Influence Anyone

The goldfish attention span myth has been repeated in TED Talks, boardrooms, and marketing decks for years, but it never actually existed. In this solo episode, Howie Chan traces the myth back to its source, then asks a better question: if attention span isn't shrinking, what actually decides where the brain looks?

Howie breaks down why psychologists rarely study attention the way we imagine it, and unpacks the deeper mechanism behind why some ideas get noticed while others disappear into the noise. He walks through the seven signals the brain has evolved to prioritize, from relevance and novelty to identity and consequence, and shows how each one shapes whether a presentation, a pitch, or a single sentence earns someone's focus.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Debunking the Goldfish Attention Span Myth
00:02:53 One of the Most Important Questions in Influence and Leadership
00:05:07 What Attention Actually Is
00:07:29 The Seven Signals the Brain Notices
00:18:35 Bringing the Seven Signals Together
00:19:42 The Responsibility That Comes With Attention

Check out Howie’s episode with Dr. Carmen Simon: B2B or B2C: The Only 10% That Matters in Marketing & Sales (June 23)

What’s Your Influence Style? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 900+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Goldie Chan filmed her first LinkedIn video in 2017 on an iPhone 5, with no editing, no title cards, and no plan. 800 consecutive videos later, she is one of the people who invented what LinkedIn videos even look like.

In this episode, Howie Chan sits down with Goldie, author of Personal Branding for Introverts, to unpack the real difference between reputation and personal brand, the evolutionary wiring that keeps talented experts invisible, why volume has nothing to do with visibility and Goldie’s framework for building a personal brand that can survive a total identity overhaul.

You'll learn the hard and soft keyword exercise Goldie uses to help clients find real clarity, why introversion has nothing to do with visibility, how to tell a gimmick from a genuine signature, and how to grow your influence inside a company without losing yourself in the process.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Goldie Chan and the Original LinkedIn Video
00:13:17 Creating a Genuine Personal Brand
00:19:19 Reputation vs Personal Brand
00:22:43 The Myths Surrounding Introverts
00:26:25 An Exercise to Build Your Personal Brand
00:34:40 Transparency vs Authenticity (and Guarding Your Privacy)
00:41:34 The Why of Building a Personal Brand
00:47:55 How to Pivot Your Personal Brand
00:52:35 Common Pitfalls When Building a Personal Brand
00:58:29 Start With One Platform, Then Build the Ecosystem
01:03:29 Navigating Employer vs Personal Brand Tension
01:09:34 Know Yourself Before You Brand Yourself

From Goldie Chan:

Website

LinkedIn

Personal Branding for Introverts

Mentioned in this video:

99% of people are using LinkedIn WRONG (5 things I’d do if I had to start today) (April 21)

What’s Your Influence Style Profile? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 800+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

The Invisible Expert Problem FREE Masterclass

How to become known WITHOUT chasing followers or pretending to be someone you’re not.

→ https://events.influencesystemmastery.com/register

July 30, Thursday, 11 am CST, 6 pm UK, 6 pm CET

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Most people think LinkedIn success comes down to knowing the algorithm. Howie Chan disagrees. After being named the number one creator worldwide for branding and positioning on LinkedIn in 2024, he's found that the people who consistently win on the platform aren't the ones with the best tactics, they're the ones who understand human psychology.

In this solo episode, Howie breaks down the five psychological beliefs shared by the most successful people on LinkedIn. Drawing on research from Princeton's Oppenheimer and frameworks from Clayton Christensen, he shows why opportunities are created in the mind long before they show up in your inbox.

You'll learn why simplicity increases perceived competence, why sameness makes you invisible, and why the real driver of opportunity is being remembered, not being the loudest.

Chapters:

00:01:26 LinkedIn Is More Than a Social Platform

00:04:25 Trait 1: Get Clear on What You Want

00:05:26 Trait 2: Clarity Over Cleverness

00:06:53 Trait 3: Different Beats Better

00:08:42 Trait 4: Opportunities Are Social

00:09:24 Trait 5: Own a Specific Problem

Check out Howie’s episode on  how you can be better than 99% of people who use LinkedIn: 99% of people are using LinkedIn WRONG (5 things I’d do if I had to start today) (April 21)

What’s Your Influence Style? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 800+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

—

Produced by Ideablossoms

Most people believe B2B buyers make rational, spreadsheet-driven decisions while consumers buy on impulse. Talia Wolf, founder of GetUplift and bestselling author of Emotional Targeting, says that's backwards.

