Welcome to the Cognitive Engineering podcast. Occasionally coherent musings of Aleph Insights. We hope you like listening to them as much as we like recording them.
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Whatever happened to the Swiss army knife? Fraser, Nick and Peter explore the history and appeal of the pocket-sized multi-tool.
From the Swiss army knife to printers, sporks and cycling tools, the team considers what makes combining functions worthwhile and when adding another feature makes everything less useful. Along the way, they discuss the enormous Wenger Giant, the case for specialist tools, and whether a world where everything fits together inevitably loses something along the way.
The 'Wenger Giant' - https://sakukshop.com/product/wenger-giant/
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7 Oct 2026
Two-by-Two Matrices
Can everything be made easier with two questions and four boxes? Fraser, Nick and Peter explore the undying appeal of 2×2 matrices, and ask how they can help us prioritise tasks, classify information and choose an analytical approach.
From the Eisenhower matrix to known unknowns, the team discusses what makes a useful matrix, how to choose its axes and why an empty quadrant can prompt an unexpected insight. They also consider when matrices go wrong, the risks of oversimplification, and why you should never trust a man with a cube. Finally, Nick shares some of his most illustrious matrix moments.
Quote Investigator on the 'Eisenhower Matrix': https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/05/09/urgent/
Cognitive Engineering episode about personality tests: https://podcast.alephinsights.com/episode/personality-tests/
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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30 Sept 2026
Looming
Why can a deadline weeks away cast a shadow over today, while a threat such as climate change can feel distant? Fraser, Nick and Peter explore how we detect approaching danger and how that response drives anxiety, fear and procrastination.
The conversation begins with locusts watching Star Wars, then moves from collision avoidance to the way humans judge threats. Along the way, the team discusses why diaries can make future obligations feel closer, the time-as-distance metaphor, whether making a deadline feel urgent actually helps and how an endlessly rising sound can create a sense that something is about to happen.
Rind and Simmons describe what happens when locusts watch Star Wars: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1479436/
Sharp Edge Eye Syndrome: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9675685/
Threat imminence and the periaqueductal grey: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17717184/
Threatening students seem closer than repulsive students: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23160204/
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.1 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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