The Decision Education Podcast

What have we misunderstood about decision-making? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, to discuss common misconceptions about decision-making and “System 1” and “System 2” thinking. Together, they discuss the significance of evaluating individual components before making judgments and uncover the surprising parallels between human cognition and modern Artificial Intelligence. Daniel shares a compelling analogy between perception and cognition, illustrating how cognitive shortcuts can lead us astray. Additionally, he sheds light on why new restaurants continue to open in seemingly “doomed” locations and the valuable lessons we can learn from studying the paths of those who went before us.

David McRaney, science journalist and creator of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, discusses the psychology of persuasion and how people change their minds. They explore the need for connection, gravitation towards extremist communities, and ways to practice open-mindedness. The challenges of conversing with differing beliefs are also highlighted, along with a powerful technique for changing someone's mind.

Organizational psychologist and author Dr. Adam Grant discusses workplace dynamics and decision-making. He explores the types of people who excel in the workplace and how personal policies can aid decision-making. Grant shares insights on the importance of rethinking and being open to changing our minds. He also talks about his Junior Olympic diving success and the surprising similarity between academic writing and magic tricks.

Join Dr. Sheena Iyengar, an expert on choice, as she explores choice overload, decision-making challenges, reducing gender bias, and the influence of cultural backgrounds. Discover her innovative six-step process for fostering innovation and the surprising truth about brainstorming. Additionally, learn about disruptive technology in making ice cream and how a team solved the ventilator shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore the importance of decision education for children in today's information-filled world.

Dr. Cass Sunstein, former White House administrator, joins Annie Duke to discuss noise in decision-making, the impact of group polarization, and how nudges influence our choices without us realizing it. They explore the challenges faced by politicians, the significance of decision hygiene in reducing biases, and the concept of default choices. They also introduce a decision-making tool for the future generation and express gratitude for discussing decision-making and regulation.

Dr. Woo-kyoung Ahn, psychology professor at Yale and author of Thinking 101, shares insights on thinking errors and practical tools to improve decision making. Topics include job interview biases, procrastination, and avoiding confirmation bias at restaurants. They also discuss framing effects on depression studies, loss aversion in sales, and the importance of nurturing dispositions for better decision making.

Dr. Steven Pinker, an experimental psychologist and renowned author, discusses irrational decisions, nostalgia, and the perception of a worsening world. He explains the concept of expected value in decision making and the importance of rationality in education. The episode also mentions Dr. Pinker's podcast featuring interviews with notable guests.

How can we build an identity that withstands life’s curveballs? In this episode, Dr. Maya Shankar, Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google, joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, to explore the art of building resilience. Together, they share valuable insights on adapting to change and making tough decisions—from knowing when to pivot in your career to finding new sources of meaning and purpose in the face of injury or other obstacles. Maya reveals insights from her time as a senior advisor at the White House, explains why sometimes the messenger is just as important as the message, and recounts the heart-stopping tale of a diver’s heroic rescue mission in Thailand. This episode is full of lessons that we can apply to our own decision-making!

Season 4 of The Decision Education Podcast unveils decision-making tips from experts in behavioral science, cognitive biases, choice overload, and making decisions in the workplace. Host Annie Duke engages our guests in fruitful discussions where they unpack their decision toolkits and share how the world might look different if we practiced decision-making skills from a younger age.

What drives bad financial decisions when a crisis hits? Morgan Housel, award-winning author and expert on the psychology of financial decision-making, joins your host, Dr. Joe Sweeney, Executive Director of the Alliance for Decision Education, to talk about the common flaw of only saving for situations we can imagine, why we should be wary of financial advice in the media, and the danger of expecting history to map the future. Morgan also shares a strategy to help us focus more on the things that matter most to us.