Why do humans blush—and why does it feel so uncomfortable when someone points it out? Charles Darwin once called blushing “the most peculiar and most human of all expressions.” In this episode, I start by exploring the surprising science of blushing and what it really communicates about us. Source: https://www.rd.com/article/why-do-people-blush/ Credit cards are so embedded in modern life that it’s hard to imagine shopping without them. But they haven’t been around that long. What was the very f...
Sep 01, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1251
How often do you think the average American checks their phone each day? Whatever your guess, you’ll probably be shocked by the actual number. This episode kicks off with some eye-opening stats about our cell phone obsession and just how much it’s shaping our daily lives. https://www.reviews.org/mobile/cell-phone-addiction/ When it comes to decisions, many of us waste valuable energy stressing over choices that don’t even matter. To explore why this happens and how to make smarter choices with l...
Aug 30, 2025•48 min•Ep. 1247
Chances are, your home is full of things you don’t use, don’t need, and maybe don’t even recognize. Listen to the start of this episode and you’ll discover a simple list of household items you can toss out today — without a second thought. Clearing them out will free up space and make room for what truly matters. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/things-in-your-home-to-get-rid-of_n_4748455 Even the brightest minds can make surprisingly poor choices — sometimes with disastrous results. Panic plays a...
Aug 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1249
Your phone’s battery is an engineering marvel — but you might be killing it without even realizing it. In this opening segment, you’ll learn simple, science-backed charging habits that can dramatically extend your battery’s life and keep it holding a charge for years to come. https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a15731/best-way-to-keep-li-ion-batteries-charged/ Have you heard of “primal intelligence”? It’s essentially the opposite of artificial intelligence — the innate, deeply hu...
Aug 25, 2025•50 min
No one likes making a fool of themselves — but it turns out, it might be one of the best things you can do for your happiness. In this opening segment, we explore how moments of public embarrassment can lead to surprising psychological benefits. It may feel awful in the moment, but research says it could actually improve your well-being in the long run. https://exploringyourmind.com/making-fool-yourself-makes-you-happier/ Everyone lies… but at what cost? When you're caught in a lie, the damage ...
Aug 23, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1247
“Happy Birthday to You ” might seem like a simple song, but its history is anything but. It has generated millions of dollars in royalties and been at the center of a wild legal saga. In this opening segment, you'll hear the fascinating backstory of one of the world’s most famous tunes — and learn about its current legal status. https://www.wipo.int/web/wipo-magazine/articles/in-the-courts-court-confirms-legal-status-of-happy-birthday-to-you-55581 Is happiness just a fleeting feeling — or someth...
Aug 21, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1246
Try formulating an answer to a difficult question while looking someone in the eye. It is almost impossible. You must look away. Why is it so hard to concentrate while looking at someone? This episode starts with an explanation of that. http://www.livescience.com/7155-helps-concentration.html To be labeled as a great innovator is an honor. Innovators are held in high esteem. But what is it that makes them so special? What goes on in their heads that allows them to create innovative ideas? Here t...
Aug 18, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1245
Everyone knows exercise is good for you. But have you ever thought HOW it is good for you? This episode begins by explaining exactly what the benefits are both mentally and physically. And the benefits are substantial. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389 Ever find yourself caught in a loop of “what ifs”? You imagine things going wrong — even when there’s no real reason to worry. That constant sense of dread and worst-case thinking is more common th...
Aug 16, 2025•47 min•Ep. 1244
What if starting your meal with a mediocre appetizer could actually make the main course taste better? In this surprising opening segment, we dive into the psychology of taste and explore clever, science-backed tricks to make your food taste better — using your brain, not just your palate. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3139067/ We’re all being influenced by algorithms every day — from what we watch and buy to what we believe. But what exactly is an algorithm, how does it work, ...
Aug 14, 2025•47 min•Ep. 1243
What if you were convinced you got a good night’s sleep even if you didn’t? It turns out what you believe can actually determine if you do or don’t feel tired the next day. How can this possibly be true? This episode starts with an explanation which could be very useful one day when you didn’t sleep well. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24417326/ Many times in your life you have felt totally bored. What exactly is boredom? Is it a feeling or maybe it is a lack of a feeling? Does feeling bored ev...
Aug 11, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1242
You probably have a drawer where you keep spare batteries for when you need them. But if some or all those batteries are loose and floating around that drawer, it could be dangerous. This episode begins with an explanation and a better way to store batteries. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/612670/never-store-batteries-your-junk-drawer Just how French are French fries? Why are frankfurters also called hot dogs and why do we have 2 names. Why is it called cream soda when there is no cream in ...
Aug 09, 2025•48 min•Ep. 1241
People don’t drown the way you think they do. Someone could drown right in front of you, and you might not notice. It happens all the time. This episode begins by revealing what to look for to spot a drowning person. https://www.thehealthy.com/first-aid/silent-signs-of-drowning/#ixzz3dGUMjhU8 In the United States, we have an expectation of privacy. We are entitled to a private life. But it wasn’t always that way. The idea of privacy is a fairly recent innovation. For a long time, the feeling was...
Aug 07, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1240
As people age, changes in the eyes require that some to get reading glasses to see things clearly close-up. What’s odd is that women seem to require reading glasses at an earlier age than men. Why? Listen as I reveal the interesting answer. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120623144946.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com We all want to get along and be liked but some people take it to the extreme. These are people pleasers. They worry about what other people think of them. If someone doesn’t...
Aug 04, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1239
It might seem odd, but a lot of dogs get stolen in the United States. Like most other things, it’s all about money. This episode begins with an explanation and a warning about your pet. https://petkeen.com/dognapping-dog-theft-statistics/ Being sensitive is a good thing. Being told you are TOO sensitive is more of an insult. It is perceived as a weakness, as if there is something wrong and the way to fix it is to toughen up. That isn’t going to work according to Jenn Granneman. Yes, being sensit...
Aug 02, 2025•48 min•Ep. 1238
Your body temperature is about 98 degrees. So why does it feel so hot when you walk outside in 98-degree heat? Shouldn’t you feel just right? I’ll explain all this as I begin this episode. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50080/why-do-we-feel-hot-temperatures-lower-our-body-temp We all know that stores and online retailers use strategies to influence how we shop and how much we buy. There are the obvious ways they do it and some subtle ways you may miss. Yet, when you understand these strateg...
Jul 31, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1237
If you enjoy eating nuts – good for you! Nuts are healthy. But you might be surprised to hear just how healthy they are - and you don’t have to eat very many to get the benefits. This episode begins with a look at a fascinating study on nuts that has been going on for decades. https://www.herbazest.com/news/nut-consumption-may-prolong-life “It’s right on the tip of my tongue!” We have all had that experience of not being able to recall a word but feel like it is just out of reach. It’s different...
Jul 28, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1236
Things can get dangerously hot in the summer. The interior of your car, the sidewalk, even your patio furniture can heat up in the summer sun and burn you. Listen as I reveal just how hot these things can get. https://www.rd.com/article/things-that-get-dangerously-hot/ You’ve likely noticed that some things are harder to learn than others and that some people learn faster than others. Are there ways to make learning easier and quicker for those of us who aren't rocket scientists? Yes, according ...
Jul 26, 2025•48 min•Ep. 1235
Like a supermarket, major airports are laid out and configured to try to get you to spend money while you are there. Listen and discover how they do it and when you are most likely to open your wallet at an airport. https://www.neatorama.com/2015/06/11/12-Behind-the-Scenes-Secrets-of-Airports/ How many times have you used "therapy-speak" to descibe someone - words like toxic or narcissist or psychopath? It’s a handy and very descriptive way to talk about someone – but there are potential problem...
Jul 24, 2025•52 min•Ep. 1234
“Let me sleep on it. ” That always seems like a good idea when a big decision has to be made. But is there true wisdom in that advice? This episode starts with the answer. https://www.newswise.com/articles/sleep-on-it-is-sound-science-based-advice# Ever feel like you are being watched? Ever walk into a room for something and forget why you did? Ever felt “in the zone” – like you could do no wrong? We all have these weird mental experiences but why? Do they serve a purpose? Here to reveal the exp...
Jul 21, 2025•48 min•Ep. 1233
Why is it that people seem to come up with good ideas in the shower? Could there really be something special about the shower experience that generates great thoughts and simple solutions? This episode begins with some interesting research about the magic of the shower. https://www.headspace.com/articles/shower-epiphanies The strangest things can affect your health. For example, your birthday or if there is a parade or a 10K in your town. Even if there is EZ Pass on a highway somewhere near you ...
Jul 19, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1232
Shampoo, lotions, guns, knives and a lot of other things are confiscated at airport security checkpoints every day. What happens to all those things? Can you ever get them back? This episode starts by taking a look. https://www.rd.com/article/return-confiscated-items-tsa/ Even if you don’t believe in them, you probably participate in some superstitions. Maybe you knock on wood or avoid walking under a ladder or steer clear of black cats. Where do these superstitions come from? Why do they still ...
Jul 17, 2025•47 min
There is an experience some of us (but not all) are able to have called autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR. It can be triggered by a soft monotonous voice explaining something as well as other triggers. Sounds weird, right? Listen as I explain how it works, why science doesn’t recognize it as a real thing but for many of us, it is a wonderful sensation, and I will tell you how to experience it. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/53220/listening-soft-voices-can-cause-brain-orgasms The ...
Jul 14, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1230
Not all that long ago, people felt paying bills by sending a check in the mail was the best way to do it. Today, it seems like a bad idea. In fact, banks and the post office are recommending against it. Listen as I reveal why. https://www.businessinsider.com/post-office-check-fraud-mailing-be-careful-usps-scam-2023-6 There are a lot of weird but true stories out there. And this episode offers you several of them!. For instance, how one U.S. President prevented his own assassination and how Beatl...
Jul 12, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1229
While people may not point it out to you when you use the wrong word – they DO notice. This episode begins by setting the record straight on the right words to use that people commonly get wrong. For instance, when do you use take or bring, further or farther, ironic or coincidental and others? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/misused-words-make-smart-people-look-dumb-dr-travis-bradberry/ For every person on earth, there are 1.4 billion bugs. We share the world with bugs, and we owe them our very ...
Jul 10, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1228
Having good friends can help you live longer, see the world more positively and make you look more attractive. How can that be? Listen as I explain. https://www.thehealthy.com/family/relationships/friends-facts/ We are learning more and more about the healing power of music. You already know music can help your mood or help you relax or give you motivation. But it also can help with depression, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and who knows what else? Why does listening to music and making music se...
Jul 07, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1225
Why do people seem to get sick when (or just after) they fly? Many believe it is the recirculated air on the plane that everyone is breathing. That is probably not the reason. This episode starts by explaining what the real culprit is and how to protect yourself. https://www.rd.com/article/recirculated-air-on-airplanes/ It is amazing how often we miscommunicate with other people. It happens when we speak, or send a text or email, on the phone – it happens all the time. The trouble is that what w...
Jul 05, 2025•48 min
Who hasn’t had a brilliant idea or revelation while taking a shower? It seems the shower is a place where we do some of our best thinking. Why is that? This episode starts with an explanation. https://www.headspace.com/articles/shower-epiphanies What is love? Is it an experience, or an emotion or something else? According to Anna Machin, an evolutionary anthropologist at Oxford University, love is a human need that is as important as food, sleep or water. Listen to our discussion and you will re...
Jul 03, 2025•47 min•Ep. 1225
Everyone is bound to make a typo in an email. What’s interesting though is the reader will often see that typo and alter the way they interpret your message – sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way. Listen to discover how this works. https://www.businessinsider.com/typos-in-emails-2015-5 The science of weather forecasting has come a long way in the last few decades. Interestingly, forecasters are not only improving their accuracy but also how they communicate the information to you and ...
Jun 30, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1224
How do spiders find their way into your house? This episode starts by revealing how it happens and some ways to make your home less appealing to spiders, so they stay outside. https://www.prevention.com/life/a32332424/how-to-get-rid-of-spiders/ Unless you are some sort of grouch, you probably laugh at something almost every day. Have you ever thought about what makes something funny? Do humor and laughter influence you in some way? Is it true that laughter is the best medicine? Why do we seek ou...
Jun 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 1223
People sometimes cheat on their partner. Not everyone – but some do. This episode begins with some insight into one big reason that causes infidelity in a marriage or relationship. https://www.thoughtco.com/why-people-cheat-on-their-partners-3026688 We are surrounded by information on every topic you can imagine. The problem is that if you want to learn how to do something, you could spend an eternity learning and never get to the doing – because there is always more to learn. The solution to th...
Jun 26, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1222
