Feynman Technique Turbocharge: Master Any Subject by Teaching It Like You're Explaining to a 12-Year-Old

This is the Brain Hacks Podcast.

Today's brain hack is called "The Feynman Technique Turbocharge" – and it's going to revolutionize how you learn literally anything.

Named after legendary physicist Richard Feynman, who could explain quantum mechanics to a five-year-old, this technique exploits a fascinating quirk in how our brains encode information. Here's the thing: your brain doesn't actually know if it understands something until it tries to teach it. Wild, right?

Here's how it works in four delicious steps:

Step One: Pick your concept. Let's say you're trying to understand how blockchain works, or photosynthesis, or why your sourdough starter keeps dying. Write the topic name at the top of a blank page.

Step Two: Here's where the magic happens. Pretend you're teaching this concept to a curious 12-year-old. Actually write it out or speak it aloud. Use simple words only. No jargon allowed! If you catch yourself saying "utilizing" instead of "using," you're cheating. This forces your brain to break down complex ideas into fundamental building blocks.

Step Three: This is the uncomfortable part – identify the gaps. As you explain, you'll hit walls where you realize, "Wait, I actually don't understand this part." Those moments of confusion? That's not failure – that's your brain highlighting exactly what you need to review. Circle those sections. They're gold.

Step Four: Go back to your source material, but ONLY for those circled parts. Study them specifically, then return to your simple explanation and fill in the gaps. Repeat until you can explain the entire concept without stumbling.

But here's where we turbocharge it: Add the "Analog Doodle Amplifier." While explaining, draw pictures, diagrams, stick figures – whatever illustrates your point. Use actual paper and colorful pens. The physical act of drawing while explaining activates multiple brain regions simultaneously – your motor cortex, visual processing centers, and language areas all party together, creating stronger neural pathways and better memory encoding.

Why does this work so brilliantly? Because teaching requires you to retrieve information, reorganize it, and present it coherently. This process, called "elaborative rehearsal," creates way more neural connections than simple re-reading ever could. You're essentially building a multi-lane highway in your brain instead of a dirt path.

The 12-year-old rule is crucial because complexity is often a hiding place for fuzzy thinking. Einstein supposedly said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." When you strip away fancy vocabulary, you're forced to grapple with actual meaning.

Studies show this technique can improve retention by up to 50% compared to traditional studying. Plus, it reveals the illusion of competence – that feeling where you think you understand something just because it sounds familiar when you read it.

Pro tip: Actually record yourself giving these explanations on your phone. Play them back while doing dishes or commuting. You'll catch gaps you missed and reinforce the learning simultaneously.

Try this with anything: a work project, a new skill, even how your car's engine works. Within days, you'll notice you're not just memorizing – you're actually understanding on a deeper level. Your brain is literally getting smarter, building more sophisticated neural architecture with each session.

And that is it for this episode. Please make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode. Thanks for listening, this has been a Quiet Please production for more check out Quiet Please Dot AI.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI