How To Remember Everything From Podcasts

Do you think you learn anything just by listening?

Passively listening is not enough. Our goal is to remember and make use of the newly acquired information. In this case, we should take a better, more practical approach to make the knowledge stick.

Here are the tips & tools I use to remember everything from podcasts —

Tool #1: Make Highlights

The amazing app I use — Airr

When coming back to a podcast, instead of listening to the whole piece once again, you can check the highlights you took. If pausing the podcast, and writing down the timeline and highlights sounds daunting, I got a solution for you.

Use the Airr app when listening to podcasts.

When you come across an interesting moment you want to save, press the “quote” button. This will save the last 45 seconds of the conversation.

Both the 45-second audio & transcript is now safely stored in form of a note.

Tip #2: Find The Right Time

Don’t work and listen to podcasts at the same time.

It is impossible to both focus on your work & pay attention to the audio conversations. You should find the time to listen to podcasts. Combine both listening and doing other activities when it is not mentally exhausting. In this way, you can be both productive and focused.

I listen to podcasts while I’m cooking, cleaning, taking a walk or working out. It is a perfect balance I can maintain.

Tool #3: Store Your Notes & Reread

Another great app I use — Readwise

There is a very high chance you will never return to the notes and highlights you saved. I know for a fact that in order to remember something, you have to repeat & rethink the information. To be honest with you, I never do that. I’m too lazy.

Instead, I use Readwise to sync all my Airr transcript notes & highlights.

Every morning I get an email with 5 random transcripts with tools & insights.

Tip #4: Replay

Don’t just skip.

I often times stop paying attention to the conversation because of my short attention span. When listening to more complicated podcasts regarding science, psychology or ai, I have to take my time and analyze better what was said.

It’s not worth skipping parts like that because you won’t understand anything till the end of a passage.

Tip #5: Follow the Podcast Guest & Host

Repetition is the mother of skill.

Once you finished a podcast that you found super insightful and you liked how the conversation went, go to the social media apps you are using and follow the guest or podcast host. They will post more of their new and older stuff.

Constantly seeing their shared content will help you learn more and make the knowledge stick.

I hope these tips will help you remember and learn more from podcasts!

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Thanks for reading :)