Frank Spring: The neuroscience of persuasion and the power of story

Altum Insight partner Frank Spring recently joined Barrett Gruber, host of the All About Nothing podcast, to discuss the neuroscience behind persuasion, sharing why the human brain loves stories and why facts often fail to change minds or voting behavior. According to Spring:

Facts are simply not sticky on their own. When they are integrated as part of a story, then they have real staying power.

The brain just does not hang onto information in the same way that it hangs onto story.

The brain hates information without context. If you present someone with a fact and they have to figure out what it means, the brain’s natural inclination is just to stop thinking about it.

Stories are a kind of cognitive shortcut that we tell ourselves about our lives and the world around us that help us understand what to do with all the information the world throws at us all day every day.

They discussed the "trust deficit," the power of comforting political narratives, and the urgent need for empathy in modern messaging.

The interview also dives into the reservations voters are having about AI, according to Altum's recent Nebraska study. Altum's findings give Democrats a roadmap for how to approach messaging about AI and the urgent need for regulation and accountability.

As Gruber notes, "This episode offers a masterclass in how stories build (and break) our world." Check it out on Youtube:

Adrianne Marsh: Rebuilding trust with voters beyond the "mutual firing squad"

Adrianne Marsh recently sat down with host Ryan Hennen from the Beer, Buds, and Big Sky Podcast to talk about rural voter research and Democratic political strategy. They discussed the challenges for Democrats trying to win in rural areas and the importance of remembering bedrock rural values like community bonds,

Frank Spring: Looking beyond left vs. right toward more coherent narratives

"Following recent losses, a dominant argument is that Democrats must move to the center, tone down cultural messaging, and focus relentlessly on economic concerns to win back moderates," writes David Beckemeyer, the host of Outrage Overload, a nonpartisan political research podcast. "This is also in line with

Adrianne Marsh: Uncovering rural voters' fears about AI through qualitative research

Why did Altum Insight look to the midwest for their latest study uncovering voters' deeply held reservations about AI? According to Altum CEO Adrianne Marsh, “There’s just enough going on in Nebraska where we were able to get the kind of sample we were looking for." Marsh

Frank A Spring: Minnesota stories and the experience of moral injury

While the administration has declared the end of "Operation Metro Surge," the people of Minnesota are still facing the consequences of the last several months of tragedies, terror, and upheaval in their communities. Altum partner Frank A. Spring joined host Terry White on the Better Minneapolis podcast to

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Adrianne Marsh: Rebuilding trust with voters beyond the "mutual firing squad"

Frank Spring: Looking beyond left vs. right toward more coherent narratives

Adrianne Marsh: Uncovering rural voters' fears about AI through qualitative research

Frank A Spring: Minnesota stories and the experience of moral injury