Podcast appearances and mentions of harry lorayne

Hermann Ebbinghaus is remembered mostly for discovering the forgetting curve. Open any psychology textbook, any blog devoted to a flashcard app or any study-tips listicle, and you’ll find his name alongside a distinctive graph. Memory expert Tony Buzan called it the most important graph in the world. That’s because its iconic line shows memory plummeting within hours of learning something new, then flattening out over days. Countless discussions of how to reduce forgetting give you the same tidy recommendations. Usually they tell you to review your study materials at intervals, just at the point you’re starting to forget. That way, many authors promise, you’ll beat the curve. The problem, just one of many you’ll discover today, is this: Ebbinghaus didn’t discover the forgetting curve. He discovered his forgetting curve. He was one man, testing his own memory, on one kind of material, using one method. And although the forgetting curve is indeed one of the most repeatable and reproducible principles in the history of scientific studies, reproducibility in laboratory settings does not mean you’ll stop forgetting by using the conventional recommendations. Besides, here’s something almost no one else will tell you: The deepest principles the Ebbinghaus experiments revealed were already written down more than two thousand years earlier by Aristotle. You’ll find them in a short treatise that describes something remarkably close to using a Memory Palace in combination with the same kind of serial positioning Ebbinghaus described as a means for reducing forgetting. So today I’m going to cover a few aspects of the forgetting curve all serious users of memory techniques need to know. These are points I’ve been putting off writing about for a long time. However, a few emails and comments I’ve received over the past few years have convinced me that now is finally the time. Especially since I’ve spent decades memorizing poetry, scripture, mantras, complex terms, the names of people from various backgrounds and vocabulary and phrases in multiple languages. And I’ve done this all while teaching thousands of students to do the same. From where I sit as a practitioner, the forgetting curve is real, useful and badly misunderstood. But treated correctly, it’s an invitation to success. First, however, for the uninitiated, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about the definition of this term. That way, you’ll be able to discover your own curve and work on reducing its impact in your learning life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_qwUkfO65M   What Is the Forgetting Curve? In 1885, Ebbinghaus published Über das Gedächtnis (Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology). In this monumental work, he reported years of experiments he had run on a single subject: himself. He memorized lists of sinnlose Silben, the German term for nonsense syllables. These were consonant-vowel-consonant combinations like ZOF and KEB. After committing lists of such invented words, he then tested how much effort it took to relearn them after various delays. Notice two things. First, these were invented words. Nothing with any meaning. Second, pay attention to the word relearn. Ebbinghaus did not measure memory only by asking whether he could reproduce an entire list perfectly. He also measured what he called “savings” in the context of relearning. This study goes quite deep into the nuances and implications of this particular concept for memory. To get the concept in brief, suppose it initially took you 20 repetitions to learn something. If it took only 10 repetitions to relearn it later, some trace of the original learning clearly remained. Your inability to reproduce the information perfectly would not mean the memory had disappeared completely. Keep this idea of “savings” in mind. It matters more than the famous graph, and we’ll return to it when I show you what happened to a long Sanskrit mantra I intentionally abandoned for years. It also connects to some concepts in memory introduced by Richard Semon and studied more recently by Dr. Paul Garrett in relation to the role of fuzzy memory. Back to Ebbinghaus, the  result of his experiments is what we now call the forgetting curve. It shows how retention drops steeply at first, then the decline slows. He also documented what we now call the spacing effect. It describes how reviews distributed over time preserve more in long-term memory than the same number of reviews crammed together. All of what Ebbinghaus found replicates, so his science is not in question here. What’s in question is what you and I should actually do with his findings.  And that’s where things really start to get interesting. Ebbinghaus Was an Early n=1 Memorizer Notice what Ebbinghaus actually was: A practitioner running experiments on his own memory. In today’s language, he was doing n=1 self-experimentation. He had skin in the game, memorized real material with his own mind, and measured what happened. I took his actions as both a lesson and an inspiration. It’s just that rather than memorize nonsense (apart from a bit of Kurt Schwitters’ “Ursonate”), I’ve focused on applying memory techniques to Chinese, scripture, poetry and facts related to law school. But you will never see the results you can achieve by reading about Ebbinghaus. You’ll only see it by memorizing information yourself and paying attention to what happens next. Tony Buzan was great about splitting the difference during his ThinkBuzan seminars. He taught memory techniques, but also had participants draw their own graph of the forgetting curve. Here’s mine: In sum, reading about the forgetting curve while never memorizing anything is like reading about swimming while refusing to get wet. Is There Such a Thing As Too Much Scientific Literacy? Years ago, Harry Lorayne coached me on becoming a successful memory coach. I followed just about everything he said, except one thing. He said, “whatever you do, don’t tell ’em about the science.” The reason I ignored the advice is that: I’m very interested in memory science Studying it has helped me discover many powerful memory activities and brain exercises The only problem I’ve seen is that about a year ago, students of all ages started writing to me in the language of science at an increasing rate. And for many, the various terms and memory statistics available online have created anxiety and perfectionism I don’t think needs to exist. For example, a medical student taking the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass recently emailed multiple times with worries about whether his review schedule was set to properly combat the “decay function.” Now, obviously, the research on memory genuinely matters. I cite it often and terms like this can be useful for forming a solid practice with using mnemonics. But Lorayne’s warning has started to take on a strange and unexpected sense because something strange happens when the vocabulary of science replaces practice. After all, science is mostly there to describe, not proscribe. We can certainly use scientific findings to improve our practice, but it’s not helpful to let techniques that have been used happily for thousands of years become the source of anxiety thanks to scientific papers. Don’t Let These Terms Interfere With Your Memory Training It’s not only beginners with memory techniques or medical students who would tend towards scientific verbiage when contacting me. I regularly hear from people fluent in the terminology, sometimes with publications to their name. A published researcher wrote me recently and had thoroughly reasoned himself into genuine paradox. Amongst other things, he wanted to know what a trained mnemonist’s memory does “without any technique.” Now, you certainly can get a swimmer to demonstrate what a particular stroke looks like without the water. And in the context of memory training, the question can sound rigorous. But in my view, this kind of question suggests that the researcher has lost contact with the very thing he’s asking about. This is because someone with a trained memory can’t isolate a ‘raw baseline’ without risking cognitive paradox. I would have to reflect on my use of mnemonic methods while not using them. And since he immediately followed-up with a pseudo-scientific claim about photographic memory, I knew he was not taking Ebbinghaus’ n=1 practice as an example by actually using the techniques himself. After all, photographic memory has been thoroughly debunked and I’ve demonstrated many times over that it not only does not exist. The term itself makes zero sense. So this is where some nuance about the forgetting curve is very important to the serious user of memory techniques. No matter who you are, you need to make contact with actual remembering. Aristotle Described the Core Principle Two Thousand Years Ago Actually studying and practicing a wide variety of memory techniques will get you insight far more interesting and impactful than any psychology textbook could hope to provide. In De Memoria et Reminiscentia, Aristotle describes recollection as movement through an ordered series. At one point in the book, he uses a sequence like the letters of the alphabet and gives strikingly practical advice that deeply inspired what I call Recall Rehearsal. This is a form of spaced repetition applied specifically to the Memory Palace technique. As Aristotle puts it, if you forget something, don’t start over from the beginning. Start from the middle of the series and move outward from there. Richard Sorabji, in his landmark study Aristotle on Memory, admits that he doesn’t understand what Aristotle is talking about in this passage. That’s a courageous confession, as many scholars would just make something up or speculate. As a practitioner of memory techniques with decades of experience, I can tell you what I believe Aristotle is describing. It’s either: An alphabetically labeled Memory Palace An early description of serial positioning and spaced repetition Or a description that provided the inspiration for creating this kind of Memory Palace practice. It’s genuinely difficult to say which. But either way, the principle and how it reduces unwanted forgetting is unmistakable to anyone who has actually run the technique. In case you have never used a Memory Palace, it involves ordered locations, deliberate starting points, and strategic entry into the middle of a sequence as part of several spaced repetition patterns that establish substantial retention. Modern Practitioners Who Know How to Beat the Forgetting Curve  You can trace this practitioner lineage forward through Peter of Ravenna, Jacobus Publicius, Robert Fludd, Giordano Bruno, and in our own time, mnemonists like myself and Lynne Kelly (especially in her book, Memory Craft). Our combination of fieldwork and daily personal practice in particular sets the standard for studying these techniques. Certainly Frances Yates deserves credit for reviving scholarly interest in mnemonics through her book, The Art of Memory, but she acknowledged never practicing the techniques herself. Frankly, it shows. Her treatment of memory wheels, for example, creates the impression they were used as Memory Palaces, which is possible but unlikely. Practice changes what you can see in the Memory Palace books you read. Why does the Aristotle passage matter for the forgetting curve? Because his advice that you should “start from the middle” of a sequence of information you keep forgetting is serial positioning in action. And serial positioning is the key to defeating the curve. My Own Forgetting Curve, Observed in the Wild The reason I’ve never tried to reproduce Ebbinghaus’s experiment formally by memorizing nonsense is precisely because you see advice on how to beat the forgetting curve thousands of years before he conducted his research. That said, I have watched my own forgetting curve operate over years, and the observations I’ve made are instructive. For example, I worked daily with one long-form mantra built from a few dozen Sanskrit phrases for many years: the Song Celestial. Then I deliberately let it lapse with no rehearsal at all for approximately two years. I was not as deliberate as I could have been in terms of tracking like Ebbinghaus would have. But since the research is so heavily reproducible and we know why Memory Palaces work, I was happy to be casual about it. When I finally came back to this mantra, I was shocked by how much I could still recall. The forgetting curve had certainly caused some “decay.” But it was nothing like what Ebbinghaus’s graph would predict for material of that length after that much neglect. In Ebbinghaus’s own terms, the “savings” were enormous. And the relearning cost me a fraction of the original effort, because the trace was never gone. It was waiting for me. The question is, why? After all, I can’t sing songs I used to know by heart when I was a kid? Part of the answer is that I never stopped reciting the other three Sanskrit mantras I have memorized. They have very similar meanings, and in many cases, some of the same words. The meaning element in particular suggests that I partly benefitted from stronger retention due to what scientists call context dependence. Because I never left the realm of reciting Sanskrit entirely, that must explain the higher rate of retention. Compare this to my previous career as a Film Studies professor. I hardly watch movies anymore, let alone read theoretical books about them or lecture for weeks on end during a traditional university semester. The lack of context has accelerated the force of the forgetting curve and deskilled my chops as a film scholar. Memory Palaces: Structured Spaced Retrieval Systems That Beat Forgetting Apart from context-dependent memory benefits, another reason I could recall so much of a mantra despite not reciting it for years has to do with how I memorized it: using the Memory Palace technique. Not as a party trick, but as a structured spaced retrieval system. To learn more about how it works, check out my Complete Guide to the Memory Palace technique. In brief, the key is to place information tethered to associations along the stations of a Memory Palace and then practice Recall Rehearsal following patterns no software like Anki can guide you through. Titus Andronicus and Recall Rehearsal in Action My favorite demonstration where I show you Recall Rehearsal in action involves Shakespeare, specifically a passage from Titus Andronicus I memorized for my case study of how Anthony Hopkins memorizes his scripts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhjIkGu32CA I’ve retained the passage ever since running it through Recall Rehearsal with minimal repetition. Or better said, I repeat these lines often, but now it’s performance, not just recitation. But the interesting thing isn’t really that I can recite this passage. Anyone can chain words together through brute force rote learning and recite lines like these forward. The proof of the power of Recall Rehearsal is that I can recite the lines out of order: Jumping between sections Running lines in reverse Reciting the odd-numbered lines and then the even numbered lines It’s now probably my favorite demonstration because it makes the power of serial positioning visible. Even better: I’m not alone in enjoying the benefits of improved retention. Magnetic Memory Method Students Who Have Bent the Curve I’ve watched this play out in my students for years, and two cases capture it especially well. Jeannie Koh spent years learning Koine Greek using rote learning during years of what she said were filled with tears and pain. But after learning to encode with Memory Palaces, she found memorizing “much less painful, and much more enduring over time,” now recalling whole passages in that ancient language with an ease she says feels almost suspicious. Same brain, same language, two encoding methods, two completely different forgetting curves. She’s a one-person controlled experiment. For more success stories, including physicians who used these methods to retrieve high-volume, complex information under exam pressure months after encoding it, check out my testimonials page. The pattern is always the same: the forgetting curve is not destiny. So long as you’re using memory techniques optimally, you can resist it, if not beat it. Should You Reproduce Ebbinghaus’s Experiment? One problem I see time and again is that many people want the exact steps needed to measure their progress. Especially when they hear me discuss how rigorously I use journaling as part of my memory activities. I’m sorry, but the demand for “exact steps” is mostly a desire installed by content marketing. The truth is that there isn’t one exact path. There are several and the real lesson in Ebbinghaus’ story is that you need to get involved in creating your own. You can journal manually by simply memorizing real words or nonsense words. Note the dates, and test yourself over time. What matters is that you work inside projects that matter to you. Whether that’s language learning, poetry, mantras, scripture, use a memory journal to help you test what holds and what fades as you use memory techniques. If you’re competitive, you can study how memory athletes use journaling to sharpen their game. My podcast conversation with Johannes Mallow, in which he explains how journaling improved his competitive standing, will be useful in that regard. Often Forgetting Is Actually a Crisis of Commitment If there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the years, it’s that people often take on learning projects connected to lives they do not actually want. They study for a qualification because they believe they should, or to please a family member. As a result, they struggle to memorize information for a job they already suspect will make them miserable. Then they interpret their resistance as a defective memory, when the deeper problem is in fact a conflict of purpose. I’ve had to face this in my own law-school experiment. I could not know in advance exactly what studying law would involve or how well the field would suit me. The saving grace is that trying it has given me greater insight into what’s involved. But now that I’ve seen some of the field from within, I have to ask a different question: Just because I am a mnemonist who can memorize legal Latin quickly and an upcoming presentation I have to give does not mean I must continue pursuing every possible outcome associated with the degree. The ability to remember something does not prove that it deserves years of my life. As I know from my studies in polymathy, memory mastery must include the development of careful selection parameters. In other words, one of the best “meta level” ways to beat the forgetting curve is to decide whether the material deserves a place in your memory at all. If you’d like help picking what to memorize on top of using the Memory Palace technique and Recall Rehearsal, my new training “The System” can help you pick a first project you actually care about. Once you have a learning goal you love, keep a journal as you memorize. Not to reproduce a nineteenth-century experiment, but to watch yourself break the forgetting curve, one piece of info at a time.

If you want to know how to improve cognitive function, you probably already know the basics. You need to eat well, get regular sleep, exercise consistently and maintain social connections. That last point hits me hard because as someone who has taught memory improvement for fifteen years, I recently moved away from all my friends. And I’m definitely feeling the impact of that decision. And we’re all facing the consequences of the decisions we make because everything influences the quality of our minds. So if you’d like to know what I’m personally doing to maintain focus as I age while leading an unusually isolated life, today I’m sharing my research and experiences. It’s a bit unique because I’m the author of multiple memory improvement books, an independent memory researcher and someone with a reputation to maintain in the field of mental performance. And since we all need to preserve our reputations, how I’m tackling my own concentration, memory and focus challenges might help you along your own journey. Let me share this proclamation loud and clear as we begin: Tackling challenges to my own concentration and focus is my passion. And it has to be a passion and a mission because I intend to enjoy a very focused mind with strong recall abilities for as long as I possibly can. Ready to explore some of the best, science-backed strategies that are helping me? Let’s dive in! What Is Cognitive Function? And How Does It Relate To Memory? “Cognitive function” is a term used in a variety of fields, from memory science to Jungian psychology. For Carl Jung, cognition boiled down to how your mind processes and experiences emotional feeling, intuition, a variety of sensations and thought. When it comes to memory in the realm of learning, cognitive function specifically refers to: Attention and how you focus on information like hearing someone’s name Working memory so you can temporarily hold an instruction or phone number in mind Long-term memory for accessing facts like names and locations Processing speed for thinking efficiently Executive functions like planning or switching between tasks Holding focus during conversations or while studying Speaking languages Navigating a variety of places Most importantly, cognitive function governs how we use memory techniques to remember things, specifically information related to data like numbers and information related to our professional work and studies. Why Cognitive Function Slips (According To Science) First things first: If you’re concerned about your memory, please see a doctor. Or, if you’re concerned for a loved one, assist them in doing so. Generally, the reason most of us have issues is because we distract ourselves with multitasking. Good recall begins with paying attention. But far too often we clutter our lives with social media, creating digital amnesia. This is a term that literally refers to Internet-induced forgetting. The good news is that we can improve. Like focusing on diet, exercise, sleep and socializing, paying attention is a behavior. This was a point made by memory expert David Berglas in A Question of Memory. He’s worth listening to because his memory stayed sharp up until a very old age indeed. How do you turn paying attention into a behavior? Start making an effort to remember names, for one thing. Yesterday at the bank I did just that, and the clerk delighted in covering up her name tag to test me several times. You can also engage in activities like memorizing scripture. Or other forms of long-form verbatim memorization, like poetry. For an inspiring outcome from one of my students who was recovering from cardiac arrest, check out the memory improvement case study and scripture demonstration provided by Matt Barclay. There are a few more activities to consider that I’ll cover below, but let’s look at what happens to our brain cells next. It will provide more context to this mission-critical aspect of our mental lives and why maintaining memory is so valuable throughout life. Cellular Aging Judith Campisi was a pioneer in the field of cellular senescence. As one of her papers described this term, cellular senescence is “when bad things happen to good cells.” It’s bad no matter where it happens in the body. But there are two ways it can affect memory: Reducing the functioning of your brain cells Creating pain and stress that distract you and reduce focus If you find yourself dealing with cellular senescence, diet might help improve your cognition. This study found that adopting a ketogenic diet improved memory in aging mice. Anecdotally, I’ve eaten either an entirely keto or near-keto diet for years. I have to regulary eat yogurt now, and that unfortunately causes some brain fog. But during the years I ate near-totally keto, I was sharper than I ever felt in my life. Genetics We often think that things are just the way that they are. Our genes above all cannot be changed. Assuming this is true now, will it always be the case that we have to just deal with the cards we’ve been dealt in the game of life? Scientists are hard at work answering this question. One interesting study on animals has shown promise with respect to potentially treating neurocognitive deficits with gene therapy. In this case, spatial memory was studied in particular, and treated animals were able to navigate mazes better. In humans, how we use memory to navigate space is only starting to be understood. The science writer Christopher Kemp wrote a lovely book on the topic and shared his findings on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. Although it’s not entirely clear that Kemp’s personal struggles with navigation are genetic in nature, Dark and Magical Places is well worth reading because some scientists have shown a substantial relationship between place cells and memory. I’d be surprised if gene therapies didn’t emerge in the future that improve both spatial and other types of memory, giving them greater longevity in our lives. Environmental Factors One of the hardest things for many of us to change is our environmental conditions. As I mentioned, I moved away from the city and did not anticipate just how out of touch this would put me with my friends. I also did not anticipate that it would be such a challenge to make new ones. It’s critical that I take care of this soon, however. As this study shows, poor social connections are a strong predictor of cognitive decline. Another study found that people with stronger social networks have a lower mortality risk. The catch is that “naturally occurring social” relations are at the core of the benefit. Corny “interventions” by community groups or the recent explosion of rent-a-friend and rental family services don’t show much promise. Quite the opposite, as this Afar story details. If it’s true that people work ten-hour days only to carry on eating and relaxing with their co-workers, that sounds like a very challenging environment to live in. And that’s not to mention the possibility that worries over climate issues are causing anxiety-induced memory loss. If you’re struggling to think clearly and remember, you might want to think about how this kind of environmental issue might be affecting you. Research into eco-anxiety is underway at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and likely to grow in importance as a field of therapy over the years to come. How Memory Improvement Activities Can Improve Your Cognition (Even As You Age) Now that we’ve covered some of the key reasons mental sharpness slips throughout our lives, let’s look at activities that will help restore and improve your cognitive function. Obviously, diet and nutrition for cognitive enhancement are assumed. And again, please consult a doctor for advice that directly addresses your personal situation. Likewise with the following activities. If you have doubts, always run each past a qualified professional before engaging in them. Even though I engage in them myself, critical thinking remains important and I always encourage you to seek at least one professional opinion before taking any action. One: Mindfulness And Meditation I’m a strong proponent of meditation for concentration as a key activity for improving attention and memory. Not only does my book, The Victorious Mind cover much of the key research on the benefits of meditation. I wrote it because combining meditation with memory training helped me in a variety of ways. The key is to understand that there are many forms of meditation to explore. Not just sitting or chanting mantras. For example, benefits of mindfulness on your cognitive function will likely start to flow for you through: Sitting meditation Walking meditation Breathing exercises Journaling for reflective thinking exercise Going on a retreat Practicing mindfulness while eating Yoga for concentration and memory Various practices that can help regulate your dopamine levels Although studies like this one show that meditation can increase your working memory, there’s a catch. As these researchers recommend, meditation routines generally need to be systematized and conducted routinely. I’ve certainly found that my own practices need to be consistent. That’s why I optimize my environment to remind me of my meditation practice. I have my journal always in sight, the place I sit and the book of mantras I’m memorizing from. Two: Have A Purpose As You Age I know it sounds cliche. But the findings of the Rush Memory and Aging Project demonstrate that having a goal linked to purpose is associated with lower incidences of Alzheimer’s Disease and related issues. Interestingly, the study also demonstrated that “purpose in life was also associated with a reduced risk of incident disability and risk of death.” I was fortunate to spend time speaking with the memory experts Tony Buzan and Harry Lorayne. They both were incredibly sharp when I met them, despite being in their seventies and eighties respectively. Why? It was not just the fact that they both engaged in regular memory training. In my view, their strong sense of purpose was a huge part of it. Tony had the World Memory Championship he helped found, along with his work in mind mapping and his polymathic personality. For his part, Lorayne wrote and published books and performed card magic almost until the end. I myself have made teaching as a mnemonist and understanding as much as I can about memory science my purpose. It’s not clear yet that I’ll last as long as they did or make a similar mark. That doesn’t matter nearly as much to me as enjoying the benefits that doing my best in this field brings. So your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to craft your own vision statement and work on your purpose. From there on in, it’s just a matter of consistent execution. If you’d like some help with this piece of the puzzle, check out: My detailed training on crafting a vision statement The mind mapping for my business I did under Tony Buzan’s tutelage Three: Engage in Regular Language Learning Activities Another reason you might suffer cognitive decline stems from not taking on enough challenges that create mental stimulation. Few activities offer more variety and challenge than learning a new language. The problem is that many people cringe at the first sign of challenge. Yet, the challenge itself is what’s so helpful for restoring and maintaining cognitive function! As part of my mission and purpose, I’ve created many tutorials on language learning that will help you. Many of these lessons are geared to reduce the challenges and speed up the process based on my personal experiences with applying memory techniques to language acquisition. But that’s not to remove challenges altogether. In many ways, it’s more about keeping the challenges fun and eliminating the boredom of rote learning. Quick Memory-Based Exercises That Restore Concentration We’ve just covered three areas of activity to engage in over the long-term. They’re not quick fixes, but tactics and strategies to explore across a lifetime. What about things you can do within a few minutes a day and get some benefit? Well, as I talk about here, completely crossword puzzles likely isn’t one of them (though they can be fun). It also isn’t fiddling with online brain games (which have been shown not to work very well). Instead, give these quick activities a try. Four: Repeat Conversations Silently In Your Mind I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get caught up in thinking about what I’m going to say next instead of focusing my mind on my conversation partner’s exact words. To combat this, years ago I started repeating what people were telling me in my mind. Memory expert Jim Samuels teaches something similar in his book, Re-Mind Yourself. It’s a quick exercise that focuses your mind and leads to remembering more from conversations. You can also practice this repetition game while listening to podcasts or watching movies. It’s powerful. Five: Kirtan Kriya According to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation, just twelve minutes a day with this ancient concentration technique helps improve your memory while reducing stress. Dr. Gary Weber teaches it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehvokeZnXMM I’ve practiced it for years and it really helps. Usually I combine it with my walking meditation sessions. Six: Incorporate Mnemonics Into Your Daily Life Although it takes a bit of setup, applying mnemonics to everyday learning tasks is easy. You can use them to remember appointments, where you parked and your shopping list. Every time you do, you’re getting in a bit of cognitive exercise. Seven: Listen Like An Audiophile Music has become ubiquitous in our society. You almost can’t go anywhere without hearing it. But that doesn’t mean it has to be background noise. Pay attention deeply to the rhythms you hear. Repeat the melody in your mind. When I do this, I find that my irritation with music I don’t want to hear goes away. Even better, it connects me more deeply with music itself. And studies like this have shown that music is linked to memory in a variety of ways, including episodic memory, semantic memory and explicit and implicit memory. Just by listening to music in a serious way, you’re giving your memory a huge workout. On another level, I try daily to listen seriously to music I’ve never heard before. Luckily, there are bloggers and vloggers who share their most recent acquisitions. Within seconds, I have them playing on Bandcamp or YouTube. Then, the steps are simple: Close your eyes Listen deeply Imagine the different instruments (even if you don’t know what they are) Call back melodies later in the day to exercise your recall abilities For an extra boost, read biographies about musicians. Go through their music in historical order. Read the assessments of professional critics about them during their era. This simple act contextualizes the music and exercises your brain’s unique ability to make connections and expand with new learning. If music isn’t your interest, you can do something similar by looking at and recalling art. Or even going to indoor or outdoor art galleries. I’ve got a whole tutorial on how to use art galleries as part of your lifelong memory improvement journey. One simple exercise is to just think back to a painting or sculpture you’ve seen. In the feature image above, I’m standing under a sculpture in Brisbane, and I’ve combined it with the music exercise. I just asked what it reminded me of and thought instantly of the Canadian band Voivod, which I know from my reading has a relationship to Metallica. Since the sculpture looks like a big M, I then turned it into a kind of virtual Memory Palace, a final type of mental exercise we’ll discuss briefly next. Improving Cognitive Function Can Be Easy & Fun As you’ve seen, there are simple ways to combat cognitive decline. The trick is putting aside the time and being consistent about the activities. I’ve shared some of the strategies I’m using to keep my brain sharp, and you’re welcome to explore even more. Keep in mind that consistency is helped by a variety of cognitive activities, not getting stuck in just one or two. There are also benefits to be had by rotating between several, especially those where learning is involved. This is shown by the principle scientists call interleaving. But you know, my favorite tactic of all is to use my memory in a variety of ways. And for that, I like to have multiple Memory Palaces. These mnemonic tools are very old and really fun to use. To learn more about how to incorporate them in your quest to improve your cognitive function, get my free memory improvement course: It will give your brain a workout with four free videos and some worksheets you can complete. If some of the steps you discover in that course present a challenge, now you know that this is a good thing. Lean into it and enjoy the results that taking on challenges brings to the long-term sharpness of your mind.

