It's not real!
It’s Not Real is the podcast that takes a scalpel to the stories we tell ourselves. Hosted by Dr Paul Harrison, consumer psychologist, academic, and media commentator, each episode unpacks the real evidence behind why we do what we do, how the world actually works, and the myths we cling to in order to make life a little easier. From marketing spin to social norms, from economic fictions to psychological blind spots, It’s Not Real cuts through the noise with sharp analysis, candid conversations, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Because sometimes, the things we believe… just aren’t real.
It's not real!
32: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Talking Shop Reboot)
In the final episode of our Talking Shop reboot, originally recorded for the ABC in 2015, Dr Paul Harrison and Kirsten Drysdale explore how fear is used to shape our buying decisions. From invented problems to horror-themed ad campaigns, we unpack the psychology behind why feeling anxious makes us more likely to reach for a product. Now part of It’s Not Real, this episode asks: are we buying things to solve real problems, or just to ease our worries? And how much control do we really have when marketers are so good at pressing our emotional buttons?