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Anthony Metivier's Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Anthony Metivier's Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Written by: Anthony Metivier's Magnetic Memory Method Podcast
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 Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything Using Memory Techniques, Mnemonics And A Memory Palace Fast Foreign Language Audiobooks
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  • Memento Mori: 4 Simple Exercises for a More Memorable Life

    Memento Mori: 4 Simple Exercises for a More Memorable Life
    Sep 21 2016
    Memento mori sounds morbid. But the ancient Latin practice of “remembering that you will die” will not depress you when used as a memory exercise. No. It will wake you up and help make sure that today (and every day) matters to your life. That’s just one reason to practice the memento mori exercises you’re about to discover today. They are powerful and have been throughout history. Why? For one thing, when you hold the fact that you are going to pass away in your mind for even a minute, mental junk that obscures the miracle of existence can start to lose its grip. Petty worries shrink. Procrastination fades. And you start choosing the conversation, the walk, the work and take more risks. And that’s important because those are things you’ll actually be glad you did. As opposed to doom scrolling on your phone, which is usually an utter waste of time. The Truth of Memento Mori Exercises Hidden in Plain Sight Here’s the link between memento mori and memory training you might have missed: I’ve taught memory training techniques for years, and the engine behind developing great recall isn’t “talent.” It’s cultivating your attention in ways that you associate with meaning that is worth remembering. Well-constructed memento mori exercises force meaning to the surface, which makes attention sharper automatically. And as memory expert Harry Lorayne often pointed out, when attention sharpens, better memory follows. That’s one reason why I keep an Amor Fati medallion from The Daily Stoic on my desk. In fact, I keep it right beside a “Mr. Death” pin that says “Catch you later.” I wore that pin on tour when I played bass with The Outside as a private reminder: Do not sleepwalk through this rehearsal, and definitely not during this concert. You’re only going to get to do this one. Finally, these two memento mori are kept with the Warrior of the Mind Emblem Tony Buzan awarded me for Outstanding Contributions to Global Mental Literacy. As you can imagine, it took on even more significance for me after he unexpectedly passed away. It sounds ridiculously simple, but having visual reminders like this constantly in your environment makes a big difference to your quality of life. And in the next few minutes, I’ll show you three more simple memento mori exercises you can do today to live a more memorable life. As a side effect, these will train the exact mental skill that makes your memory stronger overall. One: Imagine Your Funeral The exercise I’m about to share sounds grim, I know. But it’s actually quite positive. I adapted it from psychologist Richard Wiseman’s 59 Seconds, where he discusses brief, evidence-informed writing prompts that can shift perspective and behavior. As Wiseman explains based on a study he cites, the imaginative act of seeing and hearing your friends, family and colleagues acknowledge your passing creates perspective and insight that can improve your happiness. I’ve upped the ante and turned it into a brain game by not just imagining the scenario mentally, but by involving pen and paper. Make a list of two friends, two family members and two colleagues (or fellow students if you’re still in school). Next, write down one positive memory each person will share about you at your funeral. It could be a story or just a description of a personal attribute. Pretend that you can hear their voices as you complete the exercise. This point is important: Focus on the positive. Don’t invite haters to your funeral. Really feel the upbeat sentiments people share about you and enjoy the warmth they create. Then follow-up by imagining what you could do starting today to increase the praise you’ll receive. This simple additional step will help ensure you live a much more interesting life. Two: The Monty Hall Memento Mori Exercise If you’ve heard about The Monty Hall Problem, you likely have only heard it talked about as a quirky mathematical riddle. But for our purposes today, it’s really about why we humans cling to our first decision when changing our minds is the smarter move. Here’s the Monty Hall Problem in simple terms, followed by an exercise: Imagine that you’re on a game show. There are three doors and behind one of them is a prize. Behind the other two, either absolutely nothing or undesirable objects. The host, who knows the location of the prize, opens one of the two doors you didn’t pick and reveals either nothing. Or a dud prize, like a goat. Then he gives you a choice: Do you want to stick with the door you originally selected? Or switch to the remaining unopened door? https://youtu.be/mhlc7peGlGg Here’s what makes The Monty Hall problem interesting: Although you’ve already decided on a door, many analysts of the problem believe that switching at this critical moment gives you better odds of winning the prize. This means that changing your mind is the better and more rational choice. But many people do not perceive the benefits and wind...
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    58 mins
  • A Thriller That Teaches Memory: The Science Behind Vitamin X

    A Thriller That Teaches Memory: The Science Behind Vitamin X
    Dec 28 2025
    Imagine for a second that Eckhart Tolle wasn’t a spiritual teacher, but a deep cover operative with a gun to his head. And just for a second, pretend that Tolle’s Power of Now wasn’t a way to find peace, but a survival mechanism used to slow down time when your reality is collapsing. And your memory has been utterly destroyed by forces beyond your control. Until a good friend helps you rebuild it from the ground up. These are the exact feelings and sense of positive transformation I tried to capture in a project I believe is critical for future autodidacts, polymaths and traditional learners: Vitamin X, a novel in which the world’s only blind memory champion helps a detective use memory techniques and eventually achieve enlightenment. It’s also a story about accomplishing big goals, even in a fast-paced and incredibly challenging world. In the Magnetic Memory Method community at large, we talk a lot about the habits of geniuses like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. We obsess over their reading lists and their daily routines because we want that same level of clarity and intellectual power. But there’s a trap in studying genius that too many people fall into: Passivity. And helping people escape passive learning is one of several reasons I’ve studied the science behind a variety of fictional learning projects where stories have been tested as agents of change. Ready to learn more about Vitamin X and the various scientific findings I’ve uncovered in order to better help you learn? Let’s dive in! Defeating the Many Traps of Passive Learning We can read about how Lincoln sharpened his axe for hours before trying to cut down a single tree. And that’s great. But something’s still not quite right. To this day, tons of people nod their heads at that famous old story about Lincoln. Yet, they still never sharpen their own axes, let alone swing them. Likewise, people email me every day regarding something I’ve taught about focus, concentration or a particular mnemonic device. They know the techniques work, including under extreme pressure. But their minds still fracture the instant they’re faced with distraction. As a result, they never wind up getting the memory improvement results I know they can achieve. So, as happy as I am with all the help my books like The Victorious Mind and SMARTER have helped create in this world, I’m fairly confident that those titles will be my final memory improvement textbooks. Instead, I am now focused on creating what you might call learning simulations. Enter Vitamin X, the Memory Detective Series & Teaching Through Immersion Because here’s the thing: If I really want to teach you how to become a polymath, I can’t just carry on producing yet another list of tips. I have to drop you into scenarios where you actually feel what it’s like to use memory techniques. That’s why I started the Memory Detective initiative. It began with a novel called Flyboy. It’s been well-received and now part two is out. And it’s as close to Eckhart Tolle meeting a Spy Thriller on LSD as I could possibly make it. Why? To teach through immersion. Except, it’s not really about LSD. No, the second Memory Detective novel centers around a substance called Vitamin X. On the surface, it’s a thriller about a detective named David Williams going deep undercover. In actuality, it’s a cognitive training protocol disguised as a novel. But one built on a body of research that shows stories can change what people remember, believe, and do. And that’s both the opportunity and the danger. To give you the memory science and learning research in one sentence: Stories are a delivery system. We see this delivery system at work in the massive success of Olly Richards’ StoryLearning books for language learners. Richards built his empire on the same mechanism Pimsleur utilized to great effect long before their famous audio recordings became the industry standard: using narrative to make raw data stick. However, a quick distinction is necessary. In the memory world, we often talk about the Story Method. This approach involves linking disparate pieces of information together in a chain using a simple narrative vignette (e.g., a giant cat eating a toaster to remember a grocery list). That is a powerful mnemonic tool, and you will see Detective Williams use short vignettes in the Memory Detective series. But Vitamin X is what I call ‘Magnetic Fiction.’ It’s not a vignette. It’s a macro-narrative designed to carry the weight of many memory techniques itself. It simulates the pressure required to forge the skill, showing you how and why to use the story method within a larger, immersive context. So with that in mind, let’s unpack the topic of fiction and teaching a bit further. That way, you’ll know more of what I have in mind for my readers. And perhaps you’ll become interested in some memory science experiments I plan to run in the near future. Illustration of...
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    55 mins
  • Why an AI Expert Uses “Analog” Memory (And You Should Too)

    Why an AI Expert Uses “Analog” Memory (And You Should Too)
    Dec 16 2025
    You might expect an expert from OpenAI to rely entirely on digital tools to learn faster. Andrew Mayne does the exact opposite. Andrew is a true modern polymath: And in this hope-inspiring set of conversations, this AI expert, innovator, magician, novelist and host of the OpenAI podcast shares his passion for memory techniques. In addition to unfolding why practicing with older memory techniques still matters, he’s navigating the best of all possible worlds. And he’s got me convinced that this combinatory approach is the best choice. But never at the expense of preserving our age-old memorization techniques and learning tools. Andrew’s exploration of AI and Memory Palace creation is nothing short of extraordinary, and just as thrilling as his novels given what he’s concluded so far. So join in as we discuss the science behind why “easy” learning often fails. And exactly how to build a bit of friction into your routine. So that you retain more and enjoy new technologies without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlzD_6Olaqw Why AI Expert Andrew Mayne Uses “Analog” Memory (New Conversation) Since our last discussion on the intersection of AI and Memory Palaces (see below), Andrew has continued to push the boundaries of how we learn in a digital age. But in this new episode, we take a surprising turn. We aren’t just talking about the future. We are talking about the tactics of the autodidact and polymath in the here and now. Andrew reveals why, despite working at the cutting edge of OpenAI, he often chooses “analog” tools to train his brain. I’m talking about tools like: Playing cardsPhysical journalsReading physical booksHaving lots of conversations We dig deep into role of friction in developing new memories and the science behind why “easy” learning often fails, and how you can use tools like ChatGPT and other AI tools to test your memory without becoming dependent on them. You’ll also discover why an app-based Cloze test did not work for Andrew. Missed our first conversation? In this original interview, we established the foundation as AI was unfolding in real time. Part One: The Intersection of AI & The Ancient Art of Memory Ready to explore how AI and Memory Palaces can work together to unlock sharper and longer-lasting memory? Listen in as we explore: The essence of why the Memory Palace technique has stood the test of time.AI’s role in human memory: How artificial intelligence can possible enhance, refine, and possibly revolutionize how we use Memory Palaces today.Future Insights: Andrew’s positive vision for where modern tech might take us and his enthusiasm for preserving the ancient art of memory. And many other “old” artefacts of the human experience. Whether you’re a student looking to ace your exams, a professional aiming to remember more in less time, or just someone fascinated by the intersection of technology, memory science and human potential, this discussion will be a point of inspiration as you continue to develop enhanced memory capabilities. Here’s the video version of the discussion: https://youtu.be/iS_BgFuUohA For More Andrew Mayne If you’d like to learn more about Andrew and his incredible output, here is a link library for you to explore: Andrew’s homepageAndrew on XAndrew on WikipediaAndrew’s incredible books on AmazonAndrew’s Penguin Live magic lectureWatch Andrew on the Youtube version of the OpenAI Podcast, where he interviews the world’s top minds shaping the future of artificial intelligence. For a related podcast on ancient technologies and memory, check out my discussion with Lynne Kelly about The Knowledge Gene. And to continue the theme of magic, see what you think when I try to use a magic trick by way of testing Nelson Dellis’ theory of remote viewing. You might appreciate my thoughts on How to Approach Learning in the Age of AI as well as tutorials on becoming polymathic and autodidact. Thanks for listening or watching and hope to hang out with you again soon on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast!
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    1 hr and 25 mins
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