Predictably Irrational: Our Effort to Understand Human Behavior podcast artwork
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Predictably Irrational: Our Effort to Understand Human Behavior

by Ross Miller
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Latest episodes

  • The "Free" Factor

    January 23, 2026 · 22 min

    In this episode, the hosts explore how the word "free" acts as a powerful psychological switch that fundamentally changes human behavior. Drawing on the theories of Dan Ariely, the discussion examines the shift between market norms, where…

  • The Trap of the "Future Self"

    January 23, 2026 · 12 min

    In this episode, hosts Michael, Emil, and Sota dive into why we consistently make decisions we know are bad for us, focusing specifically on the hot-cold empathy gap. They explore the psychological struggle of procrastination, explaining…

  • The High Price of Ownership

    January 23, 2026 · 14 min

    In this episode, student hosts Spencer, Angelo, and Nozomi explore the endowment effect. This is a behavioral bias where we value things we own more than they are objectively worth. They also discuss the IKEA effect, which explains our…

  • The High Cost of "Zero"

    January 23, 2026 · 11 min

    In this episode, student hosts Khin, Hein, and May explore the psychological "zero trap" based on Chapter 3 of the book Predictably Irrational. The discussion centers on how the word "free" fundamentally changes human decision-making…

  • The Trap of Endless Options

    January 23, 2026 · 13 min

    In this episode, student hosts Hasib, Daisuke, and Itsuki explore why humans have a psychological impulse to keep every door open, even when having too many choices becomes counterproductive. Drawing on the theories of Dan Ariely, the…

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  • The Battle Between Pleasure and Productivity

    January 23, 2026 · 17 min

    In this episode, student hosts Adrian, Ryo, and Tomoka explore the universal struggle of procrastination and self-control. By examining why we often choose immediate pleasure over long-term goals, the hosts discuss how human behavior is…

  • Why We Overvalue Our Own Effort

    January 23, 2026 · 10 min

    In this episode, hosts Karei and Mari explore the psychological tendencies that lead us to make predictably irrational decisions. Drawing on concepts from the book Predictably Irrational, the duo discusses the IKEA effect—the tendency to…

  • Logical Fallacies

    January 28, 2025 · 13 min

    For our final episode of Season 3, we’re diving into Logical Fallacies—those deceptive thinking traps that can undermine even our most well-reasoned arguments. From slippery slopes to false dilemmas, our student presenters will break down…

  • Decision Making in Hot and Cold States

    January 28, 2025 · 9 min

    In this episode, we’re exploring Emotional Decision-Making in Hot and Cold States, inspired by Dan Ariely’s work in Predictably Irrational. How do our choices shift when we’re calm and rational versus when we’re overwhelmed by emotion? Our…

  • Procrastination

    January 28, 2025 · 10 min

    In this episode, we’re tackling the all-too-relatable topic of Procrastination, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. Why do we often delay important tasks, even when we know better? Our student presenters will…

  • Power of Price

    January 28, 2025 · 20 min

    In this episode, we’re exploring the Power of Price, inspired by Dan Ariely’s insights from Predictably Irrational. How does the price of something influence not just our willingness to pay but our perception of its quality and…

  • Cost of 0

    January 28, 2025 · 22 min

    In this episode, we’re diving into the compelling concept of the Cost of Zero, inspired by Dan Ariely’s work in Predictably Irrational. Why does “free” have such a powerful hold over our choices, even when it’s not the best option? Our…

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About the show

The human brain works in mysterious ways, and not always in the ways we think it does. We do strange things for the unknown reasons and we do common things often without thought. As a result, we are often unaware of how impulsive and predictable we can be. We often fail to think on the reasons that are behind our actions. In this podcast, students from a Japanese university explore their own understanding of these issues and hopefully, provide the listener with some insight into how our brains work and how to be more aware of our own thinking.