Misconceptions about memory are abundant, so Jessica Wynn is here to let us know which ones we're better off forgetting on this latest Skeptical Sunday!

• Our memories are more complex than just being videos that we can simply file away and retrieve at will.
• There are three main processes that characterize how memory works: encoding, storage, and recall.
• Forgetting is a feature, not a bug.
• Some memories are more easily recalled than others, and our memories can be manipulated by a variety of factors.
• While hotly debated, the concept of "repressed memories" doesn't seem to have the science to back it.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
• Connect with Jessica Wynn.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1004

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Your creepy brother-in-law hit on your mom and 13-year-old sis at your wedding and now targets you, but your husband ignores it. Welcome to Feedback Friday!

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!

• Every time Jordan goes to the barber, he comes home with another story. Here's the latest.
• It was the reddest of flags when the creepy brother-in-law-to-be hit on your mother and 13-year-old sister at your wedding. In the six years since, he's been making inappropriate advances toward you, but his brother — your husband — chooses to ignore this. How can you protect yourself and your children from this shadow-lurking predator if your husband won't?
• Even when you try your best to exude warmth and empathy, you've been told your tone can come off as condescending — not ideal for your job as a hostage negotiator, and not entirely appreciated by your long-enduring wife. How can you enhance your self-awareness to adjust this tone to a more socially appropriate level?
• Your sister and her family are obsessed with decreasing their carbon footprint to the point where your nephew has developed eco-anxiety. You want to attend a music festival that requires flying, but you're worried about the tension it might cause with your sister — who will definitely guilt you about choosing your own entertainment over her children's future. What should you do?
• While shopping with your family, you witnessed a father verbally and physically threatening his young son in public. As a mandated reporter through your job as an educator and someone who cares about children, you're struggling with the powerless you felt in the moment and wondering if you should have intervened or reported the incident. [Thanks to clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Margolis for helping us with this one!]
• After being laid off from your job of 18 years, you applied for two positions within the company. You were far along in the process with one and ended up getting an offer, but you also interviewed for the other and made a valuable professional connection. What unexpected opportunities might arise from exploring both paths?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at

Forget what you thought you knew about memory! Why We Remember author Charan Ranganath joins us to share surprising insights into how we recall the past.

• Memories are not literal recordings of the past, but are constructed in the moment based on bits and pieces of information. We often forget most details, and what we do remember can be distorted by our current context, beliefs, and the act of retelling memories.
• Emotion and attention play a key role in memory formation. Emotionally charged events tend to be remembered more vividly because chemicals like norepinephrine promote neural plasticity. Distinctive, attention-grabbing elements of an experience are more likely to be encoded into long-term memory.
• Memories can be unreliable in group settings due to interference between different people's recollections and the influence of dominant personalities. Eyewitness testimony is often flawed because of how malleable and suggestible human memory is.
• The sense that time is passing slowly or quickly is tied to the distinctiveness of our episodic memories. Repetitive, non-distinctive experiences (like pandemic lockdowns) can make days feel long but weeks pass in a blur due to a lack of memorable event boundaries.
• To improve your everyday memory, try to be mindful and limit distractions in the moment. You can deliberately create memory cues by vividly imagining a visual reminder that will help you recall information later. Diversifying your experiences and learning new things also helps keep your mind sharp and allows you to make creative connections. With some practice, you can harness your episodic memory to enrich your life.
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1002

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

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Haiti Policy House founder Wolf Pamphile is here to explain why, despite the country's ongoing crises, he remains optimistic about Haiti's future.

Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them.

• Haiti has a long history of instability, starting with its colonial past under France and Spain, followed by a devastating war for independence, and continuing with foreign interventions, dictatorships, natural disasters, and gang violence that have hindered its development.
• Foreign powers, including France, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, have played significant roles in Haiti's struggles — from the crippling debt imposed by France after independence to the US occupation in the early 20th century and the Dominican Republic's anti-Haitian policies.
• The 2010 earthquake was a devastating blow to Haiti, killing over 300,000 people and setting the country back decades in terms of infrastructure and development. This event, along with political instability, has contributed to the rise of powerful gangs that control much of the country.
• The current situation in Haiti is dire, with gangs controlling large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and engaging in kidnappings, violence, and drug trafficking. The international community is attempting to intervene, with Kenya leading a police force to help stabilize the country, but the effectiveness of this intervention remains to be seen.
• Despite the challenges, there are reasons for optimism about Haiti's future. A new generation of Haitians, both in Haiti and abroad, are working toward a better future for their country. Political groups are coming together to find consensus on the way forward, and organizations like the Haiti Policy House are ensuring that Haitian voices are heard in discussions about the country's future. While the road ahead is difficult, with determination, unity, and international support, Haiti can overcome its challenges and build a brighter future for its people.
• And much more!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on an Out of the Loop episode, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1001

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Though he was your father figure, mourning the stepdad your sisters accused of abuse feels like betrayal. How should you feel? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!

