Brainfluence

Ron Johnson built the Apple Store from a blank sheet of paper, turning a company that couldn't get shelf space at Best Buy into the most profitable retailer on earth. Before that he helped make Target "Tar-zhay," and after it he had one of the most publicly dissected tenures in retail history as CEO of JCPenney. In this episode of Brainfluence, Roger Dooley talks with Ron about his new book, Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius (co-written with Zander Nethercutt), and the lessons behind each chapter of that career.

Ron explains why good design costs no more than bad design, what architect Michael Graves taught him about creating instead of copying, and how half an hour with the Ritz-Carlton's head of HR changed the entire vision of the Apple Store, including the bar that "dispensed advice instead of alcohol." He also makes the case that stores still work in an online world, weighs the future of department stores, and gives his candid account of JCPenney's everyday-pricing experiment: a strategy he still defends, executed at a speed he now regrets.

Show notes page with audio, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/ron-johnson-shop-different/

Amazon - Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius: https://link.amazon/B0iLSKZTu LinkedIn - Ron Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-johnson-589233b9/

Connect with Roger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/ https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff: Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

In this solo Brainfluence episode, Roger Dooley argues that the strangest-looking experiments in behavioral science are usually the most useful ones. He opens in 1969, when psychologist Robert Zajonc put 72 cockroaches through mazes in front of an audience of other cockroaches. That setup wasn't a joke. It was a precise piece of engineering: strip out self-consciousness, and you can finally see whether an audience by itself changes performance.

The organizing idea comes from Dan Ariely, who describes a good experiment as a painting rather than a photograph. You don't reproduce every detail of the real-world problem. You capture its essence and build a tiny world containing that and almost nothing else. Roger walks through four studies built exactly that way: a swaying suspension bridge two hundred thirty feet above a canyon, a beer menu at a Chapel Hill brewery, a pile of Lego Bionicles, and an energy drink sold at two different prices.

Each one carries a direct lesson for marketers and managers, from why people can't tell you why they bought something to why discounting can make a product objectively worse. The episode closes with four rules that separate experiments which transfer from experiments that produce a one-time winner, and a twist: fifty years on, someone re-ran the cockroach study, and only half of it survived.

Show Notes page with audio, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/weird-behavioral-science/

Dan Ariely on how he designs experiments: https://danariely.substack.com/p/on-experiments

Neuromarketing - the beer study: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/behavioral-science-beer.htm

Video - why the same wine tastes better at a higher price: https://youtu.be/uN1gIsuEUfI

Connect with Roger:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/

https://www.threads.net/@rogerdooley

https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley

https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff:

Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com

Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

In this solo episode of Brainfluence, host Roger Dooley shares ideas from his new book, The Persuasion Engine (Wiley). The big shift he wants every marketer, business owner, and leader to notice isn't the customer—people still decide partly consciously, partly unconsciously, and mostly emotionally, just as they always have.

What's changed are three things happening at once: the tools for understanding customers have gotten dramatically cheaper, decades of behavioral science now live inside AI models you can talk to, and AI has turned out to be surprisingly good at predicting how humans will react to a message—even though it can't feel anything itself. Roger calls this combination Neuromarketing 2.0. Along the way he explains why the real bottleneck was never the psychology but access to it, how to "critique before you create," why AI can flag the empathy gap in tone-deaf corporate messages, and how reducing resistance often beats pushing harder. He closes with a simple three-question audit you can run on any message that matters—no book required.

Show Notes page with audio, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/persuasion-engine-podcast

Amazon - The Persuasion Engine: https://amzn.to/3MfaL2b

Connect with Roger:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/

https://www.threads.net/@rogerdooley

https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley

https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff:

Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com

Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

In this Brainfluence episode, host Roger Dooley sits down with behavioral scientist Eva van der Broek and advertising creative Tim den Heijer, co-authors of the intriguing new book, The Housefly Effect: The Nudge Psychology That Steers Our Everyday Behavior. Together, they dive into the quirky yet profound ways that tiny changes—think a simple housefly sticker in a urinal—can dramatically shift our decisions and habits.

Join us as Eva and Tim unpack the stories and science behind these small interventions, from the power of naming an "effect," to surprising marketing strategies, the influence of groupthink, and real-world examples like the "Cobra Effect." Along the way, you'll learn why imperfections can make products more appealing, how unintended consequences play out in public policy, and why sometimes being nudged in the right direction matters more than knowing exactly why you changed your behavior. Whether you're a marketer, policy maker, or just curious about how our minds work, this episode is packed with playful insights and practical advice on harnessing the subtle art of nudging.

