Yes Sayers & No Sayers

This time we explore whether it is better to generally say 'yes' or 'no' in various situations, and how each choice can offer distinct rewards. The conversation is framed by a quote from improvisation expert Keith Johnston, which asserts, 'Yes Sayers are rewarded by adventure and No Sayers are rewarded by safety.' The hosts consider personal anecdotes, the impact of these attitudes on careers, social settings, and mental well-being. They also touch on tools for making these decisions, such as the Eisenhower Matrix and the 'Hell Yes or Hell No' philosophy. The episode emphasizes the value of appreciating one's decisions, whether they lead to adventure or provide comfort and security.Here are links to a bunch of stuff we discuss in case you fancy reading a bit more about them:We reference a number of previous podcast episodes including: The Fun Scale, The Awkwardness Vortex, Finishing Lines, and Microadventures. Jono's sketch "Notice When You're Happy" and on "The Eisenhower Matrix"Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan MadsonDanny Wallace's book Yes ManDerek Sivers - The Hell Yes or Hell No philosophy and a video explaining the concept of The First Follower.Episode Summary00:00 Introduction and Hosts00:28 This Week's Sketch: Yes Sayers and No Sayers01:07 Exploring the Sketch03:45 Personal Reflections on Yes and No05:27 Social Dynamics of Yes and No19:44 Career Perspectives on Yes and No23:43 The Power of Saying No in Business25:01 The Benefits of Saying No25:45 The Adventure of Saying Yes26:34 Balancing Yes and No in Life30:17 Regrets of Not Saying Yes31:54 The Yes Man Experiment by Danny Wallace38:19 Deciding When to Say Yes or No41:55 Final Thoughts on Yes and NoAll music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever found yourself spiralling uncontrollably downwards in the "awkwardness vortex"? 🤔 Tune in to our latest podcast episode where we chat with celebrated science journalist Melissa Dahl about conquering those cringe-worthy moments and how awkwardness might just be a sign of empathy! This sketch is exclusive to the Sketchplanations Book : Big Ideas, Little Pictures - so check that out if you'd like to see this sketch in full (as well as number of other exclusive sketches). Melissa is a science journalist, specialising in Psychology, Health and Lifestyle, and author of the very well received book Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness.The conversation delves into retrospectively amusing personal experiences of social awkwardness, the psychological aspects behind it, and offers insights on how to manage and embrace these uncomfortable moments.  Key tactics include focusing outside oneself, reappraising anxiety as excitement, and appreciating awkwardness as a sign of empathy. Melissa reflects on how researching awkwardness has changed her perspective, highlighting the growth and connection that can come from embracing this very human emotion. Melissa also shares how awkwardness can have a positive side, signalling empathy and social awareness. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that will have you rethinking your relationship with awkwardness.Here are links to a bunch of stuff we discuss in case you fancy reading a bit more about them:Barry Schwarz - Author of The Paradox of Choice : Why Less is More. Examples of the hugely effective End The Awkward campaign from Scope (a disability equality charity in England and Wales). Don’t Fill The Silence podcast episodeFront Stage / Back Stage podcast episodeEpisode Summary00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:51 Exploring the Awkwardness Vortex02:51 Personal Experiences of Awkwardness05:51 The Science Behind Awkwardness08:49 Practical Tips to Overcome Awkwardness22:23 Awkwardness in Media and Comedy25:06 Exploring Empathy and Awkwardness25:41 The Science Behind Secondhand Embarrassment26:30 Empathy Spectrum and Social Interactions29:25 Awkwardness in Media and Society31:33 Cringe Mountain and Overcoming Embarrassment34:37 The Irreconcilable Gap and Self-Perception36:58 The Power of Awkward Silences39:16 Growth Through Awkwardness43:45 Final Thoughts and Upcoming ProjectsAll music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the Zanclean Megaflood, a massive flood event that filled the Mediterranean Sea in a remarkably short period. The episode dives into the geological events and evidence leading up to this flood, challenging the earlier gradualist theories and promoting a catastrophic model.We are joined by Mike Sowden, whose engaging Twitter thread about the Zanclean Megaflood reached over 10 million people. Sowden, a travel writer and science communicator, shares insights on his curiosity-driven approach to science writing and storytelling. They explore other massive geological events, the nature of scientific discovery, and the human stories behind scientific advancements.The episode is filled with fascinating facts, storytelling techniques, and a deep appreciation for the wonders of our planet.If you want to find out more about certain topics that come up, you can try these:Julian May Sci-Fi books.Roland Emmerich disaster films.Previous Al Humphreys and Brendan Leonard podcast episodes.Missoula Floods in the USA.Episode Summary00:00 Introduction and Hosts00:45 Introducing the ZanClean Megaflood01:43 Special Guest: Mike Sowden03:01 Mike Sowden's Journey and Writing Style07:29 The ZanClean Megaflood: Geological Background12:55 The Catastrophic Flood Event17:25 Speculations and Analogies22:33 Doggerland and Other Historical Floods23:43 The Storegga Slide and Doggerland Tsunamis24:45 Dating the Storegga Slide25:06 The Zanclean Megaflood27:23 The Role of Storytelling in Science Communication32:23 The Human Element in Engineering34:30 The Fascination with Scientists' Obsessions40:54 Geological Events and Their Impact45:53 The Process of Science Writing50:42 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAll music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we delve into the complexities of choosing the perfect gift. The discussion is framed around a Venn diagram Sketchplanation that identifies three key factors in gift selection: what the recipient actually likes, what you think they like, and what you think they ought to like. We share personal anecdotes about both successful and less successful gifts we've given and received, emphasising the emotional aspects of gift-giving for both the giver and the recipient. We also touch on practical gift-giving strategies, such as buying from registries, focusing on useful and consumable items, and considering the recipient's values. The episode also addresses the challenges of buying gifts for individuals who have seemingly everything, and the importance of shared experiences in gift giving. And we invite you to share your own gift-giving experiences and tips, aiming to provide food for thought for anyone looking to improve their gift-giving skills.NB. In the podcast we reference how old this sketch is and that it was one of the first Jono did out of a collection that's now nearing 1000. Jono also suggested he might upgrade the sketch, which of course he has which is what you see as the artwork now. He's kept the original however, and you can see it here if you like. 00:00 Introduction to Gift Giving00:52 Welcome to Sketchplanations Podcast02:32 Exploring the Sketch: Picking a Present03:23 The Venn Diagram of Gift Giving06:50 Personal Experiences with Gift Giving16:18 The Art of Giving Useful Gifts20:15 Wedding Registry Dilemmas24:42 The Worst Gifts Ever Given26:15 Go-To Thank You Gifts27:53 The "Olive Oil" Story30:10 The Hunter-Gatherer Instinct in Gift Giving34:18 Challenges of Buying Gifts for Dads38:33 Designing Gifts for Others43:01 The Greatest Gift Ever Given45:10 Reflections on Gift GivingAll music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we delve into the concept of eponyms—words or names derived from people's names or places that capture little slices of history. The discussion starts with general definitions and shares interesting examples like the Jacuzzi, named after the Jacuzzi brothers, and the sandwich named after the fourth Earl of Sandwich. The hosts explore how eponyms often tell compelling stories, sometimes reveal historical facts, and occasionally involve controversies or unintended legacies, such as the 'Pellereau,' a term humorously defined by Lord Sugar. They also touch on the potential pitfalls of eponyms associated with infamous figures, brands becoming generic terms, like 'Hoover' and 'Google,' and the implications of eponyms on intellectual property law. The episode is rich with anecdotes that illustrate the origin and importance of these linguistic phenomena.Apology: In the podcast Rob insists that the word for shadow in French is Silhouette and Jono confirms this. Strictly speaking, the word for shadow is "ombre", but silhouette is sometimes used.Below are links to more information and depth on topics and content we reference in the podcast:The 99% Invisible podcast with Roman MarsThe Don't Say Velcro SongMany more of Jono's sketches under the category of wordsPrevious Eponym podcast episodes include: The Peter Principle; Hanlon's Razor; Goldilocks Tasks; The Shirky Principle; Dunbar's Number; and Goodhart's Law.00:00 Introduction to Eponyms00:57 Meet the