Coping with heat waves: How to strengthen our bodies for summer
Dear readers, It is warm in Europe. Very warm. This is a golden opportunity for climate activists. But the left wing is also seizing the opportunity and calling for work to be suspended when temperatures reach 26 degrees Celsius. It is clear who they see as their main target group.
An adequate solution could also be to demand more air conditioning. Since high temperatures are linked to sunshine, air conditioning would not only be people-friendly, but also climate-friendly. Even now, Germany is far from being able to consume all its solar power on sunny summer days and has to dispose of huge amounts abroad at great loss.
I am a well-known fan of self-efficacy, and we can actually do something to significantly increase our heat resilience. I have therefore used last year's BrainCandy on the topic of adapting to higher temperatures as a reminder. The findings are still relevant. I have included an important new study at the end. Get ready for the hot days!
In this BrainCandy, I deal with the fascination and overload that Donald Trump triggers as a personality. As someone who studies human behavior professionally, I show why conventional characterizations fail with Trump and how his seemingly chaotic demeanor is actually part of a deliberate media strategy.
Trump specifically uses astonishment - one of my favorite strategies for effective brand communication - and uses it to tremendous effect in the media. Unfortunately, Trump's astonishment often has negative consequences for society.
His yardstick is not so much political traditions as the rules of reality TV: provocations and constant controversy keep him at the center of attention. At a time when the flood of information is becoming increasingly confusing, it is more important than ever to understand these mechanisms.
I hope you enjoy listening to this - perhaps you will be able to view Trump's particularly erratic actions with more composure in future.
Shownotes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/braincandies/
Have you ever wondered why we have more fears than ever before, even though we live in the safest time in human history?
In the latest edition of BrainCandy, I explore this fascinating paradox. Discover why avoiding risk can actually lead to more fear and how the “peanut saga” teaches us a surprising lesson about resilience.
Why is Generation Z particularly prone to the “risk avoidance trap”? With astonishing facts about why almost half of 16- to 29-year-olds are afraid of making phone calls and how young people's social behavior is fundamentally changing.
This BrainCandy not only offers insights into psychological mechanisms, but also practical suggestions on how we can expand our “realm of trust” by taking conscious small steps out of our comfort zone.
Curious? Listen to “The Risk of Risk Aversion” now – a motivational impulse for more self-efficacy and less anxiety in challenging times.
With inspiring regards
Shownotes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/braincandies/
Is alcohol really the new smoking? Should we put warning labels on wine bottles?
In my latest BrainCandy, I take a critical look at the current recommendations of the US Surgeon General on alcohol consumption. Professor Vinay Prasad, a renowned medical statistician and scientist, has analyzed underlying studies – with surprising results.
Find out:
- Why the evidence for “every drop is harmful” is scientifically shaky
- Why alcohol is definitely not “the new smoking”
As someone who enjoys a glass of wine themselves, I advocate a differentiated view of the topic – and briefly show how the effects of alcohol could finally be scientifically investigated.
Don't miss out on this fascinating analysis!
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-115_New-guidelines-for-alcohol-consumption.pdf
Fake news is everywhere – but is it really as dangerous asis often claimed? In this episode of BrainCandy, we take a scientific look at the topic, question common narratives and examine whether fake news is actually dividing our society or whether its effect is being overestimated.
Listen now!
Shownotes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-114_How_dangerous_is_fake_news_really.pdf
Just in time for the start of the new year, we are addressing a topic that concerns many of us: How can we sustainably improve our eating habits - without the frustration of dieting and giving things up?
The latest neuroscientific findings show us a surprisingly simple way: mindfulness as the key to change. In this newsletter, you will learn how our brain evaluates rewards and how we can use these evaluations to our advantage.
The method presented is five times more effective than previous standard therapies – and the best part: it works without the hassle of counting calories or strict prohibitions.
Who hasn't experienced it? Your brand should stand for great ideals, while your customers just want a good product. The attached article uses the example of Starbucks to show impressively how even successful companies can fall into the “moral trap”.
Mark Ritson, a former marketing professor, provides a razor-sharp analysis of why Starbucks' lofty brand mission misses the mark when it comes to customers. In his experience, coffee comes first, then morals.
