In this episode, Jono meets one os his heroes, as we engage in a conversation with acclaimed author, illustrator and explainer, David Macaulay. We talk about David's journey from architecture to creating educational illustrations that make complex concepts understandable and engaging - and the Canal Lock is a great example of this from Jono's collection. We discuss the significance of sketching for understanding and teaching intricate ideas, and reflect on some of David's famous works, including his book, 'The Way Things Work.' David shares insights into his creative process, the importance of curiosity, and how integrating humour and playfulness in his illustrations can enhance learning. This conversation would not be complete without questioning David about his famous woolly mammoths - used in his illustrations to help explain machines, mechanics, physics and science.

Links

See here for more information about David as well as his bibliography.

Jono specifically references David's maths book, Mammoth Maths when comparing his own sketch on "Parts of a Circle".

When addressing humour in Architecture, David talks about his book "Great Moments in Architecture".

Summary

00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations - introducing David Macaulay

01:30 David's Journey into Explanations

03:42 The Way Things Work

04:35 The Joy of Learning and Teaching

04:47 Collaborating on The Way Things Work

09:54 Exploring Canal Locks

15:24 The Art of Sketching and Curiosity

20:05 The Importance of Sketching

20:34 Humour in Learning

25:07 The Origin of the Woolly Mammoth in David’s drawings

26:37 Balancing Humour and Information

30:07 Encouraging Sketching in Education

33:30 Everyday Wonders and Final Thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time we discuss Jevons' Paradox, the counterintuitive concept that improvements in fuel efficiency can lead to increased overall fuel use.

We explore the origin of this idea, dating back to 1865 by British economist William Stanley Jevons, and discuss its relevance today in areas such as car fuel efficiency, advances in battery technology, and even the proliferation of LED lighting in homes. Inevitably, the impact of emerging technologies like AI also arise. We also talk about the broader implications of Jevons' Paradox in everyday life and business, and how it can be managed through policies and smart design.

Quick Links

Some links are included below to certain topics we reference in the chat:

• Other Sketchplanations referenced include: The Generalised Peter Principle, The Peter Principle, The Laws of Expansion
• You can also listen to our previous podcast on The Peter Principle.
• More Work For Mother book by Ruth Cowan

Summary

00:00 Introduction to Sketchplanations Podcast

00:33 Exploring Jevons Paradox

01:11 Historical Context of Jevons Paradox

02:37 Modern Examples of Jevons Paradox

05:14 Personal Anecdotes and Parallels

10:12 AI and Future Implications

15:29 Energy Demands of AI and Nuclear Facilities

15:51 The Evolution of Spreadsheets and Work Efficiency

17:07 Jevons Paradox and Environmental Concerns

17:29 Advancements in Battery and Water-Saving Technologies

19:33 The Impact of Video Compression on the Internet

21:47 LED Lights and Household Energy Consumption

24:27 Government Policies and Behavioral Incentives

26:10 Reflections on Jevons Paradox and Human Nature

28:26 William Stanley Jevons' Insights and Predictions

30:06 Conclusion and Farewell

All music on this podcast series is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you like using interesting words in your conversations? We do. And there's one that's a tip top favourite...

You're guaranteed* to learn loads of interesting words from this episode.

Special guest Grant Snider - author, illustrator, poet (and orthodontist) talks about the illustration of interesting words, particularly obscure, outdated or esoteric ones. We kick off with a word both Jono and Grant have illustrated: 'apricity,' which means the warmth of the sun in winter and is a big favourite of ours - now that we know it. Grant shares his fascination with words and his 'Words of Wonder' series, where he illustrates intriguing words from his readings. We touch on the emotional connection words can create through compelling illustrations and delve into the creative processes behind these illustrations as well as the influence of childhood comics like Calvin and Hobbes.

Links for further investigation

• Apricity sketches: Jono's Sketchplanation & Grant's Words of Wonder
• Some other of Jono's word-related Sketchplanations we reference are: Snerdle & Greeble
• Previous podcast episodes we bring up include: Schadenfreude and we also talk about Apophenia in the episode on Crossmodal Perception
• Susie Dent's Word of the Day thread on X.
• Jono mentions the fun he had reading Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth
• Grant's latest book Thinking About Thinking is available now.

Episode Summary

00:00 Introduction and Grant Snider's Background

02:18 Exploring the Word 'Apricity'

04:34 Grant's Words of Wonder Series

07:24 The Joy of Learning New Words

11:24 Favourite Words and Their Illustrations

20:28 Exploring Obscure Words and Their Origins

21:16 The Fascinating Concept of 'Greeble'

22:50 The Joy of Discovering New Words

23:52 Sketching Words and Their Meanings

28:22 The Beauty of Children's Language Development

30:35 Grant's New Book: Thinking About Thinking

33:46 The Influence of Calvin and Hobbes

37:04 Grant's Unique Use of Colour in Comics

39:26 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

*We make no actual guarantees.

All music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.