Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

SYSK Choice: What Is The Truth? & How Systems Fail Sep 05, 2020

Show notes

We have a lot of devices – cellphones, tablets, laptops – and they all need to be charged up constantly. How much does that cost? And how much does it cost to run a television, light bulb or a Tesla every year? Listen to discover the answers. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ekhf45ellkj/ipad-1-50-per-year/

It seems as if the truth has taken a beating in recent years. Your truth may not be my truth and then, of course, there is alternative truth. Huh? It’s time we take a closer look at what the truth is and isn’t. So joining me is Hector MacDonald, he is strategic communications consultant who has advised the leaders of some of the world’s top corporations as well as the British government. Hector is the author of a new book called TRUTH: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality (https://amzn.to/2pVUYs6) and I think you will find what he has to say very enlightening.

Everyone has been worried about their breath on occasion. We all know what a huge turn-off bad breath can be. So I will let you in on some proven strategies to fight bad breath when you aren’t able to brush your teeth. I’ll also tell you a few myths about bad breath that may surprise you. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/03/cure-bad-breath_n_1126196.html

You’ve heard of Murphy’s Law… Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But why is that so? Why do things go wrong? Whether it is your morning routine to get the kids off to school (which in my house OFTEN goes wrong) to how you do your job or cook Thanksgiving dinner to disastrous space shuttle launches – things can and do go wrong. Listen to Chris Clearfield, co-author of the book, Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It (https://amzn.to/2pZgPy3) as he delves into the science of failure. You’ll discover how failure works and more importantly how you can learn from failure to prevent it from happening again.

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How, Why and When Doctors Make Mistakes & How Creatures and People Actually Evolve Sep 03, 2020

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When someone is sick or in the hospital, it is customary to send them flowers. Who doesn’t love flowers? But do flowers actually help sick people heal? This episode begins with a discussion on some interesting research that connects healing with plants and nature. http://askinyourface.com/2012/05/06/the-healing-power-of-flowers/

Everyone makes mistakes, including doctors. But medical errors can have serious consequences. It has been reported that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America. Could that be true? What is being done to prevent medical errors and what can we as patients do to make sure we are not the recipient of one of those errors. Here to discuss that is Dr. Ofri, Clinical professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and practicing physician at New York’s Bellevue Hospital for more than two decades. She is author of the book When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error (https://amzn.to/3hVGku9)

Have you ever wondered why traffic seems to stop on a highway for no apparent reason and then just starts up again? How does that happen? Listen as I explain the science of phantom traffic jams and what we could all do to stop them if we all worked together. http://www.livescience.com/713-science-traffic-jams.html

How does evolution actually happen? How did fish come out of the water and start walking? Where did their lungs and legs and feet come from? How did reptiles transform into birds? How does any creature evolve into another? We have a lot of new evidence that helps explain that says Neil Shubin. Neil is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and Professor at the University of Chicago and author of the book Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA (https://amzn.to/3gzfoii). Listen as he explains the fascinating world of evolution.

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Your Fascinating Sense of Smell & How to Time The Important Experiences in Your Life Aug 31, 2020

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How many things are taking up space in your house that you will never, ever, ever use again? This episode begins with some simple advice that will help you clear out some things from your home or office and free up some space for what’s really important. Source: Barbara Hemphill author of “Love It or Lose It (https://amzn.to/31wfIdq)

Your sense of smell is fascinating. Still, it is the one sense that people would be most likely to give up if they had to. That’s likely because people don’t realize how important smell is to your physical and emotional well-being. Here to explain why smell is important and how to make the most of it is Rachel Herz. Rachel is a researcher who teaches at Brown University and Boston College and is author of the book The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell (https://amzn.to/3gtkP21)

A lot of people believe that playing classical music helps plants grow. People also believe that certain types of music will make babies smarter. But what does this research say? Listen and find out Dan Levitan author of This Is Your Brain On Music https://amzn.to/3jivqyJ

We all have things we want to do before we die. What often happens though is, people put off those experiences until later in life - often after they retire. However, for many experiences, it isn’t just having the experience – it is WHEN you have it. Some things are meant to happen when you are 30 not 70. Bill Perkins has given this a lot of thought. Bill is a hedge fund manager, Hollywood film producer, high stakes tournament poker player and author of the book Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life (https://amzn.to/2YEt31d). Listen as he explains how timing is so important when it comes to the experiences in your life.

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SYSK Choice: How Luck Happens & Questioning What We Tell Ourselves Aug 29, 2020

Show notes

People hate unsolicited advice – and they seldom follow it. Still, that doesn’t stop us from dishing it out to those we are trying to help. Well maybe there is a better and more effective way to influence people other than just telling them what we think they should do. I’ll tell you what it is. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-the-right-thing/201407/giving-people-advice-rarely-works-does

Some people have all the luck. But why? Why are some people luckier than others? Can you create a life that has more luck in it? Can you be one of those people that other people think of as lucky? Absolutely, says Janice Kaplan. Janice is the former Editor-in-Chief of Parade magazine and her new book is called, How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life (http://amzn.to/2Dp0wiH). Janice joins me to discuss how luck really works and how anyone can craft a luckier life.

Organic onions, swordfish and gluten-free muffins are just 3 things you shouldn’t buy at the supermarket if you want to save money. I’ll explain why and give you a few other things NOT to buy. http://www.mc3cb.com/pdf_nutrition_articles/2011_3_8_7%20Worst%20Supermarket%20Rip.pdf

Has this ever happened…? You send an email or leave a voicemail for someone to get back to you – but they don’t. As a result, you start to imagine why they don’t. And the why is usually a negative story. Why do we do this? And how can we stop doing that? Scott Gornto is a therapist and author of the book , The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Stop Jumping to Conclusions. Free Yourself from Anxiety. Transform Your Relationships (http://amzn.to/2DjTHix). Listen as he explains this interesting quirk in human behavior and why it gets us into trouble.

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Optimizing Nonverbal Communication & Eating For Cognitive Power Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

If you flip a coin and it comes up heads a couple of times in a row, chances are you would bet the next flip will come up tails. That is the perfect example of the “gambler’s fallacy.” Because the next flip is NOT more likely to come up tails. It gets gamblers in Las Vegas in trouble but it can also get you in trouble if you let it enter in to your decision making process. http://news.tamhsc.edu/?post=committing-the-gamblers-fallacy-may-be-in-the-cards-new-research-shows

You instinctively know about body language. When people act a certain way or don’t make eye contact with you – it causes you to make assumptions about them. Plus, how YOU act and carry yourself causes people to make assumptions about you. All this non-verbal communication is fascinating and Tonya Reiman, Fox News, contributor and author of The Yes Factor: Get What You Want. Say What You Mean (http://amzn.to/2Fuh7rp), joins me to offer some insight and advice to help you better use nonverbal communication to your advantage.

If you don’t have time to floss, maybe you should chew some gum. It seems that chewing gum can do a lot for your oral health but you have to chew the right kind of gum and you have to make sure you don’t chew it too long. Listen to hear the explanation. http://www.medicaldaily.com/oral-health-hack-chewing-gum-removes-100m-bacteria-10-minutes-similar-flossing-319120

What you eat turns out to have a lot to do with how well your brain works. Eat the right foods and your cognitive performance increases. Eat the wrong foods and the opposite occurs. Neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi, author of the new book, Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power (http://amzn.to/2HqihAA) explains the connection between food (and drink) and your brain and she offers her list of best and worst foods to eat if you want to optimize your brain’s performance.

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Amazing Ways Insects Improve Your Life & How Too Much Success Can Be a Problem Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

If you’ve ever taken over-the-counter cough and cold medicine, you may have noticed that it isn’t always that effective in relieving the symptoms. Recent research indicates that there is something in your kitchen cupboard that is more effective and is totally free of side effects. This episode begins with a home remedy that truly works. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8641173/Honey-beats-antibiotics-curing-colds-Study-shows-effective-medication.html

Insects are often regarded as pests but actually, insects do a lot of things that make your life a lot better and easier. Edward Melillo is professor of history and environmental studies at Amherst College and author of the book The Butterfly Effect: Insects and the Making of the Modern World (https://amzn.to/34l5w9f). He joins me to explain just how important insects are and how they are becoming an important source of food around the world and perhaps in your kitchen as well.

How much time have you spent trying to get that last drop of lotion out of the bottle or the last little bit of mustard out of the jar? Listen as I explain the best and most efficient way to do it. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-squeeze-every-last-drop-80642

You have likely allowed yourself to fantasize about what your life would be like if you won the lottery or somehow made a fortune. It probably seems like life would be wonderful. But would it? Is having everything really all it is cracked u to be? Not always, according to the people who have everything. Marriage and family therapist Paul Hokemeyer specializes in treating ultra-high net worth individuals and celebrities and he is author of the book Fragile Power: Why Having Everything Is Never Enough; Lessons from Treating the Wealthy (https://amzn.to/2FEwUok). Listen as he explains the challenges of having everything and why wanting is sometimes better than having.

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SYSK Choice: Surprising Forces Behind Our Purchases & How to Have Conversations That Matter Aug 22, 2020

Show notes

Handwriting analysis sounds like it might be scientific. After all some courts allow it during trials and it has helped to convict defendants. But how reliable is it really? When put to the test, do handwriting experts do better in spotting a forgery or confirming a signature than you or me? Listen and find out. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/grapho.html

You like to think that when you buy something, you do it for sound smart and logical reasons. And maybe YOU do. But most people don’t. Marketing expert Harry Beckwith, author of the book, Unthinking: The Surprising Forces Behind What We Buy (http://amzn.to/2FoSOHk) explains why we usually buy for reasons that have little to do with logic – even though we think otherwise.

