Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

Why You’re Always In Such a Hurry & What Listening to Music Does to You Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

People who blush know it can be embarrassing. That begs the question – why do people blush in the first place? This episode begins with a brief discussion about why people blush and the purpose it serves. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/bering-in-mind/why-we-blush-the-social-purpose-of-showing-embarrassment/

Have you ever found yourself hurrying to do something, even when there is no need to hurry? Many of us are just stuck in that mode. No matter what we are doing, we try to do it quickly. That turns out to be a big problem. Doing things fast often comes at a price and doing things slower can have immense benefits according to Carl Honore author of the book In Praise of Slowness (https://amzn.to/43GRlXN). Listen as Carl makes the case for turning down the speed of life so that life itself becomes much more enjoyable.

You are surrounded by music. You intentionally listen to music you enjoy but you also hear it in the store and on the elevator. It’s in TV shows and movies – music is everywhere. And people seem to want it and love it. So, what does music do for us? That is what Larry Sherman is here to reveal. Larry is professor of neuroscience at the Oregon Health and Science University and has given lectures on music and the brain throughout the world. He is author of a book called Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music. (https://amzn.to/3JdFDf8).

If you have silver jewelry or silver anything, you should probably keep some blackboard chalk around. Listen as I explain why and what you should do with it. https://www.thelist.com/1235914/why-you-should-store-a-piece-of-chalk-in-your-jewelry-drawer/

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SYSK Choice: Our Preoccupation With Ownership & The Backstories of America’s Favorite Dishes Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

Most of us have had déjà vu – that feeling that what you are experiencing now, you have somehow experienced before. This episode begins with some interesting insight into what it is, why it happens and when it is most likely to occur. Source: Marie Jones author of The Déjà Vu Enigma (https://amzn.to/3xB94j3).

Humans have the need to own things according to psychologist Bruce Hood, author of the book Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need (https://amzn.to/3iRBpxv) Even when you were a child, you knew that your teddy bear or blanket belonged to you and only you. You owned it. As adults we not only like to own things, we like to own nice things and the more the better – which can sometimes get us in trouble. Listen as Bruce explains what it means to own something and why it feels good to be an owner.

Does America have a cuisine? Sort of but it’s really made up of foods from other cultures that we have adapted and incorporated into our culture to suit our tastes according to David Page, author of the book Food Americana (https://amzn.to/3xy0EZO). David, who is an Emmy-award winning producer of food television programs takes us on a journey to explore the origins of some of our most popular American foods including pizza, ice cream, barbecue – and why the reason there is likely a Mexican restaurant not too far from you is all because of Taco Bell.

Some days you just know you look fantastic. And have you ever noticed that on those days, life tends to go better for you? Listen as I explain why you do better when you look good. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656610000279

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A Better Way to Create New Ideas & How to Take Control Of Difficult Conversations Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

When you think how much your smartphone costs to buy and maintain, it’s a smart idea to try to make it last as long as possible. This episode begins with some simple ways to extend the life of your phone and battery. https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-your-phone-last-longer/

Some of the very best and most successful ideas are the result of lateral thinking. Uber and Airbnb are two examples and there are many more that you will hear from my guest Paul Sloane. Paul is a recognized authority on innovation and creativity and author of several books including Lateral Thinking for Every Day: Extraordinary Solutions to Ordinary Problems (https://amzn.to/3Nl5ynz). If you could use a new way to solve problems and look for solutions, you need to hear what Paul has to say.

Do you ever avoid certain conversations because it is just not worth it? Or ever find yourself in a conversation that is going nowhere or disintegrates into an argument? It happens to all of us. However, there are ways to have those conversations and control them in a way that is actually productive and leaves people feeling heard. That is what Sam Horn is here to discuss. Sam is founder of Tongue Fu! Training Institute (https://www.tonguefu.com/) that promotes stronger communication in corporations, government agencies, schools, and nonprofits. She is also the author of the book Talking on Eggshells: Soft Skills for Hard Conversations (https://amzn.to/45SbYBT).

There is a theory that says you should buy gasoline in the morning when the weather is cooler. That way you will get more for your money. Listen as we explore the theory and whether it is worth getting up early to fill your tank. https://drivinvibin.com/2022/03/17/morning-fuel/

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Get Things Done Without Feeling Overwhelmed & How To Master Self Confidence Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

We are all pretty clear on the dangers of driving while intoxicated. But there also appears to be some danger in driving while dehydrated. Who knew? This episode begins with some fascinating research that shows a link between dehydration and driver error – and the results will surprise you. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/driving-while-dehydrated-can-be-just-as-dangerous-as-drinkdriving-study-suggests-10187670.html

How do you get a lot of things done without the feeling of being overwhelmed? Part of the problem is understanding why you feel overwhelmed. When you do, it is easy to stop it according to my guest, time management expert Sam Bennett author of the book Start Right Where You Are: How Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference for Overwhelmed Procrastinators, Frustrated Overachievers, and Recovering Perfectionists (https://amzn.to/2ZKmwDs). Listen as she reveals how to take control of your day and accomplish the important tasks – and how NOT to be one of those people who is always complaining about how busy and overwhelmed they are.

