In this fifth episode of our special six-part reboot of Talking Shop, the 2015 ABC podcast I co-hosted with Kirsten Drysdale, we explore the subtle, often invisible ways our environment shapes what we buy, without us even realising it. From lighting and music to the colour of a salesperson’s shirt and the firmness of the chair you’re sitting on, retail spaces are designed to influence your decisions at a deeply psychological level. As part of It’s Not Real, this episode dives straight into the science of sensory marketing and automatic behaviour, showing just how little conscious control we actually have in the shopping aisle. Whether it’s classical music nudging you toward a more expensive wine or a whispery voice convincing you to switch internet providers, we explore what happens when marketers get under your skin... and into your wallet.