All alcoholic drinks are not created equal. Some get you drunker, some are more likely to give you a hangover and one in particular is more likely to land you in a hospital emergency room although no one is really sure why. If you enjoy a cocktail, this is worth hearing. http://www.menshealth.com/health/4-secretly-dangerous-drinks

Ever go in to a conversation with the intent of changing someone’s mind? As you probably discovered, it almost never works. So perhaps that should not be the goal according to Celeste Headlee of Georgia Public Radio and author of the book, We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter (http://amzn.to/2oXH1Zk). She discusses a different way to approach difficult conversations so they don’t end in arguments and maybe actually accomplish something.

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Understanding The Fear of Missing Out & How to Make Your Immune System Stronger Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

Your computer keyboard looks a lot like the typewriter keyboard that was invented in the 1800s. The letters are in the same places now as they were then. Why are the letters of the QWERTY keyboard in the order they are in and why hasn’t anyone come up with anything better? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.cnet.com/news/a-brief-history-of-the-qwerty-keyboard/

Several years ago, Patrick McGinnis coined the term “Fear of Missing Out” or FOMO. It has now become part of the language and life experience for many people. The problem is, FOMO doesn’t do anyone any good and only causes stress and worry. Today we have so many choices – there are so many things we could do. Spending time worrying about what you didn’t choose to do or where you didn’t choose to go doesn’t really make much sense. Yet somehow the road not taken seems so attractive. Listen as Patrick joins me to explore FOMO and how to best deal with it. Patrick is author of the book Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice (https://amzn.to/3kK0MQe)

You have certainly heard of your immune system. It is that thing that fights off germs, viruses and illness so you stay healthy. However most people don’t really understand how it works and what causes it to work better or worse. Dr. Jenna Macciochi is an MD who has over 20 years' experience as a scientist researching the impact of lifestyle on the immune system in health and disease and she is author of the book Immunity: The Science of Staying Well (https://amzn.to/3kVHnMv). Listen as she explains how to keep up your immunity against illness and disease.

Who thinks about ketchup? Yet, the fact is there are different grades of ketchup and some brands are better than others. Listen as I take a look at how ketchup is graded and who makes the ketchup for your favorite fast food restaurant. https://www.today.com/food/what-fancy-ketchup-it-actually-better-regular-ketchup-t144019

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How The Room You Are In Affects Health and Performance & How to Do What Really Matters Aug 17, 2020

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Everyone has felt shy. It really depends on the situation. So how can you get over your shyness so you can engage with the people around you? This episode begins with some excellent advice from one of the leading shyness experts on how to work through those shy feelings in the moment – and it is really quite simple. Source: Bernardo Carducci author of Shyness (https://amzn.to/2XWCgl8)

You’ve probably heard something somewhere about how indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. And yes that is true but that is just the tip of the iceberg. You spend 90% of your life indoors and that environment has a big impact on your health, productivity and performance. And it is not just the air quality. It is also the noise level, the lights and the temperature as well. Joining me to discuss this is Joseph Allen, Director of the Healthy Buildings program and an Assistant Professor at Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health and author of the book Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity (https://amzn.to/30SX3b4)

Telephone scams rob people of billions of dollars every year – even seemingly very smart people who are sure they are too savvy to get taken in. But you can protect yourself from telephone scams by asking any telephone solicitor 4 questions. Listen to discover what they are. Source: Joseph Wilt author of Do I Need Help? (https://amzn.to/3gXTG8v)

When you have a lot of things to do, how do you decide what to do first? How do you get the important things done? You can start by asking a simple question according to Kendra Adachi author of the book called The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done (https://amzn.to/341FO9B). This book was just released and went right to the top of the best seller list so clearly her message is resonating with busy people who have a lot to do and need help doing it. Listen as she joins me to explain exactly how.

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SYSK Choice: The Quirkiness of Genius & How Cats Work Aug 15, 2020

Show notes

TV networks manipulate programs to make more time for commercials – a LOT more time. I’ll discuss that and you might want to watch this YouTube video that demonstrates just how it works. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6i1VVikRu0. And here is the source for this story: http://www.wsj.com/articles/cable-tv-shows-are-sped-up-to-squeeze-in-more-ads-1424301320

We all have our little quirks and idiosyncrasies. But why is that great innovators like Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Marie Curie and others seem weird and “off the charts” quirky compared to the rest of us? Melissa Schilling, professor of management and organization at the Stern School of Business at NYU is author of the book, Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World (http://amzn.to/2GY5qFC). Listen and she explains why great genius is so often accompanied by quirkiness and what the connection is between the two.

Want to be happier? Shorten your commute and sleep on the left side of the bed. Those are just two of the things that according to science can elevate your level of happiness. I’ll reveal more in this episode. http://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/3447/16/10-surprising-things-that-make-you-happier.html

There are about the same number of cat owners as there are dog owners in the U.S. So what is it about cats that make them so interesting and mysterious? And why do so many people love cats when it seems cats couldn’t care less about people – or anything else for that matter? Professor Leslie Lyons is a cat lover who also happens to run the Lyons Feline Genetic Laboratory at the University of Missouri (http://felinegenetics.missouri.edu/) . She knows more about cats that just about anybody. And she joins me to discuss the feline fascination so many people have. Professor Leslie Lyons website is: http://felinegenetics.missouri.edu

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