How to speed read podcasts and videos

Start at 400 words a minute. People speak at about 150 words a minute. You read at 238 or more. A transcript read at 400 words a minute covers an hour of talk in about 22 minutes.

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The method, in four steps

Import the episode or the video link. It is transcribed to text.
Read the transcript at 350 to 450.
Listen to the audio only for the parts where tone matters.
Quiz yourself. Spoken content is loose, and the quiz shows what the point was.

The mistake to avoid

Treating a conversation like an essay. Talk wanders. Read for the three things worth keeping.

See the pace first

Not sure what 400 words a minute looks like? Take the 400 wpm test, or measure your own speed and start 50 above it.

Questions

How fast should I read podcasts and videos?

Start at 400 words a minute and adjust by the quiz: at 80% or better, go up 25; below that, come down 50. The adult average is 238 for non-fiction.

What is the biggest mistake when speed reading podcasts and videos?

Treating a conversation like an essay. Talk wanders. Read for the three things worth keeping.

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