Think You Have a Bad Memory? Think Again with Tansel Ali

About this episode

Julie Hyde interviews memory expert Tansel Ali about memory techniques and their impact on focus and leadership.

In this episode of  Leading You , Julie Hyde is joined by memory expert and Australian memory champion  Tansel Ali  for a fascinating conversation about memory, focus and mental performance in a world full of distractions. What makes Tansel’s story so powerful is that he didn’t begin with a brilliant memory. In fact, he believed the opposite. For years he saw himself as someone who constantly forgot things, struggled to retain information and relied on Post-it notes just to stay organised. Then everything changed. After discovering memory techniques through a friend, Tansel began deliberately training his brain. That journey led him to extraordinary achievements, including memorising two full Yellow Pages directories in just 24 days. It sounds impossible, yet his story is a reminder that the brain is far more trainable than most people realise. In this conversation we go beyond memory techniques. We explore how memory training strengthens focus, improves communication and supports clearer thinking, something that matters enormously for leaders navigating complex and fast-moving environments. We also talk about  cognitive overload , a challenge so…

People in this episode

Hosts: Julie Hyde, Julie

Guest: Tansel Ali

Topics covered

• memory
• focus
• mental performance
• cognitive overload
• leadership

Keywords

• memory techniques
• communication
• clear thinking
• cognitive overload

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Leading You

More episodes of Leading You

• The Overachiever's Reset with Fleur Marks · June 8, 2026 · 28 min
• What a Cereal Box and Your Identity Have in Common · June 1, 2026 · 14 min
• When the Title Stops Feeling Like You · May 25, 2026 · 34 min
• If You Feel Tired Right Now. Listen to This. · May 18, 2026 · 13 min
• Your Third Chapter. Focusing on Your Value. · May 11, 2026 · 20 min
• The Beliefs That Shape You (And the Ones That Don't.) · May 4, 2026 · 18 min