Overview of People I Mostly Admire Episode 26: Memory Champion Nelson Dellis Helps Steve Train His Brain
In this episode, Steve Levitt interviews four-time U.S. Memory Tournament champion Nelson Dellis about how memory works, how memory athletes train, and why these techniques can be useful even in a world where technology makes forgetting easier than ever. The conversation moves from the basics of memorization to advanced methods like the memory palace and person-action-object (PAO) system, while also touching on aging, Alzheimer’s, language learning, parenting, and mountaineering.
Main Themes and Takeaways
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Memory is trainable, not fixed.
- Dellis argues that memory techniques can dramatically improve recall with practice.
- He says he did not start with a naturally exceptional memory; what set him apart was intense effort and obsession.
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The value of memory has changed, but it still matters.
- Steve notes that Google, reminders, and digital tools have lowered the need to remember facts.
- Dellis counters that his motivation was more personal and health-related, especially after watching his grandmother lose her memory to Alzheimer’s.
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Memory techniques may not prevent dementia, but they may help preserve function longer.
- Dellis is careful not to overclaim.
- He suggests that people who practice memory strategies over a lifetime may have more tools to lean on as they age.
How Memory Competitions Work
Steve and Dellis discuss several events from memory tournaments and the astonishing scale of elite performance:
Examples of competition events
- Decks of cards: memorizing the order of one or more shuffled decks.
- 30-minute binary digits: memorizing long strings of 1s and 0s.
- 15-minute names and faces: matching names to photos after a short study period.
Notable records mentioned
- Dellis’s U.S. record in names and faces: 235 names.
- The world record for 30-minute binary digits: 7,485 digits.
Core Techniques Explained
1. The Memory Palace
A central strategy in elite memorization.
- You place vivid images in familiar locations in your mind, such as rooms in your house.
- When recalling, you mentally walk through the space in order.
- This is especially useful for ordered information:
- numbers
- cards
- directions
- lists
2. Person-Action-Object (PAO)
Dellis explains his system for turning numbers into memorable images.
- He maps three digits to a person.
- The next two digits become an action.
- The final three digits become an object.
- Example: a number can become a bizarre, memorable image such as Maria Sharapova swinging an axe at a camera.
3. Binary Compression
For binary digits, Dellis compresses information:
- He groups every three binary digits into one of eight possible combinations.
- That reduces many 0s and 1s into a smaller, more manageable numerical representation.
- Then those numbers are converted into PAO images and placed in a memory palace.
Names, Faces, and Language Learning
Memorizing names and faces
- Dellis says he looks for a distinctive facial feature and creates a vivid association with the name.
- He treats each face like a “tiny memory palace.”
Why multilingualism helps
- Dellis grew up with French, Dutch, Spanish exposure, and later learned more Dutch and some German.
- He says having multiple languages gives him a larger pool of associations for memorization.
Memory palaces are not ideal for language
- Steve shares his failed attempt to learn German verbs using memory palaces.
- Dellis explains that memory palaces are best for structured, ordered material, not fluid language use.
- For vocabulary, he recommends linking the foreign word directly to an image or concept, not to an English translation alone.
Steve’s Experiments with Memory
Steve tests Dellis’s methods live in the episode:
- He initially fails to remember an 8-digit number read aloud.
- Dellis guides him to chunk the number into meaningful images.
- Steve also describes successfully using a memory palace to memorize 70 Tony Award-winning musicals, which convinced him the method really works.
Broader Reflections
Should schools teach memory techniques?
Dellis argues yes.
- Kids are often expected to memorize huge amounts of material without being taught how to do it efficiently.
- He believes memory tools should be taught early so students can spend less time on rote memorization and more time on meaning and understanding.
Memory as identity
The episode closes on a more personal note:
- Dellis says memory is central to who we are.
- He’s started keeping a daily memory journal to preserve everyday moments and reduce the blur of routine life.
- This is especially meaningful to him as a way of resisting the kind of memory loss he witnessed in his grandmother.
Mountaineering and Mental Discipline
Dellis also discusses his love of climbing, including attempts on Mount Everest.
- He says mountaineering gives him a sense of insignificance and perspective.
- He sees a connection between climbing and memory training:
- focus
- endurance
- blocking out distractions
- staying present under discomfort
Final Impression
This episode is both a practical lesson in memory training and a philosophical reflection on why memory matters. Dellis shows that extraordinary recall is not magic—it’s a learnable skill built from structure, visualization, and repetition. Steve’s own experiments demonstrate the immediate payoff, making the episode a compelling case for treating memory as a trainable human ability rather than a fixed trait.