Coming Soon: A New Season of Choiceology

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Coming Soon: A New Season of Choiceology"

Podcast: Choiceology with Katy Milkman
Host: Katy Milkman (presented by Charles Schwab)
Episode Date: March 9, 2026

---

Main Theme

The episode serves as a teaser for the upcoming season of Choiceology, hosted by behavioral scientist and Wharton professor Katy Milkman. The show unpacks the science of decision-making, exploring how and why people make pivotal choices—from high-stakes business decisions to personal dilemmas—using insights from behavioral economics and psychology. The new season promises real stories, expert interviews, and actionable takeaways for smarter choices in work, finance, and life.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the New Season (00:00–00:29)

• Katy Milkman introduces herself and previews what listeners can expect from the new season.

• Explains that each episode will dissect stories behind significant, real-world choices, involving people from vastly different backgrounds.

  Katy Milkman [00:07]: "In each episode, we examine stories behind consequential decisions, from business deals to rescue missions. We meet characters from wildly different walks of life who faced high stakes choices and grappled with crises."

---

2. Gripping Real-life Stories (00:29–00:36)

• A dramatic anecdote is teased, illustrating the life-or-death stakes some decision-makers face.

  Guest [00:29]: "The piece of rock, many times bigger than the Empire State Building, kind of slid like a big gate and just sealed them in there."

---

3. Expert Insights & The Science of Decision-Making (00:36–01:15)

• Milkman highlights her conversations with leading researchers in psychology and behavioral economics.

• The season will delve into why we trust certain advice and the pitfalls experts and non-experts alike can encounter.

  Katy Milkman [00:36]: "Then I sit down with leading researchers in psychology and behavioral economics to unpack the variables that drive daily decisions, like what advice we'll choose to trust."

  Expert Guest [00:46]: "We found that by discounting all advice, these experts were actually less accurate than the non-expert sample. I still kind of gasped when I think about those results."

• The show explores how big events shape our financial behaviors:

  Katy Milkman [00:59]: "We explore the science behind how choices are made and the many influences that shape them, like the information we prioritize or the events we experience."

  Expert Guest [01:08]: "If in your lifetime you experience a really big crisis in the stock market, is it true that that makes you avoid the stock market like the plague?"

---

4. Actionable Insights (01:15–01:28)

• The series promises takeaways that listeners can apply to their everyday lives.

  Katy Milkman [01:15]: "And we translate cutting-edge behavioral science research into actionable insights that can help you navigate your work, your financial decisions, and your life with greater clarity."

  Expert Guest [01:28]: "And that is the first point in time where I realized I made the wrong decision."

---

5. Season Announcement & Call to Action (01:34–end)

• Reminder of the bi-weekly episode schedule.

• Encouragement for listeners to follow the podcast on their favorite app.

  Katy Milkman [01:34]: "It's a new season of Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab. New episodes arrive every two weeks. Be sure to follow us in your favorite podcasting app."

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We found that by discounting all advice, these experts were actually less accurate than the non-expert sample. I still kind of gasped when I think about those results." — Expert Guest [00:46]
• "If in your lifetime you experience a really big crisis in the stock market, is it true that that makes you avoid the stock market like the plague?" — Expert Guest [01:08]
• "That is the first point in time where I realized I made the wrong decision." — Expert Guest [01:28]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–00:29 — Introduction and premise of the podcast
• 00:29–00:36 — Teaser: high-stakes, real-life decision stories
• 00:36–01:15 — Discussions with behavioral experts; surprising research findings
• 01:15–01:28 — Promise of actionable insights for listeners
• 01:34–end — Season details and call to subscribe

---

Summary:
This episode sets the tone for a new season of Choiceology, blending gripping true stories with expert analysis to reveal what drives our decisions and how to improve them. Katy Milkman’s engaging preview hints at dramatic narratives, eye-opening research, and practical wisdom—all aimed at helping listeners make smarter, more confident choices.

Transcript

[A]

Katie Milkman I'm Katie Milkman and I'm a behavioral scientist and professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I'm also the author of the bestselling book how to Change. And I'm here to tell you there's a new season of Choiceology on its way. In each episode, we examine stories behind consequential decisions, from business deals to rescue missions. We meet characters from wildly different walks of life who faced high stakes choices and grappled with crises.

[B]

The piece of rock, many times bigger than the Empire State Building kind of slid like a big gate and just sealed them in there.

[A]

Then I sit down with leading researchers in psychology and behavioral economics to unpack the variables that drive daily decisions, like what advice will choose to trust.

[C]

We found that by discounting all advice, these experts were actually less accurate than the non expert sample. I still kind of gasped when I think about those results.

[A]

We explore the science behind how choices are made and the many influences that shape them, like the information we prioritize or the events we experience. If

[D]

in your lifetime you experience a really big crisis in the stock market, is it true that that makes you avoid the stock market

[A]

like the plague? And we translate cutting edge behavioral science research into actionable insights that can help you navigate your work, your financial decisions, and your life with greater cl.

[D]

And that is the first point in time where I realized I made the wrong decision.

[A]

It's a new season of Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab. New episodes arrive every two weeks. Be sure to follow us in your favorite podcasting app.