Why Some Ideas Change the World & Black Holes: Science’s Greatest Enigma - SYSK Choice

Why Some Ideas Change the World & Black Holes: Science’s Greatest Enigma - SYSK Choice

Author: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media July 4, 2026 Duration: 51:25
The lottery is one of the few games where everyone knows the odds are terrible—and millions of people play anyway. Why? It turns out there are some fascinating psychological reasons people buy lottery tickets, along with a few surprising facts about the odds and strategies that most players never consider. https://www.wired.com/video/watch/lottery-strategy When Uber launched, many people thought the idea was ridiculous. Let strangers drive you around in their personal cars? Airbnb faced similar skepticism. Why would anyone stay in a stranger's house? Yet these companies went on to reshape entire industries. The same is true of Twitter, Twitch, and many other breakthrough businesses. What separates ideas that change the world from ideas that never get off the ground? According to venture capitalist Mike Maples Jr., truly transformative companies don't succeed by being slightly better than the competition—they succeed by seeing the world differently. In this conversation, Mike explains the patterns behind history's most disruptive startups, why the best ideas often sound wrong at first, and what it takes to build something that changes the future. Mike is co-founder of Floodgate, one of Silicon Valley's premier seed-stage investment firms, host of the podcast Starting Greatness (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-greatness/id1488560647), and author of Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future (https://amzn.to/3W8BXlT). Black holes may be the most mysterious objects in the universe. Their gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape. Yet despite their reputation as cosmic vacuum cleaners, black holes do much more than simply swallow things. In fact, astronomers now believe that the giant black hole at the center of our galaxy may have played a critical role in making life on Earth possible. How can something so destructive also be so important? Why does nearly every galaxy appear to have a supermassive black hole at its center? And what have scientists learned recently that is forcing them to rethink these extraordinary objects? Marcus Chown, former radio astronomer at Caltech and author of A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage (https://amzn.to/3W9cFUE), takes us on a fascinating tour of one of the strangest and most important discoveries in modern science. Most people rely on sunscreen as their primary defense against skin cancer—and for good reason. Yet skin cancer rates continue to rise. Researchers are increasingly discovering that sun protection may involve more than what you put on your skin. Emerging evidence suggests that what you put on your plate could also influence how your skin responds to the sun. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/well/eat/diet-skin-cancer-risk-melanoma.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty!  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: 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 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
Has Therapy Gone Too Far? & The Hidden Genius of Birds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:56
Need a favor? The way you ask may matter as much as what you're asking for. Researchers have found that a few simple changes in how you make a request can dramatically increase the chances someone will say yes—and most p…
The Proven Magic of Being Outdoors & The  Curious History of A, B, C [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
Many ballpoint pens have a particular design feature intended to save your life – if necessary. It's one of those clever features most people never notice and hopefully never have to use yet millions of pens contain it.…
SYSK TRENDING-How Your Circadian Rhythm Runs Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:14
Can you train yourself to become a night owl—or an early bird? Millions of people try. They force themselves to stay up later, wake up earlier, or work overnight because that's what life demands. But can your body really…
SYSK TRENDING - The Extraordinary Benefits of Watching Sports [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:03
With all of the recent excitement surrounding the NBA & Stanley Cup finals and the World Cup you might wonder why do millions of people spend hours every week watching sports? Most people think of it as entertainment, a…
How GPS Quietly Runs the World & When Illness Has No Obvious Cause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
Ever notice when you hear someone talking on the phone nearby it’s hard not to listen? You are only hearing one-side of the conversation and that can drive your brain crazy. It’s not just annoying and distracting it can…