Something You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

SYSK Choice: What Influences How Food Tastes & How Habits Work Jan 07, 2023

Show notes

You’ve heard about pheromones, right? Supposedly they can make you more appealing. In fact, some perfumes and colognes claim to have pheromones in them that will give you more sex appeal. This episode looks at those claims and whether they can really improve your love life. https://www.rd.com/article/do-pheromone-perfumes-really-work/

Does dessert taste sweeter on a round plate than it does on a square plate? Can candles on the table improve the taste of a meal? It seems that a lot of things can influence our perceptions of the food we eat. Joining me to discuss how this works and the research behind it is Nell McShane Wulfhart. She is a journalist and author of the audiobook Off Menu: The Secret Science of Food and Dining (https://amzn.to/3n2rbsC).

How do you form a positive new habit or break an old bad one? It is something we would all probably like to know how to do. And here to discuss it is Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at the University of Southern California and author of the book, Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick. (https://amzn.to/34USXAW). Listen as she explains some effective yet simple ways to change habits to really improve your life.

It's easy to spend a lot of time wishing people were different and trying to get them to change. Is it a waste of time or can you help people change? Listen as I explain one renowned psychiatrist take on changing how other people act and behave. Source: Dr. Steven Reiss author of Who Am I? (https://amzn.to/2WZY2DP).

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Did you know you could reduce the number of unwanted calls & emails with Online Privacy Protection from Discover? - And it's FREE! Just activate it in the Discover App. See terms & learn more at https://Discover.com/Online

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

Amazing Things Your Smartphone Camera Can Do & Is Fasting Really Healthy? Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

We all want to be happy – but maybe not too happy. This episode begins by explaining how too much happiness can be a problem and how a little unhappiness can be a very good thing. https://www.businessinsider.com/on-a-scale-of-1-to-10-how-happy-should-you-aspire-to-be-2012-5

One of the most amazing things about your smartphone is the camera. And you likely haven’t taken the time to really understand all the amazing things it can do. Yes, it takes pictures and videos but it does so much more. Here to explain some of the things you never knew your smartphone camera can do is Scott Kelby. Scott is a is a photographer, photography teacher and author of The iPhone Photography Book (https://amzn.to/3vkgs3l). If you own a smartphone – iPhone or otherwise, you will really enjoy hearing what Scott has to say.

Fasting has gotten a lot of attention lately. It has been touted as a treatment for many illnesses and ailments as well as a great way to lose weight. But is it all it is cracked up to be? After all, humans need to eat. So what is the science behind this idea of withholding food for long periods of time? Is it safe? Does it really have medical benefits? Joining me with a look at what fasting does and doesn’t do is journalist Steve Hendricks author of the book The Oldest Cure in the World: Adventures in the Art and Science of Fasting (https://amzn.to/3I38287).

Hard to imagine anyone who doesn’t enjoy listening to music. Good thing too, because listening to music may help prevent a cold or the flu or other illnesses. Listen as I explain how this works. https://www.zmescience.com/science/does-listening-to-music-boost-your-immune-system/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

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

What Really Influences What You Purchase & The Benefits of Being Bold Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

When you use a public restroom, is it better to use a paper towel or an air dryer to dry your hands? In terms of getting your hands really clean, there is really one clear choice. This episode begins with answer. http://lifehacker.com/5967976/

Everything you buy is the result of a decision you make. From breakfast cereal to a new car, you decide what to purchase. And there are a lot of things going on that influence that decision. Some of those things will surprise you. Listen to my guest, Phil Barden, who is a marketing expert and author of the book Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy (https://amzn.to/3v7If6P) He joins me to discuss the purchasing process we all go through to figure out what to buy and what not to buy.

Do you think of yourself as bold? Do you speak up and ask for what you want or are you more likely to sit back and take what you get? “Fortune favors the bold” is a phrase you often hear and it is something Jennifer Cohen certainly believes in. Jennifer has a brilliant TED talk on this topic (https://www.ted.com/talks/jen_cohen_the_secret_to_getting_anything_you_want_in_life_given_by_jennifer_cohen) and she is host of a podcast called Habits and Hustle (https://habitshustle.com/). She is also author of the book Bigger, Better, Bolder: Live the Life You Want, Not the Life You Get (https://amzn.to/3jlI6tO). If you have ever regretted not speaking up and asking for what you want, you need to hear this discussion.

Have you ever had a waiter or waitress come to your table and ask how everything is going and you said it was great even though it wasn’t? Most people do because it is a hassle to complain. But NOT complaining could be costing you. Listen as I explain. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201112/telling-white-lies-comes-price

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

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

SYSK Choice: How to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions & What Influences Our Preferences Dec 31, 2022

Show notes

Why do we yawn? You might think it is because we are tired or bored. However, according to some research, yawning has nothing to do with either of those things. This episode begins with a look at the real reason we yawn and why yawning is contagious. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3425960&page=1

If you have ever tried to make a significant change in your life, you know it can be very difficult. It’s why so many New Year’s resolutions don’t last very long. What makes change so hard? One of the big reasons is what executive coach Marshall Goldsmith calls “triggers.” Triggers are those things that can get in the way of achieving your goals. Listen as Marshall offers concrete advice for making lasting positive changes and achieving your goals by managing those triggers. Marshall is author of the book Triggers (http://amzn.to/2dWTWog).

Why do you like the things you like? You probably have a favorite color or a favorite food – but why? It is interesting that one person can hate something that another person loves. It applies to clothes, cars, numbers, people – almost anything. What is it that influences our tastes and preferences? Listen as I speak with Tom Vanderbilt author of the book You May Also Like (http://amzn.to/2h8YecT ) and discover why you prefer some things over others and why you have a favorite color.

What really matters when it comes to health and long life? Yes, exercise, diet and lifestyle are all important, but it actually may have even more to do with the kind of person you are. To find out if you are that kind of person who is likely to live a long and healthy life, you need to answer an important question. Listen and I will tell you what that question is. (Source: Dr. Paul Persall author of, Write Your Own Pleasure Prescription: https://amzn.to/2RdFqyU).

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/something !

If you think you’re okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else’s, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

How to Move On From a Setback & The Interesting Way Trends Come and Go Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

You mother likely told you to drink a lot of fluids when you have a cold or the flu. So, what is the theory there? How does drinking water or juice or anything else fight off an illness? A lot of people think it flushes out your system but that’s not the reason. This episode begins with the actual reason why it is a good idea to keep drinking when you are sick – but not too much. https://www.realsimple.com/health/first-aid-health-basics/too-much-water-while-sick-can-be-dangerous

Have you ever had a bad day or a difficult encounter with someone and you just can’t shake it off? The result can be that you keep thinking about it and that negatively impacts your performance the rest of the day. It happens to all of us I suspect and there is a technique that can really help. Dr. Adam Fraser author of the book The Third Space (https://amzn.to/35BAPub) explains how elite athletes, salespeople and peak performers everywhere don’t let a bad experience keep them down and you can do it too.

Here's a little test: Can you sit on the floor and then get up without using your hands? There is good news for those who can and bad news for those who cannot. Listen as I explain why. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2247402/Can-floor-using-hands-If-heading-early-grave.html

How do you spot a trend? Where do trends come from? Rohit Bhargava has been trying to predict trends for a decade and has published a book about it each year for the last several years. He uses something called “Non-Obvious Thinking” which he says we should all do to help us spot new opportunities. Rohit joins me to explain how you do it and what the latest trends are. His latest book, which will be the last one in the series is called Non Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future (https://amzn.to/36PG61q).

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/something !

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

Why The Right Words Matter & How to Stop Avoiding Stuff Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

There is something about feeling appreciated that feels so very good. However, there is one big problem with appreciation. This episode begins with an explanation of how appreciation is often misused and is often a missed opportunity. http://ombudsfac.unm.edu/Article_Summaries/Beyond_Reason.pdf

Laughter can be magical. Not just the act of laughter but the word itself. It seems just using the word in conversation can win you big points. That’s according to my guest Will Jelbert, a communications consultant who has spent the last several years researching how to best use the written and spoken word to connect with people. He is also the author of Word Wise: Say What You Mean, Deepen Your Connections, and Get to the Point (https://amzn.to/358ndaX). Will joins me to explain how using the right words in your communication can make you a much more powerful communicator.

People like to procrastinate. Which is weird when you think about it. If you have something that needs doing, why not just do it? Here to explain why we procrastinate and to offer some great advice on how to get things done that you keep putting off is psychotherapist Matthew Boone. Matt is an instructor at the University of Arkansas and author of Stop Avoiding Stuff (https://amzn.to/2FyXTlw).

It seems pretty common for people who are about to get married to have second thoughts. But could those second thoughts be trying to tell you something important? Listen as I explain. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/should-i-marry-him-238482.aspx

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/something !

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

SYSK Choice: Why We Dream & How to Be Personal in a Digital World Dec 24, 2022

Show notes

There are a lot of theories and myths about alcohol and how not to fall victim to its effects. For example, mixing caffeine with alcohol will make you feel less sleepy or that light beers are healthier than regular beers. I begin this episode with an examination of which of these and other commonly held beliefs about alcohol are true or false. http://www.purewow.com/wellness/Alcohol-Myths

Why do we dream at night? Do those dream serve a purpose or are they random thoughts that occupy your brain while you are asleep? Journalist Alice Robb, author of the book Why We Dream (https://amzn.to/2LmMMuy) explores the science of dreams and offers some proven ways that you can use your dreams to help you in your waking life.

