How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1025: Boosting Your Learning and Presenting with the Science of Memory with Dr. Charan Ranganath

Jan 20, 2025

Dr. Charan Ranganath, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Davis, dives into the complex world of memory. He explains how emotions can significantly shape our memory and decision-making. Listeners learn strategies to enhance retention, including the '4 C's of memorable messaging.' Ranganath also discusses the brain's mechanics of forming and recalling memories, likening them to building with Lego blocks, and highlights how effective presentations can engage and educate audiences.

43:27

Episode guests

Charan Ranganath

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities fosters a growth mindset essential for personal and professional development.

Understanding the emotional influences on memory can enhance communication effectiveness and improve information retention in diverse settings.

Deep dives

Learning from Mistakes

Mistakes should be viewed as opportunities for growth rather than as indications of poor ability. Embracing errors fosters a mindset geared toward learning, allowing individuals to focus on finding the correct answers instead of dwelling on self-criticism. This perspective is particularly important in education and professional development, where the pressure to succeed can discourage experimentation and risk-taking. Encouraging a culture that values attempts alongside failures can enhance overall retention and skill mastery.

Intro

3min

The Mechanics of Memory

9min

Navigating Distractions and Learning Through Failure

14min

Mastering Memorable Presentations

10min

Harnessing Curiosity: The Psychology of Viewing and Innovative Products

3min

Exploring the Distinct Realms of Human Learning and AI

6min

Navigating Procrastination through Emotion and Memory Insights

2min

Dr. Charan Ranganath discusses the science behind our brain’s capacity to remember (and forget) and how it can help you make better decisions and impressions.

— YOU’LL LEARN —

1) How emotions shape memory

2) How to hack your brain for enhanced retention

3) The 4 C's of memorable messaging

Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1025 for clickable versions of the links below.

— ABOUT CHARAN —

Charan Ranganath is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis. For over 25 years, Dr. Ranganath has studied the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events, using brain imaging techniques, computational modeling and studies of patients with memory disorders. He has been recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. He lives in Davis, California.

• Harvard Business Review Article: "How to Craft a Memorable Message, According to Science"

• Book: Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters

— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —

• Book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

• Book: The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind

• Book: All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis by Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera

• App: Khan Academy

• Past episode: 1012: Triple Your Learning through Productive Failure with Dr. Manu Kapur

— THANK YOU SPONSORS! —

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• Lingoda. Get a 10% discount and up to 45 free classes with the code AWESOME2025 or https://try.lingoda.com/awesome2025