

How to Save the World | The Psychology & Science of Environmental Behavior
Katie Patrick
What *really* gets people to take action for the planet? Environmental engineer and designer, Katie Patrick, takes you on a wild intellectual journey into the heart of the environmental psyche, exploring the latest evidence-based behavioral science you can use to get more people to adopt your climate or environmental campaign. Get Katie's secret climate action design tips and indie startup insights to make it happen at https://helloworlde.com/actiontips. Warning: For deep sustainability nerds only 🤓🌏.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 18, 2023 • 16min
Idea: Nudge Your Neighborhood Vegan with the V-Score Ep75
In this episode, I share an idea I designed and. I want you to steal it. It's called the V-Score. See the V-Score app design here.
The most important factor that determines the health and environmentally friendliness of food is whether it comes from a plant or an animal. The measurement-driven design I teach is based on identifying a core metric of change. We can simplify the proportion of plant-to-animal calories into a simple metric called "The V-Score."
Calculate the V-Score of each meal on a menu and for each restaurant on a street. This data is the basis for gamification and action design that works.
Bringing attention to the data behind the problem is the first step to creating change. The ratio is easy to understand and gently 'nudges' a person in a positive direction without demanding drastic lifestyle changes.
The V-Score app is based on the principle of public disclosure of data. We make the ratio of plant to animal foods open and transparent which naturally causes people to change in a positive direction to improve their score.
See the V-Score design here: http://katiepatrick.com/vscore-homepage
* * *
How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Get inspired with positive eco futures art prints, organic t-shirts, hoodies, calendars, and all Katie's action design training at ecopiastore.com
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 32min
Too Many Ways to Go Green? Choice Architecture & Overload, Reuben Kline PhD Ep74
Dr. Rueben Kline discusses the impact of overwhelming eco action lists on behavior, choice architecture in promoting green behaviors, and the balance between easy and hard actions. He explores climate mitigation behaviors and shares insights from his upcoming book 'Climate Games'. The podcast delves into the psychology of environmental actions and the importance of efficacy in driving green behaviors.

Nov 20, 2023 • 11min
Idea: Women's Bathroom Vending Machine Ep73
Today’s podcast is about an zero waste idea that is desperately needed in women’s bathrooms: a vending machine that sells reusable women’s period products like silicone cups, cloth pads, and period undies.
* * *
How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Get inspired with positive eco futures art prints, organic t-shirts, hoodies, calendars, and all Katie's action design training at ecopiastore.com
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

Nov 13, 2023 • 17min
Idea: The Compost-a-Tron Ep72
The compost-a-TRON is an idea to encourage public composting, inspired by a curious behavioral study 30 years ago about a giant eagle shaped garbage can. How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

45 snips
Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 13min
Do Individual Green Actions Take Away From Systems Change? Karine Lacroix PhD Ep71
Environmental and behavioral psychologist, Karine Lacroix PhD, discusses whether individual eco-friendly behaviors hinder systems-wide change. She explores spillover effects, measures behavior outcomes, and emphasizes normative goals like reducing meat consumption. The impact of meat consumption on the environment is highlighted, considering cultural reasons and preferences. Negative spill-over effects and self-efficacy are explored, along with communication strategies and framing environmental messages for motivation. Designing programs and systems to facilitate desired behaviors is discussed, focusing on context and social influences.

Oct 30, 2023 • 15min
Reimagine Your Street and Neighborhood Ep70
How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

27 snips
Oct 23, 2023 • 16min
Education Vs Action Design: Very Different Things Ep69
Exploring the difference between education design and action design, understanding their goals and effectiveness, emphasizing commitment and the use of rewards, punishments, and imitation. Measurement and comparison are key in driving behavior change. A comprehensive 10-step process combining measurement-driven UI UX story mapping, game techniques, and environmental psychology techniques is presented for influencing behavior.

Oct 16, 2023 • 53min
Gamification of Climate Action, Dr Markus Brauer PhD PART 2 Ep68
This is the second part of the conversation with Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin AND the Executive Director of The Institute for Diversity Science, Dr Markus Brauer about what makes up real evidence-driven gamification.
Markus is the social scientist behind a behavior-change game called Cool Choices - a card game that gets workplace employees into groups with the goal of competing around energy and environmental behaviors.
Markus gives us an understanding of the theoretical underpinning and real causal mechanisms that drive the psychology behind the kind of gamification that does succeed in our quest for real and measurable change.
We explore his paper published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology titled: Making Cool Choices for Sustainability: Testing the effectiveness of a game-based approach to promoting pro-environmental behaviors.
* * *
How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

Oct 9, 2023 • 55min
Gamification of Climate Action, Dr Markus Brauer PhD PART 1 Ep67
Games sound fun, but do they really work to get people to actually do climate and eco-friendly things? And if so, why do they work?
Today's we’ll be talking with Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin AND the Executive Director of The Institute for Diversity Science, Dr Markus Brauer about what makes up real evidence-driven gamification.
Markus is the social scientist behind a behavior-change game called Cool Choices - a card game that gets workplace employees into groups with a goal of competing around energy and environmental behaviors.
Markus gives us an understanding of the theoretical underpinning and real causal mechanisms that drive the psychology behind the kind of gamification that does succeed in our quest for real and measurable change.
We explore his paper published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology titled: Making Cool Choices for Sustainability: Testing the effectiveness of a game-based approach to promoting pro-environmental behaviors.
* * *
How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.
Sign up for Katie's free behavior and gamification design course at http://katiepatrick.com
Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet
Get a copy of the book, How to Save the World on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4jivL
Follow Katie on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick/

15 snips
Oct 2, 2023 • 23min
How to Work From Primary Principles Ep66
Explore the concept of developing ideas from primary principles and how it leads to successful environmental projects. Discover five primary principles that motivate individuals to take action for the environment. Delve into the connection between utility and pro-environmental behavior. Learn about finding meaning and purpose in environmental and climate work, integrating technology and nature. Understand the role of social connection and beauty in generating great ideas and fostering environmental consciousness.


