Did you know the weather can affect your buying decisions? Apparently it can and that can be a big factor when you buy a big ticket item like a house or a car. This episode begins with an explanation of why and how the weather impacts such important decisions and why you are more likely to buy a convertible on a sunny day even though it may be a terrible idea. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-effect-of-weather-on-purchasing-decisions-2012-11 We like to think we have a personality - but actual...
Apr 03, 2021•49 min•Ep. 559
What’s the fastest insect? How long does a common housefly live? How many kinds of insects are there in the world? Now that spring is here and the bugs are back, this episode begins with some interesting facts about bugs and insects you may not know. https://gohannan.com/common-pests/amazing-but-true-interesting-facts-about-bugs/ No matter how well you plan, things can - and often do - go wrong. Even though you seldom know what will go wrong there are some ways to plan for it according to Frank ...
Apr 01, 2021•54 min•Ep. 558
There is an often-quoted study about the importance of goal setting and success that happened at Yale University in 1953. This episode begins with an explanation of why you should NOT pay attention to this study at all. https://www.fastcompany.com/27953/if-your-goal-success-dont-consult-these-gurus Everyone knows what causes people to gain weight and lose weight - and, it turns out, everybody is wrong! That’s according to Herman Pontzer. Herman is one of the foremost researchers in human metabol...
Mar 29, 2021•49 min•Ep. 557
Do you play a musical instrument? If not, maybe you should. This is especially true if you are outgoing and an extrovert. It seems that your personality can predict with great accuracy, how much musical skill and talent you have. We begin this episode by exploring that. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/uoc-hyg101315.php You have certainly something about body language and how it works. Well, you are about to get a much better and deeper understanding of it and how you can use it to...
Mar 27, 2021•47 min•Ep. 556
You know when you get part of a song stuck in your head? It can be hard to get rid of. As with most things, this has been studied and I begin the episode today with some ways that will help you get that song out of your head. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/21/heres-how-get-song-out-your-head/99264896/ We all like to think we have good memories but the human memory is flawed in many ways. Some things we don’t remember at all, other things we don’t remember well and most me...
Mar 25, 2021•54 min•Ep. 555
Mother's Day is just around the corner. Who started it? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief explanation of the origins of Mother's Day and how it got pretty ugly for a while. https://www.rd.com/list/history-of-mothers-day/ Human beings like to laugh - we enjoy humor. It also turns out to be really good for you. People who laugh a lot live longer and enjoy of host of other benefits. Incorporating more humor, laughter and lightness into your life has more benefits than you can imagine acco...
Mar 22, 2021•53 min•Ep. 554
It’s become a cliché to say that great ideas come in the shower. But the fact is – they do! And there is actually a psychological explanation for why that is. We begin this episode with a look at the reason for this common experience. http://mentalfloss.com/article/52586/why-do-our-best-ideas-come-us-shower What’s the difference between pleasure and happiness? It’s an important distinction because the more pleasure you seek, the less happy you become. That’s the contention of Dr Robert Lustig, a...
Mar 20, 2021•48 min•Ep. 553
Everyone know that you should say “I love you” to your mate because it fosters intimacy and connection. It turns out there are 3 other words you should too because couples who say these words have stronger and closer relationships. What are those 3 words? Listen and find out. http://truetowords.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-me-us-we-little-words-big-impact.html Most of us are willing to help others if we can. It feels good to help someone in need. Yet many of us have trouble asking for help when we nee...
Mar 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 552
We go through a lot of batteries in our house with all of our remotes and clocks and flashlights - and they aren’t cheap. I bet you have a lot of batteries in your home as well. This episode begins with some interesting facts and myths about household batteries you probably never knew. http://www.greenbatteries.com/ How do you feel about your voice? Do you love it or hate it? While it may sound like a cliché, your voice really is an instrument and like a musical instrument you have to learn how ...
Mar 15, 2021•52 min•Ep. 551
If you have ever cooked pasta you’ve likely considered using HOT tap water instead of cold to speed up the process. After all, hot tap water takes less time to boil. But is it really a good idea to cook with hot tap water? We begin this episode with a discussion on why it is such a bad idea. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/health/29real.html Whether or not something catches on and becomes popular may seem as if it’s luck or chance. But it isn’t really luck at all. If you’ve ever wondered why ...
