Sketchplanations – The Podcast
- Episodes
- 77
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Jun 2, 2026
About the podcast
Big Ideas explored through Little Pictures. We offer up great conversations about ideas based on simple and insightful sketches in the Sketchplanations online collection, with the aim of giving listeners something fun and interesting to have their own conversations about.
This is an explainer podcast for the curious-minded. Topics covered include science, behavioural economics, wellbeing, nature, psychology frameworks, business models, cognitive biases, and even domestic life-hacks.
It's certainly not a self-help podcast, but you might take something away that helps you notice or even enjoy the world around you a little more.
Sketchplanations illustrator and author Jono Hey joins lifelong friends Tom Pellereau (2011 Apprentice Winner) and Rob Bell (Engineer & Broadcaster) to share ideas and stories catalysed by each week's sketch. The 3 of us have been friends for over 20 years and have always enjoyed delving into all sorts of conversation topics - usually with some silliness along the way.
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Episodes 77
The Diderot Effect
Are you a slave to your possessions?Do your possessions form part of your identity?How easy is it to fall into a trap where one new purchase begets another, and another, and another...?We explore the Diderot …
Show notes
Are you a slave to your possessions?
Do your possessions form part of your identity?
How easy is it to fall into a trap where one new purchase begets another, and another, and another...?
We explore the Diderot Effect - so called after an essay written in 1769 by French philosopher, writer, and art critic who served as one of the most influential figures of the Age of Enlightenment. "Regrets On Parting With My Old Dressing Gown" details how receiving a luxurious scarlet robe as a gift made his existing belongings look shabby, sparking an out-of-control spending spiral to replace all his old furniture to match the new garment.
In the episode Jono references that he first heard about it from James Clear who went on to include it in his highly successful book, Atomic Habits.
Episode Summary
00:00 Summer Break Notice
00:51 What Is the Diderot Effect
04:09 Diderot and the Dressing Gown
06:05 When Stuff Owns You
09:47 Our Diderot Moments
13:45 Tools Cars and Tech Spirals
20:23 Business Growth and Office Upgrades
28:00 How to Master the Effect
31:18 Final Quotes and Wrap Up
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Why Only 2 Countries Are Double-Landlocked
In a double-landlocked country you must cross at least two national borders to reach a coastline connected to the world’s oceans.In this episode we talk about the nuances of landlocked definitions (including …
Show notes
In a double-landlocked country you must cross at least two national borders to reach a coastline connected to the world’s oceans.
In this episode we talk about the nuances of landlocked definitions (including why the Caspian Sea doesn’t count) and identify the only two double-landlocked countries: Liechtenstein, surrounded by Switzerland and Austria, and Uzbekistan, surrounded by landlocked “stans.”
We talk about why ports and sea access matter for trade and geopolitics. We also explore the ideas and definitions for landlocked US states (including Nebraska as “triple landlocked”), the furthest points from the sea, disputed borders, recursive islands, and a Google Maps oddity between the Shetlands and Faroe Islands. It's definitely one for maps and geography nerds!
References:
Tom mentions Tim Marshall's book, Prisoners of Geography
Jono also references some of his other sketches: Recursive Islands and Triple Landlocked States
We also reference the previous podcast episode on Antipodes for how so much of the Earth is water.
Episode Summary:
00:00 What Double Landlocked Means
04:17 The Only Two Countries
05:45 Caspian Sea and Definitions
06:53 Recursive Borders in UAE
08:33 Why Ports Matter
12:13 Bolivia and Africa Surprise
13:52 Distance From the Sea
18:02 Landlocked US States Debate
25:23 More Geography Oddities
28:48 Shetlands to Faroes Map Quirk
30:06 Closing Thoughts
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How To Become An Overnight Success.
This discussion centres on “overnight success” as an illusion; prompted by Jono’s sketch of Twitter Cofounder, Biz Stone’s quote: “Timing, perseverance, and 10 years of trying will eventually make you seem like …
Show notes
This discussion centres on “overnight success” as an illusion; prompted by Jono’s sketch of Twitter Cofounder, Biz Stone’s quote: “Timing, perseverance, and 10 years of trying will eventually make you seem like an overnight success.”
Using an iceberg metaphor (most work hidden below the surface), we explore how Twitter, Uber, Airbnb, GoPro, Pinterest and other “sudden” hits were built through long periods of effort, failed attempts, near-bankruptcies and luck-driven timing.
Tom shares his own journey from inventing the curved nail file in 2004 to major success after winning The Apprentice, plus later product launches, illustrating visible turning points built on years of groundwork. We also look at creative fields and sport, survivorship bias, and belief, persistence, readiness, and timing.
External Links
In the conversation, we referenced these items which you can find more information on here:
- Our Listener Survey
- Biz Stone's book: Things A little Bird Told Me
- Jono's sketches on Iceberg Orientation & Survivorship Bias
- Our previous episode on Optimism Bias
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Biz Stone Quote
03:10 Iceberg Metaphor
04:09 Biz Stone Backstory
04:36 From Blogger to Twitter
07:37 Myth of Viral Success
09:59 Tom's Real World Examples
12:31 Sketchplanations Slow Burn
16:06 Perseverance and Belief
18:52 Timing and Viral Moments
20:59 The Turning Point
21:35 Apprentice Timing Advantage
24:43 Jono on Luck and Timing
26:34 Sports Overnight Success
28:42 Survivorship Bias Reality
29:47 Do Overnight Successes Exist
32:15 Advice Perseverance Mindset
34:29 Wrap Up and Credits
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Play Until Something Gets Broken
In this fun and nostalgic conversation, we discuss Jono's observation that with indoor games especially, as the momentum builds, you keep playing until something gets broken!There's a cheeky inevitability to …
Show notes
In this fun and nostalgic conversation, we discuss Jono's observation that with indoor games especially, as the momentum builds, you keep playing until something gets broken!
There's a cheeky inevitability to it. It's a situation we've almost all certainly been in - whether you were the protagonist or not!
We share our childhood and adult stories of hallway ball games, broken lamps and mirrors, a university corridor culture of improvised sports, Nerf-gun firing ranges ending with a foam dart to the eye, and a school-trip pillow fight that took out a light fitting. The conversation expands to similar “stop conditions” in outdoor games and with sports injuries, and connects the idea to the Generalised Peter Principle: anything that works is pushed into progressively more challenging situations until it fails.
What are you experiences with this?
Links to items we discussed:
Jono's impossible "lamp thru TV" sketch has connotations of Escher's Impossible Staircase
Jono's sketch and our past podcast episode about The Peter Principle
Jono's sketch on The Generalised Peter Principle
Rob referenced a visit to the Belleek Pottery factory whilst filming in Northern Ireland.
