How to Get Better at Anything & Why So Many People Like Tattoos - SYSK Choice

16 snips

May 9, 2026

Guest

Matt Lodder

Guest

Scott Young

Meet Matt Lodder, art historian who studies tattoo history, and Scott Young, writer on learning and mastery. They explore why tattoos endure across cultures and how people choose and later view permanent body art. They also unpack what truly speeds skill improvement, from targeted practice to learning from others. Short, lively takes on meaning, trends, and smart ways to get better.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Get An Outside Eye To Reveal Hidden Errors

Use a coach or external observer to get feedback you cannot see in the moment.
Young explains coaches spot kinematic errors (e.g., golf swing) and relieve working memory limits during performance.

INSIGHT

Watch Experts To Narrow Down What Actually Works

Observing experts is essential early because demonstrations prune the huge space of ineffective approaches.
Young notes this is especially true for intellectual tasks like math or drawing where methods are learned from others.

INSIGHT

Enjoyment Often Follows Competence Not Precedes It

People tend to like skills more after they become competent, and the sweet spot for enjoyment is the flow zone between too easy and too hard.
Young references Csikszentmihalyi's flow to explain why struggle can coexist with enjoyment.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

When buying a car, color might seem like a purely personal choice. But it turns out that picking a less popular color could actually pay off later in a surprising way—especially when it’s time to sell. Source: Westways Magazine Summer 2024 / “Color Considerations”

What does it really take to get better at something? Is it just practice—or is there a smarter way to improve? Why do some people seem to make rapid progress while others plateau? Scott Young, writer, podcast host (https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/podcast/), and author of Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery (https://amzn.to/3JOQ60k), breaks down what actually works when it comes to learning and skill-building. In our conversation, he explains the principles that separate effective practice from wasted effort—and how small adjustments can lead to much faster improvement.

Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, yet their popularity today seems higher than ever. What draws people to permanently mark their bodies? Do they regret it later—or does the meaning deepen over time? Matt Lodder, senior lecturer in art history at the University of Essex and one of the world’s leading experts on tattoo history, takes us inside this fascinating world. He is author of Painted People: 5,000 Years of Tattooed History from Sailors and Socialites to Mummies and Kings (https://amzn.to/4bdVJlb), and in our discussion he explores the cultural, psychological, and historical reasons tattoos continue to hold such strong appeal.

Humming might seem like a small, almost unconscious habit—but it can have a surprisingly positive effect on how you feel. And there’s more going on behind it than you might think. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/humming-for-self-care-tool-for-leaders-toolboxes-1234956725/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back.

POCKET HOSE: For a limited time, when you purchase a new Pocket Hose Ballistic, you'll get a FREE 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a FREE thumb drive nozzle! Just text SYSK to 64000

RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

PLANET VISIONARIES : We love the Planet Visionaries podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Listen or watch on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you are listening to this podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices