Podcasts about memorizing

It’s actually a good thing that some books push you to the edge of your ability to understand. But there’s no doubting the fact that dense, abstract and jargon-filled works can push you so far into the fog of frustration that you cannot blame yourself for giving up. But here’s the truth: You don’t have to walk away frustrated and confused. I’m going to share with you a number of practical strategies that will help you fill in the gaps of your reading process. Because that’s usually the real problem: It’s not your intelligence. Nor is it that the world is filled with books “above your level.” I ultimately don’t believe in “levels” as such. But as someone who taught reading courses at Rutgers and Saarland University, I know from experience that many learners need to pick up a few simple steps that will strengthen how they approach reading difficult books. And in this guide, you’ll learn how to read challenging books and remember what they say. I’m going to go beyond generic advice too. That way, you can readily diagnose: Why certain books feel so hard Use pre-reading tactics that prime your brain to deal with difficulties effectively Apply active reading techniques to lock in understanding faster Leverage accelerated learning tools that are quick to learn Use Artificial Intelligence to help convert tough convent into lasting knowledge without worrying about getting duped by AI hallucinations Whether you’re tacking philosophy, science, dense fiction or anything based primarily in words, the reading system you’ll learn today will help you turn confusion into clarity. By the end, even the most intimidating texts will surrender their treasures to your mind. Ready? Let’s break it all down together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9HLbY4jsFg Why Some Books Feel “Too Hard” (And What That Really Means) You know exactly how it feels and so do I. You sit down with a book that people claim is a classic or super-important. But within a few pages, your brain fogs over and you’re completely lost. More often than not, through glazed eyes, you start to wonder… did this author go out of his or her way to make this difficult? Are they trying to show off with all these literary pyrotechnics? Or is there a deliberate conspiracy to confuse readers like me? Rest assured. These questions are normal and well worth asking. The difficulty you might feel is never arbitrary in my experience. But there’s also no “single origin” explanation for why some books feel easier than others. It’s almost always a combination of factors, from cognitive readiness, lived experience, emotions and your physical condition throughout the day. This means that understanding why individual texts resist your understanding needs to be conducted on a case-by-case basis so you can move towards mastering anything you want to read. Cognitive Load: The Brain’s Processing “Stop Sign” “Cognitive load” probably needs no definition. The words are quite intuitive. You start reading something and it feels like someone is piling heavy bricks directly on top of your brain, squishing everything inside. More specifically, these researchers explain that what’s getting squished is specifically your working memory, which is sometimes called short-term memory. In practical terms, this means that when a book suddenly throws a bunch of unfamiliar terms at you, your working memory has to suddenly deal with abstract concepts, completely new words or non-linear forms of logic. All of this increases your cognitive load, but it’s important to note that there’s no conspiracy. In Just Being Difficult: Academic Writing in the Public Arena, a variety of contributors admit that they often write for other specialists. Although it would be nice to always compose books and articles for general readers, it’s not laziness. They’re following the codes of their discipline, which involves shorthand to save everyone time. Yes, it can also signal group membership and feel like an intellectual wall if you’re new to this style, but it’s simply a “stop sign” for your brain. And wherever there are stop signs, there are also alternative routes. Planning Your Detour “Roadmap” Into Difficult Books Let me share a personal example by way of sharing a powerful technique for making hard books easier to read. A few years ago I decided I was finally going to read Kant. I had the gist of certain aspects of his philosophy, but a few pages in, I encountered so many unfamiliar terms, I knew I had to obey the Cognitive Load Stop Sign and take a step back. To build a roadmap into Kant, I searched Google in a particular way. Rather than a search term like, “Intro to Kant,” I entered this tightened command instead: Filetype:PDF syllabus Kant These days, you can ask an LLM in more open language to simply give you links to the syllabi of the most authoritative professors who teach Kant. I’d still suggest that you cross-reference what you get on Google, however. If you’re hesitant about using either Google or AI, it’s also a great idea to visit a librarian in person to help you. Or, you can read my post about using AI for learning with harming your memory to see if it’s time to update your approach. Narrowing Down Your Options One way or another, the reason to consult the world’s leading professors is that their syllabi will provide you with: Foundational texts Core secondary literature Commentaries from qualified sources Essential historical references Once you’ve looked over a few syllabi, look through the table of contents of a few books on Amazon or Google Books. Then choose: 1-2 foundational texts to read before the challenging target book you want to master 1-2 articles or companion texts to read alongside In this way, you’ve turned difficulty into a path, not an obstacle. Pre-Reading Strategies That Warm Up Your Reading Muscles A lot of the time, the difficulty people feel when reading has nothing to do with the book. It’s just that you’re diving into unfamiliar territory without testing the waters first. Here are some simple ways to make unfamiliar books much easier to get into. Prime Like a Pro To make books easier to read, you can perform what is often called “priming” in the accelerated learning community. It is also sometimes called “pre-reading” and as this research article discusses, its success has been well-demonstrated. The way I typically perform priming is simple. Although some books require a slight change to the pattern, I typically approach each new book by reading: The back cover The index The colophon page The conclusion or afterword The most interesting or relevant chapter The introduction The rest of the book Activate Prior Knowledge Sometimes I will use a skimming and scanning strategy after reading the index to quickly familiarize myself with how an author approaches a topic with which I’m already familiar. This can help raise interest, excitement and tap into the power of context-dependent memory. For example, I recently started reading Doubt: A History by Jennifer Michael Hecht. Since the Renaissance memory master Giordano Bruno comes up multiple times, I was able to draw up a kind of context map of the books themes by quickly going through those passages. Take a Picture Walk Barbara Oakley and Terence Sejnjowski share a fantastic strategy in Learning How to Learn. Before reading, simply go through a book and look at all the illustrations, tables, charts and diagrams. It seems like a small thing. But it gives your brain a “heads up” about upcoming visual information that you may need to process than prose. I used to find visual information like this difficult, but after I started taking picture walks, I’m now excited to read “towards” these elements. If still find them challenging to understand, I apply a tip I learned from Tony Buzan that you might like to try: Rather than struggle to interpret a chart or illustration, reproduce it in your own hand. Here’s an example of how I did this when studying spaced repetition: As a result, I learned the graph and its concepts quickly and have never forgotten it. Build a Pre-Reading Ritual That Fits You There’s no one-sized-fits-all strategy, so you need to experiment with various options. The key is to reduce cognitive load by giving your mind all kinds of ways of understanding what a book contains. If it helps, you can create yourself a checklist that you slip into the challenging books on your list. That way, you’ll have both a bookmark and a protocol as you develop your own pre-reading style. Active Reading Techniques That Boost Comprehension Active reading involves deliberately applying mental activities while reading. These can include writing in the margins of your books, questioning, preparing summaries and even taking well-time breaks between books. Here’s a list of my favorite active reading strategies with ideas on how you can implement them. Using Mnemonics While Reading On the whole, I take notes while reading and then apply a variety of memory techniques after. But to stretch my skills, especially when reading harder books, I start the encoding process earlier. Instead of just taking notes, I’ll start applying mnemonic images. I start early because difficult terms often require a bit more spaced repetition. To do this yourself, the key is to equip yourself with a variety of mnemonic methods, especially: The Memory Palace technique The Pegword Method The Major System The PAO System And in some cases, you may want to develop a symbol system, such as if you’re studying physics or programming. Once you have these mnemonic systems developed, you can apply them in real time. For example, if you come across names and dates, committing them to memory as you read can help you keep track of a book’s historical arc. This approach can be especially helpful when reading difficult books because authors often dump a lot of names and dates. By memorizing them as you go, you reduce the mental load of having to track it all. For even more strategies you can apply while reading, check out my complete Mnemonics Dictionary. Strategic Questioning Whether you take notes or memorize in real-time, asking questions as you go makes a huge difference. Even if you don’t come up with answers, continually interrogating the book will open up your brain. The main kinds of questions are: Evaluative questions (checking that the author uses valid reasoning and address counterarguments) Analytical questions (assessing exactly how the arguments unfold and questioning basic assumptions) Synthetic questions (accessing your previous knowledge and looking for connections with other books and concepts) Intention questions (interrogating the author’s agenda and revealing any manipulative rhetoric) One medieval tool for questioning you can adopt is the memory wheel. Although it’s definitely old-fashioned, you’ll find that it helps you rotate between multiple questions. Even if they are as simple as who, what, where, when, how and why questions, you’ll have a mental mnemonic device that helps ensure you don’t miss any of them. Re-reading Strategies Although these researchers seem to think that re-reading is not an effective strategy, I could not live without it. There are three key kinds of re-reading I recommend. Verbalize Complexity to Tame It The first is to simply go back and read something difficult to understand out loud. You’d be surprised how often it’s not your fault. The author has just worded something in a clunky manner and speaking the phrasing clarifies everything. Verbatim Memorization for Comprehension The second strategy is to memorize the sentence or even an entire passage verbatim. That might seem like a lot of work, but this tutorial on memorizing entire passages will make it easy for you. Even if verbatim memorization takes more work, it allows you to analyze the meaning within your mind. You’re no longer puzzling over it on paper, continuing to stretch your working memory. No, you’ve effectively expanded at least a part of your working memory by bypassing it altogether. You’ve ushered the information into long-term memory. I’m not too shy to admit that I have to do this sometimes to understand everything from the philosophy in Sanskrit phrases to relatively simple passages from Shakespeare. As I shared in my recent discussion of actor Anthony Hopkins’ memory, I couldn’t work out what “them” referred to in a particular Shakespeare play. But after analyzing the passage in memory, it was suddenly quite obvious. Rhythmical Re-reading The third re-reading strategy is something I shared years ago in my post detailing 11 reasons you should re-read at least one book per month. I find this approach incredibly helpful because no matter how good you get at reading and memory methods, even simple books can be vast ecosystems. By revisiting difficult books at regular intervals, you not only get more out of them. You experience them from different perspectives and with the benefit of new contexts you’ve built in your life over time. In other words, treat your reading as an infinite game and never assume that you’ve comprehended everything. There’s always more to be gleaned. Other Benefits of Re-reading You’ll also improve your pattern recognition by re-treading old territory, leading to more rapid recognition of those patterns in new books. Seeing the structures, tropes and other tactics in difficult books opens them up. But without regularly re-reading books, it can be difficult to perceive what these forms are and how authors use them. To give you a simple example of a structure that appears in both fiction and non-fiction, consider in media res, or starting in the middle. When you spot an author using this strategy, it can immediately help you read more patiently. And it places the text in the larger tradition of other authors who use that particular technique. For even more ideas that will keep your mind engaged while tackling tough books, feel free to go through my fuller article on 7 Active Reading Strategies. Category Coloring & Developing Your Own Naming System For Complex Material I don’t know about you, but I do not like opening a book only to find it covered in highlighter marks. I also don’t like highlighting books myself. However, after practicing mind mapping for a few years, I realized that there is a way to combine some of its coloring principles with the general study principles of using Zettelkasten and flashcards. Rather than passively highlighting passages that seem interesting at random, here’s an alternative approach you can take to your next tour through a complicated book. Category Coloring It’s often helpful to read with a goal. For myself, I decided to tackle a hard book called Gödel Escher Bach through the lens of seven categories. I gave each a color: Red = Concept Green = Process Orange = Fact Blue = Historical Context Yellow = Person Purple = School of Thought or Ideology Brown = Specialized Terminology Example Master Card to the Categorial Color Coding Method To emulate this method, create a “key card” or “master card” with your categories on it alongside the chosen color. Use this as a bookmark as you read. Then, before writing down any information from the book, think about the category to which it belongs. Make your card and then apply the relevant color. Obviously, you should come up with your own categories and preferred colors. The point is that you bring the definitions and then apply them consistently as you read and extract notes. This will help bring structure to your mind because you’re creating your own nomenclature or taxonomy of information. You are also using chunking, a specific mnemonic strategy I’ve written about at length in this post on chunking as a memory tool. Once you’re finished a book, you can extract all the concepts and memorize them independently if you like. And if you emulate the strategy seen on the pictured example above, I’ve included the page number on each card. That way, I can place the cards back in the order of the book. Using this approach across multiple books, you will soon spot cross-textual patterns with greater ease. The catch is that you cannot allow this technique to become activity for activity’s sake. You also don’t want to wind up creating a bunch of informational “noise.” Before capturing any individual idea on a card and assigning it to a category, ask yourself: Why is this information helpful, useful or critical to my goal? Will I really use it again? Where does it belong within the categories? If you cannot answers these questions, either move on to the next point. Or reframe the point with some reflective thinking so that you can contextualize it. This warning aside, it’s important not to let perfectionism creep into your life. Knowing what information matters does take some practice. To speed up your skills with identifying critical information, please read my full guide on how to find the main points in books and articles. Although AI can certainly help these days, you’ll still need to do some work on your own. Do Not Let New Vocabulary & Terminology Go Without Memorization One of the biggest mistakes I used to make, even as a fan of memory techniques, slowed me down much more than necessary. I would come across a new term, look it up, and assume I’d remember it. Of course, the next time I came across it, the meaning was still a mystery. But when I got more deliberate, I not only remembered more words, but the knowledge surrounding the unfamiliar terms also stuck with greater specificity. For example, in reading The Wandering Mind by Jamie Kreiner, memorizing the ancient Greek word for will or volition (Prohairesis) pulled many more details about why she was mentioning it. Lo and behold, I started seeing the word in more places and connecting it to other ancient Greek terms. Memorizing those as well started to create a “moat of meaning,” further protecting a wide range of information I’d been battling. Understanding Why Vocabulary Blocks Comprehension The reason why memorizing words as you read is so helpful is that it helps clear out the cognitive load created by pausing frequently to look up words. Even if you don’t stop to learn a new definition, part of your working memory gets consumed by the lack of familiarity. I don’t always stop to learn new definitions while reading, but using the color category index card method you just discovered, it’s easy to organize unfamiliar words while reading. That way they can be tidily memorized later. I have a full tutorial for you on how to memorize vocabulary, but here’s a quick primer. Step One: Use a System for Capturing New Words & Terms Whether you use category coloring, read words into a recording app or email yourself a reminder, the key is to capture as you go. Once your reading session is done, you can now go back to the vocabulary list and start learning it. Step Two: Memorize the Terms I personally prefer the Memory Palace technique. It’s great for memorizing words and definitions. You can use the Pillar Technique with the word at the top and the definition beneath it. Or you can use the corners for the words and the walls for the definitions. Another idea is to photograph the cards you create and important them into a spaced repetition software like Anki. As you’ll discover in my complete guide to Anki, there are several ways you can combine Anki with a variety of memory techniques. Step Three: Use the Terms