journey and make your voice stand out in a crowded landscape.

Aug 7, 2025 • 40min
521: Buycotting for Change
Diane Osgood, an environmental economist and author of 'Your Shopping Superpower,' discusses how consumer choices can drive sustainable change. She introduces the concept of buycotting, which contrasts with traditional boycotting, emphasizing values-based shopping. Listeners learn about shopping decisions based on people, planet, community, and health. Diane illustrates how small shifts in behavior can significantly impact industries and highlights the importance of brand transparency. She advocates for aligning personal values with purchasing decisions for a more sustainable future.

15 snips
Aug 5, 2025 • 48min
520. Designing for Behavior Change
In this engaging discussion with Amy Bucher, Vice President of behavioral design at Lirio and author of 'Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change,' listeners explore how behavioral science intersects with design thinking. Amy highlights the critical role of empathy and thorough research in understanding consumer needs. She shares insights from healthcare, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes for behavior change. Real-world examples showcase successful interventions that resonate deeply with users, paving the way for innovative solutions.

Jul 31, 2025 • 44min
519. Asking the Right Questions
In this conversation, Vicki Tan, a digital product designer and author of 'Ask This Book a Question,' shares her innovative approach to decision-making through engaging questions. She discusses how the right inquiries can unveil personal insights and facilitate growth. Vicki explains the interactive elements of her book, designed to foster self-discovery in a playful manner. The dialogue also highlights the importance of understanding cognitive biases and offers tools for framing questions that lead to clarity and creativity in everyday decisions.

Jul 29, 2025 • 26min
518. The Endowment Effect: Why We Overvalue What We Own
Ownership skews our perception of value, making us overvalue what we possess. Explore the Endowment Effect, a cognitive bias that influences personal and professional decisions. Discover how language can trigger feelings of attachment and how this bias impacts customer loyalty in businesses. Gain insights on leveraging this phenomenon in marketing to enhance engagement. With relatable examples and psychological studies, learn why early ownership can foster long-term brand commitment.

Jul 24, 2025 • 55min
517. Navigating Consumer Insights Research
Devora Rogers, Chief Strategy Officer at Alter Agents, brings a wealth of experience in consumer insights, having worked with major brands like Netflix and Pepsi. She shares the importance of asking the right questions to glean valuable consumer insights. Devora introduces agile neuroscience testing, revealing subconscious reactions in real time. The conversation also explores the impact of qualitative research and segmentation, as well as how emotional decisions, like choosing a birthday cake, reflect deeper societal pressures. Her insights encourage marketers to be empathetic and strategic.

Jul 22, 2025 • 36min
516. The Behavioral Economics Behind Amazon's Success
Discover how Amazon transformed shopping through behavioral economics. The focus is on faster shipping, social proof, and a frictionless purchasing process. Learn how insights into consumer behavior guide innovative strategies like easy returns and one-click buying. The effectiveness of Amazon Prime and events like Prime Day, using urgency and scarcity to boost sales, is also discussed. This analysis offers valuable lessons for any business wanting to enhance customer experience through psychological principles.

8 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 54min
515. Unlocking ADHD: Strategies for Success in Work and Life
Skye Waterson, an ADHD strategist and founder of Unconventional Organization, shares her expertise on maximizing productivity for individuals with ADHD. She delves into how ADHD brains differ, particularly in dopamine responses and time perception. Skye emphasizes practical strategies like breaking tasks into manageable steps and using visual timers to combat time blindness. The discussion also covers effective communication methods to foster inclusivity at work and how to manage the 'bleed effect' during task transitions, enhancing focus and efficiency for neurodiverse teams.

15 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 37min
514. The Power of Personalized Nudges in Management
Anant Sood, co-founder of Worxogo, an innovative AI and neuroeconomics company, delves into how personalized nudges can transform team management. He emphasizes the importance of understanding observed behaviors rather than relying on self-reported motivations. The conversation highlights how tailored motivation strategies can eliminate guesswork, enhance productivity, and foster a more human-centered workplace. Anant shares insights on leveraging AI to adapt to individual drives, improving team dynamics and engagement significantly.