The insights are relevant, especially in times when many companies are struggling with the balance between purpose and product promise.
14 minutes of listening time, which are guaranteed to be worthwhile.
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-110_Starbucks-needs-to-cut-the-crap-from-its-brand-positioning.pdf
The dream of a long, healthy life: For decades, scientists have been chasing a fascinating human dream: a longer life. In English, this concept is referred to as ‘lifespan’. But in recent years, an important realisation has emerged: What use is a longer life to us if we spend the additional years sick and in need of care?
From lifespan to healthspan: Instead, a new and exciting concept is now coming into focus: ‘healthspan’. This term describes the period of time in which we not only live longer, but above all healthier. It is about enjoying the extra years in good health and actively shaping them.
And a new book offers an exciting approach that is likely to be new to many people. This BrainCandy takes on the topic, because what is really our largest organ?
I hope you enjoy listening to this issue.
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-109_What-really-is-the-largest-organ-in-our-body.pdf
In today's politically heated times, many find it difficult to understand how someone can vote for the “other side”. Democrats and Republicans seem to live in completely different worlds.
In my latest BrainCandy "Mind-boggling Decisions: For many Americans, the idea that someone could vote for the other side's candidate is incomprehensible “ I get to the bottom of this phenomenon:
- Why do our political opponent's choices often seem completely incomprehensible to us?
- What psychological mechanisms are behind it when we dismiss the supporters of the other party as “crazy”?
- And what does all this have to do with the current election campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris?
In this article, you will find out what party affiliation and tribal thinking do to our political judgment - and why the question of whether an election decision is “insane” depends primarily on one's own perspective. And why elections in Germany also show that we use very similar mechanisms.
Have fun listening!
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-108_Cunning-decisions-in-the-American-election-campaign.pdf
Coping with heatwaves: How to strengthen our bodies for the summer
Rising temperatures present us with new challenges. But instead of just reacting passively, we can become active! In this article, you will learn how you can train your body to cope better with heat in just a few weeks.
Discover surprising findings from research and practical tips for heat acclimatisation. Learn how to increase your heat tolerance and thus not only cope with the summer, but also future heatwaves, more calmly. A must for anyone who wants to get fit for the hot days!
Forget horror movies, Jonathan Haidt's new book 'The Anxious Generation' is one of the scariest books I've ever read. We all know that our smartphones aren't really good for us, but Jonathan Haidt lays out the real damage in such detail that it makes you want to look away and scroll through Instagram instead.
He argues that smartphones are addictive, disrupt sleep, fragment attention and deprive people of interaction with the real world. As if that wasn't bad enough, he scares us by analyzing that the brains of teenagers who use smartphones with social media apps during the sensitive developmental phase of puberty are being altered as a result, and that this is leading to an epidemic of mental illness in young people. Who hasn't heard of recent studies reporting a significant increase in mental illness among young people? Haidt points out the real causes of these changes. There are solutions to the problem, but it won't be easy. More in this short BrainCandy Podcast.
Shownotes with links: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/braincandies/
The psychologist and Nobel Prize winner in economics Daniel Kahneman died recently. Kahneman had a huge impact on how we at K&A understand human behaviour. And thus on how we can clear up the big say-do gap between what people tell us they will do and how they actually behave. Kahneman's death reminded me once again of his last important book, Noise, and in this BrainCandy I share with you the most important insights I gained from the book.
Vor kurzem starb der Psychologe und Wirtschaftsnobelpreisträger Daniel Kahneman. Kahneman hat einen großen Einfluss darauf, wie wir bei K&A das menschliche Verhalten verstehen. Und damit darauf, wie wir das große Say-Do Gap zwischen dem, was Menschen uns sagen, wie sie sich verhalten werden und dem tatsächlichen Verhalten aufklären können. Kahnemans Tod hat mich noch einmal an sein letztes wichtiges Buch, Noise, erinnert und ich erzähle Euch in diesem BrainCandy die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse, die ich von dem Buch gewonnen habe.
Show notes: https://ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/BrainCandy-105_Daniel_Kahnemans_Noise.pdf
In a world characterised by constant more, "The Untapped Science of Less" offers a refreshing perspective on the potential of subtraction. Based on Leidy Klotz's fascinating work "Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less", this BrainCandy takes an entertaining dive into the neglect of subtraction as a tool for change - an area that is systematically overlooked in our society.
This article is not only a thought-provoking call to action for everyone in marketing, but also offers practical insights into how the principle of taking away can lead to innovative, efficient and ultimately effective marketing strategies. It could fundamentally change the way we think about problem-solving, product development and brand strategy.
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-104_The-unused-science-of-less.pdf
This year's Super Bowl recorded the highest number of viewers ever and featured over 70 adverts. Can we learn from the best adverts? On the Monday morning after the event, rankings were published by reputable sources, including the famous USA Today Ad Meter, the Kellogg School of Management's Super Bowl Advertising Review, as well as rankings from prestigious publications such as Forbes and the New York Times. Interestingly, these rankings showed little consistency, which may not be a particularly valuable insight for us marketers. But in my opinion, there are at least three spots that you should know about because they are particularly brain-friendly. This short BrainCandy introduces them. Have fun listening and hopefully watching!
I had to use a new voice talent, as my previous one is currently unavailable.
Please find the show notes with all the links here: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-103_Super-Bowl.pdf
I recently came across the essay "We will all become boring" by bestselling author Louise Perry. And it has stayed with me ever since. Perry deals with the increasing loneliness in the modern Western world. She finds causes in liberal individualism and prosperity, among other things. Her analysis is certainly gloomy - but she sees opportunities if we realize the impending consequences in good time and take active countermeasures.
For me, the essay is a perfect impulse for the new year and perhaps also a motivator for a good resolution. The year is still young. And it certainly won't be boring.
Show notes with all the links: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-102_We-are-all-going-to-get-bored.pdf
At Christmas, we long not only for wonder and miracles, but also for love. But the reality of love is complex and sometimes requires support. Social relationships have a significant impact on our well-being, health and even survival, with men benefiting even more than women.
Recently, the New York Times published a fascinating article on this topic. The author interviewed 14 psychologists and therapists for book recommendations on couples issues. I was particularly impressed by the nuanced approach the article took in looking at advice books for different couple contexts. I have compiled the recommendations in this short BrainCandy episode.
Please find the show notes with all links to all books here: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/braincandies/
In this 100th edition of BrainCandy, we delve into the fascinating world of 'awe' as explored by Dacher Keltner in his exciting book. Let's discover together how this powerful feeling influences our perception and well-being, and how we can experience more of it. Christmas is the ideal time to take a closer look at wonder. And perhaps also to find new motivation to look for more wow effects in marketing. Amazement works wonders.
Show notes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-100_Awe_by_Dacher_Keltner-the_transformative_power_of_wonder.pdf
You almost feel like a traitor to the good cause when you criticise the Purpose religious community of consultants, agencies and brands. How do I even come to this when consumers repeatedly emphasise in surveys how important the purpose of brands and companies is to them in their purchasing decisions? In the meantime, the wall of the convinced is showing clear cracks. Even when it comes to purpose, dreams don't really want to materialise. One reason for this is that naive survey results have nothing to do with behaviour. And that in some places there is an almost romanticised image of people's considered, socially oriented purchasing decision behaviour. Marketing seems to be too weak a force to make human behaviour truly sustainable. This BrainCandy shows what can be done better
Shownotes: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/braincandies/
Recent events have motivated me to write about the topic of "evil". It may not be a really relevant topic for brand, marketing or self-management, unless you are interested in the supposed evil nature of all marketing activities.
A few hours before the terrorist attack on Israel, psychologist Rob Henderson published a summary of Professor Roy Baumeister's book Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty. For me, this was a real aha moment, as I have believed some myths about evil myself.
In this BrainCandy, I summarise the most important points, resisting the temptation to go directly into the Hamas terrorist attack and its consequences. You will do that automatically in the right places as you listen.
Baumeister's book is about the psychological understanding of evil, not a philosophical or moral treatise on what evil is. The hardest part of this is to realise that you yourself would be capable of committing evil acts under certain circumstances.
I will refrain from wishing you a lot of fun while listening, but I hope you will have a few aha-experiences in return.
Shownotes with link to Hendersons post: https://en.ka-brandresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BrainCandy-98_Bad-people.pdf