SYSK TRENDING - Why Your Consciousness is Unique

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

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

4.5 • 4.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if your experience of reality isn’t real—but something your brain is creating? And what does it really mean to be you? It sounds abstract, even a little out there. But scientists are actively studying these questions, and what they’re discovering is both fascinating and a bit unsettling. The way you perceive reality—what you see, hear, and feel—may not be a direct reflection of the world at all. Instead, it could be something your brain is actively constructing in real time. Anil Seth, professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Sussex, has spent years exploring how consciousness works. In our conversation, he explains how your brain creates your sense of self, why your experience of reality is unique to you, and how two people can live in the same world yet experience it very differently. He is author of Being You: A New Science of Consciousness (https://amzn.to/3DvkibU). If you’ve ever wondered why you see the world the way you do—or what’s really behind that experience—this discussion will likely change how you think about your own mind. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. Head to ⁠⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back. RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! 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

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have you ever wondered why people often don't see things the way you do?
0:07.1	Well, there's a reason for that.
0:09.1	It has to do with what makes you you.
0:12.7	It might seem obvious that you are, your memories, your personality, your experiences,
0:18.8	but what if your consciousness, the very way you experience reality, is completely
0:24.2	unique? And that's why today's SYSK trending topic is why your consciousness is unique.
0:31.3	In my conversation with neuroscientist Anil Seth, who has spent years studying how the brain constructs our sense of
0:39.8	self and reality. He explains why your perception of the world is more like a controlled
0:45.8	hallucination than a direct recording. If you've ever wondered why no one else sees the world
0:51.8	quite the way you do, this episode will change how you think about
0:56.4	being alive. And we'll get to that right after this. So here's a big question. What does it mean
1:07.6	to be you? As you sit there or stand there, you are aware of who you are and you're aware of your surroundings.
1:17.1	You are you. You're a conscious being.
1:19.9	And you're different from every other conscious being.
1:23.2	You have a sense, a consciousness as to who you are.
1:27.6	Yet when you're asleep, or, say, when you're under anesthesia, you are not you.
1:33.3	You're not aware during that time.
1:35.9	So where did you go?
1:37.6	I know all this sounds a little woo-woo and philosophical, but it isn't, when you hear it
1:42.8	discussed by my guest, Anil Seth.
1:45.6	He is a professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Sussex,
1:51.3	and he is author of a book called Being You, A New Science of Consciousness.
	...

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