Episode 96 CBL Rewind: Phil Agnew, host of Nudge, on social proof, curiosity gaps, and ethical influence

We’re revisiting our chat with Phil Agnew, creator of the Nudge podcast, to explore how behavioral science shows up in everyday marketing. From pricing to persuasion, Phil shares examples and tactics that continue to resonate.

Episode Highlights

06:38 – 08:30

Social proof works best when it is visible, not claimed. Showing how many people bought or viewed a product can lift sales dramatically, often outperforming testimonials or written reviews.

14:05 – 16:10

Steve Jobs repeatedly showed the effort behind Apple products. By highlighting years of work and thousands of iterations, he increased perceived quality and made audiences value the product more.

26:05 – 29:30

Curiosity gaps drive attention. Leaving key details unanswered in headlines or intros makes people stay engaged, boosting views, recall, and follow through across podcasts, video, and social platforms.

Resources & Useful Links

Want to dig deeper on the idea of social proof and the intention of actions gap? Here are some
additional resources that show how to make your brand more popular with consumers and the
importance of combining motivation with triggers to convert intention into action.