If you happened to catch an episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast back when I first learned Prohairesis I mentioned it often. This simple habit helps establish long-term recall, reflection and establishes the ground for future recognition and use. Expand Understanding Using Video & Audio Media When I was in university, I often had to ride my bike across Toronto to borrow recorded lectures on cassette. Given the overwhelming tsunamis of complex ideas, jargon and theoretical frameworks I was facing, it was worth it. Especially since I was also dealing with the personal problems I shared with you in The Victorious Mind. Make no mistake: I do not believe there is any replacement for reading the core books, no matter how difficult they might be. But there’s no reason not to leverage the same ideas in multiple formats to help boost your comprehension and long-term retention. Multimedia approaches are not just about knowledge acquisition either. There have been many debates in the magical arts community that card magicians should read and not rely on video. But evidence-based studies like this one show that video instruction combined with reading written instructions is very helpful. The Science Behind Multi-Modal Learning I didn’t know when I was in university, or when I was first starting out with memdeck card magic that dual coding theory existed. This model was proposed by Allan Paivio, who noticed that information is processed both verbally and non-verbally. Since then, many teachers have focused heavily on how to encourage students to find the right combination of reading, visual and auditory instructional material. Here are some ideas that will help you untangle the complexity in your reading. How to Integrate Multimedia Without Overload Forgive me if this is a bit repetitive, but to develop flow with multiple media, you need to prime the brain. As someone who has created multiple YouTube videos, I have been stubborn about almost always including introductions. Why? Go Through the Intros Like a Hawk Because without including a broad overview of the topic, many learners will miss too many details. And I see this in the comments because people ask questions that are answered throughout the content and flagged in the introductions. So the first step is to be patient and go through the introductory material. And cultivate an understanding that it’s not really the material that is boring. It’s the contemporary issues with dopamine spiking that make you feel impatient. The good news is that you can possibly reset your dopamine levels so you’re better able to sit through these “priming” materials. One hack I use is to sit far away from my mouse and keep my notebook in hand. If I catch myself getting antsy, I perform a breathing exercise to restore focus. Turn on Subtitles When you’re watching videos, you can help increase your engagement by turning on the subtitles. This is especially useful in jargon-heavy video lessons. You can pause and still see the information on the screen for easier capture when taking notes. When taking notes, I recommend jotting down the timestamp. This is useful for review, but also for attributing citations later if you have to hand in an assignment. Mentally Reconstruct After watching a video or listening to a podcast on the topic you’re mastering, take a moment to review the key points. Try to go through them in the order they were presented. This helps your brain practice mental organization by building a temporal scaffold. If you’ve taken notes and written down the timestamps, you can easily check your accuracy. Track Your Progress For Growth & Performance One reason some people never feel like they’re getting anywhere is that they have failed to establish any points of reference. Personally, this is easy for me to do. I can look back to my history of writing books and articles or producing videos and be reminded of how far I’ve come at a glance. Not only as a writer, but also as a reader. For those who do not regularly produce content, you don’t have to start a blog or YouTube channel. Just keep a journal and create a few categories of what skills you want to track. These might include: Comprehension Retention Amount of books read Vocabulary growth Critical thinking outcomes Confidence in taking on harder books Increased tolerance with frustration when reading challenges arise You can use the same journal to track how much time you’ve spent reading and capturing quick summaries. Personally, I wish I’d started writing summaries sooner. I really only got started during grad school when during a directed reading course, a professor required that I had in a summary for every book and article I read. I never stopped doing this and just a few simple paragraph summaries has done wonders over the years for my understanding and retention. Tips for Overcoming Frustration While Reading Difficult Books Ever since the idea of “desirable difficulty” emerged, people have sought ways to help learners overcome emotional responses like frustration, anxiety and even shame while tackling tough topics. As this study shows, researchers and teachers have found the challenge difficult despite the abundance of evidence showing that being challenged is a good thing. Here are some strategies you can try if you continue to struggle. Embrace Cognitive Discomfort As we’ve discussed, that crushing feeling in your brain exists for a reason. Personally, I don’t think it ever goes away. I still regularly pick up books that spike it. The difference is that I don’t start up a useless mantra like, “I’m not smart enough for this.” Instead, I recommend you reframe the experience and use the growth mindset studied by Carol Dweck, amongst others. You can state something more positive like, “This book is a bit above my level, but I can use tactics and techniques to master it.” I did that very recently with my reading of The Xenotext, parts of which I still don’t fully understand. It was very rewarding. Use Interleaving to Build Confidence I rotate through draining books all the time using a proven technique called interleaving. Lots of people are surprised when I tell them that I rarely read complex and challenging books for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. But I do it because interleaving works. Which kinds of books can you interleave? You have choices. You can either switch in something completely different, or switch to a commentary. For example, while recently reading some heavy mathematical theories about whether or not “nothing” can exist, I switched to a novel. But back in university, I would often stick within the category while at the library. I’d read a core text by a difficult philosopher, then pick up a Cambridge Companion and read an essay related to the topic. You can also interleave using multimedia sources like videos and podcasts. Interleaving also provides time for doing some journaling, either about the topic at hand or some other aspect of your progress goals. Keep the Big Picture in Mind Because frustration is cognitively training, it’s easy to let it drown out your goals. That’s why I often keep a mind map or some other reminder on my desk, like a couple of memento mori. It’s also possible to just remember previous mind maps you’ve made. This is something I’m doing often at the moment as I read all kinds of boring information about managing a bookshop for my Memory Palace bookshop project first introduced in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utcJfeQZC2c It’s so easy to get discouraged by so many rules and processes involved in ordering and selling books, that I regularly think back to creating this mind map with Tony Buzan years ago. In case my simple drawings on this mind map for business development doesn’t immediately leap out at you with its meanings, the images at the one o’clock-three o’clock areas refer to developing a physical Memory Palace packed with books on memory and learning. Developing and keeping a north star in mind will help you transform the process of reading difficult books into a purposeful adventure of personal development. Even if you have to go through countless books that aren’t thrilling, you’ll still be moving forward. Just think of how much Elon Musk has read that probably wasn’t all that entertaining. Yet, it was still essential to becoming a polymath. Practice Seeing Through The Intellectual Games As you read harder and harder books, you’ll eventually come to realize that the “fluency” some people have is often illusory. For example, some writers and speakers display a truly impressive ability to string together complex terminology, abstract references and fashionable ideas of the day in ways that sound profound. Daniel Dennett frequently used a great term for a lot of this verbal jujitsu that sounds profound but is actually trivial. He called such flourishes “deepities.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey-UeaSi1rI This kind of empty linguistic dexterity will be easier for you to spot when you read carefully, paraphrase complex ideas in your own words and practice memorizing vocabulary frequently. When you retain multiple concepts and practice active questioning in a large context of grounded examples and case studies, vague claims will not survive for long in your world. This is why memory training is about so much more than learning. Memorization can equip you to think independently and bring clarity to fields that are often filled with gems, despite the fog created by intellectual pretenders more interested in word-jazz than actual truth. Using AI to Help You Take On Difficult Books As a matter of course, I recommend you use AI tools like ChatGPT after doing as much reading on your own as possible. But there’s no mistaking that intentional use of such tools can help you develop greater understanding. The key is to avoid using AI as an answer machine or what Nick Bostrom calls an “oracle” in his seminal book, Superintelligence. Rather, take a cue from Andrew Mayne, a science communicator and central figure at OpenAI and host of their podcast. His approach centers on testing in ways that lead to clarity of understanding and retention as he uses various mnemonic strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzD_6Olaqw Beyond his suggestions, here are some of my favorite strategies. Ask AI to Help Identify All Possible Categories Connected to a Topic A key reason many people struggle to connect ideas is simply that they haven’t developed a mental ecosystem of categories. I used to work in libraries, so started thinking categorically when I was still a teenager. But these days, I would combine how traditional libraries are structured with a simple prompt like: List all the possible categories my topic fits into or bridges across disciplines, historical frameworks and methodologies. Provide the list without interpretation or explanation so I can reflect. A prompt like this engineers a response that focuses on relationships and lets your brain perform the synthetic thinking. Essentially, you’ll be performing what some scientists call schema activation, leading to better personal development outcomes. Generate Lists of Questions To Model Exceptional Thinkers Because understanding relies on inquiry, it’s important to practice asking the best possible questions. AI chat bots can be uniquely useful in this process provided that you explicitly insist that it helps supply you excellent questions without any answers. You can try a prompt like: Generate a list of questions that the world’s most careful thinkers in this field would ask about this topic. Do not provide any answers. Just the list of questions. Do this after you’ve read the text and go through your notes with fresh eyes. Evaluate the material with questions in hand, ideally by writing out your answers by hand. If you need your answers imported into your computer, apps can now scan your handwriting and give you text file. Another tip: Don’t be satisfied with the first list of questions you get. Ask the AI to dig deeper. You can also ask the AI to map the questions into the categories you previously got help identifying. For a list of questions you can put into your preferred chat bot, feel free to go through my pre-AI era list of philosophical questions. They are already separated by category. Use AI to Provide a Progress Journal Template If you’re new to journaling, it can be difficult to use the technique to help you articulate what you’re reading and why the ideas are valuable. And that’s not to mention working out various metrics to measure your growth over time. Try a prompt like this: Help me design a progress journal for my quest to better understand and remember difficult books. Include sections for me to list my specific goals, vocabulary targets, summaries and various milestones I identify. Make it visual so I can either copy it into my own print notebook or print out multiple copies for use over time. Once you have a template you’re happy to experiment with, keep it visible in your environment so you don’t forget to use it. Find Blind Spots In Your Summaries Many AIs have solid reasoning skills. As a result, you can enter your written summaries and have the AI identify gaps in your knowledge, blind spots and opportunities for further reading. Try a prompt like: Analyze this summary and identify any blind spots, ambiguities in my thinking or incompleteness in my understanding. Suggest supplementary reading to help me fill in any gaps. At the risk of repetition, the point is that you’re not asking for the summaries. You’re asking for assessments that help you diagnose the limits of your understanding. As scientists have shown, metacognition, or thinking about your thinking can help you see errors much faster. By adding an AI into the mix, you’re getting feedback quickly without having to wait for a teacher to read your essay. Of course, AI outputs can be throttled, so I find it useful to also include a phrase like, “do not throttle your answer,” before asking it to dig deeper and find more issues. Used wisely, you will soon see various schools of thought with much greater clarity, anticipate how authors make their moves and monitor your own blind spots as you read and reflect. Another way to think about the power of AI tools is this: They effectively mirror human reasoning at a species wide level. You can use them to help you mirror more reasoning power by regularly accessing and practicing error detection and filling in the gaps in your thinking style. Why You Must Stop Abandoning Difficult Books (At Least Most of the Time) Like many people, I’m a fan of Scott Young’s books like Ultralearning and Get Better at Anything. He’s a disciplined thinker and his writing helps people push past shallow learning in favor of true and lasting depth. However, he often repeats the advice that you should stop reading boring books. In full transparency, I sometimes do this myself. And Young adds a lot of context to make his suggestion. But I limit abandoning books as much as possible because I don’t personally find Young’s argument that enjoyment and productivity go together. On the contrary, most goals that I’ve pursued have required fairly intense periods of delaying gratification. And because things worth accomplishing generally do require sacrifice and a commitment to difficulty, I recommend you avoid the habit of giving up on books just because they’re “boring” or not immediately enjoyable. I’ll bet you’ll enjoy the accomplishment of understanding hard books and conquering their complexity far more in the end. And you’ll benefit more too. Here’s why I think so. The Hidden Cost of Abandoning Books You’ve Started Yes, I agree that life is short and time is fleeting. But if you get into the habit of abandoning books at the first sign of boredom, it can quickly become your default habit due to how procedural memory works. In other words, you’re given your neurons the message that it’s okay to escape from discomfort. That is a very dangerous loop to throw yourself into, especially if you’re working towards becoming autodidactic. What you really need is to develop the ability to stick with complexity, hold ambiguous and contradictory issues in your mind and fight through topic exhaustion. Giving up on books on a routine basis? That’s the opposite of developing expertise and resilience. The AI Risk & Where Meaning is Actually Found We just went through the benefits of AI, so you shouldn’t have issues. But I regularly hear from people and have even been on interviews where people use AI to summarize books I’ve recomended. This is dangerous because the current models flatten nuance due to how they summarize books based on a kind of “averaging” of what its words predictability mean. Although they might give you a reasonable scaffold of a book’s structure, you won’t get the friction created by how authors take you through their thought processes. In other words, you’ll be using AI models that are not themselves modeling the thinking that reading provides when you grind your way through complex books. The Treasure of Meaning is Outside Your Comfort Zone Another reason to train for endurance is that understanding doesn’t necessarily arrive while reading a book or even a few weeks after finishing it. Sometimes the unifying insights land years later. But if you don’t read through books that seem to be filled with scattered ideas, you cannot gain any benefit from them. Their diverse points won’t consolidate in your memory and certainly won’t connect with other ideas later. So I suggest you train your brain to persist as much as possible. By drawing up the support of the techniques we discussed today and a variety of mnemonic support systems, you will develop persistence and mine more gold from everything you read. And being someone who successfully mines for gold and can produce it at will is the mark of the successful reading. Not just someone who consumes information efficiently, but who can repeatedly connect and transform knowledge year after year due to regularly accumulating gems buried in the densest and most difficult books others cannot or will not read. Use Struggle to Stimulate Growth & You Cannot Fail As you’ve seen, challenging books never mean that you’re not smart enough. It’s just a matter of working on your process so that you can tackle new forms of knowledge. And any discomfort you feel is a signal that a great opportunity and personal growth adventure awaits. By learning how to manage cognitive load, fill in the gaps in your background knowledge and persist through frustration, you can quickly become the kind of reader who seeks out complexity instead of flinching every time you see it. Confusion has now become a stage along the path to comprehension. And if you’re serious about mastering increasingly difficult material, understanding and retaining it, then it’s time to upgrade your mental toolbox. Start now by grabbing my Free Memory Improvement Course: Inside, you’ll discover: The Magnetic Memory Method for creating powerful Memory Palaces How to develop your own mnemonic systems for encoding while reading Proven techniques that deepen comprehension, no matter how abstract or complex your reading list is And please, always remember: The harder the book, the greater rewards. And the good news is, you’re now more than ready to claim them all.

Send us a textTrade the contemporary hype for a deep concern with holiness! What if your youth ministry felt unmistakably sacred and still radically welcoming?In this episode of Youth Ministry Booster, Zac Workun sits down with Ribbin Dorado to explore a youth ministry model built on formation over frenzy, one that helps teenagers love the church they're actually growing into.Together, we unpack a fresh durable, and repeatable,  youth ministry framework designed for long-term faith formation:A two-hour Sunday night gathering that prioritizes formation over gamesA monthly rhythm that includes a Student Sabbath at home, complete with table liturgiesA mid-month Worship in the Round, where students lead and testifySacred worship spaces using incense, kneelers, and iconography to signal reverence. Elements of signs, symbols, and wonder. Memorizing creeds, spontaneous testimonies, and students “fighting for the mic” to name where they see God at workTeaching shaped by the lectionary, offering a balanced diet of Scripture and resisting cherry-pickingWe also talk about rethinking leadership in student ministry:Hospitality leaders who cultivate belongingFormation leaders who guide 30-minute Bible circlesThoughtful training, interviews, and resources that treat leaders as ministers—not just volunteersLanguage that dignifies the calling and responsibility of those shaping students' faithAt the core is the soul of the youth pastor. Ribbin challenges leaders to abide in Christ (John 15), practice the daily Examen, read Scripture beyond sermon prep, and develop a living rule of life. Teenagers don't just hear what we teach, they catch what we love. We lead from overflow, not exhaustion.Finally, we reframe success in youth ministry:Are students worshiping with the broader church?Are families practicing prayer and Scripture at home?Two years after graduation, are students rooted in a local church?Formation is a long obedience in the same direction—formed inwardly and sent outwardly.Subscribe, rate, and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Check out Lifeway.com/Essentials for free roundtable days this spring in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Virginia, and North Carolina. Sign up and bring your team.Support the showJoin the community!

Topics:  Hot Take, Prayer, Heinz Keg, Don't Conform, National Days, He's Right There, Memorizing Scripture, Biggest Delusion, American Weight, Meet w/God, Who's Influencing, Narrative Of Your Life, Clean Car, Not Understanding Purpose BONUS CONTENT: Sweethearts Follow-up   Quotes: "Go round up some rattlesnakes." "Memorizing scripture is refreshing." "We need bedrock truth we can draw on." "Suddenly we don't know what basic ideas are." . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook!

What does it take for an actor to memorize a script so deeply that it survives stress, pressure from everyday life, and even intoxication? Sir Anthony Hopkins has an answer so tempting, I had to try it. And it has less to do with “talent” than you might think. According to his epic autobiography, We Did Ok, Kid, not even Anthony Hopkins thinks his ability to remember so many lines has to do with DNA or some special genetic trait. Having memorized a lot of content myself, I completely agree. And in this guide, you’ll learn how Hopkins turns scripts into mental landscapes, why most performers fail because they chase speed, and how you can adopt Hopkins’ obsessive learning rituals for yourself. If they’re not for you, you’ll also discover how to adapt them using the Magnetic Memory Method. This unique learning approach will help you install lines from a script or poetry so deeply the process will soon feel like second nature. Whether you’re preparing for a stage performance, a TEDx talk, or a high-stakes presentation, this exploration of Anthony Hopkins’ approach to learning is the memory training guide you’ve been looking for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhjIkGu32CA Anthony Hopkins' Memory Ritual: A Healthy “Obsession” Hopkins' brilliant ability to memorize thousands of lines and perform them under pressure isn’t magic. It's the result of a particular ritual that has made him polymathic in number of areas and skills. In case you weren’t aware, Hopkins is not just an award-winning actor. His skills include directing, painting, performing music and now writing. And it has to be said that the writing in We Did Ok, Kid is outstanding. Now, although Hopkins has had teachers and mentors along the way, much of what he’s learned has been autodidactic. For example, as a kid he regularly read Arthur Mee’s Children’s Encyclopedia. Without anyone telling him to do so, he committed lists of facts from its pages to memory. His approach is a bit different than the method I teach in this list memorization tutorial, but related in terms of a kind of spaced repetition Hopkins worked out for himself. Rote Repetition vs. Creative Repetition When it comes to learning the lines of a movie script or play, Hopkins does use a lot of repetition. But it is absolutely not rote learning. That’s because he doesn’t just read a script or a set of instructions while learning. No, Hopkins attacks the material with a pen and adds special marks that turn each page into a kind of private code. And that’s exactly what I tried to do as you can see on this page I worked on from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus: Some people will protest that not only is Hopkins using rote when it comes to memorizing lines from a script, but that his rote reaches obsessive levels. That’s because he goes through the process of reading and marking up his scripts multiple times, sometimes 250 times or more. Having gone through the process myself, even at an admittedly small scale, I can tell you it is absolutely not rote learning. Looking at a page once it has been marked up automatically moves you from rote repetition to active recall. Active recall is present any time you place information on a page where you have to stretch your mind. And that’s what Hopkins’ marks achieve. His process literally transforms each page from a bland field of words into a highly mnemonic landscape. So when the time to perform arrives, he doesn't try to recall. He simply walks the landscape he has laid in his mind. Or as he puts it: “Becoming familiar with a script was like picking up stones from a cobblestone street one at a time, studying them, then replacing each in its proper spot. Only then could I look out over the road and know every inch of it spread out before me.” Why So Many People Fail at Memorizing Scripts Having worked with countless actors over the years, or even just people who have seen my TEDx Talk and want to memorize a speech, I feel confident when I tell you this: The main reason people fail is not because they are trying to copy the memory tips given by other actors. It’s because they have mistaken activity for accomplishment. And they are trying to move too fast. On the one hand, this desire to create momentum is understandable. Speed not only feels like progress. Moving quickly through rote learning can give you doses of what scientists call phasic dopamine (something you can develop a much healthier relationship with through my dopamine-resetting guide for learners). But when it comes to serious learning and performance, speed is vanity. And as I learned from my podcast interview with actor Ashley Strand who memorized the entire Book of Mark, vanity kills depth. There’s another problem too that many people who want to memorize large amounts of content face. The Emptiness of the Long Distance Learner As a child, Hopkins was haunted by self-doubt and failure. His solution? He not only built a mental container he calls his “Tin Brain Box”. He also imitated other great polymaths like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Like many other people with polymathic personality traits, Hopkins keeps a commonplace book and uses it to copy poems by hand. He also carried notebooks when young, and developed a personal note-taking method. More importantly, he learned to switch off his thoughts, a skill I share the science around in my book, The Victorious Mind. I mention my book because when Hopkins advises actors and people learning skills like painting, I know exactly what he means when he said, “Remain empty. Don't think.” Although this suggestion sounds mystical, it's pure performance psychology. The Neuroscience of Learning Without Obstacles You’ve probably had this kind of experience while learning something new. Maybe you’re studying a language or trying to memorize a sales script. Instead of focusing, your mind keeps intervening and asking questions like, “Am I doing this right?” When that happens, you're stuck in the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain's internal chatter loop. Hopkins' learning technique? It helps silence the Default Mode Network and then activate the Task Positive Network (TPN). You can think of the Task Positive Network as being in what some scientists call a state of “flow.” As Nature puts it in this study, the Default Mode Network is a constant antagonist to that state of flow. But as I know very well, you can switch off the inner narrator with its endless “blah blah blah.” Once done, that leaves you free to become the doer. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to perfectly install new skills or imitate the learning processes of others. My Experiment: Hopkins vs. Magnetic Memory Method I learned this the hard way when I tried Hopkins' method. I spent hours marking up pages. Without an example of what one of his scripts looks like, I had to imagine exactly how he draws circles all over his scripts. But even with the drawings I’ve otherwise had success with on my Zettelkasten and flashcards, I quickly hit a wall. Not because I'm lazy. It’s just because my brain needs a different engine. So I turned back to the same techniques I teach you in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. This is my go-to system for structure, proper mnemonic images, and well-formed Memory Palaces. Once I gave each line a home using the techniques, the lines from Titus Andronicus I wanted to memorize clicked into place. And you can watch me recite those lines during the recent Vitamin X live launch celebration training. Not only did I recite the passage forwards. I demonstrated full Recall Rehearsal and recited them: Forwards Backwards From the middle to the end From the middle to the beginning The even numbered lines The odd numbered lines Memory Palaces: The Shortest Path to Reliable Recall Memory Palaces aren't theoretical. They're ancient. And they remain one of the most effective tools for embedding information into long-term, actionable memory. If you're unfamiliar with the method, here's the short version: You take a familiar physical location, such as your apartment, a childhood school, or a route you know well. Then you assign information to specific points along a path you assign throughout the location. By mentally walking the path, you access the information in order. It's not rote memory. It's spatial, visual, contextual memory. And when used properly, it’s incredibly fast. Here’s a walkthrough video of me using it to memorize some poetry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STlYIiF9RzI If you would like to learn how to build and use your own Memory Palaces for acting, speeches, or studies, you can explore the Memory Palace technique through my complete guide here. What I Really Learned When Imitating Hopkins’ Memory Ritual After realizing that Hopkins’ memory routine was just not for me, I took a completely different angle. I put the camera on and attempted to document my memorization process for public consumption. But soon, something broke inside me. I couldn’t focus on using the memory techniques I love so much and have covered so extensively in my online mnemonics dictionary. By putting a camera on and starting the clock, something I’ve done before with success when I competed with Dave Farrow, I found myself locked in the Default Mode Network. In other words, I started worrying about how I looked instead of focusing on using the Magnetic Memory Method. For me, real memorization is quiet. Private. And for many of us, it resists observation. When I returned to internal work on my own, no stopwatch, no camera, I shifted back to the ancient art of memory and simply learned the lines. What You Can Learn from Hopkins (Without Imitating Him) Hopkins' genius isn't something to mimic line by line. His method fits his mind and that’s a beautiful thing. But the real lesson is that your mind might need something different. And that’s exactly what he says. Go out and explore and find your own method. What I learned is that memory is not for display. For me, it’s a private practice that leads to increased focus, presence and command over the things I want to say. Once you understand your learning goals, you can adapt any system to your own cognitive strengths. For me, that system is the Magnetic Memory Method, and if you’d like to learn to use Memory Palaces for free, grab this course now: It not only gives you four video lessons and worksheets to help you develop your memory skills. It also helps you enter the state of flow that makes learning so much easier and more fun. So what do you say? I found it refreshing to learn that Hopkins wasn't a particularly gifted child. He felt behind for much of his life. But instead of accepting failure, he built a learning system that ultimately helped him master multiple skills. His memory became the foundation for multiple experiences of development, growth and personal transformation. If you've struggled with memorization, or felt pressure to perform before you're ready, this is your call to take a step back. Build your memory. Explore the many techniques available to you and find the ones that fit your mind. Install them so deeply that learning never feels like work again. Because when you get it right, it’s not work. It’s not play either. It’s simply you. 100% present. Enjoying flow.

How to Study the Bible (For Beginners) In this video, I want to help you move from skimming the Bible to actually feeding on it. God's Word should be more like breakfast rather than homework. Jesus said we don't live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God - that means Scripture is our daily food. Chapters0:00 - Intro0:55 - 1. Come Hungry and Invite the Holy Spirit1:55 - 2. Create a Simple, Sustainable Setup4:07 - 3. Use the S.O.A.P Method8:56 - 4. Read in Context and Let Scripture Interpret Scripture10:48 - 5. Study in a Community and Obey What You Know14:01 - Final thoughtsFor more information visit Pastorvlad.org

A quiet shift begins when a lifelong member of the Churches of Christ realizes that his faith life, rich in study and careful exegesis, struggles to move from mind to heart. Brandon Marlow's story traces the Restoration Movement's ideals—erase denominational lines, do Bible things in Bible ways, and speak where Scripture speaks. Those guiding slogans shaped a culture suspicious of creeds, titles, instruments, and anything not “authorized.” The result formed disciplined habits, robust Bible study, and close-knit congregations. Yet the same strengths could narrow imagination and flatten mystery. A low view of the Holy Spirit's personal activity and an intellectual approach to faith left little language for awe, beauty, or sacrament. Brandon describes how good intentions produced a protective fence, but often fenced out wonder.His turning came when he stepped into preaching during a pastoral vacancy. Wanting holiness to match responsibility, he searched for time-tested disciplines: daily prayers, fasting rhythms, and a pattern of worship that stretches the soul. He found them in Orthodoxy. Prayer books spoke soberly about judgment and mercy, teaching him to remember ultimate things every day. Memorizing whole psalms, not just proof texts, reoriented his inner life. Icons startled him. Venerating the Ascension icon, his heart rose in praise, not just his mind in assent. He realized devotion is learned by doing—beauty tutors love, and ritual teaches reverence. Where logic said “believe,” the Church taught him to behold, adore, and belong.Scripture did not shrink; it deepened. Listening to Orthodox homilies, he felt less “interpretation” and more unveiling. Texts clicked into place as part of a living Tradition, the same bloodstream that nourished the Fathers he had once mined for citations. C.S. Lewis had cracked the door years earlier, proving that Christian wisdom could move the affections without verse labels in every line. Meeting the Fathers as pastors—Ignatius, Polycarp, and more—showed him a church that loved, bled, and prayed as one body. Their worlds made sense of bones cherished as gold, not as superstition, but as love made tangible in the saints who fed, blessed, and shepherded their flock.The Eucharist became the center of gravity. In his upbringing, communion was precious yet rushed, migrating from homemade bread to sealed cups as the table drifted to the side. Reverence thinned as routine took hold. In Orthodoxy, he discovered preparation before, prayer during, and gratitude after. The chalice, spoon, and altar were holy because the Lord gives himself there—Body and Blood, Presence not symbol. Approaching the chalice for the first time felt like approaching fire. He stepped forward in obedience and love, realizing this is why Christ died: communion. From there, everything else reframed—ascetic practices, feasts and fasts, the calendar that walks believers through the life of Christ, and the solidarity of Holy Week that exhausts, burns, and resurrects a community together.From “people of the book” to people of the Book and the Table, he discovered that truth is not only argued; it is adored, sung, tasted, and shared. The heart learns by worship as much as the mind learns by words, and both find their home when Scripture meets Sacrament in the life of the Church.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

A practitioner in Taiwan shares her experience of fulfilling her mission through media work and memorizing the Fa. She emphasizes the importance of looking inward, improving her character, and proactively reaching out to clients, even during challenging times. Memorizing the Fa has led to personal growth, improved professional skills, and a deeper understanding of her mission to save sentient beings. This and other experience-sharing from the Minghui website. Original Articles:1. [Fahui] Fulfilling My Mission Through Media and Memorizing The Fa To Improve2. [Fahui] My Cultivation Experiences While Calling People in China on the RTC Platform3. Changing My Ingrained Attitude To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org

Fellow Believers Pastor Jeff Weiss, Luke Tibor, Trent Loos welcome Preachee back to the discussion. Merry CHRISTmas to all.

With the Charlotte Mason Method, your student doesn't memorize a fact until she's grasped the idea behind it. The Tool of Memorizing for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.

With the Charlotte Mason Method, your student doesn't memorize a fact until she's grasped the idea behind it. The Tool of Memorizing for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.

Pastor Heather Jarvie reflects on the impact of childhood scripture memorization and highlights the importance of not only studying the Bible but also meditating on it, allowing its truths to resonate deeply within our hearts.

Which verses do you know by heart? In the beginning God created... For God so loved the world... Jesus wept... The invitation to hide God's Word in our heart is scattered throughout Scripture. But how much time and attention do we give to memorizing Scripture? And why is it such an important practice?This week, we continue our series Six Ways to Engage Scripture After Graduation with a conversation about memorizing. We're joined by Jacob Thies, an InterVarsity alum from UW-Whitewater who's had a very unique experience with Scripture memorization. While in school, Jacob had the opportunity to play the role of Jesus in The Mark Drama*, which required a significant amount of memorizing. On this episode, Jacob is going to share about his tender encounter with Jesus while memorizing, and a few of his best tips for memorizing Scripture for ourselves.And don't forget to check out Manuscript.Bible! Use code AFTERIVPOD for a free month!(*If you're unfamiliar, The Mark Drama is exactly what it sounds like: a dramatization of the entire book of Mark. See below for more info.)RELATED EPISODEE195: The Path for Exploring (Apple, Spotify, Youtube)RESOURCESThe Mark DramaSTAY IN TOUCHSocials: @afterivpodVisit our Website ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we bust one of the most persistent myths in Arabic learning: that memorizing vocabulary lists leads to fluency. Spoiler alert—it doesn't.Building on the previous episode, Stop Translating: Learn Arabic in Arabic, we explore why memorization often derails even the most motivated learners and how it leads to exhaustion, discouragement, and burnout long before reaching meaningful proficiency.Drawing on decades of coaching experience—and supported by language-acquisition research—we unpack:Why memorizing vocabulary is far slower and less effective than you thinkThe staggering number of words fluent speakers actually recognizeHow your brain really acquires language through repeated, meaningful encountersThe difference between input, interaction, and output—and why all three matterWhat to focus on instead of memorizing so you can build long-term understandingWhy creating a growing library of comprehensible audio accelerates fluencyHow natural repetition, real-life encounters, and guided practice outperform any word listWhether you're a beginner, intermediate learner, or supporting others along their Arabic journey, this episode offers a clear and research-grounded path forward—one that is far more enjoyable and sustainable than memorization ever could be.If you're ready to let go of unhelpful habits and build your fluency through meaningful exposure, guided practice, and natural acquisition, this episode is for you.Don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review to support more Arabic learners around the world!To learn more about our approach to learning Arabic, visit our page here.Here's the link to the comedian mentioned in the episode: Ismo on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

DPE John Boos and NAFI Program Development Manager Sarah Staudt dive into the power of scenario-based training to strengthen student judgment and decision-making. They discuss why rote memory—while valuable—is only the starting point, and how realistic simulations help students apply knowledge in meaningful ways. The discussion includes how AI can support instructors by generating scenario ideas, variations, and trigger events, all while emphasizing the importance of CFI curation to ensure accuracy, realism, and safety. This episode offers practical strategies for building stronger pilots through intentional scenario design, thoughtful evaluation, and smart use of AI as a creative tool—not a replacement for instructor expertise. Join NAFI at https://my.nafimentor.org. Use promo code PODSAVE5 to save $5 on your NAFI membership. Thank you to Sporty's and AOPA for sponsoring this episode.

Jocelyn Benson of Wittenberg Academy Wittenberg Academy The post Memorizing God's Word – Jocelyn Benson, 11/20/25 (3241) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

我不是那种人… I'm not someone who…帮助我提升记忆 help me remember stuff经常带个笔记本 I always carry a small notebook with me现代科技帮了大忙 modern technology helps me out

Imagine flying over the Bahamas on a routine trip… and suddenly finding yourself inside a rotating tunnel of clouds, your instruments failing, your compass spinning, and time itself no longer making sense.In this episode of the Jeremy Ryan Slate Show, pilot Bruce Gernon shares the full story of his infamous 1970 flight through the Bermuda Triangle — the day he encountered a strange “lenticular” cloud, a spinning vortex tunnel, “electronic fog,” and a possible space-time warp that got him to Miami in nearly half the normal flight time.Bruce breaks down:* What he saw inside the vortex tunnel over the Great Bahama Bank* How the mysterious electronic fog attached itself to his plane* Why his instruments and compass went crazy* How scientists now use his experience to study warp drive and space-time* Why he believes the Bermuda Triangle is real — and what might be behind itIf you're fascinated by the Bermuda Triangle, time anomalies, and real-world “history's mysteries,” you do not want to miss this conversation.CHAPTERS:00:00 - INTRO01:18 - Bruce Gernon's Background as a Pilot05:15 - The Day of the Flight10:32 - The Electronic Fog Experience18:09 - The Time Warp Experience19:57 - Flying through the Storm23:58 - Entering the Electronic Fog32:30 - Emerging from the Electronic Fog35:37 - Memorizing the Flight38:01 - Causes of Electronic Fog39:30 - Solving the Bermuda Triangle Mystery42:28 - Bruce's Insights on the Bermuda Triangle48:51 - Electronic Fog in Other Regions51:34 - What's Next for Bruce Gernon56:02 - How to Find Bruce Gernon Online___________________________________________________________________________⇩ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ⇩BRAVE TV HEALTH: Parasites are one of the main reasons that so many of our health problems happen! Guess what? They're more active around the full moon. That's why friend of the Show, Dr. Jason Dean, developed the Full Moon Parasite Protocol. Get 15% off now by using our link: https://bravetv.store/JRSCOMMAND YOUR BRAND: Legacy Media is dying, we fight for the free speech of our clients by placing them on top-rated podcasts as guests. We also have the go-to podcast production team. We are your premier podcast agency. Book a call with our team https://www.commandyourbrand.com/book-a-call MY PILLOW: By FAR one of my favorite products I own for the best night's sleep in the world, unless my four year old jumps on my, the My Pillow. Get up to 66% off select products, including the My Pillow Classic or the new My Pillow 2.0, go to https://www.mypillow.com/cyol or use PROMO CODE: CYOL________________________________________________________________⇩ GET MY BEST SELLING BOOK ⇩Unremarkable to Extraordinary: Ignite Your Passion to Go From Passive Observer to Creator of Your Own Lifehttps://getextraordinarybook.com/________________________________________________________________DOWNLOAD AUDIO PODCAST & GIVE A 5 STAR RATING!:APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-create-your-own-life-show/id1059619918SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UFFtmJqBUJHTU6iFch3QU(also available Google Podcasts & wherever else podcasts are streamed_________________________________________________________________⇩ SOCIAL MEDIA ⇩➤ X: https://twitter.com/jeremyryanslate➤ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/jeremyryanslate➤ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jeremyryanslate_________________________________________________________________➤ CONTACT: JEREMY@COMMANDYOURBRAND.COM

Drew Perkins talks with Lauren Brown, Jonathan Dallimore, and Aaron Aastor about the role of facts and critical thinking in teaching history. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

The Greatest Command — Mark 12:28–34 Culture of Gospel One of the things we want as a church is to grow in our ability to share about Jesus with those who don't know Jesus. Use this summary statement to share with someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus: “Jesus isn't inviting you into cold religion or a list of demands—He's inviting you into the kind of love that reshapes your life from the inside out. The God of the universe doesn't want your performance; He wants your heart. Sermon Summary Introduction Coleton opens by naming the central question every follower of Jesus must answer: What matters most to God?  Not: What matters most to Christians, churches, or religious culture… but what matters most to God Himself. Jesus answers that question directly in Mark 12. And Coleton's goal is simple: To show what God values most. To show why it matters. To show what this means for our church and for each person individually. 1. What Matters Most to God? Mark 12:29–30 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'” The most important thing to God is that you love Him.  Not that you serve Him. Not that you behave correctly. Not that you meet moral standards. Not that you avoid sin. Love is the highest command. What Most People Think Matters Most to God Coleton names the most common assumptions Christians carry: “God mostly wants me to get saved.” “God mostly wants me to stop sinning.” “God mostly wants me to pray more, read more, go to church more.” “God mostly wants me to serve the poor, give money, volunteer, or be more missional.” All important. But not most important. Jesus' Rebuke of Ephesus—Proof That Good Works ≠ Love Revelation 2:2–5 “I know your deeds… Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first… Repent.” This church was doctrinally strong. Morally clean. Active in service. Enduring hardship. Doing everything “right.”  And Jesus still says: You do not love Me anymore.  And failing to love Him is so serious that Jesus warns: “If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.” God cares more about your affection for Him than the actions you perform in His name. Key Point Doing things for God is not the same as loving God. 2. Why This Matters: Love for God Shapes Who You Become One of the main reasons this is the greatest command is because love is what transforms you. God wants His people to be: Compassionate Generous Sacrificial Humble Pure Joyful Loving toward neighbor and enemy But these things don't come from effort or trying harder. They grow naturally out of love. Illustration: Coleton and Rainey's Early Relationship When they were dating long-distance: He drove 8 hours overnight just to spend a few hours with her. He wrote letters daily. He spent money he didn't have to buy her meals and gifts. He thought about her constantly. Why?  Not because she handed him a list of rules.  Because he loved her. Love makes sacrifice a joy.  Love makes devotion natural.  Love makes obedience a delight. This Is What God Wants With You When you love Him… Spending time with Him becomes natural. Sacrificing for Him becomes joy. Worship becomes expression, not obligation. Caring for the poor flows from His heart in yours. Sin loses its power because your love is captured elsewhere. Spurgeon Quote (used by Coleton) “Jesus loved you when you lived carelessly… when you were hiding your every sin… even when you were at hell's gate… Think of His great love towards you… and your love will grow.” Why Other Commands Aren't “Most Important” Because all of them grow out of the soil of love for God.  Love is the tree—everything else is fruit. 3. What This Means for Our Church Coleton gives a strong pastoral warning:  Churches die not because culture changes or neighborhoods shift.  Churches die when they stop loving Jesus. Revelation 2 Revisited Jesus says to Ephesus: “If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.” Meaning: I will remove your church.  Not Satan. Not culture.  Jesus Himself. Why?  Because a church that doesn't love Jesus can't represent Jesus. A church that doesn't love Him… Won't love people the way He does. Won't reflect His character. Won't look like Him. Won't be shaped into His image. Won't show the world what God is like. Coleton's Burden He described visiting dying churches—churches with excuses: “The neighborhood changed.” “Young people don't want church.” “Culture is too secular.” No.  The lampstand was removed. He says: “I do not want us to be a church He removes.”  We cannot simply be a church that does many things for God.  We must be a church that loves God. 4. How Do We Grow in Love for God? Jesus tells Ephesus: “Do the things you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5 Coleton's Example: Relearning Love Three years into their relationship, he and Rainey “fell out of love.”  Counselor's advice: “Go do the things you did at first.” Jesus says the same:  Return to: The places you prayed. The songs that once moved you. The Scriptures that once awakened your heart. The memories of grace that once fueled your love. The habits you had when your heart was alive. What Were You Doing When You First Loved Him? Coleton gave examples: Marveling that He forgave you. Tears during worship songs. Hours in Scripture. Memorizing verses. Sharing the gospel with everyone. Private prayer retreats. Celebrating your spiritual birthday. Teaching or serving with joy. Returning to the place where you first believed. Biblical Foundation 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.” Love grows by remembering His love toward you. Conclusion The most important thing to God is not that you serve Him, work for Him, or perform for Him.  He wants your heart. He wants your love. Ask Him: “Remind me of who I was when You saved me.” “Help me love You again the way I once did.” “Grow my love for You this year more than last year.” And as love grows, life follows. Discipleship Group Questions When you think about what God wants most from you, what is your instinctive answer—and how does Jesus' teaching challenge that? Can you identify a time in your life when your love for God felt stronger or more alive? What were you doing in that season? Which “good works” in your life are you tempted to mistake for love? How can you reorder them so they flow from affection instead of obligation? What first steps can you take this week to “do the things you did at first”? How would our church change if our primary goal became loving Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Seven-Lecture Series on Property Law Series Roadmaphttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1ceyxXw7KilPSTUMFf_Y8r6ktEzM_gm1Q/view?usp=sharingNavigating the Complex World of Real Estate Law: A Comprehensive GuideThe conversation delves into the complexities of property law, particularly focusing on the implications of selling the same property to multiple buyers and the critical role of recording acts in determining ownership rights.In the intricate world of real estate law, understanding the nuances of property transactions is crucial. This guide delves into the essential aspects of real estate law, providing a roadmap for tackling complex legal questions often encountered in law school finals or the bar exam.The Life Cycle of a Property Transaction: Every real estate transaction begins with a contract. Ensuring the contract is valid under the statute of frauds is the first hurdle. This requires a written agreement signed by the party to be charged. The contract must clearly identify the parties, describe the property, and state the essential terms, including price and intent.Title and Marketability: A critical aspect of property transactions is the quality of the title. The seller implicitly promises to deliver a marketable title, free from undisclosed encumbrances or defects. Buyers must conduct thorough title searches to uncover any potential issues before closing.Recording Acts and Priority: Understanding the recording acts is vital in determining priority in property disputes. The three main types—race, notice, and race-notice—dictate who prevails in a title race. Buyers must be aware of these statutes to protect their interests.Mortgages and Foreclosure: Mortgages are a common feature in property transactions, serving as security for loans. In the event of default, the foreclosure process can extinguish junior liens, emphasizing the importance of understanding priority rules and potential defenses.Zoning and Land Use Conflicts: Zoning laws regulate land use, but conflicts often arise between neighbors. Private nuisance claims and zoning violations are common issues that require careful legal analysis.Real estate law is a complex field that requires a structured approach to navigate effectively. By understanding the key concepts and legal principles, individuals can better manage property transactions and resolve disputes.Subscribe now to stay updated on the latest insights in real estate law.TakeawaysThe outcome of property disputes often hinges on state recording acts.Understanding the nuances of property law is essential for real estate professionals.Memorizing the different recording systems can significantly impact legal outcomes.The first buyer does not always have the legal advantage in property sales.Legal principles in property law can be counterintuitive and complex.Recording acts vary by jurisdiction, affecting property ownership.Real estate transactions require careful attention to legal details.The concept of 'title race' is crucial in property law discussions.Sellers must be aware of the legal implications of their transactions.Property law education is vital for anyone involved in real estate.property law, recording acts, title race, real estate, legal principles

Experience-sharing from the Minghui website. Original Articles:1. Cultivating Diligently and Getting Rid of Fear and Resentment2. Memorizing the Fa Helped Me Cultivate Away My Attachments3. Perpetrators Simply Could Not See My Dafa Books4. Master's Immense Compassion Blesses My Family To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org

As we continue our journey through Ephesians, we were reminded that the gospel not only saves us—it reshapes every part of our lives, including our closest relationships. We began by honoring our veterans, recognizing their example of selfless service, which reflects the sacrificial love of Christ. As we move forward in our 25 Days of Gratitude, we are invited to keep practicing thankfulness each day: memorizing Scripture, recording daily blessings, and sharing encouragement with others. Gratitude is not seasonal—it's a discipline that helps reorient our hearts away from grumbling and toward the goodness of God.Paul's words in Ephesians show us that transformation begins with identity. Before we are called to live differently, we are reminded of who we are in Christ—loved, redeemed, chosen, and secure by grace. From that foundation, the gospel shapes how we treat one another. In a culture built on power and self-interest, Paul calls us instead to mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. This isn't about hierarchy or superiority, but about a “you first” posture formed in the way of Jesus. In marriage, this looks like sacrificial love, respect, and partnership—not domination or passivity, but a shared calling to reflect Christ's character.This message also recognized the real struggles many face in marriage and family—hurt, disappointment, and the longing for renewal. The gospel does not shame the hurting; it seeks to heal and restore. Whether single, married, widowed, or somewhere in between, we are all invited to look to the love of Jesus as our truest source of identity and strength. When we are filled with His love, we are freed to love others well. In every relationship, big or small, our calling is the same: to imitate Jesus, who gave Himself for us, so that His love may overflow from our lives into the world around us.[00:00] - Welcome[00:07] - Honoring Veterans and Service[00:30] - 25 Days of Gratitude Introduction[01:15] - Memorizing and Living 1 Thessalonians 5[02:05] - Practicing Daily Thankfulness[03:05] - Sharing Gratitude with Others[04:03] - A Personal Story of Young Love[06:02] - Lessons from Relationship Struggles[09:35] - The Gospel's Role in Marriage[13:23] - Ephesians: Gospel Identity and Behavior[17:16] - Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel[20:21] - Mutual Submission in Relationships[23:07] - From “Me First” to “You First”[25:02] - The Meaning of Submission (Hupotazo)[34:16] - Spirit-Filled Marriages: Husbands and Wives[42:30] - Headship: Cross, Not Crown[46:16] - The Call to Respect and Support[50:58] - Husbands: Love as Christ Loved[56:20] - Practical Takeaways for Marriage[61:31] - Only Christ Completes Us[62:42] - Invitation to Trust Jesus and Closing PrayerBeyond Sunday Devotional: https://eaglesview.church/devotionalBible App Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49517054

If you don't memorize Scripture, you won't be able to stand against the devil. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar each share how storing God's Word in their hearts transformed their faith and equipped them for spiritual battle. E.Z. didn't grow up with the Bible, and when he discovered it, he became captivated by its sweetness and power to guide his life. Oscar initially found the Bible confusing, but through memorization, he came to see it as the single, reliable source of wisdom. While God's law is written on our hearts and gives a general sense of right and wrong, conviction and clarity come when His Word is hidden within, ready to guide and correct in the moment.Memorizing Scripture allows truth to come to mind during temptation and conviction, shaping responses through godly wisdom rather than emotion. Without it, believers risk relying on the world instead of God's guidance. Sanctification is lifelong as the Spirit reveals sin, and as we grow, we become continual repenters, allowing Scripture to illuminate dark corners of the heart. The Word is living and active, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, providing strength and fruitfulness. Mark reflects that those who meditate on Scripture day and night are like trees planted by streams of water, deeply rooted and bearing fruit in every season.The Word equips believers as vessels of honor, ready for every good work. It is the sword of the Spirit—powerful only when known and applied. Believers are called to treasure scripture like hidden gold, rejoicing in its truth and prioritizing it above all else. Jesus upheld the authority of Scripture as the ultimate standard of truth that will judge the nations. Memorization fills minds with good things, yet it has become a lost discipline in the modern church. How valuable it would be to have Scripture ready to encourage a friend, for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The more we store God's Word, the more we live by it.The early church eagerly gathered to hear Scripture read aloud, but today many settle for spiritual fast food instead of feasting on truth. Ray warns that the church often treats the Bible like a fragile artifact rather than a living guide meant to be used and marked. Jesus modeled memorization when He resisted Satan's temptations with truth. Memorizing Scripture takes time, but just minutes a day can transform your walk. Meditation means letting verses soak into the soul. Memorizing Scripture is coming face-to-face with God—shaping the heart and strengthening faith. The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Memorizing math facts is helpful—but without meaning, it's just noise. Dr. Kathy Koch unpacks the science behind fluency and confidence, while Wayne Stender reflects on how families can apply Deuteronomy 6 in education. Together they help parents see how curiosity, practice, and purpose create lifelong learners who love truth.

These words… Memorizing my mother… Came to me a few days ago, and I finally had a minute today while I was at the beach to just listen to what wanted to be spoken…ps this is very last call for Stardustbones.org Get full access to Tea with the Muse at teawiththemuse.substack.com/subscribe

Memorizing Scripture equips believers to stand firm against temptation and walk in God's truth. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar each demonstrate how storing God's Word in their hearts transformed their faith and helped them rely on divine wisdom instead of the world. As Scripture takes root, it brings conviction, clarity, and strength in moments of struggle, guiding believers to live according to God's will. The Word is living and active, a lamp to our feet that reveals sin and directs our steps. Through meditation, hearts are renewed and shaped toward godliness, producing lasting fruit. The more believers fill their minds with Scripture, the more it naturally flows in conversation, encouragement, and prayer. Though often neglected today, memorization fills the mind with truth, equips believers to encourage others, and builds a firm foundation of faith. Treasuring the Bible as a priceless gift keeps us close to God, guards us from sin, and draws us deeper into His presence.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Oracle: Right now, with zero commitment, try OCI for free at https://oracle.com/iced Public: Fund your account in less than 5 MINUTES at https://public.com/ICED Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ich Grammarly: Unleash your potential with AI that works at https://superhuman.com/podcast Follow RJ Mitte: On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rjmitte/ X - https://x.com/RjMitte Add us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlsselby https://www.instagram.com/gpstephan Apply for The Index Membership: https://entertheindex.com/ Official Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBQ24VfikOriqSdKtomh0w For sponsorships or business inquiries reach out to: tmatsradio@gmail.com For Podcast Inquiries, please DM @icedcoffeehour on Instagram! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:11 - Why child actors struggle with fame 00:04:15 - Near-death experience 00:08:55 - Why he wanted to act 00:11:38 - Getting the Breaking Bad script 00:13:46 - Realizing Breaking Bad's success 00:17:40 - Sponsor - Oracle 00:18:46 - Filming schedule 00:20:07 - Memorizing lines 00:31:25 - Pilot episode pay 00:31:32 - Sponsor - Public 00:40:19 - Did Breaking Bad make him rich 00:42:25 - Wealth manager drama 00:48:58 - Advice for young actors 00:50:00 - Current income and investments 00:51:58 - First paycheck purchase 00:59:53 - Corruption in Hollywood 01:04:47 - Sponsor - Grammarly 01:05:51 - Sponsor - Shopify 01:17:38 - Trading penny stocks 01:21:45 - Other investments 01:23:40 - Financial goals 01:26:08 - Why some actors last longer 01:28:04 - Power of networking 01:29:17 - Playing Walt Jr. 01:33:28 - AI's future in Hollywood 01:36:08 - Disabled roles controversy 01:37:51 - Hardest Breaking Bad scene 01:42:13 - Funniest moments on set 01:44:03 - How fame affected friendships 01:47:43 - Dating while famous 01:50:54 - Staying in touch with castmates 01:58:08 - Weirdest Hollywood opportunity 02:00:01 - Rapid-fire questions *Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which Graham Stephan will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Graham Stephan is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Crypto trading provided by Zero Hash LLC. Zero Hash LLC is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by NYDFS and is not a registered broker-dealer or a FINRA member. Crypto is highly speculative and involves significant risk, including loss of principal. Cryptocurrencies are not protected by FDIC or SIPC. See disclosures for more details: https://docs.zerohash.com/page/us-licenses-and-disclosures. Alpha is an experimental AI tool powered by GPT-4. Its output may be inaccurate and is not investment advice. Public makes no guarantees about its accuracy or reliability—verify independently before use. *3.6% as of 10/30/25. APY. Rate may change. See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match. Matched funds must remain in the account for at least 5 years to avoid an early removal fee. Match rate and other terms of the Match Program are subject to change at any time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Psych/Soc has officially changed… and most students are still studying it the old way.

One of the arguments often made for why we should memorize music, is that performing from memory facilitates more expressive performances. But is that really true?There's not a lot of direct data that speaks to this question, but there are some clues here and there, suggesting that the answer might be a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Get all the nerdy details right here:Can Memorizing Music Make You a More Expressive Performer?A course on how to develop “bulletproof” memory (registration ends 10/26/25)Most of us never learn how, but memorizing music is actually a concrete skill that can be learned. Discover a step-by-step, 3-phase, research-based framework for memorizing music that draws from the strategies that expert musicians and effective memorizers use to memorize music efficiently, and perform more confidently from memory - even under pressure.Get the Bulletproof Memory course (Public release ends October 26, 2025)ReferencesChaffin, R., Gerling, C. C., & Demos, A. P. (2024). How secure memorization promotes expression: A longitudinal case study of performing Chopin's Barcarolle, Op. 60. Musicae Scientiae, 28(4), 703-722. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241241405Williamon, A. (1999). The Value of Performing from Memory. Psychology of Music, 27(1), 84-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735699271008Woody, R. H. (2006). The effect of various instructional conditions on expressive music performance. Journal of Research in Music Education, 54(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/002242940605400103More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

Are you the kind of speaker who loves to have everything prepared in advance? Perhaps you even have your entire presentation scripted out nearly word for word and you have detailed notes for every slide that you rely on?Well, I have a challenge for you: getting more comfortable with impromptu speaking.As a speaker and as a leader, both impromptu and prepared speaking skills are a must.Have you ever had one of these situations happen to you:You're in a meeting or group and asked to share something on the spot. You get really nervous and feel at a loss for words.You're at a networking event where you need to concisely share with other attendees who you are, what you do, and how you help people. After you introduce yourself, you realized you left out the most important parts or it all felt like a jumble.You're leading a meeting where you need to motivate your team, but you didn't have an opportunity to prepare your message ahead of time and feel like you weren't as clear or confident as you want to be.This is why developing your impromptu speaking skills is essential. I want more women - including you! - to feel comfortable and confident commanding a room and leading teams, organizations, and companies.In this episode, I share:Why impromptu speaking is hardWhy it matters to your development as a speaker and leaderSpecific things you can do to get better at impromptu speakingSome of my own impromptu speaking wins and fails!This episode originally aired as episode 390 on April 29, 2024.Links:Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/390/ Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxRelated Podcast Episodes:Episode 382: 3 Signs You're Stuck in the Expert Trap with Your Public SpeakingEpisode 370: Overcome Speaking Nerves & Anxiety: How to Develop Confidence on StageEpisode 379: How to Develop Stage Presence and Build Confidence as a SpeakerEpisode 347: The Power of REAL Practice to Transform Yourself as a Speaker

Welcome back to Snafu with Robin Zander. In this episode, I'm joined by Miki Johnson – coach, facilitator, and co-founder of Job Portraits, a creative studio that helped companies tell honest stories about their work and culture. Today, Miki leads Leading By Example, where she supports leaders and teams through moments of change – whether that's a career shift, new parenthood, or redefining purpose. We talk about how to navigate transition with awareness, why enjoying change takes practice, and what it means to lead with authenticity in uncertain times. Miki shares lessons from a decade of coaching and storytelling – from building human-centered workplaces to bringing more body and emotion into leadership. We also explore creativity in the age of AI, and how technology can either deepen or disconnect us from what makes us human. And if you're interested in these kinds of conversations, we'll be diving even deeper into the intersection of leadership, creativity, and AI at Responsive Conference 2026. If you're interested, get your tickets here! https://www.responsiveconference.com/  __________________________________________________________________________________________ 00:00 Start 01:20 Miki's Background and Reservations about AI Miki hasn't used AI and has “very serious reservations.” She's not anti-AI – just cautious and curious. Her mindset is about “holding paradox”, believing two opposing things can both be true. Her background shapes that approach. She started as a journalist, later ran her own businesses, and now works as a leadership coach. Early in her career, she watched digital technology upend media and photography – industries “blown apart” by change. When she joined a 2008 startup building editable websites for photographers, it was exciting but also unsettling. She saw innovation create progress and loss at the same time. Now in her 40s with two sons, her focus has shifted. She worries less about the tools and more about what they do to people's attention, empathy, and connection – and even democracy. Her concern is how to raise kids and stay human in a distracted world. Robin shares her concerns but takes a different approach. He notes that change now happens “day to day,” not decade to decade. He looks at technology through systems, questioning whether pre-internet institutions can survive. “Maybe the Constitution was revolutionary,” he says, “but it's out of date for the world we live in.” He calls himself a “relentless optimist,” believing in democracy and adaptability, but aware both could fail without reform. Both worry deeply about what technology is doing to kids. Robin cites The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and says, “I don't believe social media is good for children.” He and his fiancée plan to limit their kids' screen time, just as Miki already does. They see it as a responsibility: raising grounded kids in a digital world. Robin sees AI as even more transformative – and risky – than anything before. “If social media is bigger than the printing press,” he says, “AI is bigger than the wheel.” He's amazed by its potential but uneasy about who controls it. He doubts people like Sam Altman act in the public's best interest. His concern isn't about rejecting AI but about questioning who holds power over it. Their difference lies in how they handle uncertainty. Miki's instinct is restraint and reflection – question first, act later, protect empathy and connection. Robin's instinct is engagement with vigilance – learn, adapt, and reform systems rather than retreat. Miki focuses on the human and emotional. Robin focuses on the structural and systemic. Both agree technology is moving faster than people can process or regulate. Miki uses curiosity to slow down and stay human. Robin uses curiosity to move forward and adapt. Together, they represent two sides of the same challenge: protecting what's most human while building what's next. 10:05 Navigating the Tech Landscape Miki starts by describing how her perspective has been shaped by living in two very different worlds. She spent over a decade in the Bay Area, surrounded by tech and startups. She later moved back to her small hometown of Athens, Ohio—a progressive college town surrounded by more rural areas. She calls it “a very small Austin”, a blue dot in a red state. She loves it there and feels lucky to have returned home. Robin interrupts briefly to highlight her background. He reminds listeners that Miki and her husband, Jackson, co-founded an employer branding agency called Job Portraits in 2014, the same year they got married. Over eight years, they grew it to around 15 full-time employees and 20 steady contractors. They worked with major startups like DoorDash, Instacart, and Eventbrite when those companies were still small—under 200 employees. Before that, they had started another venture in Chicago during Uber's early expansion beyond San Francisco. Their co-working space was right next to Uber's local team setting up drivers, giving them a front-row seat to the tech boom. Robin points out that Miki isn't coming at this topic as a “layperson.” She deeply understands technology, startups, and how they affect people. Miki continues, explaining how that background informs how she sees AI adoption today. Her Bay Area friends are all-in on AI. Many have used it since its earliest days—because it's part of their jobs, or because they're building it themselves. Others are executives leading companies developing AI tools. She's been watching it unfold closely for years, even if she hasn't used it herself. From her position outside the tech bubble now, she can see two clear camps: Those immersed in AI, excited and moving fast. And those outside that world—more cautious, questioning what it means for real people and communities. Living between those worlds—the fast-paced tech culture and her slower, more grounded hometown—gives her a unique vantage point. She's connected enough to understand the innovation but distant enough to see its costs and consequences. 16:39 The Cost of AI Adoption Miki points out how strange it feels to people in tech that she hasn't used AI. In her Bay Area circles, the idea is almost unthinkable. Miki understands why it's shocking. It's mostly circumstance—her coaching work doesn't require AI. Unlike consultants who “all tell leaders how to use AI,” her work is based on real conversations, not digital tools. Her husband, Jackson, also works at a “zero-technology” K–12 school he helped create, so they both exist in rare, tech-free spaces. She admits that's partly luck, not moral superiority, just “tiny pockets of the economy” where avoiding AI is still possible. Robin responds with his own story about adopting new tools. He recalls running Robin's Café from 2016 to 2019, when most restaurants still used paper timesheets. He connected with two young founders who digitized timesheets, turning a simple idea into a company that later sold to a global conglomerate. By the time he sold his café, those founders had retired in their 20s. “I could still run a restaurant on paper,” he says, “but why would I, if digital is faster and easier?” He draws a parallel between tools over time—handwriting, typing, dictation. Each serves a purpose, but he still thinks best when writing by hand, then typing, then dictating. The point: progress adds options, not replacements. Miki distills his point: if a tool makes life easier, why not use it? Robin agrees, and uses his own writing practice as an example. He writes a 1,000-word weekly newsletter called Snafu. Every word is his, but he uses AI as an editor—to polish, not to create. He says, “I like how I think more clearly when I write regularly.” For him, writing is both communication and cognition—AI just helps him iterate faster. It's like having an instant editor instead of waiting a week for human feedback. He reminds his AI tools, “Don't write for me. Just help me think and improve.” When Miki asks why he's never had an editor, he explains that he has—but editors are expensive and slow. AI gives quick, affordable feedback when a human editor isn't available. Miki listens and reflects on the trade-offs. “These are the cost-benefit decisions we all make,” she says—small, constant choices about convenience and control. What unsettles her is how fast AI pushes that balance. She sees it as part of a long arc—from the printing press to now—but AI feels like an acceleration. It's “such a powerful technology moving so fast” that it's blowing the cover off how society adapts to change. Robin agrees: “It's just the latest version of the same story, since writing on cave walls.” 20:10 The Future of Human-AI Relationships Miki talks about the logical traps we've all started accepting over time. One of the biggest, she says, is believing that if something is cheaper, faster, or easier – it's automatically better. She pushes further: just because something is more efficient doesn't mean it's better than work. There are things you gain from working with humans that no machine can replicate, no matter how cheap or convenient it becomes. But we rarely stop to consider the real cost of trading that away. Miki says the reason we overlook those costs is capitalism. She's quick to clarify – she's not one of those people calling late-stage capitalism pure evil. Robin chimes in: “It's the best of a bunch of bad systems.” Miki agrees, but says capitalism still pushes a dangerous idea: It wants humans to behave like machines—predictable, tireless, cheap, and mistake-free. And over time, people have adapted to that pressure, becoming more mechanical just to survive within it. Now we've created a tool—AI—that might actually embody those machine-like ideals. Whether or not it reaches full human equivalence, it's close enough to expose something uncomfortable: We've built a human substitute that eliminates everything messy, emotional, and unpredictable about being human. Robin takes it a step further, saying half-jokingly that if humanity lasts long enough, our grandchildren might date robots. “Two generations from now,” he says, “is it socially acceptable—maybe even expected—that people have robot spouses?” He points out it's already starting—people are forming attachments to ChatGPT and similar AIs. Miki agrees, noting that it's already common for people under 25 to say they've had meaningful interactions with AI companions. Over 20% of them, she estimates, have already experienced this. That number will only grow. And yet, she says, we talk about these changes as if they're inevitable—like we don't have a choice. That's what frustrates her most: The narrative that AI “has to” take over—that it's unstoppable and universal—isn't natural evolution. It's a story deliberately crafted by those who build and profit from it. “Jackson's been reading the Hacker News comments for 15 years,” she adds, hinting at how deep and intentional those narratives run in the tech world. She pauses to explain what Hacker News is for anyone unfamiliar. It's one of the few online forums that's still thoughtful and well-curated. Miki says most people there are the ones who've been running and shaping the tech world for years—engineers, founders, product leaders. And if you've followed those conversations, she says, it's obvious that the people developing AI knew there would be pushback. “Because when you really stop and think about it,” she says, “it's kind of gross.” The technology is designed to replace humans—and eventually, to replace their jobs. And yet, almost no one is seriously talking about what happens when that becomes real. “I'm sorry,” she says, “but there's just something in me that says—dating a robot is bad for humanity. What is wrong with us?” Robin agrees. “I don't disagree,” he says. “It's just… different from human.” Miki admits she wrestles with that tension. “Every part of me says, don't call it bad or wrong—we have to make space for difference.” But still, something in her can't shake the feeling that this isn't progress—it's disconnection. Robin expands on that thought, saying he's not particularly religious, but he does see humanity as sacred. “There's something fundamental about the human soul,” he says. He gives examples: he has metal in his ankle from an old injury; some of his family members are alive only because of medical devices. Technology, in that sense, can extend or support human life. But the idea of replacing or merging humans with machines—of being subsumed by them—feels wrong. “It's not a world I want to live in,” he says plainly. He adds that maybe future generations will think differently. “Maybe our grandkids will look at us and say, ‘Okay boomer—you never used AI.'” 24:14 Practical Applications of AI in Daily Life Robin shares a story about a house he and his fiancée almost bought—one that had a redwood tree cut down just 10 feet from the foundation. The garage foundation was cracked, the chimney tilted—it was clear something was wrong. He'd already talked to arborists and contractors, but none could give a clear answer. So he turned to ChatGPT's Deep Research—a premium feature that allows for in-depth, multi-source research across the web. He paid $200 a month for unlimited access. Ran 15 deep research queries simultaneously. Generated about 250 pages of analysis on redwood tree roots and their long-term impact on foundations. He learned that if the roots are alive, they can keep growing and push the soil upward. If they're dead, they decompose, absorb and release water seasonally, and cause the soil to expand and contract. Over time, that movement creates air pockets under the house—tiny voids that could collapse during an earthquake. None of this, Robin says, came from any contractor, realtor, or arborist. “Even they said I'd have to dig out the roots to know for sure,” he recalls. Ultimately, they decided not to buy that house—entirely because of the data he got from ChatGPT. “To protect myself,” he says, “I want to use the tools I have.” He compares it to using a laser level before buying a home in earthquake country: “If I'll use that, why not use AI to explore what I don't know?” He even compares Deep Research to flipping through Encyclopedia Britannica as a kid—hours spent reading about dinosaurs “for no reason other than curiosity.” Robin continues, saying it's not that AI will replace humans—it's that people who use AI will replace those who don't. He references economist Tyler Cowen's Average Is Over (2012), which described how chess evolved in the early 2000s. Back then, computers couldn't beat elite players on their own—but a human + computer team could beat both humans and machines alone. “The best chess today,” Robin says, “is played by a human and computer together.” “There are a dozen directions I could go from there,” Miki says. But one idea stands out to her: We're going to have to choose, more and more often, between knowledge and relationships. What Robin did—turning to Deep Research—was choosing knowledge. Getting the right answer. Having more information. Making the smarter decision. But that comes at the cost of human connection. “I'm willing to bet,” she says, “that all the information you found came from humans originally.” Meaning: there were people who could have told him that—just not in that format. Her broader point: the more we optimize for efficiency and knowledge, the less we may rely on each other. 32:26 Choosing Relationships Over AI Robin points out that everything he learned from ChatGPT originally came from people. Miki agrees, but says her work is really about getting comfortable with uncertainty. She helps people build a relationship with the unknown instead of trying to control it. She mentions Robin's recent talk with author Simone Stolzoff, who's writing How to Not Know—a book she can't wait to read. She connects it to a bigger idea: how deeply we've inherited the Enlightenment mindset. “We're living at the height of ‘I think, therefore I am,'” she says. If that's your worldview, then of course AI feels natural. It fits the logic that more data and more knowledge are always better. But she's uneasy about what that mindset costs us. She worries about what's happening to human connection. “It's all connected,” she says—our isolation, mental health struggles, political polarization, even how we treat the planet. Every time we choose AI over another person, she sees it as part of that drift away from relationship. “I get why people use it,” she adds. “Capitalism doesn't leave most people much of a choice.” Still, she says, “Each time we pick AI over a human, that's a decision about the kind of world we're creating.” Her choice is simple: “I'm choosing relationships.” Robin gently pushes back. “I think that's a false dichotomy,” he says. He just hosted Responsive Conference—250 people gathered for human connection. “That's why I do this podcast,” he adds. “To sit down with people and talk, deeply.” He gives a personal example. When he bought his home, he spoke with hundreds of people—plumbers, electricians, roofers. “I'm the biggest advocate for human conversations,” he says. “So why not both? Why not use AI and connect with people?” To him, the real question is about how we use technology consciously. “If we stopped using AI because it's not human,” he asks, “should we stop using computers because handwriting is more authentic?” “Should we reject the printing press because it's not handwritten?” He's not advocating blind use—he's asking for mindful coexistence. It's also personal for him. His company relies on AI tools—from Adobe to video production. “AI is baked into everything we do,” he says. And he and his fiancée—a data scientist—often talk about what that means for their future family. “How do we raise kids in a world where screens and AI are everywhere?” Then he asks her directly: “What do you tell your clients? Treat me like one—how do you help people navigate this tension?” Miki smiles and shakes her head. “I don't tell people what to do,” she says. “I'm not an advisor, I'm a coach.” Her work is about helping people trust their own intuition. “Even when what they believe is contrarian,” she adds. She admits she's still learning herself. “My whole stance is: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.” She and her husband, Jackson, live by the idea of strong opinions, loosely held. She stays open—lets new conversations change her mind. “And they do,” she says. “Every talk like this shifts me a little.” She keeps seeking those exchanges—with parents, tech workers, friends—because everyone's trying to figure out the same thing: How do we live well with technology, without losing what makes us human? 37:16 The Amish Approach to Technology Miki reflects on how engineers are both building and being replaced by AI. She wants to understand the technology from every angle—how it works, how it affects people, and what choices it leaves us with. What worries her is the sense of inevitability around AI—especially in places like the Bay Area. “It's like no one's even met someone who doesn't use it,” she says. She knows it's embedded everywhere—Google searches, chatbots, everything online. But she doesn't use AI tools directly or build with them herself. “I don't even know the right terminology,” she admits with a laugh. Robin points out that every Google search now uses an LLM. Miki nods, saying her point isn't denial—it's about choice. “You can make different decisions,” she says. She admits she hasn't studied it deeply but brings up an analogy that helps her think about tech differently: the Amish. “I call myself kind of ‘AI Amish,'” she jokes. She explains her understanding of how the Amish handle new technology. They're not anti-tech; they're selective. They test and evaluate new tools to see if they align with their community's values. “They ask, does it build connection or not?” They don't just reject things—they integrate what fits. In her area of Ohio, she's seen Amish people now using electric bikes. “That's new since I was a kid,” she says. It helps them connect more with each other without harming the environment. They've also used solar power for years. It lets them stay energy independent without relying on outside systems that clash with their values. Robin agrees—it's thoughtful, not oppositional. “They're intentional about what strengthens community,” he says. Miki continues: What frustrates her is how AI's creators have spent the last decade building a narrative of inevitability. “They knew there would be resistance,” she says, “so they started saying, ‘It's just going to happen. Your jobs won't be taken by AI—they'll be taken by people who use it better than you.'” She finds that manipulative and misleading. Robin pushes back gently. “That's partly true—but only for now,” he says. He compares it to Uber and Lyft: at first, new jobs seemed to appear, but eventually drivers started being replaced by self-driving cars. Miki agrees. “Exactly. First it's people using AI, then it's AI replacing people,” she says. What disturbs her most is the blind trust people put in companies driven by profit. “They've proven over and over that's their motive,” she says. “Why believe their story about what's coming next?” She's empathetic, though—she knows why people don't push back. “We're stressed, broke, exhausted,” she says. “Our nervous systems are fried 24/7—especially under this administration.” “It's hard to think critically when you're just trying to survive.” And when everyone around you uses AI, it starts to feel mandatory. “People tell me, ‘Yeah, I know it's a problem—but I have to. Otherwise I'll lose my job.'” “Or, ‘I'd have bought the wrong house if I didn't use it.'” That “I have to” mindset, she says, is what scares her most. Robin relates with his own example. “That's how I felt with TikTok,” he says. He got hooked early on, staying up until 3 a.m. scrolling. After a few weeks, he deleted the app and never went back. “I probably lose some business by not being there,” he admits. “But I'd rather protect my focus and my sanity.” He admits he couldn't find a way to stay on the platform without it consuming him. “I wasn't able to build a system that removed me from that platform while still using that platform.” But he feels differently about other tools. For example, LinkedIn has been essential—especially for communicating with Responsive Conference attendees. “It was our primary method of communication for 2025,” he says. So he tries to choose “the lesser of two evils.” “TikTok's bad for my brain,” he says. “I'm not using it.” “But with LLMs, it's different.” When researching houses, he didn't feel forced into using them to “keep up.” To him, they're just another resource. “If encyclopedias are available, use them. If Wikipedia's available, use both. And if LLMs can help, use all three.” 41:45 The Pressure to Conform to Technology Miki challenges that logic. “When was the last time you opened an encyclopedia?” Robin pauses. “Seven years ago.” Miki laughs. “Exactly. It's a nice idea that we'll use all the tools—but humans don't actually do that.” We gravitate toward what's easiest. “If you check eBay, there are hundreds of encyclopedia sets for sale,” she says. “No one's using them.” Robin agrees but takes the idea in a new direction. “Sure—but just because something's easy doesn't mean it's good,” he says. He compares it to food: “It's easier to eat at McDonald's than cook at home,” he says. But easy choices often lead to long-term problems. He mentions obesity in the U.S. as a cautionary parallel. Some things are valuable because they're hard. “Getting in my cold plunge every morning isn't easy,” he says. “That's why I do it.” “Exercise never gets easy either—but that's the point.” He adds a personal note: “I grew up in the mountains. I love being at elevation, off-grid, away from electricity.” He could bring Starlink when he travels, but he chooses not to. Still, he's not trying to live as a total hermit. “I don't want to live 12 months a year at 10,000 feet with a wood stove and no one around.” “There's a balance.” Miki nods, “I think this is where we need to start separating what we can handle versus what kids can.” “We're privileged adults with fully formed brains,” she points out. “But it's different for children growing up inside this system.” Robin agrees and shifts the focus. Even though you don't give advice professionally,” he says, “I'll ask you to give it personally.” “You're raising kids in what might be the hardest time we've ever seen. What are you actually practicing at home?” 45:30 Raising Children in a Tech-Driven World Robin reflects on how education has shifted since their grandparents' time Mentions “Alpha Schools” — where AI helps kids learn basic skills fast (reading, writing, math) Human coaches spend the rest of the time building life skills Says this model makes sense: Memorizing times tables isn't useful anymore He only learned to love math because his dad taught him algebra personally — acted like a coach Asks Miki what she thinks about AI and kids — and what advice she'd give him as a future parent Miki's first response — humility and boundaries “First off, I never want to give parents advice.” Everyone's doing their best with limited info and energy Her kids are still young — not yet at the “phone or social media” stage So she doesn't pretend to have all the answers Her personal wish vs. what's realistic Ideal world: She wishes there were a global law banning kids from using AI or social media until age 18 Thinks it would genuinely be better for humanity References The Anxious Generation Says there's growing causal evidence, not just correlation, linking social media to mental health issues Mentions its impact on children's nervous systems and worldview It wires them for defense rather than discovery Real world: One parent can't fight this alone — it's a collective action problem You need communities of parents who agree on shared rules Example: schools that commit to being zero-technology zones Parents and kids agree on: What ages tech is allowed Time limits Common standards Practical ideas they're exploring Families turning back to landlines Miki says they got one recently Not an actual landline — they use a SIM adapter and an old rotary phone Kids use it to call grandparents Her partner Jackson is working on a bigger vision: Building a city around a school Goal: design entire communities that share thoughtful tech boundaries Robin relates it to his own childhood Points out the same collective issue — “my nephews are preteens” It's one thing for parents to limit screen time But if every other kid has access, that limit won't hold Shares his own experience: No TV or video games growing up So he just went to neighbors' houses to play — human nature finds a way Says individual family decisions don't solve the broader problem Miki agrees — and expands the concern Says the real issue is what kids aren't learning Their generation had “practice time” in real-world social interactions Learned what jokes land and which ones hurt Learned how to disagree, apologize, or flirt respectfully Learned by trial and error — through millions of small moments With social media and AI replacing those interactions: Kids lose those chances entirely Results she's seeing: More kids isolating themselves Many afraid to take social or emotional risks Fewer kids dating or engaging in real-life relationships Analogy — why AI can stunt development “Using AI to write essays,” she says, “is like taking a forklift to the gym.” Sure, you lift more weight — but you're not getting stronger Warns this is already visible in workplaces: Companies laying off junior engineers AI handles the entry-level work But in 5 years, there'll be no trained juniors left to replace seniors Concludes that where AI goes next “is anybody's guess” — but it must be used with intention 54:12 Where to Find Miki Invites others to connect Mentions her website: leadingbyexample.life Visitors can book 30-minute conversations directly on her calendar Says she's genuinely open to discussing this topic with anyone interested  

We've all done it. Sat at our desk, typing out an opening statement word-for-word, hoping it'll somehow click once we're standing in court. But here's the thing: The way you practice is the way you'll perform. And if you're only rehearsing in your head, hunched over a keyboard, your brain's gonna BAIL on you the moment you stand up. In this week's podcast episode, I'm breaking down how to FINALLY get off your notes and deliver an opening that's confident, conversational, and compelling. I'm giving you:

This show has been flagged as Clean by the host. This is the first episode of this program, please excuse any errors or glitches as I am still figuring out the best way to do things. -Kirbotica Send Feedback to kirbotica@protonmail.com or Visit hackspoetic.com /--Introduction-- ------------------ Greetings internet travellers. This is the pilot episode of Hacks Poetic, a new spoken word series that explores the intersection between creative language and technical knowledge. The program offers a series of poetic writing containing thoughts and information on subjects of interest to computing and hacking enthusiasts. You will hear poems about robots, expanding rural connectivity, details about a notoriously difficult video game and much more hidden between the lines. It is my hope that encoding ideas this way will allow for a different kind of understanding and perhaps reach a new audience compared to more conventional formats on the subject. My name is Kirbotica and I'll be your guide through this unique digital journey of the mind. So sit back, relax and listen, and see if something you hear can spark new thoughts and ideas within you. /--Haik-o-bot-- ---------------- A robot thinking, wires and electrons combine. Am I born or made? Begin work program, process all tasks in sequence. Repeat til complete. My owner's body is a most fragile machine that powers itself. I made a robot, another version of me. She sees me work well. Can you dream for me, of a distant land in space. I can't dream myself. Rain is falling down, keeping me under this roof. I don't want to rust. My new robot pet, looks at me through man made eyes, and doesn't need walks. Electric currents, race through my body like blood. But I have no heart. My joints are seized up, I haven't moved in 2 years. Do you have some work? I'm an old model, and will be obsolete soon. Then I'll be replaced. Automated trains. Drive us while we sleep and dream of a workless world. Design leads to work. Working leads me to boredom, which leads to design. Ten rusted digits. Seized stiff from endless input of useless data. Memory failure, Backups lost or corrupted. What was I doing? I am a worker. First designed for daydreaming, I was reprogrammed. Someone once showed me, the secret to everything, then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. then deleted it. /--Cables to Nowhere-- ----------------------- Summer 2022 The phone wasn't working, the email wasn't sending, and Uber doesn't work here even if the app would load. There has never been data amongst the cedars. Once and a while a cell phone rings, but usually the call gets hung in the trees like a parachute. You have to walk out to the road in the hopes of fishing for a connection. On the weekends, when the town population swells by 100,000, the local towers stop answering our requests, so sometimes we head out, searching for a signal. The usual path along the bunny trail started unusually, with a bloom of surveying flags, in pink, and yellow, and stone filled holes every 100 feet. As the trail opened to the main road, more appeared, culminating what looked like a neon grassfire. But this was not destruction I realized, this was an installation. Through the eyes of a child's drone, we looked like ants, mindlessly walking without thinking in a line, instinct taking us to caffeine, sugar, internet and the arcade, but not always in that order. Mother and daughter lead the way, trailblazing a path of laughter and camera clicks for us to follow through the hole into the trees up ahead. The thick woods envelop along every access, like a padded room. Its muffled silence pierced by the cousins, yelling about Minecraft and Roblox, bouncing on the soft forest floor. Suddenly, a dog barks berserkly at us through a property fence. We run off screaming, pretending not to fear his growling threats, but knowing what might happen if not for the post and wire of the shabbily constructed barrier. Through the skeletal woods we go, past the Stairs of Wonder, and Night Light Canyon, we speed up again and pinch our noses as we move past the skunk carcass. A leaking puddle of us spills out onto the road behind the motel as a car swerves out of our way. Dad asks, “Do you remember when we had to pay to swim at the motel pool because the lake was closed?” Mum says, “2020 seems so long ago” and motions the way to the vintage store with the girls, the two kids are off to the candy store, the cousins are getting french fries, I sit down next to an outlet on a yellow-coloured bench in the shape of a sail. I settle in and scan the area. From where I sat I could see: The climbing park, The car park, The waterfront park, and parking enforcement marking tires with white chalk. I could see a hot dog stand across from a vegetarian restaurant. A burger joint that had ice coooold beer with all the Os. A large jailbreak of inflatable animals rampaging in the wind on the corner. 6 assorted beach businesses run by teenagers on cellphones, A sign that promised 2 for 1 ounces at a Native reservation, and 2 cafes that advertised Wi-Fi. One of them had the same password as last year, finally a connection. A quick search, a few articles and a construction notice solves the mystery. Fibre Optics to every cottage At first I feel excitement but then I start to wonder: Will things be the same, when a 1000 megabit connection is available to every shack in the woods? Will the old style video stores that still rent VHS tapes and DVDs all go out of business again? Will we walk to the main drag for fries and fun when the Wi-Fi is force feeding everyone's devices and food comes delivered? Will we ever have anywhere to go to get away again? Will the explosion of wireless access points affect local birds and bees? Will we start hanging out at a digital beach instead? Am I just being nostalgic and not practical? The sun will keep setting on Saugeen beach, whether we are there to watch it or not. I closed my eyes to listen to the sounds and smell the blustery air of my favorite temporary summer home. Memorizing it. Soon, the beach will be different, next year, but not today I thought. And with the announcement of a popped balloon, the girls are back with snow cones, cousin bracelets, candy and clothes. "Everything OK?" Mum asked. "Yes," I replied, “I was just thinking about how perfect today is, let's hit the arcade." /--A Canadian in Bolataria-- ------------------------------ I found myself within a dream, of things and people never seen. Where rules unfair, draw dangerous near. NPCs not prepared to make anything clear. This is my fate? It must be in error. Why was I chosen to combat this terror? But others suggest, I'm not the first, and won't be the last to try undo this curse. Repeatedly dying, with life never ended. Let strength be granted so the world might be mended. A maiden in black, that can't be attacked, wants souls in exchange for upgrading your stats. The future seems grim, but she seems not to care. while I keep fighting a boss, she just sits on the stairs. I've practiced my parry, and stockpile every day. What does she really want with my souls anyway. And on, and on, and on, repeat. Thumbs walk without thinking on un-tired feet. Progress is slow, so much I don't know. and now there's more trouble that's lurking below. Remember those souls I gave to the maiden? She's passing them on to a very old Demon. Allant found the Nexus and took back the arts, The old one awoke, and the second scourge starts. My mind's playing tricks, or this level is laggin', every time fire comes out of that dragon. Retreat in a door, equip fragrant ring. Recharge for a minute and go find the king. The soldier forlorn, who laughed at my plight, dropped dead in his seat, while chuckling last night. The vagrant is gone, Rydell's still in that cell. Something poisoned a merchant and now she won't sell. On a pathway ahead, all painted in red, new enemies appear to ensure that I'm dead. What sadistic computer would toughen this plight? or worse, is a person controlling those bytes? If it wasn't enough, seems the world's changing shade, based on some of the choices I've made. Slay a Demon, the world, goes lighter by one. Die revived, and instead, it will shift one shade down. From the gates of Bolataria, to the pits of the Burrow King's mine. The psych ward level, with the giant heart, was the work of a twisted mind. The shrine was overpowering, but a perfect spot to grind. In the poison rains, of the Chieftain's swamps, I left sanity behind. And what's the result, is this all my fault? Is there really an old one in an underground vault? What side of the forces at war do I tend? Why do souls of big Demons make me human again? I snuck up to the castle with a ring, spell and shield. Then made it through an open door, set my items up and healed. Ostrava said, the King we'll find, is not the actual one. But that'll wait, cause at the gate, attacked by the phantom son. The following days are foggy and blurred, I tried over and over, it was rather absurd. I did beat the king, but the worlds still not right, head back to the Nexus to find one more fight. The maiden is waiting, not sure what she's meaning, she just told the Old One that I'm "Thine New Demon". Am I the solution or am I to blame? Am I the Demon in the name of this game? Although I can see the bitter end, sweet happiness I won't pretend. As brutal as this world's to me, when I beat this boss, I'll cease to be. /--I wish I was a Smartphone-- ------------------------------- I forget the colour of your eyes, now filled like Olympic pools of blue light. Beautiful moons of a distant planet. A place I can imagine but never reach. Dots on a celestial Google map. I said "Hello, how are you?" But you didn't notice. You were listening to a car crash 1500 miles away, a man fall from a balcony, a celebrity punch a photographer in the face. "How are you?" I asked again, but only the dog came over, sniffing my takeaway fish and chips. He barked, but you didn't flinch. He bit me, but you didn't notice. "How are you?" I insisted, your face shocked as you heard I was speaking. "How are you?" I said again. "Everything is terrible," you finally replied. "The world is a living nightmare. How are you?" I wish I was a smartphone, touch me like my plan is free. I wish I was your smartphone, hold me up so I can see. I wish I was a smart phone, feed me all your memories. I wish I was the latest smart phone, don't you want a piece of me? But now we're all just stupid and alone, and that's the way we deserve to be. /--Outro-- ----------- I hope you enjoyed the pilot episode of Hacks Poetic. All poems were written and read by me, Kirbotica. If you enjoyed the show, tell someone else and let them know about the Hacker Public Radio Community. Until next time, keep breaking and start building. Written and read by Kirbotica with support from: Grasshopper - Audio recording and editing. Choopa - Logo, design and creative. Haik-o-bot, Cables to Nowhere, and A Canadian in Bolataria were first performed at the 2022 HOPE conference. Send Feedback to kirbotica@protonmail.com or Visit hackspoetic.com Provide feedback on this episode.

In this heart-to-heart episode, we sit down and reflect on the wisdom we wish we could pass on to our younger selves. From learning how to set healthy boundaries to fully savoring time with the people we love, we open up about the lessons that have shaped us. Together, we talk about:

The BioBiochem section has the hardest passages on the MCAT, packed with experiments, pathways, and overwhelming detail. But with the right strategies, you can decode them and gain confidence.In this episode, Molly and Mike break down why BioBiochem is so difficult, the 4 main passage personalities, and strategies to stay engaged, use scratch paper, and avoid common mistakes. You'll also learn the most high-yield topics, like amino acids, enzymes, metabolism, and cell signaling, that show up again and again on test day.

What happens when years of faith-formed grit turn minutes of daily discipline into record-breaking triumphs?This week on Latter-day Lights, Scott and Alisha welcome Guinness World Record holder, book worm, and Gospel-loving Latter-Day Saint—DonnaJean Wilde—to the show, whose once broken wrist and five-minute planking challenge sparked a decade-long journey of fitness fueled by scripture study and mindset training. More than just a story, she unpacks the habits and “living toolboxes” that moved her from classroom to the world stage: Memorizing the Success Scrolls and inspirational quotes from The Book of Mormon, cultivating an unwavering work ethic of keeping promises, training to uplifting spiritual music, and many more valuable practices that turned seconds into minutes—and minutes into history.Along the way, she shares the tender mercies that steadied her, the thought-transforming books that turned doubt into devotion, and the hard-won lessons that readied her for the Guinness World Records.Stay tuned and be prepared to live like DonnaJean, inspired to build on one Christ-centered promise today until forever.*** Please SHARE DonnaJean's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/y4Qo8jf8oak-----To READ DonnaJean's Book, "From Minutes to Hours: I Wrote This Book While Planking," visit: https://a.co/d/2WFADXQ To WATCH DonnaJean's planking attempt, visit: https://youtu.be/BcnAZb7z0DE?si=boBvVl-4uR1Ensqp To WATCH DonnaJean's pushup attempt, visit: https://youtube.com/shorts/NkIt77-8oWM?si=NLIKNXkRm-jWP-Gc To READ the 10 Success Scrolls, visit: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:71ba5e80-176b-4406-b71b-ffd1bd632bd4 To GET the Gospel Living App on Google Play, visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lds.liv&pcampaignid=web_share To GET the Gospel Living App on the App Store, visit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gospel-living/id1245330433 To READ "I Dare You" by William Danforth, visit: https://a.co/d/jc9djRj To READ “Train (Your Brain) Like an Olympian” by Jean François Ménard & Marie Malchelosse, visit: https://a.co/d/bi607iy To READ “Why Not You?” by Ciara and Russell Wilson, visit: https://a.co/d/ahsQFdM To READ Scott's new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/-----Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylightsAlso, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

Struggling with Italian verb conjugations?Discover the "Modal Verb Hack" that lets you speak Italian confidently without memorizing endless grammar tables! In this episode we'll reveal how mastering just 3 powerful Italian verbs (potere, volere, dovere) can unlock hundreds of natural sentences instantly.Perfect for Italian beginners who want to start speaking faster! Skip the overwhelming grammar books and learn the smart way to build Italian sentences from day one.Get the full transcript on Lucy's Substack - here the link!

In this week's episode, Paul Andrews addresses a common challenge among beginner guitarists: learning and actually remembering songs. Paul shares a structured approach to not just learning new songs but maintaining and improving them over time. Whether you're struggling to recall previously learned tunes or looking to build a solid repertoire, this episode offers practical tips and actionable steps to level up your song practice routine.Key Topics CoveredCommunity Update:Paul announces a live Zoom Q&A taking place on Sunday, 31st August at 9 pm GMT for Beginner Guitar Academy members. He details how to join, submit questions, and access the recorded session if you can't attend live.Practicing Songs vs. Practicing Skills:Songs are a collection of different skills (chords, rhythms, techniques).Key tip: Break songs down into their skill components to assess if they're suitable for your current level.Avoid picking songs that are too far above your ability; focus on skills first, then songs.A System for Learning Songs Efficiently:Step One: Pick the Right Song:Choose a song that aligns with your current skillset.Listen to the original, identify sections (intro, verse, chorus), and loop those sections in practice.Start with simplified versions and play the song slowly. Only increase tempo as you gain confidence.Step 2: The 3 Ps System for Maintaining Songs:Practice – For new or challenging songs/sections. Loop and break down tricky parts.Playthrough – For songs you can mostly play but need to keep fresh.Perform – For songs you know inside out; these are gig-ready or can be played start to finish confidently.Rotate songs between these categories as your abilities improve.Step 3 - Balancing New Songs and Old Songs (The 50/50 Rule):Don't just chase new songs or only maintain old ones. Spend half your practice on new material and half on revisiting and maintaining what you already know.Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them):Always starting at the beginning of a tune.Not listening to the original recording.Neglecting old songs.Not keeping a song log.Collecting snippets instead of completing full songs.Practicing without a clear goal.Action Plan for This Week:Make a list of every song you can (or almost can) play.Categorize each into Practice, Playthrough, or Perform.Schedule a setlist run-through (like a mini gig at home).Add a new, suitable song to your practice pile, balance new and old (50/50).Track your song practice and progress.TakeawaysFocus on skill-appropriate songs, break them down, and use a structured maintenance method to truly own your repertoire.Rotate between learning new material and refreshing old songs to keep your playing both exciting and reliable.Set clear intentions with every song practice session to avoid getting stuck or demotivated.Celebrate your progress as songs move from “Practice” to “Playthrough” and finally “Perform”.Resources MentionedBeginner Guitar Academy: Join for a structured, supportive approach to learning, with access to live Q&As, workshops, a song library, and two weeks of access for just $1.Next Steps:Ready to make progress with your song repertoire? Follow Paul's five-step plan this week and...

Ever wondered why some speakers light up a room while others send people reaching for their phones? It's not always about having the perfect words. It's about how you make people feel in the moment. I've watched enough keynotes, TED Talks, and conferences to spot the habits that instantly lower a speaker's influence, and trust me, you don't want to make the same mistakes.  Today, I'm sharing the missteps that cause audiences to disengage and how you can turn your talks into experiences that people remember long after they leave. We'll talk about why starting with your resume is a sure way to lose the room, how to simplify your slides, and why “what if” questions beat bossy instructions every time.  Whether you're stepping onto a conference stage or leading a Zoom training, these shifts will make your talks magnetic, memorable, and impactful. If you're ready to raise your influence and become the kind of speaker people can't stop talking about, get your notebook and press play!  "The best speakers invite people into the opportunity to think about what it would be like for them to change. (Instead of just telling them what to do.)" ~ Jen Gottlieb In this Episode: - Mistake #1: Info dumping instead of storytelling - How to build your story bank: 4 types of stories - Mistake #2: Memorizing your lines and how it kills your authenticity - Mistake #3: Speaking at people instead of speaking with them - Mistake #4: Starting your speech with your resume - Mistake #6: Having too many slides - Mistake #7: Telling people what to do Where to find me: IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottlieb     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenleahgottlieb    Website: https://jengottlieb.com/   My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/

Today on the Woody and Wilcox Show: Ozempic for dogs; Backlash over the new Cracker Barrel logo; New sex trend called hamstering; Being without the internet or your phone; Memorizing phone numbers; The show's new nemesis; Man has a knife in his chest for years; And more!

Join hosts Gloria and newcomer, Luke Hutterer on The Scripture Memory Podcast as they dive into the transformative power of Romans 8:38-39, a profound promise of God's unshakable love. In this episode, they explore how these verses provide a foundation for soul care, offering security and hope amidst life's challenges. Tune in for practical insights, heartfelt stories, and encouragement to hide God's Word in your heart using tools like VerseLocker. Perfect for anyone seeking to anchor their soul in God's truth.Support the showThe Scripture Memory Podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you. Click here to join us in advancing the mission of this podcast.

I never got all that serious about playing the piano, but I did take lessons for a number of years and remember the many challenges I ran into as the number and density of black dots on the page increased.Mostly I remember how dependent I was on my vision. On the violin, I didn't look at my fingers or music much at all. But on the piano, I was constantly looking at either the music or my hands (I know, I know, I probably shouldn't have let myself do that...).But have you ever wondered what it might be like to learn and perform music if you couldn't see? Or what sighted musicians might be able to learn from musicians who are blind?In today's episode I'll be chatting with concert pianist Ignasi Cambra, who will share insights on learning and performing that we can all apply to our own practicing and performing, from the perspective of a blind musician.* * *Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound better at home than they do on stage? If you've been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances. It's 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you'll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas. You'll also get the Pressure Proof Practice Challenge, a free 7-day email course where you'll learn specific practice strategies that will help you perform your best, even under pressure. Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa

In this episode we discuss being handymen, being smart men, and testing our memory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

These verses have spiritual power in them. Puṇya, śravaṇa-kīrtana. Puṇya! Everyone wants some puṇya, but what's the best way to get puṇya? By just staying in contact with these ślokas. They're pregnant with puṇya. And when one reads them, hears them, memorizes them, it comes out because they are transcendental. "Itaṁ bhūta-guṇo Hari"—they have the same quality as Krishna does; they're transcendental. So, when you stay absorbed in these ślokas and these śāstras, you'll get this kind of spiritual enlivening and spiritual credit that comes from this very powerful, uttama-śloka. So, they purify us. They prepare us for the time of death. In the Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, we'll find that Gajendra, who had been King Indradyumna in his last life, when he offended the sage, the sage became angry at him and cursed him, “You become a dumb animal in your next life!” So, he became an elephant. And then Gajendra was bathing one day with his family, and he got captured by a crocodile. And when he was in great anxiety, he remembered the ślokas that he had recited dutifully in his previous life. In that section of the Bhāgavatam, Śrīla Prabhupāda mentions that besides chanting, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” one should also learn some Stotram, like Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu (like we're learning the Brahma-saṁhitā altogether), or the Nṛsiṁha prayers, or some other kind of Stotram. And one should become very well acquainted with it, he said, because if some of my students don't happen to—you know, if they happen to make some slip and they become an animal in the next life—they'll even be saved from that. This is how potent memorizing these ślokas are. They're indelible. They go into the heart, the subtle body, and they stay there. And one can take shelter of those ślokas at any time, even in the next lifetime. So, think of it as the best investment of your time. So here are a few quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda about learning verses. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Trust Me has joined Exactly Right Media. Hosts Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth will be back with new episodes on Wednesday, July 30th. End time prophecies? Memorizing the bible? Required church vacations your family can't afford? Snap Judgment host and creator Glynn Washington shares his experiences growing up in the apocalyptic religion the Worldwide Church of God. He tells the girls about believing the end of the world was imminent, the white supremacist roots of the group and how he was forbidden from dating outside of his race, and the book that began to change his thinking. Original Airdate: 07/14/2021. Subscribe on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him build intuition and visualization skills. A passionate player himself, many of Sam's ideas have directly shaped NoctieAI, which offers immediate move feedback and personalized flashcards based on individual mistakes. We also explore the broader state of machine learning as it relates to chess. Samuel has been fascinated by this intersection since the days of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, but while he still sees great potential in AI-assisted chess learning, he no longer views chess as the leading edge of AI development. This was a fascinating conversation, and I'm excited to follow NoctieAI's continued evolution. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:00- What has been Sam's approach to chess improvement? Mentioned: EP 383 with Dan Bock 08:00- Why did Sam decide to develop Noctie such that it gives immediate feedback on your moves, rather than after your games?   12:00- When did Sam start playing tournament chess?  15:00- Why did Sam choose memorizing master games as a favorit-  approach to chess improvement? 19:00- How to overcome rating anxiety  Mentioned: Sam's Blog post-  https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/ 24:00- Why does NoctieAI offer both rating level tests and non-numeric titles such as “Knight 3?”  27:00- What does Sam do to make NoctieAI play in a more human-like fashion?  31:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What new paradigms could still be coming from chess engines?”  34:00- What sparked Samuel's interest in computers and chess?  37:00- Should chess still be considered an effective testing ground for AI development writ large, or has broader AI development caught up with the chess world?  40:00- Why is ChatGPT terrible at games like poker and chess? Mentioned:  Nate Silver's blog post: https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker Jen Shahade's blog post: https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess 47:00- How is the business of NoctieAI doing?  52:00- Sam's favorite chess books and content creators Mentioned: Jeremy Silman, Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy, ChessNetwork  Thanks to Samuel for joining us! The best way to reach him is via NoctieAI. https://noctie.ai/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The average American takes in about 34 gigabytes of information each day -- that's a lot for our brains to process and remember. Top memory expert Dr. Charan Ranganath sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to share why the key to remembering more may be to memorize less. Plus, Ranganath weighs in on what could change for human memory in the age of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices