Podcast Summary: "Weird, But True Stories of Famous People & What We Can Learn From Top Sports Competitors - SYSK Choice"

Release Date: July 12, 2025

Introduction

In this captivating episode of Something You Should Know, host Mike Carruthers delves into a fascinating blend of peculiar anecdotes about renowned personalities and insightful discussions on the lessons top athletes can impart for personal and professional growth. Featuring special guests Dan Schreiber and Sally Jenkins, the episode promises a blend of intriguing stories and practical wisdom.

1. The Dangers of Sending Checks in the Mail

Mike Carruthers kicks off the episode by addressing a modern pitfall: mailing checks. He explains how traditional advice has flipped, highlighting the risks associated with check theft and the rise of electronic payments. Carruthers cites a report from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service noting over 300,000 mail theft complaints in 2021, more than double the previous year.

"Putting a check in the mail is a risky proposition... criminals are stealing them through check washing, where they alter the payee’s name and amount." — Mike Carruthers [01:35]

2. Weird Stories About Famous People

The episode transitions into a series of bizarre yet true stories about famous figures, blending history with the uncanny.

• Ringo Starr's Exorcism Experience

  Dan Schreiber shares an astonishing tale about The Beatles' drummer, Ringo Starr. Ringo's grandmother, known as the "Voodoo Queen of Liverpool," subjected him to multiple exorcisms to eliminate what she believed was the devil residing within him due to his left-handedness. This unusual upbringing influenced Ringo's drumming style, inadvertently creating The Beatles' unique beat.

  "When he started learning to play the drums, he was a right-handed drummer... this little extra time that it takes him to do that creates this micro lag. That means that The Beatles had this just unique beat that was really hard to replicate." — Dan Schreiber [14:31]

• Ronald Reagan's Self-Saving Assassination Attempt

  Another extraordinary story involves President Ronald Reagan and Secret Service agent Jerry Parr. During an assassination attempt in 1981, Parr's quick thinking not only saved Reagan's life but also inspired Parr to join the Secret Service after witnessing his role in the event.

  "Ronald Reagan basically saved his own life by inspiring Jerry Parr to become a Secret Service agent, who then saved him." — Dan Schreiber [20:10]

• Nobel Laureates with Strange Beliefs

  Schreiber discusses the "nobility disease," where Nobel laureates sometimes develop unorthodox beliefs post-award. He highlights Wolfgang Pauli, who, despite being a scientific eagle eye, was accused of causing equipment malfunctions—a phenomenon known as the "Pauli effect."

  "There was one time when students tried to prank him with a chandelier drop, but the device broke instead — an example of the Pauli effect in action." — Dan Schreiber [12:14]

• Backmasking in The Beatles' "Free As a Bird"

  The episode explores the eerie instance of backmasking in The Beatles' track "Free As a Bird." Schreiber reveals that reversed audio unintentionally spelled out John Lennon's name, suggesting a mysterious presence during the song's production.

  "When you listen to the backward words of John Lennon, which should absolutely be nothing but mumbles, you can hear him say the words 'Made by John Lennon.' It’s impossible." — Dan Schreiber [28:41]

• The First Mission to Find the Titanic with a Psychically Trained Monkey

  Schreiber recounts the peculiar plan of billionaire Jack Grimm, who nearly led a scientific expedition to locate the Titanic using a monkey trained to point to its location psychically. Thankfully, Grimm was dissuaded at the last moment, preventing an unconventional search strategy.

  "The scientists said, 'Are you nuts? We're not going on an expedition led by a monkey pointing at a map.'" — Dan Schreiber [28:56]

3. Insights from Dan Schreiber

Dan Schreiber, author of "Theory of Everything A Voyage into the World of Weird," brings a wealth of strange and intriguing stories to the conversation. His background in blending information with comedy equips him to present these tales engagingly.