Episode Summary:
00:00 Podcast popularity in USA
01:12 The Indoor Games Rule
02:48 Ball Games Banned
04:40 Injuries End The Game
08:09 Uni Corridor Games
08:58 Sketch Breakdown
10:37 Why Indoor Play Matters
11:00 Messy Space Dreams
14:02 Adult Injuries End Games
14:58 Pillow Fight Lamp Smash
16:05 Hide Underwater Tactic
16:40 Generalized Peter Principle
17:32 Sacrificial Breakables
21:11 Anger Smashing Question
21:44 Closing
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Submarine Lessons for Business Leadership
US Navy submarine captain and author David Marquet discusses leadership lessons from turning the USS Santa Fe from worst to best, focusing on “pushing authority to information” rather than pushing information …
Show notes
US Navy submarine captain and author David Marquet discusses leadership lessons from turning the USS Santa Fe from worst to best, focusing on “pushing authority to information” rather than pushing information up a hierarchy. Marquet critiques industrial-age leadership language that seeks obedience and creates “bobblehead” agreement, arguing that real engagement comes from giving people decision-making authority,
He also explains “distancing,” as a leadership and decision-making tool: viewing oneself from a third-person, from a different time, and/or from a different place to reduce ego and defensiveness over previous decisions.
A thoroughly fascinating chat with a very talented and fun individual.
External Links for items referenced in the conversation:
- David’s 3 books can be found here: Turn the Ship Around (+ workbook), Leadership is Language, and Distancing
- Here are two of many of David's talks to be found on YouTube: What is leadership? and Turn the Ship Around at the World Web Forum
- Here's the YouTube video of David rating submarine movies for how realistic they portray life under the waves.
- David talks about advice given to him by Simon Sinek
- Some of Jono's other skecthes references in this podcast include: Solvitor Ambulando (it is solved by walking); 9 windows (problem solving tool); Anchors and Tugboats (self-talk)
- David talks about ultra-runner extraordinaire Courtney Dauwalter
Summary
00:00 From Cold War Kid to Submariner
03:02 Life Aboard a High-Performing Sub
03:53 The Arbitrary Officer Divide
04:40 Student Not "Expert"
05:51 Words That Kill Curiosity
08:44 What Leadership Was Taught
12:37 Pushing Authority to Information
16:03 Submarine Leave Approval Hack
20:02 Authority in Everyday Workplaces
21:59 Bias for Action and Excellence
22:46 Distancing to Decide Better
25:41 Put Them In Your Chair
26:12 Distancing In Space & Time
27:45 Inviting Feedback Culture
28:52 Nine Windows Thinking Tool
30:25 You Can Do It Self Talk
32:28 Regret Proof Decisions
38:04 Journaling Into A Book
39:41 Be Your Own Coach
45:50 Team Reviews Without Defensiveness
47:19 Live Big Bold Lives
48:14 Submarine Movies And Ambiguity
50:55 Wrap Up
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Hitting the Target: Accuracy vs. Precision
Using Jono’s sketch of four archery targets, we discuss why and how accuracy and precision differ.Using many different examples, we frame the distinction as “accuracy being true to intention and precision being …
Show notes
Using Jono’s sketch of four archery targets, we discuss why and how accuracy and precision differ.
Using many different examples, we frame the distinction as “accuracy being true to intention and precision being true to itself,” also phrased as doing the right thing versus doing it right.
The sketch is inspired by Simon Winchester's book, Exactly, where precision and accuracy are connected to the industrial revolution via Henry Maudsley’s innovative screw-cutting lathe, micrometer, and the concept of interchangeable parts. The conversation broadens to explore examples in food (McDonald’s vs artisan meals), recipes, recruiting, IQ tests (validity vs reliability), indoctrinated beliefs, gut feelings, culture’s return to individual craftsmanship, AI’s variable answers, LED mask wavelength tolerances, and targeting weapons.
External links
Also referenced in this episode:
- Jono's sketch that describes the difference between Reliability and Validity.
- Jono's sketch inspired by Roger Martin's Knowledge Funnel.
- Jono's sketch outlining The Beard Cycle.
Episode Outline
00:00 Accuracy vs Precision: the Four Target Sketch
03:23 True to Intention
04:11 Ball Through Window
05:44 Precision Built World
09:45 Food and Recipes
13:27 Calibration and Scales
14:47 Manufacturing Tolerances
16:51 Hiring and Testing
19:16 Beliefs and Education
23:01 Culture and Craft
26:09 Doctors Robots and AI
29:03 Wrap Up and Credits
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli and you can find more tracks at franccinelli.com
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Do you Know Your Dashes?
If you like the finer details of grammar and punctuation, then you're gonna love this episode.We geek out on the subtle, but incredibly important and occasionally crucial differences between three little …
Show notes
If you like the finer details of grammar and punctuation, then you're gonna love this episode.
We geek out on the subtle, but incredibly important and occasionally crucial differences between three little horizontal lines: the hyphen - the En Dash – and the Em Dash —
Jono explains hyphens for line breaks and compound terms, how usage can evolve into single words (e.g., wildlife, wellbeing), and why hyphen placement can change meaning (e.g., five-dollar bills). The en dash is described as linking ranges and relationships (pages, dates, times, scores, routes, debates, partnerships, negotiations), with notes on how to type it. The em dash is framed as a stronger-than-comma interruption for added thoughts, with style cautions and typing methods. They discuss underscore origins from typewriters, punctuation differences across countries, and how AI popularized em dashes as a telltale sign of machine-written text.
Most importantly though, we discuss why this matters and that if used correctly, they can help avoid misunderstandings.
Episode Summary
00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations
00:40 What Are Dashes
03:09 Hyphen Basics
04:32 Hyphenated Words
05:35 Language Evolves
07:00 Hyphen Pitfalls
07:31 Tom on Hyphens
10:38 Meet the En Dash
11:41 Typing En Dashes
12:32 En Dash Use Cases
14:47 Spacing and Style
15:30 Introducing Em Dash
15:33 Em Dash Basics
16:15 Style Guide Rules
18:08 Brackets vs Speech
18:57 Where Names Come From
20:32 Underscore Origins
22:05 Reading Dashes Aloud
24:39 Does It Matter
26:04 Oxford Comma Stakes
28:36 AI Em Dash Tell
29:59 Typing Em Dashes
30:32 Punctuation By Country
31:41 Morse Code And Minus
32:43 Final Sign Off
External Link
There's only one link this week:
- Jono referenced the book Strunk and White : The Elements of Style
All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Digging Through the Planet: The Geography of Antipodes
Have you ever wondered what's happening on the exact opposite side of the world to you?Wherever you are on our planet, there's a good chance you'd need a snorkel.In this episode, we explore the concept of …
Show notes
Have you ever wondered what's happening on the exact opposite side of the world to you?
Wherever you are on our planet, there's a good chance you'd need a snorkel.
In this episode, we explore the concept of antipodes—the exact point on the opposite side of Earth from wherever you're standing. We discover why most antipodes end up in the ocean rather than on land and cover a whole host of fascinating geographic facts, including how the Northern Hemisphere contains the vast majority of Earth's land and population, how map projections distort our view of the planet, and why Earth's oblate spheroid shape means some antipode distances are longer than others.
Along the way, we also raise the big questions like how deep have humans ever dug into Earth and how long it would take to fall through a frictionless tunnel to your antipode.
External Links and mentions on the show:
- Jono's sketch that explains the Mercator Map Projection
- Jono references the Antipodal Map in the book Marvellous Maps by Simon Kuestenmacher
- The 7.6 mile deep hole Jono talks about is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, initiated by Soviet scientists in 1970, primarily to better understand the earth’s crust.
- Here's Jono's sketch about the thickness of the earth's crust being proportionally similar to the thickness of an apple's skin.
- And finally, if you want to know your exact antipode, you can look here on AntipodeMap.com
Episode Summary
00:00 What Are Antipodes
03:23 Land Distribution on Earth
04:14 Map Projections and Perspectives
07:19 Antipodal Map Overlay
08:56 Cultural References Worldwide
10:15 Etymology of Antipode
10:41 Digging Through Earth
12:44 UK Antipodes
13:29 Great Circle Routes
14:20 Earth's Oblate Shape
15:25 Tunnel Through Earth
16:34 Closing Remarks
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The closer you look, the longer it gets: The Coastline Paradox
When you want to measure something you take your ruler or tape measure and read off the length right?But when it comes to measuring the length of a coastline, things get a bit tricky and totally counter …
Show notes
When you want to measure something you take your ruler or tape measure and read off the length right?
But when it comes to measuring the length of a coastline, things get a bit tricky and totally counter intuitive. 🌊
The science and maths of measuring wiggly coastlines reveal that the smaller the unit of measure, the longer the coastline becomes. Jono recounts the origins of this phenomenon from polymath, Lewis Fry Richardson and its further exploration by Benoit B. Mandelbrot. The trio also relate the concept to various other real-world examples, including the surfaces of the brain and lungs, Romanesco cauliflower, and stock market patterns. Additionally, they touch on the philosophical implications of measurement and delve into the concept of infinity.
Episode Summary:
00:00 Introduction the Coastline Paradox
04:12 Historical Context and Discovery
14:10 Fractals and Natural World Applications
17:26 Modern Implications and Analogies
24:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
External Links and mentions on the show:
- Jono refers to and leans heavily on the writing of Geoffrey West in his book "Scale" to tell the story of how this was discovered.
- Rob's half-baked fact about The Standardised Meter can be expanded on here.
- This is what the self-similarity of a Romanesco Cauliflower looks like
- Here is the avenue of trees in Bushy Park, in Southwest London that Jono slalomed.
- Here are more facts on who originally defined the number 'zero' as we know it today.
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More Than Just Rings: Unity, History, and Ambition.
Have you ever wondered what the colours on the Olympic flag represent?The Olympic logo is a globally recognised brand and remarkably, it was designed over 100 years ago by the founder of the modern Olympic …
Show notes
Have you ever wondered what the colours on the Olympic flag represent?
The Olympic logo is a globally recognised brand and remarkably, it was designed over 100 years ago by the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.
This time, we discuss the history and symbolism of this design icon ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. We find out about its representation of unity among the five (?) continents (one for each ring), and the careful selection of the flag's colours. The episode also delves into fascinating Olympic trivia, including the evolution of the games, historical moments, and the development of the Olympic motto. Rob also shares insights from filming at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, for his series 'The Vault,' which explores Olympic history through artefacts found in their archives.
You can watch all 10 episodes of The Vault for free here on the Olympics Channel.
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Winter Olympics
01:42 The Genesis of the Olympic Flag
02:50 Symbolism and Design of the Olympic Flag
05:06 Pierre de Coubertin: The Visionary Behind the Olympics
05:21 Exploring Olympic History and Artifacts
09:35 Evolution of the Olympic Games and Flag
22:28 Conclusion and Farewell
All music on this podcast series is by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔
How big is that pile of books next to your bed?Tsundoku is a Japanese word for buying books and letting them pile up unread. It’s a familiar habit to book lovers everywhere — that growing stack of books you …
Show notes
How big is that pile of books next to your bed?
Tsundoku is a Japanese word for buying books and letting them pile up unread. It’s a familiar habit to book lovers everywhere — that growing stack of books you intend to read but haven’t yet. In this episode of Sketchplanations The Podcast, we explore why we buy books we don’t read, why unread books don’t always feel like a bad thing, and what this habit says about curiosity, identity, and our relationship with reading.
In this episode we embrace Tsundoku and our conversation ranges from buying too many books to the joy and guilt of collecting unread books, and how tsundoku can extend to audiobooks, hobbies, and other unread things. If you’ve ever wondered why you buy books faster than you can read them — or felt conflicted about your own unread pile — this episode is for you.
Links to items (mainly books) that we discussed:
- The book that changed Tom's life: Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters
- The book from Jono's pile he next wants to start: A few short sentences about writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
- Robbie is most looking forward to getting started on: Whatever will be will be by Felix White
- Jono recommends cartoons about books and reading by Tom Gauld
- Big Ideas, Little Pictures is the Sketchplanations book by Jono Hey
Summary:
00:00 Introduction to Tsundoku: The Act of Collecting Unread Books
02:52 Personal Stories and Reflections on Tsundoku
05:20 The Broader Implications of Tsundoku
07:49 Books as Gifts and Their Value
10:03 The Joy and Guilt of Collecting Books
17:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections
19:34 Conclusion and Farewell
All music on this podcast series is by the very talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Family Tree Explainer
Do you know who your second cousins are or if you even have any? And what does "once removed" mean anyway?Tune in to this episode as we unravel the mysteries of family relations—which we figured would be …
Show notes
Do you know who your second cousins are or if you even have any? And what does "once removed" mean anyway?
Tune in to this episode as we unravel the mysteries of family relations—which we figured would be particularly helpful at the festive time of year.
We explore the subtleties of family trees, making our way to 'Second Cousins Once Removed'. We dig into the confusion around generational terms and the importance of knowing your extended family. We share a few family-related anecdotes and cultural differences, such as the Chinese family tree and Icelandic naming conventions. We strongly encourage you to follow along with the sketch at Sketchplanations.com to better understand your own family connections.
Here are the Chinese family tree names mentioned.