If you don’t have enough confidence in yourself and your abilities, it is hard to succeed. Yet having too much confidence can also get in the way. So how do you get the right amount of confidence and use it to your advantage? Here to discuss that is Don Moore, professor of management at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and author of the book Perfectly Confident (https://amzn.to/3cuzZTr).

Have you ever felt really intense loneliness. It can be excruciatingly painful. And that turns out to be a good thing. Listen as I reveal how to use the pain of loneliness to not feel lonely anymore. Source: Dr. Pat Love author of Never Be Lonely Again (https://amzn.to/2TKC3zq)

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SYSK Choice: How to Decode Greatness to Achieve Success & The World’s Most Valuable Insect Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

There are a lot of good reasons to be more optimistic. Interestingly, it also seems simply pretending to be an optimist has many of the same benefits. This episode starts with a discussion on how real or pretend optimism can be good for everyone and why even the most hardened pessimist might want to try looking at the bright side of life. Source: Michael Mercer, PhD author of Spontaneous Optimism (https://amzn.to/3vo7oc9).

To be successful typically requires skill, practice and hard work. However, one often overlooked strategy to being successful is - reverse engineering. In other words, by taking apart and analyzing what others have done to be successful, you can find a better path for yourself, according to psychologist Ron Friedman. Ron is author of the book Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success (https://amzn.to/2REVhc7). Listen as he reveals how some of the top people in their field use this technique to achieve greatness and how you can too.

Few of us are fans of houseflies. I'm sure you don't like them buzzing around your head or landing on your food or ruining your outdoor picnic. As pesky as they are though, we couldn’t survive with flies. There are about 20 million flies on the planet for every human and they actually do some very beneficial things for us, according to biologist Jonathan Balcombe author of the book SUPER FLY: The Unexpected Lives of the World’s Most Successful Insects (https://amzn.to/3bVgqp3). Listen as he takes you on a tour into what it is like to be a fly and all the gross yet beneficial things flies do.

Growing up I am sure you were told to go play outside. We have all heard that it is good to be outdoors. How good is it? Listen as I explain the very concrete benefits of being outside in nature for all of us – and especially for kids and teens. https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/

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How to Say No and Feel Good About It & The One Thing That’s Better Than Happiness Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

If you want to take a nap, it might be a good idea to find a hammock. This episode begins with an explanation for why hammocks can help just about anyone sleep better. https://www.livescience.com/14680-hammock-rocking-improves-sleep.html

Saying no can be difficult. You certainly don’t want to disappoint others and you worry people will think you are not a team player if you say no. Still, we have all said yes to things we wish we hadn’t. Now, there is some great research that shows that HOW you say no is what really matters. You can say no to just about anything and people will generally accept it without pushback. Joining me to explain how you can say no and not feel bad about it is Professor Vanessa Patrick from the University of Houston and author of the book The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No That Puts You in Charge of Your Life (https://amzn.to/3MUs6KE).

With so much emphasis on finding happiness today, why do so many people (40%) say they are unhappy? Can you really lead a happy life? After all, happiness is a fleeting emotion – it comes and goes. Maybe we should be seeking a life of satisfaction rather than a life of happiness. Here to explain the important distinction between happiness and satisfaction and how you can lead a more satisfied life is Dr Jennifer Guttman. She is psychologist in private practice and author of the book Beyond Happiness: The 6 Secrets of Life Satisfaction (https://amzn.to/43mzyoB).

Eye contact can be very powerful in any relationship. Listen as I explain a simple eye contact technique that triggers just the right hormones that will make you more intriguing to the person you are looking at. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26704066

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How To Ask For Anything and Everything & The Unusual History of Ice Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever turn your phone off? I mean ALL the way off. This episode begins by explaining why it is a good idea to do it and how often you should. https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/tech/should-you-turn-off-your-phone

Asking someone for something can be hard. After all, you might not like the answer. Still, as the saying goes, “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” Whether you are asking for a job or for help or money or a favor, asking can be stressful. What if there was a formula to follow that would make asking for anything a lot easier and a lot more likely to result in a “yes”? Here to share that formula is Laura Fredricks. Laura is a lawyer who has asked and raised more than $1 billion for nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. She is author of the book Hard Asks Made Easy: How to Get Exactly What You Want (https://amzn.to/3WJhAu0)

It’s hard to imagine life without ice. We use it for so many things. In fact, even before there were freezers, people used ice. In the early days of the ice industry, it was harvested and shipped all over the world – which sounds strange because you would think it would melt before it got there. But it didn’t. Joining me to tell the amazing story of ice is Amy Brady. She is the executive director of Orion magazine and author of the book Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—a Cool History of a Hot Commodity (https://amzn.to/3MKX7Rc).

