MetaLearn Podcast

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.

While it may be difficult to put your finger on that special something that geniuses like Tolstoy or Shakespeare had, being able to communicate well in writing is a skill that can be learned like any other. If we deconstruct the art of writing, its three main components are research, storytelling and the organisation of ideas. So if you can develop these skills by putting in consistent deliberate practice, you’re going to become a better writer. In this episode I show you how to become a better writer by presenting the tools and techniques needed to improve rapidly. Plus I answer your questions including: - What tips have you got for getting over writer's block? - How do you develop your own unique style as a writer? - What are the principles that everyone should apply to become a better writer? So whether you're looking to improve your written communication at work, or improve your writing skills for a blog you're starting this episode will give you actionable strategies you can apply straight away.

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.

There’s a feeling nowadays that reading isn’t as important as it used to be – we have many other ways to get information including television and the internet. While all of these are useful in the right context, they can't replace reading fully. In the US only 40% of people who graduate college ever read a book again. But it’s been well documented that most successful and intelligent people across fields from business, science and the arts are voracious readers. In this episode I show you how to how to choose your books and the tools and techniques that will help you read better. Plus I answer some of your questions including: - Does speed reading actually work? - Do you take notes while you read and what method do you use? - How do I remember and apply more of what I read? So whether you're looking to read faster, more widely or remember more of what you read, this episode has you covered with actionable strategies you can start using to take your reading to the next level today.

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.

Many people assume that great communicators possess an intrinsic talent – they look at the abilities of Martin Luther King, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and assume that it’s a gift that can't be learned or improved. While I think it may come easier to some people than others, the reality is that almost anyone can become a great communicator with consistent, deliberate practice over a period of time. In fact it’s pretty shocking that communication skills aren’t taught in the vast majority of schools given how important they are in all areas of life. In this episode I discuss a range of topics including: - The basics of public speaking and how to improve regardless of your level - The techniques you can use to become a better listener - The tips that will improve the quality of your writing and refine your style So whether you're looking to become a better listener, speaker or writer, this episode has got you covered with actionable strategies you can apply today.

Will Reynolds and Erin Potter are the founders of the New Work Order, a close-knit network of ambitious people, building careers on their own terms. I met Will at a workshop he was running on entrepreneurship and the vision he’s crafted with Erin to help people take control of their own careers resonated with me as it’s something I’ve been trying to do since graduating from university. The important thing about community is that it allows people to learn from each other and to get a objective view of how they're progressing over time. Will and Erin have done this in the area of career so I decided to get them on for a chat. In this episode we discuss a range of topics including: - Build a learning community around you so that taking action becomes a habit - Manage your work and learning so that it stays fun rather - Practical strategies to learn a range of skills from web design to writing So whether you’re looking to pick up skills to build your own career or thinking about how to optimise your work/life balance, you’ll leave this conversation with plenty of actionable ideas to start applying to your life immediately.