MetaLearn Podcast

Serial entrepreneur Rob Fitzpatrick discusses core skills for entrepreneurs, effective customer conversations, and his approach to learning. He shares his experience of learning to sail and repair boats, the importance of understanding your audience, and learning outside traditional methods. The podcast also explores the differences between building a lifestyle design business and a VC-funded startup, achieving financial freedom, and valuing free time. Additionally, the episode delves into entrepreneurship in education, developing social skills, and the future of education.

Learn practical tools for becoming a better listener, including overcoming common blocks to listening, developing focused listening habits, and active listening techniques in meetings and conferences.

Scott Young is a lifelong learner and online entrepreneur who runs the business ScottHYoung.com where he tries to answer the question: "What's the best way to learn?" through free articles, and a series of books and courses. In a world of limitless access to information, it's become possible for all of us to direct our own learning like never before. And Scott is a great example of someone doing this - taking on ambitious ultra learning projects which include: The MIT Challenge, where he successfully learned MIT's 4-year computer science curriculum in a year without taking classes The Year Without English, where he travelled the world with a friend to learn four languages in a year – Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin and Korean. In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics including: - The core skills and habits someone needs to become a self directed learner - The advantages/disadvantages of the different forms of media for learning like blogs vs books and podcasts vs videos - The principles that cognitive science has proven help people learn faster So whether you're building a business, learning a language or learning to code, this episode will give you the tools and techniques needed to direct your own ultralearning project.

Discover how writing is a skill built through research, storytelling, and organization. Learn to tackle writer's block and embrace imperfection, helping you find your voice. Cultivating a unique style is essential, so pick up techniques for imitation and practice. The power of extensive reading is emphasized to elevate your writing. Get practical strategies to enhance your craft and communicate effectively, whether for work or personal projects.

John-Paul is an entrepreneur and best-selling author with a mission to spread awareness of better communication. A former associate editor at The Financial Times, he has worked with people at the top of government, business and the creative arts, and some of the world's leading companies. Asking questions is an essential skill that few of us ever learn how to do properly - but it's of vital importance in all areas of our life because asking the right question at the right time can make all the difference. JP has spent a large portion of his career asking questions as a journalist and has since helped thousands of people improve their communication skills so I reached out to him for chat to discuss these ideas in depth. In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics including: - The key to asking insightful questions - Understanding how to have better conversations - How to think about and deal with failure So whether you're looking to ask better questions, deal with making mistakes or just have more great conversations, this episode will give you all that and much more.

Explore the vital role reading plays in personal and professional growth. Discover the balance between classic literature and personal interests to deepen your understanding. Learn practical strategies to enhance reading speed and retention, addressing challenges like distractions. Dive into active engagement techniques like note-taking and mind mapping to improve comprehension. Find out how successful individuals leverage reading for continuous learning, and gain insights into choosing the right materials for your goals.

Mads Holmen is the CEO of Bibblio, a platform helping knowledge publishers deliver smarter content recommendation. Bibblio's clients include the University of Cambridge and Oxford University Press as well as the BBC and YouTube. It's been well documented that the educational system in the West has problems, but if you want to improve a system you need to look at the ways people think and interact with each other before changing the rules - and that's what educational philosophy is all about. Mads is someone who has integrated ideas from educational philosophy into his business Bibblio and he's often invited to speak about them on panels about learning and ed-tech. After seeing him at a talk in London, I reached out to him for a chat about some of the big issues in the field of learning and intelligence. In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics including: - How to think about learning and education - Whether there's an ideal curriculum for the 21st Century - The nature of intelligence by drawing insights from the nature vs nurture debate So whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of the ideas driving our educational system or find out how to navigate the endless stream of content online, this episode has you covered.

What if one of the most powerful tools for igniting change in the world was something that's been available to us since childhood? Questioning - deeply, imaginatively and critically – can spark unique insights and unleash our innate creativity. It can help us see the world through fresh eyes and notice things others don't. And it can inspire us to take focused actions that improve the quality of our lives. Most creative and successful people in all fields from science to business recognise the importance of asking incisive questions because they can lead to such powerful insights. In this episode I discuss a number of topics related to questions including: - What's the difference between a good question and a bad one? - The best frameworks you use to ask better questions - The questions you should be asking yourself to prove the validity of your ideas So whether you're looking to leverage the power of questioning in learning, business or life this episode has you covered.

Vincent Dignan is an entrepreneur and growth hacker who helps early-stage companies acquire users. Through his company Magnific he's driven thousands of followers, conversations, and signups for startups using a combination of social media growth and guerrilla community management tactics. On top of this he's a great public speaker regularly giving talks around the world on marketing and growth hacking and he recently completed a 45-date speaking tour of the US, speaking in 13 different cities. In this episode we discuss a range of topics including: - Vince's tips that will help you market your content and grow your business - The habits that will help you pick up skills and get more done with less - How to give a memorable public speech and get people interested in the event We also discuss Vince's favourite books for entrepreneurs and his thoughts on the feedback loop between teaching and learning. Whether you're looking to grow your business and acquire users, become a better speaker or just get more done in less time, you'll leave this podcast with plenty of actionable strategies you can apply.

Great communicators aren't just born; they can be made with practice and effort. The importance of communication skills is often overlooked in education, yet they're vital for personal and professional success. Listeners can learn about effective public speaking, essential non-verbal cues, and the art of mastering writing. Strategies for clarity and engagement in communication are shared, alongside tips for overcoming writer's block. Whether you want to speak, listen, or write better, there are actionable insights to inspire improvement.