Why You Don't See What's Right in Front of You & The Surprising Truth About Sidewalks

Why You Don't See What's Right in Front of You & The Surprising Truth About Sidewalks

Author: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media July 30, 2026 Duration: 50:20
Stores and restaurants don't just play music to fill the silence. The tempo, volume, and even the style of music are often carefully chosen because they can quietly influence your behavior and even how much money you spend. Once you know what's happening, you'll start hearing those playlists very differently. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002224298204600313 Your brain performs an astonishing magic trick every second of every day. It decides what deserves your attention—and what doesn't. Most of the time that's incredibly helpful. But it also means important clues, costly mistakes, opportunities, and even obvious dangers can sit right in front of you without you ever noticing them. Why does that happen, and can you train yourself to see what you've been missing? Here to explain is Keelan Leyser, a digital illusionist and one of the world's leading experts on attention and perception. Along with the late neuropsychologist David Lewis, he is co-author of the book Unseen: Blind Spots and Why We Miss What Matters Most (https://amzn.to/4ylvxkh). Most of us walk on sidewalks without giving them a second thought. But once you start asking simple questions—Who actually owns the sidewalk? Who is responsible to maintain it? Why do some sidewalks suddenly end? And why do some streets have no sidewalks at all? —you discover that sidewalks are surprisingly complicated and have become the center of debates over property rights, public space, safety, and even free speech. Michael Pollack takes us into a world that's been hiding in plain sight. He is Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and author of the book Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America's Most Overlooked Resource (https://amzn.to/4fBOhEJ). When you suddenly need to buy something—a new refrigerator, a laptop, a plane ticket, almost anything—it's easy to assume you have no choice but to pay whatever it costs. In reality, there's one surprisingly simple habit that can keep "must buy it now" moments from quietly costing you hundreds of dollars over time. https://www.consumerreports.org/money/shopping/how-to-save-money-shopping-online/ 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 Hidden Science of Imagination & What AI Still Doesn't Understand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:11
Humans are remarkably bad at predicting how long something will take. Whether it's a home project, a work assignment, or even a quick trip across town, we almost always underestimate the time involved. Psychologists have…
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Anyone who has ever owned a dog has probably wondered what goes on inside that furry little head. Does your dog feel guilty after chewing up your favorite shoes? Does it know when you've had a bad day? Does it love you t…
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Duration: 50:06
When you're hungry, you know you're more interested in food. But hunger also changes the way you think—and the effects can spill over into decisions that have nothing to do with eating. Researchers have discovered some s…
SYSK TRENDING - Mysteries That Science Can’t Explain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:59
Some mysteries have been solved by science. Others remain surprisingly stubborn. Despite all our advances in technology and research, there are still questions that continue to puzzle some of the brightest minds on Earth…
How Slowing Down Makes Life Better & Why Every Brain Needs Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
Ever notice how your face turns bright red when you're embarrassed—and makes the whole situation even worse? As awkward as blushing feels, it isn't a design flaw. It's actually serving a purpose that's far more useful th…
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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 influ…