Episode Summary
00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations
00:47 Understanding Family Relations
02:13 Exploring Second Cousins
06:06 Generational Differences Explained
11:48 Cultural Perspectives on Family Trees
14:57 Famous Families and Their Connections
15:08 The Mayflower Ancestor Story
15:55 Family Trees and Their Complexity
16:43 The Importance of Family Connections
18:01 Tracing Family History
21:07 Unique Family Names and Their Origins
22:28 Surname Origins and Commonality
25:58 Gender-Neutral Family Terms
27:07 Concluding Thoughts
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Continuous Partial Attention
Coined in the 1990s by Linda Stone, Continuous Partial Attention describes the state of being constantly connected; trying to do multiple things at once, which often leads to an ever-present, low-level form of …
Show notes
Coined in the 1990s by Linda Stone, Continuous Partial Attention describes the state of being constantly connected; trying to do multiple things at once, which often leads to an ever-present, low-level form of stress. We explore how this phenomenon affects modern life, compare it to multitasking, and discuss both its positive and negative aspects. The podcast also highlights how technology has exacerbated this issue and considers potential solutions, such as mindfulness and turning off notifications, to better manage one's attention.
Links to stuff we discussed:
Video of Woman who Walks into Fountain Whilst Texting
The Film: Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix.
Other Sketches and podcast episodes referenced:
Phone Zombie sketch
Hegel's Dialectic: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis sketch
Yak Shaving episode and sketch
5 Ways to Wellbeing episode and sketch
Everyone's a Geek About Something episode and sketch
How to Instantly Feel Better episode and sketch
Picking the Perfect Present episode and sketch
Buy Jono's Book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures, for a loved one this Christmas - The Perfect Present and then some...
Summary
00:00 Introduction to Continuous Partial Attention
01:31 Depicting Continuous Partial Attention in a Sketch
04:25 Personal Experiences with Continuous Partial Attention
05:54 The Impact of Technology on Attention
08:49 Multitasking vs. Continuous Partial Attention
11:15 The Challenge of Staying Focused
17:05 The Role of Continuous Partial Attention in Different Professions
20:38 The Dilemma of Turning Off Notifications
21:15 Balancing Work and Family Life
22:03 The Art of Multitasking
22:59 The Pitfalls of Continuous Partial Attention
23:49 Turning Cognition into Automation
25:25 The Rise of Single Tasking
27:54 The Productivity of Focused Work
32:07 The Future of AI and Continuous Partial Attention
34:20 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Microlives & The Art of Uncertainty with Sir David Spiegelhalter
What's your life expectancy trade-off for enjoying a crispy bacon sandwich? 🥓Sir David Spiegelhalter is a celebrated Professor of Statistics at the University of Cambridge; widely accepted as one of the UK's …
Show notes
What's your life expectancy trade-off for enjoying a crispy bacon sandwich? 🥓
Sir David Spiegelhalter is a celebrated Professor of Statistics at the University of Cambridge; widely accepted as one of the UK's foremost statisticians. He explains the concepts of 'micromorts' and 'microlives', which quantify risk and the impact of lifestyle choices on life expectancy. The discussion delves into acute vs. chronic risks, with practical examples such as the dangers of skydiving or how regular smoking affects longevity of life. The conversation also covers the application of statistics in medicine, the importance of randomisation in clinical trials, and the philosophical underpinnings of uncertainty. Additionally, David highlights the human capacity to judge risks, the pitfalls of intuition, and offers practical advice on dealing with uncertainty in everyday life. Lively anecdotes, insightful explanations, and practical takeaways make this episode a compelling listen for anyone interested in the intersection of statistics, risk, and daily decision-making.
David's latest book, The Art of Uncertainty is available in all good bookshops and online.
Here are some useful links to further explore some topics raised:
- The work of Ron Howard at Stanford University
- Jono's sketch on Word Spectrums
- David's many other books - including Sex by Numbers
- Poisson Distribution explained
- David tells the tale of Persi Diaconis - the Mathemagician.
Episode Summary:
00:00 Introduction, David's Background & Achievements
01:43 The Wipeout Experience
03:13 Understanding Micro-Morts
04:27 Acute vs. Chronic Risks
05:29 Micro-Morts in Everyday Activities
12:05 Introduction to Micro-Lives
18:03 Medical Applications of Data and Statistics
21:27 The Role of Uncertainty in Life
27:52 Building Resilience Over Robustness
29:18 Embracing Uncertainty in Life
33:35 Misuse of Statistics in Media and Politics
40:30 The Gamblers Fallacy and Intuition
42:29 The Uniqueness of Card Shuffles
45:43 Common Misconceptions About Probability
48:02 Practical Tips for Dealing with Uncertainty
51:33 Final Thoughts and Reflections
All music is provided by Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Pomodoro Technique
This genius time management hack was conceived by Francesco Cirillo. The technique involves working for 25 minutes followed by a mandatory 5-minute break, repeating this cycle three to four times before taking …
Show notes
This genius time management hack was conceived by Francesco Cirillo. The technique involves working for 25 minutes followed by a mandatory 5-minute break, repeating this cycle three to four times before taking a longer break. We share our personal attempts at using the method, explore the psychology behind productive work cycles, the importance of taking breaks and reflect on its effectiveness in both office and home environments. We also discuss the broader context of productivity obsession and share insights from using related tools eg. online "focus buddies". The session concludes with a follow-up on how the Pomodoro Technique has worked for them a week after recording the episode, reenforcing a lot of the theory we originally set out.
Could this be our favourite procrastination buster yet!?!
External links
In the episode we reference a number of items you can find out more on here:
- Previous podcast episodes came up a lot (procrastination is a recurring theme for us): How to Instantly Feel Better; Yak Shaving; Goldilocks Tasks & The Fresh Start Effect
- Remarkably, there's currently no sketch for it, but Jono talks about The Red Queen Effect or Hypothesis - the concept of having to run to stay still.
- The Bear Focus Timer (used by Jono and now Tom as well). Available on Apple Store
- Examples of Focus Buddy or Accountability Partner websites include Focus Mate and Flow Club.
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction to Sketchplanations Podcast
00:29 Exploring the Pomodoro Technique
01:03 Origins and Basics of the Pomodoro Technique
02:57 Implementing the Pomodoro Technique in the Office
07:23 Challenges and Adaptations of the Pomodoro Technique
17:10 Alternative Productivity Methods
18:53 Accountability and Shame in Productivity
19:40 Origins of the Pomodoro Technique
20:17 Applying Pomodoro in Different Environments
21:32 Psychological Benefits of Time Blocking
22:38 Challenges and Adaptations in the Office
23:01 Personal Admin and Procrastination
23:22 Flow and Creative Tasks
26:16 Post-pod Findings on Pomodoro Technique Usage
28:44 Final Thoughts and Outro
All music on this podcast series is kindly provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Canal Locks with David Macauley
In this episode, Jono meets one of his heroes, as we engage in a conversation with acclaimed author, illustrator and explainer, David Macaulay.We talk about David's journey from architecture to creating …
Show notes
In this episode, Jono meets one of his heroes, as we engage in a conversation with acclaimed author, illustrator and explainer, David Macaulay.
We talk about David's journey from architecture to creating educational illustrations that make complex concepts understandable and engaging - and the Canal Lock is a great example of this from Jono's collection.
