Think about the habits that define your day-to-day life—how you manage your money, look after your health, or tackle your to-do list. You might assume they reflect your personality or upbringing. But what if they’re actually shaped by the language you speak?

In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, explore how subtle linguistic shifts can change the way you make decisions—and bridge the gap between who you are today and who you want to be tomorrow.

We travel to a unique cultural crossroads tucked high in the Alps of northern Italy. Marc Röggla, head of the European nonprofit Center for Autonomy Experience, shares the gripping history of South Tyrol—a region where political borders were redrawn overnight after World War I. He shares how his grandfather's generation risked their safety in secret, candlelit "catacomb schools" to keep their German mother tongue alive under fascist oppression—setting the stage for a surprising study on how children in the exact same region process time and temptation today.

Then, Katy speaks with UCLA behavioral economist Keith Chen about his foundational research demonstrating how "future-less" languages (like German or Mandarin) can erase the mental distance between now and later. They discuss how these tiny quirks in grammar alter decisions around saving, smoking, and exercise—and how you can trick your brain into better choices, no matter what language you speak.

Choiceology is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/choiceology.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.

The comments, views, and opinions expressed in the presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Charles Schwab.

Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

All corporate names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal.

The book How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.). Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.) has not reviewed the books and makes no representations about their content.

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Across all kinds of decisions—from our salaries to our weekend plans—we tend to prefer options that progressively get better, if given the choice. Why is it that our minds place such a high premium on an upward trajectory?

In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at why we're drawn to experiences that appear to improve over time.

Katy speaks with Jerald Podair, Robert S. French Professor of American Studies, Emeritus, at Lawrence University and author of The Strike That Changed New York. They revisit the historic 1960 New York City public school teachers' strike where educators put their careers on the line to trade short-term perks and principal favoritism for a contract that guaranteed a predictable, upward-climbing pay scale for everyone.

Then, Katy is joined by George Loewenstein, Herbert A. Simon University Professor of Economics and Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and author of the new book The Opposite of Happiness: How Bad Feelings Make and Break Us. They discuss his seminal research on why we prefer rising salaries, the emotional toll of anticipation and dread, and how a simple change in order of events can flip our decisions.

Choiceology is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/choiceology.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.

The comments, views, and opinions expressed in the presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Charles Schwab.

Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

All corporate names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal.

The books How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, The Strike That Changed New York, and The Opposite of Happiness: How Bad Feelings Make and Break Us are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.). Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.) has not reviewed the books and makes no representations about their content.

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.