5 Ways They Get You – with Chris Kohler

22 snips

Dec 17, 2025

Chris Kohler, a finance journalist and author of 'They Get You,' dives into the psychological tricks of consumerism. He reveals how modern businesses subtly separate you from your money, leveraging invisible costs of convenience and loyalty programs. Kohler sheds light on the dangerous normalization of gambling and the sneaky tactics found in subscription services. With humor and insight, he encourages listeners to be more mindful and take control of their finances—making economics accessible and engaging for everyone.

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INSIGHT

Make Finance Relatable To Engage People

Finance feels impenetrable to many social media users scrolling casually.
Making finance funny or human helps people feel smarter than the experts and engage more.

ANECDOTE

Delivery Apps Inflate Restaurant Costs

Chris enjoyed researching food delivery because it ties together market dominance, pricing and convenience.
He found delivery can add ~45% to restaurant prices and drains customer and restaurant value.

INSIGHT

Sports Betting Uses Passion And Math To Win

Sports betting leverages national passion for sport and targeted marketing to normalise gambling.
Multi-leg bets and bonus bets are high-margin tools engineered to keep customers engaged.

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In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with finance journalist and author Chris Kohler to discuss the systems designed to separate Australians from their money – and what you can do to protect yourself. They cover – The psychological tricks behind modern consumerism – Chris’s viral interest rate videos and their surprising impact – How businesses subtly extract more from your wallet – The hidden cost of convenience – Why loyalty isn’t always rewarding This conversation is full of insights for anyone looking to take back control of their spending and think critically about modern money systems. If you like this Australian Finance Podcast episode, don’t forget to subscribe for weekly shows on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Topics Covered – Chris Kohler’s media and finance journey – Going viral: How humour made economics click – Behind the scenes of his creative process – What inspired his new book: “They Get You” – Psychological levers used by marketers – Loyalty programs: Who benefits most? – The dangerous normalisation of gambling – How data is used to drive spending – Subscription creep & the illusion of value – What you can do to fight back – Why it’s never too late to become financially aware – Chris’s advice to his younger self – How the “little guy” can regain control Resources for this episode: - Find Chris on Instagram - Find Chris on TikTok - Buy How They Get You - Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset” - Ask a question (select the Finance podcast)

Show partner resources: - Join Pearler using code “RASK” for $15 of Pearler Credit - Get 50% off your first two months using PocketSmith - View Betashares range of funds

Rask resources: - All services - Financial Planning - Invest with us - Access Show Notes - Ask a question - We love feedback! Follow us on social media: Instagram: @rask.invest TikTok: @rask.invest DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG)

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