Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

What Your Senses Can’t Perceive & What Happens When You Are Too Productive - SYSK Choice Mar 08, 2025

Show notes

What if I told you that being left-handed or right-handed has a powerful influence on decisions you make? Listen as I begin this episode by explaining how this works. http://casasanto.com/papers/Casasanto&Chrysikou_2011.pdf

There are colors all around you that you can’t see. But birds can see them. Many birds see colors that are unimaginable to you. Dogs smell things everywhere that you can’t smell. Other animals have the ability to sense the magnetic fields of the earth – but you cannot. These are just a few of the interesting ways that other creatures perceive the world differently than humans. And it gets even more interesting than that. If you would like to hear how, listen to my conversation with Ed Yong, a Pulitzer prize winning science journalist, staff member at The Atlantic and author of the book An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden World Around Us (https://amzn.to/41vZ2Qa).

People sure talk about productivity a lot. By all accounts, we all need to get more done in less time – that is the key to efficiency and success. Yet have you noticed that when you don’t get everything done you think you should, you feel guilty – which never feels good. Maybe what we need is to stop worrying about being productive and enjoy living life instead. And by doing that, you may be even more productive than ever! Here to explain how is Madeleine Dore, author of the book I Didn’t Do That Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt (https://amzn.to/3ILawYE).

Food, drinks and candy at a movie theater are usually very expensive. In fact, I bet you have toyed with the idea of bringing your own snacks to save money. But is it right to do that? After all, they ask you not to. Listen as I discuss this interesting dileman. Source: David Callahan author of The Cheating Culture (https://amzn.to/3lYq1Ue)

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

QUINCE: Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

TIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure! Go to https://Timeline.com/SOMETHING

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

Cool Things You Can Do With AI & Surprising Insight in Chance, Probability & Risk Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

There is a word you probably use that means something entirely different than what you think. In fact, it means the opposite of what you think. Yet, this opposite meaning has become so pervasive, even dictionaries now say that the wrong meaning is now okay. Listen and I will tell you what the word is and what it really means. https://www.jalopnik.com/dear-hollywood-please-knock-it-off-with-the-overdrive-5926885/

Artificial Intelligence can seem intimidating to some. Yet it is actually quite simple to use and it can do amazing things to make your life better. It can teach you a skill, plan your dinner, plan a trip, be a brainstorming partner and counsel you to help with a problem. These are just a few of the things you’ll discover how to do from listening to my guest, Celia Quillan. She is an expert in artificial intelligence and has been featured in Time, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Today show. She is the creator of the popular TikTok and Instagram channel @SmartWorkAI and she is author of the book, AI for Life: 100+ Ways to Use Artificial Intelligence to Make Your Life Easier, More Productive…and More Fun! (https://amzn.to/3QGCYy0)

We often use phrases like, “There’s a good chance…” or “It’s likely that….” But without knowing HOW good a chance or HOW likely something is, the phrases don’t mean much. To help get a true understanding of chance, probability and luck is David Spiegelhalter, emeritus professor of statistics at the University of Cambridge and author of the book The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck (https://amzn.to/41sXdEu).

You probably feel safe taking a shower in your own bathroom. But dangers are lurking – some you might never have thought of. Listen as I explain how to reduce the risk of taking a shower. https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19544438/shower-safety/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

QUINCE: Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

TIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure! Go to https://Timeline.com/SOMETHING

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

Digital Communication Done Right & Buy What You Love Without Going Broke Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Beer should be served ice cold. Bottled beer is better than canned beer. These are just 2 incorrect assumptions people have about beer. This episode begins with a look at common beliefs about beer that just aren’t true – and what the real story is. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61195/11-common-misconceptions-about-beer

You have a lot of options when it comes to communicating with others. You can text, video chat, email, phone or speak face-to-face. What you may not realize or think about is that the method of communication you choose itself sends a message. Choose the wrong method and you send the wrong message. Here to discuss the fascinating research behind all this is Andrew Brodsky. He is a management professor at McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the book PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication (https://amzn.to/41h5fQH).

Have you ever really examined what you spend your money on in say, the last 90 days? When you do, you just may learn some fascinating things about yourself. That is why it is one of several recommendations you will hear from my guest Jen Smith. She reveals how once you are clear on what is truly important to you, you can stop wasting money on things that don't matter and buy what you really love. Jen Smith is a personal finance expert and co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/) who has written for and been featured in Forbes, Money Magazine and Business Insider. She is co-author of the book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke (https://amzn.to/41dBBM9).

What is the best way to deal with a hostile boss? Perhaps using a little hostility in return. Listen as I reveal how a little passive-aggressive hostility may be the perfect way to manage that belligerent boss. https://news.osu.edu/news/2015/01/20/hostile-boss-study-finds-advantages-to-giving-it-right-back/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

QUINCE: Indulge in affordable luxury! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

TIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure! Go to https://Timeline.com/SOMETHING

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

How Your Mind Changes Over Time & The Upside of Uncertainty - SYSK Choice Mar 01, 2025

Show notes

The letters Rx are somehow related to drug stores. But why? What do those letters actually mean? You probably think they have to do with medication or prescriptions or something. But why Rx? What do those letters stand for. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/rx-mean-come/

You are SO not the person you once were. Nor are you the person you will one day be. That’s according to Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale. Listen as he discusses what are most likely the happiest years of your life, why you are different from everyone else on the planet and other fascinating intel into how your mind makes you the person you are. Paul is author of the book Psych: The Story of the Human Mind (https://amzn.to/3k524d5).

Your future is uncertain. And people generally don’t like uncertainty. That because the future may be full of opportunity, but it can also be full of danger and disappointment – and you don’t know which one is around the corner. However, there is another way to look at uncertainty which my guest Nathan Furr is here to reveal. Nathan is a professor and author of the book The Upside of Uncertainty (https://amzn.to/3SbJBZ6). Listen as he offers a different way to face the unknown that will minimize risk and amplify opportunity.

Dio you know the difference between a road a street an avenue and a boulevard? For one thing, all streets are roads but not all roads are streets. Sound confusing? Listen and as I sort it all out. https://www.rd.com/article/difference-between-streets-roads-avenues/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

Why We’re Wired to Imitate Others & How to Have a Great Conversation Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

You probably think raw vegetables are healthier than cooked vegetables. Sometimes they are. But some common veggies get a nutrient boost from the right kind of heat. This episode begins with several of those vegetables and an explanation of how cooking makes them better for you. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/raw-veggies-are-healthier/

Humans are wired to imitate others like no other creature on earth. In fact, almost everything you do today is the result of imitating someone else at some point in your life. But wait! Aren’t we independent thinkers with intelligence and ability to think for ourselves? Yes, but according to my guest the primary way you learn everything is by copying others – from driving a car, writing a letter, eating a meal, everything you’ve learned how to do came from imitating others. Here to explain why this is important to understand is R. Alexander Bentley, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee and coauthor of the book, I'll Have What She's Having: Mapping Social Behavior (https://amzn.to/4kbT4NK).

Your conversational skills are key to your success in every aspect of your life. People like people who speak well. Yet, I suspect no one ever really taught you how to converse. You just do it. Conversation is both an art and a science. And someone who studies it is my guest Alison Wood Brooks, Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She is author of the book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves (https://amzn.to/4bgzWtF). Listen as she reveals the anatomy of good conversation and what can often go wrong.

One of the cool things about a snowfall is how quiet it is afterwards. And it’s not just quiet – it’s a different kind of quiet. Why is that? Listen as I reveal the science of the quiet after a new fallen snow. Source: Kathy Wollard author of How Come (https://amzn.to/3XfrMvN).

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

Alone Together: The Decline of Social Interaction & Is the Future in Nuclear? Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Did you know that Philadelphia Cream Cheese doesn’t come from Philadelphia? Or that marshmallows were originally medicine for kids? This episode begins by looking at some fascinating and unusual origins of food names. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/health/at-home/odd-facts-7-iconic-products-164000529.html

Despite the human need for social interaction, we keep shying away from it. People are less social than before and there are real consequences for that. Listen as we discuss why people are less connected, what the impact of that is and what we need to do to intervene and fix it. My guest is Jeffrey A. Hall is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas and co-author of the book ok The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shapes Us (https://amzn.to/417F1jc).

When you hear someone talk about nuclear power – what do you think? Nuclear power has a bad image. People think it is unsafe – but is it really? A lot of environmentalists are jumping on the nuclear bandwagon. And the fact is there are almost 100 nuclear reactors in operation in the U.S. with no problem and France actually gets 70% of its power from nuclear. Listen as I discuss all of this with Marco Visscher, an award-winning journalist, who has written extensively about climate policy and clean technology and is author of the book, The Power of Nuclear (https://amzn.to/4b2MgxD).

Why do people say umm, ahh and ya know? And have they always said them? Listen as I reveal how those “speech disfluencies” are likely only about 100 years old – and why they are so common now. Source: Michael Erard, author of UM... Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean (https://amzn.to/42VSGN4)

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

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

Why We Forget & The Amazing Story of Your Body’s Atoms - SYSK Choice Feb 22, 2025

Show notes

People talk about “the power of touch” – but what does this power do? When you hug or shake hands or put your arm around someone – what is so powerful about that. This episode begins by exploring the power of touch and reveals how it improves our lives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R9qyWEJuDI

The way the human memory works is amazing. Not always accurate – but amazing. How does memory work exactly? Why is it we remember some things so well and other things we don’t recall at all? Listen as we explore all of this plus why memories get distorted over time and how you can make your memory work better when you want it to. My guest is Andrew Budson M.D. Andrew is a professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, and author of the book Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory (https://amzn.to/3S45vND).

