Why do names disappear from your brain seconds after you hear them?

It’s not bad memory—it’s bad attention.

In this episode, we break down the real neuroscience behind why you forget names instantly. While someone is introducing themselves, your brain is busy managing first impressions, planning responses, and scanning for social threats. The result? The name never even makes it into memory.

You’ll learn why faces are remembered automatically but names aren’t, why your brain needs about eight seconds of focused attention to store new information, and simple, practical tricks that actually make names stick.

If you’ve ever felt embarrassed asking someone for their name again, this episode will change how you think about memory—and how you use it.