The Inforium

In part four of our series on Robert Cialdini's "Influence," we talk about the link between persuasion and being likable.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini

Weapons of Influence #1: Reciprocation (Ep. 186)

Weapons of Influence #2: Commitment and Consistency (Ep. 189)

Weapons of Influence #3: Social Proof (Ep. 193)

Joe Girard

A Master Class on Buying a Car – Part 1 (Ep. 69)

A Master Class on Buying a Car – Part 2 (Ep. 70)

The Science Behind First Impressions: How The Halo Effect Can Lend You Instant Credibility

Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman

Brilliant

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:

0:05:53 - How we are influenced by people and things we like

0:18:28 - Being associated with something

0:29:51 - Sponsor: Brilliant (Learning problem-solving skills)

0:31:59 - Physical attractiveness and the halo effect

0:40:26 - Similarities, compliments and how some exploit them

0:51:25 - Contact, familiarity and cooperation

1:00:56 - 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!

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When it comes to removing regular tasks from your life, you have four choices: Do, Delegate, Delete, or Automate. We talk a bit about that last one, including things we've automated in our own lives and how to find automation candidates in yours.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Does Drinking Coffee Dehydrate You?

TP-Link Smart Plug

Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit

Etekcity Wireless Remote Light Switch

Evernote (iOS | Android)

Mise en place

Asana (iOS | Android)

Todoist (iOS | Android)

Sikuli Script

Lazy Innovation Chronicles: How I Got Paid to Watch Netflix

xkcd - Is It Worth the Time?

Clipboard Help + Spell

aText

Cooked documentary on Netflix

MissionU

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:

0:00:52 - Thoughts on tea and staying hydrated

0:09:22 - General view of automation

0:17:47 - Automating the studio setup

0:27:06 - Martin's automations for the website

0:29:42 - Sponsor: MissionU (Different approach to higher education)

0:34:50 - Martin's automations for the website (continued)

0:40:41 - How Tom automates his video making process

0:47:27 - Tom's favorite automation story from his internship

0:54:06 - Tips for tasks you might want to automate

1:04:09 - 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.

In part three of our series on Robert Cialdini's "Influence," we talk about why you shouldn't always follow the wisdom of the crowd.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini

Weapons of Influence #1: Reciprocation (Ep. 186)

Weapons of Influence #2: Commitment and Consistency (Ep. 189)

HuffPost - The Jonestown Massacre

Binging with Babish YouTube channel

Do You Even Meditate? (Ep. 188)

Bystander effect

Pluralistic ignorance

Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, by Eliezer Yudkowsky

Listen Money Matters

The Telegraph - Rapper 50 Cent makes $10m after plugging stock on Twitter

The Bad Crypto Podcast

Brilliant

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:

0:01:12 - What is social proof and how does it affect us?

0:08:26 - The two factors that make social proof powerful

0:19:35 - Some practical examples of social proof

0:26:13 - Sponsor: Brilliant (Learning problem-solving skills)

0:28:40 - The story of a flying saucer cult

0:36:11 - Pluralistic ignorance and the bystander effect

0:46:28 - Exploiting people's perspectives through social proof

1:03:36 - 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.

We ring in the new year with a conversation about how to get into the world of cooking, just in time to fuel all of your health-related resolutions.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Fat Sick and Nearly Dead

The Science of Cooking, by Dr. Stuart Farrimond

Dr. Stuart Farrimond's website

Jamie Oliver YouTube channel

Jamie Oliver's Dream School Knife Skills video

The Martian, by Andy Weir

Blue Apron

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain

MyFridgeFood

Supercook

Kitchn - How To Make Fruit Clafoutis

Gordon Ramsay YouTube channel

Alex French Guy Cooking YouTube channel

Wranglerstar YouTube channel

Good Calories, Bad Calories, by Gary Taubes

Essentialism: How to Do More by Doing Less (Ep. 171)

Tramontina 80116/007DS Gourmet Stainless Steel Fry Pan

Cuisinart MCP22-30HCN MultiClad Pro Skillet

EZ Tofu Press

Evernote (iOS | Android)

Olive Garden Copycat Zuppa Toscana

Ukrainian Red Borscht Soup

Mise en place

Gordon Ramsay's Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon Recipe video

Eating Cheaply, Healthily, and Quickly (Ep. 103)

Listen Money Matters

Cheap Meals: Good Food On A Tight Budget

Audible

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:

0:02:05 - Thoughts on juicing and nutrition

0:07:34 - Starting to cook and Martin's vegan experience

0:14:45 - Making the cooking process less boring and more involved

0:21:02 - Beginner strategies to start cooking

0:32:10 - Sponsor: Audible (Listening to audiobooks)

0:35:27 - Examples of knives and how to maintain them

0:41:25 - The different types of pans and how to use them

0:54:22 - Other good tools to have and trying out recipes

1:03:27 - Planning your recipes and keeping everything organized

1:10:32 - Some additional cooking tips

1:17:16 - 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!](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.

