In this fourth episode of our special six-part reboot of Talking Shop, the 2015 ABC podcast I co-hosted with Kirsten Drysdale, we explore the irresistible pull of luxury goods. From Belgian chocolate and French champagne to understated but wildly expensive trench coats, we ask: what makes these items feel so desirable, and why do some of us proudly show them off? Originally part of a series that unpacked the evidence behind why we buy what we buy, this episode looks at the psychology of status symbols, ‘peacocking,’ and whether a well-crafted fake can satisfy just as much as the real thing. This is also a repeat of Episode 12.