Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

The Brighter Side of Dying & Words We Use Interchangeably – But Shouldn’t Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

How much you like and enjoy a certain food is influenced by many things besides the food itself. The utensils, the color of the plate, etc. This episode begins with some interesting examples of this and why, if you are eating yogurt, you want to use one particular kind of spoon. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/utensils-can-influence-food-taste-how-much-you-eat-study-finds/

One thing we all must face is – death. As inevitable as it is, it’s not a topic most of us like to discuss. However, I think you will find this conversation to be different. Julie McFadden is a hospice care nurse with a unique take and unique perspective on death and dying as someone who deals with it every day. Is it possible to have a “good” death? What do people talk about in their final days and moments? What does Julie think about an afterlife? (She has a great story!). Julie has over 1 million followers on TikTok,(https://www.hospicenursejulie.com) she has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, the Atlantic, Daily Mail and she is the author of the bestselling and highly acclaimed book Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully (https://amzn.to/3VWvN77)

Have you noticed we have words in English that almost mean the same thing as other words? For example, persuade and convince -what’s the difference? Or typeface and font – aren’t they the same? What about assume and presume? And is there a difference between the deep web and the dark web? Here to explain these fascinating and subtle differences in our language is Eli Burnstein. He is a humor writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and other publication and he is author of a book called Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning (https://amzn.to/4cOURU8).

When you have an important decision to make, you may want to pause and have a snack first. Listen as I explain why eating can help with decision making and what exactly you should eat first. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2010-01-decision-sugar.html

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Why You Might Need More Friends & How Your Imagination Works Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

While “digital dementia” is not a real medical diagnosis, you still see it everywhere. People are so reliant on (and overloaded by) technology that they don’t remember the simplest things. Listen as I explain the real problem with digital dementia and why we all need to be concerned. https://www.neurocenternj.com/blog/digital-dementia-how-screens-and-digital-devices-impact-memory/

I’m sure you have heard that having family, friends and other human connections is important. But what you may not know is just HOW important. Most people today have fewer close connections than people in previous generations. Yet the science is clear that having real people in your life is essential to your health, happiness and longevity. Joining me to explain how this works and why it is so important is Kasley Killam. She is an internationally recognized expert on the topic who has worked with organizations such as Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum to facilitate building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities. She is author of the book, The Art and Science of Connection Why Our Social Health is the Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier (https://amzn.to/4cynFRi).

How many times have you been told to – “Use your imagination” to try to figure something out or come up with an idea? Have you ever wondered what your imagination actually is? Why are some people’s imaginations more fertile than others? How can you tap into your imagination and use it to your advantage? All of these questions and more are addressed by my guest Albert Read. He is Managing Director of Condé Nast in Britain where he currently oversees British Vogue, GQ, Wired, & Condé Nast Traveller. He is also author of the book The Imagination Muscle: Where Good Ideas Come From (https://amzn.to/4cw9xrw).

It's common to send or bring flowers to someone who is sick. That brings up a question: Does it really help? Do get-well flowers actually help people get well? Listen as I reveal the interesting explanation. https://www.floweraura.com/blog/healing-power-get-well-soon-flowers-scientific-perspective

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Why We Love Things & Your Guide to Deadly Risk - SYSK Choice Jul 13, 2024

Show notes

Is it safe to let your dog lick your face or eat off your plate? It pretty much depends on how clean your dog’s mouth is. This episode begins with a look at whether being so intimate with your dog is okay or cause for concern. https://nypost.com/2022/04/06/your-dogs-kisses-could-contain-deadly-superbug-study-says/

When people say they love their house or car or shoes – is that really love? Can you love inanimate things? Possibly, according to Aaron Ahuvia, professor of marketing at the University of Michigan who is the most widely published and often cited expert on non-interpersonal love. Listen as he reveals what we really mean when we speak of loving objects and activities. Aaron is author of a book titled The Things We Love (https://amzn.to/3z4992k)

Have you ever thought when you get to the end of your life, what it is that finally kills you? It’s worth thinking about because if you understand what is most likely to kill you, you can prevent or at least postpone it from happening. That’s according to Sheila Buff author of the book You Bet Your Life: Your Guide to Deadly Risk (https://amzn.to/3ARYZ6b). Listen as Shelia reveals the most common and not-so-common ways people die – and why. And maybe how we can sidestep those things and live a bit longer.

