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Something You Should Know

The Dark Side of Achievement & The Astonishing Science of the Sea-SYSK Choice

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

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

4.64K Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why are the numbers 1, 2, and 3 across the top of a phone keypad but across the bottom of a calculator? It’s not random — and once you hear the logic, you’ll never look at a keypad the same way again. That’s just one of three quirky mysteries I explain at the start of this episode, along with surprising insights about portholes and time. Source: Ivan Semeniuk, co-author of Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze? (https://amzn.to/3sf8muM) Achievement can be wonderful — until it starts defining your worth. When you believe you matter only because of what you accomplish, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even shame. Journalist and social commentator Jennifer Wallace, author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It( https://amzn.to/49jkdIQ), reveals how modern “achievement culture” took hold, why it’s making so many people miserable, and how to redefine success so it actually feels good. The ocean covers 70% of our planet, yet we’ve explored only a fraction of it. Beneath the surface lies an astonishing, interconnected system that shapes everything from our weather to our food. Physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski, author of The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works (https://amzn.to/3scCyXo), takes us on a fascinating deep dive into the hidden forces that drive the sea — and why there’s really only one global ocean. According to one marriage expert, there’s a remarkably simple thing any woman can do to motivate the man in her life — and it works every time. It’s quick, it’s easy, and the results may surprise you. Source: David Clarke, PhD, author of The Total Marriage Makeover (https://amzn.to/3QoIvZD). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! QUINCE: Layer up this fall with pieces that feel as good as they look! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! ON POINT: We love the On Point podcast! Listen wherever you get your podcasts! ⁠⁠https://www.wbur.org/radio/programs/onpoint⁠⁠ SHOPIFY: Shopify is the commerce platform for millions of businesses around the world! To start selling today, sign up for your $1 per month trial at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:10.3

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Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time. From startups to scaleups, online,

0:20.1

in person and on the go. Shopify is made for

0:22.8

entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.

0:31.5

Today on something you should know, the answers to three questions you've probably wondered about,

0:38.8

about calculators, portholes, and time. Then, toxic achievement, it's when you define yourself by your success.

0:45.3

The messages perhaps that you got growing up were that you're only as good as your success.

0:51.3

So when you're not successful, that's when you can really, really struggle.

0:56.5

When we really couple our worth to our achievements, it makes us less resilient. Also, one simple

1:03.9

thing women can do to motivate any man, and a peek below the surface at what's going on in our oceans.

1:11.6

And there's a lot going on.

1:13.5

I do think that we need to get away from this idea that the dominant thing we know about the ocean is that it's mysterious.

1:19.4

You know, if you want mystery, look into space, it's empty.

1:22.3

The ocean is doing so many interesting and beautiful things.

1:26.2

All this today on Something You Should Know.

1:31.3

Hi, Bald. It's me, Trixie Mattel, skinny legend, and board certified HVAC Somali.

1:36.1

And me, Katia Zamalachikova, the sweatiest creature in showbiz, reminding you to subscribe to

1:40.5

the Bald and the Beautiful podcast. Listen as we cover topics as varied as proper

1:44.6

bidet usage, celebrity impression tutorials, and a television show I recently watched that I'll

1:50.2

base my entire personality on for six weeks. As well as creative pest control, tasty

...

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