Hosts01:56 Exploring Famous Eponyms03:11 The Fun of Sketchplanations11:42 Scientific Eponyms17:31 Controversial and Historical Eponyms23:47 The Origin of Hoover24:58 Matthew McConaughey's Career Shift25:59 The Concept of Genericide28:12 Famous Eponyms: Zipper, Escalator, and More32:11 Boycott and Maverick: Stories Behind the Words35:42 Eponyms in Everyday Language38:19 The Art of Naming and Eponyms in History40:36 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysAll music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you go any further with this episode, check out both:Jono's mindmap travel journal from 7 months traveling in Central America, South East Asia, and South Africa, andEva-Lotta Lamm's sketchnotes from her 14-month world trip.With the help of visual thinking expert Eva-Lotta Lamm, in this episode we discuss how using techniques like sketch-noting and mind-mapping can enrich travel experiences, offer a deeper connection to the moment, and create engaging and memorable journals. Eva-Lotta shares her professional journey from UX designer to visual thinking consultant and provides practical tips for anyone looking to enhance their note-taking and journaling skills, no matter their drawing ability. The discussion covers the concept of improvisation in drawing, the benefits of using a pen instead of pencils to avoid early editing, the freedom of mind mapping compared to linear note-taking, and the guest's personal experiences with sketch noting during her 14-month global odyssey. Further information and links"The Godfather" of Sketch-noting - Mike RohdeMind-mapping guru - Tony BuzanImprovisation coach - Dan KleinExternal links to Eva-Lotta's work and classesYogaNotesEvaLotta.shop Instagram accountPragmatic Sketching MasterclassLittle People BasicsLittle People PairsPodcast Summary00:00 Introduction01:27 Meet Eva-Lotta Lamm02:23 Eva-Lotta's Career Journey05:09 Mind Map Travel Journals06:08 The Art of Visual Note-Taking07:37 The Evolution of Sketch Notes15:16 The Power of Analogies in Sketching21:01 Creating Mind Map Travel Journals27:48 Capturing Emotions in Sketches28:40 Travel Sketching Experiences30:20 The Concept of Aphantasia31:55 Improvisation in Sketching34:58 Analog vs Digital Sketching38:51 The Joy of Travel Journals40:46 Encouraging Visual Thinking44:41 Overcoming the Fear of Drawing52:33 Eva-Lotta's Teaching and Projects54:01 Conclusion and Farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What was the best speech you've ever heard?And how long was it?Are shorter speeches more effective than longer ones? In this episode, Rob Bell, Jono Hey, and Tom Pellereau dive into the concept that short speeches often take more time and effort to prepare. They discuss historical examples like the Gettysburg Address and Winston Churchill's wartime speeches, the importance of simplicity in communication, and even share personal anecdotes about delivering best man speeches and after dinner talks. The episode also touches on the impact of preparation, audience engagement, and the potential role of AI in summarising and organising content. Tune in to explore how less can indeed be more when it comes to effective communication.00:00 Introduction: The Power of Short Speeches00:57 The Concept of Short Speeches01:50 Jono's Inspiration and the Sketch02:40 The Importance of Preparation04:23 Examples of Short Speeches06:10 Personal Experiences with Speeches12:44 The Apprentice Application Process14:52 The Art of Concise Communication19:45 Podcasting vs Traditional Media21:29 Editing Challenges in Media Production22:42 Respecting Listeners' Time23:57 The Emotional Detachment in Editing24:24 Long-Form Media and Political Impact25:09 The Pressure of Impromptu Speeches26:53 Famous Short Speeches32:14 The Art of Simplifying Communication40:55 The Role of AI in Summarising Content42:24 Key Takeaways and ConclusionAll music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we explore the origins of the word 'geek,' its evolution from a negative to a positive term, and discuss why some subjects are more cool than others. We share our own personal geek topics and celebrate how social media and online communities have made it easier to find like-minded people. We argue that passion, knowledge and experience are all critical ingredients within the geek cocktail which may help differentiate between geekiness and professional expertise. Mainly though, this episode highlights the joy of discovering others' geekiness and we encourage our listeners to reflect on their own interests and support others in their passions.Join the conversation and share your own examples of geekiness by emailing [email protected] or by leaving us a voice note here. Don't forget to check out the episode artwork and visit sketchplanations.com for more insightful sketches!We reference the following in the podcast+ Book by Alexandra Robbins: The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth+ Adam Smith - known as the Father of modern economics.+ Jono's sketch on "T-shape" people.+ Sketchplanations The Podcast episodes with James Wong; Part 1 & Part 2+ Subtly referenced by Jono, a song about artisan crafters whose work might be expensive, but it's expensive for a reason. Song: "It costs that much cos it takes me F-ing hours"Timeline of Topics Discussed00:00 Introduction to Sketchplanations Podcast01:14 Exploring the Sketch: Everyone's a Geek About Something04:21 Personal Geekiness and Social Perceptions06:43 The Evolution of the Term 'Geek'12:18 Finding Your Tribe in the Digital Age23:00 Diving into Copywriting23:39 Tom's Passion for Efficiency25:53 The Rise of Spreadsheet Geeks26:36 Professional Specialisation and Geekiness27:54 The Value of Multidisciplinary Teams31:36 Personal vs. Professional Geekiness33:28 The Intersection of Passion and Geekiness35:24 Defining Geekiness42:31 Famous Geeks and Their Impact44:03 Our own takeaways about Geekdom. All music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we discuss the fascinating concept of 'Thoughtless Acts'—simple, everyday innovations people make to adapt to their environment without even thinking about it. From hanging tea bags on mug handles to hanging shirts on a washing machine door, we explore how unnoticed behaviours can inspire better design and usability. We also delve into the origins of the term inspired by the work and book from human factors researcher, Jane Fulton Suri and her work at IDEO. Once again, the team come prepared with buckets full of examples of Thoughtless Acts they've caught themselves doing or have observed in others - unsurprisingly, Tom brings ups dishwashers again! Join the conversation and share your own examples of thoughtless acts by emailing [email protected] or by leaving us a voice note here. Don't forget to check out the episode artwork and visit sketchplanations.com for more insightful sketches!Timeline of Topics Discussed00:00 Introduction to Thoughtless Acts01:53 Defining Thoughtless Acts03:24 Origins of the Concept05:58 Examples of Thoughtless Acts08:20 Degrees of Thoughtlessness11:12 Importance in Design12:40 Personal Hacks and Innovations15:27 Observations in Design21:26 Coffee Mugs and Shopping Trolleys22:19 Observing Daily Interactions24:04 Designing for Better Usability26:14 Everyday Improvisations32:02 Signalling and Subtle Messages33:58 Accidents and Tool Design37:17 Listener Engagement and ConclusionAll music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is jam-packed with personal anecdotes and examples from real life of where we've fallen foul of Hanlon's Razor - wrongly attributing malice to a situation. The most recognisable is possibly in the car when someone cuts you up or pulls out in front of you. We cover a whole heap of other examples including misunderstandings during endurance swimming events, misplaced anger or frustration at home, and accidental mishaps in public places. We explore how acknowledging Hanlon's Razor can help reduce unnecessary stress and improve patience and understanding in everyday life. The episode wraps up with reflections on human nature, individual conditioning, and the importance of giving others the benefit of the doubt. Jono also shares related sketches and humorous laws from Murphy's Law book - where if something can go wrong, it will. You can send examples of your own stories and experiences of Hanlon's Razor in action to [email protected] OR leave us a voice note on the podcast website.We reference the following in the podcast: + Jono's Sketchplanation on Fundamental Attribution Error+ Murphy's Law Book 1 & Murphy's Law Book 2+ Jono's sketch on Narrative Bias+ William of Ockham and Occam's Razor.+ The previous podcast episode on The Peter Principle.Timeline of topics discussed:00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes00:57 Hanlon's Razor Explained05:27 Examples of Hanlon's Razor in Action14:33 Philosophical Discussion on Human Nature22:09 Clearing Up the Confusion About Hanlon's Razor22:32 The Origin and Meaning of Occam's Razor24:27 Misunderstandings and Miscommunications26:10 More Real-Life Examples of Hanlon's Razor33:54 The Importance of Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt38:21 Fun and Thought-Provoking Rules from Murphy's Law Book40:34 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAll music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.