In this episode, Howie Chan sits down with Talia to break down why B2B purchases often carry more emotional weight than B2C ones, and why self-image and social image quietly drive nearly every decision a person makes.

Talia shares the exact interview questions she uses to uncover emotions that customers can't articulate themselves and lays out her three-part emotional targeting framework — research, audit, and testing.

You'll learn how to identify the hidden emotional triggers behind your customers' decisions, why B2B may be more emotionally driven than B2C, and why data alone rarely wins deals.

Chapters:

00:01:40 Self-Image vs Social-Image

00:07:51 The B2B Emotion Myth

00:11:39 What Emotional Marketing Actually Means

00:14:40 The Value of Social Listening

00:22:46 Questions That Reveal Your Customer’s Hidden Emotions

00:30:21 Copying Competitors Won't Save You

00:34:45 The 3-Part Emotional Targeting Framework

00:46:33 Emotional Targeting in Everyday Life

00:51:12 Using Emotional Pull to Build Communities

00:54:52 Where Conversion Optimization Is Headed

00:58:03 The Problem With Outsourcing Your Brain to AI

From Talia Wolf:

Website (https://taliawolf.com/)

GetUpLift (https://getuplift.co/)

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliagw)

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TaliaWolf)

Book (https://taliawolf.com/book)

Mentioned in this episode:

Conversation with Matt Sucha (episode 74): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udgvfulyjb4

What’s Your Influence Style Profile? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 800+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

—

Produced by Ideablossoms (https://ideablossoms.com/)

Why can the exact same message change one person's mind instantly, while it does nothing for someone else? In this solo episode, Howie Chan explores the real reason persuasion fails so often, because most people communicate the way they want to be heard, not the way the other person actually processes information.

He introduces the five influence styles that shape human behavior, drawn from years of studying behavioral science and working with leaders, founders, and salespeople. He reveals what each style is built on, where it breaks down under pressure, and why stress doesn't create your style; it reveals it.

You'll learn how Commanders, Scientists, Storytellers, Connectors, and Sages move people to act, where their biggest blind spots hide, and the one shift that makes influencing anyone dramatically easier.

Chapters:

00:00:00 People Are Influenced Differently

00:02:48 The Commander Influence Style

00:03:59 The Scientist Influence Style

00:05:36 The Storyteller Influence Style

00:07:14 The Connector Influence Style

00:09:31 The Sage Influence Style

00:12:43 Pressure Reveals Your True Style

Check out Howie’s episode with Dr. Robert Cialdini: Godfather of Influence: The Persuasion Principle that Resulted in a $700K Gift & The “Bible of Online Marketing” (Episode 50)

What’s Your Influence Style? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover what is your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 700+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

—

Produced by Ideablossoms

Your audience forgets 90% of what you say within 48 hours. Neuroscientist Dr. Carmen Simon says that's not the problem. The problem is that most people have no control over which 10% survives.

Howie Chan sits down with Carmen to break down the neuroscience of memory. Carmen reveals how memory actually forms in the brain, why the brain is not getting lazier, and how the most persuasive communicators build messages that survive long after the conversation ends.

You'll learn how to clarify and repeat your 10% message, how to prime your audience before your key idea lands, how to trigger memory retrieval through environmental cues, and why complexity, not simplicity, keeps audiences engaged longer.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Why 90% of Your Message Disappears After 48 Hours

00:07:36 How Memory Forms, Consolidates, and Gets Retrieved

00:09:49 The Priming Effect: Getting Brains Ready to Remember

00:20:36 Cognitive Ease: Understanding Supporting Points

00:23:08 Encoding, Consolidation, and Retrieval of Memories

00:29:11 How to Capture Attention

00:37:09 Faces in Ads Don't Always Help You

00:46:08 Carmen's Journey to a Double PhD

00:48:59 Having Chemistry with Your Message

00:56:59 How Memory Influences Decisions

01:00:46 Pivoting Your Brand Without Losing Your Audience

01:05:50 Complexity Keeps Audiences Engaged

From Dr. Carmen Simon:

