Podcast Summary: Something You Should Know

Episode: How to See What Others Don’t & What Pain Is Really Telling You
Date: April 18, 2026
Host: Mike Carruthers
Guests: Amy Herman (Author, Visual Intelligence), Dr. Anish Singla (Physician, Pain Specialist)

Episode Overview

This episode explores two fascinating themes: developing “visual intelligence”–the ability to notice what others miss and draw richer meaning from what we see–and understanding the purpose and perception of pain. Host Mike Carruthers interviews Amy Herman, who has trained the FBI, Navy SEALs, and more in visual acuity and perspective, and Dr. Anish Singla, who offers insights into why pain exists, why we experience it so differently, and when it can even be helpful.

Segment 1: Why Is Talking on the Phone While Driving So Dangerous?

[02:55–05:18]

• Key Insight: Studies from University of Kansas show driving while talking on the phone (even hands-free) divides attention, specifically deactivating parts of the brain responsible for vision.
  • “Even though your eyes are open and you can see everything, you miss critical visual information, like that car coming at you at the intersection. This is why you’re four times more likely to have an accident if you’re talking on the phone.” – Mike Carruthers [03:34]

Segment 2: Visual Intelligence with Amy Herman

[05:18–28:36]

What is Visual Intelligence?

• Definition: “It’s two things. The first is seeing what other people don’t. And the other is gaining clarity from multiple perspectives.” – Amy Herman [05:32]
• “Most people...think: ‘I see it, so this is the way it is.’ The truth is, nobody else sees it the way I do...I have a lot to gain from understanding how other people see things.” [05:40]

Why Do People See the Same Thing Differently?

• There’s no absolute truth—our eyes and experiences color perception.
• Multiple perspectives make for better decision-making; opening yourself to others’ viewpoints yields deeper insights. [06:35]

How to Hone Visual Intelligence

• Herman uses art as a neutral, visual “training ground” to teach observation skills.
• In art analysis, different people reliably notice and focus on different details, just as they do in life and work. [07:37]
  • “If you and I are standing next to each other looking at the Mona Lisa...unless we articulate what we’re looking at, you have no idea that I’m looking at all the people around the Mona Lisa. And I’m watching them watch the painting, and you’re looking at the painting.” – Amy Herman [08:43]

The “So What?”: Practical Application

• Noticing nuance and detail leads to better decisions in medicine, law enforcement, business—even in relationships.
• The ability to see and articulate what’s missing (the “pertinent negative”) is critical, for instance in performance evaluations or cybersecurity.
  • “For anyone who’s a parent, you know that what your children don’t say to you is just as important as what they do.” – Amy Herman [11:57]
  • Story: A coder noticed a “backdoor” in code—something slightly “off”—and helped avert a global cyberattack [12:50]

Everyday Practice and Assignments

• Notice one new thing on your familiar route each day.
• Small, mindful observations can have big impacts—even saving lives (e.g., the editor who, after noticing a struggling woman on the subway, got help for her asthma attack).
  • “Look differently, see better. Why wouldn’t we all want to see better?” – Amy Herman [18:15]

Situational Awareness

• Applicable across all professions and daily life: know your environment, be able to communicate about it.
• Fun stories: buying coffee, catching small details, making someone’s day in a Starbucks line [22:45–25:14]

Memorable Quotes

• “If you practice [noticing more], you’re going to train your brain to look at things differently.” – Amy Herman [18:20]
• “I have met people in the seat next to me in an airplane...I’ve had life-changing conversations because I noticed something.” [18:45]
• “Anybody that’s engaged with humans needs to have a refined sense of situational awareness...Otherwise we come across as really dull.” [21:11]
• “Why do sponges, surgical tools get left in people after surgery? Because they don’t say out loud...It’s basic information, and yes, it can save lives, but it also can make life a lot more pleasant.” [27:12]
• On the regular coffee order: “When someone goes into a diner and says, ‘I’ll have the regular’—well, how does the waitress know what the regular is? Because they’re making note of the visual information.” [27:12]

Takeaway: Visual Intelligence

• Cultivating visual intelligence sharpens perception in every aspect of life—solving problems, deepening relationships, and seizing new opportunities.

