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

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Tags: anxiety, biohacking, brain, depression, happiness, learning, life, meditation, memory, nootropics, podcast, speed reading, superlearning, supplementation

“Memory techniques, super learning, and speed reading do not go together with perfectionism… You can't even be perfect at perfectionism.”

— Dr. Anthony Metivier

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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.

This episode is brought to you by Neurogum, the smart way to chew gum.

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:

“The brain remembers things that are ridiculous or poignant.”

“Don't ask supplements or diet or exercise to be the thing that improves your memory. Use memory techniques to improve your memory. And use all those other things to give your mind that extra supercharged basis to operate those memory techniques.”

“It does nothing for nobody to put on a show. You've just got to be yourself.”

“Your memory palace is like a stage. The images that you create are the actors.”

“I've actually read about 40 dissertations in speed reading and accelerated learning.”

“Why waste memory space on something you can write down?”

“Memory champions are not the people to follow for the mass consumption of information. They're memorizing something to forget it 20 seconds after they've won the competition.”

“If you want to have absolute total recall of anything, whatever you have speed read, memorize slow.”

“Dig your wells before you're thirsty.”

“Motion creates motion.”

“Exercise is one of the best antidepressants I've encountered.”

“I haven't been stressed in years. And I'll tell you why. Because… I realized that nothing is that important. At all. Ever. Period…It's all a matter of choosing to be happy, and choosing to be calm, and choosing not to be stressed.”

“If you think your brain is evolved to sit at a desk from 9-5 or long, you're delusional!”

“Apple the method the way that it works for you. There's no rigidity here.”

Jonathan —

Jonathan Levi is a serial entrepreneur, published author, and lifehacker born and raised in Silicon Valley. Since 2014, Jonathan has been one of the top-performing instructors on online learning platform Udemy, and has snowballed this success into the launch of his rapidly growing information products company, SuperHuman Enterprises, which produces such products as the award-winning Becoming SuperHuman Podcast; the bestselling "Become a SuperLearner" print, digital, and audiobooks; and numerous other online courses through it’s own online training portal, SuperLearner Academy. Jonathan’s media products have been enjoyed by over 130,000 people in 200 countries. He is based in Tel Aviv, Israel.