Summary of "What Your Senses Can’t Perceive & What Happens When You Are Too Productive - SYSK Choice"

Something You Should Know
Host: Mike Carruthers
Release Date: March 8, 2025

In this enlightening episode of Something You Should Know, host Mike Carruthers explores two profound topics: the limitations of human sensory perception compared to other animals, and the psychological ramifications of excessive productivity in modern life. Through insightful conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong and writer/podcaster Madeline Doerr, the episode delves into understanding our place in the natural world and reevaluating our relationship with productivity.

1. What Your Senses Can’t Perceive

Guest: Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist and author of An Immense How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden World Around Us

Mike Carruthers begins by highlighting the intriguing ways in which human sensory perceptions are limited compared to those of many other creatures. This segment features an in-depth discussion with Ed Yong, who sheds light on the concept of "umwelt" — the unique perceptual world each species inhabits.

Key Discussions:

• Human Sensory Limitations:

  • Humans cannot perceive ultraviolet light, a capability common among many other animals, especially birds. This means humans see far fewer colors compared to the vibrant spectra birds can experience.
  • Ed Yong emphasizes, “There are types of light, types of color that we can't sense. There are smells that we don't smell. There are sounds that are below or above our range of hearing” ([00:16] Ed Yong).

• Concept of Umwelt:

  • Each species experiences a “umwelt,” or a subjective slice of reality tailored to its survival needs.
  • Evolution fine-tunes these senses; for example, some fish can detect electric fields in murky waters, allowing them to navigate and hunt without relying on vision ([07:06] Ed Yong).

• Dogs’ Perception:

  • Dogs primarily rely on their sense of smell to interpret the world, which provides them with detailed social information and environmental data.
  • Ed Yong shares personal insights about his corgi, Typo, explaining how allowing dogs to engage in their natural sniffing behaviors enhances their happiness and reduces anxiety ([17:06] Ed Yong).

• Advanced Hearing in Animals:

  • Many birds possess faster and more acute hearing than humans, enabling them to detect intricate patterns in sounds that humans cannot perceive.
  • Creatures like bats and dolphins use echolocation, while whales utilize infrasound for long-distance communication, showcasing the vast diversity in animal auditory capabilities ([19:49] Ed Yong).

• Philosophical Insights:

  • Referencing Thomas Nagel’s essay “What is it like to be a Bat?”, Yong acknowledges the inherent challenge in comprehending the subjective experiences of other species, despite technological advancements ([22:07] Ed Yong).

• Bees and Co-evolution:

  • Bees' color vision has driven the evolution of flower colors, illustrating a symbiotic relationship where sensory capabilities shape the environment and vice versa.
  • Ed Yong marvels at how this interplay between bees and flowers defines beauty from both perspectives ([25:57] Ed Yong).

Notable Quotes:

• Ed Yong: “Each creature is really only perceiving a thin sliver of the fullness of reality” ([05:29] Ed Yong).
• Ed Yong: “The senses also shape the world around us in profound ways” ([25:57] Ed Yong).

2. What Happens When You Are Too Productive

Guest: Madeline Doerr, writer and podcaster, author of I Didn't Do that Thing: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt

Shifting focus from the natural world, Mike Carruthers engages in a compelling dialogue with Madeline Doerr about the pervasive culture of productivity and the accompanying guilt tied to it.

Key Discussions:

• The Productivity Paradox:

  • Society's relentless push to optimize time often leads to burnout, guilt, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
  • Madeline Doerr observes, “We are told to optimize our lives so that we have more time and then we just fill that with more optimizing of our lives” ([32:30] Madeline Doerr).

• Productivity vs. Busyness:

  • Doerr distinguishes between being productive (meaningfully accomplishing tasks) and being busy (filling time without substantial outcomes).
  • She notes that while productivity can be fulfilling, busyness often serves as a façade for genuine achievement.

• Impact of Social Media:

  • The curated nature of social media exacerbates feelings of inadequacy and perpetual underachievement by showcasing only the highlights of others’ lives.
  • Madeline Doerr: “There is a level of curation happening. And that can mean that we spiral in comparison and we see our real life and our incomplete to do list” ([39:28] Madeline Doerr).

• Managing Productivity Guilt:

  • Doerr suggests building buffer times into schedules to accommodate unexpected interruptions, which can alleviate the pressure and guilt associated with unmet tasks.
  • She introduces the idea of an “attention hour” to assess and redirect focus towards meaningful activities ([43:37] Madeline Doerr).

• Myth of Balance:

  • The pursuit of perfect work-life balance is unrealistic and can lead to stagnation. Instead, embracing the natural ebb and flow of priorities fosters greater kindness towards oneself.
  • Madeline Doerr: “Balance is often portrayed as the cure all... there is no such thing as a perfect balance” ([47:06] Madeline Doerr).

Notable Quotes:

• Madeline Doerr: “The surest way to waste time is to worry about wasting it” ([35:18] Madeline Doerr).
• Madeline Doerr: “If you are spending that 20 minutes scrolling social media mindlessly... it is about asking yourself whether that is a waste of time or whether maybe it is” ([43:37] Madeline Doerr).

Conclusion

This episode of Something You Should Know masterfully intertwines the exploration of sensory perception with the introspection of personal productivity. Ed Yong’s insights into the limited yet specialized senses of animals challenge listeners to appreciate the diverse ways life on Earth experiences reality. Concurrently, Madeline Doerr’s discussion on productivity urges a reevaluation of societal pressures, advocating for a more compassionate and balanced approach to how we measure worth and manage time.

By bridging these two topics, Mike Carruthers encourages listeners to both expand their understanding of the natural world and cultivate healthier personal habits. The episode serves as a reminder to respect the intricate beauty of animal perceptions and to seek fulfillment beyond the confines of relentless productivity.

Notable Quotes:

• Ed Yong: “Each creature is really only perceiving a thin sliver of the fullness of reality.” ([05:29] Ed Yong)
• Madeline Doerr: “The surest way to waste time is to worry about wasting it.” ([35:18] Madeline Doerr)

Recommendations:

• Books:

  • An Immense How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden World Around Us by Ed Yong
  • I Didn't Do that Thing: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeline Doerr

• Podcast:

  • Routines and Ruts by Madeline Doerr

By engaging with the content of this episode, listeners can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of sensory biology and adopt more intentional approaches to productivity, ultimately enhancing both their understanding of the world and their personal well-being.