Explore how game mechanics can motivate customers and employees alike. Learn the principles behind gamification and how to apply them to boost engagement, loyalty, and business growth.

Keywords: gamification marketing, entrepreneurship behavioral economics, customer engagement strategies, business growth tactics, motivation psychology

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

In this teaser episode of Season 10 of the Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast, we take a look back at Season 7, where we focused on entrepreneurship and how behavioral economics can drive smarter, faster business growth.

We spotlight the fan-favorite episode: Level Up Your Business: How Entrepreneurs Can Harness the Power of Gamification. It’s packed with insights on how game mechanics like rewards, points, and progress tracking can supercharge customer engagement, motivate employees, and make your business more fun and effective.

Then, we preview a brand-new companion episode: Building Loyalty Programs with Gamification: From Points to Progress Bars — a deeper dive into turning traditional loyalty systems into engaging, behaviorally driven experiences. You’ll discover how progress bars, badges, and surprise rewards tap into powerful psychological triggers that increase retention and brand love.

Whether you're a founder, marketer, or growth strategist, this pairing is your blueprint for turning behavior into brand loyalty.

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Why do consumers trust influencers more than traditional ads? It’s not just about popularity — it’s about psychology.

In this episode of Behavioral Economics in Marketing, we unpack the behavioral science that makes influencer marketing so effective. From social proof and authority bias to narrative transportation and parasocial relationships, we explore how influencers build trust, shape buying decisions, and convert followers into customers. You’ll learn the cognitive triggers that drive this multi-billion-dollar industry — and how to use them to elevate your own brand.

We also break down the influencer landscape, from mega to nano, and offer tactical advice for identifying, approaching, and collaborating with the right creators for your campaign. Whether you’re looking to drive awareness or deepen loyalty, understanding the why behind influencer impact is your unfair advantage.

Key themes: influencer tiers, trust signals, behavioral triggers, content strategy, social proof, endorsements, campaign design, community-building.

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

See how the power of social influence shapes buying decisions. This episode explains different forms of social proof and how to effectively incorporate them to build trust and drive customer action.

Keywords: social proof marketing, increase conversion rates, behavioral economics influence, consumer trust strategies, social influence psychology

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

In this teaser episode for Season 10 of the Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast, we revisit one of the most energetic and content-rich seasons yet — Season 6: the 30-Day Challenge. With over 30 actionable episodes, this season was a crash course in applying behavioral science to real-world marketing.

This time, we’re highlighting Leveraging Social Proof to Increase Conversion Rates — an episode that explores how seeing others’ actions can significantly impact trust, confidence, and buying behavior. We discuss types of social proof, why it works, and how smart marketers use it to guide customer decisions.

Then we tee up an all-new companion episode: The Power of Influencers: Behavioral Economics Behind Influencer Marketing. We’ll explore how influencers — from macro to micro — serve as dynamic social proof, backed by behavioral science. You’ll learn how to choose the right influencer partners, why their messages stick, and how to amplify trust and engagement with authentic storytelling.

Whether you're launching a campaign or growing your brand’s credibility, this two-episode pairing will help you better understand the psychology of trust and influence in modern marketing.

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Why do consumers pay six figures for a handbag they’ll rarely use — or line up overnight for a hoodie they might never wear? The answer lies in status, scarcity, and the zero-sum game of exclusivity.

In this episode of Behavioral Economics in Marketing, we explore how zero-sum branding drives desire by making status a competition. Using real-world examples from Hermès to Supreme, we unpack how luxury brands use scarcity, gatekeeping, and social comparison to increase their perceived value — not by what they offer, but by what they withhold. We’ll explore the psychology behind why exclusion works, the power of signaling theory and social proof, and how marketers can ethically apply these principles to craft irresistible brand experiences.

If you’re building a brand that trades in aspiration, identity, or prestige — this episode is your blueprint.

Keywords: luxury branding, zero-sum marketing, scarcity marketing, social status, exclusivity, behavioral economics, Hermès, Supreme, signaling theory, social comparison, artificial scarcity, brand strategy

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Delve into the strategic interplay where one party’s gain equals another’s loss. This episode explores risk, insurance decisions, and how zero-sum dynamics influence consumer behavior and market strategies.

Keywords: zero sum games, insurance behavioral economics, risk management psychology, decision-making under uncertainty, game theory marketing

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

This special teaser episode of Behavioral Economics in Marketing revisits the powerful and deeply personal Season 5: Lessons from the Fire — a series born from the devastating Colorado wildfire that changed my life and inspired new ways to see decision-making, risk, and resilience through the lens of behavioral economics.

We highlight two of the most compelling episodes from that season:

• Zero Sum Games and Insurance — where we unpack why insurance, while rooted in zero-sum logic, plays such a vital role in managing risk and restoring peace of mind.

• Social Status and Zero-Sum Branding: Why Luxury Thrives on Exclusion — a fresh companion episode exploring how brands like Hermès and Supreme tap into scarcity and status to drive aspirational behavior and exclusivity.

This teaser sets up a deep dive into how zero-sum thinking influences both consumer behavior and marketing strategy — whether it’s about protecting your future or elevating your image.

🎧 Tune in for an emotional and analytical look at how we assign value, manage risk, and compete for status — and how marketers can ethically and effectively tap into these core drivers of human behavior.

Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix.

Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master’s degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.