Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
Sometimes all it takes is one little fact or one little piece of wisdom to change your life forever. That's the purpose and the hope of "Something You Should Know." In each episode, host Mike Carruthers interviews top experts in their field to bring you fascinating information and advice to help you save time and money, advance in your career, become wealthy, improve your relationships and help you simply get more out of life. In addition, Mike uncovers and shares short, engaging pieces of "intel" you can use to make your life better - today. Right now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2026 • 28min
SYSK TRENDING - Why Your Consciousness is Unique
Anil Seth, professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience and author of Being You, explores how your brain constructs reality and the sense of self. He discusses why two people can perceive the same scene so differently. He covers sleep, psychedelics, time perception with aging, and why consciousness seems to end with brain activity.
May 11, 2026 • 49min
Why You Hate Uncertainty & The New Science of Living Longer
Dr. Florence Comite, endocrinologist and longevity expert focused on precision medicine and biomarkers. Simone Stolzoff, journalist exploring why we crave answers and how to live with uncertainty. They discuss how stepping back sparks insights. They unpack why uncertainty feels worse than certainty, how to tolerate it, and practical biology-based ways to track and improve health for a longer, healthier life.
16 snips
May 9, 2026 • 51min
How to Get Better at Anything & Why So Many People Like Tattoos - SYSK Choice
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.
13 snips
May 7, 2026 • 49min
The Science of Getting Lucky & What People Secretly Google
Simon Rogers, Google data editor who studies search patterns, and Tina Seelig, Stanford educator on entrepreneurship and luck, join to explore human curiosity and chance. They discuss how everyday habits and small risks increase 'luck.' They reveal what billions of searches say about shared worries, help-seeking, and surprising optimism. Conversations cover building networks, simple follow-ups, and what trending queries expose about people.
27 snips
May 5, 2026 • 27min
SYSK TRENDING-How to Negotiate by Asking the Right Questions
Alexandra Carter, Clinical Professor of Law and mediation clinic director and author of Ask for More, teaches practical question-based negotiation tactics. She explains why negotiation is for everyone. Short, actionable frameworks like mirror and window questions, 'Tell me...' prompts, and asking 'What do you need?' show how better questions change outcomes.
28 snips
May 4, 2026 • 49min
The Trouble with Thinking Outside the Box & What Hunger is Really Telling You
Dr. Jason Fung, MD and bestselling author on metabolism, explains different kinds of hunger and practical ways to manage cues and portions. David Epstein, author who studies talent and performance, shows how constraints and visible commitments boost creativity and productivity. They discuss limits vs freedom, conditioned eating, practical hacks like meal order and environment design.
10 snips
May 2, 2026 • 51min
Do Plants Think? & Why Dining Out Feels So Expensive - SYSK Choice
Zoë Schlanger, Atlantic writer who studies plant behavior, and Andrew Friedman, culinary writer and restaurant insider, join to explore quirky science and restaurant realities. Zoë describes how plants sense, signal, and react without brains. Andrew breaks down why dining out feels pricey, from menu math to tipping and where restaurants actually make money.
35 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 48min
What AI Is Really Good At & That Feeling You Get When You Don’t Fit In
Claude Steele, Stanford social psychologist who studies identity and belonging, and Christopher Mims, tech columnist focused on practical AI uses, dive into what draws us in and what AI can actually do today. They explore processing fluency and attractiveness, where current AI shines and fails, personalization and tool integration, and small mindset shifts that ease social tension.
Apr 28, 2026 • 25min
SYSK TRENDING -The Truth About Cynicism
Dr. Jamil Zaki, Stanford psychology professor who studies empathy and trust, joins to unpack cynicism. He discusses why cynicism feels protective and how it spreads. He contrasts cynicism with skepticism and reviews research showing people are more cooperative than assumed. He offers ways to challenge cynical instincts and rebuild trust through small, evidence-based steps.
21 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 48min
What Is “Now”? & How to Deal with Poisonous People
Jo Marchant, science writer exploring how the brain constructs the present moment. Leanne Tenbrink, psychologist who studies deception and harmful personalities. They unpack why “now” feels elusive and malleable, how attention and memory shape time, how some people drain or manipulate others, and practical ways to spot and protect yourself from those harmful patterns.
