A Mug of Insights

Robin Waldun
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Oct 29, 2025 • 29min

028: The Power of A Digital Declutter

Discover how to reclaim your life from social media through a transformative three-step plan. Explore the importance of intentionality in defining hobbies beyond screens. Learn about Cal Newport's 30-day digital declutter and personal rules for cutting digital clutter from your life. Hear practical advice on exchanging digital addictions for analog activities, like learning an instrument or practicing martial arts. Finally, join the movement of attention resistance to use technology mindfully and reshape your focus.
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20 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 21min

027: How Great Readers See Books Differently

Explore the fascinating world of exceptional readers and their unique habits. Discover how a mindset shift from extractive to appreciative reading can enhance your experience. Learn why many struggle with reading and how a simple change can restore joy. Robin shares insights from Maslow's work and highlights the impact of educational systems on reading habits. Dive into the contrast between quick online reading and enjoying a well-crafted book, unlocking a new rhythm for a fulfilling reading life.
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10 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 30min

026: How To Stay Informed Without Going Insane

In this engaging discussion, the host tackles the challenge of staying informed without getting overwhelmed. They explore how modern news can create echo chambers and emotional overload, urging listeners to seek out long-form journalism for deeper understanding. Recommendations include curating a small set of reliable news sources and creating a dedicated reading device to enhance focus. The host also suggests adopting a weekly reading ritual to savor articles, helping to counter bias and promote dialectical thinking. It's a refreshing take on mindful news consumption!
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21 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 23min

025: How To Read 6 Books A Month

Discover how to supercharge your reading habits with five vital lessons that make devouring six books a month achievable! Learn to shift focus from book counts to enjoying the journey, and turn reading into a default habit rather than a chore. Explore the importance of auditing your tech to reclaim precious reading time, and find joyful engagement by embracing eclectic content. Lastly, discover how to curate distractions intentionally and sustain your excitement for reading like never before!
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Oct 1, 2025 • 22min

024: Do You Need An English Degree To Read Well?

Is an English degree necessary to enjoy reading? Explore the surprising history of literature's amateur roots versus today's academic approaches. Discover how specialization may diminish the joy of reading for pleasure, creating divides between casual and trained readers. Reflect on the passion that drives reading outside formal training. Learn ways to keep the love of literature alive while borrowing useful insights from academia. Embrace the joy of reading like a child and approach texts with curiosity!
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10 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 29min

023: A Defence of Long-Form Reading In Our Distracted Age

Explore the changing landscape of long-form reading in an age dominated by smartphones. Discover the paradox of reading more words but retaining less knowledge. Delve into the advantages of sustained attention and how it transforms scattered information into coherent narratives. Learn about the cognitive benefits and how to train your focus through a digital diet. The conversation highlights practical steps to reclaim your attention and make long-form reading the new norm.
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16 snips
Sep 17, 2025 • 23min

022: Reclaiming The Joy of Reading From Our Productivity Culture

Explore how productivity systems can stifle the joy of reading in our fast-paced world. Discover the paradox of methods like 'Getting Things Done,' which may hinder rather than help personal engagement. Embrace the idea of creating a reading experience tailored to your unique interests. Learn about the power of resonance journals as tools for deepening literary connections. Finally, the importance of introspection shines through as a way to build a fulfilling and personal reading approach.
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Sep 17, 2025 • 22min

021: Reading Advice For High School & College Students

In this episode, we'll answer an email question from Kade, who brought up some excellent questions around how to be an effective reader in high school & college while still engaging with other aspects of campus life. If you want to send a question to the show, email support@amugofinsights.org, and we'll feature your question on a show! Links and goodies:Want more food for thought and deeper insights for your reading life? Subscribe to my newsletter for free here for weekly bonuses and tips:https://www.amugofinsights.org/Download the digital notebook I use to organise ideas for these episodes:https://www.rcwaldun.com/your-syntopiconMy classes on rediscovering the joys of reading & writing:https://www.rcwaldun.com/classesThis episode was produced and published under the imprint of Literary. Publication. Our design consultant for the show is Victoria Aitken, and the intro/outro music, 'Armchair Expert' was composed and performed under the music project 'The Woods' by © Johnny McFadzean.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IG6UBvhnU3607AuOtCYFqWebsite: https://www.musicfromthewoods.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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7 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 22min

020: What Makes A Book Life-Changing?

Discover the secrets of what truly makes a book life-changing. Explore why questioning the buzz around 'life-changing' claims is essential. Dive into the concept of genuine transformative moments versus gimmicks. Learn how theory can shift your life narrative and the importance of selective storytelling. Understand why meaningful experiences must align with ideas for real change. Plus, get tips on timing your reading for maximum impact and the benefits of keeping a resonance journal to track your insights.
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15 snips
Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 2min

019: The Future of Online Political Discourse with Alice Cappelle

Join Alice Capelle, a French writer and video essayist known for her sharp political insights and the book 'Collapse Feminism', as she dives into pressing social issues and the complexities of online political discourse. She discusses how social media influences feminism today and critiques reactionary ideologies. Alice also shares her journey from history to YouTube, driven by pandemic creativity. With a focus on critical thinking and hope, she encourages thoughtful engagement in a world of clickbait distractions.

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