
The Inforium
Thomas Frank and Martin Boehme discuss productivity, personal finance, their weird llama obsession, and other interesting things. New episodes every other week.
Latest episodes

Jun 11, 2018 • 58min
How to Take Criticism (Ep. 215)
Criticism feels bad, but it's also one of the best shortcuts to improvement. Here's how to appreciate good criticism and stop taking things so personally.
Full show notes
This week’s episode is sponsored by:
Skillshare — with over 20,000 courses in a wide range of different skills, Skillshare can help you take things to the next level. Get started with 2 months of unlimited learning for just 99¢ at Skillshare.com/cig.
Things mentioned in this episode:
10 Things We'd Tell Our 18-Year-Old Selves (Ep. 213)
ChoosingBeggars subreddit
Hardy Fowler's Digital Painting course on Skillshare
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
LessWrong's The Lens That Sees Its Flaws article
Tom's Backflip video on Instagram
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:01:58 - Initials thoughts on being able to take criticism
0:09:11 - Don't be ashamed of your old work
0:14:43 - Judging the intent and validity of a criticism
0:24:15 - Handling criticism while retaining your original vision
0:27:08 - Sponsor: Skillshare (Learning new skills)
0:28:38 - Being open to the possibility of learning from anyone
0:31:56 - Making your content more intuitive to your users
0:37:18 - Being less emotional when dealing with criticism
0:48:38 - Recap and conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 4, 2018 • 55min
How to Build Strong Habits (Ep. 214)
Since our lives are governed largely by a collection of habits, we've decided to talk about how one might form a new habit on purpose. Want to make something a part of your identity and life? Here's how to get started.
Full show notes
This week’s episode is sponsored by:
Audible: Get a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial by going to audible.com/CIG or texting “CIG” to 500-500 on your phone.
Brilliant: Accelerate your learning in math, science, and computer science. Start learning for free at Brilliant.org/CollegeInfoGeek — and if you use this link, you'll also get 20% off your subscription.
Things mentioned in this episode:
The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
Tom's notes on the Power of Habit
Derek Sivers website
Nat Eliason website
Morning Routines (Ep. 208)
The Motivation Hacker, by Nick Winter
Habitica (iOS | Android)
European Journal of Social Psychology's Habit Formation article
Sherlock Holmes Collection, narrated by Stephen Fry
How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
If This Isn't Nice, What Is?, by Kurt Vonnegut
5 Non-Obvious Things That Are Killing Your Productivity
Momentum (iOS)
HabitBull (iOS | Android)
Today (iOS)
h3h3's Water Project video
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:03:30 - What does a habit consist of?
0:08:51 - Breaking bad habits and forming good ones
0:15:27 - What to do when you haven't done the habit for a while
0:23:39 - Sponsor: Audible (Listening to audiobooks)
0:28:03 - Sponsor: Brilliant (Learning problem-solving skills)
0:29:55 - Motivating yourself to do the habits
0:43:01 - Habit tracker recommendations
0:52:02 - Using the 20 second rule
0:53:16 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 28, 2018 • 1h 1min
10 Things We'd Tell Our 18-Year-Old Selves (Ep. 213)
Another year older, another year wiser. In this week's episode, we're reflecting on a few lessons it would have been nice to learn earlier, and we're passing the savings onto you.
Full show notes
Things mentioned in this episode:
How to Give a Killer Speech (Ep. 212)
The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
Starting Strength
Essentialism: How to Do More by Doing Less (Ep. 171)
Cooked documentary
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There, by Catherynne M. Valente
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:06:27 - Be less cynical and more open with your feelings
0:13:31 - Be more empathetic when someone is hurt
0:19:16 - Don't neglect your posture and overall health
0:29:24 - Don’t do something just so you can put it in your resume
0:31:55 - Don't keep trying to date a friend and learn how to lose
0:38:18 - Eat a healthier diet
0:46:35 - Don’t over-systemize your life
0:48:56 - More free time doesn’t equal more productivity
0:52:48 - Get out of your comfort zone
0:54:27 - Don’t ask for help until you work on the problem for a while
0:59:40 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 snips
May 21, 2018 • 1h 21min
How to Give a Killer Speech (Ep. 212)
The podcast discusses strategies for effective public speaking, including managing anxiety and remembering speech content. They explore the concepts of second-hand embarrassment and empathy. They also discuss the importance of planning and considering different perspectives when giving a speech. The speakers share personal stories of struggling with anxiety and disappointment in speech class and the impact of traveling on perception. They explore the importance of hardship classes in character development and the benefits of podcasting in improving confidence in public speaking.

May 14, 2018 • 59min
5 Questions: Social Media, Pets, and How to Choose a Foreign Language (Ep. 211)
In this five questions episode, we talk about healthy social media use, balancing pets with a busy life, explaining an unimpressive resume, book formats, and how to choose a foreign language.
Full show notes
This week’s episode is sponsored by:
Skillshare — with over 20,000 courses in a wide range of different skills, Skillshare can help you take things to the next level. Get started with 2 months of unlimited learning for just 99¢ at Skillshare.com/cig.
Things mentioned in this episode:
The College Info Geek Podcast on Facebook
Tom on Instagram
Tom on Twitter
Martin on Instagram
Martin on Twitter
The College Info Geek Community on Reddit
How to Get Into Tea (Ep. 207)
Freedom
The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor
Buffer (iOS | Android)
Flume
FocalFilter
SelfControl
Cold Turkey Blocker
The Kennel Club
PetSmart
Dogtime's Dog Matchup
Purina's Dog Breed Selector
Music Theory 101, by Marc Schonbrun and Brian Boone
Young Guru's profile and courses on Skillshare
How to Write a Great Resume and Cover Letter (Ep. 209)
Weapons of Influence #1: Reciprocation (Ep. 186)
LessWrong
Duolingo (iOS | Android)
LanguagePod101
iTalki (iOS | Android)
Rype
Tom's music channel on YouTube
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:10:12 - Using social media while also not wasting time on it
0:23:39 - How to take care of a pet if you're always busy
0:31:25 - Sponsor: Skillshare (Learning new skills)
0:33:28 - Applying to internships without much job experience
0:39:56 - Audio books, e-books or paper books?
0:46:41 - Learning a language by "dating" it for a while
0:55:16 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also [le
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 7, 2018 • 53min
How to Be Good at Everything — The Rapid Skill Learning Process (Ep. 210)
So many skills, so little time. Sure, we probably can't achieve mastery in all of them, but what if we don't care? We talk about how to learn the basics quickly enough to rekindle your dreams of becoming a renaissance man.
Full show notes
This week’s episode is sponsored by:
Backblaze — unlimited cloud backup for PCs and Macs. Don’t be that person who loses all their files permanently when — not if — your computer’s hard drive fails. Get started with a 15-day, full-featured trial at backblaze.com/CIG.
Things mentioned in this episode:
Tom’s Sunday Study Playlist on Spotify
Tom’s Ultimate Study Playlist on Spotify
Tom’s Ultimate Study Playlist on YouTube
Tom's Work Vibes playlist on Spotify
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland, by Catherynne M. Valente
The Kingkiller Chronicle series, by Patrick Rothfuss
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
The First 20 Hours, by Josh Kaufman
The 4-Hour Chef, by Tim Ferriss
Love-Coloured Master Spark song
Synthesia (iOS | Android)
Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland
Henry Fonda on Wikipedia
h3h3Productions on YouTube
Momentum (iOS)
Habitica (iOS | Android)
Beeminder (iOS | Android)
Yousician (iOS | Android)
Tom's music channel on YouTube
Martin on Instagram
How to Stay Hydrated: Here's Everything You Need to Know
How to Study Effectively with Flash Cards
Rype - Learn a Language in 100 Days
Andrew Huang on YouTube
Andrew Huang on Spotify
Skillshare (iOS | Android)
How to Learn a New Skill Quickly: A 4-Step Process
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:10:33 - Overview of the skill learning process
0:23:47 - Sponsor: Backblaze (Backing up your data)
0:26:12 - Choosing and focusing on something that motivates you
0:27:28 - Figuring out how good you want to be and deconstructing a skill
0:33:07 - Gaining access to the necessary tools and eliminating barriers
0:38:16 - Finding time to practice
0:41:18 - Creating feedback loops
0:44:31 - Practicing in short bursts instead of long periods of time
0:47:31 - The need to practice a lot before mastering a skill
0:49:20 - Additional tips to rapid skill acquisition
0:52:00 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also [leave a review!](http://collegeinfogeek.com/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 30, 2018 • 55min
How to Write a Great Resume and Cover Letter (Ep. 209)
As the school year comes to a close, job season is upon us. We talk about ways to make sure your resume and cover letter are up to par before taking the plunge.
Full show notes
Things mentioned in this episode:
Tom on Instagram
Martin on Instagram
Learning to Learn video with Neil deGrasse Tyson
How to Write a Resume
7 Resume Mistakes You Need to Avoid
How to Write a Cover Letter
Tom’s Resume
Powlyglot
MindSnacks
BuiltWith
StackShare
Resume Tips From a Hiring Director Who Read 10,000 Resumes (Ep. 40)
Slack
McKinsey
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:05:39 - Martin's photography on Instagram
0:16:52 - What to put in a resume and showing interest in a job
0:24:53 - The education section
0:29:38 - The work experience section
0:32:44: - Listing your achievements instead of your duties
0:37:17 - Showcasing your technical skills
0:43:32 - How to make sure your resume isn't ignored
0:47:39 - Writing cover letters
0:54:01 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 snips
Apr 23, 2018 • 54min
Morning Routines (Ep. 208)
Discover the magic of morning routines! The hosts share personal insights on crafting productive habits, from energizing workouts to the role of music in setting the tone for the day. They dive into effective tracking techniques with apps like Habitica and emphasize the balance of relaxation and productivity. Tips on integrating audiobooks into your daily routine and the importance of mindfulness also shine through. Plus, they explore personal fitness journeys and the psychology behind building habits. Start your day right!

Apr 16, 2018 • 56min
How to Get Into Tea (Ep. 207)
Are you a tea drinker? If not, maybe it's time to give the second most popular drink on Earth after water a chance. We talk a bit about tea and how we got into it.
Full show notes
Things mentioned in this episode:
Library of Babel
A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage
Chef’s Table on Netflix
How to ACTUALLY Break Your Bad Habits
The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
Ku Cha House of Tea
Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:03:14 - What qualifies as tea and why get into it
0:26:40 - Differences between types of tea
0:35:26 - Loose leaf vs bagged tea and how to brew them
0:46:41 - Our favorite teas and tea-like drinks
0:53:36 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 9, 2018 • 1h 6min
Moving Out of Your Mom's Basement: How to Live Independently (Ep. 206)
Get your wings ready, because it's time to leave the nest. But what exactly does it take to strike out on your own? We talk about the day-to-day challenges of living independently.
Full show notes
Things mentioned in this episode:
Listen Money Matters
How to Budget Your Money Without Cutting Coffee (Ep. 174)
The Naked Roommate, by Harlan Cohen
How to Buy Your First House, Pt. 1: The Research Process (Ep. 205)
How to Adult on YouTube
The Art of Manliness
12 Rules for Life, by Jordan Peterson
Debt: The First 5,000 Years, by David Graeber
The Dip: How to Know When to Quit (Ep. 202)
Want more cool stuff? You can find all sorts of great tools at my Resources page.
You can also get a free copy of my book, 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less), by staying up to date with the College Info Geek newsletter.
Timestamps:
0:03:29 - Becoming independent from your parents
0:07:06 - Handling all the costs that come with independence
0:14:27 - Choosing to live in a dorm during college
0:18:15 - Prioritizing what you need to buy
0:22:44 - Dealing with house maintenance
0:28:31 - Learning how to live with someone else
0:50:51 - Setting things up in your apartment
0:53:31 - Being aware of things that need to be done
1:00:02 - Developing your comfort zone
1:03:37 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! It's easy, you'll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure :) You can also leave a review!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.