A Behavioural Science podcast series from Dan Monheit & Dr Melissa Weinberg

Bad Decisions is a podcast series hosted by Dan Monheit and Dr Melissa Weinberg that explores the behavioural biases and psychological quirks that shape how we think, decide and behave.

This archive brings together 33 full-length episodes, each unpacking a single concept in depth, alongside 25 Mini episodes that provide quick, practical applications for marketers, business leaders and anyone curious about how people think.

Browse the episodes

Intro to Bad Decisions

A quick introduction and where it all began

Availability Bias

Why we massively overestimate our chances of success

Choice Paradox

Why it’s so hard to choose a hamburger

Endowment Effect

Why we always sit in the same damn seat

Social Proof

Why we knowingly make stupid choices with our friends

Confirmation Bias

Why black Jeeps are everywhere

Anchoring

Why we spend too much on BBQs

Temporal Discounting

Why we want $10 today, not $15 tomorrow

Licensing Effect

Why we order Diet Coke with our large Big Mac meals

Default Bias

Why Australians take their organs to the grave

Sunk Cost

Why we behave so badly at the buffet

Peak-End Rule

Why we all love a lolly bag

Mental Accounting

Why we’ll probably die broke

Planning Fallacy

Why the best laid plans always go awry

Hot Hand Fallacy

Why we love seeing hot streaks

Framing Effect

Why we like our milk fat-free and our luxury cars full price

Ben Franklin Effect

Why we should all be asking for way more favours

Focusing Illusion

Why we don’t really need a pay-rise

Zeigarnik Effect

Why you want to know what happens in this episode

Spotlight Effect

Why nobody else notices the ketchup stain on your shorts

Effort Bias

Why you should let them see you sweat

Projection Bias

Why shopping whilst hungry is a terrible idea

Status Quo Bias

Why old, stubborn people kind of have a point

Mere Exposure Effect

Why turning up is half the battle

Halo Effect

Why judging a book by its cover is pretty much unavoidable

Barnum Effect

Why smart people believe ridiculous things

Zero Risk Bias

Why there’s so much value in nothing

Ostrich Effect

Why you really should just go to the doctor

Reciprocity Bias

Why you should always buy the first coffee

Pratfall Effect

Why you can afford to make a mistake

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Why you might know just enough to be dangerous

Commitment Bias

Why you should shout it out loud

Scarcity Bias

Why you always want what you can’t have

Authority Bias

Why nine in ten dentists recommend this episode

Mini Episode 1 - Why do we keep the boxes from expensive shoes and handbags?

Carli from Melbourne gets us rolling with a listener question that's way too close to home.

Mini Episode 2 - Why do people queue up outside full restaurants?

A very hungry Laurence from Elizabeth Bay wants to know why more people don’t just cross the street.

Mini Episode 3 - Why do cans of Coke, diet Coke and Coke Zero all suddenly look the same?

Bianca from Prahran wants to know what's behind Coca Cola's gigantic packaging u-turn.

Mini Episode 4 - Why do I keep ordering the same burrito?

Adam from Bondi wants to know why he cant say no to that bur-ri-to.

Mini Episode 5 - Why do I get so many notifications about the status of my parcel?

Marcel in Camberwell wants to know why DHL insists on telling him every intricate detail about his new tennis racquet's cross continental journey.

Mini Episode 6 - Why won’t anyone pay me what my car is actually worth?

Sophia in Glenelg wants to know why nobody seems willing to 'pay the cost to be the boss' of her "really awesome little Mazda".

Mini Episode 7 - Why do people pay $7 for toast at a cafe?

Lydia in Claremont wants to know why cafes can charge big bucks for a little bread.

Mini Episode 8 - Why is there a $140 option at my local car wash?

Dustin in Fairfield wants to know why people splash out more than $100 for suds and water.

Mini Episode 9 - Why do people pay so much for diamonds?

Jeremy from Kooyong wants to know why people are willing to cough up big for carats.

Mini Episode 10 - Why aren’t we shopped out by Boxing Day?

Lauren from Prahran wants to know why people still shop after Christmas drops.

Mini Episode 11 - Why do people stay in jobs they hate?

Amanda from Paddington wants to know why it’s so hard for ‘her friend’ to quit her joyless job.

Mini Episode 12 - Why do I keep paying for a gym membership I never use?

Richard from Annandale wants to know why his wallets getting a bigger work out than his gym membership

Mini Episode 13 - Why did I buy so many pairs of sweatpants?

Holly from Brighton wants to know why counting her sweats has got her sweating.

Mini Episode 14 - Why does everyone remember Kodak as a failure?

Nicole from Chatswood wants to know why the Kodak moment was one worth forgetting?

Mini Episode 15 - Why do these things always happen to me?

Elliot from Preston wants to know why he’s always such a disaster.

Mini Episode 16 - Why do groups of adults argue over who gets to pay the bill?

Gerard from Cremorne wants to know why the gloves have to come off when the cheque arrives?

Mini Episode 17 - Why do smart people believe in dumb horoscopes?

Millie from Coogee wants to know why we can't help but look into the crystal ball.

Mini Episode 18 - Why does everyone think they're great drivers?

Marcie from Docklands wants to know why we we're all racing laps like Ricciardo.

Mini Episode 19 - Why is it 11:11 every time I look at my watch?

Ross from Holland Park wants to know if his watch is broken or if it's a sign from above.

Mini Episode 20 - Why don’t waiters just write down my order?

Katrina from East Gardens wants to know why waiters love to wait to complete your order

Mini Episode 21 - Why have I stopped (compulsively) checking my investments?

Jonathan from Lightsview wants to know why he's suddenly less invested in investing

Mini Episode 22 - Why did my pay rise buzz wear off so quickly?

Jenny from Sandringham wants to why her pay rise has left her feeling flat.

Mini Episode 23 - Why do I keep paying for insurance that I never use?

Francis from Carlton wants to know why she feels so unsure about staying insured.

Mini Episode 24 - Why do we love celebs with dad bods?

Emma from Canberra wants to know why we dread the shred and go jelly for the belly

Mini Episode 25 - Why do good companies stay with bad software?

Liam from Albert Park wants to know why bad software is wearing us down.