Podcast Summary:

Something You Should Know – SYSK Choice: Why Audiences Behave the Way They Do & The Hidden Benefits of Uncertainty
Host: Mike Carruthers
Guests: Robert Viagas (theater expert/writer), Maggie Jackson (journalist/author)
Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores two key topics:

• The unique psychological and historical forces shaping "audience" behavior with Robert Viagas.
• How uncertainty, often maligned, can actually foster adaptability, curiosity, and personal growth with Maggie Jackson.

The show also features expert productivity and wellness tips designed to improve daily life.

1. Fascinating Facts & The Power of Pine ([04:22])

• Opening Fact: The scent of pine, especially from a real Christmas tree, not only evokes the holidays but can also reduce stress, hostility, and depression. Walking through pine trees supplies “aromatherapy the old-fashioned way” for both mind and body.

2. The Psychology and Magic of Audiences (with Robert Viagas)

Segment Start: [05:29]

Key Insights & Historical Background

a. The Audience “Experience” ([05:29]–[07:59])

• The audience isn’t just present—it’s part of the show.

• Watching comedy, sports, or any performance gives a very different experience in a group versus alone. The collective energy shapes what we feel and when we laugh.

• Quote ([08:25]):
  Robert Viagas:
  “You gather significance from the people around you ... the audience told you that that thing was funny. You gather that kind of energy.”

• Taylor Swift concerts, horror movies (per Stephen King’s “Danse Macabre”), and group experiences show we seek both communal feeling and “measuring ourselves” against stories or performance.

b. The Evolution of Audiences ([10:03]–[13:36])

• Ancient Greeks started with poetry recitals—eventually, Thespis stepped forward from the chorus, becoming the first "actor."
  Quote ([10:24]):
  Viagas:
  “Thespis did something incredibly radical. He walked in front of the chorus ... and said, ‘I am Zeus.’ Audiences were shocked.”

• “Learning” to be audience members: Even with new tech, like the first films (the train coming at the camera), early audiences screamed in terror—expectations and “rules” of audience behavior evolved gradually.

c. Applause, Booing, and Throwing Things ([13:36]–[16:19])

• Applause: Originated in Roman triumphs—public expressed approval by banging hands together.
• Booing: Various forms historically; current “boo” is surprisingly arbitrary.
• Throwing food: Theater snacks (shells, nuts) in Shakespeare’s day were sometimes hurled at unpopular actors.
  Memorable aside ([15:03]):
  Viagas:
  “Who walks around with rotten fruit in their pockets?”

d. Audience Norms & Changes Over Time ([18:59]–[21:28])

• Audience standards shift: 100 years ago, ethnic jokes/blackface were common, sexual jokes taboo; today, the reverse.
• Notable shift:
  “If you come out and tell a sexual joke, people laugh their heads off. ... But if you do an ethnic character, that’s not okay. Our sense of humor ... has changed so much in the last hundred years.” ([19:49])

e. Audiences Have Moods and Consensus ([21:01]–[24:09])

• Shows can "kill" or "bomb" based on audience personality, even with the same performer.

• Notorious “bad” audiences: Broadway actors dread silent Friday night crowds.

• Consensus effect:
  Viagas ([22:37]):
  “It’s interesting how unanimous audiences can be ... They tend to reach unanimity.”

• Feedback and testing in movies/theater focus on group, not individual, response—collective reactions are “magically” more reliable.

f. Space/Environment Influences Audience ([23:58]–[26:24])

• Venue size changes performance and audience engagement. Intimate plays might fail in big houses.
• Stage vs. film acting: Onstage, gestures must be larger, obvious, to “read” in big rooms.

g. Changing Technology and Audience Habits ([26:24]–[27:27])

• Now, audience etiquette (e.g., “silence your phone”) must be taught, reflecting home viewing habits bleeding into public space.
• Viagas predicts technology will continue to reshape how audiences behave in coming decades.

3. The Hidden Power of Uncertainty (with Maggie Jackson)

Segment Start: [31:28]

a. Rethinking the Meaning of Uncertainty ([32:04]–[33:36])

• Uncertainty gets a “bad rap” but science finds it invaluable for learning and adaptation.
• There are two types: Big-picture (future, weather) and personal (response to new or ambiguous situations).
• Quote ([32:34]):
  Jackson:
  “I’m arguing the opposite. The science is proving that uncertainty is really a path to flourishing and better decision making.”

b. Examples & Brain Science ([33:36]–[35:15])

• Everyday uncertainty: being stuck in traffic, starting a new job—our known routines break down.
• Discomfort is normal, but the brain actually becomes more receptive, focused, and ready to learn at these moments.
• Quote ([34:41]):
  "Your brain becomes more receptive to new knowledge... your working memory actually is bolstered when you're in that uncertain moment."

c. Uncertainty as “Possibility” ([35:28]–[37:18])

• Uncertainty triggers stress, but reframed as vigilance, it sparks curiosity, learning, and broader thinking.
• Study Example ([36:33]):
  CEOs who admitted uncertainty during the EU expansion became more resourceful and collaborative than those who felt definite from the start.

d. The Role of Personality and Situation ([39:23]–[40:52])

• Some are naturally more tolerant or intolerant of uncertainty—it’s "dispositional," but also situational (affected by mood, context).

• Flexibility can be learned and cultivated.

• Practical tip:
  Teaching high schoolers to answer phones without caller ID encourages "practicing" uncertainty.

e. Curiosity, Slow Thinking, and Group Dynamics ([41:37]–[45:17])

• Uncertainty is related to curiosity; the “discomfort” of not knowing is necessary for growth and discovery.
• Group work: dissent and ambiguity can slow decision-making but leads to richer, more thorough collaboration.

f. Facing & Accepting Uncertainty ([46:45]–[49:11])

• Discomfort with uncertainty leads people to seek excessive certainty (e.g., “helicopter parenting,” constant phone checking).
• Quote ([49:11]):
  "Uncertainty helps us be nimble and agile ... we grow stronger as we wake up to life, as it is and rather than life as we assume it to be or wish it to be."

g. Parental Responses & Giving Space ([49:38]–[50:28])

• Trying to supply quick answers can shut down a child’s learning process. Sitting “in the uncomfortable middle space” builds reflection and growth.

h. Final Reflections ([50:28]–[50:59])

• The relentless quest for certainty is an illusion; embracing uncertainty opens new possibilities.

4. Quick Productivity Tips ([51:11])

Three ways to get more done in less time:

• Have a daily plan or to-do list (fewer than 1 in 4 do!).
• Plan to accomplish more—more tasks = more gets done, less procrastination.
• Clean and organize workspace; a tidy space recovers an hour of productivity daily.

5. Most Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Robert Viagas ([08:25]):
  “You gather significance from the people around you … the audience told you that that thing was funny. You gather that kind of energy.”

• Viagas ([10:24]):
  “Thespis did something incredibly radical... He said, 'I am Zeus,' and people considered him the first actor. Audiences were shocked.”

• Viagas ([22:37]):
  “Audiences tend to pick up energy from the people sitting with them, and they tend to reach unanimity.”

• Maggie Jackson ([32:34]):
  “Uncertainty… is seen as synonymous with weakness and inertia. And yet I'm arguing the opposite. The science is proving that uncertainty is really a path to flourishing and better decision making.”

• Jackson ([49:11]):
  "Uncertainty helps us be nimble and agile ... we grow stronger as we wake up to life, as it is and rather than life as we assume it to be or wish it to be."

6. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:22] – The Power of Pine Scents and Their Effects
• [05:29] – Why Audiences Act the Way They Do (Robert Viagas interview)
• [10:03] – How Audiences Developed & Changed Over Time
• [18:59] – Shifts in Audience Norms and Tastes
• [21:01] – Audience “Personality” and Performance Outcomes
• [23:58] – The Role of Space/Environment
• [26:24] – Technology’s Impact on Audience Behavior
• [31:28] – The Value of Uncertainty (Maggie Jackson interview)
• [32:04] – New Definitions and Benefits of Uncertainty
• [36:33] – CEO Study: Uncertainty Enables Resourcefulness
• [41:37] – Uncertainty Fuels Curiosity and Growth
• [49:11] – The Futility of Seeking Certainty
• [51:11] – Three Quick Ways to Boost Productivity

7. Tone & Style

The episode is personable, enthusiastic, gently contrarian, and practical—always rooting discussion in storytelling or empirical evidence. The host Mike Carruthers style is curious, friendly, and direct, encouraging guests to explain with clarity and examples.

In sum:
This episode is an engaging journey through the social forces shaping audiences—how we learn to watch, respond, and even think together in groups—followed by a fresh look at uncertainty as an untapped resource for personal and organizational growth. Both segments leave listeners with practical insights for living, learning, and participating more fully, both as individuals and among others.