Episodes

The Diderot Effect
17
June 1, 2026

The Diderot Effect

One Purchase Begets Another
Why Only 2 Countries Are Double-Landlocked
16
May 18, 2026

Why Only 2 Countries Are Double-Landlocked

A Journey of Geographic Curiosities.
How To Become An Overnight Success.
15
May 4, 2026

How To Become An Overnight Success.

The Role of Timing and Tenacity in Achieving Goals
Play Until Something Gets Broken
14
April 20, 2026

Play Until Something Gets Broken

Unleash your inner kid
Submarine Lessons for Business Leadership
13
April 6, 2026

Submarine Lessons for Business Leadership

Pushing Authority to Information: A Chat with Capt. David Marquet
Hitting the Target: Accuracy vs. Precision
12
March 23, 2026

Hitting the Target: Accuracy vs. Precision

Why they're not the same and why it matters.
Do you Know Your Dashes?
11
March 9, 2026

Do you Know Your Dashes?

Dash Differentiation: Use hyphens, En Dashes and Em dashes like a Pro!
Digging Through the Planet: The Geography of Antipodes
10
Feb. 23, 2026

Digging Through the Planet: The Geography of Antipodes

If I dug straight down now, where would I end up?
The closer you look, the longer it gets: The Coastline Paradox
9
Feb. 9, 2026

The closer you look, the longer it gets: The Coastline Paradox

The length of the British Coastline is Infinite. Wait, What!?
The Olympic Flag: Unity, History, and Ambition.
8
Jan. 26, 2026

The Olympic Flag: Unity, History, and Ambition.

More Than Just Rings: The Timeless Design of the Olympic Flag.
Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔
7
Jan. 12, 2026

Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔

The Japanese Word for Buying Books You Don’t Read
Family Tree Explainer
6
Dec. 29, 2025

Family Tree Explainer

First, Second Cousins and What “Once Removed” Really Means
Continuous Partial Attention
5
Dec. 15, 2025

Continuous Partial Attention

Coined in the 1990s by Linda Stone , Continuous Partial Attention describes the state of being constantly connected and alert; 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 of...
Microlives & The Art of Uncertainty with Sir David Spiegelhalter
4
Dec. 1, 2025

Microlives & The Art of Uncertainty with Sir David Spiegelhalter

Behind the Numbers: Life, Death, and Data in Everyday Choices
The Pomodoro Technique
3
Nov. 17, 2025

The Pomodoro Technique

Struggling with Focus? Try this Tomato-sized Productivity Hack.
Canal Locks with David Macauley
2
Nov. 3, 2025

Canal Locks with David Macauley

The Art of Explaining with America's Explainer-in-Chief
Ordering Adjectives with Author Mark Forsyth
1
Oct. 20, 2025

Ordering Adjectives with Author Mark Forsyth

The hidden rules of English we don't know we know
Jevon's Paradox
12
Oct. 8, 2025

Jevon's Paradox

Why Greater Efficiency Can Lead to Using More
Words of Wonder: Apricity - with Grant Snider
11
Sept. 24, 2025

Words of Wonder: Apricity - with Grant Snider

Bringing Words to Life Through Art
How to Instantly Feel Better
10
Sept. 10, 2025

How to Instantly Feel Better

Instant Mood Boosters: Simple Techniques to Feel Better Fast
The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise & Sleep
9
July 23, 2025

The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise & Sleep

Our mid-summer break check-in on your wellbeing
Yes Sayers & No Sayers
8
June 25, 2025

Yes Sayers & No Sayers

Safety vs. Adventure: The Balance Between Yes Saying and No Saying.
The Awkwardness Vortex with Melissa Dahl
7
June 11, 2025

The Awkwardness Vortex with Melissa Dahl

Embracing Awkwardness and Unlocking Social Secrets.
Zanclean Megaflood
6
May 28, 2025

Zanclean Megaflood

How the Mediterranean Sea filled up in just 18 months.
Guest: Mike Sowden