In the final episode of our Talking Shop reboot, originally recorded for the ABC in 2015, Dr Paul Harrison and Kirsten Drysdale explore how fear is used to shape our buying decisions. From invented problems to horror-themed ad campaigns, we unpack the psychology behind why feeling anxious makes us more likely to reach for a product. Now part of It’s Not Real, this episode asks: are we buying things to solve real problems, or just to ease our worries? And how much control do we really have when marketers are so good at pressing our emotional buttons?

In this fifth episode of our special six-part reboot of Talking Shop, the 2015 ABC podcast I co-hosted with Kirsten Drysdale, we explore the subtle, often invisible ways our environment shapes what we buy, without us even realising it. From lighting and music to the colour of a salesperson’s shirt and the firmness of the chair you’re sitting on, retail spaces are designed to influence your decisions at a deeply psychological level. As part of It’s Not Real, this episode dives straight into the science of sensory marketing and automatic behaviour, showing just how little conscious control we actually have in the shopping aisle. Whether it’s classical music nudging you toward a more expensive wine or a whispery voice convincing you to switch internet providers, we explore what happens when marketers get under your skin... and into your wallet.

In this fourth episode of our special six-part reboot of Talking Shop, the 2015 ABC podcast I co-hosted with Kirsten Drysdale, we explore the irresistible pull of luxury goods. From Belgian chocolate and French champagne to understated but wildly expensive trench coats, we ask: what makes these items feel so desirable, and why do some of us proudly show them off? Originally part of a series that unpacked the evidence behind why we buy what we buy, this episode looks at the psychology of status symbols, ‘peacocking,’ and whether a well-crafted fake can satisfy just as much as the real thing. This is also a repeat of Episode 12.