What is the best tasting ketchup? Is it some fancy organic gourmet ketchup or is it Heinz or Hunts or maybe Del Monte? When you test them side-by-side, there is an obvious winner. Listen and discover which ketchup is the best according to almost everyone. (The New Best Recipe cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen – (https://amzn.to/2LmL9gd)

You probably have a lot more electronic friends on social media, texts and email than you have real friends. And while electronic friends are fine, having traditional friends and connections is probably more important than ever before. Susan RoAne author of the book How to Work a Room (https://amzn.to/2ElLcrk) explores the importance of friendships and offers practical ways to find and make new friends.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Shopify grows with your business anywhere. Thanks to their endless list of integrations and third-party apps - everything you need to customize your business to your needs is already in your hands. Sign up for a FREE trial at https://Shopify.com/sysk !

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

The Power of Rituals & The Reason People Hate to Exercise Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Smiling is a universal expression of happiness. Even babies born blind smile. So, what does smiling do for you? Why are we attracted to another person’s smile? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief look at smiling. https://www.livescience.com/5254-smiles-innate-learned.html

Our lives are full of rituals. We have religious rituals, family rituals, holidays rituals, personal rituals – rituals are everywhere. By definition rituals don’t really perform a function beyond being a ritual. So why do we have them? Why do we need them? Here to discuss the importance of human rituals is Dimitris Xygalatas. He is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist who runs the Experimental Anthropology Lab at the University of Connecticut. And he is author of the book Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living (https://amzn.to/3Pq7U4b).

Even though everyone knows how important exercise is, a lot of people hate it. Why is that? Why is something so important to your health so despised and avoided by so many? It just may be that we never really evolved to exercise – at least not the way we do it today. That’s according to Daniel E. Lieberman. Daniel is a professor of biological sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. And author of the book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding (https://amzn.to/3hoPQea). Listen and you won’t feel so guilty the next time you decide you really DON’T want to go out and exercise.

It is common wisdom that salt can elevate your blood pressure – and reducing the amount of salt will help lower it. Is that true? Listen as I explain the science of salt and blood pressure and why potassium is also a key player in the story. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/relationships-between-salt-potassium-6609.html

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

The Microchip Shortage and How it Affects You & Why Smart People Make Bad Choices Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Still need to get some holiday shopping done? One of the biggest stressors is trying to find a parking spot. So, this episode begins with some smart holiday parking strategies to help you score a spot quickly in a crowded parking lot. https://jalopnik.com/how-to-win-the-holiday-parking-game-5963162

Over the last several months there has been a lot of talk about a worldwide microchip shortage. These are the semi-conductor chips that control the workings of cars, electronics and just about everything else it seems. Why are they in such short supply? How hard are these chips to make? What is it they do exactly? These are some of the questions addressed by Chris Miller. He teaches International History at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and he is author of best selling book called Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology (https://amzn.to/3ULP20k).

Ever notice when conditions are just right – very smart people can make very poor choices? This happens a lot when people are panicked but it also happens because of some other interesting and uniquely human factors. Why does this happen? Joining me to talk about this is Christopher J. Ferguson, professor of psychology at Stetson University in Florida and author of the book Catastrophe!: How Psychology Explains Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse (https://amzn.to/3VKFHaF).

If you have heated seats in your car, you need to be careful to avoid something called Toasted Skin Syndrome. Listen as I explain how it happens, what it looks like and what to do about it. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-beware-reports/beware-toasted-skin-with-heated-seats-reports-idUSTRE81M26P20120223

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA

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

SYSK Choice: How to Train a Human (or Dog) & Why English Has Changed Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

We are taught that jealousy and envy are not particularly productive emotions. Well, maybe – and maybe not. This episode begins with a look at how jealousy and envy can actually help you achieve your goals. Plus, you’ll hear what the difference is between jealousy and envy because they are not the same thing. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19918585/jealous/

Successful dog training is all about conditioning and giving rewards for good behavior. However, when we want people to change their behavior, we are more inclined to criticize and correct the negative more than we reward the positive. So what if we treated people the way a dog trainer trains a dog? That’s what Dr. Karen London advocates. Karen is an experienced dog trainer and behaviorist and she is author of a book called Treat Everyone Like a Dog (https://amzn.to/3m9y1w1). Listen as she explains how to take the principles of positive dog training and use them to get people to do what you want.

Our language is constantly changing in some interesting and unusual ways. That is why the English of William Shakespeare sounds so strange compared to the English spoken today and while the English spoken in North America is different than the English spoken in the UK. How and why does it change? That is what David Shariatmadari is here to discuss. David is a writer and editor at the Guardian and author of the book, Don’t Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language (https://amzn.to/3ngvp0x)

Why is it that we get a runny nose when it is really cold outside, even when you aren’t sick? Listen as I explain how it is a by product of how your body works to actually keep you healthy and happy. http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/01/01/why_does_my_nose_run_in_the_cold/

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

Go to https://CozyEarth.com/SOMETHING to SAVE 40% now! All backed by a 100-Night Sleep Guarantee.

Tune in to Planet Money every week for entertaining stories and insights about how money shapes our world! Listen now to Planet Money from NPR -- wherever you get your podcasts.https://www.npr.org/sections/money/

Cancel unnecessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to https://RocketMoney.com/something - Seriously, it could save you HUNDREDS of dollars per year!

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. Paid for by NHTSA.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected