Unlocking Behaviour Change

Unlocking Behaviour Change is a podcast delving into psychology and motivation. Join Professor Robert West, a world-leading behavioural scientist, and Jamie West, a writer and musician, as they explore the human mind with practical insights and a touch of humour. Whether you’re into psychology, behaviour science, or just want to understand yourself (and others) a little better, this podcast is for you. Check out our latest books: Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9 Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/ Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

Episodes

Sep 9, 2025

29 min

How do our beliefs shape our perceptions? And how do our wants and needs affect our beliefs about what is true? What happens when our expectations are violated? In this episode, Robert and Jamie look at the fundamental ways in which we interpret the world and how this affects the decisions we make. Also, Robert reminisces about hearing Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath for the first time . . . 
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  
 

Sep 9, 2025

29 min

Sep 2, 2025

27 min

What is 'temporal discounting' and how does it influence decisions to stop smoking and decisions about what clinical interventions are worth paying for? Can procrastination be a good thing sometimes? How can we achieve long-lasting behaviour change? And what is going on with tea . . . ?
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  

Sep 2, 2025

27 min

Aug 26, 2025

28 min

Robert and Jamie talk through the knotty business of enacting decisions. Robert emphasises that for decisions such as stopping smoking, acting on the decision sooner rather than later can make all the difference. They discuss levels of commitment and the power of identity. And Jamie casts doubt on Shakespeare’s true identity . . .  
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  

Aug 26, 2025

28 min

Aug 19, 2025

27 min

Jamie & Robert continue exploring the cluster of decisions around stopping smoking. They discuss 'decision-making rules' and how our personalities affect how we compare options.  
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  
 

Aug 19, 2025

27 min

Aug 16, 2025

36 min

Robert and Jamie continue exploring how the FACET (Frame, Assess, Compare, Enact and Time) framework for understanding decision-making works in the real world. This time, they discuss how someone might assess their options when trying to stop smoking. They unpack what part knowledge and evidence play in making decisions, and Jamie reveals lesser-known uses of ChatGPT . . .
Want more? Check out our latest books:
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

Aug 16, 2025

36 min

Aug 5, 2025

34 min

In this episode, Robert and Jamie start to apply the FACET framework for analysing real-world decision-making to an important and very common cluster of decisions: whether or not to try to stop smoking - something that Robert knows something about!
Want more? Check out our latest books:
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

Aug 5, 2025

34 min

Jul 29, 2025

28 min

In this wide-ranging episode, Robert and Jamie begin by discussing AI music before exploring time management, personal versus professional mindsets, and individual differences. Plus, we learn why neither Robert nor Jamie likes to take advice, even though they are both happy to offer it! 
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  

Jul 29, 2025

28 min

Jul 22, 2025

29 min

Hurry hurry hurry! Offer ends soon! Robert and Jamie take a ‘random walk’ through time, the final component of the FACET Framework of decision-making. They discuss internal and external time pressure and debunk the myth about fast ‘but safe’ drivers . . .  
Want more? Check out our latest books:  
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y 
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9  
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/  
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange  

Jul 22, 2025

29 min

Jul 15, 2025

35 min

It is one thing to form an intention to act but what happens next? This episode discusses the all-important challenges and pitfalls that confront decision-makers after they have made a decision and before they have had the opportunity to enact it.
 
Want more? Check out our latest books:
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

Jul 15, 2025

35 min

Jul 8, 2025

36 min

This week Robert and Jamie look at ‘C’ in the FACET framework: Comparing. Robert dispels a common myth about interviewing and also offers advice on the one thing you should always do at the end of every meeting . . .
Want more? Check out our latest books:
Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y
React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9
Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/
Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

Jul 8, 2025

36 min

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