We discuss the significance of sketching for understanding and teaching intricate ideas, and reflect on some of David's famous works, including his book, 'The Way Things Work.'
David shares insights into his creative process, the importance of curiosity, and how integrating humour and playfulness in his illustrations can enhance learning.
This conversation would not be complete without questioning David about his famous woolly mammoths - used in his illustrations to help explain machines, mechanics, physics and science.
Links
See here for more information about David as well as his bibliography.
Jono specifically references David's maths book, Mammoth Maths, when comparing his own sketch on "Parts of a Circle".
When addressing humour in Architecture, David talks about his book "Great Moments in Architecture".
Summary
00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations - introducing David Macaulay
01:30 David's Journey into Explanations
03:42 The Way Things Work
04:35 The Joy of Learning and Teaching
04:47 Collaborating on The Way Things Work
09:54 Exploring Canal Locks
15:24 The Art of Sketching and Curiosity
20:05 The Importance of Sketching
20:34 Humour in Learning
25:07 The Origin of the Woolly Mammoth in David’s drawings
26:37 Balancing Humour and Information
30:07 Encouraging Sketching in Education
33:30 Everyday Wonders and Final Thoughts
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ordering Adjectives with Author Mark Forsyth
When describing something with numerous adjectives (eg. the big brown dog, the heavy square steel door) there's a natural order we all instinctively follow as english speakers. I don't remember ever being …
Show notes
When describing something with numerous adjectives (eg. the big brown dog, the heavy square steel door) there's a natural order we all instinctively follow as english speakers. I don't remember ever being taught it, nor would I be able to explain it to you, but my ear can definitely tell if someone gets it wrong!
English adjectives follow a specific order. Who Knew?!?
Well, there's one person for sure:
What our special guest on this episode, award-winning author, journalist, and etymologist, Mark Forsyth, doesn't know about the English language, simply isn't worth knowing.
In our conversation, Mark breaks down the correct traditional ordering of adjectives. And Mark's passion for the English language becomes clear as he walks us through other nuances of English, such as Ablaut Reduplication (why it's Zig Zag and Splish-Splash rather than Zag-Zig or Splash-Splish), Chiasmus (inverting phrases in a speech eg. “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address (1961)) and many more.
Additionally, in celebration of Mark's latest book; "Rhyme and Reason : A short history of Poetry and People (for people who don’t usually read poetry)" we talk about the history of poetry and its impact on readers from medieval times to the present. We learn how poetry was once widely shared and enjoyed socially (a bit like sharing memes on social media today) and how English has natural cadences and rhythm to it, that we all make use of every day - again, without having a clue that we're doing it. And we also learn why most of us have been thinking about poetry all wrong ever since school.
In the episode, we also reference Mark's other books such as The Etymologist and The Elements of Eloquence, which can all be found here.
And you can follow Mark's musings and love of language on his blog as The Inky Fool, on Twitter, and on Instagram.
Episode Summary
00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Mark Forsyth: Wordsmith Extraordinaire
01:05 Mark Forsyth's Journey with the English Language
01:44 The Fascinating World of Words and Their Origins
02:27 Mark Forsyth's Books and Their Unique Insights
06:32 The Popularity of Poetry Through the Ages
11:06 The Decline of Poetry and Rise of Pop Lyrics
12:48 Exploring English Syntax and Adjective Order
15:03 The Intricacies of English Grammar
21:38 Fun with Language: Reduplication and Compounds
27:38 Rhyme and Reason: Poetry in Society
29:27 The Unsung Heroes of Songwriting
30:42 The Evolution of Poetry's Popularity
41:33 The Rhythms of English Language
50:54 The Charm of Limericks
54:49 The Joy of Reading Poetry Aloud
56:45 Closing Thoughts and Farewell
All music on this podcast series is provided by the wonderfully talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jevon's Paradox
This time we discuss Jevons' Paradox, the counterintuitive concept that improvements in fuel efficiency can lead to increased overall fuel use. We explore the origin of this idea, dating back to 1865 by British …
Show notes
This time we discuss Jevons' Paradox, the counterintuitive concept that improvements in fuel efficiency can lead to increased overall fuel use.
We explore the origin of this idea, dating back to 1865 by British economist William Stanley Jevons, and discuss its relevance today in areas such as car fuel efficiency, advances in battery technology, and even the proliferation of LED lighting in homes. Inevitably, the impact of emerging technologies like AI also arise. We also talk about the broader implications of Jevons' Paradox in everyday life and business, and how it can be managed through policies and smart design.
Quick Links
Some links are included below to certain topics we reference in the chat:
- Other Sketchplanations referenced include: The Generalised Peter Principle, The Peter Principle, The Laws of Expansion
- You can also listen to our previous podcast on The Peter Principle.
- More Work For Mother book by Ruth Cowan
Summary
00:00 Introduction to Sketchplanations Podcast
00:33 Exploring Jevons Paradox
01:11 Historical Context of Jevons Paradox
02:37 Modern Examples of Jevons Paradox
05:14 Personal Anecdotes and Parallels
10:12 AI and Future Implications
15:29 Energy Demands of AI and Nuclear Facilities
15:51 The Evolution of Spreadsheets and Work Efficiency
17:07 Jevons Paradox and Environmental Concerns
17:29 Advancements in Battery and Water-Saving Technologies
19:33 The Impact of Video Compression on the Internet
21:47 LED Lights and Household Energy Consumption
24:27 Government Policies and Behavioral Incentives
26:10 Reflections on Jevons Paradox and Human Nature
28:26 William Stanley Jevons' Insights and Predictions
30:06 Conclusion and Farewell
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Words of Wonder: Apricity - with Grant Snider
Do you like using interesting words in your conversations? We do. And there's one that's a tip top favourite...You're guaranteed* to learn loads of interesting words from this episode.Special guest Grant Snider …
Show notes
Do you like using interesting words in your conversations? We do. And there's one that's a tip top favourite...
You're guaranteed* to learn loads of interesting words from this episode.
Special guest Grant Snider - author, illustrator, poet (and orthodontist) talks about the illustration of interesting words, particularly obscure, outdated or esoteric ones. We kick off with a word both Jono and Grant have illustrated: 'apricity,' which means the warmth of the sun in winter and is a big favourite of ours - now that we know it. Grant shares his fascination with words and his 'Words of Wonder' series, where he illustrates intriguing words from his readings. We touch on the emotional connection words can create through compelling illustrations and delve into the creative processes behind these illustrations as well as the influence of childhood comics like Calvin and Hobbes.
Links for further investigation
- Apricity sketches: Jono's Sketchplanation & Grant's Words of Wonder
- Some other of Jono's word-related Sketchplanations we reference are: Snerdle & Greeble
- Previous podcast episodes we bring up include: Schadenfreude and we also talk about Apophenia in the episode on Crossmodal Perception
- Susie Dent's Word of the Day thread on X.