If you ever have to go to the hospital, there is one month out of the year that you really want to try to avoid going at all costs. Listen as I explain which month that is and why you want to stay away. https://www.fox2detroit.com/sponsored/bernstein-july-effect

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SYSK Choice: Why Your Self-Delusions Are Valuable & How to Flirt Successfully Jun 03, 2023

Show notes

Back when grocery stores started charging for new plastic bags, there was a concern that using reusable grocery bags could be dangerous because of the germs and bacteria that accumulate in those bags when you use them over and over again. You don’t hear so much about this concern today like you used to. Should you be worried about your reusable grocery bags? This episode begins with an exploration into that. https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-clean-are-your-reusable-shopping-bags-the-truth-will-shock-you/

You and every other human being engages in a lot of self-deception. We tell ourselves stories about how wonderful we are or how great our kids are, or how skilled we are at something. While it may seem silly, it turns out that self-deception serves an important purpose in our ability to navigate through life according to Shankar Vadantam author of the book Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain (https://amzn.to/3gfTNgI). Shankar joins me to explain this fascinating quirk of human behavior and how to make the most of our own self-deception.

Shankar’s podcast Hidden Brain can be found here: https://hiddenbrain.org/

Flirting can be fun. It might even lead to romance. On the other hand, it could get you in trouble depending on who you flirt with and where. Jean Smith is a social and cultural anthropologist who has studied flirting and written a book called Flirtology (https://amzn.to/3pzec4u). Jean joins me to discuss what flirting is and how to do it well. Her website is www.Flirtology.com

A lot of people voluntarily refuse to take a vacation. Yet, the benefits of taking a vacation are impressive and numerous. Listen as I explain how “all work and no play” is a bad for your mental and physical health and why you must take your summer vacation this year and why it’s important to actually enjoy the experience. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/take-back-your-time-10-reasons-why-vacations-matter-keith-salwoski/

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The Extraordinary Ways The Workplace is Changing & Why You Have Allergies Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Everyone has secrets. And that can be a problem. The burden of keeping a secret has a ripple effect in your life you likely don’t realize. This episode begins with an explanation. http://now.tufts.edu/articles/how-burdensome-are-secrets

The world of work and career is changing in a lot of interesting ways. More of us are looking for meaning in what we do rather than just climbing the ladder and making money. A lot of people today have more than just one job – sometimes more than two! And there seems to be a shift in how people relate to their work and their employer. Bruce Feiler has been watching and researching these changing trends in the workplace and he is here to discuss how all this change impacts you and opens up opportunities for all of us. Bruce is the author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers and his latest is called The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World (https://amzn.to/3OKgwUI)

Doesn’t it seem like a lot more people have allergies today than in the past? Why do we get allergies? What causes them to start in some people but not others? For so many of us, allergies are a real nuisance and for others a serious health risk. Here to discuss what you need to know about allergies is Theresa MacPhail. She is a medical anthropologist, and associate professor of science and technology. She is also author of the book Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World (https://amzn.to/43d9uwb)

Of course, you know that exercise is good for your health. It also turns out to be good for your sex life. Listen as I reveal how people who exercise regularly have a lot more fun in the bedroom and feel better about their own sex appeal. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/health/a776324/can-exercise-lead-to-a-better-sex-life/

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The Strange Factors That Influence What You Buy & The Fascinating Story of Data May 29, 2023

Show notes

Ever wonder why mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others? I begin this episode by discussing 5 factors that make you so irresistible to those pesky insects. https://theweek.com/articles/462191/5-things-that-make-irresistible-mosquitoes

Consumer behavior is a fascinating area of research. While people like to think they make objective decisions about what to buy or not buy, there are a lot of factors that influence those decisions such as description, price, ease of use and many more. And they influence you in ways that are not so obvious. Joining me to explain these factors is Richard Shotton. He is a behavioral scientist and author of the book The Illusion of Choice: 16 ½ Psychological Biases That Influence What We Buy (https://amzn.to/3q2Vne9).

What do you think of when you hear the word data? Doesn’t it seem that data has an air of certainty, authority and objectivity. It’s hard to argue with data, right? That’s what concerns Chris Wiggins who is here to take a hard look at the history of data, algorithms and statistics and how they have come to drive so much of our lives. Should we accept data simply because, well, it’s data? Or should we be a bit more skeptical? Chris Wiggins is an associate professor of applied mathematics at Columbia University and he is the New York Times’s chief data scientist and co-author of the book How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms (https://amzn.to/3luS1Pb).

Ever pull a green potato chip out of the bag and wonder if it is safe to eat? What about the occasional dark brown chip? What’s the deal with that one? Listen as I explain what to do with these off-color chips. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30746/whats-those-green-potato-chips-you-sometimes-find

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