*Patreon-only Bonus Episode Teaser* Dean and Kristen are looking back - episode by episode - at their time on By The Book. Today, they give behind-the-scenes stories and updates on The Memory Book, by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas. To hear the full episode, get biweekly episodes of Dean & Kristen Look Back, listen to our complete Patreon-only bonus season of By The Book, read our weekly advice column, access the written rules of every book we've lived by, and more, visit Patreon.com/ListenToByTheBook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A replay of my chat with world renowned memory expert Harry Lorayne.

On this episode of By the Book, Jolenta and Kristen dive into The Memory Book, with the hopes of becoming memory geniuses in two weeks flat. Written by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, the bestselling classic promises to help readers do everything from memorize lists to speak foreign languages. But does it actually work?Keep in touch with us! Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or follow us on Instagram @howtobefinepod. And if you haven't already, please join our How to Be Fine (formerly By the Book) Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kristenandjolenta

Greg talks about how to sharpen your memory thanks to a book from Harry Lorayne. Plus he discusses race and religion and the school shooting in Iowa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About our GuestsDr. Dave Rose is a Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1987 from the University of Virginia. His primary areas of research interest are behavioral economics, political economy, and organization theory. He has published scholarly articles in a wide range of areas. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Weldon Spring Foundation, the HFL Foundation, the Earhart Foundation, and the John R. Templeton Foundation. He is currently in his second term on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In 2008 he received the St. Louis Business Journal's Economic Educator of the year award. His book, The Moral Foundation of Economic Behavior, was selected one of CHOICE's outstanding titles of 2012. His newest book, Why Culture Matters Most, is also from Oxford University Press. He frequently contributes to policy debates through radio and television interviews as well as in Op-Eds on topics ranging from social security, monetary policy, fiscal policy, judicial philosophy, education reform, healthcare reform, and freedom of speech. Dr. Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed became President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008 after serving as chairman of its board of trustees in the 1990s and both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s. He previously served for 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan (1987-2008). He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its department of economics from 1982 to 1984.In May 2019, he retired to the role of President Emeritus at FEE and assumed the titles of Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty. He holds a B.A. in economics from Grove City College (1975) and an M.A. degree in history from Slippery Rock State University (1978), both in Pennsylvania. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Central Michigan University (public administration, 1993) and Northwood University (laws, 2008).Show NotesDr. Rose and Dr. Reed join Adrienne and Trae to discuss the foundation of a good education in civics and economics: cooperation and trust rooted in moral beliefs and lived out by ethical people in the family and society. We delve into the role of stories in economics class, preserving traditional practices and restoring home economics. For the civics and economics teachers, our guests help us see why preferring old stories to current events is best and why it's not necessarily the classroom teacher's job to show students how to balance their checking accounts.     Some topics in this episode include:The Relationship between Parenting, Culture, Civics, and Economics Framing Economics as Cooperation Self-governance in Classical Education The Family and Home Economics Moral Believes and Trust in the Family and Society The Role of Stories in Moral Education Humane Economics and Traditional Practices Gratitude and Service to Others Prudence and Democracy The Value of Failure How to Avoid “Bumper Sticker Pedagogy” Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeWhy Culture Matters, David Rose Real Heroes, Lawrence Reed Economics in One Lesson, Henry HazlittBasic Economics, Thomas Sowell Cinderella Man, Ron Howard (Director)The Whistle, Benjamin Franklin Aesop's Fables, Aesop “The Economics of Splitting Wood By Hand,” John Cuddeback A Conflict of Visions, Thomas SowellDr. Reed's Website Passion's Within Reason,  Robert H. Frank The Memory Book, Harry Lorayne and Jerry LucasFavorite Books and Quotes Dr. Rose's book that he wishes he had read sooner:A Conflict of Visions, Thomas Sowell  Dr. Reed's favorite quote (corrected): “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.” - David Hayek_________________________________OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers who are seeking to understand classical education. Teaching is an art and teachers need opportunities to cultivate their craft. Parents need to feel confident that their children are receiving the best education possible. Therefore, our goals are to help parents make well-informed decisions about the education of their children, and to help teachers experience true joy in their vocation. We help bridge gaps that currently exists between many classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. We guide teachers and parents on the path of a beautiful education. We help teachers delight in their sacred work. We help parents understand that a good education should fill students with wonder and delight! Join in the conversation of discovering the joy and beauty of a well-ordered education. https://www.beautifulteaching.com/OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions!Meet our Team of Master Teachers: https://www.beautifulteaching.com/aboutWe offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

We are delighted to have a rockstar in the speaking industry joining us today!  Joel Block was a professional blackjack player and card counter before embarking on a career in auditing and consulting for VCs, private equities, and real estate. Now, he speaks about what it takes to become an advantaged player.  Joel is a genius when it comes to explaining how the economy works! He joins us to share his unique journey and tell some fascinating stories about things that happened along the way! Bio: Former professional blackjack player and card counter, Joel was a member of one of the most elite teams in the game during the 1980s. Playing solo and with the team, he took money out of casinos before leaving Las Vegas for that giant Casino on Wall Street, where he spent the rest of his career in venture capital and Hedge funds. Joel has been a party to more than a billion dollars in transactions, and what he learned during those years about playing at the top of his game and securing a competitive advantage will fascinate your audience – enabling them to think, see, and act differently so they can know what cards are coming next in business and life. Kicked out of a casino Joel was once part of a team playing at a casino, but he got kicked out! He was afraid because he thought he might get his knees broken, but the people who asked him to leave were professional and just escorted him out. He was also worried because his teammates disappeared when he was told to leave. Fortunately, they eventually met up with him at a predetermined meeting spot. An important business lesson  Joel admits he brought trouble on himself by being too flamboyant and not following the rules while playing blackjack. He learned an important business lesson from the experience; rules exist for our protection and should be followed. He believes that the blackjack experience guides his approach to business and life because playing at the top of one's game in anything requires understanding what it means to do so. Advantage play Joel explains that the trick when using advantage play is to remain inconspicuous and not draw attention to oneself. However, he let his guard down and became too enthusiastic, which caught the attention of the casino staff. Using memory tricks for card counting Joel read a book in high school called The Memory Book, by Harry Lorayne, a memory expert. The book helped him do better in school by teaching him tricks to improve his memory. He learned to memorize decks of cards and later attended a blackjack seminar with his dad. He impressed the seminar instructor by counting a deck of cards in 18 seconds and was taken under his wing to become a professional gambler. He joined a team led by Jerry Patterson and became very good at blackjack.  How Joel's card counting days ended Joel played poker for a few years and had a great time. He used to go to Las Vegas on weekends during college and got into playing blackjack. He became very good at counting cards, and a mentor taught him more advanced techniques. He was invited to join a team of gamblers led by Jerry Patterson. He eventually realized that he was hanging around people who did not care about his education and were using him to make money. He had a moment of self-awareness and decided to stop playing blackjack. He has not played much since then because he fears that he would get too addicted to it again. He has, however, helped others play by advising them on how to bet and which moves to make. Working for a big accounting firm Joel worked at one of the big accounting firms, Price Waterhouse, and had an assignment counting ballots for the Academy Awards. He explains that the secrecy of the process gets maintained by breaking the job into many little parts, with only a few people at the top who put the puzzle together and understand what will happen. The real estate syndication business Joel left Price Waterhouse to start his own real estate syndication business and later a venture capital operation and publishing company that was sold to a Fortune 500 company. He retired from his hedge fund and now shares what he learned with other executives because few truly understand the money business.  Teaching leaders how to be advantage players Money is a complicated business, and even with a background in venture capital and hedge funds, Joel still struggled to explain it to meeting planners and professionals. He hired a consultant who asked him to list 100 extraordinary things he had done in his career. One of the items on the list was his ability to take money out of a casino. The consultant saw that as a unique skill for Joel to use as a metaphor for teaching business principles. Joel now teaches leaders how to be advantage players using blackjack as a metaphor, helping them become more aware and better at predicting outcomes in business.  Asking the right questions While it is impossible to predict some events, many things can be predicted and prepared for in order to make real money. Asking the right questions, understanding situational awareness, and analyzing industry trends can help companies make informed decisions and place their bets strategically. Joel produces an annual Trend Report to help clients better understand how Wall Street works and how to apply predictive logic to their business decisions. Strategic retreats  Joel leads strategic retreats for senior executives and boards of directors, where he asks good questions to help them come up with breakthroughs. He emphasizes the importance of thinking, seeing, and acting differently to gain an advantage in business, and has started an Advantage Player Institute to teach people these techniques. The strategies he teaches are legal and smart but require out-maneuvering competitors aggressively and ambitiously. What is going on with the economy The market is in turmoil, and in times like this, cash is king! People with cash have an advantage as they can make the most of opportunities when others struggle. Prices have risen due to supply chain disruptions, but this is not necessarily inflation. The whole economy has reset to a new level, and the Feds are using a tactic that may be ineffective in addressing the current situation. Economists are not scientists, and the economy is a behavioral art form, making it difficult to predict. Cash is becoming obsolete Joel is concerned that the United States dollar has lost its value as countries like Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, and China are moving away from using it as their primary currency. He believes the US needs to get ahead in the cryptocurrency markets to stay competitive. He predicts that the US will move toward an electronic system within the next ten years, as cash is becoming obsolete.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Joel Block On his website On LinkedIn   Book mentioned: The Memory Book, by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas

A memory test for the guys and a discussion on memory. How people like the late Harry Lorayne and others keep memories and some discussion on the differences between photographic memory, autobiographical memory, mnemonics, and more. Got something weird? Email neshcom@gmail.com, subject line “Weird Things.” [No After Things this week!] Picks: Justin: Guardians of the […]

NBA News, NFL News, MLB News, WNBA News, NHL News, NFL Free Agency, Fox's The Resident, NBC Shows, Starwars, A Farwell to Nora Foster, Bill Butler, Norman Reynolds, Paul Cattermole, Francesca Cappucci, Jacques Haitkin, John Regan, Harry Lorayne, Michael Lerner, Julian Figueora, Elizabeth Hubbard & Al Jaffe. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/on-the-radar/support

EL libro de Harry Lorayne, si bien ya tiene varios años de su original publicación en ingles, aun conserva la frescura de las obras imperecederas. Aunque el autor invirtió mucho tiempo en investigaciones médicas para desarrollar su sistema de memoria, estas no están en este libro, ya que el propósito, transmitido a la manera de una charla con usted amigo lector, es ensenar de manera practica, los modos y métodos que le permitirán desarrollar una supermemoria. Sicólogos y educadores han dicho y repetido que solo utilizamos un pequeño porcentaje de la potencia de nuestro cerebro; el sistema aquí desarrollado le pondrá a usted en condiciones de aprovechar un poco mas de lo que suele el común de la gente. Adelante ahora podrá poseer una memoria de una capacidad de retención y de una fidelidad maravillosa!. Algunos temas en esta obra: * El habito es memoria * El interes y la memoria * Es conveniente recordar nombres y caras * ¿Que es lo que encierra un nombre? * No seas distraido * Deja pasmados a tus amigos * Esinteresante recordar citas y horarios. * Alardes de memoria --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dany-mac-pherson/support

In this episode, Joel Block shares about how to become an advantage player in real estate and how to identify advantaged players in real estate. He also talks about lessons in blackjack applicable to investing as well as turning the odds in our favor in business and in life. Joel Block is  a long-time venture capitalist and hedge fund manager, he knows how to pinpoint success. Because he is also a futurist, he bets on the trends that he identifies. In addition to his experience of building and/or operating close to 40 companies, he has advised hundreds more, and has the experience of being inside of over 1,000 companies with the opportunity to analyze them, whether for acquisition, investment, or advisement. Joel has several secret weapons including his extraordinary wit which contributes to his lightning-fast understanding of the businesses he examines. [00:01 - 12:30] Opening Segment Joel shares his background as a CPA and becoming a professional in Blackjack Started as a professional gambler in Las Vegas and transitioned to Wall Street How much money you make depends directly on how much money you have in your bank roll Blackjack is a game about keeping track of the balance between low and high   [12:31 -19:18] Becoming a “Advantage Player” Understanding the rules of the game better Identifying key people who can help you in real estate  There is predictability in the real estate market Differentiating market distress from personal financial destress  [19:19- 30:49] Identifying Financial Distress and Crypto Frauds Knowing the value of the property and if it can yield a return Differentiating if a deal is just for a trophy property  Outsourcing due diligence Lack of regulation around cryptocurrency   [30:50 - 35:37] Closing Segment Quick break for our sponsors The first step to growing your wealth is tracking your wealth, income spending and everything else about your finances, you can start tracking your wealth for free and get six free months of wealth advisor.  Learn more about Personal Capital at escapingwallstreet.com  What is your favourite book?The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas What is an indispensable tool or asset in your business or life? Evernote  What conference are you excited to go to in 2023?National Speakers Association Annual Conference Connect with Joel Block: Website:https://joelblock.com/ Invest passively in multiple commercial real estate assets such as apartments, self-storage, medical facilities, hotels, and more through https://www.passivewealthstrategy.com/crowdstreet/ Participate directly in real estate investment loans on a fractional basis. Go to www.passivewealthstrategy.com/groundfloor/ and get ready to invest on your own terms. Join our Passive Investor Club for access to passive commercial real estate investment opportunities. LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode or click here to listen to our previous episodes             Tweetable Quotes: “But the bottom line is that you don't win every hand, but you tend to win more often when bigger bets are on the table. And that's what makes a professional player a winner.” - Joel Block Disclaimer: This is not an episode about how to successfully play blackjack. We are only  pulling lessons around, turning the odds in our favor in business and in life. This is not a gambling show.

This is the second part of the solo episode where I share 3 things to do when you arrive at the venue, how to become a powerful super host, storing and recalling people's names, startups, and milestones.Resources mentioned:#55: 5 Powerful WhatsApp Hacks To 10X Your Productivity!: Where I share my methods to organize WhatsApp to work for your business and you, maintain relationships with 100's people, systems and scripts you can automate, a visual and memorable name-saving tip, wise texting tip, becoming a part of your audiences' daily routine and more!How to Develop a Super Power Memory by Harry Lorayne - https://amzn.to/3pqHSl9How to Remember Names and Faces: Master the Art of Memorizing Anyone's Name by Practicing w Over 500 Memory Training Exercises of People's Faces by Luis Angel Echeverria. - https://amzn.to/3QzzsDUFirst  Part of the solo episode: 3-time tested strategies before you go to a startup networking event!  This  outlines 3 powerful weapons you need in your social kit before you go to another event, how to find and make it to the right events, and creating a memorable visiting card that converts! How to get in a socialite mode. The 3-time tested strategies that networkers swear by!   

About our GuestsDr. Dave Rose is a Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1987 from the University of Virginia. His primary areas of research interest are behavioral economics, political economy, and organization theory. He has published scholarly articles in a wide range of areas. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Weldon Spring Foundation, the HFL Foundation, the Earhart Foundation, and the John R. Templeton Foundation. He is currently in his second term on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In 2008 he received the St. Louis Business Journal's Economic Educator of the year award. His book, The Moral Foundation of Economic Behavior, was selected one of CHOICE's outstanding titles of 2012. His newest book, Why Culture Matters Most, is also from Oxford University Press. He frequently contributes to policy debates through radio and television interviews as well as in Op-Eds on topics ranging from social security, monetary policy, fiscal policy, judicial philosophy, education reform, healthcare reform, and freedom of speech. Dr. Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed became President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008 after serving as chairman of its board of trustees in the 1990s and both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s. He previously served for 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan (1987-2008). He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its department of economics from 1982 to 1984.In May 2019, he retired to the role of President Emeritus at FEE and assumed the titles of Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty. He holds a B.A. in economics from Grove City College (1975) and an M.A. degree in history from Slippery Rock State University (1978), both in Pennsylvania. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Central Michigan University (public administration, 1993) and Northwood University (laws, 2008).Show NotesDr. Rose and Dr. Reed join Adrienne and Trae to discuss the foundation of a good education in civics and economics: cooperation and trust rooted in moral beliefs and lived out by ethical people in the family and society. We delve into the role of stories in economics class, preserving traditional practices and restoring home economics. For the civics and economics teachers, our guests help us see why preferring old stories to current events is best and why it's not necessarily the classroom teacher's job to show students how to balance their checking accounts.     Some topics in this episode include:The Relationship between Parenting, Culture, Civics, and Economics Framing Economics as Cooperation Self-governance in Classical Education The Family and Home Economics Moral Believes and Trust in the Family and Society The Role of Stories in Moral Education Humane Economics and Traditional Practices Gratitude and Service to Others Prudence and Democracy The Value of Failure How to Avoid “Bumper Sticker Pedagogy” Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeWhy Culture Matters, David Rose Real Heroes, Lawrence Reed Economics in One Lesson, Henry HazlittBasic Economics, Thomas Sowell Cinderella Man, Ron Howard (Director)The Whistle, Benjamin Franklin Aesop's Fables, Aesop “The Economics of Splitting Wood By Hand,” John Cuddeback A Conflict of Visions, Thomas SowellDr. Reed's Website Passion's Within Reason,  Robert H. Frank The Memory Book, Harry Lorayne and Jerry LucasFavorite Books and Quotes Dr. Rose's book that he wishes he had read sooner:A Conflict of Visions, Thomas Sowell  Dr. Reed's favorite quote (corrected): “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.” - David Hayek_________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Used with permission. cellists: Sara Sant' Ambrogio and Lexine Feng; pianist: Alyona Waldo  © 2022 Beautiful Teaching. All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Harry Lorayne is generally considered in magic circles to be a living legend and his card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, some originally created nearly 60 years ago, are still being used by professional magicians to this day. In fact, it can be argued that there isn't a single card magician in the world who doesn't perform a trick with a deck of cards that doesn't borrow something from Mr. Lorayne's vast teachings in one way or another." Harry Lorayne (born 4 May 1926) is an American magician and a memory-training specialist and writer who was called "The Yoda of Memory Training" and "The World's Foremost Memory-Training Specialist" by Time magazine. He is well known for his incredible memory demonstrations and has appeared on numerous television shows including 24 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His book The Memory Book was a New York Times bestseller. His card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, is widely emulated by amateur and professional magicians. www.harrylorayne.com info@harrylorayne.com

This week I am replaying the chat I had with 95 year old memory expert Harry Lorayne. Check it out if you missed it the first time around! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-leahy/message

Welcome back to the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast for episode #149 with Dave Farrow[i], a two-time Canadian Guinness World Record Holder for Most Decks of Playing Cards Memorized in a single sighting in 1996 and again in 2007 when he correctly memorized and recalled the exact order of 59 decks of shuffled playing cards—which is 3068 cards in total, exceeding his previous record of 52 decks (2704 cards). Watch the Interview on YouTube here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrxuvnCpI0c Learn more about Dave Farrow and his Memory Program https://farrowmemory.com/a/andrea See past episodes here https://www.achieveit360.com/episodes/ On this episode you will learn: ✔︎  How Dave Farrow overcame his diagnosis of ADHD and Dyslexia to develop talents that would set him miles apart from the rest in his future. ✔︎ The learning strategies that Dave Farrow used to overcome his areas of weakness and work 8x faster than the average person. ✔︎  The secret behind how he memorized 59 decks of shuffled playing cards that got him into the Guinness World Book of Records for memory. ✔︎ His strategy for memorizing 109 balloon colors (in 60 seconds) winning him the episode on FOX TV's SUPERHUMAN SHOW. ✔︎ How Dave Farrow now wants to give back and help others develop SUPERHUMAN MEMORY Powers, Increase Focus and Reduce Brain Fatigue, so they can rise to the top of their career and life. I'm Andrea Samadi, author, and educator from Toronto, Canada, now in Arizona, and like many of our listeners, have been fascinated with learning and understanding the science behind high performance strategies in our schools, sports, and the workplace with ideas that we can all use, understand and implement immediately. I can't tell you how excited I am to speak with fellow Canadian, Dave Farrow[ii] who wasn't born with the gift of memory, he was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia as a child. To help him to do better at school, Dave created a memory system called “The Farrow Method” which is now a certifiable scientifically proven system for memory backed by a double-blind neuroscience study at McGill University In 2008 Dave was hired by Sony Corporation to live in a window on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and speed read on a Sony E-Reader for literacy in America. In 30 days, he read over 100 books and through his efforts, Sony gave 4.4 million E-Books to schools in America. Over 100 million people watched him in the window read for charity. As a memory expert, David has trained over 10,000 business professionals, students, managers and seminar attendees in memory programs offered in both Canada and the United States, with that number growing each day. Today Dave uses his media savvy and keen understanding of the brain in the public relations sector. He is the founder and CEO of FarrowPR a full-service public relations and marketing firm in Buffalo NY. With his ability to speed read and memorize large amounts of information, Dave is an expert in Nanotechnology and microfluidics and is currently developing a prototype for a robotic moving mannequin with “Start Up New York.” Dave has been a featured guest expert on over 2000 interviews in the media including, The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Steve Harvey, Discovery Channel and many others. I was introduced to Dave Farrow after episode #145 with Howard Berg[iii] who holds the Guinness World record for speed reading, and immediately started to make connections with his work, and past interviews and episodes. I'm always looking at ways to improve memory, especially after my brain scan at Amen Clinics[iv] showed that I was weak in the area of recall memory or recalling a list of random words and Dr. Creado who did my brain scan evaluation reminded me that “we can change our brain and memory with practice, but we must first of all believe it's possible.” After seeing how easy it was to remember a list of 10 items with my interview with Howard Berg, I'm dying to learn more from Dave Farrow, and share these strategies with you. Welcome Dave, thank you very much for meeting with me today. I see that you are originally from Kitchener, Ontario? Growing up in Toronto, I spent a lot of time in Kitchener in high school when a high school friend moved off the Homer Watson Blvd exit (I still remember that!). Where have I reached you today? Q1: From reading your story, I can see how you got behind with your academics with the health challenges you experienced. Your story reminded me a lot of someone I interviewed years ago, named Nik Halik[v] from EPISODE #31 who overcame severe illness as a child, by studying Encyclopedias and went on to live a phenomenal life. What do you remember about your early years that motivated you to learn, study and begin developing the talents that would set you miles apart from others in your future? Q2: Dave, a lot about your story is fascinating, but for those who work with students with dyslexia, or reading challenges, they might find it difficult to imagine results like yours. I interviewed Lois Letchford on episode #136 where her son, who was diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade, went on to get his Ph.D. and graduate from Oxford University, with a bright future. His Mom spoke about the switch she felt with his learning when he began to find an interest in learning through maps. Also, Barbara Arrowsmith-Young from episode #132[vi] who changed her brain and left her learning disability behind. Was there something that you remember that changed for you that took you from struggling with your academics, to mastery? Q3: Can we talk about what got you into the Guinness World Book of Records for memory? "There is nothing more empowering or motivational than discovering the ability for SuperHuman Memory has been inside you all along." - Dave Farrow I watched you on the FOX TV SUPERHUMAN SHOW[vii] where you were being tested by memorizing 109 balloon colors, (in 60 seconds) (and then I thought “What strategy does he use to do this as you close your eyes?” How on the earth could you memorize 59 decks of shuffled cards when I struggle to remember 10 things on a random list? Is there a secret? Q4: Looking through your work this weekend, I couldn't miss seeing Harry Lorayne[viii] somewhere, and I don't remember where it was, maybe it was a reference on your website. When I worked with Bob Proctor in the seminar industry, he was always talking about Harry Lorayne being the person he knew with a great memory (maybe because he hadn't met you yet)? Was Harry one of your early influencers? Who else inspired the work you are doing? Q5: I can also see some of the leaders of motivation and sales on your website who I've come across over the years. I saw Greg Reid, the creator of Secret Knock, who's written so many books on the power of positive thinking and developing your mind, and also the late Frank Shankwitz, the Founder of Make-A-Wish Foundation, who we interviewed on episode #40 and sadly we lost earlier this year.[ix] How are you now using your talents to help others to be more successful? Q6: What is the Farrow Method™[x] that was proven at McGill University's neuroscience study and how does it guarantee to improve someone's memory? How can The Farrow Method  help sales teams, high powered executives, or anyone else looking to improve their productivity and results? Q7: Is there something important, that you think I have missed? Thank you for your time today, Dave, and for all you are doing to help lift up those who may think they don't have a chance for mind-blowing results that you have attained. For those who want to learn more about you and your programs, I will put the link in the show notes  https://farrowmemory.com/a/andrea as well, they can find you on Twitter https://twitter.com/FarrowComms Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefarrowmemory/ RESOURCES: The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read by Ronald D. Davis Published Feb.4th 2010 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030CVQGW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Educational Implications of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences First Published Nov. 1st, 1989 by Howard Gardner https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0013189X018008004 REFERENCES: [i] https://farrowmemory.com/a/andrea [ii] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Farrow [iii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #145 with the World's Fastest Reader, Howard Berg on “Strategies to Improve Reading, Comprehension and Recall” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-worlds-fastest-reader-howard-stephen-berg-on-strategies-to-improve-reading-comprehension-and-recall-for-educators-and-the-workplace/ [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #84 Brain Scan Results “How a SPECT Image Brain Scan Can Change Your Life” [v] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #31 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/entrepreneur-civilian-astronaut-and-extreme-adventurer-nik-halik-on-overcoming-adversity-to-create-an-epic-life/ [vi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #132 with Barbara Arrowsmith Young on “How She Changed Her Brain and Left Her Learning Disability Behind” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/the-story-of-barbara-arrowsmith-young-the-woman-who-changed-her-brain-and-left-her-learning-disability-behind/ [vii] Dave Must Memorize 109 Balloon Colors Published on YouTube June 10, 2017 by FOX NEWS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmacFBSH864&t=1s [viii] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Lorayne [ix]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #40 with Frank Shankowitz https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/co-founder-of-the-make-a-wish-foundation-frank-shankwitz-on-lessons-from-the-wish-man-movie/ [x] https://farrowmemory.com/

Think your memory inevitably declines with age? Listen to this fascinating chat with world renowned memory expert Harry Lorayne and think again! 24 visits on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/john-leahy/message

Paul Gordon is a professional close-up magician and entertainer, best-selling author and popular magic lecturer. He's lectured and performed at 4Fs, Tannen's Jubilee, Penguin Live, FFAP (France), At The Table Live, The Magic Circle, Monaco All Stars, Blackpool Magic Convention and more. The card magic of Paul Gordon has received raves by the likes of Jeff McBride, Chad Long, Andi Gladwin, Rafael Benatar, Boris Wild, Harry Lorayne, Aldo Colombini, John Guastaferro, Alex Elmsley, Larry Jennings, Wayne Fox, Gary Jones, John Carey, Dan Harlan, David Regal & many more!Paul Gordon's best-selling highly-acclaimed books include The Gold Dust Trilogy, Quidnunc and Article 52. DVDs include Killer Card Magic and The Real Secrets of Card Magic.  Packet tricks include The Corner of Piccadilly, Smack In The Face, Twisted Colours, The Cursed Gypsy, Jeepers Creepers, The Red Herring, Spectrum, Killer OMG, The Ultimate Sting, The Devil And The Magician, Ouija, Very Hot Flush and Triple Kick Monte. Plus, lecture downloads with Penguin Live and Murphy's Magic At The Table Experience. Paul Gordon is a Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. In 2018, he was awarded The John Nevil Maskelyne Prize for Literature. In 2019 he won the International Brotherhood of Magicians Linking Ring's Award For Excellence for his 2018 One-Man Parade.In this interview Paul talks about his career, creating magic, performing magic with cards, the life of a magic dealer and more.

Star of Masters of Illusion and Disney cruise ship headliner Farrell Dillon talks to Erik Tait about the time they booked an underground magic show in Los Angeles, and shares advice he wishes he had when he was in his 20's. Nick Locapo stops by the studio to discuss the featured download of the week from John Carey. The show kicks off with a quickfire segment about magic books, with author, lecturer, and performer Mike Powers in Desert Island Magic Books._____Apocalypse Volume 2 by Harry Lorayne: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/13441Apocalypse Deluxe 16-320 by Harry Lorayne: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S28530Farrell Dillon Live: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/14910Slow Motion Oil & Water by John Carey: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9169

Gregory Wilson is a two-time FISM award-winner with a score of best-selling instructional DVD's on the market.In 1998, he was also awarded "Most Creative Magician of the Year" by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.He has contributed almost 100 original effects to MAGIC, Genii, Linking Ring, M.U.M., Arcane, Penumbra, Magic Menu, Channel One, Vanish, Labyrinth, Magicseen and other magazines, as well as a full chapter in Paul Harris' The Art of Astonishment, a chapter in Harry Lorayne's Best of Friends 3, a chapter in John Lovick's Switch, and a chapter in the wildly popular Magic for Dummies. Just don't hold that last one against him! He has performed and lectured on 6 continents, in 47 countries and over 1,000 cities, giving him the experience to add to your own personal experience.In this interview Greg sits down and talks about his career in magic.  He speaks about performing magic, creating products and the highs and lows of his career.  He gives a lot of advice on how to get ahead in magic, performing close up magic working hard and being successful.Greg also performs some amazing magic which will blow your mind!  He also showcases a brand new trick which will be dropping any week now on his website the secret source.  This trick is called Holy Smoke and on the video he performs the routine and explains why it is so good!This interview is incredible. It should be required viewing for every magician. 

Harrison interviews one of the most prolific magic writers, illustrators, and publishers in magic history, Richard Kaufman, to discovers how he got into magic book publishing before he turned 20, his love of Disney theme parks, how  an article in the NY Times led to his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, the incredible story of how his latest book ended up at the bottom of the ocean, and the secret to being a prolific writer and creator. With surprise guests Harry Lorayne and Randy Pitchford. Presented by the International Brotherhood of Magicians. 

Harry Lorayne is a master of memory. Lorayne has parlayed that into a successful career as a magician, mentalist, and motivational speaker.Now, you might not think those first two go together: A magician known for his card slights and a memory-training specialist. But when Lorayne puts those two skills together—even today, in his mid 90's—something akin to the impossible happens.Lorayne has traveled the world lecturing for magicians, training others in his memory techniques, and entertaining audiences. Greg Kelly had the chance to sit down with Mr. Lorayne a few years ago to talk about his methodology, theories on the mind, and his vast publications on the subject. Now, be warned, the audio is a little older and distorts somewhat at times, but you'll be too engrossed in the interview to notice.Follow Greg Kelly on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregkellyusaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregkellyusa/Find out more information at:https://gregkellypodcast.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harrison interviews one of the most influential performers, authors, and teachers in magic, Harry Lorayne, and learns if he's going to bring back his magic magazine, "Apocalypse," during what feels like an actual apocalypse (and where the name originally came from), what his favorite card tricks are from the hundreds (if not thousands) that he knows and has written about, how to make sure your memory IMPROVES as you get older, and so much, much more from his over 90 years of magical experience.With surprise guests George Schindler, Meir Yedid, and Michael Vincent.Presented by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Continuing Harry Lorayne methods, theories and philosophies from the book Memory Masters. The purpose of this episode is to explore how we think, why we think the way we do, and the ways we can maximize our thought processes. 

How can you improve your learning and memory capacity? Here are some quick insightful tips. Memory is the foundation of intelligence and the basis in which we prove that we have learned a concept. 

Harrison interviews the Millionaires' Magician, Steve Cohen, and finds out about the time he helped David Copperfield buy Houdini's bathtub, the key to building a successful character and career (and how they're connected), creating tricks that result in lasting stories, and that time a magic camp counselor literally left him in stitches.With surprise guests Harry Lorayne, Steve Barnes, Terri Cook, Gabe Abelson, and Mark Levy.Presented by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Named by MAGIC Magazine as one of “The 100 most Influential Magicians of the 20th Century.”, Harry Lorayne is a name that is respected and renown throughout generations of card magicians. He has several books and videos on magic, though in the world outside of magic he is best known as a memory expert who taught his course throughout the globe. He popularized his books, “Secrets of Mind Power” and “How to Develop a Super Power Memory” during his appearances on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and many globe trotting tours.Today, we’ve managed to book, without exaggeration, the world’s foremost expert on memory and memory training: Harry Lorayne. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Harry tells us about how Al Hirschfeld drew his picture, how he developed his incredible memory, performing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, his relationship with Jerry Lucas, the development of his books and the 20 years of Apocalypse, some of his favorite tricks, and he also gives us a short course in mnemonics and memory. BTW, in the early part of this episode we talk about Al Hirschfeld’s representative being a former agent for Max Malini. I was corrected by Richard Hatch who reminded me that it was NOT Max Malini but Kuda Bux that she handled. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