Key Stories Highlighted:

• Dodgers' Russian Scientist for Positive Thoughts

  The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly employed a Russian scientist to beam positive thoughts to players from 3,000 miles away, aiming to boost performance by 10-15%. While the scientific efficacy was limited, the initiative coincided with the team's improved performance during those years.

• Premier League Team's Monks Blessing the Grounds

  In the UK, a Thai billionaire owner hired monks to bless the soccer field before home matches. These monks conducted prayers and rituals, which team members believe contributed to the team's unexpected surge to the top of the Premier League.

4. Lessons from Top Sports Competitors with Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins, a distinguished columnist and sports writer for The Washington Post, shares profound insights on what elite athletes can teach us about handling pressure, practice, and failure in our own lives.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Performance Under Pressure

  Jenkins emphasizes that athletes are highly susceptible to pressure, often more than the general public realizes. However, the best athletes manage to perform consistently by mitigating stress, allowing their ordinary abilities to shine through rather than peaking unrealistically under pressure.

  "The best ones are able to learn to mitigate stress to the point that their ordinary, everyday performance is what's coming forward." — Sally Jenkins [02:13]

• Deliberate Practice vs. Repetition

  Contrasting casual practice with "deliberate practice," Jenkins explains that targeted, purposeful practice focusing on specific weaknesses leads to true improvement. She cites Peyton Manning's methodical approach to overcoming his early career interceptions by stabilizing his feet with sandbag drills.

  "Really good practice is what's called deliberate practice, which is you diagnose a weakness and then you specifically work on measurable improvement at that weakness." — Sally Jenkins [45:48]

• Resilience and Handling Failure

  Athletes develop resilience through repeated exposure to failure and learning to focus on self-improvement rather than external factors. Jenkins shares the Kansas City Chiefs' "four inches better" mantra as an example of fostering a resilient and improvement-focused team culture.

  "The separator between the people... is resilience, and they've acquired it." — Sally Jenkins [50:54]

• Physical Conditioning and Executive Function

  Drawing parallels between physical fitness and mental performance, Jenkins discusses how physical conditioning can enhance executive functions like decision-making and judgment. She references studies showing that intense mental activities, such as chess, can burn significant calories, underscoring the physical aspect of mental stress.

  "Decision fatigue is huge, but that's related to physical fatigue." — Sally Jenkins [36:20]

Conclusion

This episode of Something You Should Know masterfully intertwines bizarre historical anecdotes with actionable insights from the world of sports. Listeners are treated to an exploration of how unconventional stories from famous personalities can illuminate strategies for personal development and resilience. Whether it's the quirky origins of The Beatles' rhythm or the disciplined practices of top athletes, the episode underscores the value of unique perspectives in enhancing one's life.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "Putting a check in the mail is a risky proposition... criminals are stealing them through check washing, where they alter the payee’s name and amount." — Mike Carruthers [01:35]

• "When you listen to the backward words of John Lennon... it can hear him say 'Made by John Lennon.' It’s impossible." — Dan Schreiber [28:41]

• "The best ones are able to learn to mitigate stress to the point that their ordinary, everyday performance is what's coming forward." — Sally Jenkins [02:13]

• "Really good practice is what's called deliberate practice, which is you diagnose a weakness and then you specifically work on measurable improvement at that weakness." — Sally Jenkins [45:48]

About the Guests:

• Dan Schreiber: Author of "Theory of Everything A Voyage into the World of Weird" and host of the podcast "No Such Thing as a Fish." Schreiber specializes in uncovering and narrating obscure and fascinating stories from various domains.

• Sally Jenkins: A seasoned columnist and feature writer for The Washington Post with over two decades of experience. She's a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the author of twelve books, including "The Right What Sport Teaches Us About Work and Life."

Tune In and Learn More

For listeners eager to delve deeper into these stories and gain actionable insights, subscribing to the Something You Should Know podcast is highly recommended. Additionally, exploring Dan Schreiber's work and Sally Jenkins' writings can provide further enrichment on the topics discussed.