• Though he was your father figure, mourning the stepdad your sisters accused of abuse feels like betrayal. How should you feel?
• You're talented and successful in your field, but lately you're feeling drained, unmotivated, and disconnected from your passion. What steps can you take to rediscover your love for your craft?
• You fell for an online scam that cost you thousands of dollars and left you feeling ashamed and depressed. How will you move past the embarrassment and learn to protect yourself better in the future?
• Your long-time business partner and close friend didn't reach out after your company shut down, despite your history of supporting him through personal and professional challenges. Can you find a way to process the grief and betrayal?
• Your significant other refuses to go to therapy or work on their personal growth, even though it's causing your relationship to stagnate. Will you be able to accept their limitations or decide to move on?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1000

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!...

Listen here to discover how Todd McFarlane reinvented comic book icons, founded Image Comics, and revamped the toy business with a priority on quality!

• How Todd McFarlane successfully reinvented Spider-Man and created the iconic character Venom while working at Marvel Comics, despite facing resistance from his bosses who were reluctant to change the status quo.
• Why Todd left Marvel to co-found Image Comics, which became the third-largest comic book company in the world — and where he set records for independent comic book sales with his highly successful character Spawn.
• Why Todd emphasizes the importance of creating the best possible product and offering it at a competitive price point, even if it means spending more time and money than the competition.
• How Todd's unorthodox negotiation tactics allow him to outlast opponents in meetings and get better deals.
• Todd is a living example that you can succeed by embracing your creativity, focusing on quality, and challenging the status quo. With hard work and a willingness to innovate, you can make a significant impact in your chosen field.
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/999

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

Dysfunctional workplaces and abyssmal bosses litter the modern corporate hellscape. What stories will you share from the rubble? Welcome to Feedback Friday!

And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!

• You worked at a company with a problematic culture focused on self-help teachings and inappropriate therapy sessions led by an unqualified manager. How'd that turn out?
• You're working at a door-to-door sales company where underperforming employees face unusual (and likely illegal) consequences. Will you be able to stomach the challenges that await you?
• Your bad boss manipulated and mistreated you, hoping you'd fail when you left for a new job. But what happened when the tables were turned?
• As a young journalist, you dealt with an alcoholic, sexually harassing boss at a small-town newspaper. How far did things have to go before karma took the wheel?
• You're a young employee at a luxury car garage, where the eccentric owner's behavior is becoming increasingly erratic. Will a chance encounter with a client change the course of your career?
• Your boss denied you time off to visit a dying loved one, forcing you to choose between work and family. How will this decision impact you in the long run?
• Years ago, your boss made your work life miserable. Now, he's interviewing for a job at your thriving company. What will you do?
• Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.
• Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/998

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Marine veteran Christopher Ahn explains why he got involved with helping North Koreans defect to the West, and how this has put him in danger. [Part 2/2 — make sure to catch 1/2 here!]

• In 2019, activist group Free Joseon broke into the North Korean embassy in Madrid with the goal of helping staff defect to the West. But the mission didn't go according to plan and had to be aborted.
• Back in the US, Christopher Ahn was informed by the FBI that North Korea had discovered his identity as a participant in the botched embassy raid and planned to assassinate him. His identity was likely revealed when the FBI shared it with Spain.
• Christopher is now facing extradition to Spain on charges related to the embassy incident, based on statements from North Korean officials. However, the credibility of those statements is questionable given the likelihood they were coerced.
• If extradited to Spain, Christopher fears for his life from North Korean agents. His legal team is arguing there should be a humanitarian exception made to the extradition, given the unique circumstances, though this is an unprecedented legal argument.
• Despite the challenges he faces as a result of his actions, Christopher remains dedicated to helping others in need. While his particular path is not one most will be called to follow, we can all reflect on how to courageously leverage our own skills and circumstances to uplift and empower others in need.
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/997

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!