The Decision Education Podcast

Can you really put a number on what matters most? Barry Schwartz, emeritus professor of psychology at Swarthmore College and a visiting professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley , joins host, Annie Duke, to challenge the idea that good decisions come only from spreadsheets, expected utility, or any framework that assumes one’s values can be weighed on a single scale. Drawing on his new book, Choose Wisely , Barry argues that rational choice theory can sometimes push people to rely on oversimplified frameworks that give us a false sense of certainty, when the real world is actually much messier and uncertain, and the decisions we make are more complex. Key takeaways from this episode include why understanding what matters most to you in a situation is the first step to making better decisions, how choosing from a large set of options reveals more about your values than choosing from a small set, and why luck and the quality of your decisions are the true determiners of how your life turns out. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

What if the same mindset that built a billion-dollar trading firm could change the way women relate to money, risk, and power? Jenny Just, co-founder of PEAK6 and founder of Poker Power, joins host, Annie Duke, to explore how a career built on options trading taught her that you don't have to win every time to have a winning strategy. Jenny reflects on the experiences that shaped her approach to risk, from building one of the world's most successful trading firms to learning how luck and skill interact in every important decision. She and Annie discuss why the best decision makers embrace a range of possible outcomes, how fear can be reframed into curiosity, why waiting for certainty is often the riskiest choice, and what poker teaches us about thinking strategically under uncertainty. Key takeaways from this episode include why good decisions can still produce bad outcomes, how practicing decisions builds better judgment, why understanding risk is more important than avoiding it, and how teaching decision-making through games like poker can help people, especially women, become more comfortable making high-stakes decisions in work, money, and life. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

Season 7 of The Decision Education Podcast unveils decision-making tips from experts in AI, risk, entrepreneurship, and the military. Host, Annie Duke, engages our guests in interesting discussions, in which they unpack their decision toolkits and share how the world might look different if we practiced decision-making skills from a younger age.

Why do we crave explanations—and what happens when they lead us astray? In this episode, our host, Annie Duke, sits down with cognitive scientist Tania Lombrozo to explore the psychology of “why.” From puzzling over everyday baking mishaps to big-picture questions about conspiracy theories, Tania unpacks how our drive to explain shapes what we believe, how we learn, and the choices we make. Together, Annie and Tania dive into strategies for better reasoning—like probabilistic thinking, generating alternative explanations, and shifting from “could it be true?” to “must it be true?” Key takeaways include why teaching is one of the most powerful learning tools, how to avoid the trap of “satisfying over correct” explanations, and what conspiracy thinking reveals about our deep discomfort with randomness. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

How do leaders in sports balance analytics with the human element? In this episode, our host, Annie Duke, welcomes Paraag Marathe, Chairman of Leeds United Football Club and President of 49ers Enterprises & Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the San Francisco 49ers . Together, they discuss how analytics-based decision-making helps to build successful sports teams. Paraag shares how Leeds United, a club with a rich history that has faced recent challenges, was transformed through decision science and strong leadership that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. He also stresses the importance of creating a safe environment that shields staff from external pressures, allowing them to focus on data-driven decisions that lead to lasting success. Key takeaways from this episode include why the emotional framing of decisions matters more than the decisions themselves, the challenges of aligning different time horizons and goals within an organization, and why being an analytics trailblazer requires support from top leadership. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

How does the stock market express uncertainty ? In this insightful conversation, co-founder of Oaktree Capital, renowned investor, and Alliance Board member Howard Marks joins our host, Annie Duke, to discuss the psychology behind market volatility and investor behavior. Howard explains how fluctuations in stock prices often reflect investor sentiment rather than changes in a company's intrinsic value, and discusses the biases that arise in both stable and volatile markets. Howard also examines the pitfalls of striving for above-average returns without the requisite skills and knowledge, stressing realism and patience as vital components of successful investing. Key takeaways include how optimism is inherent in investing, why investors mistake price changes for information, and the value of understanding base rates for making informed decisions. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

