Nudge Nudge

Katy Milkman: “Here’s how to make exercise fun”

Aug 10, 2026 · 24m

Summary

Behavioral scientist Katie Milkman discusses "temptation bundling," a strategy that pairs desired activities with necessary tasks to boost persistence, such as listening to audiobooks only while exercising. She shares research showing this method increases gym attendance by 55% and explains how breaking large goals into smaller, manageable sub-goals improves volunteer retention and savings rates. The episode highlights practical applications of behavioral science for overcoming procrastination and building lasting habits.

Topics discussed

Intro: Temptation bundling and HubSpot ad Katie Milkman's origin story of temptation bundling Research evidence for temptation bundling in exercise and school Gamification study: Wikipedia badges increase retention Book tips, ads, and Marketing School promo Crisis Text Line: Breaking big goals into sub-goals Acorns study: Daily vs weekly savings framing Outro: Newsletter promotion and sign-off
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