Do you like using interesting words in your conversations? We do. And there's one that's a tip top favourite...

You're guaranteed* to learn loads of interesting words from this episode.

Special guest Grant Snider - author, illustrator, poet (and orthodontist) talks about the illustration of interesting words, particularly obscure, outdated or esoteric ones. We kick off with a word both Jono and Grant have illustrated: 'apricity,' which means the warmth of the sun in winter and is a big favourite of ours - now that we know it. Grant shares his fascination with words and his 'Words of Wonder' series, where he illustrates intriguing words from his readings. We touch on the emotional connection words can create through compelling illustrations and delve into the creative processes behind these illustrations as well as the influence of childhood comics like Calvin and Hobbes.

Links for further investigation

• Apricity sketches: Jono's Sketchplanation & Grant's Words of Wonder
• Some other of Jono's word-related Sketchplanations we reference are: Snerdle & Greeble
• Previous podcast episodes we bring up include: Schadenfreude and we also talk about Apophenia in the episode on Crossmodal Perception
• Susie Dent's Word of the Day thread on X.
• Jono mentions the fun he had reading Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth
• Grant's latest book Thinking About Thinking is available now.

Episode Summary

00:00 Introduction and Grant Snider's Background

02:18 Exploring the Word 'Apricity'

04:34 Grant's Words of Wonder Series

07:24 The Joy of Learning New Words

11:24 Favourite Words and Their Illustrations

20:28 Exploring Obscure Words and Their Origins

21:16 The Fascinating Concept of 'Greeble'

22:50 The Joy of Discovering New Words

23:52 Sketching Words and Their Meanings

28:22 The Beauty of Children's Language Development

30:35 Grant's New Book: Thinking About Thinking

33:46 The Influence of Calvin and Hobbes

37:04 Grant's Unique Use of Colour in Comics

39:26 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

*We make no actual guarantees.

All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we return from our summer break we discuss various ways to instantly feel better - timely perhaps for the Big Back to Work / School / Normality of September. We explore eight emotions—anger, burnout, overthinking, anxiety, stress, sadness, impatience, and laziness—and suggest instant proactive remedies to each. We highly encourage you to try these out whenever you're feeling any of the emotions discussed. Let us know if they work.

Here are links to a few items we refer to in the chat:

• We reference a couple of previous podcast episodes: The Awkwardness Vortex, 5 Ways to Wellbeing
• In reference to when you're feeling anxious you can try Box Breathing.
• If all else fails, with any of these emotions you can instantly make yourself feel better by Walking in Nature.
• Gorefest: The Dutch (not Belgian as wrongly I said in the podcast) Death Metal band from the 90s who to the casual listener, their singing might sound like screaming.
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. in reference to writing your "morning pages".

Episode Summary

00:00 Welcome Back to Sketchplanations

00:53 Instant Ways to Feel Better

03:16 The Power of Singing to Dispel Anger

08:19 Walking Off Burnout

11:46 Writing to Stop Overthinking

16:20 Breathing Techniques for Anxiety

20:49 The Power of Exercise for Stress Relief

25:22 Gratitude as a Remedy for Sadness

28:18 Reflecting on Progress to Combat Impatience

30:56 Cold Showers to Overcome Laziness

33:50 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here on the podcast, we love our exercise and we love our sleep so in this summer break, check-in mini-episode, we discuss the interconnectedness of exercise and sleep, citing Novak Djokovic's book 'Serve to Win' as an influential source. While Tom shares his typical experience of staying active during holidays, Robbie bemoans the challenges of getting good sleep with young children, and Jono explores how his smart watch monitors his sleep and activity levels. In keeping with the holiday theme we also share tips for keeping kids entertained on long road trips.

We'll be back with regular episodes in August.

Until then, Go well, stay well and vacay well.

In this mini-episode, we reference a previous podcast episode:

• Sharpen The Saw previous podcast episode

Episode Summary

00:00 Introduction and Summer Break Announcement

00:35 The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise and Sleep

01:39 Personal Experiences with Exercise and Sleep

03:53 The Importance of Sleep on general wellbeing

09:12 Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Trips

11:23 Conclusion and Farewell

All music on the podcast series is provided by the hugely talented Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Madson
• Danny Wallace's book Yes Man
• Derek Sivers - The Hell Yes or Hell No philosophy and a video explaining the concept of The First Follower.

Episode Summary

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:28 This Week's Sketch: Yes Sayers and No Sayers

01:07 Exploring the Sketch

03:45 Personal Reflections on Yes and No

05:27 Social Dynamics of Yes and No

19:44 Career Perspectives on Yes and No

23:43 The Power of Saying No in Business

25:01 The Benefits of Saying No

25:45 The Adventure of Saying Yes

26:34 Balancing Yes and No in Life

30:17 Regrets of Not Saying Yes

31:54 The Yes Man Experiment by Danny Wallace

38:19 Deciding When to Say Yes or No

41:55 Final Thoughts on Yes and No

All 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 episode
• Front Stage / Back Stage podcast episode

Episode Summary

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:51 Exploring the Awkwardness Vortex

02:51 Personal Experiences of Awkwardness

05:51 The Science Behind Awkwardness

08:49 Practical Tips to Overcome Awkwardness

22:23 Awkwardness in Media and Comedy

25:06 Exploring Empathy and Awkwardness

25:41 The Science Behind Secondhand Embarrassment

26:30 Empathy Spectrum and Social Interactions

29:25 Awkwardness in Media and Society

31:33 Cringe Mountain and Overcoming Embarrassment

34:37 The Irreconcilable Gap and Self-Perception

36:58 The Power of Awkward Silences

39:16 Growth Through Awkwardness

43:45 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

All 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 Summary

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:45 Introducing the ZanClean Megaflood

01:43 Special Guest: Mike Sowden

03:01 Mike Sowden's Journey and Writing Style

07:29 The ZanClean Megaflood: Geological Background

12:55 The Catastrophic Flood Event

17:25 Speculations and Analogies

22:33 Doggerland and Other Historical Floods

23:43 The Storegga Slide and Doggerland Tsunamis

24:45 Dating the Storegga Slide

25:06 The Zanclean Megaflood

27:23 The Role of Storytelling in Science Communication

32:23 The Human Element in Engineering

34:30 The Fascination with Scientists' Obsessions

40:54 Geological Events and Their Impact

45:53 The Process of Science Writing

50:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

All 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 Giving

00:52 Welcome to Sketchplanations Podcast

02:32 Exploring the Sketch: Picking a Present

03:23 The Venn Diagram of Gift Giving

06:50 Personal Experiences with Gift Giving

16:18 The Art of Giving Useful Gifts

20:15 Wedding Registry Dilemmas

24:42 The Worst Gifts Ever Given

26:15 Go-To Thank You Gifts

27:53 The "Olive Oil" Story

30:10 The Hunter-Gatherer Instinct in Gift Giving

34:18 Challenges of Buying Gifts for Dads

38:33 Designing Gifts for Others

43:01 The Greatest Gift Ever Given

45:10 Reflections on Gift Giving

All 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 Mars
• The Don't Say Velcro Song
• Many more of Jono's sketches under the category of words
• Previous 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 Eponyms

00:57 Meet the Hosts

01:56 Exploring Famous Eponyms

03:11 The Fun of Sketchplanations

11:42 Scientific Eponyms

17:31 Controversial and Historical Eponyms

23:47 The Origin of Hoover

24:58 Matthew McConaughey's Career Shift

25:59 The Concept of Genericide

28:12 Famous Eponyms: Zipper, Escalator, and More

32:11 Boycott and Maverick: Stories Behind the Words

35:42 Eponyms in Everyday Language

38:19 The Art of Naming and Eponyms in History

40:36 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

All music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.