Why Audiences Behave the Way They Do & The Hidden Benefits of Uncertainty - SYSK Choice

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

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

4.6 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Who doesn’t love the smell of a fresh Christmas tree? That unmistakable pine scent isn’t just nostalgic — it may actually have measurable benefits. We start this episode with a look at why the aroma of pine can lift your mood, help you relax, and enhance your holiday season. Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/the-healing-power-of-pine Audiences are remarkable. Whether it’s a play, a movie, or a concert, something special happens when people gather — a shared energy that shapes how we feel and how performers respond. But how did audiences become “a thing”? Why do we applaud? And how did we learn the unspoken rules of audience behavior? Theatre historian Robert Viagas, Editor-in-Chief of Encore Monthly and longtime Playbill veteran, joins me to explore the fascinating evolution of audiences. He’s author of Right This Way: A History of the Audience. (https://amzn.to/46F8lOS) We love certainty — confident leaders, clear answers, and firm decisions. Yet uncertainty can be surprisingly powerful. Journalist Maggie Jackson explains how not knowing can spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and ultimately lead to better choices. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Business Week, Vanity Fair, and Wired.com. She’s the author of Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure. (https://amzn.to/3Gli42b) Want to get more done in less time? We wrap up with three simple but highly effective productivity techniques from expert Don Wetmore that can help streamline your day and boost your efficiency. Source: https://productivity-institute.com/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! AURA FRAMES: Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://AuraFrames.com⁠⁠⁠ and get $45 off Aura's best selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code SOMETHING at checkout. DAVID GREENE IS OBSESSED: We love the "David Greene Is Obsessed" podcast! Listen at ⁠ https://link.mgln.ai/SYSK⁠ or wherever you get your podcasts. 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! DELL: It’s time for Cyber Monday at Dell Technologies. Save big on PCs like the Dell 16 Plus featuring Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Shop now at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on something you should know, the benefits of smelling a Christmas tree and all it can do for you.
0:09.0	Then the psychology and magic of an audience.
0:12.0	It's interesting how unanimous audiences can be. When something funny happens, you don't
0:17.5	like get half the audience laughing and the other half of the audience growling.
0:21.3	Audiences tend to pick up energy from the other people and they tend to reach unanimity.
0:27.9	Also, three powerful ways that will help you get more done in less time. And the art and science
0:35.0	of uncertainty and why being unsure of yourself can actually be a good thing.
0:40.3	It's a real game changer when you can begin to see that uncertainty is a wonderful signal that you don't know.
0:49.3	And now you can investigate. In fact, uncertainty is actually highly related to curiosity.
0:55.7	All this today on something you should know.
1:00.5	Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie and Fitch. Between family dinners and making time
1:05.3	to catch up with friends, my calendar gets booked up. When I need to look put together,
1:10.6	Abercrombie makes it easy to find outfits for all of my fans. With their classic jumpers, essential hoodies and Abercrombie denim, I've got my holiday fits covered for the whole season. Shop Abercrombie in the app, online and in stores.
1:33.2	Something You Should Know.
1:39.8	Fascinating Intel, the world's top experts, and practical advice you can use in your life.
1:43.7	Today, Something You Should Know with Mike Carruthers.
1:46.7	Hi, welcome to Something You Should Know.
1:53.9	One of the great things about the holiday season I think most people can agree on is all the smells that smell like the holidays.
1:56.7	And the one smell I think that universally is loved is the smell of a Christmas tree, a pine tree.
2:04.0	The power of pine is supposedly actually good for you.
2:09.0	For centuries, some people have gone to great lengths to get access to ancient pine forests for their healing powers.
2:17.5	The scent of pine has been found to reduce stress, hostility, and depression.
	...

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