The internet tells us we make 35 000 decisions every day. To increase our chances of making the right ones, The Art of Deciding asks people who make big decisio...
Prof Cass Sunstein - co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness
US President, Donald Trump, took office exactly two months ago on the day this goes live. His decisions have got some people seriously worried – including Harvard Law Professor, Cass Sunstein. He recently warned about their possible consequences in his New York Times piece "This theory is behind Trump's Power Grab". Prof Sunstein is also the co-author of Nudge, the global best-seller that has influenced the way governments around the globe think about policy. Bruce met Cass at a conference and couldn’t pass up the chance to find out more about this revolutionary thinking that has changed the world.5:30 What is a Nudge?· Defining the concept of nudging· The balance between freedom of choice and influence10:15 The Science Behind Nudging· Why humans are susceptible to nudges· How choice architecture shapes behaviour· The role of the brain in processing decisions14:00Real-World Applications of Nudging· How nudging is used in public policy and business· The role of automatic enrolment in behaviour change18:45 The Ethics of Nudging· The potential dangers of nudging for manipulation· Dark patterns in marketing and politics· The responsibility of governments and corporations22:30 The Power of Repetition & Misinformation· The illusory truth effect: why repetition makes falsehoods believable· Social media’s role in amplifying misinformation26:00 Final Thoughts· The importance of ethical decision-making· How to apply nudging principles in everyday life Professor Sunstein’s NY Times piece - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/opinion/trump-roberts-unitary-executive-theory.html . Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness – Cass Sunstein & Richard ThalerLook Again – Cass Sunstein & Tali SharotHarvard Law SchoolAudio clip Credit: AP: The Art of Deciding is produced by Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/Bruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker https://www.brucewhitfield.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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27:14
Sara Collins - Booker Prize judge and lawyer turned award-winning author
The Booker Prize is the biggest literary award in the world. It can change lives and make careers. But who decides which is the best book? How do you take a collection of subjective opinions and choose a winner? Sara Collins is a prize-winning author, broadcaster, podcaster, former lawyer and, in 2024, was a Booker judge. She takes us inside the process – which starts with reading 156 books! – and reveals her own thoughts on Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, the eventual winner. Chapters:[02:10] Who decides who wins?[06:05] A lawyer’s turn to literature[10:30] The science behind judging art[14:20] The emotional toll of choosing a winner[18:15] Finding the right story[22:05] Advice for writers and decision-makers[25:00] Closing thoughts: the power of a well-made decisionKey Takeaways:There is no scientific process for judging art—subjectivity is inevitable.A fair judging process must create an open space for disagreement and discussion.Making difficult decisions means feeling the regret, but ultimately moving forward with confidence.The best stories are the ones that give you butterflies—you have to love what you write.Life is short—choose the path that truly excites and fulfils you.References & Mentions:Confessions of Franny Langton (Winner of the Costa First Novel Award) https://www.amazon.co.za/Confessions-Frannie-Langton-Novel/dp/0062851802The Booker Prize https://thebookerprizes.com/Orbital – The 2024 Booker Prize winner https://www.amazon.co.za/Orbital-Novel-Booker-Prize-Winner/dp/0802161545How to Write a Book with Elizabeth Day https://podcasts.apple.com/cd/podcast/introducing-how-to-write-a-book-episode-1-the-idea-part-1/id1407451189?i=1000662933815The Art of Deciding has been featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter and more. Series Producer: Jayne Morgan of Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/Bruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker https://www.brucewhitfield.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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26:09
Mark Purdy - economist and thought leader on AI in decision-making
Have you stopped remembering routes because you’ve got Google maps? Would you rely on Chat GPT for advice on how to split up with your partner? Should you say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to Alexa? We have some suggestions. Mark Purdy, co-founder and director of Beacon Thought Leadership is also an economist and tech enthusiast. He shares his ideas on the impact of artificial intelligence on decision-making - in industry, in society and in our individual lives. Chapters:[00:00] Introduction: The rise of AI and its global influence[02:15] Mark Purdy’s Journey: From economics to AI research[06:45] AI as a Decision-Making Tool: Advantages and limitations[12:10] Human Judgment vs. Machine Precision: Why judgment still matters[16:20] The Future of Work: How AI may impact jobs and skill-building[21:00] Ethics, Bias, and the Risks of Automation: What we must watch out for[25:10] Final Thoughts: The future of AI and maintaining human controlKey Quotes:“Human judgment must always be part of the equation. The machine can process data, but only we can make ethical decisions.”“Generative AI is a liberator of time—if we use it the right way.”“The greatest danger with AI is putting too much trust in it. We must stay in control.”“You can’t learn a skill by letting technology do it for you.”Key Takeaways:AI can improve decision-making by offering data-driven insights and removing mundane tasks, but human judgment and ethics are still critical.Bias in AI algorithms remains a risk because they learn from historical data, which can reflect existing inequalities.AI is transforming industries like legal analysis and recruitment but raises concerns about job displacement and the loss of entry-level roles that help build expertise.Maintaining expertise currency is essential. Relying too heavily on automation may erode critical skills over time.Links & Resources:Learn more about Mark Purdy’s work in economics and AI https://markpurdy.co.uk/_________________________________________________________The Art of Deciding has been featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter, amongst others. The Art of Deciding is produced by Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/Series Producer: Jayne MorganBruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker https://www.brucewhitfield.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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28:06
Robin Dunbar and Sam Rockey - authors of The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups
What is the ideal number of people to involve in a collective decision? What do we need to be happy - and effective - in a group? Why should more companies have pubs?Professor Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford. He’s famous for Dunbar’s number - the limit to the amount of meaningful relationships that we can have at any one time (listen to the podcast to find out what it is). Sam Rockey is an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School - also at Oxford - and a consultant who has helped many multi-nationals improve their performance. Their book (with Tracey Camilleri), The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups, looks at how we function collectively, why we’re hard-wired to do so and how to create more powerful organisations - including how we make decisions.Key Topics:Evolutionary Roots of Decision-Making: Humans thrive in social groups, but modern structures create new challenges.Optimal Group Sizes for Decision-Making:4-5: Quick, effective decisions.6-12: Best for brainstorming.12-15: Ideal for complex discussions.The Social Brain & Business Strategy: Lessons from SAB Miller on fostering connection and collaboration.The Thrive Model for Organizations:Collective PurposeBelonging & TrustLearning & CultureShared ValuesLeadership & Decision-Making: Insights from Jeff Bezos & Elon Musk on meeting efficiency.The Role of Trust: Trust enables faster, better decisions.Reimagining the Future of Work: Moving beyond industrial-era business models. Resources & References Mentioned:Robin Dunbar’s Work: Dunbar’s NumberThe Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups – https://www.thesocialbrainbook.comRobin Dunbar - https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/robin-dunbarSam Rockey, Thompson Harrison https://www.thompsonharrison.comSAB Miller https://www.sabmiller.com-_______________________________________________________________The Art of Deciding has been featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter, amongst others. The Art of Deciding is produced by Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/Series Producer: Jayne MorganBruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker https://www.brucewhitfield.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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27:42
Colin Ingram - award-winning theatre producer
“Be brilliant for ten minutes a day.” Is that enough? It’s worked for award-winning West End and Broadway producer, Colin Ingram who spends his life making multi-million-pound decisions about what audiences are going to like. Sometimes he’s right – his Back to the Future: The Musical is a smash hit. But sometimes he’s wrong – his Gone With The Wind crashed and burned. How does he get into people’s heads? What has he learned? What can we learn from him? "The only thing that doesn't lie is the box office." You’ve got to be realistic about whether something is actually working or not and make tough decisions – even if it’s your personal passion or your creative team promise they can save it. He talks us through the lessons he learned with his unsuccessful production of Gone With The Wind."Success is as hard as failure." There are pitfalls involved in big successes – especially if you’re young and inexperienced. It can cloud your vision and so interfere with your decision-making ."Be brilliant for 10 minutes a day." There are those moments that make all the difference. No one can be 100% all the time - so don’t put yourself under that kind of pressure. But if you can be inspired just for a short time each day, it can make the difference between success and failure.Chapters:(00:56) One of life's big pleasures is deciding to go to a show(02:42) Colin Ingram is one of the West End's most successful producers(06:08) Colin’s early days working for Cameron Macintosh(08:06) What decisions would you have made differently today versus the younger version of you(09:35) Colin’s process, considering a theatre production from conception to execution can take a decade(21:43) Making big decisions that are not always popular can be difficult(24:03) Be brilliant for 10 minutes a dayReferencesColin Ingram: https://coliningramltd.comBack to the Future: The Musical https://www.backtothefuturemusical.comGhost the Musical https://www.ghostthemusical.comBilly Elliot the Musical https://billyelliotthemusical.comCameron Mackintosh https://www.cameronmackintosh.com The Art of Deciding has been charting in the top 10, and featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter, amongst others. The Art of Deciding is produced by Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/Series Producer: Jayne Morgan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The internet tells us we make 35 000 decisions every day. To increase our chances of making the right ones, The Art of Deciding asks people who make big decisions to reveal a little of how they do it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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