#593: Richard Wiseman on Lessons from Dale Carnegie, How to Keep a Luck Diary, Mentalism, The Psychology of the Paranormal, Mass Participation Experiments, NLP, Remote Viewing, and Attempting the Impossible

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Richard Wiseman (@richardwiseman) holds
Britain’s only professorship in the public understanding of
psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He has published
over 100 peer-reviewed articles examining the psychology of magic
and illusion, the paranormal, luck, and self-help. His books on
psychology, which include The Luck Factor: The Scientific
Study of the Lucky Mind and 59 Seconds: Think a Little,
Change a Lot, have sold more than three million copies worldwide,
and his psychology-based YouTube videos have garnered
more than 500 million views.


Elizabeth Loftus, former president of The Association for
Psychological Science, described Richard as “one of the world’s
most creative psychologists,” and The Independent On
Sunday chose him as one of the top 100 people who make
Britain a better place to live. In addition to his work in the
field of psychology, Richard served as director of The Edinburgh
Fringe Festival for eight years.


He recently co-authored David Copperfield’s History of
Magic, and his next book, Psychology: Why It Matters, will
be published later this year.


Please enjoy!


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What is The Edinburgh Fringe Festival? [06:01]


Richard explains how he, as a skeptic, got recruited into the
world of parapsychology research, and why he dedicated years of
his life to it. [07:23]


What is the Magic Circle Society? [14:00]


What disciplines and frameworks do magicians like Richard pick up
that prove useful in other areas of life? [15:44]


Who among Richard’s fellow magicians do we find particularly
impressive, and what’s the real reason they’re not likely to tell
you how they perform their illusions? [17:40]


What is mentalism? [24:47]


Two recommendations: a card mechanic and a mentalist worth your
while. [26:03]


Richard has carried out a number of mass participation studies.
What are they, and which ones has he found most memorable?
[27:06]


What is NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), and what has
Richard’s research had to say about its efficacy? [36:15]


A more effective alternative to brainstorming. [39:32]


In Richard’s estimation, what areas of scientific study are
woefully underfunded and underresearched? [40:22]


What did Richard discover while researching remote viewing that
the CIA might have missed? Can remote viewing be faked? [43:26]


How does Richard choose the subjects his books cover, and how did
an annoying heckler once inspire him to improve a working title?
[47:10]


Twitter remote viewing, Victorian-style seances, and a ghost hunt
in one of Henry VIII’s old…haunts. [50:28]


Why is Richard fascinated by dreaming, and how has his experience
with lucid dreaming been disappointing thus far? Might one of his
future books be titled The Upside of Night Terrors? [54:11]


How has my experience with lucid dreaming differed from
Richard’s? [59:40]


What has Richard learned about improving sleep since writing a
book about it? Has he stopped having night terrors? [1:02:25]


Self-development books Richard has actually found helpful, and
why he takes issue with so much of the rest. [1:05:57]


What is a luck diary, and why should you consider keeping one?
[1:09:51]


How Richard avoids overthinking idea generation. [1:12:40]


Why the mass participation study that attempted to crowdsource
the world’s funniest joke may have just resulted in pinpointing
the world’s blandest. [1:13:45]


How does Richard feel certain facets of his work could be applied
in schools? Has this been tested? [1:14:51]


What was (or wasn’t) the Yale Goal Study, and what is its most
important lesson? [1:16:41]


On the malleability of observation and memory — which can result
in anything from seance manipulation to false convictions.
[1:20:43]


Are there any researchers currently delving into the mysteries of
parapsychology who Richard respects deeply? Why might a
well-respected scientist risk their career and reputation to
pursue something so difficult to prove? [1:25:26]


What makes studying what went on psychologically behind the
scenes at NASA during the Apollo moon landings so compelling for
Richard? [1:30:35]


Whose picture is on Richard’s mantel? Knock if you know the
answer. [1:33:47]


What would Richard’s billboard say? [1:35:49]


Recommended documentaries. [1:37:00]


How does a performer like Derren Brown keep their show fresh
after 578 performances without burning out? [1:44:11]


Parting thoughts. [1:46:18]


*


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