You are made up of atoms and molecules and cells that all come together to make you – you. But where do those atoms and cells come from? How do they work to make you a real person? Here to reveal some interesting answers to this puzzle is Dan Levitt and award winning writer and producer of science and history documentaries for the National Geographic, Discover, Science, and The History Channel and he is author of the book What’s Gotten Into You : The Story of Your Body’s Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night’s Dinner (https://amzn.to/3YuAWDb)

First impressions really matter. Because first impressions tend to stick in people’s minds. People size you up in about 7 seconds. Listen as I reveal some ways to make the best of those 7 seconds so people think you are the best! Source: Marianne LaFrance author of Why We Smile (https://amzn.to/31n2v8X)

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

CURIOSITY WEEKLY: We love Curiosity Weekly, so listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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

Where To Find Answers to Your Toughest Problems & How Weather Works Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

How dangerous can a pair of shoes be? Really dangerous, particularly if they have big heels. We begin this episode looking at the long story of high heel terror plus other interesting facts about women’s shoes. https://reut.rs/3rXNqoR & https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150521120924.htm

Most day-to-day decisions you make based on your own judgment. Things such as what career path to take, who to marry, what to do to make yourself happy and other life-changing decisions you make all on your own. However, for all those and other decisions there is solid data that can help. Here to explain this is economist, and former Google data scientist, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of the book Don’t Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life (https://amzn.to/3kiHySZ).

What’s the difference between rain and a rain shower? What causes dew and frost? Can clouds predict the weather if you know how to read them? These are some of the questions I explore with Tristan Gooley author of The Secret World of Weather (https://amzn.to/3MFQBcv). This discussion will change the way you look at the weather.

There are some people who just can’t seem to stop working. They work on weekends, holidays and even while on vacation. That might sound like dedication, but it is actually a problem. Listen as I reveal the dangers of working too much and what you should really be doing with your time off. https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/169/5/596/143020

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

CURIOSITY WEEKLY: We love Curiosity Weekly, so listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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

The Mysteries of Your Subconscious Mind & Is An Electric Car in Your Future? Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

When people see someone in public having a heart attack or stroke or other medical emergency, they often pull out their phones? Bad idea. This episode begins with something ER doctors want you to do and NOT do in a medical emergency. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14372699/er-doctor-medical-emergency-darria-gillespie-jay-ladde.html

So much of what you do is driven by your subconscious mind. You don’t have to think to blink or have to consciously remember how to walk, or sit or eat – you just do these things. Join me as we take a peek inside the subconscious mind to get a better understanding of how it works and how it drives so much of your life. Here to reveal the very latest research on the subject is Dr. Allan J Hamilton. He is a brain surgeon who holds four professorships at the University of Arizona and he is author of the book Cerebral Entanglements How the Brain Shapes our Public and Private Lives (https://amzn.to/3EKZGC9)

Are we all destined to drive electric vehicles? Are electric cars taking the world by storm? Why are some people still resistant to the idea of driving an electric car? The fact is that electric vehicles face some real challenges. Still, ask a Tesla driver and chances are they LOVE their electric vehicle. What does the future hold for the electric car? Here to tell the story of is Mike Colias. He is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and has been reporting on the auto industry for several years. He is also author of the book Inevitable: Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to Electric Vehicles (https://amzn.to/4hXz6Eb)

When should a man wear a tie? How does a man decide to wear black shoes or brown? How often should a man get a haircut? Listen as we explore some style basics all men should know. https://www.menshealth.com/style/a19516070/2011-style-rules/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

CURIOSITY WEEKLY: We love Curiosity Weekly, so listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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

How Flavor Has Guided Human History & The Threat of Pseudoscience - SYSK Choice Feb 15, 2025

Show notes

Modern kitchen freezers are actually cruel to ice cream and other frozen foods. This episode begins by explaining why this is and why there is often ice crystals on top of your ice cream and how to prevent them. Source: Professor Richard Hartel author of the book Ice Cream (https://amzn.to/3jNcVrY).

Unlike other animals, we humans have gotten really good at figuring out how to take food and make it taste even better. Why do we do that? And what is it that makes some food taste better than other foods? Is it just our personal preferences or are we all programmed to like the taste of certain foods? What is flavor exactly? All these are questions I discuss with Rob Dunn, an evolutionary biologist and professor at North Carolina State University. He is also the author of the book, Delicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human (https://amzn.to/3RPAIUM).

Medical quackery is when someone touts the benefits of medical cures or treatments with no actual evidence to support it. While you might think you can spot a quack a mile away, it is actually harder than you think. And while some quack theories may be harmless, others can be dangerous. Dr. Joe Schwarcz has spent his career exposing medical quackery and pseudoscience and he joins me to reveal some common forms of it. If you believe Vitamin C can cure your cold or that herbs can effectively treat cancer, you need to hear this conversation. Joe is Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, and author of the book, Quack Quack: The Threat of Pseudoscience (https://amzn.to/40JILGO).

Yes, it is called a DISHwasher but it can do so much more than wash dishes. Listen as I reveal several other things you can wash in there that you may never have thought of. https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a5539/10-things-you-can-clean-in-the-dishwasher-115717/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!

FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/factorpodcast

DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals

SHOPIFY: Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today!

INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!

CURIOSITY WEEKLY: We love Curiosity Weekly, so listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected