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Unseen Influences

Unseen Influences

Written by: Jim Grinstead
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About this listen

The hidden forces shaping your choices

© 2026 Unseen Influences
Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Car squealing: The secrets your car shares with others
    Jan 12 2026

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    You know your car is loaded with computers, but it also has cameras and microphones.

    Depending on the make, model and year of your car, it could be giving up a lot of information about you and there isn't much you can do about it -- it has its own cell phone to share what it knows.

    All this can impact your insurance rates and many other indices that affect the goods and services you have access to. Listen in to find out the secrets your car gives up about you and who is getting it.

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    20 mins
  • Social influence: How others' opinions impact your actions
    Jan 12 2026

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    You may believe you're an independent thinker, but odds are you are influenced by others' actions or beliefs.

    In most cases, the influence is inconsequential, but it's important to know how their beliefs and actions impact you to fully understand why you do what you do.

    Plus, we'll talk about lying and why we all lie a lot. You'll also learn why lying is a two-way proposition. For a lie to work, you have to be a willing participant.

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    23 mins
  • Placebo buttons: the switches around you that do nothing
    Jan 12 2026

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    We are surrounded by buttons and devices that are intended to make our lives better, but they do nothing.

    Want your hotel room to be cooler? Chances are whatever setting you choose, you won't notice much of a difference. They are designed that way, but we will give you the codes to bypass many of those thermostats and get the relief you need, most of which are helpfully provided by airline crews.

    There are many other things around you that either just don't work or have limited functionality. Listen in as we expose them.

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    22 mins
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