EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 21 MIN
#308 A 6x Memory Champion Shares His Secrets | Nelson Dellis
from SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay · host SuperPsyched ©
Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews six-time US Memory Champion Nelson Dellis about why memory is central to identity and why cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s are so devastating. Dellis describes memory championships as timed, full-day events involving feats such as memorizing a deck of cards, hundreds of digits in five minutes, and large sets of names and faces, emphasizing that success comes from a trained—not “naturally good”—memory. In the age of AI, he argues that continuing to use memory supports cognitive health, may help prevent atrophy, and preserves a core human element tied to lived experience. They discuss how Alzheimer’s may impair retrieval rather than erase memories, and highlight Dellis’s activity-based book, "Everyday Genius," which trains memory and other skills like calculation, creativity, and faster reading, alongside lessons learned from painful competitive losses.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:28 Why Memory Matters00:48 Meet Nelson Dellis03:04 Trained Not Gifted05:12 Inside Memory Championships06:38 Memory in the AI Age09:03 Alzheimers and Identity11:19 Everyday Genius Challenge14:28 Curiosity as Cross Training19:18 Learning Through Failure20:21 Closing and SubscribeHelpful Links:Nelson DellisEveryday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More BookNelson Dellis InstagramNelson Dellis YouTubeNelson Dellis LinkedIn
What this episode covers
Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews six-time US Memory Champion Nelson Dellis about why memory is central to identity and why cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s are so devastating. Dellis describes memory championships as timed, full-day events involving feats such as memorizing a deck of cards, hundreds of digits in five minutes, and large sets of names and faces, emphasizing that success comes from a trained—not “naturally good”—memory. In the age of AI, he argues that continuing to use memory supports cognitive health, may help prevent atrophy, and preserves a core human element tied to lived experience. They discuss how Alzheimer’s may impair retrieval rather than erase memories, and highlight Dellis’s activity-based book, "Everyday Genius," which trains memory and other skills like calculation, creativity, and faster reading, alongside lessons learned from painful competitive losses.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:28 Why Memory Matters00:48 Meet Nelson Dellis03:04 Trained Not Gifted05:12 Inside Memory Championships06:38 Memory in the AI Age09:03 Alzheimers and Identity11:19 Everyday Genius Challenge14:28 Curiosity as Cross Training19:18 Learning Through Failure20:21 Closing and SubscribeHelpful Links:Nelson DellisEveryday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More BookNelson Dellis InstagramNelson Dellis YouTubeNelson Dellis LinkedIn
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#308 A 6x Memory Champion Shares His Secrets | Nelson Dellis
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