Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

Hacks to Learn Better & Quirks of Your Brain That Drive You Crazy Aug 13, 2020

Show notes

Where do you keep your car keys at night? This episode begins with an explanation as to why you might want to keep those keys within easy reach of wherever you are sleeping. http://worldofwonder.net/lifehack-put-car-keys-beside-bed-night/

What’s the best way to learn anything new? IT is probably NOT reading information over and over. There are better ways to engage the brain so material really sticks. Here to explain what those methods are is Ulrich Boser who has spent a lot of time understanding the science of learning. He is founder and CEO of The Learning Agency and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the book Learn Better (https://amzn.to/30P03Wh)

Lobster is often the most expensive thing on the menu at any seafood restaurant. Why? Listen as I explain how getting the lobster from the seas to your plate is no small feat – and an expensive at that. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/why-lobster-so-expensive-worth-price

The human brain is quirky. Some of those quirks are good but others are maddening and can cause us a lot of stress. Neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnet has explored and researched the oddities in our brain that make us human and joins me to explain what they are, why they are important and how to better deal with them when they get in the way. Dean is a tutor and lecturer based at Cardiff University’s Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and author of the book Idiot Brain: What Your Head is Really Up To (https://amzn.to/3ab7Dxp)

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Uncommon Knowledge You Need to Know & How to Handle All the Paper in Your Life Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Outdoor cooking and eating can be fun and tasty. Still, there are some potential dangers we all need to be aware of. For example, when was the last time you really cleaned your grill? If you think the fire burns off all the bad stuff, think again. That’s just one of the things about outdoor cooking I discuss as we begin this episode. http://www.menshealth.com/health/5-cookout-mistakes-that-make-you-sick

Carrots were not originally orange. Expensive weddings are a bad idea. The Mediterranean Sea will disappear one day. These are just a few items of fascinating knowledge I discuss with Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of the book Uncommon Knowledge (https://amzn.to/2DFoeNA). Listen as he explains why kids’ summer vacations are too long, what Interpol really is and who owns all the material in outer space – amongst other things.

It’s fairly well accepted that moderate drinking has health benefits. However, that may be a big overstatement. Listen as I discuss research that questions the validity of that idea and why there is a flaw in the theory that a glass of wine is good for you. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4529928/A-glass-red-wine-NOT-good-heart.html

We were supposed to be moving towards a paperless society. That doesn’t really seem to be happening. In fact, a lot of us have more documents, forms, certificates, letters and memos than we know what to do with. If you have filing cabinets, drawers and boxes full of papers, you need to listen to Lisa Woodruff. She is founder of Organize365 (www.organize365.com) which helps people tame all the paper in their lives and she is author of the book The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life (https://amzn.to/3gIojyE).

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SYSK Choice: The REAL Motives Behind Our Actions & How Modern Manners Work Aug 08, 2020

Show notes

So, what’s the deal with high fructose corn syrup? People talk about it a lot. Some say it is horrible for your health while others claim it is fine. But do you know what it actually is? Without stepping into the controversy, this episode begins with an explanation of what it is exactly and how it is different than regular corn syrup or sugar for that matter. http://www.finecooking.com/item/24865/corn-syrup-vs-high-fructose-corn-syrup

Why do you do the things you do? Everything you do has a reason. You go to school to learn and you go to the doctor get healthy – right? Well, what if the reason you THINK you do things is not the real reason? I want you to listen to Robin Hanson an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and author of the book, The Elephant in the Brain (http://amzn.to/2F4Vvk8). He explains that often the reason we THINK we do things is not the reason at all – and why it is important to understand all of this.

I bet you’ve wondered how good a memory your dog or cat has. How long do they remember an event or a command or the last time you played with them? Listen and I think the answer will surprise you. https://www.su.se/english/research/research-news/new-findings-on-animal-memory-1.222566

You might think etiquette is kind of an old-fashioned concept with little relevance in the 21st century. But you’d be wrong to think that. Etiquette is as valid today as ever – maybe more so. Thomas Farley, editor of Modern Manners: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Social Graces (http://amzn.to/2F1x), answers some common etiquette questions people have about social media, weddings, cellphones and more. His website is www.whatmannersmost.com

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Where Great Ideas Come From & How Diet Affects Your Mood and Mental Health Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

If you have blue eyes, you are related to me! That is just one of the fascinating things I discuss as I begin this episode with a fascinating look at your eyes and how they work so well to help you navigate and see the world. http://www.buzzfeed.com/acuvue/impossibly-cool-facts-you-may-not-know-about-yo#.kjpwxlkvO

Where do new ideas and innovations come from? Often, they seem to strike like lightning with no real pattern or explanation. But that is not exactly right according to my guest Matt Ridley. Matt is a journalist and businessman and author of the book How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom (https://amzn.to/2D6syWe). Matt has studied how great ideas are created, developed and accepted and he joins me to explain it all.

Social media is a great way to let people know about your latest accomplishments. And people sure do it a lot. However, it may not be such a great idea – at least not too often. Listen as I discuss how self-promotion on social media can actually have the opposite effect you think it does. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150512104037.htm

How does your diet affect your mood and mental health? In a lot of interesting ways – good and bad – according to Dr. Uma Naidoo, a board certified psychiatrist, director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Mass General Hospital and author of the book This is Your Brain on Food (https://amzn.to/3fejgo0). Uma is here to discuss the fascinating connection between what goes on in your gut and your mental frame of mind and what foods to eat to help you improve your mental health.

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The Amazing Power of Being Friendly & The Smart Way to Get Out of Debt Fast Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

When you think of having a meeting, you probably imagine sitting in a room around a table. You may want to change that whole idea. This episode begins by looking at how conducting meetings in a an entirely different way can result in a much more productive and rewarding meeting. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/walking-meetingsat-linke_n_7035258.html?utm_hp_ref=business

Your brain is wired to be friendly. Being friendly is a good strategy most of the time. Why? Listen to Brian Hare, who is a member of the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience, a Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, and Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University and author of the book – Survival of the Friendliest (https://amzn.to/3jLQnmN). Brian joins me to explain why and how friendliness has been absolutely critical to human survival and it continues to serve all of us as we move through life.

“How are you?” How many times do we say or hear that in a day? Most of the time is just a quick and somewhat meaningless greeting. Still, if you would rather have a more substantial conversation, there is a simple way to alter the question, “How are you?” by adding one word. Listen to discover what it is. http://www.businessinsider.com/sheryl-sandberg-common-question-asking-how-are-you-interviewoption-b-book-grief-2017-5

Millions of Americans are drowning in debt from credit cards, student loans and other forms of debt. Personal finance writer Jen Smith and her husband found themselves with $78,000 of debt and made a commitment to get rid of it. Listen as she explains how they did it in less than half the time they thought – and how they actually enjoyed doing it. Jen is co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com) and author of the book, The No Spend Challenge Guide. (https://amzn.to/2XaZnYZ).

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SYSK Choice: Effective Ways to Deal With Jerks & A Guide to Awesome Smartphone Photos Aug 01, 2020

Show notes

Why do you sigh? Usually it is because you feel relief or you are sad or tired. But it turns out there is more to a sigh than you thought. In fact it turns out to be good for you. I’ll explain as I start this episode. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75330/frequent-sighing-helps-keep-you-alive

The world is full of jerks. And unfortunately you have to deal with them. So what’s the best way? Here with some expert help is Bob Sutton, a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford and author of the book The A**hole Survival Guide (http://amzn.to/2HqacwR). Bob explains why jerks are so jerky and reveals the different categories of jerks and then offers some tactical advice to deal with them and still get what you want.

Did you know different airlines have different flying styles? Did you know the armrest closest to the aisle on an airplane that can’t be raised actually CAN be raised if you know a little trick? These are just two of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about air travel that we’ll explore. http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a19193/airline-employee-secrets/

Everyone today has a camera on them almost all the time. And cellphone cameras have gotten pretty good. So, since you may likely be photographing much of your life, why not make those photos the best they can be? Photographer Jim Miotke, founder of www.BetterPhoto.fun and creator of the online course Outstanding Photography offer some simple tips and idea that will transform your cellphone photos so they truly capture the moment.

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How to Count to Infinity & Why People Believe in Aliens and Other Unbelievable Things Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

You already know it is important to drink water to stay healthy. And it also appears that drinking water can make you smarter, too. How? This episode begins by explaining how and you may find the answer quite surprising. http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/does_drinking_water_make_you_smarter_plus_6_benefits_of_staying_hydrated

We all learned to count when we were young. Yet, it took a long time and a lot of differing theories about numbers and counting to get us to the simple ability of count things and people the way we do. Marcus du Sautoy is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and author of the book How to Count to Infinity (https://amzn.to/3hCTgV6). He joins me to explain the extraordinary history of counting including why the invention of zero was so important and what infinity really is.

People who use online dating usually have a photo as part of their profile. And a lot of people need to replace the picture they have if they want to get people to respond. Listen as I explain what makes a good profile photo – and what doesn’t. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/online-dating-profile-picture-research/

Why do so many people believe in aliens, UFO’s, Big Foot and conspiracy theories? While the evidence for these things is usually sparse, the number of people who truly believe in them is significant. Cultural historian Colin Dickey decided to explore why. Why do people believe in things that don’t really have a logical explanation or objective proof? Colin is author of the book The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained (https://amzn.to/32VmaLO) and he joins me to share his unique insight into this phenomenon.

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How to Get People To Tell the Truth & What You Never Knew About Birds Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

When you learned to drive, you were likely told to keep your hands at 10:00 o’clock and 2:00 o’clock on the steering wheel. Is that really the best and safest place? This episode begins with a discussion on how to best steer your car. http://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/9882/team-oneil-shows-how-to-position-your-hands-on-the-wheel

How do you get someone to tell you the truth when they don’t want to? Jack Schafer knows. As a former FBI agent, he has developed a technique based on some simple psychological principles, that will get people to tell you things they never meant to. Jack is author of the book The Truth Detector: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide for Getting People to Reveal the Truth (https://amzn.to/30we8WU) and he joins me to explain how you can use this technique and why it is so effective.

How you describe yourself during a job interview is tricky. For example, it’s tough to brag about how humble you are because how humble can you be if you are bragging about it. There are other words besides humble that are likely left out of your self-description the next time you go on a job interview. Listen and I will tell you what they are. https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-words-you-should-never-use-to-describe-yourself-in-an-interview

You probably see birds every day – probably lots of birds. Yet, you likely don’t think about them much. Nevertheless, they are fascinating creatures with amazing abilities. For example, did you know that all birds are dinosaurs? Science writer Jennifer Ackerman has written articles for Scientific American, National Geographic and The New York Times. Her latest book is called The Bird Way (https://amzn.to/2ZOvQpw) and she is here to reveal some fascinating information that will give you a new appreciation for birds.

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SYSK Choice: Getting Beyond Revenge & How We Misthink Money Jul 25, 2020

Show notes

Has anyone ever told you that you couldn’t sing or carry a tune? Kids are often told that and it can really embarrass them and leave a lasting impression. The truth is just about anyone can sing and sing well. So forget what you were told and listen to my explanation. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2015/02/cant-sing-keep-at-it/

The ability to forgive is wonderful. But while people can forgive, we also have the ability (and often the desire) to seek revenge when someone has harmed us. Psychologist Michael McCullough author of the book, Beyond Revenge (http://amzn.to/2BgFwNI) talks with me about how to best deal with someone who has hurt you and he explores whether or not you can make a case for revenge in some circumstances.

There is a good chance you have a favorite coffee mug. Lots of people do. And I think you will find it either odd or comforting just how attached people get to their coffee mug and what they feel if someone else uses it or – God forbid – it breaks! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201602/6-reasons-were-emotionally-attached-our-favorite-mugs

All your life you deal with money. And how well you deal with it and understand it will have a huge impact on you. Jeff Kreisler author of the book, Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter (http://amzn.to/2nMsCiQ) uncovers some of the mysteries of money like why you enjoy spending money on some things but hate spending money on others; how you decide what the value of things are; why you will spend more on vacation than you will at home for the very same things and more.

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How the Internet Has Changed Our Language & Kids and Screens – How Much is Too Much? Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

Have you ever put a little more gasoline into your tank after the nozzle has shut itself off? If so, you need to hear the beginning of this episode when I explain what topping off your tank could be doing to your car – and it is not good. https://clark.com/cars/why-you-should-never-top-off-your-gas-tank/

The Internet has changed the English language. For one thing, we are all writing more than ever – texts, emails, social media posts, etc. We write so much that we have changed many of the rules for writing to make it more efficient and more expressive according to linguist Gretchen McCulloch. Gretchen writes the Resident Linguist column at Wired, she runs the blog All Things Linguistic and she is author of the book Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language (https://amzn.to/3eILyqs). Listen as she explains how the rules of language have been bent and shaped to work better in the Internet Age.

In the United States, we refrigerate eggs. But in many other countries, they do not. Who is right? Well that’s what so interesting. Listen as I discuss why the way you store eggs is important and what can happen if you don’t. http://www.extracrispy.com/food/2668/how-long-can-eggs-be-out-of-the-fridge

For several generations now, children have spent a lot of free time in front of electronic screens – TV, computers, laptops, phones and tablets. Now with the current pandemic, kids are spending even more time watching videos, playing games and doing all the other things you can on a screen. So how bad is this? Is it doing real damage to our children’s brains? Joining me to discuss this is Joshua Wayne. He works with kids and families in schools, mental health facilities and in private practice – and he is author of the book The Simple Parenting Guide to Technology (https://amzn.to/2ZNi0UF).

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