More Than a Feeling: With Guests Jamie Wall, Mona Krewel & Alex Edmans

<p>While it’s nice to think of ourselves as rational decision-makers, more often than not, emotion plays a role in how we decide. Some people may spend more on a new car when the weather is nice. Others may take bigger risks than normal after indulging in a sweet dessert. Some may make rash choices following a disappointing end to their favorite TV series.</p><p>In this episode of <i>Choiceology with </i><a href="http://www.katherinemilkman.com/"><i>Katy Milkman</i></a>, we look at how positive or negative sentiment from one part of your life can spill over and affect decisions in another.</p><p>In New Zealand in 2011, two seemingly unrelated events—a general election and a <a href="https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/">Rugby World Cup</a>—may have been connected and influenced by national mood.</p><p>Auckland-based author and rugby player <a href="https://www.jamiewallrugby.com/about-me">Jamie Wall</a> brings us the story of the fabled <a href="https://www.allblacks.com/">All Blacks</a>, the New Zealand men's national rugby team, and their nail-biting final match against archrival France. The All Blacks were considered one of the best teams in the world but hadn’t won a World Cup in 24 years. While they had home field advantage in 2011, they were facing steeper odds with the loss of several key players to injury during the tournament. </p><p>You can read more about rugby and the All Blacks in Jamie Wall’s books, including his latest, <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/author/Jamie-Wall"><i>Brothers in Black</i></a>.</p><p>New Zealand’s prime minister at the time, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Key">John Key</a>, bucked tradition by announcing a national election earlier than usual in his government’s mandate—the country does not have a regular election cycle—and by choosing an election date shortly after the end of the World Cup tournament. Some in the press speculated that this was a calculated move, meant to take advantage of any positive national sentiment that might arise from a World Cup win. </