- Jono mentions the fun he had reading Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth
- Grant's latest book Thinking About Thinking is available now.
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Grant Snider's Background
02:18 Exploring the Word 'Apricity'
04:34 Grant's Words of Wonder Series
07:24 The Joy of Learning New Words
11:24 Favourite Words and Their Illustrations
20:28 Exploring Obscure Words and Their Origins
21:16 The Fascinating Concept of 'Greeble'
22:50 The Joy of Discovering New Words
23:52 Sketching Words and Their Meanings
28:22 The Beauty of Children's Language Development
30:35 Grant's New Book: Thinking About Thinking
33:46 The Influence of Calvin and Hobbes
37:04 Grant's Unique Use of Colour in Comics
39:26 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects
*We make no actual guarantees.
All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to Instantly Feel Better
As we return from our summer break we discuss various ways to instantly feel better - timely perhaps for the Big Back to Work / School / Normality of September. We explore eight emotions—anger, burnout …
Show notes
As we return from our summer break we discuss various ways to instantly feel better - timely perhaps for the Big Back to Work / School / Normality of September. We explore eight emotions—anger, burnout, overthinking, anxiety, stress, sadness, impatience, and laziness—and suggest instant proactive remedies to each. We highly encourage you to try these out whenever you're feeling any of the emotions discussed. Let us know if they work.
Here are links to a few items we refer to in the chat:
- We reference a couple of previous podcast episodes: The Awkwardness Vortex, 5 Ways to Wellbeing
- In reference to when you're feeling anxious you can try Box Breathing.
- If all else fails, with any of these emotions you can instantly make yourself feel better by Walking in Nature.
- Gorefest: The Dutch (not Belgian as wrongly I said in the podcast) Death Metal band from the 90s who to the casual listener, their singing might sound like screaming.
- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. in reference to writing your "morning pages".
Episode Summary
00:00 Welcome Back to Sketchplanations
00:53 Instant Ways to Feel Better
03:16 The Power of Singing to Dispel Anger
08:19 Walking Off Burnout
11:46 Writing to Stop Overthinking
16:20 Breathing Techniques for Anxiety
20:49 The Power of Exercise for Stress Relief
25:22 Gratitude as a Remedy for Sadness
28:18 Reflecting on Progress to Combat Impatience
30:56 Cold Showers to Overcome Laziness
33:50 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise & Sleep
Here on the podcast, we love our exercise and we love our sleep so in this summer break, check-in mini-episode, we discuss the interconnectedness of exercise and sleep, citing Novak Djokovic's book 'Serve to …
Show notes
Here on the podcast, we love our exercise and we love our sleep so in this summer break, check-in mini-episode, we discuss the interconnectedness of exercise and sleep, citing Novak Djokovic's book 'Serve to Win' as an influential source. While Tom shares his typical experience of staying active during holidays, Robbie bemoans the challenges of getting good sleep with young children, and Jono explores how his smart watch monitors his sleep and activity levels. In keeping with the holiday theme we also share tips for keeping kids entertained on long road trips.
We'll be back with regular episodes in August.
Until then, Go well, stay well and vacay well.
In this mini-episode, we reference a previous podcast episode:
- Sharpen The Saw previous podcast episode
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Summer Break Announcement
00:35 The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise and Sleep
01:39 Personal Experiences with Exercise and Sleep
03:53 The Importance of Sleep on general wellbeing
09:12 Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Trips
11:23 Conclusion and Farewell
All music on the podcast series is provided by the hugely talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yes Sayers & No Sayers
This time we explore whether it is better to generally say 'yes' or 'no' in various situations, and how each choice can offer distinct rewards. The conversation is framed by a quote from improvisation expert …
Show notes
This time we explore whether it is better to generally say 'yes' or 'no' in various situations, and how each choice can offer distinct rewards. The conversation is framed by a quote from improvisation expert Keith Johnston, which asserts, 'Yes Sayers are rewarded by adventure and No Sayers are rewarded by safety.' The hosts consider personal anecdotes, the impact of these attitudes on careers, social settings, and mental well-being. They also touch on tools for making these decisions, such as the Eisenhower Matrix and the 'Hell Yes or Hell No' philosophy. The episode emphasizes the value of appreciating one's decisions, whether they lead to adventure or provide comfort and security.
Here are links to a bunch of stuff we discuss in case you fancy reading a bit more about them:
- We reference a number of previous podcast episodes including: The Fun Scale, The Awkwardness Vortex, Finishing Lines, and Microadventures.
- Jono's sketch "Notice When You're Happy" and on "The Eisenhower Matrix"
- Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Madson
- Danny Wallace's book Yes Man
- Derek Sivers - The Hell Yes or Hell No philosophy and a video explaining the concept of The First Follower.
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:28 This Week's Sketch: Yes Sayers and No Sayers
01:07 Exploring the Sketch
03:45 Personal Reflections on Yes and No
05:27 Social Dynamics of Yes and No
19:44 Career Perspectives on Yes and No
23:43 The Power of Saying No in Business
25:01 The Benefits of Saying No
25:45 The Adventure of Saying Yes
26:34 Balancing Yes and No in Life
30:17 Regrets of Not Saying Yes
31:54 The Yes Man Experiment by Danny Wallace
38:19 Deciding When to Say Yes or No
41:55 Final Thoughts on Yes and No
All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Awkwardness Vortex with Melissa Dahl
Have you ever found yourself spiralling uncontrollably downwards in the "awkwardness vortex"? 🤔 Tune in to our latest podcast episode where we chat with celebrated science journalist Melissa Dahl about …
Show notes
Have you ever found yourself spiralling uncontrollably downwards in the "awkwardness vortex"? 🤔 Tune in to our latest podcast episode where we chat with celebrated science journalist Melissa Dahl about conquering those cringe-worthy moments and how awkwardness might just be a sign of empathy!
This sketch is exclusive to the Sketchplanations Book : Big Ideas, Little Pictures - so check that out if you'd like to see this sketch in full (as well as number of other exclusive sketches).
Melissa is a science journalist, specialising in Psychology, Health and Lifestyle, and author of the very well received book Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness.
The conversation delves into retrospectively amusing personal experiences of social awkwardness, the psychological aspects behind it, and offers insights on how to manage and embrace these uncomfortable moments. Key tactics include focusing outside oneself, reappraising anxiety as excitement, and appreciating awkwardness as a sign of empathy. Melissa reflects on how researching awkwardness has changed her perspective, highlighting the growth and connection that can come from embracing this very human emotion. Melissa also shares how awkwardness can have a positive side, signalling empathy and social awareness. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that will have you rethinking your relationship with awkwardness.
Here are links to a bunch of stuff we discuss in case you fancy reading a bit more about them:
- Barry Schwarz - Author of The Paradox of Choice : Why Less is More.
- Examples of the hugely effective End The Awkward campaign from Scope (a disability equality charity in England and Wales).
- Don’t Fill The Silence podcast episode
- Front Stage / Back Stage podcast episode
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:51 Exploring the Awkwardness Vortex
02:51 Personal Experiences of Awkwardness
05:51 The Science Behind Awkwardness
08:49 Practical Tips to Overcome Awkwardness
22:23 Awkwardness in Media and Comedy
25:06 Exploring Empathy and Awkwardness
25:41 The Science Behind Secondhand Embarrassment
26:30 Empathy Spectrum and Social Interactions
29:25 Awkwardness in Media and Society
31:33 Cringe Mountain and Overcoming Embarrassment
34:37 The Irreconcilable Gap and Self-Perception
36:58 The Power of Awkward Silences
39:16 Growth Through Awkwardness
43:45 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects
All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zanclean Megaflood
We discuss the Zanclean Megaflood, a massive flood event that filled the Mediterranean Sea in a remarkably short period. The episode dives into the geological events and evidence leading up to this flood …
Show notes
We discuss the Zanclean Megaflood, a massive flood event that filled the Mediterranean Sea in a remarkably short period. The episode dives into the geological events and evidence leading up to this flood, challenging the earlier gradualist theories and promoting a catastrophic model.
We are joined by Mike Sowden, whose engaging Twitter thread about the Zanclean Megaflood reached over 10 million people. Sowden, a travel writer and science communicator, shares insights on his curiosity-driven approach to science writing and storytelling. They explore other massive geological events, the nature of scientific discovery, and the human stories behind scientific advancements.
The episode is filled with fascinating facts, storytelling techniques, and a deep appreciation for the wonders of our planet.
If you want to find out more about certain topics that come up, you can try these:
- Julian May Sci-Fi books.
- Roland Emmerich disaster films.
- Previous Al Humphreys and Brendan Leonard podcast episodes.
- Missoula Floods in the USA.
Episode Summary
00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:45 Introducing the ZanClean Megaflood
01:43 Special Guest: Mike Sowden
03:01 Mike Sowden's Journey and Writing Style
07:29 The ZanClean Megaflood: Geological Background
12:55 The Catastrophic Flood Event
17:25 Speculations and Analogies
22:33 Doggerland and Other Historical Floods
23:43 The Storegga Slide and Doggerland Tsunamis
24:45 Dating the Storegga Slide
25:06 The Zanclean Megaflood
27:23 The Role of Storytelling in Science Communication
32:23 The Human Element in Engineering
34:30 The Fascination with Scientists' Obsessions
40:54 Geological Events and Their Impact
45:53 The Process of Science Writing
50:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Picking A Present
This time, we delve into the complexities of choosing the perfect gift. The discussion is framed around a Venn diagram Sketchplanation that identifies three key factors in gift selection: what the recipient …
Show notes
This time, we delve into the complexities of choosing the perfect gift. The discussion is framed around a Venn diagram Sketchplanation that identifies three key factors in gift selection: what the recipient actually likes, what you think they like, and what you think they ought to like. We share personal anecdotes about both successful and less successful gifts we've given and received, emphasising the emotional aspects of gift-giving for both the giver and the recipient. We also touch on practical gift-giving strategies, such as buying from registries, focusing on useful and consumable items, and considering the recipient's values. The episode also addresses the challenges of buying gifts for individuals who have seemingly everything, and the importance of shared experiences in gift giving. And we invite you to share your own gift-giving experiences and tips, aiming to provide food for thought for anyone looking to improve their gift-giving skills.
NB. In the podcast we reference how old this sketch is and that it was one of the first Jono did out of a collection that's now nearing 1000. Jono also suggested he might upgrade the sketch, which of course he has which is what you see as the artwork now. He's kept the original however, and you can see it here if you like.
00:00 Introduction to Gift Giving
00:52 Welcome to Sketchplanations Podcast
02:32 Exploring the Sketch: Picking a Present
03:23 The Venn Diagram of Gift Giving
06:50 Personal Experiences with Gift Giving
16:18 The Art of Giving Useful Gifts
20:15 Wedding Registry Dilemmas
24:42 The Worst Gifts Ever Given
26:15 Go-To Thank You Gifts
27:53 The "Olive Oil" Story
30:10 The Hunter-Gatherer Instinct in Gift Giving
34:18 Challenges of Buying Gifts for Dads
38:33 Designing Gifts for Others
43:01 The Greatest Gift Ever Given
45:10 Reflections on Gift Giving
All music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eponyms
This time, we delve into the concept of eponyms—words or names derived from people's names or places that capture little slices of history. The discussion starts with general definitions and shares interesting …
Show notes
This time, we delve into the concept of eponyms—words or names derived from people's names or places that capture little slices of history. The discussion starts with general definitions and shares interesting examples like the Jacuzzi, named after the Jacuzzi brothers, and the sandwich named after the fourth Earl of Sandwich. The hosts explore how eponyms often tell compelling stories, sometimes reveal historical facts, and occasionally involve controversies or unintended legacies, such as the 'Pellereau,' a term humorously defined by Lord Sugar. They also touch on the potential pitfalls of eponyms associated with infamous figures, brands becoming generic terms, like 'Hoover' and 'Google,' and the implications of eponyms on intellectual property law. The episode is rich with anecdotes that illustrate the origin and importance of these linguistic phenomena.
Apology: In the podcast Rob insists that the word for shadow in French is Silhouette and Jono confirms this. Strictly speaking, the word for shadow is "ombre", but silhouette is sometimes used.
Below are links to more information and depth on topics and content we reference in the podcast:
- The 99% Invisible podcast with Roman Mars
- The Don't Say Velcro Song
- Many more of Jono's sketches under the category of words
- Previous Eponym podcast episodes include: The Peter Principle; Hanlon's Razor; Goldilocks Tasks; The Shirky Principle; Dunbar's Number; and Goodhart's Law.
00:00 Introduction to Eponyms
00:57 Meet the Hosts
01:56 Exploring Famous Eponyms
03:11 The Fun of Sketchplanations
11:42 Scientific Eponyms
17:31 Controversial and Historical Eponyms
23:47 The Origin of Hoover
24:58 Matthew McConaughey's Career Shift
25:59 The Concept of Genericide
28:12 Famous Eponyms: Zipper, Escalator, and More
32:11 Boycott and Maverick: Stories Behind the Words
35:42 Eponyms in Everyday Language
38:19 The Art of Naming and Eponyms in History
40:36 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
All music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MindMap Travel Journal with Eva-Lotta Lamm
Before you go any further with this episode, check out both:Jono's mindmap travel journal from 7 months traveling in Central America, South East Asia, and South Africa, andEva-Lotta Lamm's sketchnotes from her …
Show notes
Before you go any further with this episode, check out both:
- Jono's mindmap travel journal from 7 months traveling in Central America, South East Asia, and South Africa, and
- Eva-Lotta Lamm's sketchnotes from her 14-month world trip.
