Podcasts about Nudge

This episode teaches a tight, empathic ritual for turning post‑date fog into action. Host Sarah introduces three signals—Feel (gut), Behavior (what actually happened), Alignment (shared rhythms/values)—and a unique 0–5 action map that converts scores into Pause, Nudge, or Invite. To boost measurable outcomes, listeners record a Post‑Debrief Confidence Score (1–10) after each date for a one‑week micro‑experiment across three dates and use a simple screenshotable tracking template. The episode includes a vivid 40‑second vignette: a listener who avoided a rebound by using the ritual after a long‑distance first meet, two short modeled debriefs covering an in‑person first date and an online‑first meeting, and a timed 3‑minute guided debrief (with pacing cues) listeners can follow immediately. Production notes include ambient music suggestions, a 30‑second clipable extract, and instructions for adapting the ritual for safety concerns, group dates, or virtual meetups. By episode end listeners have a 60‑second cheat version and a clear, measurable way to test whether the ritual increases post‑date clarity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lets-talk-sex--5052038/support.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 9 A talk with a detective leads to a decision. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Jan visibly relaxed as she followed Dave out. Olivia was checking in with Shawna and Mel. Dave waited until it looked like Liv had reached a stopping point in her conversation, then signaled for her to come back up. "Dave, how long until the cops get here?" Shawna asked. "Patrol isn't coming. Said since we aren't in immediate danger, they'll focus on 'higher priority calls and get to us when they can'. Which means they aren't coming. A detective will come out to investigate, but that will take time." "How much?" "Dunno. I have a plan though. I'll talk it over with the others and hash out the details. I'll come back out and fill you two in shortly." "Okay." Mel replied. "I'll call Mitchell. See if he can cover for me. He already has morning shift. Between him and April, they can manage for a day." "You sure?" "He's ready to work without a net for one day at least. Probably longer, but I don't want to fry his nerves unnecessarily." "You're a good boss, babe." Dave gave her a quick kiss, then charged back up the stairs to Esme's room where Lupie, Nessa and Olivia waited, with Esme and Roscoe of course. Currently, Esme had her face buried in the big dog's neck, giggling. As Dave took and held each ladies' hand briefly, he heard Jan come in with Becca and Reena in trail. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. We'll take pictures to document the damage and the bodies. Then we'll make repairs. We've got four people with weapons skills. Until the breaches are sealed, at least two of us are armed, on sentry duty downstairs. Once we've got the holes patched, at night at least, we'll go to one person on guard." He paused a minute so everyone could absorb what he'd said. "Does anyone have a good digital camera? We should use something other than cellphones if we can." "Depends on the camera and the user," Mel said. "Unless someone's had classes in photography, they're probably better off using a high-end phone camera." "Does anyone have a high-end phone camera?" Dave asked. "I know mine is decent, but not great." "Mine's pretty good, Liv's too." The other just shrugged. "I have a couple of good digital cameras at my office." Nessa replied. "Listings without photos don't do so good. The cameras are the best available last year, so they should show all the needed detail. I took classes at the El Centro to learn how to make the most of them. Well, the classes were three years ago when we different cameras. We got new, better ones last year." Dave nodded, then thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll escort Nessa to her office for the camera. We'll document everything. Then we'll assess the damage and figure out what we need for repairs. Liv, you and Mel will go to the hardware store for the supplies. Watch your; " his eyes flitted to Esme, "butts. If anything looks sketchy, get back here, supplies or no." Olivia nodded. "Just keep the same in mind yourself." Lupie gazed at him like she wanted to burn Liv's words into Dave's mind. She was not alone. "Vee, we should get going as soon as you're dressed. I don't think you want to go out in the cold drizzle in silk peejays." Vanessa smirked, rising to go change. "I'll be in shortly to grab a coat." As Nessa walked out, Dave sat down beside Lupie. Neither said a word, he just folded his arms around her as she leaned into him. Her shoulder pressed against his chest. Her head settled into the crook of his neck. Dave stroked her other arm, from the top of her shoulder, all the way down to her elbow, slowly, gently, hoping to give her the reassurance that no words would convey. He looked up to see the imploring look in Jan's eyes. With a flick of his own eyes, he signaled for her to sit on his other side, which she promptly did, leaning against him. Lupie reached out to softly grasp Jan's hand. The two sat on either side of Dave, just feeling his presence. While the other two snuggled against him, Dave made eye contact, individually, with Olivia, Becca, and Reena. Liv, while still working through some understandable nerves, seemed otherwise okay. Rebecca looked worried but trusting. Kareena looked like she was on the verge of losing it. Dave waved her over. Reena rose from where she was sitting on the opposite side of the room and streaked over to sit in Dave's lap. Lupie and Jan both made space for the younger girl to sit. The hands that they clasped together, rejoined, encircling Reena. Meanwhile, Reena buried her face in the crook of Dave's neck. Dave's eyes fell on Becca and Liv, the only two of his partners in the room not already huddled with him. Becca looked worried, but trying not to intrude. Not surprising for her, but not an accurate assessment of how Dave or the others would feel about her joining in. Quite the opposite of course. Beginning to understand Becca's feelings of inadequacy, was, however, shining an uncomfortable light on Dave's own lingering personal demons. Then there was Livy. The one that stood by him, protecting the others as the barbarians stormed their gates. He could see the conflicting emotions bounding across her face. She needed this comfort as much as he did. Today was the first time either of them had fired a shot at another human being. Dave waved them both over. "Let's make some space for Liv to sit here. She's got to be pretty spent too." Lupie looked at him plaintively. Like she knew the rightness of what he suggested, but some selfish part of her, that was losing, did not want to move. She did. Then she wrapped her arms around Olivia. "If it weren't for you, he would have been all alone down there, Liv. Thank you." Lupie hugged the younger woman closely. Olivia leaned back into her, while staring at Dave. That's when she started shaking. Dave tried leaning into Liv, But he still had Reena on his lap, and Jan on his other side. Becca, not yet in the cuddle pile, knelt in front of Liv, stroking her thighs soothingly, not erotically. "If you start singing soft kitty, Becca, I swear I'll drop you from the roof." Though Olivia's voice was unsteady, her essential snark came shining through, evoking the laughter she was seeking. None laughed harder than Becca, who threw her head back, snorting hard, with a wide grin that suggested Liv might have been prescient. "Okay, okay ladies," Dave said as the laughter subsided, "I need to go tell Shawna and Mel what's going on, get a coat, and escort Vanessa to get that camera." He patted Reena's leg. She immediately rose halfway up and slipped over to sit beside Liv, sandwiching the brunette between herself and Lupie. Dave addressed the room. "On security issues, Liv's in charge." He fixed his eyes on Olivia. "You know the drill; two on duty, one off, staggered relief. No one downstairs except guards for now. Well, people will start getting hungry once the nerves wear off, so let Lupie and a helper in the kitchen to make something." "And two more helpers at the end to carry everything else up." "Yeah." "And have the third in the kitchen on guard during cooking time." "Yup. and the guard is not doing anything but guarding. Just do your best to keep the guards rested and alert. Hopefully it won't take more than an hour or two to get the camera, but we'll maintain the watch while we document and repair." Liv nodded, as did Lupie and Jan. Nessa opened the door just then, smartly dressed for the weather in jeans and a stylish but sturdy jacket, and Dave's coat in hand. "Thanks, hun." Dave said as he approached her. "Let's go tell Shawna and Mel what's going on, and then head out. We'll take Liv's S U V." The brunette gave a thumbs up from the midst of the loose cuddle the family sat in. Esme and Roscoe had joined them. "Oh, and make sure Lupie and anyone else that cross the living room knows to steer clear of the broken glass, both to preserve evidence until we document it, and spare their feet." Passing Shawna, Dave motioned her to follow him part way down the stairs, then signaled Mel to come up and meet them. The looks on their faces as Dave spoke morphed from incredulous at the dispatcher's comments, to mild worry and trust when Dave explained his plans. Shawna stood up as Dave did, hugging him tightly. In his ear she said, "You be careful. I just got you, baby. I need you, and not just because of the serum." She punctuated her statement with a kiss on the lips that clearly wanted to linger, but self-control did not permit. "Escorting Nessa, armed, is just a precaution. I really don't expect any more trouble. We just need to be smart about this; be ready if something does happen." The first part was to allay their fears, the second to bolster their vigilance. Two steps down, Mel gave Dave a hug as well. "Just come back. You hear me? Come back to us. I don't want to change families anymore." Dave picked up on the allusion to the constant moves while in foster care. He hugged her tightly. "I promise, Red." Then he adopted a bad Austrian accent. "I'll be back." Mel giggled and smacked his shoulder with a wry smile. She followed Dave and Nessa down the stairs until she reached her station. The other two continued through the house and out through the garage. Liv's vehicle was in the driveway and it would have been much shorter to just go through the front door, but Dave was trying not to pass through any portion of the crime scene until after they'd documented it. Nessa drove. For one thing, it was her office, and Dave didn't know the way. For another, in the passenger seat, Dave could scan all around the vehicle, keeping a constant watch. He meant what he said earlier, the risk was likely zero now. Still, caution would be far better than getting caught unawares. Again. The streets were empty of course. While that should have lowered Dave's anxiety levels, the current risk factor was not the only thing that could gnaw at him. Dave had nearly a hundred hours of practice at shoot / no-shoot ranges, hundreds of hours of raw target practice, and had successful hunts every year he'd gotten a license. And no, despite all the bullshit coming out of those idiots at PETA, shooting a deer was not the same as shooting a person. Not even close. What they only knew as a pseudo-intellectual exercise Dave now had logged as real life experience. He didn't regret it. They were attacking his home. They broke in, in the middle of the night, carrying arms. Their intent was unknown, but there were no innocent reasons fitting those facts. But they were dead, at Dave's hands. And Livy's. He needed to find a way to console her, help her through this mental minefield even as he tried to navigate it himself. The look on her face as he left hovered in his mind. What had he led her through? Maybe he should have taken the low position on the stairs, and had Liv wait at the top of the stairs as backup? Then maybe she wouldn't have to have fired a shot? Maybe he could have fired quickly enough to hold off the attackers on his own. Then Liv wouldn't have to carry the burden she now had. "Babe?" Vanessa called out. Seeing no change in Dave's face, she tried again. "David? Honey, can you hear me?" "Huh? What?" "You're spiralling. I'm no expert, but that look. I've seen it before. A couple of our younger realtors are vets." "Not the same. This was a single incident that only lasted a few minutes. Those guys lived in hell for months." "Only one has chosen to open up to me, but it seems it's only a few minutes that the mind can't let go of." Dave kept his face stony and doubled down on his scanning. What could he have missed while his brain was wasting time with obsessions? "David, please don't run away on me, on us. We need you. You've been a good man for us every step of the way." Her voice got shaky as she continued. "We needed you this morning, and you stepped up. I've never been one to consign manliness exclusively to feats of strength or military prowess, but those are included. What you did this morning was another way to show your love. You stood between us and harm. You took the risk, and I am grateful for that. I know the others are too." Dave didn't reply, but did take a deep breath. The rest of the ride passed in silence. It took forty-five minutes to reach the realty office. Since most were working remotely; or dead; the place was empty. Dave followed Nessa in as she went straight to the cabinet and extracted a camera and a fresh memory card. Then they headed right back out. As she was locking the outer door, her stomach rumbled. Dave chuckled. "Maybe we should swing through a drive-thru for some breakfast. Any preferences?" "I'd really like a coffee. I think I saw an open Starbucks three blocks back. I don't know if they're working in bubbles; like a fixed group for each shift; or maybe they got dosed already, but they're lit up. A big coffee and a pastry and I'd be fine." The lobby doors had large "Closed, Use Drive-Thru Please" signs. Nessa pulled in and placed her order, then looked over at Dave. "Almond croissant, bacon gouda sandwich, and; a trenta pink drink. Easy ice." The look on Nessa face was priceless. She managed not to laugh, or say anything, just turned to the speaker to relay the request. While they were waiting their turn in line, she reached her hand under Dave's chin. She pulled him toward her, even as she leaned in, giving him a long, slow, loving kiss. "The man that can hold off armed assailants in the middle of the night, with no warning, doesn't need to be embarrassed about what he drinks with his breakfast, baby. You've certified your manliness in so many ways, even before this morning." Tears rimmed the bottom of her eyes. Dave was just brushing away her tears, trying to think of something to say when the car behind them honked. The car ahead was now two car lengths away. Both settled back into their seats. "Thank you," Dave said huskily as she edged forward. They passed the remainder of the return trip in silence, though a few meaningful glances were exchanged. Shawna and Mel left their stations and met them in the middle of the living room as soon as the two heard Dave and Nessa coming in through the garage. Dave had also texted as they turned on to the right block. "Upstairs, now mister." Shawna's voice was stern, uncompromising. "What?" "I didn't think about it before you left, but these guys might be carriers of Duo. We're vaxxed directly, but you're only safe through us. The briefing we got was clear; if the man we're bonded to is exposed, or even potentially exposed, renew his immunity with sex. Lots of it. Nessa and I will start documenting. Liv and Mel will stand guard." Footsteps on the stairs announced Olivia's descent. "Go on. Becca and Reena are in the spare bedroom waiting. Others will rotate in. You don't have to finish in us for your immunity. Once we gush, with or without you, switch to the next girl." "But y'all won't get your dose that way." "That's not the concern right now. Your immunity is. Go on." Dave recognized that tone, plus the looks in every eye present. He was sure the looks of those not present would match. Sure enough, when Dave opened the door to the bedroom, he saw his two youngest partners already waiting. Becca, her blonde hair cascading past her shoulders, small, pert tits standing out proudly as she kneeled on the bed wearing nothing but a smile. Reena was identically attired, her warm brown skin and large tits the most notable contrast with her friend. Dave began stripping off his gear and clothing, double checking that his pistol and smg were on safe, even though they had been for a few hours now. He set his weapons away from the bed, but further from the door than the bed. Coos and sexy comments from the girls had him half-chubbed by the time he pulled off his boxers. "Oh, yeah baby. That's what I'm looking for." Reena purred. She pulled Dave's face down to hers and locked his lips in a passionate kiss. Dave immediately began stroking her sides, then moved to caress her lush tits. As his hands contacted her big soft mammaries, Reena hummed. Dave pushed her back onto the bed. Whether this or his fingers grasping her nipples caused her to gasp is anyone's guess. Dave settled himself between her thighs. He felt a hand grasp his cock and notch it in Reena's entrance. Then a small hand delivered a soft slap on his ass. He felt Reena's hand reach around his back, but never saw the thumbs up she gave to Becca. That hand immediately switched from signaling to grasping as Dave's cock surged into her wet and waiting pussy. "Oh, fuck yes. Fuck me, David. Fuck me with that magic fucking cock." She started nibbling on his earlobe as he drove in and out of her slippery passage. It was one of his 'drive me wild' spots. His thrusting rapidly accelerated in speed and power. He raised up, taking his ear out of her reach, but her lascivious smile and her bouncing tits provided incredible visual stimuli. Reena managed a few encouraging erotic words, but quickly devolved into grunts and moans as his animalistic attack on her eager vagina brought both of them to the edge of ecstasy. She got there first. Barely. Her rippling inner muscles touched off his eruption, in turning kicking her into a second orgasm just as the first was reaching its maximum. The power of the doubled orgasm drove the air from her lungs and all thought from her mind. She clutched Dave fiercely with her arms and legs, claiming him as an anchor as pleasure wracked her body. She finally relaxed, flopping back to the bed, panting. "That; was; Awesome!" Dave sat up, his ass on his heels. Then Becca grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to half-turn so she could kiss him. He could feel a turmoil of emotions in that kiss. He brought his hands up to grasp her shoulders while his tongue tangled with hers. Dave barely felt the washcloth Becca slipped under his cock as he slid out of Reena's ravaged little hole. Reena grabbed it to capture any leakage. Meanwhile, Becca pushed Dave flat on his back and straddled him. She leaned down to kiss him again. Then Dave felt an extra hand on his mostly hard shaft. It was elevating him to Becca's hot, moist, little pussy. Reena was returning the favor. Becca sat back slowly at first, until Dave was seated in her entrance. The stimulus of the kiss, the hand on his cock, and Becca's small tits and tiny nipples rubbing his chest had him nearly full hard again. The young blonde's eyes fluttered slightly as she eased her way onto Dave's rod. Probably leftover semen on me setting off a serum reaction , Dave thought. Becca grasped his shoulders with her hands as the ripples passed through her. The effects of the brief exposure ran their course quickly. She sat up, bracing herself on his shoulders as she slowly began to ride him. Her eyes locked on his. Her hips bounced and rotated and snaked, all while Dave's cock stayed buried within her. Dave reached up, grazing her torso with his palms until he cupped her petite and alluring tits. He began massaging the lovely mounds with his palms. His fingers rubbed, rolled, and lightly pinched her nipples. Dave felt the bed shift, and then heard the door click shut. Reena must have slipped out of the room. He returned his attention to Becca, fixing his eyes on hers. So much life was there, waiting, yearning, to become. Her face bore worry; understandably; but something more. It was the something that gave him peace with their relationship, despite his natural doubts about their age difference or himself. He curled up to kiss her lips, which she returned before he lay back down. Her sleek body hammered up and down on his cock, the motions getting increasingly rapid. Her breathing grew ragged and punctuated by moans. She slammed herself down one last time, fully seating Dave inside her as pleasure shot through her body. Dave lowered the exhausted girl to his chest and held her while she caught her breath. Her fluids saturated his cock and leaked slowly out around their joining. A discrete knock preceded the door opening quietly, and closing almost as quickly. Almost imperceptible footsteps approached the bed. The silence of a librarian. "Becca, time to switch." Said Jan in her usual soft voice. "Try to understand, he's a magic man." Her voice was slightly muffled as her head was slightly mushed against Dave's chest still. Both adults chuckled. Then Dave said, "Been watching seventies music on MTV?" Becca nodded. "Mostly concerts since they didn't make many videos back then. People wore weird shit back then." "Hey, I was a kid in the seventies. Those people were my parents, aunts, and uncles." "No more stalling." Jan said in her firm voice. Becca slid up, so that Dave slipped out of her, then clambered off the bed. She immediately grabbed a washcloth, from a stack the ladies must have staged there. House Belsus had no shortage of women that could plan ahead, in detail. As Becca cleaned herself, Jan cleaned up Dave. Then she climbed over Dave to lie between him and the wall. Dave looked at the light tan blouse and mid-thigh, navy blue cloth skirt she wore. "Overdressed aren't we?" Jan's eyes twinkled as she took Dave's hand and placed it high on her thigh, under her skirt. Taking the hint, he slid his hand up her leg, finding her happy place bare and wet. The next hour became a blur as Dave's lovers each took turns 'topping off' his immunity. Well, except Niki. She'd only arrived last night, and was still in her imprinting sleep. When Dave and Shawna; who had been the last in line; had finished cuddling afterwards, they dressed, grinning at each other like a couple of teens that had the house to themselves. A quick kiss and they left the room. As they stepped out, Shawna leaned back in and gave a sniff. "We're gonna need to light a candle in there. Several candles. And lay down some carpet deodorizer." "That's a later problem. Right now I want to check in on Niki, then see how things are going downstairs." As they walked, Shawna spoke. "Well, Nessa and I photographed everything in excruciating detail. Multiple frames, multiple angles. Both breaches, and each corpse, along with the blood trails. She even took close up photos of each man's fingertips and captured decent images of the fingerprints." "Good enough for id purposes?" Dave asked as he opened the door to the master bedroom. "Dunno. Hopefully. We'll see what the police say." "They'll have the bodies to print the old fashion way." "Yeah, couldn't hurt though. Besides, we copied all the images on a second memory card. We're keeping that and handing over the original. Mel swears there's no difference in file integrity." Dave stood by the side of the bed, reaching out to place the back of his hand against the cheek of Niki as she slumbered. She was warm, but not feverish. He pulled back the blankets to examine her legs, remembering their discussion the night before about her injury. There were lots of flaked off skin in the bed surrounding Niki's legs, and some kind of residue along her legs as well. "Best to wait until she wakes to clean her up David. We don't want to disturb her during imprinting sleep." "But we can't wake her during it, no matter what we do." "Still, whatever's going on could be a delicate process. Let's err on the side of caution hun. Let her heal, then we'll help her cleanup later." Dave nodded his agreement and neatly pulled the covers back over Niki's sleeping form. As he adjusted the bedding, Shawna spoke. "Let's go see if Lupie's managed to get the glass out of the carpet to her satisfaction." A wry grin grew on Dave's face. "Is anything ever clean to Lupie's satisfaction?" he asked as they hit the top of the stairs. "When it comes to glass shards in carpet, I'm a fan of Lupie's exactitude." "Fair point. Hey, has Roscoe gotten out yet?" "Oh yeah. We took him out through the garage after you and Nessa left. Esme and Liv walked him around in Lupie's yard 'til he settled down and did his business. Then they played for awhile. Mostly Esme played with him while Liv kept watch." "Bet he loved that." "Yeah, those two are like peas in a pod now." Shawna said as they reached the floor of the living room. Dave walked over to Lupie, who leaned back onto her heels from her work looking for glass shards. The overhead lights were off. She had a flashlight in one hand, using the glint from the shards to locate them. She tilted her head up and Dave gave her an appreciative kiss. "I think he likes her more than me at this point," Liv groused from her position against one wall of the living room. "Aw, he's not replacing you. He just has a new buddy to have fun with." "Yeah, yeah. I'm still getting replaced by a younger model." Shawna rolled her eyes and snickered. "Oh, yeah, you're such an old hag, Liv." Olivia's only answer was a smirking scowl. Dave motioned Liv over to a quiet corner of the room. "How are you holding up?" "I'm okay," she said in an uncharacteristically small voice. "The others kinda dogpiled me for awhile. It's just; it's not like I thought it would be." Both were silent for a minute. "Dad did stuff like that for years." Her voice started to crack. "How? I mean shit, now I get why he was so strict on some things, or why he would get distant. How the fuck wasn't he a bigger asshole?" As she started to shake with sobs, Dave wrapped his arms around her, tears streaming down his own face. Lupie noticed and came over, with other members of the house following to join a group hug. It wasn't even noon yet, and already a very long day. Chapter 11; A Nudge. October 28, 2020 9:15am After Livy's entirely understandable emotional outburst, Dave suggested she remain at the house while he escorted Mel to the hardware store. Liv stomped that idea down, hard. "I will not leave my duties for someone else to perform. I thank all of you for your support. I'm okay. My dad didn't raise me to leave people hanging." The facial expressions several of them shared indicated a mutual desire to object to that particular characterization, and a mutual recognition of the futility of any words they could say in that cause. Liv was calm and collected when she and Mel left, both of them armed and masked up. Each wore full-length pants, long sleeves and gloves as well, to maintain the appearance of quarantine protocols. The NDA's they'd signed were still in effect, so they couldn't give anyone a reason to wonder why they were not concerned about the virus. All the gear they wore managed to dwarf Melanie's medium frame and curves, but nothing could hide Liv's large bust. That and the contrast of Liv's milk chocolate brown hair with Mel's auburn locks allowed the others to distinguish the two as they walked out. A few texts from Mel to Lupie kept the family reassured they were both fine while they were out. Liv drove, using the argument that she'd had combat driving training with her dad. He'd slipped her in when one of his security teams were going through annual training. Still, getting the lumber and fasteners to make temporary fixes for the broken window and sliding door took the better part of an hour in-store. The drive itself was short. While Liv and Mel were gone, Dave gathered a couple of sawhorses and tools from the garage and set up on the back deck. Even though they'd photographed everything, Dave didn't want to disturb the two bodies lying on the deck. Arranging the tables had a new dimension to consider. A creepy one that should have bothered him more than it did. He pulled out a plastic table from a hall closet to serve as a tool stand and laid out the cordless drill and everything else. The saw he placed on the table and immediately connected the extension cord to it, leaving the other end disconnected from, but near, the outside outlet. Finished, Dave settled into a patio chair. The chair was made of stretched grey fabric on a black metal frame, one of four on his low back deck. Given the size of his household, he needed to pick up some more. Or better yet get some nice wooden deck chairs. With the combined incomes in the house, they could afford to splurge a little. Except, they're supposed to move. How soon he didn't know, but why buy new furniture when they'd just have to move it; and might not have a deck or patio to put it on? Dave's gaze wandered across his yard. The greenhouse drew his attention. With the lower temperatures, the potted bay tree had been moved in there. Would they get to move the plants? Restarting his entire food base would suck. His practice platform would have to be carefully dismantled, assuming they had enough warning time. The platform was well worn and smooth. He'd even practice barefoot sometimes to get a feel for it. No splinters. That smooth. Starting over again; on so many things. Seems like that was the new refrain in life; starting over. Dave shook himself out of that downward spiral. Nothing good lay down that line of thinking. His eyes landed on the body on his deck, and the red stain beneath it. Once the body was removed and the detritus cleared and scrubbed, he'd need to sand it and re-stain it. Well, maybe not. Depends on how long until they moved. Dave realized he needed to talk with Vanessa about the timeline on this thing. But what the hell did it mean? Why would they cut the nuts off their own dead? What was going on? None of this made sense. Nothing had made sense for months. Why not pile on one more inanity? "David?" Jan's soft voice, loaded with concern, snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. He turned his head to face her. Her slender frame easily fit within the break in the glass door. "David, it's freezing and wet out here. Wouldn't you rather be inside?" She looked about the deck and all of his preparations. She crossed from the door to his chair and slowly knelt beside his knee. Her soft brown eyes pleaded even more than the words from her mouth. "It's not good for you to be out here like this, David. Please, come inside." Dave stood, reaching her position at the door in three quick steps. Kissing her softly on the lips, he pulled back with a cheeky grin. "Yes, dear." Her bemused smile was just what he needed. He let her guide him to a spot on the couch. It was only slightly warmer, but a lot drier. Plus, Jan snuggled in close. After a few minutes, she got up to pull a blanket off the back of the other couch. She rejoined Dave, wrapping the blanket around the two of them. They said very little. Jan's calm, quiet presence prevented any further worrisome mental tangents. When Liv got back with the supplies, his first order of business was to check that they'd had no problems and hadn't been followed. In that, they were clear. With weapons slung, the three of them unloaded the lumber and such from the truck and into the backyard via the side fence gate. They were careful to avoid the corpses, giving them a wide berth. Where the fuck were the cops? "Okay, Liv, can you make one last verification on the window measurements while I get the plywood on the sawhorse?" "Sure. You wanna screw it straight to the wood frame, right?" Liv asked. "Yup." Dave replied. "Hmm, you could just screw it straight to my frame, Dave." Mel purred and waggled her eyebrows. Liv was out of earshot by the time she'd spoken. Dave sagged for a moment. Mel was one of the several he hadn't ejaculated in earlier, so she would still need dosing in the next four days. Mel immediately felt bad, as expressed on her face. "Sorry, Dave, I'm just messing with you." "Yeah, I get that. And I like the quick jab jokes most of the time. I'd rather a sharp mind that occasionally nicks my fingertip than a dull one that needs every non-literal comment described and outlined for her." Melanie snickered appreciatively. "Still, I'm responsible for all of you, and your needs. I take that seriously; as much fun as any one of you are to be with, it's also a job that I gotta get right or someone gets hurt." It took Mel about half a second to close the distance and press her body against Dave. Her arms latched around him. "Hey, you do a great job taking care of us, each of us. This morning was one of the more obvious proofs. You're really good at the less obvious stuff too." Dave gave her ass a light pinch that made Mel yelp. "Thanks, kitten. I really am getting in a better head space with your help and others. Sometimes my instincts are from the old days, though." Liv stepped back out onto the deck just then. Mel's wicked grin reappeared. "Well, in the old days, you didn't have me to fuck; or your big tiddy daughter slut." Liv backhanded Mel. "I'm not his daughter, dammit! Don't say shit like that. I won't get laid for a week if that's in his head!" "Damn, that was my tit! That fucking hurt!" Olivia looked completely unapologetic. Mel's face switched back to lascivious. "That's okay, I know what could get him revved and ready to fuck." She sauntered over to Liv and took her friend's face in her hands, softly. Then she kissed her, long slow, and deep. Liv's response was surprise at the sudden switch, but not unaccustomed to the familiarity. Melanie broke the kiss, then turned to look at Dave with hooded eyes, her cheek pressed against Olivia's. "What do you think David? You up for nailing a couple of kinky bi-sexual college babes?" Dave drew in a breath and was about to reply when she continued. "Even if one of them is your big tiddy mfm--" Liv's hand sealed over Mel's mouth to block a repeat of the undesired phrase. "With dead bodies lying right here in view? Not so much." Dave hoisted a sheet of plywood and settled it on the sawhorses. Liv released Mel, who spoke only with her wicked grin and gleaming eyes before heading back inside. Liv called off the measurements, which matched what she and Dave measured earlier. A few minutes with the measuring tape and pencil and they had two panels marked off, one each from two different corners of the sheet. Liv held the plywood while Dave cut one panel, then they switched roles for the second panel. After securing the saw, Dave grabbed the drill and screws while Liv snagged the cut sections. They passed back through the broken glass door and proceeded to the entryway to patch the broken window. Nice thing about drywall screws; they're very good for more than just drywall. The frame of the window was wide, and solid wood. Dave held the one section in place on the inside as Liv used the cordless drill to run two pilot holes each on both sides of the frame. She quickly changed to a driver bit and put drywall screws into the holes. The pilots were large enough for the shaft of the screw, but not the threads, that way the screws had a good, firm, bite in the wood without cracking it. Once Liv had four good screws in the plywood panel, Dave stepped back, making room for her to run a few more pilot holes and screws; two more on each side and three each across the top and bottom. Liv was a little annoyed having to use the step ladder for the top screw on each side as well as the three across the top. "Don't worry about it. Hell, I'm gonna use it when I do the outside. Yeah, if I really had to, I can reach and do it. But, with less strain, I can be sure to get the screws level." Liv looked slightly mollified at Dave's admission. To further assuage her injured ego he delivered a gentle, lips only, kiss after she descended. She rolled her eyes and smiled before leaving to find the hand vacuum to get the sawdust. Dave started shuffling the equipment through the never-breached security door around to the outside of the window. He was just running the extension cord back to the outlet near the door when Liv came out. This time, she held the panel in place while he drove pilot holes, quick changed to a driver bit and put screws in place. Liv backed off so he had room to run the rest of the pilot holes. Dave was just driving the last screw holding the panel in place when he heard an engine coming down the street. Two engines. "Get inside, use the door as cover," he ordered. Dropping the drill in the grass under the windowsill, he hoofed it around the corner of the house. The brick would give him some small measure of protection if it was needed. He pulled the SMG around on its sling, from against his back to the ready position. Almost the moment he was in position with weap. As the S U V came to a stop, Dave registered the markings and got a mental jarring. Black background, two blue stripes, with white letters spelling out 'Police' and 'Garland'. Garland was three towns away, on the other fucking side of the lake! The officer stepped out of her vehicle, standing between the body and her driver's door. Typical for an on-duty officer, her hair was hidden up under her hat. More importantly, her right hand was low, hidden by the vehicle's body, likely on her pistol. In fact, given what Carter had taught him about procedures, she'd likely already removed the safety strap, her thumb hooked around the grip. She was exposed enough that Dave could see her badge. She was too far away to identify the authenticity of said emblem, but everything was falling into place as legit. "Sir, please place your weapon on the ground. My name is Officer Korman of the Garland Police Department. We are here in response to multiple 911 calls from this address." Dave held both hands, empty, out to his sides. "Yes officer, we called several times in the early morning while we were under attack, and after. I'm going to disarm myself, and hand my weapons inside to my family." The officer's eyes flicked to the door. Clearly, she'd been distracted enough by Dave that she hadn't noticed Olivia. Or Olivia's gun. Even at a distance, she flinched visibly, realizing she'd committed a fatal error. "We have no beef with law enforcement, officer. We've been a bit on guard since the incident. My partner will secure my weapons inside and close the door." Dave used his left hand to reach slowly across his body at shoulder height. He hooked his thumb under the strap and slid it off his shoulder and across his arm. Leaving it to twist, dangling from his thumb, he held his arm straight out, full length, as he slowly walked to the door and handed the weapon off to Liv. Keeping his right hand still up and visible, he then unstrapped his thigh holster and handed that inside as well. Liv had a wary look as Dave pulled the front door closed between them. Dave turned back to the officer. "Ma'am, as you can see, I am now unarmed, everyone else is inside. We were just repairing the damage from the attack, and staying vigilant." "You altered the crime scene?" The voice should have been annoyed, but was too monotone to convey any meaning beyond the words themselves. "We took extensive pictures of the bodies and both breaches. We haven't sealed the rear breach yet. We'd just finished the front when you arrived." The policewoman stepped around her door, closing it. On alert, she came around the front of her patrol vehicle and approached Dave. "Sir, the young woman that entered the house, is that your daughter?" Does she know about the vaccine? Best to play it cagey . "She's my best friend's daughter. I've known her since she was punching her mother's belly from the inside." The officer approached a few more steps as he spoke. At this range, Dave could see the drained appearance behind the weak smile his jest evoked. "You say you took pictures?" "Yes ma'am. We have it saved on a memory card for you." Dave shivered involuntarily. The drizzle had let up and the temperature had risen slightly with the sun. Not that the Sun's presence was particularly notable today. Working on the patch had kept him moving and focused so he didn't register the chill. Now he had the luxury of discomfort. "We carefully took photos of the bodies, the area they fell, and the path in between. We didn't move them ourselves, their buddies did that. Then they, well, take a look." Still wary, the cop walked over to the corpse still splayed out on the driveway. "And you didn't do this?" "No ma'am. We haven't touched the bodies at all. Shot 'em when they were inside the house. Their pals drug them back out here and did this. There's three more on the back deck. We shot two of them in the house. The third was shot by one of his friends, out on the deck." "I'm going to have our mortuary contractor collect the bodies for the Me. Please bring me the memory card with the original images." She beckoned towards the van as Dave moved to the house. Mel once again assured Dave the copies she made were full copies, indistinguishable from originals. Dave took the copied memory card and walked back out. The two figures in hazmat gear carrying the encased body between them were approaching the back of the van when he stepped out into the dreary day once again. "Here's the memory card officer." "Thanks. Two more in the back you say?" "Three. Two that we shot and one shot by his buddies." "Right." "There's a side gate so we can go around the house." "The shooting occurred inside?" "Yes ma'am." "I'm going to need to examine the area myself, and take some notes. There should be a detective along later. I'll make a note in the file that I've collected the pictures you took. She can get them from the station house." "Do you know the detective that's coming?" "No clue." "Then how do you know it'll be a woman?" "Probability, sir." Dave's heart sank. While the officer sounded drained for most of their conversation, those last two words were absolutely desiccated, the depleted echoes of a mind that had seen everything torn asunder, replaced with a nightmare even Wes Craven would run away from. Once the body movers returned, Dave led the three of them through the side gate into the backyard and pointed out the corpses on the back deck. He stayed in the grass to give them plenty of room for their work. The officer scribbled notes as the two body collectors packaged up one corpse and carried it off. She kept a distance from Dave the entire time, with her weapon hip carefully away from him; and the broken glass door. When the collectors came for the second body, she remained at a distance from the scene as they worked. For the third body, she followed them out. She fixed Dave's eyes with her own as she walked off. "I'll be back in a moment to examine the interior." Dave passed into the house through the breach. Lupie was busy in the kitchen with a couple of helpers. Shawna and Liv were in the living room. The younger woman was more obviously on alert, and maybe on edge. An attentive eye could discern Shawna was similarly watchful, but more calm. Liv picked up Dave's SMG to hand it to him. "No, hold on to it. Actually, put the SMG's away. Let's keep the pistols for now though. The policewoman is coming inside shortly. Let's keep the weapons out of sight. She's not a threat, how 'bout the two of you skedaddle up stairs while she's here?" "Sure," Liv replied. "You know the code?" Shawna asked. "Yup. Mom & Dad's wedding year." A sharp rap at the door announced the officer's arrival. Dave was a few steps away from the door, so he strode quickly in that direction after checking that Liv was already inputting the entry code for the gun closet. If he could keep the officer examining the parlor space first, and long enough, Liv and Shawna could get clear before the officer came into the living room. No point in agitating the woman. Dave noticed she was wearing a face mask and gloves when he opened the door. His plan to stall worked. Hell, he didn't even have to try that hard. The Lady asked enough questions about the attempted breach of the door and the eventual entry through the window that Dave heard his two partners ascending the stairs well before he and the officer moved towards the living room. "So this is where the shooting actually occurred?" "Yes ma'am. Liv stood over there at the landing, and I was initially braced against that corner where the hallway meets the room." "Initially?" "Once they broke through the window, I was concerned Liv would be exposed from that direction. They didn't seem interested in coming through the glass door anymore, so I crept forward behind that couch so that I could hit anyone that might try to get an angle on her. I don't think the guy I shot saw her before I shot him." She scribbled furiously in her notebook for a few minutes. Then she asked to speak with Liv. His partner descended; Dave was relieved to see she'd left her firearm upstairs. Lupie, Jan, and Reena passed upstairs after Liv cleared the stairs. The dishes they carried smelled great. If Dave hadn't heard the officer's stomach grumbling, he might have felt sorry for himself. She must have seen the look on his face though. "No, thank you. That would still be inappropriate," she said. "I will need to speak with ;” "Olivia." "; Olivia, alone please." Dave nodded and headed upstairs. Carefully, he lowered himself to a crouching position in the hallway beside the head of the stairs. He couldn't hear the words, but by tracking tone he would be alerted to impending trouble. There was none. It took several minutes, but then he heard Olivia walking the officer to the door. Dave was at the bottom of the stairs before Liv made it back from securing the front door. "All good?" he asked. "Yup," said the brunette. "She look exhausted to you?" "Very." "She say anything about who did this?" "She only asked questions, no answers. I tried a few while the body boys were away from us. No dice." "Boys?" "Dunno, I actually wasn't paying attention." "With the residency of this house, you're having trouble identifying male from female?" Liv said with a wink. Dave's only reply was a bemused glare. Liv's bounteous bust bounced with her laughter. "I love hearing that sound." Shawna's rich tones rolled into the living room as she reached the landing. Dave turned to face her. "Speaking of sounds I love to hear ;” Shawna came closer and kissed him. The feel of her magnificent bust pressed to his chest and the smell of his lover's skin gave Dave thoughts he couldn't address just yet. "I'd tell you that you have me already and don't have to win me over, but I love hearing those sweet nothings." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rubbed her nose on his. "Melanie and I ate already. We'll stand guard down here. You two eat and finish the repairs." Dave kissed her once more, then headed upstairs. Melanie passed him at the foot of the stairs. Liv followed immediately behind him. Dave had to 'endure' a lot of hugs, and a few kisses, within a few feet of entering the spare bedroom Lupie had set up lunch in. Homemade chicken soup with all the rich, deep flavors from multiple ingredients missing from the canned stuff. Plus fresh rolls. He was getting used to being spoiled like this, but damn, it was so good to have a woman around the house. Having nine women around the house sounded like a recipe for disaster, but it hadn't been an issue at all. Which reminded him. "Anyone keeping an eye on Nicole?" "I just came from the master bedroom before you came up," said Jan. "She's still solidly out. As long as it's been, she must be experiencing a regeneration. There's no telling how long she will be unconscious." Dave stopped before her for a lingering kiss and a minute or so of gazing into her eyes before getting a second bowl of soup and two more rolls. Liv lingered over her first bowl, then spent some time talking with Lupie while Dave finished up. "You ready?" Liv asked as he added his bowl to the dirty stack. "Yep. Now for the tough part." He paused in thought. "Did you pick up the glass handling gloves?" "Yeah, bag's on the couch. I don't want either one of us losing a finger." They grabbed the gloves on their way through the living room to the deck. Then things got tricky. First, they removed the fasteners holding the two frame pieces together. The glass was sandwiched between them. Then, with Dave holding high on the large pane, well away from the shattered area, Liv carefully pried the inner frame piece away. Dave had to step over it as she moved it out of the way. The most delicate part came next. Liv ran a flathead screwdriver around the edge of the glass to ensure it came away cleanly. Very gingerly, they pulled the top edge away from the frame, then slowed its descent as its own weight rotated it the rest of the way out. They laid it in the grass. "I really expected the edge by the break to fall apart." "Guess we got lucky." "Damn lucky. Let's get that plywood in place, then we can break that thing into large pieces and dump 'em in the trashcan." With Becca, Esme, and Lupie living in Dave's house, the large rolling trashcans for Lupie's property were empty. One of those had plenty of space for the glass pane. The plywood took some trimming to fit vertically. But there was open space horizontally, so a second piece of plywood was needed to fit the gap. With the frame back in place and secured, Dave and Liv ran a few 2x1's across the seam. A bit of caulk squeezed into the crack would prevent any air leak; or whistling. Breaking and stashing the glass in the spare bin and cleaning the deck area took another forty minutes. By the time they got inside, Jan had already vacuumed the last of the sawdust and glass bits from the carpet adjacent to the sliding door. Dave and Olivia washed up. Liv joined Mel in their room, watching a streaming show on the latter's laptop. Dave went down to the living room, finding most of his family present. "Hey, babe." He slid onto the couch beside Lupie. She immediately nestled into his shoulder. She placed one hand on his chest, the other on his thigh closest to her. "I appreciate everything you've done to keep things working smoothly here while Liv and I dealt with what happened. That helped keep everybody's nerves; manageable." Her hand on his chest gripped tighter, like she was trying to palm him. "You're the one that stood in the line of fire and faced down armed men coming to kill us. Or worse. Making food and cleaning up is not the same." "The value of one act does not negate the value of the other. Cleaning up is the first step in returning some normalcy after the disruption. A hearty meal helps soothe the soul. What you've done matters." Dave barely heard her next utterance. "Just don't leave me David. I need you. Please be careful." He pulled her in tight. "I will." A knock at the door interrupted anything else he might have said. The late afternoon gloom and the chilly air seemed perfect for the woman standing on Dave's doorstep. Not overly short for a woman, she sported jet black hair pulled into a loose ponytail at the base of her neck, and pale skin on an oval face. Her cloth mask covered her mouth. Dave half wondered if the darkness around her eyes was makeup or weariness. Oh good, Detective Wednesday Addams is here . "Hello, sir. I'm Detective Carmen Verratti. I'm here to investigate the break-in and deaths that occurred earlier." The mask she wore muffled her words slightly. An emotion detector would not have registered the tiniest blip as she spoke. One for weariness would have pegged. "Would you like to start with the outside or inside?" Dave queried. "Let's get the outside done before the temperature drops." She took a sip from her insulated beverage bottle. Dave picked up a vague whiff of coffee as he followed her out to the driveway. "I'm not sure what woke me up in the first place. We have a dog, but he was upstairs and deaf. He didn't start barking until after the shooting began. There's chickens in the next yard over. I suppose they might have made a noise, but not once I was awake. I armed myself and left my bedroom. I encountered; one of my housemates on the stairs." Dave continued, walking through each step of the encounter. Once they were past the part where the guys coming in the front broke through the window, they walked around to the back deck. As with the blotch in the driveway, the detective seemed transfixed by the stain on the deck for several seconds. When she was finished with her visual examination of the deck and backyard, she motioned for Dave to lead her inside. Waving to the plywood she asked, "This is the second breach?" "This was the first place they got through. By the sounds of things, they were trying to breach the sliding glass door and the front door at the same time. They just weren't ready for a security door. The guys in the front came through the window, but by that time we'd already taken out two guys coming through the back." "And that's when you heard two men arguing about someone's sister?" "Only one voice got loud enough to pick out words." Liv supplied. "He seemed pretty pissed, so whatever the quieter voice mentioned must not have been pleasant." "So could one of these men be the brother or brothers of one of your partners?" the detective queried. Dave shared uneasy looks with Liv, Shawna, and Lupie. Four brains looked stuck in feedback loops trying to figure out how to respond without breaking the NDA's they'd all signed. "I'm aware of the vaccine and its effects. I was finally informed this morning, though I haven't been partnered yet. It explains some of the changes I've seen around the station." All four visibly relaxed. "That certainly makes this easier. So, I think a few of us have fathers still hunkered down and alive, but no brothers." Shawna supplied. "Well, Niki mentioned she has a brother hiding out in his college dorm somewhere out of state," Lupie mentioned. "Out of state? Not likely to be involved, but can you ask her to come down so I can speak with her?" "She just joined us last night. She's still out as of an hour ago when I last looked in on her." "Please check again. If she's still out, then I may have to come back to follow up with her." Lupie moved like swift water off the couch and up the stairs. She came back down shortly, shaking her head once the detective's attention was on her. While Lupie was away, the detective began asking questions directly of Liv and Shawna. Liv said she'd heard some sort of thumping sound in the back yard, like maybe someone had fallen coming over the fence. It explained her wakefulness, but not mine, given the master bedroom was over the front of the house. Maybe the guys approaching the front made a noise. Maybe my sleeping brain sensed a disturbance in the force. Sometimes you just fucking wake up at an opportune time. Detective Verratti asked the others as well. Shawna hadn't awakened until I was exiting the room, and didn't get out of bed until the glass door was broken. The others didn't wake until the first gunshot. Lupie slipped upstairs to invite the rest of the family to come down, a few at a time, to share their observations. Since most had been upstairs the whole time, they had little to share, and the questions wore out quickly. Dave watched as she spoke with the others. The detective was mildly more relaxed once she admitted to knowing about the serum. Those that had been out of the room for the revelation were informed as they came down, so all of House Belsus seemed mostly comfortable. It was still an interrogation. But Det. Verratti seemed; uncomfortable. She was scratching in her notebook, having just asked one last question of Esme (while she sat on Lupie's lap) when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Lupie looked at her expectantly as Verratti checked her phone. "That's all I needed, thank you. You can head upstairs little miss." She said with a smile. The smile faded once Esme's back was turned. "I have to make a call. I'll step out front, but I have a few more things I want to wrap up with you Mr. Belsus." She grabbed her heavy coat as she headed out. The temperature had been cold all day, and was beginning to drop now that the sun had gone down. "Yes ma'am, I'll be waiting." "I'll make some more coffee." Shawna rose and headed to the kitchen. Liv got up and sat beside Dave, laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping her hands around his bicep. Dave was at one end of the couch, leaving her room to draw her feet up behind her. She killed two men. She's going to be coping for a long time. I never should have let her into that mess. I should have left her at the top of the stairs holding a second line of defense. Then again, with only one target for them, would I have succeeded? What if they had killed me, got to the stairs and then Liv gunned them down? She'd still have these feelings, but I'd be dead. She and all the others would be in deep shit because I'm not around to pump out cum anymore. So I did the right thing right? Maybe. Fuck, if Carter was still here, I could; what did he call it? Do an After Action Review! That's the phrase he used. Tell him what the fuck happened and let him pick it apart, or back me up. Probably a little of both. Fuck, if Carter were still alive, I'm not telling him I'm fucking his daughter! A knock at the door announced the detective's return. Shawna opened the door and led her into the living room. The detective was stony face as she entered. She was also carrying a valise. As she reached the chair she'd used earlier, she took a sniff. Taking the hint, Shawna informed her, "Coffee will be ready in another minute or two. I put on a fresh pot when you stepped out." "Thank you." The detective's face actually showed signs of life. "Professor Belsus, could we speak privately? Somewhere with some table space if you please." "Sure, we can use the dining room. Nice big table in there." The coffee machine chimed just as Verratti placed her valise on the table. She looked expectantly back towards the living room. Lupie and Shawna were already on their way in. "We'll be quick. How do you take yours?" "Black, one spoon of sugar, please." Lupie nodded and kept moving. "Now that I think about it, the library is more isolated, but it doesn't have a large surface like this." Dave confessed. "This will do. I'll wait until they've passed back out to start anything sensitive." She paused briefly. "Well, it's been years, so I don't know if you remember me, but I took your astronomy class about twelve years ago. We ran into each other again on the shoot / no shoot range about five years ago too." "Right. I remember that." To be continued in part 10, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.

Di episode "Nudge" ini, bahasan utamanya adalah melihat satu hal yang sering kita anggap sepele. Pilihan ternyata bisa "diarahkan" tanpa terasa. Salah satu cerita yang mewakili ini adalah cerita dari Venetian Hotel di Las Vegas. Bagaimana suasana kasino dibuat begitu nyaman sampai orang lupa waktu, lupa jalan keluar, dan betah berlama-lama. Semua detail itu bukan kebetulan tetapi itu adalah desain yang mendorong perilaku. Di sini, akan dibahas konsep yang "mind-blowing" tapi relevan yaitu libertarian paternalism. Kita tetap merasa bebas memilih, namun pilihan yang ada pelan-pelan menggiring kita ke arah tertentu. Menariknya, konsep ini bukan cuma untuk psikologi tetapi juga powerful untuk government, korporasi, sales, hingga leadership sehari-hari. Episode ini juga membahas contoh-contoh yang dekat dengan hidup kita, seperti diskon yang "menggoda" sehingga kita membeli lebih banyak, dan fenomena choice overload. Sebuah fenomena dimana pilihan terlalu banyak, orang justru makin bingung dan akhirnya tidak jadi membeli. Ada juga ilustrasi sederhana soal restoran dimana ketika opsi dibuat lebih ringkas, keputusan terasa jauh lebih mudah. Bagian yang membuat kita berpikir dalam adalah eksperimen tentang donor organ. Hanya dengan membalik format pertanyaan (opt-in vs opt-out), persentase persetujuan bisa berubah drastis. Ini membuat kita sadar bahwa cara kita menulis dan menyajikan pilihan bisa berdampak besar pada keputusan orang, bahkan saat mereka merasa sedang "memilih sendiri". Episode ini juga membawa Nudge ke konteks yang lebih luas, dari "honor statement" saat ujian yang bisa menurunkan kecenderungan menyontek, sampai contoh hotel yang menghemat biaya lewat pesan "peduli bumi" mengenai masalah handuk. Satu poin penting dari ini semua adalah meski kita tahu itu nudge, kita tetap bisa terpengaruh.

Monday, December 29. The seven stories you need to know today. Read today's briefing.If you're not a subscriber, click here to start.Tell us what you think! Take our podcast survey: washingtonpost.com/podcastsurvey

In today's special end-of-year episode, you'll hear the best insights from Nudge in 2025. Hear from Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer, Richard Shotton, Bas Wouters, Philip Graves, Prof. Matt Johnson and a Behavioural Insights Team director.  ---- Subscribe to the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/  Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  ---- Today's Sources:  Beilock, S. L., Bertenthal, B. I., McCoy, A. M., & Carr, T. H. (2004). Haste does not always make waste: Expertise, direction of attention, and speed versus accuracy in performing sensorimotor skills. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11(2), 373–379. Bellaiche, L., Shahi, R., Turpin, M. H., Ragnhildstveit, A., Sprockett, S., Barr, N., & Seli, P. (2023). Humans versus AI: Whether and why we prefer human-created compared to AI-created artwork. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 8(1), 42. Groen, J., & Wouters, B. (2020). Online Influence: Boost your results with proven behavioral science. Amazon Digital Services LLC. Milkman, K. L., Patel, M. S., Gandhi, L., Graci, H. N., Gromet, D. M., Ho, H., Kay, J. S., Lee, T. W., Akinola, M., Beshears, J., Bogard, J. E., Buttenheim, A. M., Chabris, C. F., Chapman, G. B., Duckworth, A. L., Goldstein, N. J., Goren, A., Halpern, S. D., John, L. K., ... & Van den Bulte, C. (2021). A megastudy of text-based nudges encouraging patients to get vaccinated at an upcoming doctor's appointment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(20), e2101165118. Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. (1977). Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental processes. Psychological Review, 84(3), 231–259. van den Broek, E., & den Heijer, T. (2024). The Housefly Effect. Bedford Square Publishers. Vennard, D., Park, T., & Attwood, S. (2019). Encouraging Sustainable Food Consumption By Using More-Appetizing Language.

We're revisiting our chat with Phil Agnew, creator of the Nudge podcast, to explore how behavioral science shows up in everyday marketing. From pricing to persuasion, Phil shares examples and tactics that continue to resonate.

Today we're going to chat about those moments when inspired action shows up—but it feels totally inconvenient or uncomfortable.  You'll learn why the nudges that don't seem easy or fun might still be exactly what your alignment is calling for.  Tune in for a fresh perspective on trusting intuitive guidance, even when it challenges your timing, preferences, or plans. Check out Espresso Shot #10: Your Inner GPS — Intuition + Inspired Action For all things Law of Attraction, visit Jennifer365.com.   Want more LoA goodness? Get my Vibe Notes for high-vibe tips between episodes.   I offer schedule-as-you-want coaching. Coaching with me is a great way to raise your vibration. If you're craving more clarity on manifesting, I've created a YouTube channel just for that. Want to support the podcast?  Buy me a coffee.  ☕️ Looking for an episode about a particular topic?  Check out the LYL Index.    

How would you encourage Australians to drive slower? That's what today's guest on Nudge, Adam Ferrier, had to do.  Being an applied behavioural scientist, he tackled this challenge in a novel way.  Listen to hear about his interesting campaign, how Jaws killed surfing and the secret behind Derren Brown's “hypnosis” trick.  --- Watch the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/66dcb18641 Adam's agency: https://thinkerbell.com/ Adam's books: https://amzn.to/431eYfD Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Today's sources: Cialdini, R. B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. William Morrow. Shotton, R. (2023). The illusion of choice: 16½ psychological biases that influence what we buy. Harriman House. Sutherland, S. (1992). Irrationality: The enemy within. Constable.

Covering: #NERDSoul #IT #WelcometoDerry Cast: Jason Reeves: https://www.133art.com/ Solar Grey: https://www.instagram.com/backinthedeck/ . NERDSoul.DÉCKOR: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NERDSoulDeckor

“Most of our decisions feel rational until you realize how much of them were borrowed from other people.”In this episode, we talked about how understanding human behavior helps us build better businesses, deeper relationships, and more meaningful creative work, in particular:

Have you ever felt that quiet whisper — that inner nudge that says, something needs to shift — but you're not exactly sure what comes next? You're not alone. We're talking with Brielle Friedman, business coach, intuitive guide, and professional  dancer, who helps visionary women bring their creative ideas to life through alignment, joy, and sustainable action.Brielle's story is all about learning to listen to those inner nudges and trusting them — even when the path ahead isn't perfectly mapped out. She shares how she's blended all the different parts of herself — strategy, movement, intuition, and soul — into a life that's both grounded and free.In this episode, we're diving into:What it really feels like to be ready for your next chapter — even when you don't have it all figured outHow to listen for your body's “full-body yes” (and why saying “no” is just as powerful)Letting go of the pressure to have a perfect plan before you beginHow creativity, structure, and intuition can actually coexist beautifullyBrielle's favorite practices to help you take aligned action from a place of clarity and confidenceIf you're feeling the pull toward something more — but don't know where to start — this conversation is your permission slip to begin.MORE FROM BRIELLEVisit helloitsbrielle.com to learn more about Brielle and her offerings.Go to helloitsbrielle.com/freegifts for the free resources mentioned in the podcast. Visit seekingcentercommunity.com for more with Robyn + Karen and many of the guides on Seeking Center: The Podcast. You'll get access to live weekly sessions, intuitive guidance, daily inspiration, and a space to share your journey with like-minded people who just get it. You can also follow Seeking Center on Instagram @theseekingcenter.

Drawing on behaviour al economics, Harper et al. suggest ways in which we might turn mentoring into a habit to increase the rate at which trainees receive the support they need. Read the accompanying article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15749

Nudge people to figure out how they'd do things in your absenceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this episode of Navigating the Customer Experience, we sit down with Jean-Pierre LaCroix—President and Chief Strategy Officer of SLD, brand visionary, author, and creator of groundbreaking tools such as the Trust Ladder and the Ideal Omni Experience Model. With more than 46 years of experience helping global organizations transform their retail, brand, and customer experience ecosystems, Jean-Pierre brings deep insight into what it truly takes to build emotionally resonant brands.Jean-Pierre begins by sharing his personal journey—from growing up on an Air Force base in Germany to working long days on his family's farm, to discovering his passion for design at Sheridan College. Launching his first firm just two years after graduating, he eventually built SLD into a leading global strategic design agency.He then dives into his latest book, ThinkBlink Manifesto, which distills decades of experience into seven core tenets for creating emotionally connected brands. Jean-Pierre explains why emotional equity—not features, benefits, or promotions—is what customers respond to most deeply. The seven tenets include:Owning the Emotional MomentPersonifying the Emotional Value Through DesignCommunicating a Compelling Brand StoryUnderstanding Target Personas Beyond DemographicsCreating Belonging ExperiencesMeasuring What Truly Matters (Emotional Metrics)Future-Proofing the BrandJean-Pierre discusses how leaders can shift beyond pre-COVID thinking by embracing new metrics, strengthening community and belonging for employees and customers, and leveraging SLD's newly launched ThinkBlink AI Assessment tool to evaluate emotional connection, differentiation, and future readiness.He also highlights companies that exemplify these principles—such as Apple, Harley-Davidson, and Canadian innovator Cineplex—organizations that have built loyalty and community through purpose-driven experiences.A voracious reader, Jean-Pierre shares the books that have shaped him most, including Blue Ocean Strategy, The Challenger Mindset, and Nudge. He also opens up about what he's currently excited about: becoming a grandfather and being invited once again as a keynote speaker at the Financial Brand Forum.To close the episode, he shares his personal mantra for challenging times: “Leadership is about seeing the opportunity in the challenges versus the challenges in the opportunity.”Connect with Jean-Pierre on LinkedIn or visit www.sld.com for tools, insights, and free resources.

2 out of 3 internet users in the USA pay for Prime.  Yet, most of them are irrationally loyal.  They feel like the subscription provides more cost savings than reality.  Today, on Nudge, Richard Shotton and I explore the behavioural science behind Amazon Prime.  We look at the sunk-cost fallacy and pennies-a-day effect to explain why so many are irrationally loyal to Amazon Prime.  ---  Subscribe to the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Read Richard's book: https://a.co/d/fEW7amQ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Today's sources: Arkes, H. R., & Blumer, C. (1985). The psychology of sunk cost. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 35(1), 124–140. Gourville, J. T. (1998). Pennies-a-day: The effect of temporal reframing on transaction evaluation. Journal of Consumer Research, 24(4), 395–403. Gourville, J. T., & Soman, D. (1998). Payment depreciation: The behavioral effects of temporally separating payments from consumption. Journal of Consumer Research, 25(2), 160–174. Roth, S., Robbert, T., & Straus, L. (2015). On the sunk-cost effect in economic decision-making: A meta-analytic review. Business Research, 8(1), 99–138.