Segment 3: Understanding Pain with Dr. Anish Singla

[29:43–54:06]

What is Pain and Why Do We Feel It?

• “Pain is an unpleasant, uncomfortable sensory or emotional sensation...just something that hurts.” – Dr. Anish Singla [31:26]
• Although everyone transmits pain the same way in the body, each person’s sensitivity and interpretation is unique—shaped by expectations, emotional state, and context.

Mind Over Pain: The Power of Expectations

• Stories from WWII: Soldiers on the battlefield waved off morphine, but later in the hospital, same injuries felt unbearable—context and self-narrative change experience of pain. [32:16]
• “Let me tell you, people’s expectations around pain influence how much or how little pain they feel.” [33:59]
  • Explanation of how patient preparation for medical procedures can reduce perceived pain.

Listening to Pain as a Message

• “Pain is a symptom of a problem. If we treat pain in isolation, we sometimes risk missing the problem that’s causing the pain.” – Dr. Singla [38:54]
• Pain prompts us to make changes—whether lifestyle, environment, or seeking medical attention.

How Pain Medications Work

• Ibuprofen: Works by blocking prostaglandins, reducing inflammation. [43:22]
• Tylenol (Acetaminophen): Works more centrally in the brain (mechanism not fully understood), good for fever and central pain.
• Both can be taken together for synergistic effect. [44:32]
  • “A lot of people think that, oh, it’s either ibuprofen or Tylenol, but believe it or not, you could actually take both together and they actually work on slightly different mechanisms.” – Dr. Singla [44:32]

Changing Attitudes Toward Pain Management

• Aspirin now used more for its anti-platelet (heart protection) rather than as a primary painkiller due to side effects at higher doses. [46:52–48:02]
• Sometimes, especially with chronic conditions, the medical goal becomes reduction, not elimination: “...it’s also important for me...to set expectations appropriately...shoot for a 50% reduction of pain, which is a more achievable goal.” [48:16]

The Role of Mindfulness and Resilience

• Mindfulness can significantly reduce perceived pain, especially after surgeries: “What’s happening is your mindfulness is affecting the cognitive and the emotional aspects of the pain.” – Dr. Singla [50:16]
• “Happiness equals reality minus expectations.” – Dr. Singla [52:07]
• Resilience—whether emotional or physical—impacts how people cope with pain; “No one really formally teaches us...how to deal with your pain. It’s very much an individual thing.” [53:18]

Segment 4: Notable Moments & Quotes

• Visual intelligence can literally save lives: “...my editor of my book...saved a life on the subway because of your book.” – Amy Herman [18:45]
• Life-changing chance encounters: Amy’s reluctance to talk to a seatmate led to landing her literary agent. [25:42]
• Pain’s deeper meaning: “When we listen to that pain and we grow with it, then we become stronger.” – Dr. Singla [54:06]
• On smiling (epilogue): “Smiling is also contagious, and it makes you seem more approachable to other people. It also makes you appear more attractive and successful. All of that just from a smile.” – Mike Carruthers [54:46]

Key Timestamps

• Danger of talking on the phone while driving: [02:55–05:18]
• Amy Herman introduction & visual intelligence basics: [05:18–07:31]
• Applying visual intelligence (art, everyday life, work): [07:37–14:24, 17:50–28:36]
• Situational awareness & problem solving stories: [21:00–25:34]
• Dr. Anish Singla on pain—definition, perception, expectations: [29:43–36:37]
• Pain medication mechanisms and approaches: [43:08–48:02]
• Mindfulness, expectations, and resilience in pain: [50:02–54:06]
• Final smiling insight: [54:46]

Closing Thoughts

This episode encourages listeners to:

• Practice noticing one new detail each day to sharpen perception.
• Remember that our experience/interpretation of sights and pain alike are unique, shaped by context and mindset.
• Use awareness (of self, surroundings, and others) as a method for solving problems, deepening empathy, and even changing lives.
• Approach pain both as a biological signal and as a message to be interpreted—not just numbed.

Books Mentioned:

• "Visual Intelligence" by Amy Herman (plus its adaptation for children)
• "Why It Hurts: A Physician’s Insights on the Purpose of Pain" by Dr. Anish Singla

For Further Learning:
Check the show notes for links to guest books and more resources on the topics discussed.