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Sketchplanations - The Podcast

Sketchplanations - The Podcast

By: Bell Boy Productions
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About this listen

Big Ideas explored through Little Pictures. We offer up great conversations about ideas based on simple and insightful sketches in the Sketchplanations online collection, with the aim of giving listeners something fun and interesting to have their own conversations about.


This is an explainer podcast for the curious-minded. Topics covered include science, behavioural economics, wellbeing, nature, psychology frameworks, business models, cognitive biases, and even domestic life-hacks.


It's certainly not a self-help podcast, but you might take something away that helps you notice or even enjoy the world around you a little more.


Sketchplanations illustrator and author Jono Hey joins lifelong friends Tom Pellereau (2011 Apprentice Winner) and Rob Bell (Engineer & Broadcaster) to share ideas and stories catalysed by each week's sketch. The 3 of us have been friends for over 20 years and have always enjoyed delving into all sorts of conversation topics - usually with some silliness along the way.

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

Robert Bell Personal Development Personal Success Science
Episodes
  • Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔

    Tsundoku: Do you buy books faster than you can read them? 📚🤔
    Jan 13 2026

    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 Winters
    • The book from Jono's pile he next wants to start: A few short sentences about writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
    • Robbie is most looking forward to getting started on: Whatever will be will be by Felix White
    • Jono recommends cartoons about books and reading by Tom Gauld
    • Big Ideas, Little Pictures is the Sketchplanations book by Jono Hey


    Summary:

    00:00 Introduction to Tsundoku: The Act of Collecting Unread Books

    02:52 Personal Stories and Reflections on Tsundoku

    05:20 The Broader Implications of Tsundoku

    07:49 Books as Gifts and Their Value

    10:03 The Joy and Guilt of Collecting Books

    17:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections

    19:34 Conclusion and Farewell


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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    21 mins
  • Family Tree Explainer

    Family Tree Explainer
    Dec 30 2025

    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 Sketchplanations

    00:47 Understanding Family Relations

    02:13 Exploring Second Cousins

    06:06 Generational Differences Explained

    11:48 Cultural Perspectives on Family Trees

    14:57 Famous Families and Their Connections

    15:08 The Mayflower Ancestor Story

    15:55 Family Trees and Their Complexity

    16:43 The Importance of Family Connections

    18:01 Tracing Family History

    21:07 Unique Family Names and Their Origins

    22:28 Surname Origins and Commonality

    25:58 Gender-Neutral Family Terms

    27:07 Concluding Thoughts


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

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Continuous Partial Attention

    Continuous Partial Attention
    Dec 16 2025
    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.
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    39 mins
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