Episode SummaryIn this powerful conversation, Holly Porter shares the near-death experience that completely rewired her life, business, and beliefs. After 70 days in the hospital with COVID, multiple intubations, sepsis, and a trach, she left her body, visited what she calls “the stadium,” met an entity in the in-between, and came back with a simple but life-altering message: “Love them where they're at.”Holly and Rodric explore what happens when your definition of success shifts from hustle and achievement to happiness, purpose, and service—and how to actually live that in business.Highlights & Timestamps[00:00] Meet Holly – mom of 8, 19 grandkids & serial entrepreneur Holly introduces herself, her family, and her long history of running multiple businesses with her “calm to my storm” husband.[05:00] 70 days in the hospital: COVID, sepsis, trach & the edge of death. Holly walks through how a “perfectly healthy” woman ended up with a 70-day hospital stay, two intubations, and life-threatening infections.[07:30] Out-of-body, spiritual experiences & the full NDE She explains the three types of experiences—out-of-body, spiritual transformative (STE), and classic near-death—and how she had all of them.[10:30] The stadium of souls, angelic music & telepathic conversations Holly describes being rolled through the hospital in her bed, suddenly arriving in an enormous stadium full of floating souls, blinding light, and music from all directions.[13:30] The life review & two clear instructions from God Holly only sees the “good” in her life review and is given two specific assignments:Don't partner with a billionaire-backed software company (even though it would be “faster”).Start a nonprofit called Adventure Bucket Wish—with no mission yet, just the name.[17:00] The in-between, the entity named Darby & why she felt “kidnapped”. Through hypnosis, Holly revisits her NDE and meets an entity in the in-between who wanted her light. She realizes this is why she came back feeling kidnapped—and why she kept spelling “KIDNAP” to her sister on the alphabet board.[20:30] 11 leaves, 11 roots & the language of symbols. How the tree in her software logo and the rose quartz hearts in her nonprofit gift bags later revealed themselves as confirmations of her experience (and the 11:11 thread that runs through her life).[24:30] Two years of “hell” after the hospital & the lesson of loving people where they are. Holly openly shares the darkest season that followed—family turmoil, long COVID, PTSD—and the single message from God that changed everything: “Love them where they're at.”[28:30] Rebuilding business: retreats, software, and a redefined mission. Holly explains Retreat R & R, her retreat leader software and concierge brand, and how she shifted the nonprofit's mission when she got the clear download that long COVID was no longer her path.[31:00] Purpose, money & philanthropy Rodric and Holly talk about making money to do good—how building, scaling, and selling businesses can fund philanthropy rather than ego, and why both of them are obsessed with impact over...

His book Influence sold 5 million times.  He's known as the Godfather of Influence.  He's arguably the best-known behavioural science practitioner.  And he's finally (after years of pestering) joining me on Nudge.  Ladies and gentlemen, today I present:  Robert Cialdini and the persuasion principles that EVERYONE should memorise. ---  Cialdini's Influence Unleashed Event: https://cialdini.com/decevent Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Read Cialdini's bestseller Influence: https://amzn.to/4prHb7Y Read the new and expanded Influence: https://amzn.to/43TY0jI Read Pre-Suasion: https://amzn.to/48hA6Qr  Read Yes! (Containing 60 Psyc-Marketing Tips): https://amzn.to/48ddNNf  Join 10,142 readers of my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/  ---  Today's sources: Agnew, P. (Host). (2021, November 22). #69: Reciprocity | How one nudge saved 246,184 lives [Audio podcast episode]. In Nudge – Marketing Science Simplified. YouTube. https://youtu.be/0QxcahCnoCs Cialdini, R. B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. HarperCollins. Cialdini, R. B., Cacioppo, J. T., Bassett, R., & Miller, J. A. (1978). Low-ball procedure for producing compliance: Commitment then cost. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36(5), 463–476. Deutsch, M., & Gerard, H. B. (1955). A study of normative and informational social influences upon individual judgment. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 51(3), 629–636. Friedman, H. H., & Rahman, A. (2011). The effect of a gift-upon-entry on sales: Reciprocity in a retailing context. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(15), 155–162. Regan, D. T. (1971). Effects of a favor and liking on compliance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 7(6), 627–639.

A video post!The Miro board used in the video can be accessed here:https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVJi6NCs8=/?share_link_id=616280785572(PS: Miro, I'd love another sweatshirt!)This framework explains why tools help in some situations and fail in others by grounding everything in the current state of a behavior. Every important behavior in an organization sits somewhere on a spectrum: it might be purely aspirational, weakly practiced, inconsistent, friction-heavy, fully stable, actively suppressed, or not even clearly defined. Each of these states is held back by different blockers—lack of clarity, lack of skills, lack of time, workflow friction, political risk, or social norms—and each requires a different kind of support. Using a behavior-design lens like COM-B, the idea becomes simple: tools only work when they address the real blocker. Sometimes their job is to scaffold early steps and turn aspiration into practice. Sometimes it is to remove operational drag from a behavior that already exists. Sometimes it is to create shared visibility and reduce political friction. Tools matter, but how they matter depends entirely on the behavioral context they are dropped into.Show Notes (AI Generated) The Core QuestionWhen do tools matter, and how do they matter?Answer: It depends entirely on the current state of the behavior you want to see.The Seven Behavior StatesA. Normal States* Aspirational / Not RealizedOnly talked about. No real practice.* Weakly RealizedPeople agree it matters and occasionally try it, but it gets displaced by urgency and habit.* Partially Realized / InconsistentHappens in pockets. Conflicting interpretations. Local successes that have not scaled.* Mostly Realized but Friction-FilledBehavior is accepted and happening, but it is painful due to workflow friction, manual effort, tool constraints, or time pressure.* Fully Realized / StableConsistent, predictable, routinized. Embedded norms. Change feels risky.Special States* Actively SuppressedCounter-behaviors, incentives, or power dynamics prevent the behavior.* Contested / UndefinedNo shared understanding of what the behavior even is or how it should show up.COM-B EssentialsA behavior emerges when people have:* Capability* Psychological: knowledge, mental models, clarity* Physical: skills, practice* Opportunity* Physical: time, tools, workflow space* Social: norms, permission, cues, legitimacy* Motivation* Reflective: beliefs, intentions, identity, political risk* Automatic: habits, impulses, shortcutsTools can influence any of these.How Tools Help Depends on the Behavior StateIf the behavior is…Aspirational / Not RealizedPrimary tool role:Turn aspiration into a repeatable practice.Strategies:* Provide structure and scaffolding* Make early steps easy* Visualize desired state* Reinforce identity and intentWeakly RealizedPrimary tool role:Lower activation energy and make it harder to forget or skip.Blockers:* Not enough time* Habit competition* Too many steps* Short-term urgency wins over long-term valueStrategies:* Reduce steps* Support self-regulation* Nudge and cue the behavior* Make it easy to startPartially Realized / InconsistentPrimary tool role:Create a shared frame without forcing uniformity.Strategies:* Clarify purpose* Help reconcile or visualize different interpretations* Provide minimally viable standardizationMostly Realized but Friction-FilledPrimary tool role:Remove operational drag.Blockers:* Workflow friction* Manual coordination* Confusing handoffs* Tool gapsStrategies:* Standardize routines* Streamline workflows* Make bottlenecks visible* Automate repetitive workFully Realized / StablePrimary tool role:Preserve what works while reducing risk and effort.Blockers:* Risk aversion* Fear of destabilizing the ritual* Manual grind that no one wants to mess withStrategies:* Automate low-value steps* De-risk changes* Protect institutional knowledgeContested / UndefinedPrimary tool role:Clarify, name, and frame the behavior.Strategies:* Make interpretations explicit* Help teams converge on a definition* Reveal misalignmentActively SuppressedPrimary tool role:Shift legitimacy, visibility, and power dynamics.Strategies:* Provide shared visibility* Depoliticize the behavior* Reinforce norms or incentives* Create social proofTool Change Vectors (How Tools Influence Behavior)Tools can work through different mechanisms depending on the blocker:Influencing Capability* Clarification* Instruction* Cognitive offloading* Guided workflows* ChecklistsInfluencing Opportunity* Automation* Better workflows* Reducing steps* Making time and spaceInfluencing Motivation* Social proof* Legitimacy* Identity cues* Reduced political risk* ReinforcementWhat This Means for AIAI's role will differ depending on the behavior state:* In aspirational states: scaffold early steps, provide examples, generate clarity.* In friction-filled states: remove manual overhead, automate stitching, reduce coordination cost.* In stable states: protect quality, ensure consistency, prevent regressions.* In contested states: help surface meaning, definitions, and distinctions.AI is another lever in the COM-B system — not magic, but highly state-dependent.The Core InsightTools always matter, but they matter in different ways depending on:* Which behavior you're trying to support* Where that behavior currently sits on the realization spectrum* What is actually blocking it (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation)Getting this right means choosing the right intervention instead of assuming tools “fix” or “don't fix” things. Get full access to The Beautiful Mess at cutlefish.substack.com/subscribe

    Do you really need a push to get you going?  Do you resist that?  Then get with Verbal Surgery "Nudge" and make really progress, NOW!  

Is God really calling you into business, or is it just your imagination? In today's short and sweet episode, we will go over four signs that the Lord is inviting you into entrepreneurship.   Join the waitlist for the At-Home Business Blueprint Private Podcast and learn how to create income from your God-given gifts. CLICK HERE!   Grab the Home Reset Playbook (formerly known as Hearty Homemaker Playbook)   Join the FREE Hearty Homemaker Community on Facebook   Grab my new book! Homemaking with Purpose: 30-Day Devotional for the Modern Homemaker   Let's be friends!- Follow on Instagram   Worship Playlist on Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/12kOaaXMa6SF8pDw6bnORE   EMAIL US Do you have any questions or comments? Would you like us to cover a specific topic, or would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Email us at hello@heartyhomemaker.com! We look forward to hearing from you!   If this episode blesses you, be sure to go ahead and share it with a friend!

Randi Crawford is a certified life coach and former public healthcare CEO with a unique, energetic approach to helping women redefine authority, navigate parenting transitions, and own their impact in midlife. Her work focuses on bridging the communication gap between parents and children, which is why she's writing a hilarious and insightful new book, The Pickleball Parenting Playbook.In this must-listen conversation, Randi shares her story of answering a powerful nudge from the universe and stepping into her calling, despite the initial fear of what others might think. She provides powerful strategies for slowing down to speed up, creating profound family connections, and why "action creates clarity."This episode will help you with:

If you've ever wondered why people do the strange things we do, this episode is your new favourite rabbit hole!Today we have Phill Agnew on the show, the mind behind Nudge — the UK's #1 marketing podcast, downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.But today?You get Phill unplugged — telling stories, breaking down psychology, and showing you how a few behavioral science principles can transform your business, your life, your TikTok following and even your marathon time.

Today we're going to chat about what happens when you stop trying to force progress and start trusting the timing of inspired action.  If you've ever felt restless in the waiting phase, this conversation will help you reframe it as a vital and powerful part of the manifestation process.  Tune in for practical insight into how waiting can actually speed things up—when your energy comes first. For all things Law of Attraction, visit Jennifer365.com.   Want more LoA goodness? Get my Vibe Notes for high-vibe tips between episodes.   I offer schedule-as-you-want coaching. Coaching with me is a great way to raise your vibration. If you're craving more clarity on manifesting, I've created a YouTube channel just for that. Want to support the podcast?  Buy me a coffee.  ☕️ Looking for an episode about a particular topic?  Check out the LYL Index.    