Finding true love isn’t easy. And finding true love the second or third time around can seem impossible. Don’t give up hope. Instead, listen as I explain what one psychologist says can help you find true love one more time. Source: Finding Love Again by Dr. Terry Orbuch (https://amzn.to/3z0xiH4)

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Great Stories of Extraordinary Success & Why You Should Care About Black Holes Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Your chances of winning the lottery are horrible. Still, a lot of people play. This episode starts by revealing a few things worth knowing about playing the lottery – even though you likely won’t ever win the big jackpot. https://www.wired.com/video/watch/lottery-strategy

Stories of how great ideas become successful are always fascinating – particularly when those ideas are so different than anything that came before it. Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Twitch, Twitter are all successful companies that broke a lot of rules on the road to success. They had to. Here to reveal how they and others do it is Mike Maples Jr. He is a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Twitter (he passed on Airbnb) and he knows what it takes to take an idea and make it soar. Mike is the co-founder of Floodgate, a leading seed stage fund in Silicon Valley that invested in companies like Twitter, Twitch, and others at the very beginning. Mike is host of the podcast Starting Greatness (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-greatness/id1488560647) and author of the book Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future (https://amzn.to/3W8BXlT)

We’ve all heard of black holes. They are those places in space that have such a strong gravitational pull that nothing can escape them – not even light. What you may not know is that there are black holes in the center of every galaxy and without black holes – or at least the one in the middle of our galaxy, we may not even be here. Joining me to discuss what black holes are, what they do and why you should care is Marcus Chown. He is an award winning science writer and broadcaster, former radio astronomer at the California Institute of Technology and author of several books, including A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage (https://amzn.to/3W9cFUE)

If you are concerned about your skin – and skin cancer, I’m sure you use sunscreen. While that’s a good thing, skin cancer rates are up. The implication is that sunscreen alone isn’t enough and in fact your diet may have an impact on how the sun treats your skin. Listen as I explain the details. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/well/eat/diet-skin-cancer-risk-melanoma.html

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Why You Remember and Why You Forget & Unusual Origins of Great Inventions Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

When you go out to eat, the restaurant wants you to spend money. Nothing wrong with that. That’s how they stay in business. Still, you should be aware that they don’t leave it to chance. One thing they do is engineer the menu to nudge you you spend. This episode begins by describing some “menu psychology” you should be aware of. https://www.delish.com/food/a46625028/restaurant-menu-design-you-pay-more/

Your memory works in strange ways. First of all, it forgets more than it remembers. Also, there is one particular time in your life you remember more than other times. There are also techniques to help you remember things better. Joining me to discuss all this and so much more about memory is Megan Sumeracki. She is an associate professor of psychology at Rhode Island College, a cognitive psychologist and memory expert, and author of the book The Psychology of Memory (https://amzn.to/4cCOAuK).

Great inventions and scientific breakthroughs are often the result of unusual, accidental or unintentional journeys. These stories are often inspiring and fascinating to hear – whether it’s the invention of the telephone or super glue, penicillin, the pacemaker or anything else. Here, to share some of those stories and explain why they are important for all of us to understand is Tim James. He is a science teacher, YouTuber and blogger and author of the book Accidental: The Greatest (Unintentional) Science Breakthroughs and How They Changed The World (https://amzn.to/3L4XC8b).

Taking your pet to the vet can be a traumatic experience for all involved. To make the process easier on you, the pet and the staff at the veterinarian’s office, listen as I offer some advice veterinarians want you to know. https://www.rd.com/list/50-things-your-vet-wont-tell-you/

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How Our Brains Experience Taste & The Upside of Anger - SYSK Choice Jul 06, 2024

Show notes

It makes sense that people cry when they are sad – but why do some of us cry when we are happy? This episode starts by examining how two opposite emotions can create the same symptom. By the way, what happy occasion do you think causes people to cry “tears of joy” most often? Hint: It’s not weddings. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141111124047.htm

Flavor and taste are not the same thing. In fact, your sense of taste actually involves all your senses and is more complex than you ever imagined. For example, why do you like some foods that other people hate? Here to explain all this and more is food scientist Camilla Arndal Andersen. Listen as she helps us understand your interesting, complicated and subjective sense of taste. Camilla has a TED talk on this topic which you can watch here: https://www.ted.com/talks/camilla_arndal_andersen_what_happens_in_your_brain_when_you_taste_food?language=en

What causes you to get angry? When you do get angry, are you good at dealing with it? Could you ever wish you could handle your anger better? Listen as I explore these questions with Ryan Martin. He is a professor of psychology and associate dean at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and has studied anger extensively. He has a TED talk about anger called The Upside of Anger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcQaXG_Qhs). Listen and you will get a better understanding of your own anger.

Children skip. You probably used to when you were young but don’t anymore. After all, seeing an adult skipping down the road might seem a bit odd. Listen as I discuss this and you might find yourself skipping anyway no matter how strange you might look. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3895968/Why-adults-stop-skipping-s-hard-Activity-uses-quarter-energy-running-speed.html

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Where Would We Be Without Alcohol & Good Reasons to Go Outside Right Now Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

There’s nothing better than a really good laugh. What’s even better is, laughing offers some excellent health benefits too. I begin this episode by explain how laughter may just be the best medicine. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19968254/live-laugh-love/

For centuries, humans have been drinking alcohol. Why do people drink? Is it really the taste, the smell and all the nuances of your drink of choice or is it really just for the buzz? Why are some people able to drink socially while other people have had their lives destroyed by alcohol? Could it be that we would have never achieved all the advancements of our civilization had we not had alcohol to drink? Listen as I explore these and other questions with my guest Edward Slingerland. He is a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia and author of the book Drunk: How we Slipped, Danced, and Stumbled our way to Civilization (https://amzn.to/2WONrif)

There is a smell that happens after it rains. And interestingly, smelling that smell is good for you. That’s just one of many reasons why we all should be spending more time outside in nature according to my guest Lucy Jones who has researched the science regarding the amazing benefits of being in simply being out in the natural world. Lucy is the author of the book Losing Eden: Our Fundamental Need for the Natural World and Its Ability to Heal Body and Soul (https://amzn.to/3j7YUky). Listen as she explains why it doesn’t take much to get the mental and physical benefits nature has to offer.

On a job interview, there is a bit of a dilemma: You want to look good so you think you should maybe brag a bit about your accomplishments. On the other hand, a little modesty might be good too. Which is better? It depends on who you are. Listen as I explain. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-study-finds-male-modesty-turn-women-and-men

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Why We Love to Push Buttons & Why We All Need to Play Games Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

We all have a sense of what romantic music is. But can that type of music really make you feel and act romantic? This episode begins with some interesting evidence on the power of music in the game of love. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100618112139.htm

Look around you and notice all the buttons you could push. Buttons are everywhere. When you think about it, you can do almost anything with “just the push of a button.” And people like really pushing buttons – even when it is pointless. For example, pushing the elevator button after it is already lit or pushing the crosswalk button over and over to try to change the light. Buttons are a fairly recent invention and they have changed our world. Here to explain how and dive deep into the world of buttons is Rachel Plotnick. She’s an assistant professor of Cinema and Media Studies at Indiana University and author of Power Button: A History of Pleasure, Panic, and the Politics of Pushing (https://amzn.to/3xvIj5j)

It seems we are wired to play games – board games, card games, sports, gambling – we love to play games. But why? Are games just a fun way to play – a distraction from work? Or are games doing something much more important than that? Joining me to reveal why humans need games and what they do for us is Kelly Clancy. She is a neuroscientist and physicist who has held research positions at MIT, Berkeley, University College London and she is author of the book, Playing with Reality: How Games Have Shaped Our World (https://amzn.to/3W02BNR)

How much do product reviews influence what you buy – or don’t buy? Do people really read them and pay attention to them? Listen as I reveal the results of a recent survey on the power of product reviews. https://www.cardrates.com/news/consumers-rely-on-online-reviews-study/

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US: Getting Past the You and Me Relationship & How Fragrance Works - SYSK Choice Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

Getting car sick can really ruin a trip – for EVERYONE in the car! But maybe you’ve heard – there are now motion sickness glasses. Do they work? Reader’s Digest tested them and a lot of their readers left reviews. Listen and you will hear what they said. https://www.rd.com/article/motion-sickness-glasses/

How can you be in a relationship and still be your individual self? That can be a tricky balance. And it has gotten even trickier as we have moved into our “It’s-all-about-me” culture. Joining me to offer some insight into this is internationally recognized family therapist, speaker, and author Terrence Real. author of the book US: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship (https://amzn.to/3bLzN6N). Terry’s website is https://www.terryreal.com

Who doesn’t want to smell nice? Soaps, candles, laundry detergent, perfume – we really want everything and everyone to smell ever so lovely. But why? When did this all start? Listen to my guest Elise Pearlstine, a natural perfumer, consultant, and educator and author of a book called Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance. (https://amzn.to/3AtMA8b). If you have ever wondered why flowers or the smell of cut grass or vanilla smell so good, listen to find out.

One of the worst things about summer is getting into a hot car that has been sitting in the sun. However, there is a way you can cool the car down before you get in it. Listen and I will tell you this fast and effective technique. https://www.wikihow.com/Cool-a-Hot-Car-as-Quickly-as-Possible

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How to Live Your Life with No Regrets & What Bad Words Do Jun 27, 2024

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There’s more to making a great burger than meets the eye. This summertime episode begins with expert advice on preparing the perfect burger on the grill from the guy who wrote the bible on the topic. Source: Steve Raichlen author of The Barbecue Bible (https://amzn.to/4bgBEcM)

If you’ve ever felt you were in a rut or that your life is on autopilot, you need to listen to Jodi Wellman. She will inspire you to lead a life of purpose and intention – and without regret. It is not about doing the big and grandiose things as much as it is savoring the joys you have and anticipating what’s to come and making time to do the things you will regret if you DON’T do them. It’s a magical formula that she explains so well in this episode. Jodie is a former corporate executive turned executive coach who has a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and she is author of the book You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets (https://amzn.to/3KUdQ3Z). Her website is https://fourthousandmondays.com/

Where do bad words come from? I don’t just mean your garden variety, 4-letter swear words but other words that aren’t so nice as well. Why is swearing more acceptable today than it used to be? What is the point of swearing in the first place? All of these and more questions are handled masterfully by my guest Jess Zafarris. She is a writer and journalist and author of the book Words from Hell: Unearthing the darkest secrets of English etymology (https://amzn.to/4cafvyc)

Some of the old health advice grandma used to give has been proven to be untrue. Still, many of these myths persist today and are believed by a lot of people. Listen as we blow up a few of these myths that you might still think are true. https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-10-health-myths-debunked

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