How Memory Shapes You: What a Core Memory Really Is
from The Memory Project Hosted by Andrew Laffoon, Dr. Christie Chung
What if memory isn’t just something you have, but the very thing you’re made of? In this episode of The Memory Project, host Andrew Laffoon sits down with cognitive psychologist and Palo Alto University provost Dr. Christie Chung to explore how memories don’t just record your life — they shape who you become. Memory isn’t a filing cabinet. It’s an ongoing personal narrative, and every time you revisit it, you rewrite it. Dr. Chung breaks down the science behind why emotional moments stick, what “core memories” actually are (and why the concept is more complicated than it sounds), and how nostalgia can be less about the past and more about building your future. You’ll also learn why family traditions matter more than you think, how storytelling is hardwired into the brain, and how to use your memories — painful ones included — to give your life more meaning and direction. Follow Us Mixbook Website Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Chapters: 0:00 Introduction: What If Memory Is What You're Made Of 0:43 Is "Core Memory" Real? What Inside Out Invented 3:27 How Memory Builds Your Sense of Self 5:22 Trauma, Crucible Moments, and Redemptive Stories 7:11 Why Photo Books Change What You Remember 10:14 Rose and Thorn: A Family Memory Ritual 12:01 Is Nostalgia Bad for You? 13:19 The Positivity Effect in Aging, and What It Misses 15:51 How Nostalgia Helps You Imagine the Future 18:11 Dr. Chung's Most Meaningful Memory 21:47 Memory as Storytelling 25:09 Core Memories and Neural Networks 26:25 How to Keep Your Memory Sharp as You Age 29:20 Closing Takeaways Presented by Mixbook mixbook.com
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
The science of why you can’t forget — and how the memories that hurt most might be the ones that matter most.
No transcript yet.