Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

The Technology That Gets You to Pay More & The Good News About Envy Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

When you delete a spam text, your phone often gives you the option to “Delete and Report.” But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you report it? Who gets the report? Does anyone do anything with it? Turns out, hitting that button isn’t as pointless as it may seem. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages

Imagine two people shopping for the exact same thing — but being offered different prices based on what a company knows about each of them. That’s the unsettling idea behind “surveillance pricing” and it happens all the time. Companies can use data, algorithms, hidden fees and other techniques to determine how much they think you are willing to pay — and then charge accordingly. So how does it work and what can consumers do about it? My guest is Lindsay Owens is president and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative, an economic think tank and corporate watchdog in Washington, D.C. She has testified before Congress and advised lawmakers on consumer and economic issues. She is author of Gouged: The End of a Fair Price—and What That Means for Your Wallet (https://link.amazon/B0f69O9qK).

Envy has a terrible reputation. We’re told not to compare ourselves to others, to be grateful for what we have and certainly not to covet what someone else has. But what if envy isn’t a character flaw at all? What if that uncomfortable feeling is actually giving you useful information about what you want from your own life? Social scientist Stacy Kim explains why envy may be worth paying attention to and how to use it without letting it consume you. She has spent more than 15 years helping people understand and use envy more productively and is author of Envy: Why Wanting What They Have Is the Key to Getting What You Want (https://link.amazon/B01U7KWW1).

Why do certain foods — lasagna, chili, stews and other leftovers — often taste even better the next day? What could possibly happen sitting in the refrigerator overnight that improves the flavor? There is actually some interesting science behind it. And in some cases, cooling and reheating food may even change it nutritionally. Listen and discover what your leftovers are doing while you sleep. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-does-food-taste-better-the-next-day

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Why Crowds Change Who You Are & The Mystery of How Life First Began- SYSK Choice Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

Most of us know that driving faster burns more gas. But just how much does slowing down actually save you? The difference is bigger than you might think. And if you drive around with a bike rack attached to your car, even when there’s no bike on it, you’ll definitely want to hear this. https://abc7.com/archive/9151803/

There is something powerful about being part of a crowd. At a concert or sporting event, thousands of strangers can suddenly feel connected, sharing an energy and sense of belonging that is hard to create anywhere else. But crowds can also have a darker side. How does a peaceful gathering turn into an angry or even violent mob? And does being in a crowd really cause people to behave in ways they never would on their own? Dan Hancox has studied the fascinating science and history of crowds and explains what really happens to us when we become part of one. He is author of Multitudes: How Crowds Made the Modern World (https://amzn.to/40axzVW).

Every living thing comes from something else that was alive. Plants come from other plants, animals from other animals, and you came from your parents. So where did the very first life come from? And if life managed to emerge here on Earth, why haven't we found evidence of it anywhere else? Astrophysicist Mario Livio explores what scientists know about the origin of life, what conditions made Earth so hospitable, and whether we really might be alone in the universe. Mario worked with the Hubble Space Telescope and is the author of seven books. His latest, co-authored with Jack Szostak, is Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life (https://amzn.to/4dSpSGY).

If you use Venmo, you may be sharing more information about your transactions than you realize. Depending on your privacy settings, other people may be able to see details about who you are paying. Consumer Reports says there are good reasons you might not want that information publicly visible. Listen as I explain the potential problem and how to change your Venmo settings to make your transactions more private. https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/how-to-make-your-venmo-information-private-a6507250342/

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The Surprising Science of Enjoying Food & Why We Need to Know Why Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

We all have vivid memories of major events from our past — moments we can picture so clearly that we’re certain we remember exactly what happened. They’re known as “flashbulb memories.” But here’s the strange thing: even when those memories feel crystal clear, they may not be very accurate and there is an interesting reason why. https://dictionary.apa.org/flashbulb-memory

Why are some foods simply more fun to eat than others? Why does restaurant food often seem to taste better than what we make at home? And is there actually a right way to build the perfect sandwich? Dan Pashman has spent a lot of time thinking about questions like these. He is host of the culinary podcast The Sporkful (https://www.sporkful.com/), which TIME named one of the 100 Best Podcasts of All Time. He also invented his own pasta shape, cascatelli — and there’s a great story behind that. Listen as Dan explores the surprisingly fascinating details that can turn eating from something we have to do into something we really enjoy. He is also author of Anything’s Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People (https://link.amazon/B0geSlwHB).

Humans have a powerful need to understand why. We’re constantly asking for explanations and giving them to other people — but some explanations click immediately while others leave us more confused than when we started. So what actually makes an explanation satisfying? Why are some people naturally better at explaining things? Tania Lombrozo is a professor of psychology at Princeton University and author of Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand (https://link.amazon/B0fYNqZiB). She reveals the fascinating science behind our need to understand — and how we can all become better explainers.

