Do Plants Think? & Why Dining Out Feels So Expensive - SYSK Choice

Do Plants Think? & Why Dining Out Feels So Expensive - SYSK Choice

Author: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media May 2, 2026 Duration: 51:18
If you ever feel a wave of anxiety or that vague sense of dread, your first instinct probably isn’t to reach for a pain reliever. But there’s evidence that something you already have in your medicine cabinet may affect more than just physical pain—and the reason why is surprisingly unexpected. https://www.livescience.com/28770-tylenol-eases-existential-dread.html Plants don’t have brains—so how could they possibly be intelligent? Yet research suggests plants can sense threats, communicate with each other, and even change their behavior in ways that seem surprisingly strategic. Zoë Schlanger, award-winning writer for The Atlantic and author of The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth (https://amzn.to/4deE12f), explores this hidden world and explains how plants may be far more responsive and complex than we ever imagined. Dining out often comes with sticker shock. Between rising menu prices, service charges, and tipping, a simple meal can add up quickly. But what’s actually driving those costs? And why do some insiders argue that restaurants may still be underpriced? Andrew Friedman takes us behind the scenes of the restaurant industry and reveals the complex economics, labor, and logistics that shape the price of what ends up on your plate. He is author of the book The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (https://amzn.to/3xWJjiE). Let out a good sigh—it might do more than you think. People all over the world sigh, often without realizing it, and it plays a role in both how we communicate and how our bodies function. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-babble/201304/why-do-we-sigh PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince! Go to ⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: See less carts go abandoned with Shopify and their Shop Pay button! 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

Curiosity is a powerful engine, and Something You Should Know is built on the idea that a single conversation can shift your perspective in a meaningful way. Host Mike Carruthers, through OmniCast Media, sits down with researchers, authors, and practitioners across a surprisingly wide spectrum-from neuroscience and health to social dynamics and personal finance. The aim isn't just to accumulate facts, but to uncover practical wisdom you can apply directly. You might hear a psychologist explain the simple habit that strengthens relationships, followed by an economist demystifying how to build lasting wealth, and then a physiologist breaking down the real science behind effective fitness. This podcast operates on the belief that improvement is multifaceted; a tip for saving time can be as valuable as understanding a new scientific discovery. Each episode is a self-contained dive into a topic that could very well change your approach to your career, your health, or your daily routine. The tone is conversational and grounded, focusing on actionable takeaways rather than abstract theory. By weaving together insights from the fields of science, education, and self-improvement, the show provides a toolkit for navigating life's complexities. It’s the kind of listening that leaves you with something concrete-a strategy, a new understanding, or a piece of advice that resonates long after the episode ends.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Something You Should Know
Podcast Episodes
What’s Really Controlling Your Money? & When to Quit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:02
Most people think they’re good drivers. But there’s one simple thing you can do—or not do—that has a surprisingly big impact on how well you drive. It takes almost no effort, yet skipping it can quietly increase your cha…
How to Build Confidence Fast & Why You Keep Procrastinating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:20
Your name is one of the first things people learn about you—but it may also influence how they judge you. Research suggests that people with names that are harder to pronounce can face subtle disadvantages in hiring, pro…
SYSK TRENDING - How to Become More Resilient [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:20
Everyone faces setbacks—moments when things don’t go as planned, when stress builds, or when life just feels heavier than it should. The difference is, some people seem to recover quickly, while others struggle to regain…
Why Siblings Turn Out So Different & Why Talking to Strangers Helps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:58
You can spend $5 on a bottle of wine—or $5,000. But is one really that much better than the other? Or could something else be shaping what you taste in that glass? Researchers have taken a closer look—and what they found…
Favorite Superstitions Explained & Weird Science Quirks – SYSK Choice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:08
Apologizing seems like the obvious thing to do when you’ve done something wrong. It’s supposed to make things right—and make you feel better. But interestingly, there’s something else that can feel even better than sayin…
What Really Makes Someone Attractive? & When Work Takes Over Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
You’ve heard it a thousand times: too much sugar is bad for you. But what does that actually mean? What is sugar really doing inside your body that makes it so harmful—and why is it so hard to cut back once you start? ht…
SYSK TRENDING: Understanding Déjà Vu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:34
Almost everyone has experienced déjà vu—that strange, fleeting feeling that what’s happening right now has somehow already happened before. It can be subtle or intensely vivid, sometimes even a little unsettling. For a m…
How You Perceive Colors & The Ways Heat Can Make You Healthy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:44
That eerie feeling that someone is watching you—even when no one is there—can be surprisingly convincing. It feels almost like a sixth sense. But where does that sensation come from, and can you actually trust it? https:…