I met Harry Lorayne in the spring/summer of 1975. At the time, I was going to music school at Butler University. I lived not far from campus and was home for lunch. As I watched the noon news, I heard the following announcement: “After this commercial break, we’ll be back with memory expert, Harry Lorayne.” I never saw the interview, because I immediately hopped in my car and headed downtown to the TV studio. (Fortunately, it wasn’t that far away.) I sat in the lobby; Harry came in from the production offices a few minutes later. I asked if he needed a lift to his next appointment. He did, and we spent the remainder of the day together, including a great dinner at St. Elmo’s steak house with Harry Riser. Over his seventy-year career, Harry has been one of the major contributors to the literature of magic; his output is astounding. At age ninety-three, he says he’s starting to slow down, but the energy and enthusiasm displayed in his voice belies that. We spent an enjoyable forty-five minutes discussing a wide range of topics. (March 2019) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Dom DeLuise, celebrity fat man (and five of clubs), has been implicated in the following unseemly acts in my mind’s eye: He has hocked a fat globule of spittle (nine of clubs) on Albert Einstein’s thick white mane (three of diamonds) and delivered a devastating karate kick (five of spades) to the groin of Pope Benedict XVI (six of diamonds). Michael Jackson (king of hearts) has engaged in behavior bizarre even for him. He has defecated (two of clubs) on a salmon burger (king of clubs) and captured his flatulence (queen of clubs) in a balloon (six of spades). Rhea Perlman, diminutive Cheers bartendress (and queen of spades), has been caught cavorting with the seven-foot-seven Sudanese basketball star Manute Bol (seven of clubs) in a highly explicit (and in this case, anatomically improbable) two-digit act of congress (three of clubs). In this episode of Made You Think, Neil and Nat discuss Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. It is a fun book episode about how Joshua Foer came from nowhere to win the US memory championship with the challenge and coaching of Ed Cook. In the book Josh shows how to train our brain memory “muscle” and remember everything. We cover a wide range of topics, including: Why and how poetry, religion, and epics are interconnected because of memory Mnemonic techniques to remember numbers, names, cards, everything How to hack our brain to “live longer” Incredible memory stats How to impress your crush and make your dates memorable And much more. Please enjoy, and be sure to grab a copy of Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our fun episodes on Emergency by Neil Strauss, a book for preppers, as well as our recent episode on How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff, a short an easy book that shows how media can be manipulated. Be sure to join our mailing list to find out about what books are coming up, giveaways we're running, special events, and more. Links from the Episode Mentioned in the show How to win the U.S. memory championship [3:12] The Google Effect [8:40] Playstation [15:09] Twitter [19:35] LinkedIn [19:35] Pearl Harbor [21:35] 9/11 [21:36] Anki [26:34] Lindy Effect [29:10] Nat's book notes and Brain [48:49] Evernote [53:00] World Memory Records [59:17] Memrise [1:01:11] Ed Cook on Tim Ferriss Podcast [1:02:11] Duolingo [1:02:58] CMU [1:04:22] Fight Through the Suck – Justin Mares [1:07:28] 10000 Hour Rule on Google [1:12:15] The World Memory Championships [1:17:03] Joshua Foer TED talk [1:17:32] 21 (film) [1:18:04] Books mentioned Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand [1:50] (Nat’s notes) (book episode) Homo Deus by Yuval Harari [1:52] (Nat’s notes) (book episode) Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari [1:52] (Nat’s notes) (book episode part 1 & part 2) Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. Hofstadter [2:21] (Nat’s notes) (book episode) Emergency [2:32] (Nat’s notes) (book episode) Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman [6:11] (Nat’s notes) (book episode) The Torah [11:00] The Quran [11:00] The Tower – Hotel Concierge [31:16] (article episode) Essays by Montaigne [47:27] 12 Rules for Life by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson [50:15] (Nat’s notes) (Neil’s notes) (book episode) Way of Zen by Alan Watts [50:16] (Nat’s notes) (Neil’s notes) (book episode) Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb [50:17] (Nat’s notes) (Neil’s notes) (book episode) The Elephant in the Brain by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson [50:18] (Neil’s notes) The 4 Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss [1:02:34] Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell [1:03:48] Peak by Anders Ericsson [1:03:56] Remember, Remember by Ed Cooke [1:15:52] The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne [1:16:32] People mentioned Joshua Foer Albert Einstein Ed Cook [3:40] Homer [5:36] Plato [5:50] Simba [16:13] Mufasa [16:33] Adil Majid [17:55] (Crypto episode) Sigmund Freud [18:20] Pepper the Poochon [23:06] Montaigne [47:12] Tiago Forte [51:46] Cicero [53:56] Frank Sinatra [56:26] David Beckham [56:32] Superman [56:37] Alex Mullan memory grandmaster [59:43] Tim Ferriss [1:02:11] Anders Ericsson [1:03:41] Malcolm Gladwell [1:03:48] James Franco 1:18:17 Michael Serrick 1:18:24 Show Topics 3:12 – Extreme memory is not innate, comes from training. Until books became affordable, there were no easy means to record and keep information. We had to use our brains and information was passed down orally. There is no need of crazy photographic memory or some innate ability, but just training the "muscle". 7:50 – How many phone numbers do you remember? If you don't have to struggle to remember it, you'll not remember it. For efficiency your body doesn't want to do anything more than needed. Poetry and religion and epics are connected to memory training. 11:20 – The story of how Josh learnt the techniques of extreme memory. First technique: remembering names. Associating name sounds with a vivid image. Remembering not westernized names. What names can you remember with these images? Nailing down in front of a Playstation. A lion's son being chased by an gnat. A wizard dealing cards to Freud. When introducing someone to your friends, name your friends a lot so the new comer can remember their names. 19:04 – Practicing these techniques on Twitter or LinkedIn. Challenges in the competition. Remembering participants' attributes in a fake dinner, cards, string of numbers, and a poem. 20:33 – Second technique. Chunking. Remembering in chunks is easier than in smaller bits. In reduces the pieces of information. Example: string of 12 numbers chunked into the two big surprise attacks on American soil. Combining large chunks numbers into bigger images. Keeping the order of numbers by keeping a path to your memory palace. 25:41 – The time you need to dedicate each day is pretty small compared to its ROI. Remembering cards by associating 3 of each each time. These tactics were used for a long long time, even thousands of years ago. The importance of context. A big part of why this works is because we are good at remembering things in context but not when it's random information. Chessmasters examples. 31:03 – Increased perceived longevity. Nuances and quantity of experiences increases perceptual time. Life seems to speed up as we get older just because life gets less memorable, more repetitive. Monotony collapses time and novelty unfolds it. Downside of the idea of flow. Time experience is based on what we can remember. 37:15 – Tips to make a date memorable. Tips for planning parties. Plan 3 phases of a party, for example move the party in different rooms, different drinks, and change activities. It will feel like a longer party even if it took the same amount of time. It's kind of narrative fallacy used to our advantage. 41:05 – Memory images. Creating images for everything. Our brain prefers visual information and novelty. Collect numbers wandering in your house. The funnier, the looter, the more bizarre images, the better. Our brain takes 20% of our energy consumption. We forget dreams because our brain thinks it's junk data. 44:26 – Make images dirty and sexual. Use multiple senses too. Include smells, feelings, multi-sensory experiences. How we can remember songs even if we don't listen them for 10 years. Write your feelings and thoughts at the end of each book you read. Very useful if you are getting into speed reading or want to remember what the book was about, snippents will give you cues to remember it. Nat's book notes are efficient to remember core parts of a book. Neil's tactic to give attention to books’ concepts. 50:53 – Repetition. Nat's 3 layers strategy: pull out all important sections, bold important parts of sections, then highlight the most important part of the bolded part. Layer 4: adding a summary. 53:02 – The Method of Loci. Using memory images based on your environment. If you have to remember a speech, visualize the points you want to talk about at specific places. You can remember your speech by looking at specific parts of the auditorium or walking through the stage. Useful to remember dance movements. Advantages of the memory palace vs the Loci method. 55:59 – Remembering numbers. The PAO system: Person, Action, Object. First, associate an image to numbers going from 0 to 99. Remembering a 6 digit number can be done mixing the person of the first pair of digits, with the action of the second, and object of the third. 1:01:00 – Tangents. Memory training companies. 1:03:20 – Learning advice. How to get further the OK plateau. Experiments on memorizing. How the early University experiments on memory looked like. Reaching the peak of memory training is not about the hours put in, but the quality of those hours. During the first phase, known as the “cognitive stage,” you’re intellectualizing the task and discovering new strategies to accomplish it more proficiently. During the second “associative stage,” you’re concentrating less, making fewer major errors, and generally becoming more efficient. Finally you reach what Fitts called the “autonomous stage,” when you figure that you’ve gotten as good as you need to get at the task and you’re basically running on autopilot. You could call it the “OK plateau”, the point at which you decide you’re OK with how good you are at something, turn on autopilot, and stop improving. Breaking up the OK plateau. When you deliberately want to get better at something, you may get initially worse. Sometimes you need to go down to get at a higher point later. It's not enjoyable in the short term. You have to deliberately make yourself uncomfortable to break the plateau. Changing variables to find where the weaknesses are. The 10.000 hours rule. 1:14:18 – Other books and resources about memory training. 1:18:48 – Get the story part reading the book! If you want to listen the bonus material, get the book note we use for the show, go to our Patreon page. There you can comment about the book too after they come out. You can also join our monthly hangout. On our first hangout we have a very interesting conversation for an hour and a half. You can support the show in additional ways buying stuff on our Support page. Also, very important, tell your friends and help spread the show through word of mouth. Leave reviews on iTunes. Or leave Amazon book reviews ;)   Find us on Twitter @Neil Soni (@TheRealNeilS) and @Nat Eliason (@nateliason). If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe at https://madeyouthinkpodcast.com

Stephen Anderson has been an Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner for nearly 20 years.  He’s had over 2500 patients and upwards of 40,000 consultations (that would be over 3/4 million acupuncture needles, but who’s counting). In 2016, Steve went through the Kresser Institute’s Practitioner Training Program for Functional and Evolutionary Medicine, completing the ADAPT Level 1 Framework.  Since then, his focus has shifted to working more with clients who are ready to make a deeper commitment to their health. Steve is on the podcast today talking about his transition into Functional Medicine and his practical application of our Blood Chemistry Calculator to guide treatment decisions and keep clients motivated.  Steve is currently running his busy clinic in Australia and is now introducing an easy way for Aussies to get lab work done locally and try the calculator for themselves. Here’s the outline of this interview with Stephen Anderson: [00:00:12] The Holistic Practitioner (THP) Podcast. [00:00:25] THP Podcast: Dr. Tommy Wood - Reframing Insulin Resistance. [00:02:07] Taichi. [00:03:30] Chinese Kung Fu Academy; Grandmaster Henry Sue. [00:03:58] Cheng Man-ch'ing. [00:04:29] Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. [00:07:48] Accelerated learning. [00:07:54] Book: How to Develop a Super Power Memory, by Harry Lorayne; Peg memory system. [00:08:09] Podcast: Learning to Learn with Jonathan Levi.  Course: Become a SuperLearner. [00:09:28] Acupuncture. [00:10:52] Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). [00:12:30] Dr. Michael D. Fox at the Jacksonville Center for Reproductive Medicine. [00:17:13] Functional Medicine. [00:18:57] Simon Marshall, PhD. Podcasts: How to Create Behaviour Change and Why We Self-Sabotage (And What to Do Instead). [00:20:25] Kresser Institute for Functional and Evolutionary Medicine; ADAPT Practitioner Training Program. [00:23:16] Dr. Amy Nett. [00:24:11] Hierarchy of treatment. [00:25:52] THP Podcast: A Patient’s Perspective of Functional Medicine Treatment. [00:29:26] Blood Chemistry Calculator. [00:29:37] THP Podcast: Chris Kelly On Becoming An Effective Health Coach. [00:29:41] Dr. Bryan Walsh; Podcasts:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. [00:29:42] Megan Roberts; Podcast: Why Your Diet Isn’t Working: Under Eating and Overtraining.  Blog post: What We Eat and How We Train Part 1: Coach and Ketogenic Diet Researcher, Megan Roberts. [00:31:06] 7-Minute Analysis. [00:36:39] 5-year wellness score; Intermountain Risk Score. Study: Horne BD, May HT, Muhlestein JB, Ronnow BS, Lappé DL, Renlund DG, et al. Exceptional mortality prediction by risk scores from common laboratory tests. Am J Med. 2009;122: 550–558. [00:39:14] Thomas Dayspring, Peter Attia; LDL-P. [00:42:13] Familial Hypercholesterolemia. [00:44:17] Mediterranean diet, B-vitamins, Thorne Choleast-900 (Monacolin K), Ubiquinol, Glutathione. [00:46:35] Feedback via lab results as the incentive to change behaviour. [00:49:58] Coronary artery calcium scan; Podcasts: How Not to Die of Cardiovascular Disease, with Ivor Cummins; The True Root Causes of Cardiovascular Disease, with Jeff Gerber. [00:52:12] Podcast: Optimal Diet and Movement for Healthspan, Amplified Intelligence and More with Ken Ford. [00:53:14] stephenanderson.com.au/nbt.

Here’s an easy one for you: would you like to meet someone, say, at a business meeting or barbeque and actually remember his or her name for more than a nanosecond? Would you like to remember a list of grocery items even if you don’t have a pen and paper with which to write it down? Meet Harry Lorayne. I get a lot of compliments about my memory, and I like to give credit where it’s due. Harry Lorayne’s first book, How To Develop a Super Power Memory  (1957) is still, for my money, the best way to learn his system. His later book Ageless Memory: The Memory Expert’s Prescription For a Razor-Sharp Mind  (1957) incorporates many additional insights for memory improvement. Lorayne became nationally known for his many television appearances through the years, having “done” all the television biggies, from Ed Sullivan to Jack Paar, to Johnny Carson (24 times!), to Mike Douglas to Merv Griffin, et al. His showcase piece is to meet hundreds of strangers, one after the other, and then recite everyone’s name later with perfect accuracy. Hale and hearty at 92, Mr. Lorayne epitomizes line from Psalm 92:14, “They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green.” It’s always a thrill to interview a long-time mentor, and I found myself smiling throughout the entire interview with the great man. The personal obstacles he overcame growing up on the mean streets of the Lower East Side would flatten most people. His childhood family experiences and his early days breaking into the world of magic (and memory) performance are straight out of the Damon Runyon school of hard knocks. He lost his beloved wife Renee three years ago after 70 years of marriage. (Ponder that level of loss the next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself.) But Harry Lorayne keeps putting one foot up, one foot down, all the way to Londontown, as the saying goes. He has at least one more book in the creative pipeline, and he still does the occasional convention lecture to magicians and others for whom he is a living legend. Not bad for someone who grew up with undiagnosed dyslexia and crippling boyhood shyness. I have a half dozen of his books, but few more interesting than his autobiography, Before I Forget which his long-time pal Mel Brooks calls “a rememoir.” Talk about funny and insightful anecdotes – couples’ trips around the world with Brooks and his wife the late Anne Bancroft; things going terribly wrong during shows, and his big television break on The Jack Paar Show, thanks to writer Moss Hart, then a very big name.  (Mr. Lorayne, a self-described crier, barely manages to hold it together when recalling Hart’s kindness.) Lorayne speaks the way he writes – quickly, crisply, clearly. His teaching style is at once compressed (he never wastes a word) and conversational (he never sounds “professorial”). Harry Lorayne is an American original. I know you’ll enjoy this audio only conversation. Ad multos annos, Mr. Lorayne.   Join the Conversation Question of the week: Lorayne says that memory is just a synonym for understanding. Do you agree?   Subscribe and rate the show! Follow me @Patrick_Coffin www.facebook.com/patrickcoffin.media

Jolenta and Kristen dive into The Memory Book, with the hopes of becoming memory geniuses in two weeks flat. Written by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, the bestselling classic promises to help readers do everything from memorize lists to speak foreign languages. But does it actually work?Have you lived by this book? What book should Jolenta and Kristen read next? Tell us at 419-869-BOOK; email us at bythebook@panoply.fm; Tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, @bythebookpod; and follow us on Instagram @jolenta_g, @k10meinzer, @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687And reminder: Jolenta and Kristen are putting on a live show! Join them July 16, 2017 at the Philly Podcast festival for a live By the Book experience. They'll be at the Trocodero Theater's Balcony Bar at 3:30pm. Tix are cheap - only $11. For more info and tickets go to phillypodfest.com/schedule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Levi is an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor from Silicon Valley. After successfully selling his Inc 5,000 rated startup in April of 2011, Jonathan enlisted the help of speed-reading expert and university professor Anna Goldentouch, who tutored him in speed-reading, advanced memorization, and more. He saw incredible results while earning his MBA from INSEAD, and later went on to teach a best-selling online course on the subject. With this unique skill, Jonathan has become a proficient life hacker, optimising and “hacking” such processes as travel, sleep, language learning, and fitness. I recently had the privilege of featuring as a guest on Jonathan’s Becoming Superhuman podcast where we talk about an engineering approaching to creating health versus the medical approach for episodic illness. You could listen to this podcast to find out why and how to become a better learner. After all, “learning is the only skill that matters.”--Jonathan Levi. Here’s the outline of this interview with Jonathan Levi: [00:00:35] Becoming Superhuman podcast. [00:00:44] Podcast with Robb Wolf. [00:01:24] Problems learning in an academic setting. [00:01:55] ADD. [00:02:34] Unhappy adolescence. [00:02:49] Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin). [00:03:51] MBA program. [00:04:46] Professor Anna and Dr Lev Goldentouch. [00:06:15] Ted Talk: What If Schools Taught Us How To Learn? [00:07:12] Humans have a heavy preference for visual learning. [00:07:32] Newtonian physics. [00:09:10] Dr Ben Lynch, ND. [00:09:25] Organic acids testing, dopamine and tyrosine. [00:10:11] Learning is the only skill that matters. [00:10:26] Book: Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett. [00:10:42] Book: The Game by Neil Strauss. [00:11:12] Keto for brain health, fasting. [00:11:42] Magnesium deficiency. [00:12:09] Movement & exercise, norepinephrine. [00:13:19] Machine learning. [00:14:08] Book: Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman! [00:14:56] Harry Lorayne. [00:15:07] Steve Jobs. [00:16:18] Debating. [00:19:18] Udemy. [00:22:31] Book: Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. [00:25:37] Method of loci. [00:26:04] Neurons & synapses. [00:27:20] Hippocampus. [00:28:59] 5-HT4 serotonin receptor. [00:30:00] Book: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. [00:30:32] Ron White memory champion. [00:31:34] Anki flashcard software. [00:33:16] PageRank. [00:34:02] Clarke, Robert, et al. "Effects of homocysteine lowering with B vitamins on cognitive aging: meta-analysis of 11 trials with cognitive data on 22,000 individuals." The American journal of clinical nutrition 100.2 (2014): 657-666. [00:34:24] Spritzlet. [00:35:25] Evelyn Wood speed reading technique. [00:35:52] Pre-reading. [00:37:08] “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”--Abraham Lincoln. [00:38:39] The visual abstract. [00:40:27] Caring about the thing that you're trying to remember. [00:40:50] AcroYoga. [00:43:21] Malcolm Knowles. [00:43:58] Book: The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Denise Minger rebuttal. [00:46:17] Become a SuperHuman: Naturally & Safely Boost Testosterone. [00:47:12] jle.vi/drugs [00:47:37] Sam Harris. [00:47:50] jle.vi/kombucha [00:48:13] Book: Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler. [00:49:39] Funktion-One sound system. [00:50:55] Meditation. [00:51:54] Modulating cortisol response. [00:53:17] becomeasuperlearner.com [00:53:42] becomingasuperhuman.com [00:54:49] Wim Hof. [00:55:38] Dr Bryan Walsh, ND.

In this episode of FEAR NOT, Magician, Author and Memory-training Specialist Harry Lorayne discusses a childhood fear of his, that lead him into his life-long career of memory training.

In todays show our guest is the New York Times Best Seller Harry Lorayne, also called "The Yoda of Memory Training" by Time magazine. We will be talking about how Harry got beaten by his dad for getting poor grades in school and how he discovered the solution that would change his life at the age of 11. Harry Lorayne has since then sold over 17 million books, are now over 90 years old and still going strong. We will also be talking about how improving your memory can impact your health, wealth, love and happiness. So what are we waiting for? Let's begin... Harry's Websites: http://harrylorayne.com/ http://harryloraynemagic.com/

You probably know the name of memory improvement expert Harry Lorayne. But do you know these amazing stories from his life?

You probably know the name of memory improvement expert Harry Lorayne. But do you know these amazing stories from his life?

Today, we've managed to book, without exaggeration, the world's foremost expert on memory and memory training: Harry Lorayne. He's a living legend. Since the late 1950's, he has sold over 17 MILLION copies of over 40 books on memory and magic. He's been on every major television show you can imagine at least once - and generally starts off by memorizing the names of everyone in the up to 1500 person audience. He's been in Forbes, coached a long list of Fortune 500 companies and their executives… Honestly, there's no way I can possible do justice by just listing off his many accomplishments.   More important than these accomplishments is the fact that today's guest is generally credited with bringing Memory training and mnemonics back into the public sphere. Long before the world memory championships, and long before both myself and my co-authors of Become a SuperLearner were even born, he was putting in the hours to rediscover and improve upon ancient memory techniques that have helped tens of millions of people change every aspect of their lives through improved mental faculties. This interview might just be our biggest and most important yet. There's so much value here, I don't even know where to start. At 89 years old, Harry Lorayne pulls no punches and makes no apologies. He shares heartbreaking stories of physical abuse and overcoming dyslexia, but also some incredibly inspiring tales of how he became the world's most respected authority on memory… which, by the way, he did with nothing more than a middle school education.   You'll notice right away that Harry is clearly very practiced, having spent literally 60 years in the public spotlight. He's an incredible storyteller, and has an incredible way of answering questions with vivid stories and examples that will leave you wanting more.   I just know you're going to love this episode, so please take a moment to drop us a tweet or an email or a comment below with your thoughts.

Memory expert Harry Lorayne discusses his twenty plus Carson appearances, Jack Paar originally not wanting him on his show, and the anxiety of having to remember the names of hundreds of studio audience members.  

Harry Lorayne has appeared numerous times on every national television talk show in the United States as well as on innumerable programs throughout the world. He has had feature articles written about him and his work in most major publications and newspapers including, but not limited to, Fortune, US News & World Report, Reader’s Digest, Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Gentleman’s Quarterly, Nations Business. He has even been called "The Yoda of Memory Training" by Time magazine. As if that were not enough, Harry Lorayne was named as one of the 100 most influential magicians of the century in 1999 by Magic Magazine. Join us on this edition of the Magic Newswire for our conversation with magician Harry Lorayne. Lorayne wrote and published the magazine Apocalypse for twenty years (later republished in books). His latest book for magicians is Lorayne: The Classic Collection, an updated collection of his first four magic books of the 1960s, and recently he completed Mathematical Wizardry—magic with numbers.

Harry Lorayne has appeared numerous times on every national television talk show in the United States as well as on innumerable programs throughout the world. He has had feature articles written about him and his work in most major publications and newspapers including, but not limited to, Fortune, US News & World Report,  Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Gentleman's Quarterly, Nations Business. He has even been called "The Yoda of Memory Training" by Time magazine. As if that were not enough, Harry Lorayne was named as one of the 100 most influential magicians of the century in 1999 by Magic Magazine. Join us on this edition of the Magic Newswire for our conversation with magician Harry Lorayne. Lorayne wrote and published the magazine Apocalypse for twenty years (later republished in books). His latest book for magicians is Lorayne: The Classic Collection, an updated collection of his first four magic books of the 1960s, and recently he completed Mathematical Wizardry—magic with numbers.