logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
49m 4s

The Strange Factors That Influence What ...

Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
About this episode
Ever wonder why mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others? I begin this episode by discussing 5 factors that make you so irresistible to those pesky insects. https://theweek.com/articles/462191/5-things-that-make-irresistible-mosquitoes Consumer behavior is a fascinating area of research. While people like to think they make objective decision ... Show More
Up next
Today
The Surprising Power of Swearing & How to Build Confidence Fast
Want to significantly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep? There is one surprisingly simple thing you can do during the day that may actually help you sleep better that night. And no, it doesn’t involve exercise, meditation or giving up your phone. This episode b ... Show More
49m 34s
Sep 1
SYSK TRENDING - Are The Added Ingredients In Food All That Bad?
Processed food has gotten a pretty terrible reputation. We’re warned to avoid foods with long ingredient lists, mysterious additives and chemical names we can’t pronounce. “Ultra-processed” has practically become another way of saying “bad for you.” But is that a useful way to ju ... Show More
23m 23s
Aug 31
How to Get Better Healthcare & The Strange Ways Weather Affects You
Ever notice that the trip home often seems shorter than the trip there—even when the distance and travel time are exactly the same? It happens so often that researchers have given it a name: the “return trip effect.” And the explanation reveals something fascinating about how you ... Show More
50m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
Here's Why You May Be a Mosquito Magnet
Are you always the one getting eaten alive while everyone else walks away bite-free? Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why some people attract more mosquitoes and shares tips on how to avoid getting bitten including which repellents actually work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ... Show More
12m 20s
May 2020
BrainStuff Classics: Are Some People Immune to Mosquitoes?
Some people seem to attract tons of mosquito bites -- others, none at all. Learn what factors attract more mosquitoes -- and why they 'bite' us in the first place -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee ... Show More
6m 59s
Nov 2018
The Temptation of Now: With Guests Richard Thaler & Angela Duckworth
Most of us would like to think we make decisions for our own good. Presented with the imaginary choice between a bag of salty, greasy potato chips and a healthy salad, you might opt, in principle, for the salad. But what happens when that bag of chips is freshly opened, sitting t ... Show More
24m 50s
Jun 2023
Why DO mosquitos bite some people more than others? (new research!)
<p><strong>#163<br /> </strong><br /> We've talked about mosquitos many times around here, why they bite us, how they find us, how to prevent them from biting us, etc. One thing that's struck us is that research about some of those big questions is ongoing and always evolving. An ... Show More
43m 12s
May 2023
8 Psychology Hacks Behind The World’s Biggest Businesses - Richard Shotton - #626
Richard Shotton is a behavioural scientist, Founder of Astroten and an author. Humans are predictably irrational. By studying these behaviours through clever techniques, advertisers and marketers have been able to boost sales and influence you in ways you might not realise or exp ... Show More
1h 28m
Nov 2024
Encore - Tightwads and spendthrifts: How emotions drive our shopping behavior, with Scott Rick, PhD
Does shopping bring you joy? Or do you feel a bit of pain and regret every time you have to make a purchase? Many of us will be shopping for gifts in the upcoming weeks—whether we enjoy it or not. Scott Rick, PhD, of the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, discusses ... Show More
32m 14s
Dec 2021
Tightwads and spendthrifts: How emotions drive our shopping behavior, with Scott Rick, PhD
Does shopping bring you joy? Or do you feel a bit of pain and regret every time you have to make a purchase? Many of us will be shopping for gifts in the upcoming weeks -- whether we enjoy it or not. Scott Rick, PhD, of the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, discus ... Show More
30m 34s
May 2023
Ep8 "How does your brain decide what to buy?"
What’s happening when you stand in the supermarket aisle and stare at the shelf full of options? It may not look like there’s much going on from the outside, but inside there’s a war of networks raging. How is your brain's decision-making influenced by price, emotions, and your g ... Show More
37m 11s
Nov 2019
Do Lucky Charms Really Work? (Plus, other ways to get the upper hand)
<p>Why do short people dominate soccer? Is owning a library more important than actually reading the books? And is being handsome important to being taken seriously as a scientist? Will and Mango delve into some super weird ways people wield advantage.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
32m 28s
Feb 2023
19 Of Human Behaviour's Weirdest Quirks - Rory Sutherland - #587
Rory Sutherland is one of the world's leading consumer behaviour experts, the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Advertising and an author. Humans are an odd animal. Our behaviour sometimes makes very little sense, but when we exchange our money for products it can make even less sense. Tha ... Show More
1h 47m