I’m a guest on “Real Marketing Rap” podcast: Marketing Psychology.
By Maria Gardner, Chief Business Psychologist | 20th March 2019.
I’m excited to share that I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the Real Marketing Rap podcast, hosted by the dynamic duo Tim Bush and Joe Edwards. If you’re interested in marketing without all the jargon or fluff, this podcast is definitely for you. Tim and Joe bring over 30 years of experience from different corners of the marketing world, and in this episode, we delved deep into a topic that perfectly blends my two of my passions: marketing and psychology.
As a Business Psychologist, I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour - what makes people tick, why they do what they do - and marketing is the perfect application of this. In this episode, we talked about how essential a basic understanding of psychology is for any marketer. Knowing how the brain works and what drives people’s decisions can give marketers a real competitive edge.
The connection between Psychology and marketing.
For me, marketing is all about understanding human behaviour and applying that insight to influence decisions—whether it’s buying a product or engaging with a brand. During the episode, we unpacked how the principles of psychology, like reciprocity, authority, and social proof, can be powerful tools in marketing strategies.
I also shared a few examples from my own experience in business development and communications, including organizing one of my industry’s biggest conferences and leading its marketing and communications efforts for two years. That experience really reinforced the power of combining psychology with marketing strategies to achieve results.
A deeper dive into influencing and persuasion.
One book that really shaped my understanding of persuasion is The Power of Persuasion: How We’re Bought and Sold by Robert Levine. The book explores how we are influenced in everyday situations—from car sales to door-to-door selling to the ways charities and cults encourage donations. It sparked my deeper interest in communication and how persuasion shapes our choices.
I also recommended a few other must-read books for anyone serious about marketing psychology:
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini: This classic text outlines six key principles of influence, from reciprocity to authority and social proof.
Yes!: 60 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion by Goldstein, Martin, and Cialdini: A more accessible, lighter read on how to apply these principles in real life.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: A deep dive into how our brains work, explaining the two systems of thought—one fast and intuitive, the other slower and more deliberate.
Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion by Nathalie Nahai: A fantastic look at how psychology applies to the digital world, especially in online marketing.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek: While not specifically about psychology or marketing, Sinek’s work on purpose and storytelling is essential for marketers trying to build a compelling brand.
Final thoughts.
If I hadn’t become a Business Psychologist, I strongly believe that I would’ve ended up in marketing - so being able to geek out with two marketing pros like Tim and Joe was a real treat. We covered everything from cognitive shortcuts to how brands can better market themselves to employees in the ongoing "war on talent."
Finally, we ended the conversation with the most important question of the night… What’s your favourite hip-hop tune? I had a tough time choosing between The Next Episode by Dr. Dre, No Diggity by Blackstreet, and Doin’ It Well by LL Cool J. Old-school 90s hip-hop for the win!
Thanks for having me Tim and Joe!
Where to Listen.
You can catch the full episode on Real Marketing Rap wherever you listen to podcasts:
Encore…
In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed Maria’s ramblings why not check out some of our other blogs and thought pieces. For real time updates and insights you can also find us on LinkedIn, our social media platform of choice: @PsychologyWorks and @mariagardner
