Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

The Mystery of Twins & What NOT to Do With Your Money Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Supposedly, women are attracted to men who can make them laugh. Is that really true? And if it is, why? This episode begins with an explanation. Source: Alan & Barbara Pease authors of Why Men Want Sex & Women Need Love (https://amzn.to/496hAtL)

We seem to have a weird fascination with twins. Why is that? What is it like to be a twin? Can twins read each other’s minds or do they have some other mystical connection? Although we may perceive twins as being different – are they really any different than anyone else? That’s what Helena de Bres is here to talk about. Helena is an identical twin and she researched some of the truths, myths and misconceptions about twins. Helena is a professor of philosophy at Wellesley College, and author of the book, How to Be Multiple: the Philosophy of Twins (https://amzn.to/3HCmH8E)

We have all heard the standard money advice – save, invest, live below your means, etc. In this episode you will hear some fresh, different and even a little unusual advice about money from Vivian Tu. She is a financial guru who made her first $1M by age 27 and is the CEO & Founder of Your Rich BFF Media LLC. You can see her on TikTok and other social media platforms and she is author of the book RichAF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life (https://amzn.to/42oltaH)

You grab a pen to write something, and the ink doesn’t come out. It is one of life’s little and frequent frustrations. As long as there is still ink in there, you can use one of the techniques I will explain to get the ink rolling again. https://artltdmag.com/get-a-ballpoint-pen-to-work-again/

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A Foolproof Way to Declutter & A History of Timekeeping - SYSK Choice Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

You may have heard the advice to not allow your gas tank to get too low before refueling. Is that really necessary? What’s the harm if you let it go to E? And can’t you just go by the thing on your dashboard that tells you how many miles until empty? This episode begins with an important explanation. https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/07/27/2386931/

Do you have things in your home you never use? Who doesn’t? Clothes, appliances, books you will never read, and the list goes on. You probably even have boxes of things and you don’t even remember what’s inside those boxes. Getting rid of old stuff is hard for many of us – even if we never plan to use it. It turns out though, that if you could just get started you will likely find the experience rather satisfying according to Matt Paxton. Matt has spent over 20 years helping people confront their stuff. He was a featured cleaner on the TV show Hoarders and hosts the PBS series “Legacy List with Matt Paxton”. Matt is also author of the book Keep the Memories Lose the Stuff (https://amzn.to/3tWDiyj). Listen as he joins me to offer some great advice.

We all experience the passage of time. Yet how we measure time has changed a lot. For most of human history, knowing the precise time wasn’t all that that important. Today however, we use amazingly sophisticated instruments to keep very precise time all around the world. It is an absolute necessity. Joining me to explain why and discuss the fascinating story of how we keep time is Chad Orzel. He is an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College in Schenectady, NY and author of the book A Brief History of Timekeeping: The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks (https://amzn.to/3H9lVOI)

Sometimes when you look at the front of a car, it seems to resemble a human face which sort of gives it a sense of personality. Some cars look happy while other cars have a more serious - almost intimidating or aggressive “faces.” You may have wondered if that was intentional or just a coincidence? Listen as I give you the explanation. http://www.fsu.edu/news/2008/11/26/car.personality/

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How Everything Affects Everything Else & Is Big Tech Out of Control? Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Human touch can certainly feel good, but does it actually have lasting biological effects? This episode begins with a look at how the body responds to deliberate touch like massage as well as more casual and supportive touch between friends and family. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyone-top/202108/the-vital-importance-human-touch

It can be mind boggling to think how any one thing can have a huge impact on your life. For example, if you stayed in bed 2 minutes longer today or had an egg instead of cereal for breakfast, your entire day might have been completely different. Of course, there is no way to tell if it would’ve been better or worse or how much different. Still, the fact that everything can influence everything else is something you can use in your own life strategy to improve the outcome of so many things. This is according to Dr. Brian Klaas, Associate Professor in Global Politics at University College in London, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of the book Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, (https://amzn.to/3SrRj31). Listen to our conversation and you’ll realize how fluke-y your life is, and that just may alter how you see your future.

When you hear the term “Big Tech,” you likely think of Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon and other large tech companies that seem to wield a lot of power and control over our lives. There is surprisingly little government regulation of the big tech organizations and that has a lot of people concerned. One of those people is Tom Wheeler. Tom was the Chairman of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the Obama administration. He is now a venture capitalist and author whose latest book is called Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age? (https://amzn.to/47OunPU).

Could eating fast food cause respiratory allergies? Listen as I reveal some interesting research that links children who eat junk food and things like asthma, eczema and other allergic conditions. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.3005803

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Why Humans Love Robots & The Power of Confidence Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

In a job interview, there is one question you are likely to be asked that many people are not prepared to answer. I begin this episode by revealing what the question is and how to craft a powerful response. https://www.forbes.com/pictures/lml45mmjg/why-should-i-hire-you-2/?sh=4c5a502c53d8

Robots seem to have us all mystified. We can’t help but relate to them as conscious beings and we tend to think they are smarter than we are, even when we know a robot is just a machine. If you think about that for a moment, you’ll realize - that could cause a lot of problems. Here to explain those problems, why they are so interesting and what we can do to solve them is Eve Herold. She is an award-winning science writer and consultant in the scientific and medical nonprofit world and she is author of a book called Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding on to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots (https://amzn.to/3ObcBzb)

Who wouldn’t like to have a bit more confidence? Actually, you may already have all the confidence you need according to Viv Groskop. Viv is a writer, comedian and executive coach and she is author of the book Happy High Status: How to Effortlessly Be Confident (https://amzn.to/3vQYj0h). Listen as she explains why confidence is a bit elusive and how to use the confidence you already have to project a better you.

Has it been a while since you last went to have your eyes checked? An eye exam does more than just check your prescription for glasses or contacts. Listen as I reveal how a good eye exam can actually help identify other serious medical problems. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/cost-and-how-often/

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How to Instantly Stop Arguments & The High Five Habit - SYSK Choice Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

Every mom knows, when a child (or an adult for that matter) gets a small cut, you put a little antibiotic ointment on to prevent infection. But maybe that’s not such a great idea. Listen as I begin this episode by explaining why. https://www.mindfood.com/article/the-risk-of-overusing-antibiotic-creams-and-ointments/

Don’t you just hate it when you are in an argument with someone when you know you are 100% right and the other person couldn’t be more wrong? There is something you can do in these cases and come out a winner. Listen as I talk with Xavier Amador a clinical psychologist, teacher and author of the book I’m Right, You're Wrong, Now What? Break the Impasse and Get What You Need (https://amzn.to/3KqUDpc). Xavier reveals a very simple technique that will help you resolve any disagreement, no matter how difficult.

In the morning, some people jump out of bed, greet the morning with enthusiasm and are ready to take on the day. Others of us start the day with dread. No matter where you fall on that scale, there is something simple you can do as part of your morning routine that will improve the way you face the world each day. To discover what it is, listen to my discussion with Mel Robbins, an attorney, speaker, and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast (https://www.melrobbins.com/podcast). She is also author of the bestselling book The High Five Habit (https://amzn.to/3FDuTlG).

What could possibly be the connection between your earlobes and your heart health? Next time you are near a mirror, you may want to look for one specific feature on your earlobes. It just might reveal something important. Listen as I explain. https://myheart.net/articles/earlobe-crease-and-heart-disease-fact-or-myth/

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What Is Culture? & The Problem with Fitness Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Is a newborn baby more likely to resemble mom or dad – or is it a toss-up? This episode begins by explaining why a baby is more likely to look like one parent and not the other and why that is. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/health/the-claim-babies-tend-to-look-like-their-fathers.html

When people talk about the "culture" – why do they mean? What is culture. You probably use the word in conversation and you have a sense of what it means but it is actually a difficult word to define. Here to define it and explain why it is so important to understand what culture is and how it changes is Marcus Collins. He is a clinical assistant professor of marketing at the Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan and recipient of Advertising Age's 40 Under 40 award. He is also author of the book, For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be (https://amzn.to/3tOT4On).

It is a little strange that there is such a fitness craze in America yet so many people are not physically fit at all. The medical evidence is pretty clear that being physically fit and keeping your weight under control is so important to a long and healthy life. So why are so many people not motivated to do it and how can you find the motivation to start if you are not feeling inclined? Joining me to talk about this is Natalia Petrzela. She is an historian of contemporary American politics and culture as well as a fitness instructor and she is author of the book Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession (https://amzn.to/48V5LGb)

Is it ever too late to change your life or must you set your course early if you are ever to make something of yourself? Interestingly, researchers followed 350 students for decades – all the way into adulthood to see how they turned out. Listen as I explain how people tend to change and how those goof-offs you remember from high school are likely to end up doing pretty well. Source: Susan Krause Whitborne author of The Search for Fulfillment (https://amzn.to/3O9XuWP).

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How You Recognize Faces & The Way to Think More Clearly Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

How your food tastes depends on a lot of things that have nothing to do with the food itself. I begin this episode by revealing how things such as the lighting, the weight of utensils and the color of the plate can impact how much you enjoy your meal. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/12/31/370397449/food-psychology-how-to-trick-your-palate-into-a-tastier-meal#

When you recognize a person, chances are it is the face you recognize. How does that work exactly? What is it about the face? How much of a person’s face do you have to see in order to recognize them? Some people are really good at recognizing a face while others are totally face blind. Have you ever wondered how facial recognition software works? Well, all of this is tackled by my guest Sharrona Pearl, an associate professor of medical ethics and history at Drexel University and author of the book Do I Know You?: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition (https://amzn.to/3TWc0VX).

When you put your mind to it, you probably think quite clearly. However, much of the time our brain is on autopilot and our clear thinking suffers. So how can you think more clearly, make better decisions, and do the right thing? Here with some insight and advice on that is Shane Parrish. He is an entrepreneur whose insights are used by Fortune 500 companies and many major professional sports teams. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. He hosts a podcast called The Knowledge Project https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/ and he is author of the book, Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results (https://amzn.to/3Hl0FHj)

There are people who claim they can drink coffee before bed and it doesn’t affect their sleep at all. Can that be true? Listen as I explain what one top sleep specialist has to say about that. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shift-worker-alert-curb-t_b_386058

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Why Suffering is Essential & What Free Speech Really Is: SYSK Choice Jan 20, 2024

Show notes

As everyone who is a garlic lover or knows a garlic lover knows, garlic can make your breath stink. This episode begins with some easy and effective strategies from the Institute of Food Technologists that will neutralize that garlic smell from your breath as well as from your hands, so you won’t have to worry about offending anyone while you eat all the garlic you want. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130204142609.htm

Weird to think, but humans actually enjoy suffering – to some extent. It has been said that it is the suffering we endure that makes life meaningful. In fact, if you didn’t suffer at least a little, life would be pretty boring according to Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at Yale and author of the book The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning (https://amzn.to/3K5Zdci) . Listen as he explains how the pain of suffering makes pleasure more pleasurable.

You likely learned in school that the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees people the right to free speech. But what does that mean exactly? Can you say anything you want? How has this right evolved over time? That’s what I tackle with attorney Ian Rosenberg. Ian serves as legal counsel for ABC News, teaches media law at Brooklyn College and is author of the book Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework for Understanding Our Free Speech Protections (https://amzn.to/3HZ8W25).

Most popular breakfast cereals have a lot of added sugar. And certainly sugar consumption is something a lot of parents worry about. However, there is some good news about kids and cereal that you might find surprising. Listen as I explain what it is. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/breakfast-cereal-surprise-kids-ok-with-less-sugar-study-says/

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Odd Differences Between The Sexes & How We Deal With Pests Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Keeping track of passwords can be a real pain. If you use a simple one or use the same one for everything, that makes you easy to be hacked. If you use a complicated one or lots of different ones, it’s hard to remember. This episode starts with a strategy to create good passwords that you will remember. Source: Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life (https://amzn.to/3SeWhA5)

Men and women are different, obviously. However, some of the most interesting differences you may not know. For example, how men and women hear differently; the real reason women live longer than men, and how hormones affect behaviors differently in men and women. Joining me to discuss this is is Cat Bohannon. Cat is is a researcher with a Ph.D. from Columbia University and author of the book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution (https://amzn.to/3SgBUlO).

The world is full of pests: rats, insects, bees, deer, spiders – there are lots of them. So, what is it that makes a pest a pest? In some cases, what you consider a pest may not be to someone else. Generally, though, pests are something we strive to get rid of. What is the best way to do that? Maybe pests are really trying to tell us something. Here to discuss this is Bethany Brookshire. She is an award-winning science writer, a contributor to Science News magazine and a host on the podcast Science for the People (http://www.scienceforthepeople.ca/) and she is author of a book called Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains (https://amzn.to/3vzlpZt).

Most drivers don’t take the time to adjust the headrest in their car. In fact, many of us don’t even think about doing it and aren’t sure of the best position for it anyway. If you are ever in a crash, the position of your headrest can make a big difference. Listen as I explain how to adjust it. https://www.adlergiersch.com/provider-blog/how-to-properly-adjust-your-headrest-to-prevent-whiplash/

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Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow

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Why We Have a Moon & A Better and More Fun Way to Clean Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

A lot of people have different size feet. Sounds weird right but there is a good reason for it – and it usually the left foot that is bigger. This episode begins with the explanation for why this happens and how big an issue it is for most people. https://www.feetbypody.com/blog/is-it-normal-for-one-foot-to-be-bigger-than-the-other/

I’m certain you have pondered why the moon sits there in the sky at night. Where did it come from? What does it do? Why doesn’t it crash into the earth? What would life be like on earth if there was no moon. Joining me to answer these and a lot of other fascinating questions about the moon is Rebecca Boyle. She is a columnist at Atlas Obscura and a contributor to Scientific American, The New York Times, Popular Science, Smithsonian’s Air & Space Magazine, and others. She is author of the book Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are (https://amzn.to/3O1xn4s)

In this segment you are going to meet someone who loves to clean the house. Now while that may sound weird, imagine how good he must be at it and imagine how many cool tips and tricks he has developed. Meet Patric Richardson. He is the star of The Laundry Guy on HGTV and Discovery Plus and author of the book House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You're In (https://amzn.to/3vidAao). Listen, and by the time this segment is over, you will want to run out and buy some really cheap vodka!

Here are some links to some of the products he mentioned:

Scrubbers that attach to drill https://amzn.to/47vgd6h

Cool waste baskets: https://vipp.com/en-us/shop/bins

Laundry soap (not detergent): https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes

You or someone you know likely vowed to lose weight as a New Year’s resolution. While admirable, most people fail at that one. Listen as I explain how to craft a New Year’s resolution – such as losing weight - to make it more likely to happen – and to stick. Source: Kent Sasse M.D. author of Doctor’s Orders (https://amzn.to/48AhFFm)

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TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees

Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow

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