The psychological power of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte | How to create cult products no matter your industry or size

The psychological power of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte | How to create cult products no matter your industry or size

12:45 Sep 30, 2025
About this episode
I have a confession to make – I'm a huge Starbucks fan.I know in some of your eyes that might make me basic or tacky or "very American," but it's the truth. I grew up watching Friends and Frasier, and both shows made the idea of going to a "coffee shop" seem like an exotic outing that was only available to people who lived in the Big City.I did not live in the big city. I was a military kid, raised mostly in rural North Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. When I did finally manage to escape it was to go to music school in North Carolina. Starbucks was the first place I had that "coffee shop experience," and I loved it from the start. To this day, whenever I go back to the US to visit family, Starbucks is where my mom and I sit down and catch up over a skinny cappuccino (her favorite).And now that I live in the UK most of the time, Starbucks is the place where I can enjoy a classic, tasty piece of pure American autumn bliss once a year.That's right, in this episode of the Choice Hacking podcast I'm unpacking the psychological principles that make Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte such a massive hit – and how you can apply these same principles to your own business.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Please take 12 seconds to rate and review the podcast because it helps us find new listeners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐COACHING✅ To learn more about working one-on-one with Jen and book your free Connection Call, visit https://www.choicehacking.com/coaching-inviteThis month I have 3 spots available - first come, first serve.FREE RESOURCES✅ Get a free digital copy of my bestselling book for a limited time, Choice Hacking: How to use psychology and behavioral science to create an experience that sings. Get it here: https://www.choicehacking.com/free-book/ ✅ Get FREE weekly marketing psychology insights when you join my newsletter, Choice Hacking Ideas: Join the 10k+ people getting daily insights on how to 2x their marketing effectiveness (so sales and profit 2x, too) using buyer psychology. Join here: https://www.choicehacking.com/read/✅ Connect with host Jennifer Clinehens on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok @ChoiceHackingWORK WITH JEN CLINEHENS & CHOICE HACKING✅ Training & Workshops: Get your team up-skilled marketing psychology and behavioral science with a workshop or training session. Choice Hacking has worked with brands like Microsoft, T-Mobile, and McDonalds to help their teams apply behavioral science and marketi
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