You probably like to think you can spot something that sounds suspicious or simply isn’t true. But there’s an amazingly simple technique that can make even skeptical people more likely to believe a false claim — and it’s used all the time. Listen and see if you recognize it when I tell you what it is. https://www.sciencefocus.com/advertisement-feature/psychological-tricks-hackers-everyday

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SYSK TRENDING -Taking a Tour of the Human Body Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

The human body is full of strange, ingenious, and often overlooked features that keep us alive every second of every day. And some of the most fascinating parts are the ones we rarely think about — until something goes wrong.

Dr. Jonathan Reisman takes us on an unusual tour inside the human body to reveal what our organs, tissues, and bodily fluids can teach us about how we work. He explains why certain parts of the body are far more remarkable than they appear, what doctors can learn from the substances our bodies produce, and why understanding anatomy can change the way you think about your own body. And yes, you’ll also hear why, of all the bodily fluids to choose from, urine is his favorite.

Jonathan Reisman is a physician specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics and author of The Unseen Body: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy (https://amzn.to/37vUz8u).

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Why Young Men and Women Don’t Trust Each Other & What Makes Love Last Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

You know that stretch you instinctively do when you first wake up — arms out, back arched, often accompanied by a yawn or a strange noise? Dogs and cats do it too. There is actually a name for it, and a reason it feels so incredibly good. Listen and discover what your body is accomplishing when you do it. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-does-pandiculation-feel-so-good

Something startling is happening between young men and women. They are dating less, marrying less, and increasingly seem to distrust and disengage from each other. What is driving this divide — and what happens if it continues? Daniel Cox joins me with some eye-opening research on this consequential social change. Daniel is founder and director of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is author of Generation Uncoupled: America's New Gender Divide and the Crisis of Human Connection (https://link.amazon/B0bAUzOoI).

The excitement at the beginning of a romantic relationship doesn’t last forever. So what do successful couples do next? Anna Elton says there are specific, surprisingly simple things couples can do to keep desire, intimacy and connection alive — and some can actually be fun. Anna is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and clinical sexologist who writes for Psychology Today. She is author of The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection (https://link.amazon/B02Uzxa9n). To take the assessment she discusses go to: https://theformulaofdesire.com/assessments/

Ever pour yourself a glass of ice water only to discover it tastes or smells vaguely like garlic, onions or last night’s dinner? The water probably isn’t the culprit. It’s your ice. Listen as I explain how those strange flavors get into ice cubes — and the simple thing you can do to stop it. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/refrigerators/refrigerator-is-making-smelly-ice-cubes-a1166770149/

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How to Make Your Clothes Last Longer & Why It Pays to Be Quiet - SYSK Choice Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

You have seen a dollar bill hundreds of times, but have you ever really studied it? It’s fascinating. And the number 13 plays a prominent role. This episode begins with a short tour of a U.S. $1 bill. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/kids/games/riddles/jokes/dollar-bill-trivia

You spend a lot of time with clothes – wearing them, buying them, and washing them. How you care for your clothes is important. If you care for them the right way, they will last a lot longer and look a lot better. You will also probably save yourself a lot of time and money. Joining me to explain the right and wrong ways to care for clothes is Zach Pozniak. He is a fourth-generation fabric-care expert and dry cleaner. He is all over social media offering popular advice on this topic at https://www.instagram.com/jeeves_ny/ and he is the author of the bestselling book, The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Clothes and Linens (https://amzn.to/3Nu3I2Z).

When was the last time you carved out some quiet time in your day to just sit alone with your thoughts? Today, people are constantly seeking distraction and stimulation from other people or their smartphone with zero quiet time. Yet, that quiet time can deliver huge benefits to you. For one thing, it allows you to be better prepared and more deliberate about what you do rather than just race through your day reacting to whatever comes along. And there is so much more to this as you will hear from my guest Joe McCormack. He is an entrepreneur and writer who in 2022 launched the Quiet Works program to help people manage the noise in their lives. He is author of the book Quiet Works: Making Silence the Secret Ingredient of the Workday (https://amzn.to/3NwuKa9).

There is some controversy around those baby “cocktail” carrots sold in the store. Some people claim they are unsafe to eat and that they don’t taste as good as regular carrots. Listen as I reveal where these carrots come from and whether you should eat them or not. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8068373/baby-carrots-vs-regular-carrots/

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How to Have Great Conversations & The Surprising Truth About Optimism Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Ever get a song stuck in your head that simply will not leave? That’s an earworm, and while it will eventually fade away on its own, there are some things you can do to help get rid of it sooner. Listen and discover what works. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/songs-get-stuck-head

Being a good conversationalist can make an enormous difference in your personal and professional life. Yet most of us were never actually taught how to have a great conversation. How do you comfortably talk to someone you don’t know? What do you do when the conversation stalls? How do you change the subject without making it awkward? Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards joins me with practical strategies for making conversations easier, more natural and more memorable. She is an instructor at Harvard University and author of Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone and Make Every Interaction Count (https://link.amazon/B027NJjiF).

Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology, so you might assume he has always been an extraordinarily optimistic person. Not even close. Martin has struggled with pessimism and negative thoughts throughout his life. He joins me to explain what optimism really is, why it matters, and how something called agency can change the way you approach your life and your future—even if optimism doesn’t come naturally to you. Martin is the author of more than 30 books. His latest is Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress (https://link.amazon/B08KM3n8m).

There are sounds all around you right now that your brain has decided you don’t need to hear—the refrigerator humming, a clock ticking, traffic in the distance. So how does your brain decide what gets your attention and what disappears into the background? Listen and find out. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3715733

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PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts!

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SYSK TRENDING -The Intriguing Mysteries of the Universe Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

There are some questions about the universe that are almost too big to wrap your head around. Why are we here? How did everything begin? Are we alone — or is there intelligent life somewhere else? Could aliens already know about us? And if the universe had a beginning, how does this whole thing eventually end?

In this episode, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles some of the most fascinating mysteries of the cosmos and separates what scientists actually know from what remains speculation. He explains what we know about our place in the universe, the chances that life exists elsewhere, what an encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence might look like, and what science predicts about the ultimate fate of the universe.

Along the way, Neil offers the kind of perspective that comes from thinking on a cosmic scale — where Earth is just one tiny place in an unimaginably enormous universe and some of our biggest questions still don't have definitive answers. It’s a fascinating conversation about what we know, what we don’t know, and what we may someday discover.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, host of the podcast StarTalk (https://www.startalkradio.net/), and author of the book Cosmic Queries (https://amzn.to/3bp2dkr).

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PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts!

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When to Speak Up and When to Stay Quiet & Why Smart Investors Do Crazy Things Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

What are spiders doing inside your home? You’ve probably spotted a few crawling around, especially in the fall. But contrary to what you might assume, many of those spiders didn’t just wander in from outdoors. And there’s a very specific reason you suddenly start seeing more of them this time of year — it has a lot to do with romance. https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-come-indoors

Should you say something — or just keep your mouth shut? It’s a dilemma we face all the time. Do you tell someone they have something stuck in their teeth? Should you ask a stranger who is crying if they’re okay? What about telling a friend what you really think about the person they’re dating? It turns out we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how people will react when we speak up — or how they’ll feel when we don’t. Vanessa Bohns joins me with fascinating research that can help you handle these awkward everyday moments much better. She is a social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of Should I Say Something?: The Science of What to Share—and What to Keep to Yourself (https://link.amazon/B03B4LfqD).

We like to think investing is about numbers, facts and rational decisions. Yet stock prices and investor behavior can be influenced by things that seemingly have nothing to do with money — including the weather, politics and even the outcome of a sporting event. Why do otherwise intelligent investors make such irrational decisions, and can understanding those quirks actually give you an advantage? Alex Edmans explains the fascinating psychology that drives financial markets and how recognizing it can help you make smarter decisions. Alex is a professor of finance at London Business School and a leading expert on behavioral finance. He is author of The Madness of Markets: Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions—and How to Exploit Them (https://link.amazon/B0eq2D3g9).

Come autumn, pumpkins are everywhere. We carve them, decorate our homes with them and, of course, eat plenty of pumpkin-flavored foods. But the pumpkin you scoop out of a can looks nothing like the inside of that big orange pumpkin sitting on your porch. So what exactly is in canned pumpkin — and why is it so different? The answer may change the way you look at pumpkin pie. https://www.allrecipes.com/what-is-canned-pumpkin-11747656

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MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50

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TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout.

KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order!

QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tech of Tomorrow That Never Arrived & The Remarkable History of Teeth - SYSK Choice Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

Groceries are expensive, but there is a surprisingly simple way to leave the supermarket with a smaller bill — and it has less to do with what you buy than how you shop. I begin this episode with a technique that could help you spend less every time you go to the grocery store. Source: Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko(https://link.amazon/B03ckVUuD)

For decades, we’ve been told the future would bring flying cars, human-like robots, smart cities, self-driving vehicles and all sorts of other technological wonders. So…where are they? Why do so many innovations that always seem to be “just around the corner” never quite arrive? Technology and science journalist Nicole Kobie reveals what really happens between a great futuristic idea and the day it becomes part of everyday life — and why predicting the future of technology is so difficult. Nicole is a contributing editor for Wired and author of The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow’s Technology Still Isn’t Here (https://link.amazon/B0h9cxllC).

You probably don’t give your teeth much thought until one of them hurts. Yet teeth have an extraordinary story. Some creatures have no teeth at all, while others continually replace theirs throughout their lives. So why do humans get only two sets? And how did teeth become so important to eating, speaking, survival and even our appearance? Zoologist Bill Schutt takes us through the strange and fascinating history of teeth and explains how they evolved into what is in your mouth today. Bill is the author of six books, including Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans (https://link.amazon/B08TCbaUy).

Paying off debt is obviously good for your finances. What’s surprising is what it may do for your body. Research has found a connection between carrying significant debt and some important measures of physical health. Listen as I explain why reducing what you owe could benefit more than just your bank account. https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2013/08/16/debt_and_health/

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