The Decision Education Podcast

Alliance for Decision Education
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The Decision Education Podcast

The decisions we make have a tremendous impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. But what goes into making better decisions? Hear from experts from diverse backgrounds as they share insights on how asking the right questions, improving predictions, managing cognitive biases, and other strategies can make us better decision makers. Through real-life stories and cutting-edge research, gain practical strategies and transform your understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

  1. Episode 031: Unlocking the Brain with Dr. David Eagleman

    1 DAY AGO

    Episode 031: Unlocking the Brain with Dr. David Eagleman

    What if the future you imagine is actually based on your memories? Annie Duke chats with neuroscientist and host of the Inner Cosmos podcast, Dr. David Eagleman, about how the surprising ways our brains process and interpret information influence the decisions we make. They tackle sensory hacks, decision quirks, and why “lashing yourself to the mast” could be your best bet against temptation.  Key takeaways from this episode include the way simulating the future helps us combat temporal discounting and make better decisions, the power of Ulysses contracts, and the social dynamics of decision-making. This is The Decision Education Podcast, where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. This season of the podcast is brought to you by First Round Capital.

    47 min
  2. Episode 030: The Happiness Blueprint with Dr. Laurie Santos

    13 NOV

    Episode 030: The Happiness Blueprint with Dr. Laurie Santos

    What if happiness is a skill we can learn? Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale professor, cognitive psychologist, and host of the popular podcast The Happiness Lab, joins our host, Annie Duke, to explore the science behind happiness and why her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” has become the most popular course in Yale’s 300-year history. Santos advocates for intentional decision-making and social connection as tools for improving mental well-being. Key takeaways from this episode include the powerful effects of “time affluence” and “time famine,” how to use counterfactual thinking in positive ways and gain insight on how creating intentional happiness habits can lead to a more fulfilling life. This is The Decision Education Podcast, where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to First Round Capital for supporting The Decision Education Podcast—empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

    57 min
  3. Season 5 Trailer

    SEASON 5 TRAILER

    Season 5 Trailer

    Season 5 of The Decision Education Podcast unveils decision-making tips from experts in neuroscience, cognitive biases, entrepreneurship, and social connection. Host Annie Duke engages our guests in interesting 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. We’re thrilled to announce that this season of The Decision Education Podcast is sponsored by First Round Capital.

    1 min
  4. Episode 022: Deciding, Fast and Slow with Dr. Daniel Kahneman

    20/12/2023

    Episode 022: Deciding, Fast and Slow with Dr. Daniel Kahneman

    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.

    59 min
  5. Episode 029: Changing Minds in a Polarized World with David McRaney

    25/10/2023

    Episode 029: Changing Minds in a Polarized World with David McRaney

    Why do people sometimes become more entrenched in their beliefs when they are challenged? In this episode, David McRaney, science journalist and creator of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, book, and blog, joins us as we dive into the psychology of persuasion and explore how and why people change their minds. Together, we investigate the psychological need for connection and how, under certain circumstances, that need can lead people to gravitate toward extremist communities. We also consider ways to protect ourselves and others from such polarized thinking and practice active open mindedness. David discusses the challenges inherent in conversing with people who do not share our beliefs and why these discussions often don’t go as planned. We also share a powerful technique to change someone’s mind, including your own.

    43 min
  6. Episode 028: Rethinking the Workplace with Dr. Adam Grant

    11/10/2023

    Episode 028: Rethinking the Workplace with Dr. Adam Grant

    Can giving advice actually be more valuable than receiving it? In this episode, Dr. Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and world-renowned author, joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, to rethink the ways we work and learn. Adam discusses which type of people excel the most in the workplace: givers, takers, or matchers. Adam and Annie delve into how establishing “personal policies” can help us with decision-making in the workplace and how we can make workplaces more equitable. Adam explores why he believes the hallmark of true intelligence is the ability to rethink, unlearn, and be open to changing our minds when we encounter new information. He also provides a glimpse into the secrets of his Junior Olympic diving success, as featured in his latest book, Hidden Potential. Finally, Adam shares the surprising similarity between academic writing and performing magic tricks!

    47 min
  7. Episode 027: Too Many Choices with Dr. Sheena Iyengar

    27/09/2023

    Episode 027: Too Many Choices with Dr. Sheena Iyengar

    Is more choice always better? Join us in conversation with Dr. Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia Business School and an expert on choice, as we examine the complexities of choice overload, and discover why having less can sometimes lead to more. We'll explore the intricate psychology of decision-making, from understanding the reasons behind why we procrastinate making important choices to uncovering why we struggle to handle more than seven options when making a decision. In this episode, we'll also take a look at a powerful strategy that effectively reduces gender bias in hiring, and how our cultural backgrounds significantly influence our approach to decision-making. Dr. Iyengar also reveals her six-step process for fostering innovation, demonstrating that we don't always have to wait for the perfect option to arise – we can actively shape the options we desire. Finally, we'll discuss the pitfalls of brainstorming and uncover the surprising truth about the usefulness of those 'brilliant' thoughts that come to us in the shower.

    52 min
  8. Episode 026: Tuning Out the Noise with Dr. Cass Sunstein

    13/09/2023

    Episode 026: Tuning Out the Noise with Dr. Cass Sunstein

    Do judges impose harsher sentences on Friday afternoons? In this episode, Dr. Cass Sunstein, law professor, former administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education. They discuss the concept of noise, inconsistencies in human judgment that can arise even when people are presented with the same information. Annie and Cass talk about how we are more likely to believe things we hear repeatedly, even when they’re not true, and how “nudges” can positively influence our choices without us realizing it. Cass also sheds light on the surprising impact group polarization has on everyday decision-making, including the tendency of juries to impose harsher sentences collectively than any individual jurors would choose alone. This has big implications for the group decisions we make every day at work, at home, and in our families!

    52 min
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About

The decisions we make have a tremendous impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. But what goes into making better decisions? Hear from experts from diverse backgrounds as they share insights on how asking the right questions, improving predictions, managing cognitive biases, and other strategies can make us better decision makers. Through real-life stories and cutting-edge research, gain practical strategies and transform your understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

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