You are not bad with names. You were never taught how to remember them.
Join You Name It, a two-part live masterclass that teaches you a practical technique for remembering names and faces.
In three hours, you will meet twelve strangers and remember every name.
[ Date ] [ Day ] [ Time ]
Taught by Rena Yudkowsky, MSW, geriatric social worker and Licensed Brain Health Trainer by Dr. Amen.
You know the moments
Someone puts out a hand, says a name, and by the time you have finished saying, “Lovely to meet you,” it is gone.
Not fading. Gone.
Or someone waves to you across the grocery store, delighted to see you.
You know exactly who she is. You know her daughter. You know where she lives. You know she had a hip replacement last spring.
You know her face. You just cannot say her name.
So you say “Hello, you” a little too warmly. You keep the conversation moving and hope somebody else uses her name first. You avoid introducing her to the person standing next to you, because that is the moment everything falls apart.
And afterward, you say:
"I'm so sorry. I'm terrible with names."
Maybe you have been saying that for years. But being “terrible with names” does not have to be a fact about you.
It is a missing technique, and it is teachable.
“I was worried after the first class that I wasn’t capable of learning 12 names. At first it was overwhelming. But when you gave us a hook to hang our hats on, it went from being impossible to possible. What an empowering feeling!”
— Rita Wizenfeld
Why does a name disappear?
Start with something you already know is true about yourself: you remember the face. Every time.
You recognize the person across the store. You remember her hair, her glasses, her voice, the way she walks, and the details of her life. Your memory captured all of that.
But a name arrives differently. It often arrives as a sound. Sometimes quickly, sometimes in a noisy room, and sometimes while you are already thinking about what to say next.
Hair, glasses, voice, walk, her whole story. Plenty to hold onto. The face stays.
It arrives with nothing attached to it. Nothing to hold onto. The name disappears.
That does not mean you are incapable of remembering. It means the name needs something to hold onto.
The hook that makes a name stick
A hook is what your memory hangs the name on. Think of it like hanging your coat on a peg instead of leaving it on the floor.
When a name arrives with nothing connected to it, it is easy for that name to disappear. The technique you’ll learn in You Name It gives the name a hook: something memorable to attach it to. Once the name has a connection, your memory has something to retrieve later.
That is what this masterclass teaches:
- How to create a hook.
- How to connect the hook to a person's face.
- How to use the technique naturally in conversation.
- How to practice until it begins to feel familiar.
Not a random tip. Not a complicated theory. A practical method taught step by step, with fun and interactive practice built into both sessions.
The person who always remembers your name is not necessarily gifted
She may not have a better memory than you. She may not be paying more attention than you. She may not even be more interested in people than you are.
She simply knows what to do when a name is introduced. She has a method.
And you can learn it too.
In three hours, you'll meet twelve strangers and remember every name
Learn the technique
Before Rena teaches the technique, you will meet twelve faces and hear twelve names. You’ll write down the names you can remember.
This is not a test you can fail. It is your starting point.
You will also begin practicing with the names of the people attending the live Zoom session with you.
Then Rena will teach the technique step by step, with practice built into the session. No jargon. No sitting quietly while someone talks at you. You will use the technique while Rena guides you.
Practice until it feels natural
In the second session, you’ll practice again with new faces and names. You’ll continue working with the people in the Zoom group and strengthen the technique through repetition.
Then the original twelve faces will come back. You’ll write down the names again and see what you can recall.
You will not have to take Rena’s word for whether the technique helped. You will have your own two pieces of paper.
Three hours. One practical technique. Live practice with real people.
A before-and-after experience you can see for yourself.
What is included?
Two live sessions on Zoom
Two fun and interactive 90-minute sessions taught live by Rena.
The technique for remembering names
A practical hook-based method taught clearly and step by step.
Practice with twelve faces and names
You’ll work with twelve faces and names during the masterclass.
Practice with live Zoom participants
You’ll also practice remembering the names of the people attending the sessions with you.
Your before-and-after name recall exercise
You’ll test your recall at the beginning and again later so you can compare your experience.
The digital workbook
Follow along during the sessions and review the technique afterward.
A group of twenty, no more
Small enough that Rena can see when something is not landing for you, and fix it in the room.
This masterclass is for you if…
- You meet people often, but their names do not stay with you.
- You recognize faces immediately but struggle to retrieve names.
- You have been apologizing for forgetting names for years.
- You use a vague "hello" because you cannot remember what to call someone.
- You wait for somebody else to say a person's name first.
- You avoid introducing people because you are afraid of getting the name wrong.
- You attend community gatherings, religious events, work functions, classes, or social groups.
- You have never been taught a practical memory technique.
- You want to feel more comfortable and confident when greeting people you know.
You do not need to be naturally good at memory. You do not need complicated technology. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.
Bring yourself, something to write with, and a willingness to participate.
You will see it in writing, or you will not pay for it.
You take the names test at the start of session one. You take the same test in session two.
If your second sheet is not better than your first at all, even after attending both sessions, tell me and I will refund you in full.
I can offer that because the test is built into the class. I am not asking you to trust me. I am asking you to look at your own two pieces of paper.
Meet Rena. Why I am the one teaching this
I’m Rena Yudkowsky, MSW. I’m a professional memory coach and geriatric social worker with more than 30 years of experience. I’m also a Licensed Brain Health Trainer certified by Dr. Daniel Amen.
Before creating Memory Matters, I directed an Alzheimer’s unit in Maryland, trained caregivers, led support groups for seniors and spouse caregivers, and provided one-on-one memory coaching for an international anti-aging clinic.
I teach memory techniques to midlifers and older adults. My focus is helping people walk into a room and feel more confident greeting the people in it by name.
Over the years, I have watched which techniques people actually use afterward, and which ones they nod at during a class but forget.
You Name It is designed around a practical method, live participation, and guided practice.
“I attended your talk yesterday on remembering lists. I was simply amazed. When you first said the ‘sun’ list, I remembered 8 items. After you went over how to ‘connect’ the 20 items… I remembered 17. Before dinner, more than 6 hours since I had looked at the list, I was able to list all 20 (and still can). The results speak for themselves.”
— Judy, after one live session on remembering lists
“I learned to believe in myself, that I CAN remember whatever I need to.”
— H.K.
Join the next You Name It masterclass
In this fun and interactive masterclass, you'll receive:
- Two live 90-minute Zoom sessions.
- The hook-based technique for remembering names.
- Practice with twelve faces and names.
- Practice with the names of live Zoom participants.
- A before-and-after name recall exercise.
- The digital workbook.
- Replay access.
$997
One investment, paid once.
Twenty seats. When they are gone, they are gone until the next one.
- Secure checkout via ThriveCart
Next masterclass: Date to be announced
Frequently asked questions
How long is the masterclass?
There are two live 90-minute Zoom sessions, for three hours in total.
What happens during the sessions?
You’ll learn the technique, practice with twelve faces and names, and practice remembering the names of people attending the live Zoom sessions.
Is the masterclass interactive?
Yes. You will participate in exercises, practice the technique, and interact with the group. You will not simply watch a presentation.
What if I am the worst one there?
You will not be, and it would not matter if you were. Everyone arrives having never been taught this. That is why the pre-test happens before anything is taught, so you can see for yourself that the starting line is the same for the whole room.
What if I miss one of the sessions?
You will receive the replay so you can watch the missed session and continue with the program.
When is the next masterclass?
The next masterclass date is to be announced.
I have a memory-related diagnosis. Is this right for me?
If you are concerned whether this masterclass is the right fit, book a free 15-minute call with me and let’s discuss it.
Will this help with anything other than names?
This masterclass focuses specifically on names and faces. Names are taught properly and practiced during the sessions rather than briefly covered as one tip among many.
In three hours, you'll meet twelve strangers and remember every name.
And the next time someone waves to you across the store, you’ll say her name before she says yours.
You will have a practical technique to use instead of relying on “Hello, you” and hoping somebody else says the name first.