This Simple Method Helps You Learn More from Podcasts (and Audiobooks!)

There's a lot of great podcasts out there. But what should we do if we want to learn from them? Here's a simple method.
00:00 Some drawbacks of using podcasts to learn
01:49 Step 1 - Activate prior knowledge
02:42 Step 2 - Free recall and fill in the gaps
05:49 Step 3 - Consolidate and extend
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Screenshots of Twilight of the Aesir and Hardcore History come from dancarlin.com.
Jutland and Saxony screenshots come from Wikipedia.
I use Miro for the visualization software clip.
REFERENCES
My comments about what free recall self-tests can do for you are based on the large literature related to the testing effect. At a high-level, frequent tests enhance learning in a variety of ways.
For a thorough discussion of the possible benefits (including anticipatory/motivational aspects and organizational aspects, like I mention in the video), check out:
Roediger III, H. L., Putnam, A. L., & Smith, M. A. (2011). Ten Benefits of Testing and Their Applications to Educational Practice. In Psychology of Learning and Motivation (Vol. 55, pp. 1-36). Elsevier. doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387...
Here is a recent meta-analysis exploring different potential mechanisms and applications of the testing effect(s):
Yang, C., Luo, L., Vadillo, M. A., Yu, R., & Shanks, D. R. (2021). Testing (quizzing) boosts classroom learning: A systematic and meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 147(4), 399-435. doi.org/10.1037/bul0000309

[@epsilonhalbe]

What I often notice when I am washing dishes & listening to podcast is that I tend to space out and think how I can apply what I just heard in my life. and have a conversation with myself about pros/cons or other aspects of something I've heard. I wish I would remember more often to jot those "internal conversations" down - which should be easy using a speech to text tool, but I don't.

[@jamesnguyen868]

Thanks, Ben, The main ideas are: 1) Do free recall before you learn new material to trigger prior knowledge 2) Focus on learning the material don't divide your attention 3) In podcasts, after an hour we will have an active free recall session (10m), if with reading books that would be 10 to 30m or a couple of pages. When we do free recall try to make sure we answer the question what is the material about? How is it related to another topic? Try to make sense of the material. 4) Schedule the next recall or when you feel like your memory about the material is fading. You can choose to do this or follow the 10m, 1h, 1d, 4d, 1w forgetting curve method. Question: In step 3, if you listen for an hour and then do free recall how do you make sure you know that you cover all the things the author was talking about? Like the how to do free recall video, you mention that we compared it back to the source material to fix ourselves if we make mistakes.

[@benjaminkeep]

I don't. I just think it would take too much time to do that unless I had some transcript or search function or something.

[@laxmiprasanna4092]

That's why he says books or pdfs are better than media.

[@user-lq8lz7wl1b]

I usually try to learn in chunks of 10-20 ideas. As I am listening I am counting the ideas I find meaningful and try to associate them with an image of some sort. Think mind palace. After the slot is done. I pause and try do some free recall. I typically just dictate instead of write. Much faster. Counting the ideas means I have a target to reach out to and the imagery creates useful mental bookmarks across the content I have listened to.

[@theexorcist666]

Did anyone else pause the video on each of his free recall notes to read them all? I came here to learn how to learn more from podcasts and went away knowing a whole lot more about Viking history than I ever did before! Win, win! 😁

[@edboss36]

I listen to podcasts in different languages to learn the language but I will definitely do the writing part!

[@saurabhsuman9726]

Attempt to summarise this video: 1. Whenever we are trying to learn, we should make sure that our focus is solely on the information that we have set ourselves to learn. 2. Prior to learning one should active prior knowledge of the target information, after going through the information, one should freely recall the information.

[@ex0ja]

I hope you used free recall to create this summary ;)

[@comicallyreal]

Why didn't I learn this stuff in teacher's college

[@patho977]

There’s a gap in what teachers are being taught and what scientific literature is showing. I remember a teacher even told me about learning styles, while that has been debunked some time ago.

[@BlaBlaBlaInDaHouse]

Excellent tips as always, thank you for this video!

[@sharanjhaveri6324]

OMG, i opened this video because i love CARLIN. You're amazing man. seriously

[@user-gz6mz9oh1q]

Damn I love your videos! So informative and clear... I am trying to figure out how to proceed with improving my Norwegian from B2 to C1 level and I find your videos very very helpful in trying to figure out what strategies and methods I should use to achieve proficiency. It is still in the process, but your videos are helping a lot!

[@garythompson9452]

Great video, thanks for putting it up.

[@greengirl4985]

Thank you!

[@pepperpeterpiperpickled9805]

Could you do a video on how to learn a language rapidly?

[@peteredstrom3681]

Love the channel and thanks for another great video! I unusually try to do a recall session in my head before going to sleep where I try go through my entire day + what I learned trough podcasts and other sources (a moment I always look forward to). I also try to talk to someone about what I listened to that might share an interest in the topic (could be both through messenger or IRL) directly after hearing it. I think using the methods in this video will help me to pick up a lot more details than I do today, definitely going to try them out. Thanks again!

[@benjaminkeep]

For sure. Finding reflective moments like that are great. Telling someone else has the extra benefit of potentially giving you a different perspective on the same story.

[@SocraticEngineer]

Thank you so much.

[@yourbloodysunday]

closing the eyes and visualizing around works pretty well for me.

[@fieuline2536]

Love your videos!

[@LucasOliveira-dw4zh]

Your channel is a knowledge gem. I've started using free recall with extremely positive results. Is there a correct or more effective way to prime before studying a subject or text? I think a video on how to prepare for studying would be a good addition. Thanks for your work and dedication!

[@benjaminkeep]

Appreciate the kind words. I will put some thought into it!

[@patrickdhatt3129]

seconded. Would like this as a video topic aswell

[@doc-aj7842]

Great value video , once again I think these tips can be applied to lecture or class

[@patrickwiseman5111]

Why such good video have so few views😭

[@CaptainWumbo]

I've listened to quite a lot of great courses, short stories, audiobooks etc. When I did it a lot, I would listen on an hour long walk, which helps you think and makes you more open to new ideas, and the fresh air is good for your brain. It also helps you avoid getting distracted, but a warm drink like tea first thing in the morning is pretty good for the same. I tend to think and question and go off on tangents as I listen and when something gets my interest.. for me it's not just a separate step, but I'll think about it afterward and where I could apply it as well. This happens whether I want it to or not, my mind doesn't turn off and just pay attention very easily. Same was true back in school lectures. Unlike school lectures though, when I know my own thoughts have taken the wheel for a minute, I'll just rewind the podcast to the last thing that sounds familiar... not so different from reading, really... where I also happen to think at the same time as reading.. I do 1.4x most lecturers though, as I find it a bit too slow at normal speed to hold my attention. If the infornation comes quicker, it's easier for me to give it my attention. That's all, sorry for all the long comments your videos are great food for thought

[@AFGautonompunk]

going back to your reply (from another video) on group exercises, i would say that reflecting on the information and gained knowledge in either a specific discussion, or exercises in said regard. e.g. i can watch and listen to lectures, talking about the information with my peers to make sense of it, and later be able to solve the specific exercises. but more specific to interviews, podcasts, books, finding some application to try out that were new, yet i was still able to understand. (every few steps of theory need practise as foundation,) and if that does work, i can progress either on my on expense or towards more advanced : specific content. if it does not, i have my safe haven to figure out where i first understood something wrong (or the information was biased) doing the latter with company outside a curriculum - at least in my experience - is probably the hardest, when it comes to continuity and scheduled repetition, so i would generally try to learn and understand by myself.

[@otaggomes1032]

Firstly, congratulations on the videos, they are incredible, and thank you very much for them. I've seen in many of your videos that what increases retention capacity is organizing in my mind the relationships between content that I know, interconnecting concepts, conceptual knowledge, but then I ask you: In 4:22- Looking for the organization of the facts, you put in linear mode (I've heard it in some places, I don't think they are that reliable) I trust you more, organizing the facts and concepts on paper in the same way they are in my head, {An example like the structure image of the thumbnail of your video: A Simple Way to Learn Complex Skills} organize in this way, like '''concept map''', several interconnected facts, with other facts, creating a conceptual network, this helps me to retain more information? ? When I do this, it's like I'm showing my brain: keep maintaining this organization? is required ? Is there a gain in more retention? Thank you

[@otaggomes1032]

Thinking this way and organizing it in my head this way I already know that I will retain more as you have already taught in the videos, but putting it on paper, making a summary and organizing it this way will I have any gains? Like this: images.edrawmind.com/article/biology-mind-map/diseases/Heart-Failure-Concept-Map.png

[@UncleDavid]

the biggest part of learning, at least for me, has been creating meaning and having that creation process be the median of retaining information

[@87advil]

I think the big thing is just taking some time after listening to think about what you just heard. With shorter podcasts especially, maybe you listen to a few in a row and your brain just isn't reflecting much at all so nothing sinks in. Most people aren't going to study everything they listen to or even follow up on it at all. But I think just taking a break and listening to your own thoughts about a subject can be really useful and isn't hard to do. This also helps you to realize when maybe a piece of media maybe is a bit shallow and not worth the time. I mostly listen to podcasts as a way of learning languages, so it's more about the experience of processing and understanding what's being said rather than really trying to understand a topic at a deeper level. But it does involve exercising focus and concentration.

[@benjaminkeep]

Agreed.

[@bakeral-sheyab546]

How do you process during listening? And how to ensure you didn’t forget any info in the free recall session ?

[@benjaminkeep]

It's a good question. I'm not terribly introspective on that, but it's probably a mixture of just paying close attention, using mental imagery, and thinking about logical connections or tensions inherent in the material, like I discuss in the "Learn more from every paragraph" video. I forget lots of things. The point is not to remember everything. It's to remember the important things. And even if you forget the important things, by trying to remember them (and then filling in the gaps), you will remember them better next time.

[@BigGroupHug]

It's cool that you creat your own B-Roll

[@benjaminkeep]

Thanks! It's fun!

[@patho977]

Although it’s a bit off-topic, I think you might enjoy playing Crusader Kings games. By the way, thank you for providing amazing content. As learners, we have access to a lot of confusing and non-science-backed content, but your content is like a beacon of light that guides us. Regarding other ideas to learn from podcasts I sometimes create questions while I'm hearing the podcasts. This aren't notes, just questions that elicit an answer from something previously said by the podcaster.

[@benjaminkeep]

Appreciate the kind words. 🙂 Asking questions can be a great way of engaging with the material. I will put Crusader Kings on my list of games to try. Thanks for recommending it!

[@MidoriyaIzuku-hs6xy]

Well , its very great idea and i wanna try to do it while i go to work so i cant take pencil and paper with me so how can i do free recall retrieval with just phone? Is it really possible what you think folks? I always will be looking for comments please reply me :)

[@shalevbenita5920]

Great video, really helps put the theory into some practical tips for learning! Would the process be similar for a lecture or textbook chapter? Maybe you could make a similar video using those as study sources.

[@benjaminkeep]

Thanks - it's basically the same. But I do have plans to talk about those more specifically.

[@patrickdhatt3129]

@@benjaminkeep This would be awesome aswell. Maybe something relating to self guided courses aswelll as those are gaining in popularity.

[@aaronherrera4400]

@@benjaminkeep Please do!!!! I have been comparing an M3QR Cobra Koi hybrid method with yours, but I would love an in-depth analysis of yours because I feel that I am reading the textbook over again after my free recall session by adding more bullet points (honestly, my active reading skills are probably low so maybe that is why I am encountering this problem). It is also hard to know when to do a free recall because some chapters are over 30 pages long, so if I did 5-page chunks, that is 6 active recall sessions plus going back to fill in the information. It is challenging since I am a college student who doesn't have a lot of time. Can't wait for your video!!!!

[@cytolytic]

Absolutely love your videos! my college entry exams are in 75 days from now and it's a big deal here in Egypt. Basically everyone here has some left overs that they haven't yet studied. mine are: chemistry: chemical equilibrium and electric chemistry (2 units out of 5) I have finished organic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, and transitional elements Arabic: Arabic literature and I haven't solved any exercises on rhetoric reading and liberal reading I only got Arabic grammar done math, physics, English, French are all done but I still need to revise and solve a lot of Exercise books on them. how could I go about studying all of the left overs, revising what I have already studied and solving as many books as I can in those 75 days? also, when will you update us with the mental math video?

[@benjaminkeep]

Not sure if I completely understand your situation, but I would just iteratively go through the subjects. If you're a full time student I might do two units a day (I have no idea if that's realistic or not depending on the size of your units). Do some exercises on chemical equilibrium; do the exercises on rhetoric reading. Next day grade the exercises on chemical equilibrium and do more. And grade the exercises on rhetoric reading before doing more on rhetoric reading. This style spaces out your review of each subject a bit. Sorry to not have more relevant advice. Good luck! With mental math - life and other videos have gotten in the way. Still working on it. Probably won't be out until May.

[@flyorfloat]

Do you know about the "doodling" method? I found about it out recently and you just move a pen around on paper while doing something else that isn't that active. I find it super useful so it might be worth a shot to try on podcasts.

[@jonathanlovelace521]

In teaching, if we're short on time, 'activating prior knowledge' is usually the first thing I cut. How would you rate the importance and effectiveness of those "activating prior knowledge" conversation questions often on the first page of a chapter compared to applying the learning in activities, free recall, or other typical aspects of a lesson.

[@AzuL4573]

Great video! I was wondering if you would do a video on language learning specifically. Is there any difference between learning a language and learning other things? The idea of Comprehensible Input through extensive listening and reading has picked up a lot of traction on KZbin, does this fit within your learning frameworks or does it contradict them? Is the science behind it valid?

[@benjaminkeep]

I might do some videos on language learning, although there are none coming up in the next couple of months. I am not at all a specialist in the area, but have some experience learning languages and can comment about where my understanding of learning and experience of learning languages intersect. But, broadly speaking, comprehensible input jibes with my understanding. Finding comprehensible input can be a challenge (my sense is people tend to over-estimate what is comprehensible to them, or at least inexperienced language learners tend to do so), but that's a different issue.

[@unknown-10k]

What podcasts do you recommend?

[@benjaminkeep]

I listen to Dan Carlin's stuff, as mentioned. There's a lot of great history podcasts out there - the Agora Network has lots of interesting ones. 99% Invisible on design. I like Science for the People, which features open-ended interviews on scientists in various topics. I listen to some Chinese language podcasts from time to time. Just depends on what you're into. There's so much good stuff out there.

[@aincrad6383]

I would really like for you to create some short form content. Like hook the viewers with the title. Briefly explain each point. And for detailed instruction ask them to watch the whole video. Short form is the king of content rn. It could really help reach your valuable knowledge to more people.

[@benjaminkeep]

I've thought about it. Even cut some shorts up a while back. Maybe once I feel ahead enough with the longer videos I'll make some shorts.

[@ex0ja]

I'm literally listening to the same podcast wondering how to best learn from it and found your video where you use that same podcast as an example lol. @ 1:57 did you just draw that map of Europe free hand? Did you "free recall" it?

[@benjaminkeep]

Nice! Yes, it was just by hand if I remember correctly - not terribly accurate.

[@MsTranthihai71]

❤

[@Wandfigur]

I find that if I listen for memorization I don't listen as critically though. So I'm focused on facts like names and dates but I don't listen with my bullshit radar system on max. There seems to be a trade off. Does that make sense?

[@saurabhsuman9726]

Hello Benjamin, I am actually struggling with my college examinations at the moment due to question problems such as 'critical examination of a statement in the light of another statement', if you could enlighten as to what is being asked to do through such questions, it would be of great help. Thanks.

[@benjaminkeep]

I think that's just a very academic way of saying "given statement Y, what do you think statement X means?" Or, in some cases, "Do you still think statement X is true, given statement Y?"

[@ReflectionOcean]

- Activate prior knowledge before listening to a podcast by writing down what you know about the topic (start 1:50). - Listen to the podcast attentively without multitasking to minimize distractions and improve retention (start 2:21). - Divide listening into manageable chunks, such as one hour, to enhance focus and comprehension (start 2:33). - Perform a free recall exercise after each listening session to reinforce memory and understanding (start 2:38). - Engage in a sense-making process during free recall, organizing and making sense of the information heard (start 3:49). - Look up unfamiliar terms or concepts mentioned in the podcast to clarify understanding (start 4:25). - After completing the podcast, attempt to integrate the information into a cohesive picture relying on memory first (start 5:53). - Schedule future free recall sessions to test and reinforce long-term retention of the content (start 6:12). - Listen to multiple podcasts on the same topic from different perspectives to gain a more complete understanding (start 6:23).

[@DouglasSilva-ys6lw]

Which application are you using at the end of the video to make a timeline of events?

[@benjaminkeep]

It's Miro.

[@DouglasSilva-ys6lw]

​@@benjaminkeep Thank you for replying! I remember watching one of your videos in which you analyzed a memory expert's knowledge and insights. It would be fascinating if you could apply the same approach to analyze Steve Kaufmann's learning techniques and values and correlate them with the science of learning. Kaufmann is the only polyglot who the language learning community believes can fluently speak 20 languages with a high degree of proficiency, and I believe your analysis could provide valuable insights to everyone, including us language learners :D.

[@samsays4878]

Hi Ben, I know this might not be directly related to your video but Ive recently been accepted to study neuroscience at stanford. given your experience at stanford and expertise in learning is it possible to be too dumb to succeed at such a hard school for lack of better words.

[@vivianabro8272]

Any suggestions for studying for the (CA) Bar? So much material, so little time. Overwhelmed. Thank you!

[@benjaminkeep]

I took NY, not CA, but I've heard CA is pretty intense. For me, it was a lot of practice tests, identifying mistakes, and trying to integrate the correct approach into my existing understanding. The goal isn't to know everything - it's to know the most important things, so there's definitely prioritization involved. Being overwhelmed in the beginning is okay and very normal. Space out topics across the days and return to them and slowly grow your understanding. Good luck!

[@vivianabro8272]

@@benjaminkeep Thank you so much for your kind response. I love your channel! Continued success!

[@panchofenix9912]

thoughts on the video about multitasking by thomas frank?

[@benjaminkeep]

Sorry - haven't watched it.

[@Kalvin_G]

Hello ben, if when listening to a podcast it's better to do nothing, wouldn't it be better to read a book as it's easier to remember things ?

[@benjaminkeep]

Podcasts let you listen to something when you couldn't otherwise be reading. But I tend to think that reading is better for learning.

[@GiovannaChukwuma]

Summary: 1. Free recall 2. Listen to different podcasts on the same topic to compare materials and understand the topic on a deeper level

[@marceloaugusto998]

maybe you can make a vídeo about building a second brain, is worth it or not?

[@benjaminkeep]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll consider it for sure.

[@horaciorodd]

!!!

[@bakeral-sheyab546]

🫡🫡