Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

Why Pets Act in Weird Ways & When Your Brain Does Its Best Work Sep 26, 2024

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How is your posture right now? If your shoulders are slouched, you are sending a message to others that you probably don’t want to send. I start this episode by discussing how your posture speaks volumes – good and bad. https://www.jnforensics.com/post/what-the-shoulders-say-about-us

Why do dogs seem so picky about where they poop? Can cats tell what you are feeling? Does a goldfish memory last only 3 seconds? While we pet owners love our pets, there is a lot we don’t know or understand. Here to reveal many of these mysteries is Eleanor Spicer Rice. She is an entomologist and the author of several nonfiction books, one of which is called Your Pet’s Secret Lives : The Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors (https://amzn.to/3BblxB3).

Your brain is on its own schedule. It does some kind of work better in the morning and other work better later in the day. It’s important to understand this because you may not be scheduling the type of tasks you are doing to coincide with when your brain is at its peak for that kind of work. Joining me to explain how this works is Dr. Mithu Storoni. She is a physician, neuroscience researcher and ophthalmic surgeon who also advises multinational corporations on mental performance and stress management. She is author of a book called Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work (https://amzn.to/3TAAOSd).

It sort of stands to reason that if someone has a big head, they would have a bigger brain and therefore be smarter. But what does the research say about that? Listen as I explore this. I think you will find that the answer is more interesting than you might imagine. https://odditiesbizarre.com/people-with-big-heads/

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When Doctors Get It Wrong & The Science of Kindness Sep 23, 2024

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Ever fake a smile? We all do. What harm can it do? Well, it could do you some harm if you are the one doing the faking. Listen as I reveal the downside of faking a smile. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2011/02/22/study-finds-fake-smile-is-bad-for-business/

While modern medicine is responsible for many miraculous things, there are some blind spots – some blunders. For example, the skyrocketing rate of peanut allergies is primarily due to some bad medical science. Same with over prescribing of antibiotics, the reluctance to prescribe hormone replacement therapy for women – all bad science. And there’s more! You need to be aware of these errors and be armed with the information to protect yourself. Here to provide this alarming data is Dr. Marty Makary. He is Professor at Johns Hopkins and has been a visiting professor at 25 medical schools. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and author of two bestselling books. His newest book, which is already a bestseller is called Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health (https://amzn.to/4gqSjhP)

Your mother probably told you to always be kind. While that is good advice, it appears that kindness has a more significant impact on you than you ever knew. It’s not just being kind either. Just witnessing kindness has a cascade of effects on you that you need to hear about. So come listen to my guest Dr. David Hamilton. He is the author of 11 books and his latest is called The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck: How Kindness Can Cure Stress and Make You Happy (https://amzn.to/3TxKZHw)

Why do we drink so much cow’s milk? Lots of animals produce milk but cow’s milk is clearly the preferred favorite. Listen as I reveal the amazingly practical reasons for the popularity of cow’s milk. https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2022/03/13/why-do-people-drink-cows-milk/

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The Solution to Overthinking & Why You’re Smarter Than AI - SYSK Choice Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

What if you could reduce your risk of heart disease by 30% without a lot of effort? After all, it is the number 1 killer in the U.S. This episode begins with this simple little tactic – and by the way, it’s all in your attitude. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-positive-mindset-can-help-your-heart-2019021415999

“Stop overthinking this!” You have either said that to someone or had someone say it to you. Overthinking is that process where you think through an idea or a goal or a career move over and over, imagining every variable and possible outcome. It doesn’t help, it just makes you crazy and can really get in the way. So, when does normal thinking become over-thinking? And how do you stop it? Here to discuss this is Jon Acuff. He is author of 9 books including Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking (https://amzn.to/3f2FI9o).

Several prominent thinkers and scientists have predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) could be dangerous. One fear is that we might create machines that are so smart and so sophisticated they could control us, instead of us controlling them. Could that be or is it just science-fiction? Might we one day create machines that think on their own? Probably not, according to Gerd Gigerenzer Director Emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the award-winning author of several books including, How to Stay Smart In A Smart World (https://amzn.to/3SnGADW). He also reveals how AI can change our behavior and how that is already happening.

Fall allergies are a real problem for many of us. If they bother you. listen as I reveal some simple things that will help minimize the symptoms by keeping allergens out of your house. https://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-proof-your-environment

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Remarkable Ways Horses Changed Your Life & The Real Benefits of Being Lazy Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

We have become much more of a cashless society in the last few years. That turns out to be a good thing because cash is really disgusting. Listen as I explain just how disgusting and you are not going to like it! Source: Elizabeth Scott, author of How to Prevent Food Poisoning https://amzn.to/3XKAvHf

Horses are the “Swiss army knife of animals.” They can do so much. Consequently, over the last 5,000 years they have done more to shape our lives and alter human history than any other animal. If it weren’t for horses, your life today would be considerably different. That’s according to my guest, Timothy Winegard who has researched the remarkable impact horses have had on us. He is author of the book, The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity (https://amzn.to/4grRHZa). Listen as Timothy takes you on a fascinating journey through equine history.

Being lazy isn’t considered a good thing by most people. But maybe it is. If you want to achieve your goals and be successful, there is a great case to be made for being lazy some of the time That’s according to Todd McElroy. He is a researcher, educator, and author of the book The Science of Laziness (Achieving More by Doing Less) (https://amzn.to/4e1R5rw). Listen as Todd explains the power of strategic laziness and revels exactly how to do it.

In the heat of summer, air conditioning can be wonderful. Still, it can also be the source of concern, particularly when it comes to weight gain and obesity. Listen as I explain the connection and why we need to be concerned. https://www.thelondonobesityclinic.com/is-your-heater-or-air-conditioner-causing-weight-gain/

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The Fascinating Gases that Surround You & Is Everyone Addicted to Something? Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Some very popular drinks turn out to be really bad for your teeth. This episode begins with that list of drinks, what they do to your teeth and some strategies to help you minimize the damage if you are going to drink them. https://news.uthscsa.edu/more-u-s-teeth-susceptible-to-silent-enamel-eating-syndrome/

We are surrounded by gases - oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas, steam. Gases are everywhere. They fill our lungs, power our movement, create stars, and warm our atmosphere. As important as they are (we wouldn’t be here without them) they are the least understood materials in our world. But you are about to understand them much better as you listen to my guest, Mark Miodownik. He is a professor of materials and society at University College London and author of the book It's A Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World (https://amzn.to/3XDpcjX).

People often say they are addicted to their phones or to shopping, or to social media or that their kids are addicted to video games. But are these things really addictions or just something to do when you have time to kill? What’s the harm of scrolling through social media or playing Candy Crush, or going shopping even if you don’t really need anything? That is what Talitha Fosh is here to discuss. Talitha is a psychotherapist who works primarily with addiction and she is author of the book, Hooked: Why we are addicted and how to break free (https://amzn.to/3XDW8sq).

You should wear shoes when you drive. But not just any shoes. Some shoes are well-suited for driving and others are potentially quite dangerous. And what about driving barefoot? Listen as I sort this all out and tell you which shoes are the best to wear when you drive. https://www.rd.com/list/shoes-shouldnt-wear-driving/

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What Your Favorite Music Says About You & How to Ditch Negative Self-Talk - SYSK Choice Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

My mother was a teacher, and I remember her saying that when you take a test and you don’t know the answer, go with the first answer that comes to your mind or the one that initially seems right. A lot of people believe that – but is it really good advice? This episode begins with the evidence that proves or disproves this theory. https://www.spring.org.uk/2012/02/multiple-choice-tests-why-sticking-with-your-first-answer-is-probably-wrong.php

Hard to imagine life without music. You probably have a favorite type of music or favorite singer or band. Listening to music can transport you back in time, it can change your mood, relax you or rev you up. So, what is it about music that is so special? Here to discuss all these things and more is Susan Rogers who was the chief engineer on Prince’s Purple Rain album as well as other hit records. In fact, she is one of the most successful female record producers of all time. She is currently a professor of neuroscience and author of the book This is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You (https://amzn.to/3ROjCGg)

You know what self-talk is, right? It is that voice in your head that keeps telling you things about yourself – usually horrible things. You may not always notice it, but you are constantly saying things to yourself that are doing you no good. Why in the world do we do that? Why do we tend to think so negatively about ourselves and the world around us? Here to explore that is psychotherapist Katie Krimer, author of the book, Sh*t I Say to Myself: 40 Ways to Ditch the Negative Self-Talk That’s Dragging You Down (https://amzn.to/3S7miOD).

Do you know the law when you come up on a school bus picking up or dropping off students? It’s a big deal because that area right around a stopped school bus is potentially very dangerous. The truth is, driving around kids walking to and from school is always risky. Listen as I reveal what you need to know and do when you are driving around school children. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety

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The Untold Dangers of Prescription Drugs & Fresh Look at Dealing with Anger Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

At work, do you go out to lunch or eat at your desk? It makes a difference in the quality of your work after lunch is over. Listen and I’ll explain the details. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/going-out-lunch-zaps-mental-focus

Drug companies. Big Pharma. They create life-altering and life-saving drugs that help people all over the world. However, the way they sometimes do business has a lot of people concerned. Why do some drugs get recalled after they were deemed to be safe and effective? Why is so much of what happens in the development of a drug kept secret? What don't we know about the whole drug testing and approval process? These are the kinds of things journalist Sharyl Attkisson has been investigating and you will be shocked at what she has to say. Sharyl is host and managing editor of the Sunday morning TV program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. She is a former journalist at CBS News, and she is author of some bestselling books. Her latest book is called Follow the Science: How Big Pharma Misleads, Obscures, and Prevails https://amzn.to/3ZhfF3q

Anger. There’s a volatile emotion. Everyone gets angry but everyone doesn’t handle anger in the same way. Joining me to help us all understand anger and how to deal with it is Russell Kolts. He is a professor of psychology at Eastern Washington University. He is also an internationally-recognized trainer in compassion-focused therapy (CFT). Russell is the author of The Anger Workbook: Discover the Strength to Transform Your Anger Using Your Compassionate Mind (https://amzn.to/3zcluEt).

If you are like me and hate throwing food out, I have some great ideas and suggestions I found on this interesting website that will keep food fresh longer and save you money in the process. Listen to hear these cool kitchen hacks. Source: Robbie’s Kitchen (www.kitchen.robbiehaf.com).

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Why Status is Critical to Your Success & Why Is There So Much Anxiety? Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

In the average lifespan, there are 2 separate years (and they are decades apart) where people report being the happiest. Can you guess what they are? Listen and find out. https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/07/22/study-23-and-69-are-the-happiest-ages/

The higher your status, the more likely you are to be successful. So how do you acquire high status? You might think power grants you status but that’s not really it. People of high-status exhibit 2 qualities – and you can too, according to my guest Alison Fragale. She is a Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times and other media outlets. She is author of the book Likeable Badass (https://amzn.to/47a5P5c).

Anxiety! You hear it talked about a lot. It seems as if more people are more anxious than ever before. So, what is anxiety, why does it seem to be on the rise and what is the best way to address it and reduce it? Here with some fresh insight into worry and anxiety is Russell Kennedy, M.D., who has dealt with his own debilitating anxiety. He is also a neuroscientist and author of the book Anxiety Rx: A Revolutionary New Prescription for Anxiety Relief―from the Doctor Who Created It (https://amzn.to/3ANfrqw).

Noises have colors. At least some of them do. You have probably heard of white noise but there is also pink, brown and black noise. Listen as I reveal what they are. https://www.wired.com/story/colours-of-noise/

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Clues That Reveal a Person’s Thoughts & Our Shipwreck Fascination - SYSK Choice Sep 07, 2024

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Is it true that opposites attract. After all you sometimes see couples that seem to prove the point. So just how common or rare is it for opposites to really attract? This episode starts by explaining some of the research on the topic. http://www.livescience.com/5351-truth-opposites-attract.html

Can you really tell what someone else is thinking or what they want from you? It appears there are some clues to look for to get a better idea of what is going on in their head. Here to explain what the clues are is psychotherapist David J. Lieberman. David is the author of the book Mindreader: The New Science of Deciphering What People Really Think, What They Really Want, and Who They Really Are. (https://amzn.to/3w6R95y).

When you think of shipwrecks you likely think of pirates, lost treasure or maybe Titanic. So many books, movies and songs have been written about shipwrecks. There is something about them that captures our imagination. Here to take us on a tour of the dark and murky world of shipwrecks is Daniel Stone. He is a former staff writer for National Geographic and author of the book Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea, and the Shipwreck of the Titanic (https://amzn.to/3bY84R0). Listen as he reveals the startling number of shipwrecks, where they are, what happens if you discover one and much more.

Can you believe that about one out of six people get food poisoning each year? Listen as I explain why people get food poisoning and you will hear the list of the most likely foods that cause it to help you prevent it from happening to you. https://www.cspinet.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/resource/cspi_top_10_fda.pdf

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Why Most People Can’t Keep Secrets & Interesting Oddities of Language Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

Eye contact can be tricky. Too little and you look disinterested – too much and you look creepy. This episode begins with a few of the finer points of proper eye contact. http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/07/how-eye-contact-works.php

It’s clear from research that keeping a secret is difficult to do. We often feel compelled to share secrets even if we promised not to. So why is that? According to my guest, keeping a secret causes stress and has been linked to diseases like ulcers and cancer. By telling secrets we unburden ourselves and relieve that stress. But revealing secrets can have huge negative repercussions to relationships and social status. Here to look at the science of secrets, why we tell them and who we tell them to, is Andrew Gold. He is an investigative journalist, podcaster and filmmaker who has made documentaries for the BBC and HBO. He hosts a podcast called On the Edge with Andrew Gold (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwU7HOfuSL5KD5s9hGoPuyVzN_VwG4Yi_) and he is author of the book, The Psychology of Secrets: My Adventures with Murderers, Cults and Influencers (https://amzn.to/3MiwXoS)

Why do we have both upper and lower case letters? Why are letters in the order they are in (ABCDE etc.) There is a dot above a lower case i and j – what’s that for? And why do we capitalize the pronoun “I”? Other languages don’t. There are so many fascinating stories about how English came to be. And here to tell several of them is linguist Paul Anthony Jones. He has a popular YouTube channel where he talks about language and he is author of the book Why Is This a Question?: Everything about the origins and oddities of language you never thought to ask (https://amzn.to/3Z0Nrtm).

While people discuss and debate whether humans are naturally monogamous, there are some animals on earth who truly are – or close to it. Listen as I reveal which animals love their mate for their entire life. https://www.treehugger.com/animals-that-mate-for-life-4869332

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