With the help of visual thinking expert Eva-Lotta Lamm, in this episode we discuss how using techniques like sketch-noting and mind-mapping can enrich travel experiences, offer a deeper connection to the moment, and create engaging and memorable journals. Eva-Lotta shares her professional journey from UX designer to visual thinking consultant and provides practical tips for anyone looking to enhance their note-taking and journaling skills, no matter their drawing ability.
The discussion covers the concept of improvisation in drawing, the benefits of using a pen instead of pencils to avoid early editing, the freedom of mind mapping compared to linear note-taking, and the guest's personal experiences with sketch noting during her 14-month global odyssey.
Further information and links
"The Godfather" of Sketch-noting - Mike Rohde
Mind-mapping guru - Tony Buzan
Improvisation coach - Dan Klein
External links to Eva-Lotta's work and classes
Pragmatic Sketching Masterclass
Podcast Summary
00:00 Introduction
01:27 Meet Eva-Lotta Lamm
02:23 Eva-Lotta's Career Journey
05:09 Mind Map Travel Journals
06:08 The Art of Visual Note-Taking
07:37 The Evolution of Sketch Notes
15:16 The Power of Analogies in Sketching
21:01 Creating Mind Map Travel Journals
27:48 Capturing Emotions in Sketches
28:40 Travel Sketching Experiences
30:20 The Concept of Aphantasia
31:55 Improvisation in Sketching
34:58 Analog vs Digital Sketching
38:51 The Joy of Travel Journals
40:46 Encouraging Visual Thinking
44:41 Overcoming the Fear of Drawing
52:33 Eva-Lotta's Teaching and Projects
54:01 Conclusion and Farewell
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Short Speeches
What was the best speech you've ever heard?And how long was it?Are shorter speeches more effective than longer ones? In this episode, Rob Bell, Jono Hey, and Tom Pellereau dive into the concept that short …
Show notes
What was the best speech you've ever heard?
And how long was it?
Are shorter speeches more effective than longer ones? In this episode, Rob Bell, Jono Hey, and Tom Pellereau dive into the concept that short speeches often take more time and effort to prepare. They discuss historical examples like the Gettysburg Address and Winston Churchill's wartime speeches, the importance of simplicity in communication, and even share personal anecdotes about delivering best man speeches and after dinner talks. The episode also touches on the impact of preparation, audience engagement, and the potential role of AI in summarising and organising content.
Tune in to explore how less can indeed be more when it comes to effective communication.
00:00 Introduction: The Power of Short Speeches
00:57 The Concept of Short Speeches
01:50 Jono's Inspiration and the Sketch
02:40 The Importance of Preparation
04:23 Examples of Short Speeches
06:10 Personal Experiences with Speeches
12:44 The Apprentice Application Process
14:52 The Art of Concise Communication
19:45 Podcasting vs Traditional Media
21:29 Editing Challenges in Media Production
22:42 Respecting Listeners' Time
23:57 The Emotional Detachment in Editing
24:24 Long-Form Media and Political Impact
25:09 The Pressure of Impromptu Speeches
26:53 Famous Short Speeches
32:14 The Art of Simplifying Communication
40:55 The Role of AI in Summarising Content
42:24 Key Takeaways and Conclusion
All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Everyone's a Geek About Something
This time, we explore the origins of the word 'geek,' its evolution from a negative to a positive term, and discuss why some subjects are more cool than others. We share our own personal geek topics and …
Show notes
This time, we explore the origins of the word 'geek,' its evolution from a negative to a positive term, and discuss why some subjects are more cool than others. We share our own personal geek topics and celebrate how social media and online communities have made it easier to find like-minded people. We argue that passion, knowledge and experience are all critical ingredients within the geek cocktail which may help differentiate between geekiness and professional expertise. Mainly though, this episode highlights the joy of discovering others' geekiness and we encourage our listeners to reflect on their own interests and support others in their passions.
Join the conversation and share your own examples of geekiness by emailing [email protected] or by leaving us a voice note here. Don't forget to check out the episode artwork and visit sketchplanations.com for more insightful sketches!
We reference the following in the podcast
+ Book by Alexandra Robbins: The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth
+ Adam Smith - known as the Father of modern economics.
+ Jono's sketch on "T-shape" people.
+ Sketchplanations The Podcast episodes with James Wong; Part 1 & Part 2
+ Subtly referenced by Jono, a song about artisan crafters whose work might be expensive, but it's expensive for a reason. Song: "It costs that much cos it takes me F-ing hours"
Timeline of Topics Discussed
00:00 Introduction to Sketchplanations Podcast
01:14 Exploring the Sketch: Everyone's a Geek About Something
04:21 Personal Geekiness and Social Perceptions
06:43 The Evolution of the Term 'Geek'
12:18 Finding Your Tribe in the Digital Age
23:00 Diving into Copywriting
23:39 Tom's Passion for Efficiency
25:53 The Rise of Spreadsheet Geeks
26:36 Professional Specialisation and Geekiness
27:54 The Value of Multidisciplinary Teams
31:36 Personal vs. Professional Geekiness
33:28 The Intersection of Passion and Geekiness
35:24 Defining Geekiness
42:31 Famous Geeks and Their Impact
44:03 Our own takeaways about Geekdom.
All music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thoughtless Acts
This time, we discuss the fascinating concept of 'Thoughtless Acts'—simple, everyday innovations people make to adapt to their environment without even thinking about it. From hanging tea bags on mug handles to …
Show notes
This time, we discuss the fascinating concept of 'Thoughtless Acts'—simple, everyday innovations people make to adapt to their environment without even thinking about it. From hanging tea bags on mug handles to hanging shirts on a washing machine door, we explore how unnoticed behaviours can inspire better design and usability. We also delve into the origins of the term inspired by the work and book from human factors researcher, Jane Fulton Suri and her work at IDEO. Once again, the team come prepared with buckets full of examples of Thoughtless Acts they've caught themselves doing or have observed in others - unsurprisingly, Tom brings ups dishwashers again!
Join the conversation and share your own examples of thoughtless acts by emailing [email protected] or by leaving us a voice note here. Don't forget to check out the episode artwork and visit sketchplanations.com for more insightful sketches!
Timeline of Topics Discussed
00:00 Introduction to Thoughtless Acts
01:53 Defining Thoughtless Acts
03:24 Origins of the Concept
05:58 Examples of Thoughtless Acts
08:20 Degrees of Thoughtlessness
11:12 Importance in Design
12:40 Personal Hacks and Innovations
15:27 Observations in Design
21:26 Coffee Mugs and Shopping Trolleys
22:19 Observing Daily Interactions
24:04 Designing for Better Usability
26:14 Everyday Improvisations
32:02 Signalling and Subtle Messages
33:58 Accidents and Tool Design
37:17 Listener Engagement and Conclusion
All music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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