Mar 13, 2021•52 min•Ep. 550
Don’t you just hate it when you have to throw milk away when it goes bad? This episode begins with a little trick that will make milk last longer so maybe you don’t have to throw it away. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7673247/The-ways-groceries-fresh-longer.html Who are we? Why are we here in the universe? Are there aliens among us? When and how will the universe end? These are all good questions (along with many others) that I tackle with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Directo...
Mar 11, 2021•53 min•Ep. 549
Which word in the English language has the most meanings? This episode begins by revealing this simple, 3-letter word that has over 600 meanings according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It's a word you have probably used several times today. https://www.rd.com/article/most-complicated-word-in-english/ How does heredity work? It is confusing because some traits you do inherit from your parents but others you might think come from your parents - don’t. And why do tall people usually have tall c...
Mar 08, 2021•49 min•Ep. 548
You have probably heard It said that it Is illegal to kill a praying mantis. Is it? Not that you would want to – but could you actually be fined or go to jail if you got caught? This episode begins with a look at what the law really says and why you would never want to kill one anyway. https://www.thoughtco.com/is-it-illegal-to-kill-praying-mantis-1968526 Why are distractions so tempting? In fact, it seems that more you need to stay focused on your work, the more irresistible those distractions ...
Mar 06, 2021•44 min•Ep. 547
One way to blow your credibility in any conversation or in anything you write is to misuse or mispronounce words or phrases. So this episodes starts with some commonly misused words and phrases to make sure you are using them correctly. https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/10-speaking-and-writing-errors-that-erode-your-credibility.html Taking risks can be good – or bad. It’s all in how you approach the risk and it also seems to depend on how old you are. Kayt Sukel, author of the book, The Ar...
Mar 04, 2021•48 min•Ep. 546
How much gold is on our planet? And have found most of it? This episode begins with some fascinating intel on gold including how much gold is actually in an Olympic Gold Medal and how much more gold is on a Nobel Prize. https://www.rd.com/article/gold-facts/ Why would Disney or HBO encourage you to share your passwords illegally? If you own your home, how much of the sky above it do you own? These are just some of the interesting things about ownership you will hear discussed with Michael Heller...
Mar 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 545
Have you ever gone to the supermarket only to find everything had been moved around? Why do they move things around when you have gotten to know where every thing is? I’ll explain why they do that and other little tricks supermarkets play on you. http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Supermarket-Psychology-Tricks-18344600?stream_view=1#photo- Ever wonder why certain things disgust you? The things you find disgusting may be perfectly acceptable – even pleasing to someone else. Disgust turns out to...
Feb 27, 2021•45 min•Ep. 544
One thing cats do that annoys a lot of people is they hunt, kill and bring home birds and mice and other animals. However, there is something cat owners can do to help cut down the number of times that happens. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210211113943.htm We are all afraid of something - probably many things frighten us. Often that’s a good thing. Fear keeps us safe. So what is fear? Where does it come from? And what do you do if fear is...
Feb 25, 2021•54 min•Ep. 543
Men - and teenage boys - sometimes act foolishly in front of beautiful women. They are also known to take more risks if they know a woman is watching. Why? This episode begins with an interesting explanation that points to evolution as the reason why. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/sp-wdm031810.php We like to think that the world is fairly predictable and that we have good explanations for why things happen. The fact is we don’t in many cases. Why does one smoker die young while ...
Feb 22, 2021•53 min•Ep. 542
Many men - and women too - wish they were taller. Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for that. But there are ways to LOOK taller and we start this episode with some effective techniques. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/a37254/7-style-tips-that-will-make-you-look-taller/ Did anyone ever teach you HOW to think? Likely not. So when you have a problem to solve or need to come up with a solution – you just think the way you think. But what if you could think better? Tim Hurson author of ...
Feb 20, 2021•47 min•Ep. 541
Dust is everywhere. And as soon as you get rid of it, it comes right back again. This episode begins with an explanation of what the dust in your house is made of and the best ways to keep it under control. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028114023.htm Probably everyone wishes they had more self-confidence. Who wanted want to be one of those people who can just walk into a room and take control. Nothing seems to bother them and they don’t seem to care what anyone thinks of them. ...
