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In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Alicia and her father John Crosby join us to talk about Lewis Smile’s The Memory Palace.
Alicia used Smile’s book to memorize all of Shakespeare’s plays in historical order. She’s now exploring ways to use Memory Palace techniques to memorize other information, such as the Periodic Table of The Elements.
In this interview, you’ll also hear about:
* Why walking, bikes and even motorcycle rides can make a world of difference when it comes to building Memory Palace journeys.
* Why the Memory Palace examples in Smile’s book helped Alicia so much.
* Why Memory Palace journeys never have to be “manually” memorized.
* Why Memory Palaces are essentially a “free resource” just waiting in your mind to be utilized to memorize just about anything.
* The number one thing Alicia likes about using her memory.
* The confidence that having an improved memory can bring – at any age.
* Why memory is a catalyst to developing an interest in topics that young people might not otherwise care about.
* Exactly how using a Memory Palace feels, the absolute joy and creativity of using memory techniques …
* … and much, much more.
Join us for this very special interview on the Magnetic Memory Method podcast and feel free to get in touch if you have an experience with Memory Palaces and memory techniques that you care to share on a future episode.
For more interviews like this, please check out Memory Improvement for Kids.
You may also like to learn about how to remember the planets with a Memory Palace. It’s a simple memory mission for both kids and parents to enjoy.
20 Responses
Dear Anthony
Wow! I love this website! So many interesting things and people!
I am in the process of memorizing another speech for a Toastmaster meeting and once again I am using the memory palace techniques
to help me out. In my case, I like to be able to use the original words which came to me when I wrote the speech, so memorization for me, is a must…if I remember the order of the words in each paragraph, I can focus better on the emotional delivery of my speech: eye-contact, gestures, vocal variety and so on: to truly make a connection with my audience, I need to have the peace of mind that my words will be there! Then I can relax and ‘be me’ when I talk to a Toastmaster audience or to any other audience I am addressing.
Many thanks again for the wonderful tool you have provided me with!
Haydee
Thanks for the post, Haydee!
Yes, being relaxed during a speech is key to creating a deeper connection. It should also be “stressed” that relaxation is important during the memorization process itself. This not only helps the mind generate the needed images in ways that are large, vibrant, colorful and filled with zany action, but also helps overcome the resistances of the conscious mind, which sometimes acts as a barrier to entry. We need merely remember that relaxation opens the doors to both memory and recall and put its powers to work for our benefit.
I’d like to have heard a bit more from Alicia, but I DO understand Proud Papa’s enthusiasm and anxiousness to make as clear as possible how everything came about. The idea of using Minecraft to create Virtual Memory Palaces (MPs) is truly an interesting thought. Why? Well, precisely as Mr. Crosby pointed out: It would allow a Memory Palace Builder to focus on populating their MPs – straight away – rather than first doing so much prep work. So, I’m tempted. At the same time, I’m seeing the Karate Kid scene with Mr. Miyagi: “Wipe on, wipe off” and understanding the reasonableness of that as a means of creating strong foundations (exactly as you pointed out in one of your recent emails). Food for thought throughout! Great interview. Worth every moment!
Onward and Upward, Alicia!
Peace and Love to you all.
Thanks for your thoughts, Deb!
Alicia, John and I have already planned to hold a follow-up interview in approximately a year from now so we can catch up and see how things have developed. I’m really looking forward to speaking with them again.
I’ve also reached out to Lewis Smile to see if he’d like to be a guest on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast. If you’re interested in hearing me speak with him, help me convince him by contacting Smile to let him know.
In the meantime, the Karate Kid is not a bad comparison, but the difference when it comes to the Magnetic Memory Method is that we “Magnetize On … and then Magnetize On again.” And there is no rote learning, only “organically” spaced repetition that relies solely on the creative powers of your mind. Easy-peasy.
While listening to Alicia in this interview I realized that I am missing out on creating my own new memory palaces. I am an avid walker and I have 4 different routes that I walk in my town. I also bike ride a longer route when the weather is cool here in TX. I am now going to make these routes into my new memory palaces. I might even go back and use the route that I walked from my house to my school when I was a young kid.
Great to hear that you’re going to make some Memory Palace routes, Francisco. They will serve you well!
Loved this podcast.
Thanks for your comment, Parvinder. Here’s another episode about Memory Techniques for Kids that features another young guest and her father. I think you’ll like it a lot. The father has even given a TEDTalk on Memory Techniques for kids.
Really enjoyed the interview and can’t believe how articulate and mature Alicia is.
I live in England and would like to know more about the company that went into Alicia’s school to educate them on learning to learn. Are you able to find out more, or put me in contact with John Crosby to learn more?
Keep up the fantastic work – it’s very motivating.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving this comment, Gareth. I’ll shoot John a note about it. Stay tuned! 🙂
Is there anyway to get a transcript? Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by and listening, Bill. I’ll be putting together the transcript for this episode as soon as I can.
In the meantime, transcripts are up for several other podcast interviews, such as Memory Improvement Tips From Dr. Gary Small.
In the meantime, please stay tuned and checkback soon for the transcript on this episode. 🙂
Anthony, this little girl was amazing. I read in the notes that you wanted to reconvene with them the next year. Did that ever happen?
Great interview even though it was a few years ago. I am always being Magnetic. 🙂
Yes, this is definitely going deep into the archives – but so glad you had a chance to check it out.
We haven’t yet caught up for a repeat interview, but your question makes me think that it would be a good time to reach out and see how things have been going and possibly do a reprise.
Thanks for asking about it! 🙂
Anytime Anthony. Wondering if she ever did memorized the periodic table.
Great question, Bill. I’ll have to check in with them for an update. Coming soon to a Magnetic Memory Palace near you! 🙂
Hi Anthony,
Yeah, this story is really sweet from many sides.
Of course it is nice to hear a success story from a young “memory athlete”.
You know, I strongly disagree with the opinion that children can learn better than an adult.
Nevertheless, now I understand many of my struggles, why it goes slower and heavier, when I am, almost always go by car to anywhere, when I have no real free time as earlier, and so on and so on… I didn’t know that I have so many excises not to progress 😀
The different scenes in this report nicely reminded me to many cases from my childhood and what I did and how I did that time.
I remember the time, when I was 10 and jumped on the black squares on our carpet in the living room, and then on the brown ones and how many “stations” I created, while I was memorizing poetry and how I kept this habit during my school time for let say 10-15 years.
No trails, only around and around, stepping to the “stations” that were available, and have the necessary content into my head or actually out to recall it. OMG, there was always a vivid story at each station!!! But I do not remember any structure. What if I knew some of these techniques?
I cannot really list all those things that I take with me from this podcast, but I want to thank for this great reminder, what it means “just do it” and (let!) it happen naturally, that man can remember things.
Many thanks,
KK
Thanks for your great post, Karcsi.
Yes, “let it happen” is a super-important takeaway from this message. We’ve just got to get our ego out of the way most of the times. Lynne Kelly said something similar in our interview about The Memory Code.
If you haven’t heard that one, I highly recommend it and think you’ll find it even more inspiring.
In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to comment and look forward to your next contribution. It’s much appreciated! 🙂
Fascinating episode and I love the joy and enthusiasm of this 10-year-old girl.
She really is interested in so many things, and very interesting.
Thanks for checking this one out, Anthony!
Yes, interest does seem to “pay interest” when we add memory tools to the mix. And the more we know, the more we can know. 🙂