Interview: Thomas McKinlay, founder of Science Says, on cutting through marketing “snake oil” with evidence

3/11/2026

Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing.

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53:01

In this episode, we interview Thomas McKinlay, founder of the Science Says newsletter, about what biases can be applied in ecommerce decisions. Thomas walks us through lots of evidence-based insights, like where to place prices, how charging a small fee is better than giving something for free, and why online retailers should handwrite thank you notes.

More episodes from "Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing."

Interview: Thomas McKinlay, founder of Science Says, on cutting through marketing “snake oil” with evidence
vor 3 Tagen
53:01
In this episode, we interview Thomas McKinlay, founder of the Science Says newsletter, about what biases can be applied in ecommerce decisions. Thomas walks us through lots of evidence-based insights, like where to place prices, how charging a small fee is better than giving something for free, and why online retailers should handwrite thank you notes.
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In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard launch a new series by unpacking Lucky Yatra, an award-winning Indian Railways campaign that turned tickets into lottery entries. They explore how uncertain rewards, positive framing, and smart incentives drove a 34% rise in ticket sales
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Interview: Thomas McKinlay, founder of Science Says, on cutting through marketing “snake oil” with evidence

Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing.

More episodes from "Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing."

Interview: Thomas McKinlay, founder of Science Says, on cutting through marketing “snake oil” with evidence

Awarded Campaigns: Lucky Yatra, on how a ticket-lottery turned fare dodgers into paying passengers

How small behavioral shifts can help make you happier

Interview: Mark Ritson on consistency, pricing power, and the myths holding marketers back

How to use behavioral science to create positive social impact

Interview: Kevin Chesters, co-author of The Creative Nudge, on why great creativity requires discomfort, not consensus

Inside Hacking the Human Mind: lessons from the world’s most effective brands

MichaelAaron Flicker and Richard Shotton on 100 episodes of behavioral science, brands, and ideas that actually work

Interview: Tim den Heijer, author of The Housefly Effect, on how friction, incentives, and context shape behavior

Interview: Tara Austin, behavioral strategist at Ogilvy, on how small behavioral cues drive large-scale change