Just how accurate is Wikipedia? If you go to one of their articles, how likely is it to be correct and objective. This episode begins with some surprising facts about Wikipedia and its accuracy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/wikipedia-explained-what-is-it-trustworthy-how-work-wikimedia-2030-a8213446.html As you know, people lie. In fact, we all lie. Often the lies we tell are small and inconsequential – other times they are a big deal. Pamela Myer is a leading experts on lies and...
Nov 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 658
Finding the right holiday for co-workers can be a challenge. You don't want to spend too much but you want to give something that shows you put some thought into it, at least. Listen as I begin this episode by making this gift-giving task easy while still giving people something they will actually like. If anything in this world is safe, you would think the spices in your spice rack would be. I mean what kind of danger could a little oregano or basil pose to you or your family? Well, you are abo...
Nov 18, 2021•47 min•Ep. 657
Ever have trouble hearing someone on the phone so you cover your other ear to block out the noise? This episode explains why there is a much better way than that if you want to hear someone better. https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3206007/strange-but-true-improve-clarity-of-phone-calls While the internet has given us so much, it has also robbed us of a lot of things many of us liked. For example, solitude, maps, handwritten letters, even the rolodex to name just a few. Pamela Paul has taken a h...
Nov 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 656
You have probably heard that it not a good idea to allow your dog to sleep on the bed. Despite what the experts say, I am going to begin this episode by telling you exactly why it is probably just fine. http://www.purewow.com/entry_detail/national/22018/7-Reasons-Its-Actually-Betterto-Let-Your-Dog-Sleep-in-Your.htm The world is full of people who over explain their ideas. To really be an effective communicator of ideas, the details can - and often do - get in the way. Brant Pinvidic is a produce...
Nov 13, 2021•53 min•Ep. 655
If you have a male doctor who wears a tie, that tie could come into contact with you as your doctor examines you. This episode begins by explaining why that could be dangerous and why you should probably stay away from your doctor’s tie or maybe even ask him to take it off. https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20040524/nasty-neckties-doctors-ties-carry-germs Trying to understand the rules of English can be maddening. Some words follow the certain rules - others don’t. Some words that should rhyme -d...
Nov 11, 2021•52 min•Ep. 654
With people drinking more around the holiday season, it is important to realize that not all drinks are created equal. This episode begins with some interesting differences between beer, wine and hard liquor that everyone should keep in mind because they can affect you differently. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00190.x What makes a person lucky or unlucky? Are some people cursed with bad luck? Are some people born lucky? To explore these questions, we turn to R...
Nov 08, 2021•52 min•Ep. 653
Who doesn’t struggle occasionally to remember important things – like names or passwords or what to get at the grocery store? This episode begins with some very simple techniques that will help sharpen your memory so you remember. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7591279/DR-MICHAEL-MOSLEY-stop-forgetting-passwords-Does-gum-disease-really-cause-heart-attacks.html Ever had food poisoning? It is amazingly common. In fact, each year, millions of people get it, over 120,000 end up in the ho...
Nov 06, 2021•49 min•Ep. 652
You have likely heard the advice that you should get an annual physical exam from your doctor and you should go to the dentist twice a year for a checkup. And what about the recommendation that you wear sunscreen every day? Are all these things really necessary? We begin this episode with a look what the experts say about common health advice you’ve probably heard all your life - some of which may not be necessary. https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/slideshows/do-you-really-ne...
Nov 04, 2021•49 min•Ep. 651
Your siblings have had an important impact on you, whether you realize it or not. This episode begins by talking about how brothers and sisters can affect your personality and character later in life. https://www.unilad.co.uk/life/having-a-sister-makes-you-happier-and-more-optimistic-study-finds Have you ever had a déjà vu experience? Most people have. What is it? What causes it? Joining me to discuss that is Anne Cleary, she is a professor at Colorado State University where she studies the phen...
Nov 01, 2021•53 min•Ep. 650
What’s the best seat in a movie theater? While people do have their own preferences, there actually is one “best seat in the house” at least for the audio. You see, theaters are calibrated for sound from one seat in particular. This episodes begins by telling you which seat that is and where to sit if someone is already sitting in it. https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/how-to-find-best-seat-movie-theater.html?mid=twitter_vulture Can you change your life in four seconds? Yes you can and that is just...
Oct 30, 2021•45 min•Ep. 649
What’s the difference between an antique, a collectible and a vintage item? This episode begins with a brief and helpful explanation. https://www.antique-hq.com/the-difference-between-antique-vintage-and-collectible-item-127/ Since we don’t swear on this podcast, we won’t use the word that BS stands for - but we all know what it is. As you are aware, a lot of people fling BS around to try to make themselves look good or try to sell you something. So, how do you tell what is true, what is a lie a...
Oct 28, 2021•55 min•Ep. 648
If you are booking a commercial flight, what is the best seat to choose? You might want to look at row 49. Listen as I explain why flight attendant Sandra Jeenie Kwon (who has 7 million social media followers) says row 49 is where you will find the best seat on the flight. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10115201/Flight-attendant-reveals-best-seat-plane-four-rows-back.html Who hasn’t thought, “ I could stand to lose 5-10 pounds”? It seems like everyone wishes they weighed less. Yet, a...
Oct 25, 2021•55 min•Ep. 647
Is it possible to work and stay focused in a messy office or environment? This question has actually been tested by researchers at Princeton to see. Listen and find out what they discovered. https://aurorastorage.com/resources/additional-resources/workspace-clutter-reduces-focus-and-productivity/ For centuries people have used storytelling as a powerful way to communicate. The reason is - it is very effective. That is why great speakers and leaders use stories to make their point and win people ...
Oct 23, 2021•52 min•Ep. 646
There are a lot of benefits to being a happy person. This episode begins by discussing one more reason to look at the bright side of life that can really pay off in your later years. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/09/421506/happiness-early-adulthood-may-protect-against-dementia The only way medicine makes advances is by testing new drugs, vaccines and procedures on people. It's very risky and comes at a steep price according to Dr. Paul Offit an attending physician in the Division of Infectious ...
Oct 21, 2021•53 min•Ep. 645
Becoming a homeowner is a big goal for so many people. It is part of the American dream. But is owning a home always better than renting? This episode begins with some interesting facts that may make renting more attractive. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/so-you-think-owning-a-home-will-make-you-happy-dont-be-too-sure/ Also, here is the link to the home ownership/rental calculator: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-calculator.html What is your consciousness? W...
Oct 18, 2021•55 min•Ep. 644
It is called the “psychology of requests.” That is, if you want someone to do something for you, it is all about how you phrase it. This episode begins with a discussion on the best ways to ask people, so they respond the way you want and do things you want them to. http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/09/persuasive-techniques-that-actually-work.html Every day you are presented with problems. According to my guest Marie Forleo, all those problems can be solved with the right attitude and the right ...
Oct 16, 2021•49 min•Ep. 643
Passwords are a real pain. If it is too random, you can’t remember. If you it too easy, you could easily be hacked. So this episode begins with a simple formula to create a new password that you will remember and no one else will ever guess. Source: Eran Katz author of Where Did Noah Park The Ark (https://amzn.to/3at5fmx). When you are asked to make a choice, your decision on what to choose is influenced by so many things including how the options are presented to you, who is presenting them and...
Oct 14, 2021•55 min•Ep. 642
Taking a daily multivitamin seems like it might be good insurance - but is it? This episode begins with a discussion about what taking a multivitamin does or does not do for you or your kids. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/releases/2009/02/multivitamins.html With online dating and all the dating apps, it would seem that dating should be a lot easier. After all, you can meet an endless number of people you would never meet otherwise. Is online dating a great way to meet people? Or is the old-f...
Oct 11, 2021•53 min•Ep. 641
I’ll bet there have been times when someone has offered to help you and you declined. You probably said something like, “No, that’s ok I got it.”? Well, why say that? Why we are so reluctant to ask other people for help when we likely could use it? This episode begins with a discussion on why asking for help is hard and yet it is one of the smartest things you will ever do. http://rd.com/advice/relationships/phrases-make-people-trust/ Your Life is ruled by chance and probability. Yet how much do...
Oct 09, 2021•50 min•Ep. 640
Can you actually get sick from being sad? Can prolonged sadness shorten your lifespan? A lot of people think so. This episode begins by looking at the scientific link between sadness and health. http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-12-08-happiness-and-unhappiness-have-no-direct-effect-mortality It would be great if people noticed how competent you are on their own. But that rarely happens. If you want to be seen as confident and competent you have to project that image out to the world. Listen as I spe...