Show Notes page with audio, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/the-housefly-effect/

Amazon - The Housefly Effect: https://amzn.to/3Ky34E4

LinkedIn - Eva van der Broek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evdbroek/

LinkedIn - Tim den Heijer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdenheijer/

Connect with Roger:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/

https://www.threads.net/@rogerdooley

https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley

https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff:

Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com

Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

In this episode of Brainfluence, Roger Dooley is joined by Thomas Ramsoy, CEO and founder of Neurons, to discuss the evolving fields of neuromarketing and consumer neuroscience. Thomas Ramsoy shares insights from his book, "How to Make People Buy," which delves into the science behind what drives consumer behavior—emphasizing that genuine engagement, interest, and desire are far more effective than manipulation or trickery. He highlights how the understanding of unconscious decision-making, micro-decisions, and behavioral design is transforming the way marketers approach their craft.

The conversation also covers the practical implications of neuroscience and AI in marketing, including the importance of capturing attention within the first second of a digital ad and avoiding common design pitfalls such as the "corner of death." Thomas Ramsoy explains how AI is making neuromarketing tools and insights more accessible to businesses of all sizes, enabling more precise prediction and optimization of campaigns. By integrating neuroscience methods and advanced machine learning models, companies can diagnose and improve their customer engagement strategies while keeping ethical considerations at the forefront.

Show notes, audio, transcript, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/thomas-ramsoy-buy/

BOOK: How to Make People Buy (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/4i2EGGE

Connect with Thomas:

Website - https://www.neuronsinc.com/

Website: https:/thomasramsoy.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzramsoy/

Connect with Roger:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/

https://twitter.com/rogerdooley

https://www.threads.net/@rogerdooley

https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff:

Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com

Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

In this episode of Brainfluence, host Roger Dooley welcomes back Matt Dixon, founding partner of DCM Insights and co-author of the bestselling "The Challenger Sale." Dixon shares insights from his latest book, The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently, which is rooted in groundbreaking research on how top professionals win and grow client relationships in the increasingly competitive world of professional services. Dixon unpacks the five distinct profiles that partners in fields like law, accounting, and consulting tend to fall into, with a particular focus on the "Activator"—a proactive, well-networked rainmaker who brings new ideas to clients and promotes deep collaboration within firms.

Dixon explains that while only about 15–20% of partners naturally exhibit strong activator traits, everyone can learn to adopt key behaviors that set activators apart: maintaining a regular business development cadence, building broad and deep networks, and proactively creating value for clients. He reveals that the biggest client complaint isn't over-contact; instead, it's wishing they heard more from their trusted advisors with fresh insights and opportunities. The conversation offers practical takeaways for both leaders and individuals in professional services who want to move beyond waiting for the phone to ring and instead, become indispensable partners in their clients' success.

The Activator Advantage on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3FjUSED

Connect with Matt: Website - https://www.dcminsights.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewxdixon/

Show notes, audio, text, links - https://www.rogerdooley.com/activator-advantage-matt-dixon/

Connect with Roger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/ https://twitter.com/rogerdooley https://www.threads.net/@rogerdooley https://www.facebook.com/roger.dooley https://www.instagram.com/rogerdooley/

Roger's Stuff: Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com Neuromarketing: https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/

About Matt Dixon: Matt Dixon is an acclaimed business researcher and author best known for co-writing "The Challenger Sale," published in 2011. After the book's release, he spent years traveling internationally to share its groundbreaking B2B sales insights with teams across the globe. Early in his journey—around 2012 or 2013—Dixon was invited to present his research to one of the world's top strategy consulting firms, marking the start of his influential role in shaping sales practices for leading professional organizations.

Brainfluence host Roger Dooley sits down with marketing thought leader and bestselling author Mark Schaefer, who returns to the show with insights from his latest book, Audacious. Mark shares his unique approach to writing—how each of his books is inspired by real problems facing marketers—and discusses the existential challenges and opportunities posed by AI-driven marketing. Discover how both brands and individuals can stand out in an age of overwhelming content, why out-humaning AI is the key to survival, and what it means to be "audacious" in a world often dominated by the dull and predictable. From tangible examples, like the unforgettable fiberglass pig in a barbecue joint and Liquid Death's disruptive branding, to innovative uses of AI and QR codes, Mark offers practical strategies for earning attention, regardless of budget. He also tackles the importance of organizational culture, the role of fear in stifling creativity, and the critical connection between personal branding and professional audacity. Whether you're a marketer, entrepreneur, or just hungry for the latest thinking on breaking through the noise, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable advice you won't want to miss.

