How To Remember What You LearnHow To Remember What You Learn
Sideways
Explore why we forget so much of what we learn and discover techniques to improve retention, alongside amusing tales of elephants and hallucinogens.
48:52•12 Jun 2025
The Art of Remembering: Retention Tips & Tales
Episode Overview
- We forget about 50% of what we learn within an hour.
- Reinforcement through repetition can improve memory retention.
- Motor skills can be used to anchor memories.
- Modern distractions like doomscrolling affect our ability to retain information.
- Creating associations with new knowledge aids in long-term understanding.
“Apparently, we forget about 50% of what we learn within an hour.”
Ever wondered why you can't seem to hold onto what you learn? This episode of 'Sideways' tackles the perplexing issue of forgetfulness and how we can boost our retention skills. Graham Landi and Martin Pankhurst share anecdotes that are as entertaining as they are enlightening, including tales of mistaken identity due to hallucinogens and an elephant's unexpected grocery run.
Amidst the laughs, they dive into why our brains let go of new information so quickly, citing the 'forgetting curve' discovered by psychologist Herman Ebbinghaus. Did you know we lose about 50% of what we learn within an hour? And up to 90% within a week? Don't fret; the hosts offer practical tips to combat this mental sieve, such as reinforcing learning through repetition and using motor skills to anchor memories.
They also ponder how modern distractions, like doomscrolling, make retaining information even trickier. This episode is a delightful mix of humour and wisdom, perfect for anyone looking to keep more knowledge from slipping away. So, if you're keen on improving your memory or just want a chuckle at the elephant's expense, this is the episode for you.
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