Happy New Year, almost! We break from our normal list of topics to talk about what we've been up to in 2017 and how this year has helped us grow.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

How to Set Goals You’ll ACTUALLY Stick To

Real Men Real Style YouTube channel

AlphaM YouTube channel

How to Study Effectively with Flash Cards

8 Better Ways to Make and Study Flash Cards

John Green

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green

Crash Course YouTube channel

John Green's What OCD Is Like video

CaseyNeistat YouTube channel

Listen Money Matters

Crash Course Study Skills playlist

Crash Course World History playlist

The Slow Regard of Silent Things, by Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss

The Great Passage, by Shion Miura

The Code Book, by Simon Singh

Simon Singh

Elon Musk

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, by Ashlee Vance

Ashlee Vance

Jeff Bezos

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon, by Brad Stone

Brad Stone

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain

Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain

Storyblocks

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:

0:03:18 - Tom's progress with music editing

0:06:01 - Martin's road trip and traveling

0:20:09 - Thoughts on time, efficiency and appreciating things

0:25:32 - Moving to Denver and other good things that happened

0:40:43 - Sponsor: StoryBlocks (Graphic design assets)

0:43:54 - Things that Tom and Martin struggled with this year

1:03:31 - Cycling around Central Park and filming Crash Course

1:08:02 - Some of Tom and Martin's favorite books of the year

1:15:05 - 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.

Starting a business can seem daunting, but don't let that keep you from your million-dollar idea. Here's what's behind the scenes of entrepreneurship.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

TurboTax

Ustream

FreshBooks

Xero

Wave Accounting

ScanBot (iOS | Android)

Evernote (iOS | Android)

Evernote Scannable (iOS)

Pat Flynn

Shake (iOS | Android)

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain

Steve Jobs

Lessons from The Personal MBA (Ep. 166)

The Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufman

Josh Kaufman

Every Frame a Painting

Medium - Postmortem: Every Frame a Painting

Project management triangle

Storyblocks

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:

0:03:09 - Tom and Martin's experiences with entrepreneurship

0:10:02 - The different types of businesses

0:25:12 - Managing your income and expenses

0:28:20 - Doing the taxes for your business

0:35:35 - Handling the contracts yourself or hiring a professional

0:39:02 - Sponsor: StoryBlocks (Graphic design assets)

0:42:18 - Viewing a business as a funnel

0:49:00 - Knowing your target audience and commanding respect

0:52:21 - Applying the funnel concept to advertising

0:57:39 - How to get funding for your business

1:02:28 - 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.

In part two of our series on Robert Cialdini's "Influence," we talk about why sticking to your guns isn't always the smartest thing to do.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini

Weapons of Influence #1: Reciprocation (Ep. 186)

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain

Listen Money Matters

Bitcoin subreddit

Mark Manson - Living In The Age of Outrage

Less Wrong - Belief as Attire

Why You Shouldn't Tell People About Your Goals

Rule #1 About Your Goals: You Do Not Talk About Your Goals!

Tom's 25 pages per day challenge

Anchor

StoryBlocks

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:

0:00:55 - Establishing your public image

0:08:12 - The importance of consistency and mental shortcuts

0:11:37 - Defining financial bubbles

0:14:43 - Standing firmly by a choice you previously made

0:35:57 - Sponsor: Anchor (Starting a podcast)

0:40:04 - Sponsor: StoryBlocks (Graphic design assets)

0:42:06 - How businesses use the tripwire strategy

0:47:56 - Being consistent by committing to something publicly

0:50:35 - Having something, or someone, to hold you accountable

1:00:44 - Asking questions that force people to take a stance

1:06:37 - Behaving according to your public image

1:08:17 - 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!

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You've probably heard about meditation, but does it really work? We talk about why simply sitting and breathing might change your life for the better.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius

Kaihōgyō

Zafu Meditation Cushion

Bamboo Meditation Kneeling Bench

Zabuton Meditation Cushions

Thai Fisherman Pants

Alan Watts

The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff

The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss

How to Study Effectively with Flash Cards

8 Better Ways to Make and Study Flash Cards

Real Engineering

Brain.fm

Headspace (iOS | Android)

Asian Efficiency - My Brain's Stronger Than Your Brain

Loving-kindness Meditation

Vipassana Meditation

Lion's Roar - How to Practice Zazen

AsapSCIENCE YouTube channel

AsapSCIENCE's Scientific Power of Meditation video

Ensō (iOS)

Calm (iOS | Android)

Meditation music on Spotify

Storyblocks

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:

0:01:45 - Walking meditation and the definition of meditation

0:08:12 - Why and how Martin meditates

0:14:55 - Being present-minded and not always impatient

0:29:23 - Sacrificing your current happiness for the sake of future-proofing

0:35:24 - Sponsor: StoryBlocks (Graphic design assets)

0:38:28 - The mental processes Tom and Martin go through when meditating

0:46:29 - How your brain reacts to external stimuli

0:52:01 - Examples of different types of meditation

0:54:56 - Scientific studies on the benefits of meditation

0:58:29 - Tips to start meditating 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.

The internet can be a dangerous place, but it doesn't have to be. We talk about how to mitigate risk and stay safe in the digital age.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

How To Not Be Dumb On The Internet (Ep. 3)

Dyson sphere

Freeman Dyson

Quantum cryptography

Brute-force attack

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Random ize - How Long to Hack my Password

Dictionary attack

1Password

LastPass

KeePass

Multi-factor authentication

Universal 2nd Factor

Two Factor Auth

How-To Geek - What's the Best Antivirus for Windows 10?

Malwarebytes

NetworkWorld - How Adblock Plus could work as malware protection

uBlock Origin (Chrome | Firefox | Opera | Edge)

AdBlock (Chrome | Firefox | Opera | Edge)

AdBlock Plus (Chrome | Firefox | Opera | Edge)

Cryptanalysis of the Enigma

Wired

Medium - Getting Hacked As An Internet Creator

boogie2988 YouTube channel

Ghost in the Wires, by Kevin Mitnick

Kevin Mitnick

Catch Me If You Can, by Frank Abagnale

Frank Abagnale

Phishing

Forwards From Grandma subreddit

Hackable? podcast

Traffic analysis

Lifehacker - Why You Should Be Using a VPN (and How to Choose One)

Lifehacker - Five Best VPN Service Providers

Private Internet Access

TunnelBear

Credit Karma

Equifax

Experian

TransUnion

Google Backup and Sync

Dropbox

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:

0:03:59 - Why you should increase your online security

0:13:03 - Defining and creating powerful passwords

0:21:47 - Using two factor authentication (2FA)

0:29:01 - Protecting against viruses, malware and adware

0:37:57 - How people get tricked through social engineering

0:49:50 - Having separate email addresses and securing your phone

0:52:21 - Things to keep in mind when using free wifi

0:56:20 - Monitoring your credit and credit cards

0:58:36 - Making sure all your files are backed up

1:01:01 - 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.

The art of persuasion comes in many forms. We talk about the first of six lessons from Robert Cialdini's "Influence": the rule of reciprocation.

Full show notes

Things mentioned in this episode:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Robert Cialdini

How People Manipulate You: The 6 Principles of Influence

Indo Board Balance Board Original with Roller

Man on Wire (2008), on Rotten Tomatoes

The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield

The War of Art (Ep. 161)

Price Intelligently - Price Anchoring to Optimize Your Pricing Strategy

J.C. Penney

Suitsupply

Room&Board

Debt: The First 5,000 Years, by David Graeber

David Graeber

Alvin Ward Gouldner

Lessons from The Personal MBA (Ep. 166)

Hardcore History podcast

Dan Carlin

MoneyLab's "Email Page"

Jeff Bezos

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:

0:03:55 - What is "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" about?

0:06:48 - The anchoring effect when comparing and contrasting things

0:19:39 - The importance of reciprocity in human society

0:22:58 - Scams, forced donations and other exploits

0:45:05 - How much it can cost you to feel obligated to return a favor

0:48:22 - Example of blackmail (extreme reciprocity) in House of Cards (SPOILERS)

0:50:45 - The three main obligations when it comes to reciprocity

0:55:13 - Whittling down from the most expensive options to cheaper ones

0:59:14 - Sensing the underlying principles of reciprocity

1:02:10 - The emotional impact of "actual" gifts in contrast to money

1:05:38 - 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.