Website

LinkedIn

Books

Mentioned in this episode:

Apple Intelligence Advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6RX9kJ01Kw

Story Selling versus Data Selling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udgvfulyjb4

Nail Your Niche Masterclass

→ https://www.howiechan.com/niche

Nail Your Niche Without Overthinking and Become the ONLY Choice

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Most people think being poor is just a money problem. It’s not. Being poor can mean less impact, less freedom, less fulfillment, and ideas that never reach the world. In this solo episode, Howie Chan breaks down the seven science-backed reasons people stay stuck, and adds a critical bonus eighth that most people never see coming.

Drawing from neuroscience, behavioral economics, and psychology, Howie explains why logic loses to emotion, why stories outperform facts, and why being talented but invisible is one of the most economically dangerous positions you can be in.

You'll learn how emotion drives every decision, why the availability heuristic determines who gets opportunities, how present bias quietly compounds into mediocrity, and what it actually takes to break through the invisible ceiling your own identity creates.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Logic Versus Emotion

00:02:36 Facts Versus Stories

00:03:50 Choosing Short-Term Comfort Over Long-Term Gains

00:05:26 The Fear of Judgement

00:07:21 People Can’t Choose What They Can’t Remember

00:08:38 Your Current Reality Is Not a Fixed Truth

00:10:00 More Information Does Not Mean More Value

00:11:18 Bonus: The Value of Understanding Human Behavior

Check out Howie’s episode about LinkedIn: 99% of people are using LinkedIn WRONG (5 things I’d do if I had to start today) (Episode 76)

What’s Your Influence Style? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover what is your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots.)

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 700+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

Behavioral scientist, fundraising strategist, and author of Neurogiving, Cherian Koshy, joins Howie Chan in this episode where they dive deep into how to influence people to give—and what behavioral science teaches us about generosity, identity, and contribution.

Drawing from behavioral science, neuroscience, and decades of fundraising experience, Cherian reveals that generosity is hardwired into human behavior and may be the fastest path to trust, loyalty, and lasting behavior change.

Together, they explore why people give, how identity shapes decision-making, and why organizations often fail when they try to convince people to give. You'll learn how nonprofits, businesses, leaders, and entrepreneurs can stop pushing and start creating environments where people naturally want to contribute.

Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, raising funds, or simply trying to influence more effectively, this conversation offers a powerful reframe: influence begins when people feel seen in their highest and best form.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00:00 From State Debate Champion to Influence Expert

00:08:24 Humans Are Hardwired for Generosity

00:14:50 The Biggest Fundraising Mistake Organizations Make

00:23:11 How Generosity Builds Better Businesses and Teams

00:29:38 Decision Architecture and the Emotions Surrounding Decision Making

00:34:18 Consumer Giving vs. Corporate Giving

00:42:18 The Neuroscience Behind the Joy of Giving

00:44:45 Donor Retention and Why Most Organizations Get It Wrong

00:55:00 Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Language and Ethical Influence

01:00:46 Be Generous First

Experts Shouldn’t Have to Be Invisible

If you’re an accomplished professional, executive, or expert who knows you have more to say, more to contribute, and wants to become known for your ideas in the AI era…

I’m putting together a small executive intensive around influence, positioning, visibility, and authority.

You can join the waitlist at: howiechan.com/waitlist

What’s Your Influence Style? What do you do when you need someone to do something?

This quiz will help you discover what is your most natural influence style, so you can use that strength more effectively (and know your blind spots).

→ https://www.influencestylequiz.com/

Join 700+ leaders who've already uncovered what their style is.

Episode Resources:

Check out the conversations mentioned in this episode at https://www.howiechan.com/podcast:

• TEDx Former Executive Producer Reveals: Most Ideas Fall Flat, Make Yours Irresistible with The Red Thread Framework with Tamsen Webster (episode 67) (https://www.howiechan.com/podcast/tamsenwebster)
• 400+ Behavioral Science Theories Decoded: an ABC Guide to Supercharge Your Marketing with Tom Bowden-Green and Luan Wise (episode 66) (https://www.howiechan.com/podcast/tomandluan)
• Godfather of Influence: The Persuasion Principle that Resulted in a $700,000 Gift & The "Bible of Online Marketing" with Robert Cialdini (episode 50) (https://www.howiechan.com/podcast/robertcialdini)

From Our Guest:

Website (https://www.cheriankoshy.com/)

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheriankoshy/)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cheriangkoshy/)

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cheriankoshy)

Neurogiving by Cherian Koshy (https://neurogivingbook.com/)

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Produced by Ideablossoms (https://ideablossoms.com/)

Howie Chan interviews buyer psychology expert and “customer whisperer” Katelyn Bourgoin to unpack the hidden forces behind attention, influence, and why some people become impossible to ignore while others stay invisible.

In this episode, Katelyn shares the painful story of shutting down her venture-backed startup, the lessons she learned from studying behavioral economics, and how understanding buyer psychology completely changed the trajectory of her career. They dive deep into the psychology of attention, why “jobs to be done” changed modern marketing, how envy secretly drives human behavior, and the difference between getting attention and earning true influence.

You’ll also learn practical strategies for becoming “unignorable” in today’s AI-driven world, including how to build authority, borrow trust, create memorable positioning, and use storytelling ethically to influence people.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creator, marketer, or leader trying to stand out in a noisy world, this conversation will change how you think about persuasion, branding, and human behavior.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00:00 Why Katelyn Bourgoin Shut Down Her Startup

00:05:19 Rebuilding from Zero

00:12:09 The Customer Insight Mistake Founders Keep Making

00:16:38 How a Newsletter Accidentally Became a Business

00:21:45 “Jobs To Be Done” Explained Simply

00:27:11 The “Pratfall Effect” & Why Flaws Build Trust

00:29:19 How to Become Unignorable in the Age of AI

00:36:25 How to Borrow Trust and Authority Strategically

00:39:25 Sharing Your Wins Builds Influence

00:41:22 Envy, Mimetic Desire & Hidden Motivations

00:47:15 The Science of Attention and Persuasion

00:52:11 Fascination, Contrarian Ideas & Standing Out

01:02:33 Wallet Opening Words

01:06:31 Delivering on Your Promises to Build Influence

Want to make influencing human behavior your company's superpower? Connect with me at howiechan.com/speaking and let's talk!

The Behavioring Blueprint:

A FREE, 7-day email course breaking down all the levers to influence human behavior to get people from a current behavior to a desired behavior.

→ http://howiechan.com/behavioring

From Our Guest:

Website (https://learnwhywebuy.com/)

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebour/)

Newsletter (https://learnwhywebuy.com/)

Read Katelyn’s blog about killing her startup (https://medium.com/@katelynbourgoin/i-killed-my-startup-and-then-some-crazy-shit-happened-6dfefa184652)

Participate in Katelyn's Pre-selling with Pre-suasion email challenge (https://customercamp.co/pwp/)

Get the book, Wallet-Opening Words (https://www.walletopeningwords.com/)

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Produced by Ideablossoms (https://ideablossoms.com/)

In this solo episode, Howie Chan breaks down one of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to influence others: leading with data instead of emotion. He reveals why facts alone rarely change minds and how stories psychologically prime people to care, remember, and take action.

Drawing from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and persuasion research, Howie explains how emotion drives decision-making before logic ever enters the picture. He unpacks the hidden roles stories and data play in the brain and introduces a simple four-part framework to ethically influence decisions more effectively.

You’ll learn why storytelling in marketing and communication works so powerfully, how dopamine and emotional memory shape attention, and why data is most persuasive only after emotional engagement has been established.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Why Stories Outperform Statistics

00:02:14 What Storytelling Does to the Brain

00:04:39 The 4-Part Framework for Influence

00:06:41 The Psychology Behind Emotional Anchoring

Check out my conversation with Matt Sucha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evkin9z6Z4w

Turn Your Expertise Into Income (Without Becoming a Creator)

Influence System Mastery is a 6-week cohort program with a private community designed to help you attract the right clients and opportunities 24/7—using brand and influence science.

→ https://www.influencesystemmastery.com

Next Summer cohort runs June 5 - July 10, 2026