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Something You Should Know

How Much of “You” is Heredity? & Martin Cooper: The Father of the Cellphone - SYSK Choice

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

Science, Education, Health & Fitness, Social Sciences, Self-improvement

4.64K Ratings

🗓️ 27 December 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

There is a three-letter word in the English language that holds more meanings than any other word. You’ve probably said it several times today without realizing how complex it really is. This episode begins with the surprising story behind that word. https://www.rd.com/article/most-complicated-word-in-english/ How much of who you are comes from your genes — and how much comes from the home you grew up in? Heredity is powerful, but also widely misunderstood. Some traits truly are inherited, while others only seem hereditary because families share environments, habits, and experiences. Carl Zimmer joins me to untangle the science. He writes for The New York Times and is author of She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions and Potential of Heredity (https://amzn.to/2IG8KKR) Do you know who made the very first cellphone call? You’re about to hear directly from him. Martin Cooper — often called the father of the cellphone — helped pioneer the entire foundation of cellular technology during his time at Motorola. He shares the story behind that historic first call and offers insight into how mobile technology will continue to transform our lives. Martin is author of Cutting the Cord: The Cell Phone Has Transformed Humanity (https://amzn.to/38aXwIV). Sneakers are now everyday footwear, but they weren’t always. They began as specialized athletic shoes and took decades to become the cultural staple we know today. This episode wraps up with a look at the surprising history of sneakers and how they finally crossed over into mainstream life. https://www.factmonster.com/culture-entertainment/fashion/history-sneakers PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! QUINCE: Give and get timeless holiday staples that last this season with Quince.  Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! AG1: Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://DrinkAG1.com/SYSK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe!  NOTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Notion brings all your notes, docs, and projects into one connected space that just works . It's seamless, flexible, powerful, and actually fun to use! Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://notion.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, this… is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. SHOPIFY:  Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

At Liddle, find wines you'll love this new year.

0:03.0

Buy any three or more deluxe wines and get 30% off with Lidl Plus, like our award-winning Barossa Valley Shiraz or Marl Brasovion Blanc. Cheers to that. Lidl. More to value. Be drinkaway 18 plus, subject to availability. Selected stores, exclude Scotland and Wales, selected bottles only, ends 31st of the 12th. Terms apply. See little.orgut. slash LPTV.

0:21.4

Today on something you should know, what word bottles only and 35th of the 12th, terms apply see little.com.ukau dk slash LPTV.

0:27.7

Today on something you should know, what word in the English language has the most meanings,

0:34.4

and it's only three letters long? Then, what is heredity, and how much are you really like your parents?

0:39.3

It's not like just because you look like one of your parents, you are more like them in some sort of deep way.

0:40.3

You inherit 50% of your genes from one parent, 50% from the other.

0:44.3

So genetically speaking, you know, you're just a perfect, you know, 50-50 split between your parents.

0:49.3

Also, where did sneakers or tennis shoes come from?

0:53.3

And you'll meet the father of the modern cell phone.

0:57.1

He actually made the very first public cell phone call, and he has high hopes for the future.

1:03.2

Think of what the potential of a cell phone.

1:05.9

The UN did a study that showed that 1.2 billion people in Africa moved out of severe property, mostly

1:14.0

because of their cell phone. All this today on Something You Should Know.

1:20.4

Hi, babe. What a day. Fancy saying in tonight instead. Mackey's calling my name, and I saw you can get

1:24.6

five pounds off if you spend 2020 on the app so you win?

1:28.6

Of course you are. Okay, bye! Exclusively on the McDonald's app. Save £5 when you spend £20 on food and drink via delivery. Tise and C supply. 18 plus. Service and delivery fees apply. Valid once per week, first to the 31st of January. Participating restaurants serving times apply. Something you should know. fascinating intel, the world's top experts, and practical advice you can use in your life.

1:50.0

Today, Something You Should Know with Mike Carruthers.

1:54.0

Hi, welcome to Something You Should Know.

1:57.0

We start today with an interesting question. Which word in the English language

2:03.6

has the most different meanings? Unless you know it, you probably won't believe it. It's only

2:10.6

three letters, but it has 645 meanings according to the Oxford English Dictionary. And the word is run. Think about it. You can run to

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