My guest on today's episode of Nudge has spent decades studying leaders.  I asked Prof. Adam Galinsky to share his top five (evidence-backed) leadership tips.  Want to become a better leader?  This is the episode for you.  ---  Watch the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/a53ff22931  Read Adam's book: https://amzn.to/4htZCGc Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Blunden, H., Kristal, A. S., Whillans, A. V., Yoon, J., Burd, K., Bremner, S., & Yeomans, M. (2025). Eliciting advice instead of feedback improves developmental input. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 193, 104343. Chou, E. Y., Halevy, N., Galinsky, A. D., & Murnighan, J. K. (2017). The Goldilocks contract: The synergistic benefits of combining structure and autonomy for persistence, creativity, and cooperation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 393–412. Hoff, M., Rucker, D. D., & Galinsky, A. D. (2025). The vicious cycle of status insecurity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 128(1), 101–122. Leonardelli, G. J., Gu, J., McRuer, G., Medvec, V. H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2019). Multiple equivalent simultaneous offers (MESOs) reduce the negotiator dilemma: How a choice of first offers increases economic and relational outcomes. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 152, 64–82. Liljenquist, K. A., & Galinsky, A. D. (2007). Turn your adversary into your advocate: Strategic requests for advice can transform disputes into amiable problem-solving ventures. Kellogg Insight. Northwestern University. Majer, J. M., Trötschel, R., Galinsky, A. D., & Loschelder, D. D. (2020). Open to offers, but resisting requests: How the framing of anchors affects motivation and negotiated outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(3), 582–599. Wu, S. J., & Paluck, E. L. (2022). Having a voice in your group: Increasing productivity through group participation. Behavioural Public Policy, 9(1), 192–211.

Have you ever felt the pull to pivot in your business, but weren't sure if it was the right move? I'm sitting down with Margot Witteveen, a registered dietitian who built a thriving practice serving midlife women through perimenopause and menopause. Now, she's stepping into a new season of business growth by mentoring other practitioners in this underserved area of women's health. We dive into what it looks like to make big changes in your business with intention — from following a gut instinct to shifting from practitioner to CEO. Margot shares how she knew it was time to step away from one-on-one work, how she's expanding her impact through mentoring, and why sometimes, the smartest business move starts with trusting your intuition. If you've ever felt torn between staying the course and chasing a new idea that keeps tugging at you, this conversation will remind you that your intuition might just be your best business coach.

Former attorney Casey Berman, founder of Leave Law Behind, and creator of the Unique Genius Framework, joins Ashley to explore how discernment, curiosity, and courage guide us through times of change. Casey shares his own story of leaving law and finding clarity on the other side of uncertainty, offering perspective and tools that anyone can apply in their career and life. Together, they unpack how to recognize when it's time to pivot and take small, confident steps toward what's next.You'll learn:How to identify the “nudge” that something in your life or work needs to shiftThe 3 questions that uncover your Unique GeniusWhy endurance and discernment go hand-in-hand during transitionsHow curiosity turns confusion into clarityPractical steps for exploring change without burning bridges

For nearly five decades, Jim Slusher has been one of the Midwest's most thoughtful voices on what journalism owes its readers — and how it earns their trust. As managing editor for opinion at the Daily Herald, he's spent his career pulling back the curtain on newsroom decisions and defending the value of open, honest dialogue. Now, with his new book To Nudge the World, Slusher is challenging both journalists and audiences to rethink how truth and trust are built in an era of noise and doubt. His message is clear: transparency isn't a luxury for journalism — it's the lifeline that keeps democracy alive.   Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/jim-slusher-on-rebuilding-trust-and-why-his-new-book-aims-to-nudge-the-world,258665  

When faith meets resistance, the fire reveals what's real. In this continuation with Mark Joe, we uncover the cost of conviction and the courage to stand firm when culture pushes back. His story shows how purpose is refined under pressure and how hope still shines through the struggle. Tune in to hear what bold, grounded faith looks like when it's tested. Key Takeaways To Listen ForThe real cost of conviction and what happens when you speak truth with love in a world that resists itHow a simple coffee shop became a powerful marketplace ministry that impacts its cityWhy free speech and genuine tolerance must include room for disagreement and dialogueThe power of pairing bold faith with humility, reflection, and repentance in leadershipHow consistent gatherings for worship, prayer, and community can spark transformation and visible fruitAbout Mark JoeMark is the founder of Omen Coffee, a community-centered coffee shop in St. Louis that serves as both a gathering place and a ministry for young adults. After never attending church until the age of 30, he discovered his faith through Scripture and transformed his life through daily surrender and obedience to God. Today, he leads Omen Coffee and a nonprofit ministry that works together to foster real human connection, discipleship, and authentic conversations about faith and purpose. Connect with MarkLinkedIn: Mark Joe Website: Omen Coffee Co.   Connect With UsMaster your context with real results leadership training!To learn more, visit our website at www.greatsummit.com.For tax, bookkeeping, or accounting help, contact Dr. Nate's team at www.theincometaxcenter.com or send an email to info@theincometaxcenter.com.Follow Dr. Nate on His Social MediaLinkedIn: Nate Salah, Ph.DInstagram: @natesalah Facebook: Nate SalahTikTok: @drnatesalahClubhouse: @natesalah

This week's Nicole's Nudge is all about appreciation. It's easy to think positive thoughts about our colleagues, mentors, or peers in the pelvic health field—but how often do we actually tell them?Expressing gratitude not only lifts them up, but it activates the gratitude centers in our own brains as well. Nicole's Nudges are quick, actionable challenges designed to strengthen both your clinical practice and your connection to the pelvic health community. Your challenge: Pick a pelvic PT or OT—someone you work with, someone online, a mentor, or even someone who answered your questions—and tell them how they've impacted you. Whether it's in person, by DM, or in an email, these small acts of appreciation ripple through our profession.  ➡️ Explore more clinical resources to support your growth at www.pelvicptrising.comAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

Are inspiring leaders born or are they made?  That's what Adam Galinsky, the Columbia Business School professor, has spent the past two decades studying inspiring leaders.  On today's episode of Nudge, he shares his groundbreaking research into inspiration, reciprocity, repetition and visionary statements that reshaped how I saw leadership.  ---  Read Adam's book: https://amzn.to/4htZCGc⁠ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Today's sources:  Begg, I. (1972). Recall of meaningful phrases. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11(4), 431–439. Cabinet Office & Behavioural Insights Team. (2013, May 28). Applying behavioural insights to charitable giving. Behavioural Insights Team. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-behavioural-insights-to-charitable-giving Carton, A. M., Murphy, C., & Clark, J. R. (2014). A (blurry) vision of the future: How leader rhetoric about ultimate goals influences performance. Academy of Management Journal, 57(6), 1544–1570. Cialdini, R. B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. William Morrow & Company. Liu, J., Hong, X., Zheng, Z., & Zhong, J. (2023). When consumers have difficulty understanding ads: How technical language lowers purchase intention. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 22(6), 1550–1563.

In this episode, Gary explores the concept of 'nudges' and how they can be applied to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy. He discusses examples from behavioral economics, such as rearranging food options to promote healthier choices, and applies these ideas to the EV market. Gary also examines legislative nudges, like the UK's ZEV mandate, and the role of advertising and peer pressure in normalizing EVs. The episode concludes with practical suggestions for increasing EV uptake, including test drives and tax incentives.This season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their charging.Links in the show notes:Tesco adds 1000th electric van to fleet - electrive.com - Cool thingHow to promote the EV experience - The EV Musings PodcastNudge on AmazonEpisode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk(C) 2019-2025 Gary Comerford Support me: Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusingsKo-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings The Books:'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X'So, you've gone renewable?' on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIckSocial Media:EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEvInstagram: @EVmusingsOctopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium

What if saying yes to God completely changed your life? In this episode, Mark Joe shares how faith turned struggle into purpose and a simple coffee shop into a thriving ministry for young adults. His story shows the power of obedience, community, and living out what you believe. Listen now to discover how one bold step of faith can transform everything.Key Takeaways To Listen ForHow Mark Joe went from never attending church to leading a thriving faith communityWhat obedience means when you don't know where God is leadingHow true belief shows up in everyday choicesWhy Omen Coffee became a space for real connection and revivalHow business owners can turn their work into a living ministryAbout Mark JoeMark is the founder of Omen Coffee, a community-centered coffee shop in St. Louis that serves as both a gathering place and a ministry for young adults. After never attending church until the age of 30, he discovered his faith through Scripture and transformed his life through daily surrender and obedience to God. Today, he leads Omen Coffee and a nonprofit ministry that works together to foster real human connection, discipleship, and authentic conversations about faith and purpose. Connect with MarkLinkedIn: Mark Joe Website: Omen Coffee Co. Connect With UsMaster your context with real results leadership training!To learn more, visit our website at www.greatsummit.com.For tax, bookkeeping, or accounting help, contact Dr. Nate's team at www.theincometaxcenter.com or send an email to info@theincometaxcenter.com.Follow Dr. Nate on His Social MediaLinkedIn: Nate Salah, Ph.DInstagram: @natesalah Facebook: Nate SalahTikTok: @drnatesalahClubhouse: @natesalah

AI doesn't just predict our behavior — it can shape it.Cass Sunstein, Harvard professor and co-author of Nudge, reveals how artificial intelligence uses classic tools of manipulation — from scarcity and social proof to fear and pleasure — to steer what we buy, believe, and even feel.Its influence is so seamless, we may not even notice it.The battle for the future isn't for our data — it's for our minds.In a world this personalized, how do we keep control of our own minds?

In this Nicole's Nudge, we're focusing on the nervous system—and why it should be part of every evaluation and treatment plan. There isn't a single pelvic health condition the nervous system doesn't influence. We'll discuss different ways to introduce nervous system concepts depending on your patient's personality type, how to make this clinically relevant, and why consistency is key.Nicole's Nudges are short, practical episodes designed to help you refine your skills and return to the core principles of pelvic health care.Your Challenge:  Start each session with every patient - yes, every patient - with a nervous system intervention.  See how it changes your session! Vagus Nerve MasterclassIf you'd like more resources for nervous system treatments for your patients, make sure to check out the Vagus Nerve Masterclass.  Bite-size, with recorded techniques and only $47 for lifetime access!www.pelvicptrising.com/vagusAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

This week's Nudge challenges you to choose one foundational aspect of pelvic health—sleep, movement, nutrition, or stress management—and ask every single one of your patients about it.These lifestyle factors are often overlooked but play a huge role in long-term outcomes.We discuss how to weave these questions into your sessions, what to look for in patient responses, and how to make foundations an integral part of your care plan. Nicole's Nudges are short, bite-sized challenges that help you focus on the basics that matter most in patient care. Simple to implement, but often transformative.  ➡️ Explore more clinical resources to support your growth at www.pelvicptrising.comAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

Five Guys was the fastest-growing fast food chain in the world.  And that's partly due to one clever bit of menu psychology.  Today on Nudge, Richard Shotton explains:  - The psychology behind the Five Guys menu  - How Kraft made a healthier Mac & Cheese (without losing customers)  - Why 99% of marketers would have ruined Pumpkin Spice Latte ---  Read Richard's book: https://a.co/d/fEW7amQ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Today's sources Lee, L., Frederick, S., & Ariely, D. (2006). Try it, you'll like it: The influence of expectation, consumption, and revelation on preferences for beer. Psychological Science, 17(12), 1054–1058. Nelson, L. D., & Meyvis, T. (2008). Interrupted consumption: Disrupting adaptation to hedonic experiences. Journal of Marketing Research, 45(6), 654–664. Raghunathan, R., Naylor, R. W., & Hoyer, W. D. (2006). The unhealthy = tasty intuition and its effects on taste inferences, enjoyment, and choice of food products. Journal of Marketing, 70(4), 170–184. Shu, S. B., & Gneezy, A. (2010). Procrastination of enjoyable experiences. Journal of Marketing Research, 47(5), 933–944. Zhang, Y., Fishbach, A., & Kruglanski, A. W. (2007). The dilution model: How additional goals undermine the perceived instrumentality of a shared path. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(3), 389–401.

Pastor Dru Rodriguez urges us to hear and obey God by embracing both Scripture and the Holy Spirit—reading the Word while inviting the Spirit to soften our hearts. He encourages sitting with the Bible, listening for God's nudges, and recording moments when God speaks.

Your dream of owning a boutique fitness studio is the fuel, but the engine that gets you to opening your doors is funding. Knowledge and tenacity are your accelerator.   Understand your money options with Alina Cooper, Director of Start Your Studio Profitably, and Coach Matt Hanton in Episode 682: How to Fund Your Studio Without Drowning in Debt.   Go solo: bootstrap your business to maintain control and avoid bad debt Pursue tried & true: apply for an SBA (government-backed) loan as a solid source Nudge your network: enlist private investors to partner with you financially Appeal to the masses: try crowdfunding to supplement your own big investment Roll with the punches: expect the unexpected, delays and rejection along the way    The bottom line? If you're not a numbers person, you really need to become one to run a thriving business. Start learning early in your journey with Episode 682.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

Have you ever considered how the clothes you wear were made? Would you choose more sustainable options if they were clearly labelled?Dr Shane Timmons joined The Last Word to discuss new research conducted by the ESRI's Behavioural Unit which found that 'eco labels', which highlight an item of clothing's environmental impact, lead shoppers to make more sustainable choices.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Do you have a reset ritual between patients? In this Nicole's Nudge, we talk about the importance of letting go of the last session and preparing yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally for the next.Whether it's hand washing, a deep breath, or a mantra, the key is having a consistent practice to reset your nervous system.We'll explore why reset rituals are so critical, examples of what they can look like, and how to evaluate whether yours is working effectively. Nicole's Nudges are short, actionable trainings designed to bring you back to the fundamentals of clinical care. Each one challenges you to make small but powerful shifts in your practice. Your Challenge: If you don't have a reset ritual, listen to the 'sode and create one.  If you have one that you aren't using, figure out why and start to make it a habit! ➡️ Explore more clinical resources to support your growth at www.pelvicptrising.comAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

In this episode, we uncover how constant digital nudges—an average of 275 a day—are fueling stress, draining focus, and weakening leadership effectiveness. Learn why ignoring them is not avoidance, but a critical skill for leaders who want to reclaim energy, clarity, and control.Host: Paul FalavolitoConnect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, DiscordFree Leadership Resources: www.paulfalavolito.comBooks by Paul FalavolitoThe 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFGThe Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1PfThe 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8yOfficial 7 Minute Leadership MerchGrab exclusive gear and more: linktr.ee/paulfalavolitoPartners & DiscountsFlying Eyes Optics – Best aviator sunglasses on the marketGet 10% off with code: PFAVShop now: flyingeyesoptics.comGatsby Shoes – Dress sneakers built for leaders on the moveUse my affiliate link for 10% off: Gatsby ShoesSubscribe & Listen to My Podcasts:The 7 Minute Leadership Podcast1 PAPA FOXTROT – General Aviation PodcastThe DailyPfav

This week's Nicole's Nudge is a reminder not to overlook the feet. Our patients' mechanics are influenced both from the top down and the bottom up. By assessing the foot, mid-foot, and rearfoot, we can uncover important contributors to pelvic floor dysfunction—or confidently check them off as not contributing to the issue. Nicole's Nudges are short, focused trainings designed to help you sharpen your skills and get back to the basics. Each one gives you a simple challenge you can apply directly with patients in your practice.Your Challenge: The 80-foot challenge (or however many patients you see this week) - spend a few minutes assessing the foot in every patient on your caseload.  Yes, all of them! We'll walk through how to incorporate foot assessment into an evaluation, how to prioritize what to focus on, and how to communicate clearly with patients when something isn't relevant.  ➡️ Explore more clinical resources to support your growth at www.pelvicptrising.comAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

China-Linked Group Hits Governments With Stealth Malware Chinese hackers exploit VMware zero-day since October 2024 Apple's iOS fixes a bevy of glitches Huge thanks to our sponsor, Nudge Security The SaaS supply chain is a hot mesh. As your workforce introduces new SaaS apps and integrations, hidden pathways are created that attackers can exploit to gain access to core business systems. That's exactly what happened in the Drift breach, and it will happen again. But, all is not lost. Nudge Security gives you the visibility and control you need to stop these attacks. Within minutes of starting a free trial, you'll discover every SaaS app and integration in your environment, map your SaaS supply chain, and identify risky OAuth grants that could be exploited.  The best part? Nudge Security alerts you of breaches impacting your 3rd and 4th party SaaS providers. That's right, even 4th party! So, you can take action quickly to limit the ripple effects. Learn how Nudge can help you secure your entire SaaS ecosystem at nudgesecurity.com/supplychain  

AI-generated code used in phishing campaign blocked by Microsoft WestJet notifies American consumers of data breach Ukrainian cops spoofed in fileless phishing attacks on Kyiv Huge thanks to our sponsor, Nudge Security AI tools have spread to every corner of your tech stack, which is great for innovation, but not so great for data governance. That's where Nudge Security comes in. Nudge discovers shadow AI across your org - chatbots, MCP integrations, AI in the supply chain, and more. And, Nudge delivers guardrails to employees to help you stop data leakage before it even starts. The best part? You'll have a full inventory of AI assets on Day One of your free trial, even those introduced before you started using Nudge. No time machine required. Gain visibility and control of AI use. Get started at nudgesecurity.com/genai  

In this first Nicole's Nudge episode, we're diving into two powerful questions you can use to unlock your patient's true goals during their evaluation. Too often, we get caught up in the symptoms without uncovering what really scares our patients—or how their life would change if those symptoms disappeared. These questions can shift the entire course of care and strengthen the therapeutic alliance right from the start.Listen in as we share the exact phrasing for these questions, why they matter, and how you can implement them with patients this week. Nicole's Nudges are short, bite-sized episodes designed to help you refocus on the fundamentals of pelvic health care. Each week we'll give you a specific, actionable challenge you can use in the clinic right away. Simple, practical, and practice-changing.Your Challenge:  Use the two questions in this 'sode with your patients - either on the evaluation or follow-up visit.  What did you learn?   ➡️ Explore more clinical resources to support your growth at www.pelvicptrising.comAbout UsNicole and Jesse Cozean founded Pelvic PT Rising to provide clinical and business resources to physical therapists to change the way we treat pelvic health.   PelvicSanity Physical Therapy (www.pelvicsanity.com) together in 2016.  It grew quickly into one of the largest cash-based physical therapy practices in the country.Through Pelvic PT Rising, Nicole has created clinical courses (www.pelvicptrising.com/clinical) to help pelvic health providers gain confidence in their skills and provide frameworks to get better patient outcomes.  Together, Jesse and Nicole have helped 600+ pelvic practices start and grow through the Pelvic PT Rising Business Programs (www.pelvicptrising.com/business) to build a practice that works for them! Get in Touch!Learn more at www.pelvicptrising.com, follow Nicole @nicolecozeandpt (www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt) or reach out via email (nicole@pelvicsanity.com).Check out our Clinical Courses, Business Resources and learn more about us at Pelvic PT Rising...Let's Continue to Rise!

Send us a textGet ready for a super inspiring episode of BRANDING MATTERS! Today I'm sitting down with a close family friend - Bryan (Chad) Chadwick. Bryan's story is wild: he's done everything from making cool art and writing screenplays to helping global movements and winning a truckload of awards, including honours at Cannes, Clios, and more.Bryan knows what it takes to build a brand from scratch and stand out in the marketing and creative worlds, but what really sets him apart is how he listens to his gut - that little “nudge” inside that can change everything. During our fun chat, we talk about real moments when Bryan trusted his instincts, and how you can use that same sense to shape your own brand, whether you're promoting yourself online, pitching clients, or just chasing big ideas.If you're in advertising, marketing, or simply want to be memorable, Bryan's advice is gold for taking your brand to the next level. The stories, wins, and lessons he shares are for anyone ready to break out of their comfort zone and get noticed for what makes them unique. Tune in, get inspired, and start using your “nudge” to build a brand that's genuinely yours!Support the showBRANDING MATTERS is one of the 40 Best Branding Podcasts worldwide. It's one of the 17 Branding Podcasts Worth Your Time in 2025. And it's one of the 20 Great Podcasts to Grow Your Brand. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating along with a brief review. And don't forget to order your BADASS T-shirt here.About MeHey there, I'm Joelly - the Branding Badass. My BADASS superpower is helping you build a brand that matters. From branded merch to keynote speaking, when you work with me, you get results! Need help telling your brand story? Learn more here.Let's stay connected!instagram - @Branding_BadasslinkedIn - Joelly Goodsonwebsite - BAMKO.NET

In order to trust machines with important jobs, we need a high level of confidence that they share our values and goals. Recent work shows that this “alignment” can be brittle, superficial, even unstable. In one study, a few training adjustments led a popular chatbot to recommend murder. On this episode, contributing writer Stephen Ornes tells host Samir Patel about what this research reveals. Audio coda from The National Archives and Records Administration.

Is the classic forming, storming, norming, performing model wrong? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher challenges one of the most famous team-building frameworks and reveals what really drives teams to succeed. ---   Read Colin's book: https://colinmfisher.com/ Reading the Mind In the Eyes: https://embrace-autism.com/reading-the-mind-in-the-eyes-test/#test Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/  Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Today's sources:  Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(2), 250–279. Riedl, C., Kim, Y. J., Gupta, P., Malone, T. W., & Woolley, A. W. (2021). Quantifying collective intelligence in human groups. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(21), e2005737118  Sherif, M. (1936). The psychology of social norms. Harper. Staw, B. M. (1975). Attribution of the "causes" of performance: A general alternative interpretation of cross-sectional research on organizations. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 13(3), 414–432.

Ever felt like your team isn't pulling its weight or sat through a meeting where nothing gets done? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher reveals why sometimes it's actually better to work alone than in a group. ---  Read Colin's book: https://colinmfisher.com/ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/  Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Today's sources:  Almaatouq, A., Alsobay, M., Yin, M., & Watts, D. J. (2021). Task complexity moderates group synergy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(36), e2101062118 Darley, J. M., & Bats on, C. D. (1973). “From Jerusalem to Jericho”: A study of situational and dispositional variables in helping behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27(1), 100–108. Wuchty, S., Jones, B. F., & Uzzi, B. (2007). The increasing dominance of teams in production of knowledge. Science, 316(5827), 1036–1039.

Most people prefer AI art until they know it's AI-generated.  Today on Nudge, Professor of Consumer Psychology Matt Johnson explains why.  ---  Watch the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/5fa3398dfb   More on Matt's books, work and newsletters: https://www.neuroscienceof.com/ Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/  Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  --- Sources:  Bellaiche, L., Shahi, R., Turpin, M. H., Ragnhildstveit, A., Sprockett, S., Barr, N., & Seli, P. (2023). Humans versus AI: Whether and why we prefer human-created compared to AI-created artwork. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 8(1), 42. Glenn, J., & Walker, R. (Eds.). (2012). Significant objects: 100 extraordinary stories about ordinary things. Fantagraphics. Lecamwasam, K., & Ray Chaudhuri, T. (2025). Exploring listeners' perceptions of AI-generated and human-composed music for functional emotional applications. arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.02856. Oasis. (2002, April 15). Oasis – The Hindu Times (Official Video) [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Wp5zZ5cdu98 Oasis – Lost In The Clouds (AI Song). (2024, approximate). Oasis – Lost In The Clouds (AI Song) [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZmC9RYRitLs