How do you spot opportunities hidden in plain sight? In this episode, our host, Annie Duke, sits down with Lux Capital co-founder Josh Wolfe to explore his unconventional approach to venture investing and decision-making under uncertainty. From his early days in Coney Island to building a multibillion-dollar fund, Josh shares how he spots hidden opportunities by asking a simple but powerful question: “What sucks?” He explains how this mindset drives Lux’s strategy of investing where others aren’t looking, taking bold bets on frontier technologies, and uncovering breakthroughs before they hit the mainstream. Together, Annie and Josh unpack the psychology behind big bets—balancing optimism with skepticism, managing uncertainty, avoiding biases, and learning when to trust your gut versus the data. Key takeaways include how to distinguish between “nice-to-have” vs. “must-solve” problems, how to leverage inside vs. outside views for better decision-making, and why understanding human nature is as critical as understanding technology when investing in the future.

What does it really mean to choose with intent—and why do we often go with the default option? Our host, Annie Duke, is joined by award-winning Cornell University professor and expert in organizational psychology Dr. Sunita Sah to explore the hidden forces behind compliance, consent, and ethical decision-making. Drawing on her multidisciplinary background in medicine, psychology, and consulting, Sunita unpacks why we say “yes” when we really want to say “no,” and how seemingly simple disclosures can backfire in high-stakes situations. Whether it’s navigating career pivots or teaching kids to stand their ground, Sunita makes a compelling case for redefining defiance not as disobedience, but as integrity in action. Key takeaways include the difference between compliance and true consent, how to recognize and overcome “insinuation anxiety,” and how to use tools like the Defiance Compass to act in line with your values—especially when it’s uncomfortable. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

What if knowing about cognitive biases isn’t enough to overcome them? Spencer Greenberg—entrepreneur, mathematician, and host of the Clearer Thinking podcast —joins our host, Annie Duke, to explore how we can move from simply recognizing decision-making errors to applying evidence-based tools that actually improve our thinking. Spencer discusses his path from a Ph.D. in applied math to creating interactive tools that help people make better decisions. He and Annie explore why awareness of biases isn’t enough to overcome them and how AI can both amplify and challenge our blind spots.Key takeaways from this episode include the power of “precommitments” in shaping future choices, how Bayesian thinking can help us update our beliefs, and why—in a world increasingly influenced by AI—balancing intuition and analysis leads to the best decisions. —-------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives.

Season 6 of The Decision Education Podcast unveils decision-making tips from experts in AI, investing, entrepreneurship, and sports. Host, Annie Duke, engages our guests in interesting discussions, in which they unpack their decision toolkits and share how the world might look different if we practiced decision-making skills from a younger age.

How do we bridge the gap between the present and the future? In this episode, our host, Annie Duke, speaks with Bina Venkataraman, journalist, author, and science and technology policy expert , about the psychological, social, and institutional barriers to making long-term decisions. Drawing from Bina’s experiences in science communication, climate policy, and journalism, they discuss the difficulty of imagining the future and yourself within it, and how creative tools such as virtual reality and role-playing games can help us master the tug-of-war between now and later. Key takeaways include innovative ways to promote future savings, the challenges of communicating complex science in uncertain times, and how culture, social norms, and scarcity affect people's ability to delay gratification and plan for the future. ------------------------------------------------------------ This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to First Round Capital for supporting The Decision Education Podcast —empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

What forces shape the choices we make? Seth Godin, renowned author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert, joins our host, Annie Duke, to explore the impact of societal and external pressures on decision-making, and the role of systems in shaping our choices. Godin shares his unique perspectives on the power of social identities and the significance of empathy in leadership. Together, they examine how both social identities and systems shape human behavior and discuss actionable ways to reclaim our agency, even as forces work against us. Key takeaways from this episode include how tribes foster community but can also perpetuate division, how emotional appeals and storytelling drive decisions, and how differentiating between "picking" and "sorting" can reduce decision fatigue. ----------------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to ⁠ First Round Capital⁠ for supporting The Decision Education Podcast—empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

Can optimism be both a strength and a weakness? Annie Duke welcomes cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Tali Sharot to explore her groundbreaking research on optimism bias, memory, decision-making, and human behavior. Tali shares how the brain processes information, the adaptive functions of optimism bias, and the impact of habituation on motivation. Key takeaways from this episode include the intricate relationship between memory and forecasting, the challenges of updating our beliefs, and practical strategies to help mitigate the negative effects of cognitive biases. This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to First Round Capital for supporting The Decision Education Podcast —empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