Oct 07, 2021•47 min•Ep. 639
It’s called The Pink Tax. It’s when the women’s version of a product (like razors) costs more than men’s even though it is exactly the same - except maybe the packaging and the color. It happens with a lot of products from toys to clothes - to razors.. This episode begins with an explanation of which women’s products cost more and why it might be better to buy the men’s version. https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_all-about-america_does-pink-tax-force-women-pay-more-men/6177789.html People like to mov...
Oct 04, 2021•52 min•Ep. 638
Can your employer boss spy on you? You bet they can! This episode begins by explaining just how far an employer can go to keep tabs on you and what you are up to. http://workrights.us/ Do you have a lot of self-confidence? Could you use a little more? We probably all could and Lana Otoya author of The Mindset of Self Confidence: Why Self Confidence Has Nothing to Do with Speaking Up or Standing Straight (https://amzn.to/2yKXqWu) joins me to explain how self-confidence works, what it is and how t...
Oct 02, 2021•49 min•Ep. 637
The #2 pencil is the one most of us use most of the time. So, why not a #1 pencil? Is there even such a thing? This episode begins with some remarkable facts about the humble pencil such as why we prefer #2 pencils, how many words the average pencil will write, why the vast majority of pencils are yellow and more. https://www.straightdope.com/21343238/how-come-you-see-2-pencils-but-no-1-pencils Watch the news and you will often see a story about someone who “snapped.” Whether it’s road rage or w...
Sep 30, 2021•55 min•Ep. 636
Jet lag can cause a trip to get off to a tough start. This episode begins with some simple and effective ways to minimize the effects of jet lag so your trip can get good, right from the start. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/jet-lag-remedies Despite all the advances in health and medicine, one thing that has gotten substantially worse is the overweight and obesity problem. Why is it that in the 21st century, so many people make food choices that cause them to be gain weight and b...
Sep 27, 2021•49 min•Ep. 635
I bet everyone has flushed the toilet with their foot to avoid the germs on the handle. I know I have and it turns out to be one of many well-intentioned but flawed techniques to steer clear of germs lurking in nasty places. This episode begins with some ways people try to avoid germs that fail and better ways instead. http://www.menshealth.com/health/things-that-do-not-protect-from-germs/slide/2 Smart people often do stupid things. I bet you have done dumb things and you KNOW you should have kn...
Sep 25, 2021•47 min•Ep. 634
“You’re call is very important to us…” Don’t you just hate hearing that? Having to call customer service can be a long and frustrating experience. So, this episode begins by discussing how to make that experience a little bit smoother. https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/customer-service-tips If you didn’t experience pain, would you appreciate pleasure as much? Do humans actually want and need pain? It’s a fascinating topic that Leigh Cowart has explored. She has put herself thr...
Sep 23, 2021•54 min•Ep. 633
What is the purpose of that ball of cotton in your bottle of pills? You probably think you know but I bet you don’t. This episode begins with an explanation of why that cotton is in there and what you should do with it. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-huge-cotton-ball-comes-pill-bottles-medicine-health-pharmacy-prescription-2017-5 I am sure you have wanted to ask someone to do something for you but felt reluctant. It seems we hate to ask people for things. Even when we do, we often say, “Gee...
Sep 20, 2021•50 min•Ep. 632
How could using reusable grocery bags affect your body? f you take your own bags to the grocery store, there may be an unintended health consequence – and it’s not good. Listen as this episode begins by revealing what happens to some people who use reusable grocery bags. https://grist.org/food/are-your-reusable-grocery-bags-making-you-fat/ Every driver has a real impact on the flow of traffic according to Tom Vanderbilt, author of the book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says Abo...
Sep 18, 2021•40 min•Ep. 631
You make a countless number of decisions every single day, from what to have for breakfast to what toothpaste to buy. This episode begins with a discussion on how humans make decisions and choices and how to recognize which ones you are probably spending too much time worrying about. https://fs.blog/2014/09/the-history-of-cognitive-overload We all spend a good portion of most days in conversations with other people. Yet, we seldom really understand what goes on “under the radar” in those convers...
Sep 16, 2021•51 min•Ep. 630
Have you ever felt that urge to snoop or eavesdrop on someone? Actually, everyone does it. This episode begins with a brief discussion on why humans and most other creatures eavesdrop and the purpose it serves. Source: John Locke author of the book Eavesdropping (https://amzn.to/3l7rIud) When you think about all the tasks you do throughout the day, there are probably some you could do better, easier and more efficiently. So, Erin Ruddy interviewed some top experts to find out how for her book, T...
Sep 13, 2021•53 min•Ep. 629