Audacious on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4k55iqp

Connect with Mark: Website - https://businessesgrow.com/ X - https://x.com/markwschaefer LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwschaefer

Show notes, audio, text, links - https://www.rogerdooley.com/audacious-mark-schaefer/

Connect with Roger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooley/

Website: https://www.rogerdooley.com

Mark W. Schaefer is a globally recognized keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and bestselling author of ten books. With over 30 years of experience in global sales, PR, and marketing, he serves as the Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions and holds faculty positions at Rutgers University and the University of Tennessee. Known for insightful and practical books like Audacious, which addresses navigating the AI world, and KNOWN, considered the world's number one book on personal branding, his work is used as textbooks at over 70 universities and translated into 15 languages. Schaefer's blog {grow} is hailed as one of the top marketing blogs in the world, and he is the founder and co-host of The Marketing Companion, one of the top 10 marketing podcasts. He consults for diverse clients from successful start-ups to global brands. His work often focuses on helping marketers rise above the noise by emphasizing humanity and finding ways to stand out in the digital age and amidst the rise of AI.

This episode features Peter Hartzbech of iMotions, who discusses the company's biosensor software platform for studying human behavior. Key points:

• iMotions provides a software platform that uses biosensors like eye tracking, galvanic skin response, EEG, voice analysis, and facial expression analysis to study human behavior in both academic and commercial research.
• The company serves diverse sectors including academia, consumer insights, and human factors, offering tools for understanding human-to-human and human-to-machine interactions.
• Imotions helps brands with early-stage R&D, packaging design, and shopper insights using techniques that go beyond traditional surveys to measure emotional responses.
• By integrating Affectiva's technology, iMotions can now offer scalable solutions for market research, including facial expression analysis, head pose, and attention metrics.
• Imotions is working towards a SaaS model where clients can easily conduct online studies with features like webcam-based eye tracking and respiration measurement.
• The company focuses on providing high-quality raw data and proven methodologies, allowing clients to integrate various behavioral science concepts into their research.
• iMotions has a strong global foothold in academia, working with more than 70 of the world's top 100 universities.

Show notes, text and video: https://www.rogerdooley.com/imotions-affectiva-hartzbech/

Peter Hartzbech is the Founder & CEO of iMotions, a company based in Copenhagen that specializes in biosensor software designed for the analysis of complex human behaviors. Driven by a desire to use technology to improve the world, Hartzbech established iMotions at the age of 25. The iMotions platform is used by over 1,300 organizations to study human behavior and cognition, diagnose neurological diseases, improve customer experiences and learning environments, and enhance overall human well-being. In October 2021, iMotions joined Smart Eye, a leader in Human Insight AI. Hartzbech is also a Business Angel Investor in start-ups and a founding member of the ByFounders Fund.

In the latest episode of the Brainfluence podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, then Vice Chairman of External Affairs at Royal Caribbean Group and former CEO of Celebrity Cruises. Since then, Lutoff-Perlo became Chairwoman of the Board of the Hornblower Group and serves on the Board of Directors for AutoNation, AHC Group, and Amerant Bank. Lisa's journey from a low-level salesperson to a top executive is inspiring. Her latest book is Making Waves: A Woman's Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage.

We covered a wide range of topics including the resurgence of the cruise industry post-pandemic, the innovative use of technology onboard, and her unique leadership philosophy.

Key Takeaways:

• Technology-Driven Customer Experience: Lisa highlighted how the cruise industry is leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences, making everything from booking to onboard interactions more seamless and efficient. Celebrity Cruises, for instance, introduced stateroom automation—allowing guests to control their environment with just a touch of a button.
• Inclusive Pricing Strategies: We discussed the evolution of cruise pricing, moving towards comprehensive packages that reduce the "pain of paying." Lisa emphasized that offering choices—whether all-inclusive packages or à la carte options—caters to the diverse needs of customers, providing a more tailored and satisfying experience.
• Leadership and Trust: Lisa shared valuable insights into building trust and credibility within an organization. From admitting her own limitations and asking for help, to fostering a team-oriented culture, her leadership approach is all about honest communication and mutual respect.

Show notes, video, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/lisa-lutoff-perlo/

Join world-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith as he explores his groundbreaking AI venture - MarshallBot. After decades of coaching Fortune 500 CEOs and writing 40 bestselling books, Goldsmith is now democratizing his leadership wisdom through an AI that thinks and responds just like him. In this fascinating conversation, he shares insights about training his AI, discusses the challenges top executives face with "winning too much," and explains why he's giving away his lifetime of knowledge for free. Whether you're a leader, coach, or just curious about the future of AI-powered mentorship, this episode offers a unique glimpse into how artificial intelligence is transforming executive development.

Marshall Goldsmith's Free MarshallBot: https://marshallgoldsmith.ai/

Show notes, audio, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/marshall-goldsmiths-ai-marshallbot/