How to Save the World | The Psychology & Science of Environmental Behavior

Katie Patrick
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Fortnightly

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 to make it happen at https://helloworlde.com/actiontips. Warning: For deep sustainability nerds only 🤓🌏.

  1. 6 days ago

    Beef Climate Labels – Do They Work? Dr Maiken Maier PhD Ep93

    What happens when you put a climate impact label on beef in the supermarket? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Maiken Maier, a political scientist and environmental behavior researcher who studies how climate and food policies influence human behavior, social norms, and public opinion. We dive into her paper, “Increasing the Uptake of Plant-Based Diets: An Analysis of the Impact of a CO₂ Food Label,” and its fascinating findings about the relationship between individual behavior and systems change. Dr. Maier explains why seemingly modest interventions — like carbon labels, choice architecture, and behavioral design — may be far more powerful than they first appear, particularly when they begin changing what people see as normal, desirable, and politically possible. LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. This podcast is a production by Hello World Labs

    Beef Climate Labels – Do They Work? Dr Maiken Maier PhD Ep93

  2. 17 Aug

    Climate NGOs DESTROY Their Campaigns Doing This • Nicholas Bruneau Ep92

    Communications strategist and author Nicholas Bruneau shares lessons from his book, Engage with Impact: 5 Steps to Transform Your Digital Communications for Social Impact. Drawing on interviews with leading environmental communicators and years of experience advising mission-driven organizations, Nicholas breaks down the biggest challenges around turning awareness into hands-on engagement. We explore why NGOs often expect people to jump straight from seeing a campaign to taking meaningful action, and how adopting an agile, audience-centered communication strategy can dramatically improve results. If you've wondered why your campaign isn't converting, this conversation offers a roadmap for lasting participation. Get his book LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. Follow Katie on:  Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick

    Climate NGOs DESTROY Their Campaigns Doing This • Nicholas Bruneau Ep92

  3. 10 Aug

    The Psychology Trick to Halve Meat Consumption • Dr Joel Ginn PhD Ep91

    Environmental psychologist Dr. Joel Ginn discusses his recent research paper on plant-based defaults and how subtle changes to choice architecture can significantly reduce meat consumption and encourage more sustainable behaviors. His research challenges one of the biggest assumptions in behavior change: do we need to persuade people to eat less meat, or can we achieve the same outcome and more by simply changing the food environment? For restaurant menus, government forms, and climate campaigns: discover one of the most powerful—and underused—tools for designing real-world behavior change. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Design default choices that make sustainable actions the easiest option.Reduce cognitive load by simplifying choices instead of overwhelming people with information.Use menus, forms, websites, and enrollment processes to increase participation in green programs.Structure campaigns using choice architecture rather than relying on education alone.Apply behavioral science to create lasting shifts in everyday environmental decisions. LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠ ⁠⁠earthdoctor.us⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. Follow Katie on:  Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick This podcast is a production by Hello World Labs

    The Psychology Trick to Halve Meat Consumption • Dr Joel Ginn PhD Ep91

  4. 3 Aug

    How Hollywood Influences Climate Action • Dr AniRudh Tiwathia PhD Ep90

    Behavioral scientist Dr. Anirudh Tiwathia, Director of Behavioral Science at Rare, shares groundbreaking research measuring how climate storylines in popular entertainment—from Don't Look Up, Grey's Anatomy, and Sex and the City—shape public attitudes, social norms, and support for climate action. We explore why documentaries and facts alone often fail to change behavior, how Hollywood can "prime" audiences for action, why behavior change happens through a sequence of touchpoints rather than a single campaign, and what sustainability professionals can learn from entertainment media. In this episode you'll learn: Why behavior change is rarely triggered by a single campaign—and what to do instead. How TV shows and movies can prepare audiences for future climate action, even if they don't create immediate behavior change. How to design a sequence of engagement touchpoints that gradually move people toward action. The psychological barriers that must be overcome before people adopt new behaviors. How entertainment media can shift social norms and create the political conditions for larger systems change. LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠ ⁠⁠earthdoctor.us⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. Follow Katie on:  Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick

    How Hollywood Influences Climate Action • Dr AniRudh Tiwathia PhD Ep90

  5. 27 July

    These 3 Words DOUBLE Energy-Saving Sign Ups • Dr Mona Bielig PhD Ep89

    Why did this psychology technique get more sign-ups than offering people to save money? In this episode, environmental psychologist Dr. Mona Bielig shares the results of a real-world field experiment that tested one of the simplest—and most effective—behaviour change techniques available. Working with social housing residents in Belgium, her team discovered that a small change in how an energy-saving technology was described dramatically increased adoption, even though the technology was already free and saved people money. Katie and Mona unpack the hidden psychology behind social norms, why information and financial incentives are often not enough to change behaviour, and how understanding people's real barriers can transform the effectiveness of climate campaigns. LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. Follow Katie on:  Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhello⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick This podcast is a production by ⁠Hello World Labs⁠

    These 3 Words DOUBLE Energy-Saving Sign Ups • Dr Mona Bielig PhD Ep89

  6. 22 July

    When Virtue Signals Trigger Real Systems Change • Dr Tabea Hoffman PhD Ep88

    Have you ever dismissed eco badges, climate stickers, or "Save the Earth" T-shirts as empty virtue signaling? Think again. In this episode, environmental psychologist Dr. Tabea Hoffmann reveals why visible public signals are far more powerful than they appear. Drawing on her latest research paper, she explains how these seemingly small acts shape social norms, influence what people believe is acceptable and expected, and help build momentum for larger-scale climate action. It's called The Social Feedback Loop. Discover the hidden psychology behind public signaling and why one of the simplest, lowest-cost interventions may also be one of the most effective tools for growing environmental movements and increasing support for systems change. LINKS 👉 ⁠⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠⁠ 🌏 ⁠⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠⁠ ⁠⁠earthdoctor.us⁠⁠ 📦 ⁠⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠⁠ * * * How to Save the World explores the psychology of designing climate action that works. Environmental engineer, designer, and author Katie Patrick dives into the latest behavioral science from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and other leading research institutions to uncover the evidence-based principles that inspire people to adopt sustainable behaviors. Each episode turns academic research into practical tools you can use to grow participation, change behavior at scale, and reach the tipping point of change in your community. Follow Katie on: Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katiepatrickhelloLinkedIn ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-patrick

    When Virtue Signals Trigger Real Systems Change • Dr Tabea Hoffman PhD Ep88

  7. 17 Feb

    The 15 Exact Steps You Need to Transform Your Street for More Bikes and Less Cars | Kieren Farr Ep87

    We say we want better systems to make green behavior easy, but what are the exact steps to get your city to build it? I spoke to leading street-transformation expert, Founder of ​3DStreet,​ and father of two, ​Kieran Farr. In this conversation, we lay out the complete A to Z steps you need to add a bike lane, walking path, or trees to a street near you. LINKS 👉 ⁠Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips⁠ 🌈 ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apply to The School of Climate Action Design⁠ 🌏 ⁠Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids⁠ ⁠earthdoctor.us⁠ 📦 ⁠SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More⁠ How to Save the World is a podcast that unpacks the psychology, design, and evidence of EXACTLY what gets people to take environmental and 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 sustainability campaign, program, or startup. Get the book, ⁠How to Save the World⁠ Follow Katie on  Instagram ⁠@katiepatrickhello ⁠and ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠

    The 15 Exact Steps You Need to Transform Your Street for More Bikes and Less Cars | Kieren Farr Ep87

  8. 9 Feb

    The Secret To Get Your City To Change A Street in Record Time | Tim Courtney Ep86

    How Do You ACTUALLY Get Your City To Change a Street? Everyone told him it couldn’t be done. Yet cycling enthusiast Tim Courtney — with zero experience navigating local government — successfully persuaded the City of Oakland to install traffic circles and calming measures along his dangerously speed-prone street in record time. We document exactly how he did it: clever tech hacks, bold PR moves, and unwavering heart-led persistence. Find Tim Courtney on LinkedIn. LINKS 👉 Get Katie's FREE Action Design Tips 🌈 ⁠ Apply to The School of Climate Action Design 🌏 Join Earth Doctors: 12 Weeks of Gamified Action for Kids earthdoctor.us 📦 SHOP Climate Games, Books, Calendars + More How to Save the World is a podcast that unpacks the psychology, design, and evidence of EXACTLY what gets people to take environmental and 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 sustainability campaign, program, or startup. Get the book, How to Save the World Follow Katie on  Instagram @katiepatrickhello and LinkedIn ⁠⁠

    The Secret To Get Your City To Change A Street in Record Time | Tim Courtney Ep86
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5
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3 Ratings

About

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 to make it happen at https://helloworlde.com/actiontips. Warning: For deep sustainability nerds only 🤓🌏.

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