Often times we judge our process and decisions by to the quality of the outcome. The research calls this outcome bias and the poker world calls it resulting. No matter what you call it, this can lead to a number of traps that hurt the learning process. The good news: once we understand how it works we can find ways to avoid resulting and become better learners.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links
Outcome Bias Study
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
Casey Yontz’s Twitter
Alex Belser’s Website
Trevor Ragan

If we want to make a lasting change we need to understand how to build our underlying habits. In this episode we call upon one of the world’s leading researchers on habits, Wendy Wood, to show us how to do that.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood
Wendy’s Twitter
Alex Belser’s Website
Trevor Ragan

Trevor and Alex are back for season 2! Each week we dig into useful tools that can help you and your people become better learners.

All groups are not created equally. Some over achieve, others under achieve, but why is that? What's the cause of that? A Harvard researcher, a bestselling author, and a tech company all asked that same question and discovered the same answer: psychological safety.

Full Show Notes

Featuring:
Daniel Coyle: NY Times Bestselling Author
Amy Edmondson: Harvard Business School Professor
Eric Ragan: Grinnell College Women's Volleyball head coach
Nora Hill: Grinnell College Women's Volleyball co-captain

Quick links:
Project Aristotle
The Culture Code
The Fearless Organization
Amy Edmondson's TEDx Talk
Grinnell College Women's Volleyball

What can a college football program, a six year old, an auditing company, a HS basketball player, and Uber driving educator teach us about learning? They show us that the only way we can grow is if we're willing to step out of our comfort zone and struggle a bit.

Featuring:
The one and only, Seth Godin

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
Skateboarding Video
Yale Comfort Zone Research
Alex's Videos
Learning Like a Jungle Tiger TEDx

Sleep is one of the most important, yet underrated components of the learning process. We brought in Dr. Marcos Frank - neuroscientist from Washington State University - to explain his research and show how sleep affects neuroplasticity and our capacity to grow.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
Dr. Marcos Frank
The Cat Study
The Rat Study
Sleep and Motor Skills Study
Dr. Matthew Walker
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker interview

Understanding some simple principles of behavioral economics can help us make better decisions in the short run to achieve our long term goals. This can help us take and sustain action on any learning pursuit.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Payoff by Dan Ariely
Alex's Behavioral Econ Videos
TrainUgly.com

Limiting beliefs get in the way of learning. We can all work to overcome these by building a true growth mindset (the belief that we can grow our skills). The most effective way to build a growth mindset is to dig into the research of neuroplasticity and really work to understand how our brain learns.

Featuring:
Dr. Michael Merzenich Neuroscientist at The University of California, San Francisco. Known as “The father of brain plasticity”

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
Soft-wired by Michael Merzenich
How to Build a Growth Mindset (video)
The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
London Cab Driver Study

When the performance matters we're going to feel some pressure, nerves, and stress. Whether it's a big presentation, a test, or even a date - most people think the most effective way to prepare for these situations is to try and calm down. In this episode, we dig into research that shows why this is a poor approach and the look at how we can do better. We learn how Ceci Clark, Mental Performance Coach for the Cleveland Indians, helps major leaguers perform better under pressure. We also bring in Jeremy Jamieson, Director of University of Rochester's Social Stress Lab, to help explain the science behind stress and how changing our perception of it can lead to better performance.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links:
GRE Study
Reappraisal Research by Allison Wood Brooks
Jeremy Jamieson - Director of the Social Stress Lab: University of Rochester
Ceci Clark - Mental Performance Coach: Cleveland Indians
TrainUgly.com
Question hotline: 805-635-8459

Action is the most important step of the learning process. It can also be one of the most difficult.

In order to grow we have to take and sustain action - today we unpack two frameworks that will help provide the fuel.

Full Show Notes

Quick Links
Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull
The Culture Code by Dan Coyle
WorkLife Podcast by Adam Grant