Sketchplanations - The Podcast

The closer you look, the longer it gets: The Coastline Paradox

When you want to measure something you take your ruler or tape measure and read off the length right?But when it comes to measuring the length of a coastline, things get a bit tricky and totally counter intuitive. 🌊The science and maths of measuring wiggly coastlines reveal that the smaller the unit of measure, the longer the coastline becomes. Jono recounts the origins of this phenomenon from polymath, Lewis Fry Richardson and its further exploration by Benoit B. Mandelbrot. The trio also relate the concept to various other real-world examples, including the surfaces of the brain and lungs, Romanesco cauliflower, and stock market patterns. Additionally, they touch on the philosophical implications of measurement and delve into the concept of infinity.Episode Summary:00:00 Introduction the Coastline Paradox04:12 Historical Context and Discovery14:10 Fractals and Natural World Applications17:26 Modern Implications and Analogies24:36 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsExternal Links and mentions on the show:Jono refers to and leans heavily on the writing of Geoffrey West in his book "Scale" to tell the story of how this was discovered.Rob's half-baked fact about The Standardised Meter can be expanded on here.This is what the self-similarity of a Romanesco Cauliflower looks likeHere is the avenue of trees in Bushy Park, in Southwest London that Jono slalomed.Here are more facts on who originally defined the number 'zero' as we know it today.All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Than Just Rings: Unity, History, and Ambition.

Have you ever wondered what the colours on the Olympic flag represent?The Olympic logo is a globally recognised brand and remarkably, it was designed over 100 years ago by the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.This time, we discuss the history and symbolism of this design icon ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. We find out about its representation of unity among the five (?) continents (one for each ring), and the careful selection of the flag's colours. The episode also delves into fascinating Olympic trivia, including the evolution of the games, historical moments, and the development of the Olympic motto. Rob also shares insights from filming at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, for his series 'The Vault,' which explores Olympic history through artefacts found in their archives.You can watch all 10 episodes of The Vault for free here on the Olympics Channel.Episode Summary00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Winter Olympics01:42 The Genesis of the Olympic Flag02:50 Symbolism and Design of the Olympic Flag05:06 Pierre de Coubertin: The Visionary Behind the Olympics05:21 Exploring Olympic History and Artifacts09:35 Evolution of the Olympic Games and Flag22:28 Conclusion and FarewellAll music on this podcast series is by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔

How big is that pile of books next to your bed?Tsundoku is a Japanese word for buying books and letting them pile up unread. It’s a familiar habit to book lovers everywhere — that growing stack of books you intend to read but haven’t yet. In this episode of Sketchplanations The Podcast, we explore why we buy books we don’t read, why unread books don’t always feel like a bad thing, and what this habit says about curiosity, identity, and our relationship with reading.In this episode we embrace Tsundoku and our conversation ranges from buying too many books to the joy and guilt of collecting unread books, and how tsundoku can extend to audiobooks, hobbies, and other unread things. If you’ve ever wondered why you buy books faster than you can read them — or felt conflicted about your own unread pile — this episode is for you.Links to items (mainly books) that we discussed:The book that changed Tom's life: Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark WintersThe book from Jono's pile he next wants to start: A few short sentences about writing by Verlyn KlinkenborgRobbie is most looking forward to getting started on: Whatever will be will be by Felix WhiteJono recommends cartoons about books and reading by Tom GauldBig Ideas, Little Pictures is the Sketchplanations book by Jono HeySummary: 00:00 Introduction to Tsundoku: The Act of Collecting Unread Books02:52 Personal Stories and Reflections on Tsundoku05:20 The Broader Implications of Tsundoku07:49 Books as Gifts and Their Value10:03 The Joy and Guilt of Collecting Books17:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections19:34 Conclusion and FarewellAll music on this podcast series is by the very talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Family Tree Explainer

Do you know who your second cousins are or if you even have any? And what does "once removed" mean anyway?Tune in to this episode as we unravel the mysteries of family relations—which we figured would be particularly helpful at the festive time of year.We explore the subtleties of family trees, making our way to 'Second Cousins Once Removed'. We dig into the confusion around generational terms and the importance of knowing your extended family. We share a few family-related anecdotes and cultural differences, such as the Chinese family tree and Icelandic naming conventions. We strongly encourage you to follow along with the sketch at Sketchplanations.com to better understand your own family connections.Here are the Chinese family tree names mentioned.Episode Summary 00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations00:47 Understanding Family Relations02:13 Exploring Second Cousins06:06 Generational Differences Explained11:48 Cultural Perspectives on Family Trees14:57 Famous Families and Their Connections15:08 The Mayflower Ancestor Story15:55 Family Trees and Their Complexity16:43 The Importance of Family Connections18:01 Tracing Family History21:07 Unique Family Names and Their Origins22:28 Surname Origins and Commonality25:58 Gender-Neutral Family Terms27:07 Concluding ThoughtsAll music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuous Partial Attention

Coined in the 1990s by Linda Stone, Continuous Partial Attention describes the state of being constantly connected; trying to do multiple things at once, which often leads to an ever-present, low-level form of stress. We explore how this phenomenon affects modern life, compare it to multitasking, and discuss both its positive and negative aspects. The podcast also highlights how technology has exacerbated this issue and considers potential solutions, such as mindfulness and turning off notifications, to better manage one's attention.Links to stuff we discussed:Dan KahnemanMind Over TechVideo of Woman who Walks into Fountain Whilst TextingThe Film: Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix.Other Sketches and podcast episodes referenced:Phubbing episode and sketchPhone Zombie sketchHegel's Dialectic: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis sketchYak Shaving episode and sketch5 Ways to Wellbeing episode and sketchEveryone's a Geek About Something episode and sketchHow to Instantly Feel Better episode and sketchPicking the Perfect Present episode and sketchBuy Jono's Book: Big Ideas, Little Pictures, for a loved one this Christmas - The Perfect Present and then some...Summary00:00 Introduction to Continuous Partial Attention01:31 Depicting Continuous Partial Attention in a Sketch04:25 Personal Experiences with Continuous Partial Attention05:54 The Impact of Technology on Attention08:49 Multitasking vs. Continuous Partial Attention11:15 The Challenge of Staying Focused17:05 The Role of Continuous Partial Attention in Different Professions20:38 The Dilemma of Turning Off Notifications21:15 Balancing Work and Family Life22:03 The Art of Multitasking22:59 The Pitfalls of Continuous Partial Attention23:49 Turning Cognition into Automation25:25 The Rise of Single Tasking27:54 The Productivity of Focused Work32:07 The Future of AI and Continuous Partial Attention34:20 Final Thoughts and RecommendationsAll music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.