S 878: The Science of Designing Better Choices and Habits
Fri Feb 06 2026
Before you blame yourself for that last bad decision, consider this: what if it wasn't a character flaw, but a design flaw in your hardware? This episode dives deep into the science of why humans make predictably irrational choices. We explore five critical pillars that govern our decisions: from the biological constraints of sleep, stress, and blood sugar, to the psychological traps of present bias and choice overload, the pervasive influence of social reinforcement, and the powerful impact of behavioral economics like the sunk cost fallacy. Topics discussed:
- Bad decisions
- Five pillars of decision-making
- Biological constraints
- Behavioral economics
- Psychological glitches
- Social & cultural reinforcement
- Systems & environmental design
- Designing environments for effortless good choices
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My Live Program for Coaches: The Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialization
www.metabolismschool.com
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[Free] Metabolism School 101: The Video Series
http://www.metabolismschool.com/metabolism-101
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Subscribe to My Youtube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@sammillerscience?si=s1jcR6Im4GDHbw_1
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Grab a Copy of My New Book - Metabolism Made Simple
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Stay Connected:
Instagram: @sammillerscience
Youtube: SamMillerScience
Facebook: The Nutrition Coaching Collaborative Community
TikTok: @sammillerscience
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“This Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast and the show notes or the reliance on the information provided is to be done at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for educational purposes only. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program and users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, or used by Oracle Athletic Science LLC with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, which may be requested by contacting the Oracle Athletic Science LLC by email at operations@sammillerscience.com. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that Oracle Athletic Science LLC makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast."
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Before you blame yourself for that last bad decision, consider this: what if it wasn't a character flaw, but a design flaw in your hardware? This episode dives deep into the science of why humans make predictably irrational choices. We explore five critical pillars that govern our decisions: from the biological constraints of sleep, stress, and blood sugar, to the psychological traps of present bias and choice overload, the pervasive influence of social reinforcement, and the powerful impact of behavioral economics like the sunk cost fallacy. Topics discussed: - Bad decisions - Five pillars of decision-making - Biological constraints - Behavioral economics - Psychological glitches - Social & cultural reinforcement - Systems & environmental design - Designing environments for effortless good choices ---------- My Live Program for Coaches: The Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialization www.metabolismschool.com ---------- [Free] Metabolism School 101: The Video Series http://www.metabolismschool.com/metabolism-101 ---------- Subscribe to My Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@sammillerscience?si=s1jcR6Im4GDHbw_1 ---------- Grab a Copy of My New Book - Metabolism Made Simple ---------- Stay Connected: Instagram: @sammillerscience Youtube: SamMillerScience Facebook: The Nutrition Coaching Collaborative Community TikTok: @sammillerscience ---------- “This Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast and the show notes or the reliance on the information provided is to be done at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for educational purposes only. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program and users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, or used by Oracle Athletic Science LLC with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Oracle Athletic Science LLC, which may be requested by contacting the Oracle Athletic Science LLC by email at operations@sammillerscience.com. By accessing this Podcast, the listener acknowledges that Oracle Athletic Science LLC makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast."