Dr. Anthony Metivier & Jonathan Levi on Memory, Learning, Life, and Happiness

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Greetings, superfriends! As many of you may know, in mid-July, I had the great pleasure of hosting Dr. Anthony Metivier in beautiful Tel Aviv, Israel, as we worked on our new course on personal branding. While Anthony was here, we took the opportunity to record a live Q&A on the video broadcasting platform Meerkat (follow me here for future broadcasts), where we took hundreds of questions from people all over the world.
We also managed to polish off two bottles of wine in two hours, and stuff our faces with tons of sushi, had tons of interruptions, and just generally made a great effort to embarrass ourselves. Nonetheless, this interview is WAY more raw (and, I think, way more entertaining) than our typical formal interview style. To be honest, I kind of like it that way.
In it, we cover a ton of questions from our followers, ranging from memory and super learning techniques all the way to more serious topics such as depression, anxiety, and more. We even get in to health, biohacking, the meaning of life, and what it takes to be happy. I hope you guys will excuse the very raw and unpolished (read: drunken) format, because it has SO much value to offer. Also, you'll be pleased to know that I've given up alcohol since this interview was recorded (you'll realize why about an hour in).
If you enjoy it, please send a tweet on twitter to let us know (@gosuperhuman) or subscribe on Meerkat.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Does alcohol negatively affect learning and memory?
- The link between creativity and visual memory techniques
- Nootropics: which ones are better, and why?
- The idea of “virtual memory palaces”
- How long does it take to make a quality memory palace, and does accuracy matter?
- How do the Magnetic Memory Method and speed reading work together?
- Maintaining long term memory over things we've speed read
- How memorizing a deck of cards can help you with memory and creativity overall
- What are some of the foods that support memory?
- How can you memorize faces with ease?
- How to use spaced repetition software correctly
- The relationship between memory palaces, mind maps, and the “flow” state
- Test taking tips for students
- How to use these techniques to teach children multiplication tables
- Why rote memorization is terrible and ruins learning for people
- How you can learn more effectively by teaching
- How evolutionary psychology plays into learning and memory
- Do memory games and the like actually work?
- Can you re-use memory palaces?
- How can you superlearner lectures or videos?
- Tips on how to speak more eloquently and intelligently
- Sleep habits, polyphasic sleep, napping, and the brain
- Dealing with depression and anxiety
- Meditation, presence, and acceptance
- How stress affects your memory – and how to avoid it!
- Dealing with ADHD, prescription medication, and how to think about depending on chemicals
- How to apply memory techniques to the craft of acting
- Applying superlearning techniques to physical skills
- The challenges of learning languages (particularly grammar)
- The idea of doing exactly what it is you don't want to do or fear as an exercise
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Dvorak simplified keyboard
- Nootropics (use with caution!):
- Racetams (Piracetam, Aniracetam), a key ingredient in many nootropics
- Gingko Biloba
- Ginseng
- Xanthines such as Theobromine and Theophylline
- Forskolin, a key ingredient in CILTEP
- Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
- Plain text app for iPhone
- Anki Spaced Repetition Software
- Zero to One by Peter Thiel
- Evernote – my go-to note taking and memory tool
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Lumosity
- Headspace and Calm (apps for meditation)
- Remind Yourself by Jim Samuels
- Anthony's interview with Jim Samuels
- Our previous interview with Dr. Kirk Parsley
- Shivasana, or Corpse Pose
- Better Never to Have Been by David Benatar
- Our latest course on Udemy, Branding You™
- Yerba Mate – one of my favorite nootropics
- FocusAtWill.com
- Masterclass.com by Dustin Hoffman
- Kombucha (though you should start growing your own if you like it)
- The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams
- Derren Brown
- Our previous episode with Benny Lewis
- Anthony Metivier's books
- A free memory kit and video series from Dr. Anthony Metivier
Favorite Quotes from Dr. Anthony Metivier & Jonathan Levi:
3 Comments
Thanks, I learned a lot of interesting things in past episodes.
loved th heart and the depth of the conversation. The way that Dr. Metivier shared from his enormous experience and insights was just amazing. Thank you Jonathan for doing this podcast!! 🙂
Great interview with Dr. Greg Wells! He mentioned a doctor from Colorado around the 42:30 point of the podcast, discussing turmeric and black pepper. I couldn’t make out the doctor’s name. Can you provide me with his full name and maybe his website or contact info. Interested in his products.
Thanks,
Rob