Real World Behavioural Science

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Rich Sheridan describes a very practical application of behaviour change science. In 2001, Rich co-founded Menlo Innovations, in Ann Arbour, Michigan, with a goal to end human suffering as it relates to technology. His approach to custom software creation is so unique, that 3,000 people a year travel from around the world just to see how they do it, and I am happy to say that I am one of those people!Rich is the author of two best-selling books, Joy, Inc. - How We Built a Workplace People Love and Chief Joy Officer both of which describe how to create and sustain a joyful culture at work and demonstrate that a positive and engaging leadership style is actually good for business. Menlo and Rich have been featured on the cover of Inc., Entrepreneur, Forbes and New York magazines and he frequently speaks at business conferences and to major corporations such as Mercedes-Benz, Nike, and 3M.Rich provides excellent personal and professional examples of using behaviour change science, without using any behavioural science terms! He truly lives up to his title at Menlo: Chief Storyteller!

Send us Fan MailThis episode features Professor Chris Armitage. Chris is a Health Psychologist, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.Chris woks day to day as a Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Research in the University of Manchester Centre for Health Psychology in the School of Health Sciences, and his research uses psychological theory to develop effective behaviour change interventions. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles in academic journals in the area of health psychology and social science. Throughout this episode, Chris provides numerous examples of how behavioural science is being used in the real world and academically and it’s clear that he is acting as a linchpin between the science and the application with practitioners across health and wellbeing.This episode is filled with useful insights and is well worth a listen. There is even a joke about academics in there (which is ok as Chris is one)! Check it out and leave a comment or review.

Send us Fan MailThis episode features Dr Nick Cavill. Nick is a director of an independent public health consultancy, and a Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. He specialises in the development of policy and programmes on public health issues. Nick's focus has been on obesity, sustainable transport and the links to physical activity, however he has also advised on topics as diverse as mental health; drinking water availability; young people’s social development and sport and social development.  Nick has been involved in many of the major physical activity promotion programmes in the UK and has extensive experience of national and international policy development on the issue. He has been involved in the health enhancing physical activity (HEPA) network since its inception and has published academic journal articles and book chapters about physical activity policy.  He has worked at a policy level in both Departments of Health and Transport, and was formerly at the UK Health Education Authority, where he was head of the physical activity programme. While on secondment to WHO in Geneva he helped set up a network of policy leads on physical activity. In 2011 Nick completed his PhD at the University of Salford, focusing on national policy approaches to promoting physical activity, and was made a member of the Faculty of Public Health through distinction.  This episode provides a great overview of how Nick's work has evolved over the years and how he inadvertently became a behavioural scientist!  

Send us Fan MailThis interview with Dr Amy Bucher highlights how behavioural science is being used in the industry to improve people's lives realistically and sustainably.Amy is the Behaviour Change Design Director for Mad Pow, based in Boston in the United States. Throughout her career, Amy has focused on crafting engaging and motivating solutions that help people change behaviour, especially related to health, wellness, learning, and financial well-being. Amy has worked as a Senior Strategist for CVS in their Digital Specialty Pharmacy, and with Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions Group as Associate Director of Behavioural Science. Amy received her A.B. magna cum laude in psychology from Harvard University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in organisational psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and excitingly is the author of the upcoming Rosenfeld Media book Engaged: Psychology for Digital Product Design.This episode provides a great overview of a very unique route into the behavioural sciences as well as the innovative ways that MadPow are developing industry leading techniques to make change happen.

Send us Fan MailProfessor Jim McManus has over thirty years experience in the public health industry. This all started as a volunteer and a service provider driven by a passion for psychology and a desire to be socially useful.He is now the Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council and vice President of the Association of Directors of Public Health. He is a Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society Fellow and co-founder and chair of the Behavioural Science and Public Health Network. Jim is also a visiting professor at both the London School of Economics and the University of Hertfordshire and completed six years as deputy chair of the National Institute for Health Research Public Health Advisory Board.Obviously Jim has a lot of experience across the public health world, but he manages to communicate this in the first RWBS podcast in an interesting and humorous way.