Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

Dramatic Ways Your Thoughts Impact Your Health & Understanding Deadly Wildfires Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

People who are confident and powerful tend to exhibit a few critical behaviors to create that impression of power and confidence. This episode begins with a quick list of things anyone can do to present the image of power to others. Source: Robert Greene author of The 48 Laws of Personal Power (https://amzn.to/3EaogJs)

There is compelling evidence that your mind and your thoughts can impact your physical health. It isn’t all mystical and magical as you might think. In fact, a lot of it is quite logical and practical – yet it is still amazing, as you are about to discover when you listen to my guest Ellen Langer. She is the first ever tenured female professor at Harvard University and is considered the “mother of mindfulness.” She is author of the book The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health (https://amzn.to/45gn1UO)

Wildfires seem to be more destructive than ever before. Flames in forests are scorching about twice as many trees as they did two decades ago, and nearly 100,000 homes, barns, and other structures have gone up in smoke. Plus, wildfires seem to occur in places that never used to have to worry. What is going on and what do we all need to know to protect ourselves? That is what Nick Mott is here to discuss. Nick is a Peabody Award winning journalist, podcast producer and author of the book This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself Your Home and Your Community in the Age of Heat (https://amzn.to/3P3nO5W).

When someone say, “This goes with out saying…” Why are they saying it if it goes without saying? That is one of several phrases people often use that they probably shouldn’t. Listen as I reveal some other phrases that we should all avoid if we want to make the right impression on people. Paul Yeager author of “Literally The Best Language Book Ever (https://amzn.to/45CUcBM)

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SYSK Choice: How DNA Predicts Our Psychological Traits & Why People’s Sense of Direction Varies Aug 26, 2023

Show notes

It’s become trendy to fill your car tires with nitrogen instead of plain old compressed air. In fact, there are now green caps for the valve stems to indicate that a tire has nitrogen in it. It can cost over $10 to fill up a tire with nitrogen so this episode begins with a quick discussion on whether it not it is worth it. https://www.consumerreports.org/tire-buying-maintenance/should-you-use-nitrogen-in-car-tires-a6260003694/

Science is learning more and more about human DNA. And the latest research indicates that almost everything about you has some inherited, genetic, DNA-ish component to it, whether that be biological or psychological or anything else. As an example, how well you do in school may largely be inherited but not necessarily in the way you think. This is according to Robert Plomin, Professor of Behavioral Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College in London and author of the book, Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are (https://amzn.to/3gV9GtR) . Listen as he reveals the very latest in how your genes influence so much of who you are.

Some people claim to have a good sense of direction while others claim to have a lousy one. Is “sense of direction” a real thing? Is it really a sense at all? And if it is, why do some people have a good one and others not? That’s exactly what Michael Bond set out to discover. Michael is a science writer, former Senior Editor at New Scientist and author of the book, From Here to There: The Art and Science of Finding and Losing Our Way (https://amzn.to/3DOY8Cu). Michael is here to discuss with me why some of us are better than other at getting from here to there.

Pear season runs from late summer into early winter. And if you like pears, you know that knowing when they are ripe can be tricky. However, there is a reliable test to tell a pear’s ripeness and if you listen to this episode, you too will know it. https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/in-season/2011/10/how-can-you-tell-if-a-pear-is-ripe

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What You Never Knew About Your Neighborhood & Understanding Intellectual Property Rights Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

There is this weird thing that happens to a lot of people (including me) and that is, we often wake up on our own just before the alarm goes off. Why is that? Listen as this episode begins with the interesting reason why this seems to happen to so many people. https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/why-do-we-wake-up-right-before-our-alarm/

There is so much you never knew about your neighborhood - From the phone poles that hold up your power lines, to the cement your sidewalks are made out of, to the traffic lights that keep people safe, there are fascinating backstories to every single one. After listening to this episode, you will see your neighborhood quite differently. Joining me to explain all this is Spike Carlsen author of the book A Walk Around the Block (https://amzn.to/378CyuL).

Can you be sued if you grab an image off of Google and put it up on your website? If so, what’s the penalty? This is just one of the important areas of intellectual property law that people often do not understand. Here to simplify the confusing world of copyrights, patents and trademarks is attorney Devin Miller, CEO of Miller IP Law (www.milleripl.com) and host of The Inventive Journey podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inventive-journey/id1499417283. Devin explains how to protect your intellectual property and what you can and cannot do with other people’s.

Have you ever wondered if there is a formula for getting rich? Actually, there is. It isn’t thrilling or sexy, but it is how most rich people get rich. Listen as I explain how the formula works. https://consumerfed.org/press_release/how-americans-view-personal-wealth-v-how-financial-planners-view-this-wealth/

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Lying – The Truth and Consequences & The Race to Make Money In Outer Space Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

How can doing something embarrassing in front of people be good for you? This episode begins by explaining how making a fool of yourself can actually have benefits and make you happier. Maybe not in the moment but overall. https://exploringyourmind.com/making-fool-yourself-makes-you-happier/

When you tell a lie, there are consequences – especially if you get caught. Because if you are caught lying, you are now a liar and that can be a difficult label to shake. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Lying is fraught with all kinds of danger. Yet, everyone lies at some point in their life. Here to help you understand why people lie, and some of the consequences of lying you may have never even considered before is Drew Curtis. He is a licensed psychologist in Texas and is on the faculty at Angelo State University. He is author of the book Big Liars: What Psychological Science Tells Us About Lying and How You Can Avoid Being Duped (https://amzn.to/47PmsmP)

Not all that long ago, it was only governments that had the money and technology to launch rockets into space. Not anymore. Today private companies are launching rockets and satellites into space almost daily! And ultimately, it is all about money. People like Elon Musk with his company SpaceX are leading the way and there are dozens of other companies collectively trying to conquer space and make a profit. Joining me to explain what is going on here is Ashlee Vance. He wrote a bestselling book about Elon Musk, he is also a feature writer at Bloomberg Businessweek and he is author of the book When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach (https://amzn.to/44gavDB)

You can predict the weather with your morning cup of coffee – sort of. This is likely not the way the National Weather Service does it but the bubbles in your coffee can actually tell you what kind of day it is going to be. Listen as I explain. https://www.instructables.com/Predict-weather-with-a-cup-of-coffee/

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SYSK Choice: How to Gossip Well & The Importance of Taking A Pause Aug 19, 2023

Show notes

As relationships mature, holding hands seem to become less of a priority. And that could be a big mistake. There are real benefits to holding hands and this episode begins by explaining what those benefits are. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/fashion/05hands.html

We may not like to admit it, but just about everyone enjoys a juicy bit of gossip. In fact, we all gossip at least once in a while and that turns out to be a good thing. Gossip serves a lot of useful purposes in life. Frank McAndrew, a leading researcher on gossip joins me to reveal just how gossip works, why most gossip really isn’t all that nasty. He also has some advice on how to gossip better. Frank is a professor of psychology at Knox College in Illinois (https://www.frankmcandrew.com/)

During a busy day, you likely jump from one task to the next with hardly any room to breathe. If that is true, you could be missing out on a great opportunity according to Juliet Funt founder and CEO of The Juliet Funt Group (https://www.julietfunt.com/) who advises Fortune 500 companies. Listen as she explains the importance of creating “white space” in between all the things you do and the benefits of doing so. Juliet is author of the book A Minute to Think (https://amzn.to/3mmsXIv).

Rejection hurts - a lot. Why? Listen as I explain some interesting research that reveals why romantic rejection can be so devastating and how to handle it better if it happens to you. Source: Helen Fisher author of the book Why We Love (https://amzn.to/3g7Ctel)

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Why We Often Expect the Worst & The Science Behind the Fonts You Use Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

How many times have you heard that exercise is good for you? But specifically, how? This episode starts with an explanation of precisely how exercise benefits you physically and mentally – and they are pretty compelling benefits. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389

When you worry, it is often because you are expecting the worst. We imagine trouble and danger are brewing about something that has yet to happen. Often times that worry is completely unwarranted. Still, the anxiety that drives the worry is a powerful force. How can you get a handle on your worry? Here to discuss that and offer some proven advice that can turn down the volume on worry is David Carbonell, he is a clinical psychologist and therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and he is author of the book The Worry Trick: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Expecting the Worst (https://amzn.to/44b5MTJ).

There are zillions of fonts you can use when you type an email or letter or report . And according to some solid research, the font you choose can have a significant impact on the reader. Everyday you are influenced by the typefaces used on menus, products, signs, posters, everything! And you probably don’t even know it. Joining me to discuss the science of fonts is Sarah Hyndman. She is a graphic artist and author of the book Why Fonts Matter. (https://amzn.to/3DTCvlA).

Is it possible to be addicted to music? Apparently so! At least in the sense that music can make you feel good in much the same way as a drug. Listen as I explain what it is about music that creates such powerful feelings in us. https://www.dancemusicnw.com/study-proves-music-addiction/

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We really like the Masters of Scale podcast! Check it out at https://mastersofscale.com OR search foriton Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

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Favorite Food Origins You Never Knew & Why The Internet Creates So Much Outrage In People Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Everyone has loose batteries somewhere in the house. And if you keep those batteries in your junk drawer, that could be dangerous. Listen as I explain why and a better way to store batteries. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/612670/never-store-batteries-your-junk-drawer

Did French fries really originate in France? Why do we call them hot dogs? Why is there no cream in cream soda? And what’s the deal with chicken fingers? Joining me with the fun origins of some of your favorite foods is Kim Zachman author of There's No Cream in Cream Soda: Facts and Folklore About Our Favorite Drinks (https://amzn.to/3QA1bay) and There's No Ham in Hamburgers (https://amzn.to/47pasrQ). Listen and you will discover things about the foods you eat that you probably never knew.

Have you ever seen something on social media and felt outraged? It happens a lot. Is that by design? What is it about social media posts that often trigger very emotional reactions? That turns out to be a fascinating topic and one that affects us all in some surprising ways. Tobias Rose Stockwell is a writer and researcher who looked into this important topic and joins me to reveal what he discovered. His work has been featured in The Atlantic, WIRED, NPR, the BBC and he is author of the book Outrage Machine: How Tech Amplifies Discontent, Disrupts Democracy―And What We Can Do About It (https://amzn.to/3QxXLVs).

Getting your groceries from the store to your kitchen on a hot summer day is a race against time. Listen as I reveal how much time you have and a way to buy yourself more time to keep your food from spoiling. https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/keep-groceries-food-safe-in-hot-car/

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Shopify gives you everything you need to take control and take your business to the next level. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk today!

We really like the Masters of Scale podcast! Check it out at https://mastersofscale.com OR search foriton Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

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SYSK Choice: A Guide to Your Insides & How Salary Transparency Helps Our Performance Aug 12, 2023

Show notes

“Fragrance” is a common ingredient listed on perfumes, colognes, soaps, and lotions. Clearly, just the word "fragrance" doesn’t tell you very much. This episode begins with a discussion on why manufacturers can be so vague about this and why you should be at least a little concerned. https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/fragrance/

Ever wonder why you get a headache? Or bad breath? Ever wonder how vomiting actually works? Or why people get jet lag? And what causes bad breath and what’s the best way to get rid of it? Here with some answers is Dr. Sarah Holper author of the book What’s Wrong With You? An Insider’s Guide to Your Insides (https://amzn.to/3ilE0hs). Listen as she takes us all on a tour inside the human body and reveals how it works and how you can make yours work better.

Do you actually know for sure how much money your coworkers make? If not, I bet you have surely wondered about it. Organizational psychologist David Burkus believes we should all know what other people make. Listen as he joins me to explain the intriguing reasons why. David has a TED Talk on this subject you can see here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvcNw4F0Y4Y). He is also author of the book Leading From Anywhere (https://amzn.to/3Bak89q).

Seems like everyone loves cute things? And interestingly we react to cute things like babies and kittens very differently than how we react to everything else? Listen as I explain why that is. https://www.brainson.org/episode/2016/12/06/what-makes-cute-things-cute

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Sometimes in life we’re faced with tough choices, and the path forward isn’t always clear. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It’s entirely online, so it’s convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp Visithttps://BetterHelp.com/SOMETHINGtoday to get 10% off your first month!

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We really like the 99% Invisible podcast! Check it out at https://99percentinvisible.org OR search foriton Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

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What You Never Knew About Your Grocery Store & Understanding Uncertainty Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Just because you are a good driver doesn’t protect you from bad drivers. And there are a lot of those bad drivers on the road. So how do you protect yourself? This episode begins with some potentially life-saving advice on where and how serious traffic accidents happen and how to avoid being in one. Source: Reader’s Digest article titled “How Good Drivers Get Killed”

A lot goes on in your neighborhood grocery store you likely never knew. For example, did you know that some of the “fresh produce” could actually be more than a year old? Or that selling you groceries isn’t the only way your store makes money - not by a long shot? And what about Trader Joe’s? Why are their customers so fanatically loyal? Joining me to explore all this and much more is Benjamin Lorr, author of the book The Secret Life of Groceries (https://amzn.to/2RVd0Iy).

We all would like to know what is going to happen in the future. That’s precisely why we look to experts to predict the stock market or why we try to choose “winning” lottery numbers. The fact is, most predictions are usually wrong because the future is unpredictable. So instead of trying to predict the future, maybe there is a better way. Here to tell you what that is John Kay, a leading British economist and author of the book Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers (https://amzn.to/32WqnP6). He offers advice on how to prepare for the future when you can’t predict it and he reveals the important difference between risk and uncertainty.

I’m sure you’ve heard someone say that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth. Seriously? Listen and discover if that could possibly be true. https://www.broadstreetvet.com/site/blog/2023/06/15/is-dogs-mouth-cleaner-than-mine

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Sometimes in life we’re faced with tough choices, and the path forward isn’t always clear. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It’s entirely online, so it’s convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp Visithttps://BetterHelp.com/SOMETHINGtoday to get 10% off your first month!

Right now, download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist, designed to give you consistently excellent performance - absolutely free, at https://NetSuite.com/SYSK !

We really like the 99% Invisible podcast! Check it out at https://99percentinvisible.org OR search foriton Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

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Where Your Trash and Recycling Really Goes & A Fun and Effective Approach to Housework Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

More and more people are opting to remove their shoes before they come into the house and asking guests to do it as well. Is it really necessary? Does it do any good? This episode begins with a look at what your shoes actually track into your home and whether or not it is dangerous. https://www.sharp.com/health-news/should-shoes-be-removed-at-home

When you throw something into the trash or the recycle bin, you likely feel confident that it goes where it is supposed to go. But does it? Where exactly does it go? Do the recyclables really get recycled? Is household trash really the problem or is there something else taking up most of the space in landfills? That is what Oliver Franklin-Wallis is here to discuss. He is an award-winning journalist and currently the features editor of British GQ. He is author of the book Wasteland: The Dirty Truth About What We Throw Away, Where It Goes, and Why It Matters (https://amzn.to/44S7Jpf).

Whatever systems or techniques you use to keep your house clean are probably the ones you learned from your parents. Maybe it is time to question some of those techniques. Perhaps there is a better, more efficient – even fun way to clean. There is also a better way to think about housework, so it doesn’t leave you feeling drained and feeling as if it never ends and is never good enough. Here to reveal a whole new approach to housework is KC Davis. She is a therapist and author of the book How to Keep House While Drowning (https://amzn.to/3OjfwoN). Once you hear her take on housework, it may just change your life.

Not all honey you buy at the store is created equal. In many store-bought honey jars, some very important things are missing. Listen as I explain what they are and why this is important. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Sometimes in life we’re faced with tough choices, and the path forward isn’t always clear. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It’s entirely online, so it’s convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp Visithttps://BetterHelp.com/SOMETHINGtoday to get 10% off your first month!

Right now, download NetSuite’s popular KPI Checklist, designed to give you consistently excellent performance - absolutely free, at https://NetSuite.com/SYSK !

We really like the 99% Invisible podcast! Check it out at https://99percentinvisible.org OR search foriton Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen!

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

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