How to Read People & The Most Extreme Things on Earth – SYSK Choice

How to Read People & The Most Extreme Things on Earth – SYSK Choice

Author: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media August 1, 2026 Duration: 47:24
Have you ever met someone named Lucy and thought, "She really looks like a Lucy"? As strange as it sounds, scientists have discovered there may be more truth to that feeling than you realize. Your name may actually influence the way you look—or at least the way other people see you. Listen as I explain this fascinating research and what it reveals about the surprising connection between names and faces.https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405334121 We all give away far more than we think. Tiny facial expressions, subtle gestures, the way we sit, stand, or even touch our face can reveal confidence, nervousness, deception, attraction, and much more. Once you know what to look for, it's almost impossible not to notice these hidden signals. Joining me is Peter Collett, a social psychologist who taught at Oxford University and is internationally recognized for his expertise in human behavior and nonverbal communication. He is author of How To Tell What People Are Thinking From the Bedroom to the Boardroom (https://amzn.to/3WVytDM). This conversation is packed with practical insights that can help you read people more accurately in everyday life. What is the brightest thing in the universe? The stickiest substance? The loudest sound? The coldest place? The fastest, slowest, biggest and smallest things imaginable? Nature has some astonishing record holders—and many of them are far stranger than fiction. David Darling, science writer, astronomer, and author of nearly 50 books, including Ka-boom!: The Science of Extremes (https://amzn.to/3X5gTgJ), takes us on a tour of the most incredible extremes in science, nature, and the universe. You'll come away with a collection of facts you'll be repeating to people for weeks. Why does food often seem to taste better after a simple ritual—like singing "Happy Birthday" before eating cake? It turns out the ritual itself may be changing your experience in ways you never realized. Listen as I explain the surprising psychology behind this effect and why small rituals can make everything from meals to everyday experiences more enjoyable.https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/to-savor-the-flavor-perform-a-short-ritual-first.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. 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 INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/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: 50

Something You Should Know
Podcast Episodes
The Surprising Power of Swearing & How to Build Confidence Fast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:34
Want to significantly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep? There is one surprisingly simple thing you can do during the day that may actually help you sleep better that night. And no, it doesn’t involve…
SYSK TRENDING - Are The Added Ingredients In Food All That Bad? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:23
Processed food has gotten a pretty terrible reputation. We’re warned to avoid foods with long ingredient lists, mysterious additives and chemical names we can’t pronounce. “Ultra-processed” has practically become another…
How to Get Better Healthcare & The Strange Ways Weather Affects You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:44
Ever notice that the trip home often seems shorter than the trip there—even when the distance and travel time are exactly the same? It happens so often that researchers have given it a name: the “return trip effect.” And…
SYSK TRENDING - How to Improve Your Focus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:04
It seems like paying attention should be easy. Yet for many of us, it has become one of the hardest things to do. We start reading an article and suddenly we're checking email. We pick up our phone to do one thing and, t…
Inside Amazon's Empire & How Social Media Is Rewriting Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
Have you ever caught yourself saying, "It smells like rain"? It turns out that distinctive scent is very real—and it's not your imagination. Scientists know exactly where it comes from, why some people notice it more tha…
The Psychology of Infidelity & How to Improve Your Executive Function [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:48
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to lose their hearing gradually while insisting they hear just fine? It turns out this isn't simply denial or stubbornness. The way hearing fades can fool the brain into believ…
SYSK TRENDING - Understanding Physical Intelligence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:26
Most of us think of intelligence as something that happens entirely in the brain. But there's another kind of intelligence that lives in your body. It's what allows you to ride a bicycle years after your last ride, catch…