In this podcast episode, Hugh Massei interviews C. Thomas Howard, CEO of Athena Invest, about his book Behavioral Portfolio Management, a thought-provoking challenge to traditional investment thinking.

They explore why investors don’t actually experience risk as market volatility, but rather as loss, fear, and regret, and how portfolios designed without considering real human behavior often fail at the worst possible moments.

Hugh and Tom also examine the limitations of Modern Portfolio Theory, the behavioral flaws of traditional risk tolerance questionnaires, and how goals-based investing provides a more practical framework for long-term success.

They highlight the crucial role financial advisors play in helping investors stay disciplined and committed during periods of market turbulence.

This episode is essential listening for financial advisors, investors, and institutional leaders who want portfolios designed for how people actually behave, not how theory assumes they should.

In this podcast episode, Hugh Massie and Sander Palm discuss the principles of behavioral economics, focusing on the concept of nudges and their application in health and decision-making.

They explore personal experiences with habits, the role of environment in shaping behavior, and the importance of personalization in nudging strategies. The conversation also touches on the ethical considerations of nudging and how these principles can be applied in organizational change.

In this episode, Hugh Massie interviews Soraya Catoja and Ann-Kathrin Crede from Allianz to discuss how behavioral economics is transforming insurance and business decision-making. They share how Allianz built its behavioral insights unit and uses evidence-based strategies—such as simplifying communication and redesigning customer experiences—to drive measurable results, including increased digital adoption and strong business returns.

They also explain how behavioral testing often challenges traditional assumptions, showing that more information or incentives do not always improve outcomes. The discussion highlights how leadership training, AI adoption, and digital transformation can benefit from behavioral science, emphasizing that successful innovation depends on aligning solutions with real human behavior.

In this episode, Hugh Massie interviews Rich Hagberg, psychologist, long-time leadership researcher, and author of Founders Keepers. Rich shares deep insights gathered from decades of working with founders and executives, using psychological data, 360 assessments, and global leadership research to uncover why so many founders struggle as their companies grow.

Rich explains that while founders are creative, independent, and visionary, they often lack the emotional intelligence, structure, and collaborative skills needed to scale a business. He highlights adaptability as the strongest predictor of founder success, followed by the ability to work through others and the willingness to establish systems and processes. Rich also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and mission-driven leadership—traits that separate high-performing founders from those who burn out. His upcoming book explores the founder’s inner journey and the personal growth required at every stage of building a company.

In this episode, Hugh Massie speaks with Chiara Cappellini, Principal Behavioral Scientist at the Behavioral Science Group, and co-author of "A New Tool for Behavioral Scientists" in the Behavioral Economics Guide 2025.

The Behavioral Science Group (BSG) is a specialist unit housed within the UAE’s Office of Development Affairs (ODA), mandated to use behavioral science to deliver positive social impact in the UAE and beyond.

Chiara shares BSG’s research on using AI-generated synthetic participants—virtual models informed by demographic data—to help researchers test ideas and anticipate attitudes and behaviors. They discuss how this approach could make policy testing, public opinion research, and experimental design more inclusive, efficient, and timely, while also addressing where human studies remain essential and the ethical questions teams should consider.

In this episode, Hugh Massie speaks with Professor Jörn Basel from the Lucerne School of Business, co-author of “One Nudge Is Not Enough” in the Behavioral Economics Guide 2025. Jörn explores why isolated nudges rarely change long-term behavior — especially in sustainable tourism — and how combining behavioral design with structural, motivational, and policy measures can create lasting impact.

Together, they discuss how to move travelers from intention to action, the role of boosts in building autonomy, and what behavioral science can teach us about designing more sustainable systems for the future. 

In this episode of Behavioral Economics Today, Hugh Massie sits down with Akinyi Odera and Ariam Hailemariam from ThinkPlace Africa to explore how behavioral science, human-centered design, and data innovation are transforming Ethiopia’s healthcare system.

Drawing from their groundbreaking work on the Integrated Ideation Model, they discuss the cognitive, social, and emotional barriers behind data quality challenges and how solutions like the DataStars recognition model and the EYTA digital chatbot are reshaping motivation, leadership behavior, and real-time data use.

Together, they unpack what it takes to build a true data-use culture, the role of intentional leadership, and how these insights can drive organizational transformation far beyond healthcare.

In this podcast episode, Hugh Massie and Deepak Patel discuss the intersection of behavioral economics and health, focusing on the Vitality program, which aims to improve health outcomes through innovative incentives and personalized approaches.

Deepak shares his journey in the health sector, the importance of behavioral change in health, and how the Vitality program leverages data and machine learning to enhance member engagement and health outcomes.

The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding human behavior in designing effective health interventions.

In this conversation, Juan De Rus discusses the evolution of understanding customer behavior through data insights. He highlights the limitations of traditional surveys and the need for incorporating unstructured information and behavioral insights to gain a deeper understanding of customer satisfaction and attitudes.

In this episode, Hugh Massie and Minh Hua discuss the intersection of behavioral economics and workplace practices, particularly focusing on pay and bonuses.

Minh shares his personal journey and insights into how understanding human behavior can lead to better decision-making in organizations.

They explore the implications of bonuses on motivation, the importance of data in decision-making, and how empowering managers can lead to more effective pay allocation.

The conversation emphasizes the need for self-awareness among employees and the role of behavioral economics in fostering a positive workplace culture.