126: Why hope exists in the form of psychedelics with behavioural science leader & Nudgestock host, Tara Austin

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This week, darling, we dangled a bit of Bolly to lure and ensnare the Absolutely Fabulous, Tara Austin.
Behavioural science leader, Nudgestock host, and Rory Sutherland wrangler, Tara’s been on the frontline of the applied B.S. revolution for over a decade. More recently she’s turned ‘psychedelic evangelist’, lobbying to change the UK's approach to magic mushrooms.
Tara talks to us on attempting to model herself on Ab Fab’s Patsy, ringing up Scottish farmers to chat anaerobic digestate, being at the basecamp of behavioural science, Ogilvy, Rory, combining Pimms with spicy food, painting babies faces on shop shutters (h/t Nicole Yershon), her favourite Nudgestock memories, her time at 10 Downing Street, psilocybin, the stoned ape hypothesis, finding hope in the form of a mushroom, and tons more.
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Follow Tara on LinkedIn
Take action for psilocybin access rights through PAR
Watch Fantastic Fungi on Netflix
And, of course, check out the world's biggest festival of behavioural science and creativity; Nudgestock
Including these talks from the archives:
Andrew Sheerin's talk 'The Persuasive Power Of Play' from 2017
Dave Trott’s talk ‘Complexity Kills Creativity’ from 2016
Dr Paul Zak’s talk ‘Messiness in the brain’ from 2023
Timestamps
(02:02) - Quick fire questions
(03:14) - First jobs, cleaning up bodily fluids and why menial jobs are a worthy experience for any young person
(06:19) - How Ab Fab inspired her career and whether she’s more Eddie or Patsy
(08:16) - Getting into behavioural science, Rory Sutherland, and the market opportunity to pair Pimms with spicy food
(12:37) - Painting babies faces on shop shutters after the London riots
(17:40) - Favourite Nudgestock talks from the archives (cc Dave Trott, Andrew Sheerin, Paul Zak)
(26:03) - Advocating for psilocybin, the stoned ape hypothesis, and the bouba and kiki effect
(34:33) - Campaigning for PAR, Project Croydon, and why hope exists in the form of a mushroom
(49:04) - Listener questions
(54:18) - 4 pertinent posers

Tara’s book recommendations are:
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Falling in Love with Where You Are by Jeff Foster
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