Feb 18, 2021•47 min•Ep. 540
Where do potholes come from? Did you know there is a “pothole season” when they are more likely to happen? This episode begins with a discussion on one of my biggest pet peeves - potholes. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642198/reason-roads-have-potholes We all have big events we need to prepare for. Whether it’s a speech or an interview or a performance of any kind, you need to be prepared. So what is the most effective way to prepare? One person who knows a lot about preparing for a big ev...
Feb 15, 2021•53 min•Ep. 539
When you ask someone on a date, is it better to call or send a text or email? There is a preferred method if the goal is to get a - yes. This episode begins by explaining all of this. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150901140703.htm When someone walks into your home, they immediately make assumptions about you. So what do people assume about you? What does your home say? According to Winifred Gallagher author of the book, House Thinking: A Room by Room Look at How We Live (https://...
Feb 13, 2021•46 min•Ep. 538
Wearing a face mask has become part of everyday life. What type of mask is the best to protect you and others? While the mask itself is important, there is something else about the mask that is critical for it to be effective. Listen as I explain what that is. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22251362/mask-fit-coronavirus-best-cloth-n95 Have you ever wondered how your sense of smell really works? What makes some scents pleasant and others repulsive? Did you know a lot of the odors here are on earth...
Feb 11, 2021•52 min•Ep. 537
From the producers of "Something You Should Know" comes The Washies! As a SYSK subscriber you are getting a “first peek” of Episode 1 just in time for President's Day and Washington's birthday. Here is what this podcast is all about… In the not so distant future of 2025, amid a backdrop of significant political unrest, a TV producer finds and promotes five millennials who happen to be direct descendants of George Washington. The three women and two men participate in a reality TV show that catap...
Feb 09, 2021•29 min
How do you get someone to say - YES? There is a simple phrase or two you can add to any request that will increase the chances that almost anyone will do you the favor you ask. This episode begins with what those phrases are. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10510974.2012.727941?journalCode=rcst20 Certainly one of the appeals of watching professional sports is knowing you are watching the best of the best play the game. So how did those players get to be the best and what can you learn...
Feb 08, 2021•45 min•Ep. 536
If you have ever lost weight, you’ve probably asked yourself, “When I lose weight, where does the fat go?” It is an interesting question and the fact is most health professionals cannot answer it. But I can – and will as we begin this episode. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/26/health/lose-weight-where-does-it-go-partner/index.html If the “lose-it-or-use-it” theory applies to anything – it applies to memory. U.S. Memory Champion Chester Santos, author of the book, Mastering Memory (https://amzn.to/2...
Feb 06, 2021•47 min•Ep. 535
We all have regrets. And when you stop and think about it, having regrets doesn’t help you very much. This episode begins with some simple strategies that will help anyone let go of some of those big regrets we all have that we tend to play over and over in our heads for no good reason. Source Hamilton Beazley author of the book No Regrets (https://amzn.to/3rfuf7k) You dream every night. You may not remember your dreams - in fact you probably don’t remember most of them. But you do dream. Why do...
Feb 04, 2021•56 min•Ep. 534
How many times do you see food labels claim things like “All-Natural” or “Doctor Recommended” or “Made with Whole Grains”? What do these phrases mean? This episode begins by discussing why those words are really on the label and what they mean to you. https://www.cornucopia.org/2010/05/nutrition-buzzwords-make-hay-out-of-grains-of-truth/ How do you get people to do what you want? Well, the best way is to get them to do it because THEY want to do it, according to Christopher Hadnagy. Christopher ...
Feb 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 533
How do you show you care? Sometimes simple is better. In fact there are a few simple things you can do that can have a huge impact on someone else. I begin this episode with those things which I am sure will come in handy at some point in your life. https://news.butler.edu/blog/2012/01/5-surprising-ways-to-show-your-love/ When you want to make a point or sell your idea or convince someone of something – nothing can do it like a picture. But what if you suck as an artist? Well, according to Dan R...
Jan 30, 2021•46 min•Ep. 532
Did you know there is a day that is considered to be the most depressing day of the year? Yup. It happened just a few weeks ago. Why ls “Blue Monday” so depressing? Listen as I explain. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/blue-monday-2021-uk-why-today-b1788755.html You may never have thought about it but there is a real difference between happiness and joy. In fact, you can make the argument that joy is what creates happiness. You may also not realize that there are things that are universa...
Jan 28, 2021•51 min•Ep. 531
