Memory Talk

150 episodes listed below

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A memory champion thinks out loud, one image at a time.

The gist

Memory Talk features Johnny Briones, a self-described memory champion, explaining the mechanics of memory techniques, from memory palaces to a picture for every two-digit number. The feel is casual and think-aloud, closer to watching someone work a problem than sitting through a lecture.

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About Memory Talk

Memory Talk is a technique show with Johnny Briones, who introduces himself as a memory champion and a grandmaster of memory. What sets the tone is how much of his thinking happens out loud. In 'My Though Process For Creating Images For Words', he answers a comment asking for more on random words by going through a list and naming the picture each word becomes, without actually memorizing them. For 'wanting' he mentions an ant, the image he might force under time pressure, before settling on kids sitting on Santa's lap. For 'toys' a heap of toys works, and he adds a snake as a modifying image when the difference between one toy and many matters. It is a small, specific demonstration. The specificity is the point. The memory palace gets the same treatment in 'How To Memorize Ideas'. He admits that competition training has not stopped him from forgetting his own ideas. Then he shows the fix: a pen cooking bacon, placed in his garage, stands in for an idea about a pen that dispenses bacon. The image, he explains, only has to trigger the idea rather than depict it, which helps when a thought is too abstract to picture, like one about black holes and all the math behind it. In 'Memorization Vs. Recalling: Why Recalling Is Important!' he pushes back on headline feats. Memorizing six biographies in a minute is impressive, he allows, but not if recalling them takes an hour. Numbers come up in 'Memory Champion Reacts to Penn Teller's Nail Gun Magic Trick', where he pauses a video to explain how memory techniques could carry the stunt. His own system gives an image to every two-digit pair from 00 to 99, so 57 is Bruce Lee and 95 is Big Bird. He says he has memorized random numbers called out by audiences during speeches. He also steps back from technique. In 'What Is Missing From Memory Techniques?' he asks why people who like the idea never start or keep practicing, and points to how much setup even a simple exercise demands. His answer is tooling: a training site he built that scores exercises automatically, and a personal project of learning to code so he can build more. The delivery is loose and conversational, full of qualifiers and restarts, and that makes the methods feel reachable rather than staged. Sign-offs point to a free beginner program and the training site blitzmemory.com. For anyone curious about what a memory champion actually pictures when handed a word or a number, this is a close look.

Made for: Suits a listener who wants to try memory palaces and image-based memorization and enjoys hearing an experienced competitor reason out loud, false starts included.

What sets it apart: Instead of polished lessons, it shows a competitor's working process as it happens, down to the exact images he would choose for a word or a number. It also argues for practicing recall alongside raw memorization speed.

In their own words

Learn how to improve your memory by learning memory techniques from Johnny Briones who's a Memory Champion, a Grandmaster of Memory, and the best memory expert. All topics relating to memory will also be discussed here. Welcome to Memory Talk! You can start learning memory techniques right away by getting your free memory program: https://memory-projects.com/intro-to-memory-techniques

Why you'd press play

A toy snake marks your plural; Johnny Briones shows how he chooses a memory image.

Press play if you want

  • to hear how a vague word like "wanting" becomes a scene you can picture
  • to compare the image choices you'd make under competition pressure with those you'd make while studying vocabulary
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Memory palacesCreating images for wordsMemorization versus recallTwo-digit number image systemsMemorizing ideasConsistent memory training practice

Talks about

Best episodes of Memory Talk

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

My Though Process For Creating Images For WordsJan 5, 2022

Johnny Briones shows how vivid, deliberate images can help random words find their way back into memory.

Memory Talk frames random-word recall as a problem of making images quickly and clearly. Johnny Briones, presented as a Memory Champion, explains how a vivid mental picture can point back to the word it represents.

Memory Champion Reacts to Penn Teller's Nail Gun Magic TrickAug 14, 2021

A dangerous-looking trick becomes a lesson in turning nail patterns into images.

Johnny Briones looks at Penn & Teller's Nailgun Magic Trick through the lens of memory technique, treating the setup less as stage danger than as a sequence problem.

Podcasts like Memory Talk

Episodes

  1. 1

    Why You Need To Keep Track Of Your Memory Palaces

    ·4m
  2. 2

    Get The Record In Echopic Event And Win A CASH Prize!

    ·6m
  3. 3

    Memorize The 48 Laws of Power | Memory Challenge #1

    ·5m
  4. 4

    The Only Thing You NEED To Do To Really Learn...

    ·9m
  5. 5

    Memory Challenges Are BACK!

    ·7m
  6. 6

    How To Easily Memorize Cryptocurrency Wallet Seed Phrase

    ·6m
  7. 7

    Quick 5 Minute Names Workout | Memory Workouts #1

    ·3m
  8. 8

    Memorization Vs. Recalling: Why Recalling Is Important!

    ·9m
  9. 9

    Don't Skip Subject Levels

    ·7m
  10. 10

    How To Memorize Foreign Phrases/Sentences

    ·6m
  11. 11

    When Do You Connect Memory Palaces?

    ·8m
  12. 12

    Achieving New Year's Resolutions With Memory Techniques

    ·10m
  13. 13

    Creating Part of A Memory System | Memory Mistakes #38

    ·3m
  14. 14

    A Bed Eating A Zombie | Story Time #33

    ·4m
  15. 15

    Do You Need A 3 Digit Number System?

    ·7m
  16. 16

    Read Books To Improve Memory | Memory Training Tips #34

    ·4m
  17. 17

    How To Make Stronger Locations In Your Memory Palaces

    ·3m
  18. 18

    Just Pick An Event To Start | Memory Competitions #33

    ·4m
  19. 19

    How To Memorize A Book

    ·4m
  20. 20

    Not Knowing When To Stop | Memory Mistakes #37

    ·5m
  21. 21

    Cyclops and Coal Kids With Toys | Story Time #32

    ·6m
  22. 22

    Memory Palaces Aren't Always Effective or Efficient When Learning

    ·6m
  23. 23

    Stop Learning But Apply Material | Memory Training Tips #33

    ·6m
  24. 24

    My Memory Palaces: Explaining How To Use/Set Them Up

    ·10m
  25. 25

    Feel The Images Instead Of Seeing | Memory Competitions #32

    ·4m
  26. 26

    Taking Long Breaks | Memory Mistakes #36

    ·6m
  27. 27

    Talking Toilet And A Marble T-Rex | Story Time #31

    ·8m
  28. 28

    Find Activities That Workout Your Mind

    ·5m
  29. 29

    Combine Learning Styles | Memory Training Tips #32

    ·5m
  30. 30

    Take Notes When You Practice Memory Techniques

    ·6m
  31. 31

    Break In A Memory System | Memory Competitions #31

    ·7m
  32. 32

    How To Memorize Sports Play Diagrams

    ·6m
  33. 33

    Slacking Off On Easy Material | Memory Mistakes #35

    ·4m
  34. 34

    Superman With Bunny Ears And Feet Wings | Story Time #30

    ·7m
  35. 35

    How To Practice Memory Techniques: Try X Images Per Location

    ·6m
  36. 36

    How To Test Your Stories/Images | Memory Training Tips #31

    ·4m
  37. 37

    My Though Process For Creating Images For Words

    Hidden gem

    Johnny Briones uses snakes to distinguish “grapes” from “grape” in a visual memory system.

    ·23m·1 clip
  38. 38

    Have Universal Memory Palaces | Memory Competitions #30

    ·4m
  39. 39

    How To Memorize A Diagram With A Memory Palace

    ·6m
  40. 40

    Only Using Memorization | Memory Mistakes #34

    ·6m
  41. 41

    Yogurt In Your Toilet | Story Time #29

    ·4m
  42. 42

    Find Your Learning Style

    ·5m
  43. 43

    Break Locations Into Smaller Locations | Memory Training Tips #30

    ·4m
  44. 44

    Memorizing Simple Information Makes A Difference

    ·3m
  45. 45

    Empty Competition Memory Palaces | Memory Competitions #29

    ·3m
  46. 46

    How To Memorize Ideas

    ·6m
  47. 47

    Using Part of A Memory System | Memory Mistakes #33

    ·4m
  48. 48

    Vampire Pen With Abs | Story Time #28

    ·6m
  49. 49

    How To Use Anki To Review/Learn Information

    ·5m
  50. 50

    Might Have To Relearn Info Twice | Memory Training Tips #29

    ·4m
  51. 51

    Mind Maps Don't Help You Learn Faster or Memorize Faster

    ·5m
  52. 52

    Train For The Worse Conditions | Memory Competitions #28

    ·5m
  53. 53

    Not Using Number System | Memory Mistakes #32

    ·5m
  54. 54

    3 Sweet Short Stories! | Story Time #27

    ·7m
  55. 55

    Changes To Memory Talk Podcast

    ·4m
  56. 56

    Do Speed Recalls | Memory Training Tips #28

    ·3m
  57. 57

    How Preparation Helps You Learn Faster

    ·3m
  58. 58

    Switch Between Time/Amount Based Training | Memory Competitions #27

    ·3m
  59. 59

    How To Memorize Biographies (Info About People)

    ·5m
  60. 60

    Stopping/Going When Learning | Memory Mistakes #31

    ·3m
  61. 61

    Cookie Monster Eating Oscar The Grouch | Story Time #26

    ·4m
  62. 62

    How Fast Can You Memorize Information?

    ·4m
  63. 63

    Figure It Out Along The Way | Memory Training Tips #27

    ·3m
  64. 64

    The Most Powerful Sense and How To Use It With Memory Techniques

    ·5m
  65. 65

    Study Competitors/Competitions | Memory Competitions #26

    ·4m
  66. 66

    How To Memorize The Alphabet (Just go with it haha)

    ·3m
  67. 67

    Being Scared To Use Memory Techniques | Memory Mistakes #30

    ·3m
  68. 68

    Tossing Rings At An Old Tree | Story Time #25

    ·4m
  69. 69

    Can You Use Memory Techniques if You Can't Visualize?

    ·5m
  70. 70

    Practice With Mock Info | Memory Training Tips #26

    ·3m
  71. 71

    The Power of Categories and Sub-categories

    ·4m
  72. 72

    Train With Memory Training Software | Memory Competitions #25

    ·3m
  73. 73

    How To Memorize Names Instantly Without Memory Techniques

    ·3m
  74. 74

    Learning Too Much Too Fast | Memory Mistakes #29

    ·3m
  75. 75

    Will Smith Riding A Bear | Story Time #24

    ·4m
  76. 76

    Write Out Images To Help With Memory Techniques

    ·4m
  77. 77

    Fixing Skipped Locations | Memory Training Tips #25

    ·4m
  78. 78

    What Happens If You Don't Use Memory Techniques?

    ·4m
  79. 79

    Skip Specific Names/Words Memory Competitions 24

    ·3m
  80. 80

    How To Memorize Memory Systems (Number System, Alphabet System, Symbol System)

    ·6m
  81. 81

    Random Associations With Story Method | Memory Mistakes #28

    ·4m
  82. 82

    Someone Eating Out Of The Toilet! | Story Time #23

    ·3m
  83. 83

    Pay Attention To Memorization Structure

    ·3m
  84. 84

    Be Excited Or Don't Learn It | Memory Training Tips #24

    ·4m
  85. 85

    How To Create A Memory Palace (Journey Method, Method of Loci, Roman Palace)

    ·5m
  86. 86

    Build Mental Endurance | Memory Competitions #23

    ·4m
  87. 87

    How To Memorize Animal Tracks

    ·3m
  88. 88

    Waiting To Finish Everything | Memory Mistakes #27

    ·3m
  89. 89

    A Log Having Diarrhea | Story Time #22

    ·4m
  90. 90

    What Is Slow Memorization?

    ·4m
  91. 91

    Different Info Requires Different Quizzing | Memory Training Tips #23

    ·4m
  92. 92

    Best Tip To Increase Concentration and Focus

    ·3m
  93. 93

    Have A Timer/Stopwatch | Memory Competitions #22

    ·3m
  94. 94

    How To Memorize Menus

    ·3m
  95. 95

    Not Practicing Memory Techniques | Memory Mistakes #26

    ·3m
  96. 96

    What Is Missing From Memory Techniques?

    ·11m
  97. 97

    Memory Champion Reacts to Penn Teller's Nail Gun Magic Trick

    Hidden gem

    Johnny Briones turns Penn & Teller's nail clip into binary, with "001001" becoming Darth Vader and "111011" becoming Kirby.

    ·21m·1 clip
  98. 98

    How To Memorize 1,000,000 Digits of Pi

    Johnny Briones teaches how to memorize a million digits of pi using a PAO (Person-Action-Object) number system.

    ·9m
  99. 99

    How To Memorize Equations

    Johnny Briones teaches how to memorize equations using imagery and symbol systems.

    ·7m
  100. 100

    How To Memorize On The Fly

    Johnny Briones teaches how to memorize information on the fly using memory systems and memory palaces.

    ·4m
  101. 101

    What Is Missing From Memory Techniques?

    Memory champion Johnny Briones discusses why people struggle to adopt memory techniques and introduces his approach to memory training.

    Jan 7, 2022·11m
  102. 102

    My Though Process For Creating Images For Words

    Hidden gem

    Memory champion Johnny Briones explains how to create images to memorize random words, using a listener's request as a teaching example.

    Jan 5, 2022·23m·1 clip
  103. 103

    Get The Record In Echopic Event And Win A CASH Prize!

    Jan 4, 2022·6m
  104. 104

    The Only Thing You NEED To Do To Really Learn...

    Jan 3, 2022·9m
  105. 105

    Memorize The 48 Laws of Power | Memory Challenge #1

    Jan 3, 2022·5m
  106. 106

    Memory Challenges Are BACK!

    Jan 1, 2022·7m
  107. 107

    How To Easily Memorize Cryptocurrency Wallet Seed Phrase

    Sep 26, 2021·6m
  108. 108

    Quick 5 Minute Names Workout | Memory Workouts #1

    Aug 30, 2021·3m
  109. 109

    Memorization Vs. Recalling: Why Recalling Is Important!

    Johnny Briones explains the importance of recall as a separate skill from memorization in memory improvement.

    Aug 15, 2021·9m
  110. 110

    Memory Champion Reacts to Penn Teller's Nail Gun Magic Trick

    Hidden gem

    A memory champion explains how to use memory techniques to perform Penn & Teller's nailgun magic trick.

    Aug 14, 2021·21m·1 clip
  111. 111

    Don't Skip Subject Levels

    Jun 17, 2020·7m
  112. 112

    How To Memorize Foreign Phrases/Sentences

    Jun 4, 2020·6m
  113. 113

    When Do You Connect Memory Palaces?

    Apr 4, 2020·8m
  114. 114

    Achieving New Year's Resolutions With Memory Techniques

    Jan 7, 2020·10m
  115. 115

    How To Memorize On The Fly

    Dec 31, 2019·4m
  116. 116

    Creating Part of A Memory System | Memory Mistakes #38

    Dec 30, 2019·3m
  117. 117

    A Bed Eating A Zombie | Story Time #33

    Dec 29, 2019·4m
  118. 118

    Do You Need A 3 Digit Number System?

    Dec 28, 2019·7m
  119. 119

    How To Make Stronger Locations In Your Memory Palaces

    Dec 27, 2019·3m
  120. 120

    Read Books To Improve Memory | Memory Training Tips #34

    Dec 27, 2019·4m
  121. 121

    Just Pick An Event To Start | Memory Competitions #33

    Dec 25, 2019·4m
  122. 122

    How To Memorize A Book

    Dec 25, 2019·4m
  123. 123

    Not Knowing When To Stop | Memory Mistakes #37

    Dec 24, 2019·5m
  124. 124

    Cyclops and Coal Kids With Toys | Story Time #32

    Dec 22, 2019·6m
  125. 125

    Memory Palaces Aren't Always Effective or Efficient When Learning

    Dec 21, 2019·6m
  126. 126

    My Memory Palaces: Explaining How To Use/Set Them Up

    Dec 20, 2019·10m
  127. 127

    Stop Learning But Apply Material | Memory Training Tips #33

    Dec 20, 2019·6m
  128. 128

    Feel The Images Instead Of Seeing | Memory Competitions #32

    Dec 18, 2019·4m
  129. 129

    How To Memorize Equations

    Dec 17, 2019·7m
  130. 130

    Talking Toilet And A Marble T-Rex | Story Time #31

    Dec 16, 2019·8m
  131. 131

    Taking Long Breaks | Memory Mistakes #36

    Dec 16, 2019·6m
  132. 132

    Find Activities That Workout Your Mind

    Dec 15, 2019·5m
  133. 133

    Take Notes When You Practice Memory Techniques

    Dec 13, 2019·6m
  134. 134

    Combine Learning Styles | Memory Training Tips #32

    Dec 13, 2019·5m
  135. 135

    Break In A Memory System | Memory Competitions #31

    Dec 12, 2019·7m
  136. 136

    How To Memorize Sports Play Diagrams

    Dec 10, 2019·6m
  137. 137

    Slacking Off On Easy Material | Memory Mistakes #35

    Dec 9, 2019·4m
  138. 138

    Superman With Bunny Ears And Feet Wings | Story Time #30

    Dec 9, 2019·7m
  139. 139

    How To Practice Memory Techniques: Try X Images Per Location

    Dec 8, 2019·6m
  140. 140

    How To Test Your Stories/Images | Memory Training Tips #31

    Dec 7, 2019·4m
  141. 141

    Why You Need To Keep Track Of Your Memory Palaces

    Dec 6, 2019·4m
  142. 142

    Have Universal Memory Palaces | Memory Competitions #30

    Dec 4, 2019·4m
  143. 143

    Only Using Memorization | Memory Mistakes #34

    Dec 3, 2019·6m
  144. 144

    How To Memorize A Diagram With A Memory Palace

    Dec 3, 2019·6m
  145. 145

    Yogurt In Your Toilet | Story Time #29

    Dec 2, 2019·4m
  146. 146

    Find Your Learning Style

    Dec 1, 2019·5m
  147. 147

    Break Locations Into Smaller Locations | Memory Training Tips #30

    Nov 30, 2019·4m
  148. 148

    Memorizing Simple Information Makes A Difference

    Nov 28, 2019·3m
  149. 149

    Empty Competition Memory Palaces | Memory Competitions #29

    Nov 27, 2019·3m
  150. 150

    How To Memorize Ideas

    Johnny Briones teaches a simple method to memorize ideas using a memory palace and image association.

    Nov 26, 2019·6m