Something You Should Know

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How the Human Body Works & Stories Your Doctor Won’t Tell You Jan 20, 2025

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Do you know your IQ? Can you raise the number up or – are stuck with whatever that number is? This episode begins with some insight into your IQ including some of the unusual things that seem to affect it. Source: Psychologist Andy Williams author of How Do You Compare? (https://amzn.to/3E1Daor).

Your body is an amazing machine. And when you understand some of the ways it works it becomes more of a marvel. Here to take you and me on a tour of important parts of your body is Dr. Jonathan Reisman. He is a doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics and author of the book The Unseen Body: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy (https://amzn.to/37vUz8u). You will learn things about body parts and body fluids you never knew. Listen as he explains about body parts and bodily fluids – and it’s really kinda fun.

Doctors tend to be pretty grounded in science. Yet many of them have stories of medical miracles and other experiences that science simply cannot explain. Some of the stories you are about to hear may just give you chills. Dr. Scott Kolbaba is one doctor who has had some strange experiences, so he decided to reach out to other doctors to see if they did as well. And indeed they did! Scott is author of a book called Physicians Untold Stories: Miraculous Experiences Doctors are Hesitant to Share with their Patients or Anyone (https://amzn.to/3v7Ci9O). Listen as he shares these remarkable stories with you.

t is human nature to worry – but not all the time. Particularly because so much of what we worry about never happens. Listen as I explain how one leading expert puts worry in its proper place. Source: Dr. Martin Rossman author of The Worry Solution (https://amzn.to/3xmjZAs)

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Why We Are Obsessed With Butts & The Best and Worst Way to Apologize - SYSK Choice Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

Ever notice when you are nervous or stressed, the pitch of your voice goes up? Yet a lower pitch would likely be more useful in most cases because we associate a lower pitch voice with dominance and calm. This episode begins with some insight on how to tame your voice in stressful situations and not be betrayed by your own voice. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communications-matter/202101/why-you-need-pitch-your-voice-lower

There certainly seems to be a fascination with the human butt. It makes you wonder why there is so much interest in butts and why a lot of people seem dissatisfied with the one they have. What is it that makes a butt attractive or unattractive? Does the type of butt you have really meaning anything? Here to explore this is Heather Radke author of the book Butts: A Backstory (https://amzn.to/3IDCndo)

It would be hard to get through life without having to apologize. We all must do it and many of us are not very good at it. And, a bad apology can actually make a situation worse than it was before. So, what is the anatomy of the perfect apology? And how do people usually screw it up? Here with some insight is Marjorie Ingall, co-author of the book Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies (https://amzn.to/3vTllk9).

When you leave a tip at a restaurant, you send a message. Given that, how much should you leave? How do you calculate it? Should you ever leave NO tip at all? Listen as I reveal some things to consider when deciding how to tip. Source: Steve Dublanica author of Keep The Change (https://amzn.to/3Wjelut)

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How You Are Being Psychologically Targeted & The Extraordinary Power of Curiosity Jan 16, 2025

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How many calories do you burn up just eating and digesting the food you eat? It’s an interesting question and the answer depends on what kind of food you are eating. Listen as I reveal the basics of what is called the Thermic Effect.https://www.revolution-pts.com/blog/understanding-the-thermic-effect-of-food

The amount of data being collected about you every hour is staggering – detailed, intimate data. What may be more shocking is how that data is used to psychologically target you. Joining me to explain what that is and how it works is Sandra Matz. She is a professor at Columbia Business School and has an informative TED talk about the use of psychological targeting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkI_TrPmKgA). She is also author of the book Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior (https://amzn.to/4gGaTCc).

In most of our everyday interactions, our questions are fairly shallow: “Hi, are you?” “What’s going on?” “What kind of work do you do?” etc. Yet, if you go a little deeper and get a bit more curious with people, it can pay off for you in a very big way. This is according to Scott Shigeoka. He is a leading expert on the topic of curiosity. He is a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin and author of a book called Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World (https://amzn.to/4gQDbKr).

Are you one of those people who cherishes the few extra minutes of sleep the snooze alarm gives you? Listen as I reveal some interesting facts about the snooze and why you may not want to use it too much https://www.rd.com/article/why-is-snooze-9-minutes/

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Why Couples Hate to Talk About Money & How Scents and Smells Affect You Jan 13, 2025

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In the online shopping world, there is something called “cart abandonment discounts.” Listen as I explain what they are and how you can save money on some of the items you want to buy as long as you are not in a huge hurry to buy them. https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/store-hacks/amazon-cart-abandonment-discounts

Money is often a difficult subject for couples to discuss. One of the big reasons is that those discussions often turn into fights. But what if you could turn those discussions into fun and enjoyable talks that resulted in a shared vision of a rich life together? And what if the fights over money stopped completely? Wouldn’t that be great? It can happen if you listen to my guest Rahmit Sethi. For several years he has been helping people look at their money differently. He had a huge bestselling book a few years ago called I Will Teach You To Be Rich (https://amzn.to/4h47FIm) and his latest book is called Money for Couples (https://amzn.to/4j3daJo).

There are so many ways your sense of smell works to your benefit. For one thing, you are attracted to another person (or turned off by them) often because of how they smell, even if you are not conscious of it. Your sense of smell works in some interesting and mysterious ways. And here to explain the science behind all of it is Jonas Olofsson. He is a professor of psychology at Stockholm University, where he directs the Sensory Cognitive Interaction Lab and he is author of the book, The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell – and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose (https://amzn.to/3DSgNS8).

Your bedroom is probably dark when you go to bed – at least mostly dark. But is it completely dark? If it’s not, there is something you need to understand, and we learned about it from hamsters. https://sciencemadefun.net/blog/this-color-night-light-is-best-for-sleep-the-color-will-surprise-you/

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Why You Should Take Fun Seriously & Electricity’s Amazing Story - SYSK Choice Jan 11, 2025

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Sometimes your willpower seems pretty good but other times - especially right when you need it – it disappears. What if there was a way to boost your will power right when you need it most? This episode begins with a technique that can help you resist whatever that temptation when it is right in front of you. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/clenched-muscles-assist-self-contro-10-10-20/

When you think about it, being happy isn’t something you do. Happiness is the result of something you enjoy. In other words, you must do something fun first, then happiness will follow. This is according to Mike Rucker, an educational psychologist and the author of a book called The Fun Habit (https://amzn.to/3inKGPT). Listen as Mike reveals why fun is the key to real happiness. And he explains how it only takes a little fun to create a significant increase in your happiness level. Listen as Mike offers some simple strategies to make time for fun and why it is essential to do so.

Having reliable electricity at the flip of a switch is something we all expect. Yet it’s only been in the last 120 years or so that electricity has been in most homes. When you think about how much electricity has transformed our lives, it is really quite amazing. So how did science figure out how to tame this force of nature and harness it so it powers so much of our lives today? That is a story Kathy Joseph is here to tell. She holds advanced degrees in physics and engineering and has a YouTube Channel called Kathy Loves Physics and History (https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyLovesPhysicsHistory). She is also author of the book The Lightning Tamers: True Stories of the Dreamers and Schemers Who Harnessed Electricity and Transformed Our World (https://amzn.to/3CqcyJY)

Whenever you feel down or depressed, it is usually because you are regretting something in your past or you worrying about something that may happen in your future – or it could be both. Listen as I reveal what you can do the next time that happens which may make you feel better in the moment. Source: Dr. Jeffrey Rossman author of The Mind-Body Solution (https://amzn.to/3QkommK)

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How and Why Optimism Works & Why a Little Defiance is a Good Thing Jan 08, 2025

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Why are dalmatians often associated with firefighters and fire trucks? Is it just a mascot thing or is there more to the story? Of course, there is more to the story and this episode begins with a quick explanation. https://www.livescience.com/33293-dalmatians-official-firehouse-dogs.html

The world is full of optimists and pessimists. Which is better? How do we come to be one or the other – are we born that way? What does it mean to be an optimist and are there benefits to it? These things I explore with my guest Sumit Paul-Choudhury. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist; he trained as an astrophysicist and has worked as a financial journalist. He is also author of the book The Bright Side: How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One (https://amzn.to/3W3Ndzl).

Have you ever NOT spoken up at a meeting because it is just easier to go along with the crowd – even when you know you were right? It seems we have been taught that compliance and being a team player is best while defying the consensus is bad. Well maybe not. There is another way to look at this, which is why Dr. Sunita Sah is here. She believes saying no and defying conventional wisdom is often the right thing to do. And you can do it in a way that doesn’t offend. Sunita is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She is author of the book Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes (https://amzn.to/49Zecln)

Keeping warm in the winter cold can be tricky and expensive. Listen as I offer some easy and practical ideas that will help keep everyone in your home nice and warm without having to turn up the heat and run up the bill. https://www.thespruce.com/ways-to-keep-warm-without-turning-up-the-heat-1388206

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How Your Body Affects Your Happiness & Good News for Self-Critics and Perfectionists Jan 06, 2025

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At airports all over the world, luggage gets lost – sometimes forever. So, what happens to it? It can’t sit there in baggage claim forever. Well, in the U.S. a lot of the lost luggage makes it way to a place in Alabama and the contents of that luggage can be yours for a price. Listen as I explain. https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com

You have heard people say, “Happiness is a state of mind.” But it also might be a state of body. There is some wonderful news about how what you do with your body can significantly affect your level of happiness. In fact, your body is constantly sending messages to your brain about what it is experiencing which in turn affects what you think and how you feel. This is according to my guest, Janice Kaplan. She is a journalist and former editor of Parade magazine – and she is author of the book What Your Body Knows About Happiness (https://amzn.to/49XpSFj)

It appears that a lot of people walk around with a nagging sense they aren’t good enough – that they are not living up to their potential, that they should be doing better. If that sounds familiar, you need to hear my guest, Ellen Hendriksen. She is a clinical psychologist at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Psychology Today, among others. She is here to reveal some fascinating insight into how feeling like you are not good enough is really a form of perfectionism. And she has some great suggestions to help anyone break free of all that self-criticism. Ellen is the author of How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists (https://amzn.to/49YfIo6).

Most of us accumulate a lot of receipts. For every purchase, there is a receipt. Often, we feel compelled to keep them but is that really necessary? Listen as I reveal which receipts to hold on to and which ones you can toss out. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/receipts-which-to-keep-and-which-to-pitch.html

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The Science Behind Why We Buy & How to Make Bold Choices - SYSK Choice Jan 04, 2025

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In a public bathroom, which is better – drying your hands with a paper towel or using an air blower? If the goal is to walk out of the bathroom with clean hands, there is really only one choice. Listen and I will reveal what it is. http://lifehacker.com/5967976/

Whenever you buy something, you are making a decision – to buy it or not. Whether it’s which laundry soap to ourchase or which house to buy – it is always the result of your decision. What’s so interesting is what goes into that decision. Sometimes you aren’t even aware of what is influencing your choice. Here to explain how this all works is Phil Barden, who is a marketing expert and author of the book Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy (https://amzn.to/3v7If6P). What he says can help make you a better consumer.

Are you bold? Do you say what’s on your mind and do ask for what you want? Or does something hold you back? There is a well know phrase - “Fortune favors the bold,” and it is a phrase Jennifer Cohen certainly believes in. Jennifer has a brilliant TED talk on this topic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM82hE6oimw&t=2s) and she is host of a podcast called Habits and Hustle (https://habitshustle.com/). She is also author of the book Bigger, Better, Bolder: Live the Life You Want, Not the Life You Get (https://amzn.to/3jlI6tO). If you have ever felt regret for not speaking up, you should hear this conversation.

People don’t like to complain in restaurants – even when things aren’t going well. There is always that worry that it could make things worse. Yet actually, by not complaining, it is hard for things to get better and more importantly, not complaining can cost you money. Listen as I explain.. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201112/telling-white-lies-comes-price

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How to Change What’s Not Working & Why Time Seems to Speed Up and Slow Down Jan 02, 2025

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One fear many air travelers have is catching a cold or some other bug when they fly on an airplane. Why is it that a lot of people seem to get sick on a flight? Is it the air in the plane or maybe it's the bathrooms? Listen as I explain what the most common cause of getting sick is and how to protect yourself. https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/avoid-getting-sick-while-flying/

We often do things because – well, that’s the way we do things. Organizations are often very resistant to change and stay stuck in procedures and processes because that’s just the way they are done – even if they are not working very well. When you think about it, it doesn’t make any sense but nevertheless, that’s the way it is. Dan Heath has examined this phenomenon and what he found will fascinate you – and help you figure ways to do things better for yourself or your organization. Dan has been a frequent guest here and has written some great books over the years. His latest is called Reset: How to Change What's Not Working (https://amzn.to/3DCbB4E)

Have you ever noticed how time tends to speed up when you are having fun and slow down when you are doing something unpleasant or boring? It’s weird because objectively we know that time moves at a constant speed – or does it? Is the way we measure time just arbitrary? Can we and do we experience time at different rates? For example, people often claim that when they are in a car accident, time slows down as if it occurs in slow motion. What is that? Here to explore this with me is Steve Taylor, PhD. He is a senior lecturer and researcher in psychology at Leeds Beckett University and he is author of the book Time Expansion Experiences: The Psychology of Time Perception and the Illusion of Linear Time (https://amzn.to/4gNpvzz)

How many times have you looked at photos of yourself and been unhappy with the way you look? Well, there is something you can do with your face that will make you look better in any photo. It’s called the squinch and it was developed by legendary photographer Peter Hurley. Listen as I explain how to squinch. There is also a YouTube video that demonstrates it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7nltdBCHs

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The New Science of Effective Weight & What Makes an Idea Scalable Dec 30, 2024

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We’ve all heard the advice that when you buy new clothes you should wash them first before you wear them. But what’s the reason? Is it more of a “just to be safe” idea or is there a real concern? This episode begins with an explanation.https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2010/11/wash-and-then-wear-unwashed-clothes-may-have-formaldehyde/index.htm

Understanding the science of weight loss has come a long way in just the past several years. It isn’t just, “eat fewer calories than you burn.” There is a lot more to it than that. If you want to know the latest cutting-edge advice on losing weight and keeping it off, listen to my guest, Dr. Richard Johnson, who is at the forefront of research on obesity and diabetes. He is he is a medical doctor, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado and author of the book, Why Nature Wants Us to Be Fat – The Surprising Science Behind Why We Gain Weight and How We Can Prevent – and Reverse It. (https://amzn.to/3tXHbCF).

You often hear business gurus talk about how important it is to make your business idea scalable. What does that mean? How do you make something scalable? It seems like many ideas are simply not scalable. And if an idea isn’t scalable, can it still be great? John List is an economist (formerly with Lyft) who explains how ideas scale – or don’t. He also explains how great businesses know how to pivot to stay competitive. John is author of the book The Voltage Effect: How to Make Good Ideas Great and Great Ideas Scale (https://amzn.to/3K3cCkT). Listen as he reveals some great examples of ideas that could and could not scale and how he helped Lyft scale their business.

Usually, you smile because you are happy. But it may also be true that you can be happy because you smile. And more importantly, smiling can also make you healthy. Listen and I will tell you how it works. https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-to-smile-every-day-2223755

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