Episode Summary
Executive Summary: A fast-paced “Life Hacks” episode where the hosts share practical productivity and lifestyle tools: iPhone shortcuts and low-power automation, moving note-taking from Evernote to Apple Notes, using Blinkist/Curio for curated learning, and simple fitness/travel hacks like structured warm-ups, better donut choices, and sleeping in airports. The conversation mixes utility with humor, emphasizing systems that reduce friction and fit real daily routines.
Main Topics: iPhone shortcuts and low-power automation (Priority: 5/5): Johnny recommends using iPhone Shortcuts to automatically enable Low Power Mode at a chosen battery threshold, reducing battery anxiety and manual intervention. The broader point is that small automations can remove repeated micro-frictions. Note-taking systems: Evernote to Apple Notes (Priority: 5/5): Youssef explains why he is leaving Evernote for Apple Notes: speed, reliability, offline access, and better integration with Apple’s ecosystem. The discussion compares Apple Notes, Notion, Kraft, Obsidian, and related writing tools. Book/audio summarization and curated learning (Priority: 4/5): The hosts debate Blinkist versus full books and discuss Curio as an audio-curation service that surfaces articles from outlets like The Economist and Financial Times to help users consume ideas during short time windows. Fitness, warm-ups, and age-based goals (Priority: 4/5): Johnny shares a structured warm-up routine, while Youssef suggests setting birthday-linked physical targets (e.g., bench pressing bodyweight for your age). The broader lesson is to formalize habits and performance anchors. Travel and convenience hacks (Priority: 4/5): Practical tips include sleeping at Amsterdam Schiphol’s gate D2 and buying a small tub of protein powder or bars immediately upon arriving at a destination to better hit protein targets while traveling. Small pleasure optimizations and lifestyle humor (Priority: 3/5): Examples include choosing the tastiest Krispy Kreme rather than chasing negligible calorie savings, using a washable lint roller for dog hair, and the tongue-in-cheek recommendation to eat Tesco stuffing when dieting. Media recommendations and intellectual curiosity (Priority: 3/5): The hosts recommend shows and films like Time, Gangs of London, Knives Out, Marcella, Mortal Kombat, and documentaries or seminars about lucid dreaming, existential risk, and alignment. They value varied media as a way to escape echo chambers.
Key Arguments: Small automations are worth it when they eliminate recurring annoyances; turning on Low Power Mode automatically is a high-value example. Apple Notes is now robust enough for many users because it is faster, more stable, syncs seamlessly across devices, and works well as an external brain. Evernote’s decline is framed as a product failure: slower performance and removal of useful features made it less fit for purpose. Blinkist is useful mainly when the goal is to sample concepts quickly; it is less suitable when the goal is deep engagement with a book’s ideas or style. Curio is praised because it widens intellectual exposure by curating high-quality audio articles from outside one’s usual feeds. A written warm-up routine improves training compliance and performance while reducing injury risk, especially for compound lifting. It can be more rational to pick the most enjoyable donut than to obsess over minor calorie differences, since the savings are small relative to the overall treat. Age-based annual challenges or birthdays provide a useful structure for maintaining momentum and measuring progress as one gets older. Travel habits matter: packing protein or buying it on arrival helps maintain nutrition when routines break down. Curated content and varied media help users escape narrow information bubbles and generate more interesting conversations.
Data Points: Low Power Mode threshold: 20% - Johnny sets an iPhone automation to enable Low Power Mode when battery reaches 20%. Apple Notes volume: 1,824 notes - Youssef says he has 1,824 notes stored in Apple Notes. Apple Notes volume: 1,529 notes - Johnny reports having 1,529 notes in Apple Notes. Curio annual cost: £40 per year - Johnny says Curio costs around £40 annually. YouTube Premium workaround price: 94 pence per month - A listener-submitted hack claims YouTube Premium can be obtained for 94p/month using an Argentina billing location and VPN. Warm-up duration: 5–10 minutes - Johnny says his warm-up before barbell work usually takes five to ten minutes. Birthday reminder lag: 1 year - Johnny received an email to himself written the previous year, via FollowUpThen. Future email service address: 1 year / specific date - FollowUpThen can send messages back after a year or on a chosen date. ITV Hub Pro trial: 7 days - Marcella was suggested via ITV Hub Pro’s seven-day free trial. ITV Hub Pro price: £3.99 per month - The show mentions a monthly upgrade fee to remove ads/access content. Gangs of London episode structure: 6–7 episodes, 1 hour each - Youssef describes the series as hour-long episodes over six or seven installments. Krispy Kreme doughnut calorie difference: small / not much different - The hosts note that calorie differences between plain and filled donuts are minor, so enjoyment should drive the choice.
Pivotal Quotes: "Your brain cannot have a lag, even if it's only a five- or a ten-second lag." — Youssef: Explaining why he’s moving from Evernote to Apple Notes for faster external-brain note capture. "Do less of the trivial many, do more of the vital few." — Chris / discussion of Essentialism: Used to explain why some self-help books can be distilled into a central actionable idea. "It is the most used solution that I've ever seen." — Chris: Reacting to the Argentina/VPN method for cheap YouTube Premium.
Implications: Listeners are encouraged to optimize for friction reduction, not perfection: automate repetitive tasks, choose tools that fit actual behavior, and use curated learning selectively. The broader message is that small systems compound into major gains in productivity and quality of life.
About Modern Wisdom
Chris Williamson in long-form conversation with the world's most interesting people - psychologists, scientists, authors, comedians and entrepreneurs - on life, science, health, fitness, business and philosophy.