How do you know a good founder when you see one? Annie Duke and Josh Kopelman, a co-founder and managing partner of First Round Capital, tackle this question by exploring the transition from gut feeling to quantifiable evaluation in venture capital. Together, they highlight First Round Capital's rigorous process for assessing startups and the role of understanding probability in enhancing decision quality. Key takeaways from this episode include the importance of making the implicit explicit, addressing long feedback loops, and the necessity of truth-seeking and humility for effective decision-making. ----------------------------------------------------------------- This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to First Round Capital for supporting The Decision Education Podcast —empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

What if the future you imagine is actually based on your memories? Annie Duke chats with neuroscientist and host of the Inner Cosmos podcast, Dr. David Eagleman, about how the surprising ways our brains process and interpret information influence the decisions we make. They tackle sensory hacks, decision quirks, and why “lashing yourself to the mast” could be your best bet against temptation. Key takeaways from this episode include the way simulating the future helps us combat temporal discounting and make better decisions, the power of Ulysses contracts, and the social dynamics of decision-making. This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. This season of the podcast is brought to you by First Round Capital.

What if happiness is a skill we can learn? Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale professor, cognitive psychologist, and host of the popular podcast The Happiness Lab , joins our host, Annie Duke, to explore the science behind happiness and why her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” has become the most popular course in Yale’s 300-year history. Santos advocates for intentional decision-making and social connection as tools for improving mental well-being. Key takeaways from this episode include the powerful effects of “time affluence” and “time famine,” how to use counterfactual thinking in positive ways and gain insight on how creating intentional happiness habits can lead to a more fulfilling life. This is The Decision Education Podcast , where we explore the science of decision-making with a diverse range of experts and offer practical strategies to transform our understanding of the role decisions play in our lives. Thanks to First Round Capital for supporting The Decision Education Podcast —empowering leaders to make choices that shape our future.

Season 5 of The Decision Education Podcast unveils decision-making tips from experts in neuroscience, cognitive biases, entrepreneurship, and social connection. Host Annie Duke engages our guests in interesting discussions where they unpack their decision toolkits and share how the world might look different if we practiced decision-making skills from a younger age. We’re thrilled to announce that this season of The Decision Education Podcast is sponsored by First Round Capital.

What have we misunderstood about decision-making? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow , joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, to discuss common misconceptions about decision-making and “System 1” and “System 2” thinking. Together, they discuss the significance of evaluating individual components before making judgments and uncover the surprising parallels between human cognition and modern Artificial Intelligence. Daniel shares a compelling analogy between perception and cognition, illustrating how cognitive shortcuts can lead us astray. Additionally, he sheds light on why new restaurants continue to open in seemingly “doomed” locations and the valuable lessons we can learn from studying the paths of those who went before us.

Why do people sometimes become more entrenched in their beliefs when they are challenged? In this episode, David McRaney, science journalist and creator of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, book, and blog , joins us as we dive into the psychology of persuasion and explore how and why people change their minds. Together, we investigate the psychological need for connection and how, under certain circumstances, that need can lead people to gravitate toward extremist communities. We also consider ways to protect ourselves and others from such polarized thinking and practice active open mindedness. David discusses the challenges inherent in conversing with people who do not share our beliefs and why these discussions often don’t go as planned. We also share a powerful technique to change someone’s mind, including your own.

Can giving advice actually be more valuable than receiving it? In this episode, Dr. Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and world-renowned author , joins host Annie Duke, co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, to rethink the ways we work and learn. Adam discusses which type of people excel the most in the workplace: givers, takers, or matchers. Adam and Annie delve into how establishing “personal policies” can help us with decision-making in the workplace and how we can make workplaces more equitable. Adam explores why he believes the hallmark of true intelligence is the ability to rethink, unlearn, and be open to changing our minds when we encounter new information. He also provides a glimpse into the secrets of his Junior Olympic diving success, as featured in his latest book, Hidden Potential. Finally, Adam shares the surprising similarity between academic writing and performing magic tricks!