The room where you work, whether that’s at home or in an office, should probably be 77 degrees. Why? This episode begins with an explanation of why 77 degrees is the perfect working temperature. https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/Pages/toohottoocold.aspx This is the time of year when people tend to set new goals for themselves. The process of how you set them can have a big impact on whether or not you actually achieve them, according to Michael Bungay Stanier. Often described as one of ...
Jan 10, 2022•51 min•Ep. 680
As admirable as it is to set a New Year’s resolution, the chances of sticking to it in the long term are slim. However, you can improve your odds of success. This episode begins with a strategy to help make life changes really stick. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-years-resolutionspsychology_us_5862d599e4b0d9a59459654c Although you have heard of your biological clock, there is a good chance you don’t really understand how it all works. Dr. Emily Manoogian is a post-doctoral fellow at th...
Jan 08, 2022•49 min•Ep. 679
Did you know that the scent of lavender is supposed to be calming? It may be the scent of trust, as well. This episode begins by explaining how lavender can make you appear to be more trustworthy – and why it works. http://rd.com/advice/relationships/habits-make-people-trust/ Who doesn’t have things to do that never seem to get done? We all have trips we want to take or goals we want to accomplish but we never seem to get around to doing them. So why is that? Sam Horn author of the book Someday ...
Jan 06, 2022•50 min•Ep. 678
Ever catch a glimpse of your computer screen in just the right light and see just how dusty and filthy it has become? So how do you clean it? Before you reach for window cleaner and a paper towel, listen to the beginning of this episode for the right way to clean off a monitor without causing damage. https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-clean-a-computer-screen/ You already know that physical exercise is good for your health. Today you will hear how simply moving your body can do wonders for your mi...
Jan 03, 2022•53 min•Ep. 677
We all know driving while distracted is a bad idea - particularly driving and texting. In fact, distracted driving is more complicated than you might imagine. This episode begins with some fascinating research that shows that there is a residual effect when you get distracted that can adversely affect your driving for a long time. https://unews.utah.edu/up-to-27-seconds-of-inattention-after-talking-to-your-car-or-smart-phone/ We’ve all made really stupid mistakes. What if I told you that you cou...
Jan 01, 2022•41 min•Ep. 676
Isn’t it great when you get one of those “A-Ha Moments”. You know, when an idea or the answer to a problem just pops in your head and it feels just perfect. But is it? We begin this episode by exploring whether those thoughts you have during an A-Ha moment are really valid and magical or not. to. http://drexel.edu/now/archive/2016/March/Insight_Correctness/ There are a lot of slogans and clichés about success. For example, “It’s not what you know it’s who you know” or “Nice guys finish last.” Th...
Dec 30, 2021•48 min•Ep. 675
Ask just about anyone and they will tell you that antioxidants are really good for you. In fact, some people take antioxidant supplements probably assuming that if they are good for you - then taking even more is even better. Is it? We begin this episode with a look at antioxidants, what they do and when too much of them may be a bad thing. https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2013/03/09/do-you-really-need-antioxidants You probably like to think you are smart. And maybe...
Dec 27, 2021•46 min•Ep. 674
Want to look younger - dramatically younger? I begin this episode with 3 simple ways that change how people perceive you. If you do these things, you will instantly appear younger than your actual age. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21895379 Human beings are born to be hopeful. If you interact with any 2-year-old and you will see and hear nothing but hope in what they say and do. Yet as adults we sometimes lose hope. And that's never good. This holiday season, I want to share with you a con...
Dec 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 673
We all know how easy it is to overspend when we go shopping. Plus, it is no secret that retailers do everything they can to encourage you to spend even more while you are in the store. This episode begins with some strategies to help you spend a bit less and avoid those impulse purchases that you often wish you hadn’t made once you get home. http://www.womansday.com/life/work-money/g1877/how-to-stop-impulse-buying/ Why do people kiss under the mistletoe? Why do we drag evergreen trees into our h...
Dec 23, 2021•47 min•Ep. 672
Remember a few years ago when people were saying, “Sitting is the new smoking”? Seriously, what could possibly be so bad about sitting? This episode begins by explaining the problem and what you can do to counter the effects of too much sitting. http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/10/tv.heart.health/ Something has shifted over the last few generations. It used to be that kids looked forward to growing up, becoming an adult and leaving home. Yet, many young people today dread the thought. Why? Appa...
Dec 20, 2021•53 min•Ep. 671
For many of us, the Christmas holiday season is very special. Yet, there was a time in the United States when it was illegal to celebrate Christmas. The episode begins with an explanation of when and why Christmas was outlawed. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2972/surprising-christmas-facts/?slide=25 A big part of the image you present to people is from your voice and the way you speak. Yet, a lot of people don’t like their voice and wish it sounded better or different...
Dec 18, 2021•50 min•Ep. 670
Why do people sometimes choke when they swallow? Is it really because it went down “the wrong pipe”? This episode begins with an interesting look at what swallowing is all about and why sometimes thing go wrong. Source: Joel Herskowitz, author of Swallow Safely (https://amzn.to/3pXFjqv) You probably think that having fun is something you do after the hard work is done. Fun is a reward, not a necessity. Yet, there is some solid evidence that having fun is good for you. In fact, making it a priori...
Dec 16, 2021•52 min•Ep. 669
Which is better at stopping a cough - cough syrup with codeine or chocolate? This episode begins with some surprising intel on what works to stop that nagging urge to cough. https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/chocolate-can-fight-coughs-better-than-some-cold-medicine/ What’s your favorite Christmas movie? Could it be White Christmas or It’s a Wonderful Life or maybe Home Alone? Well, whatever it is, it will likely come up in my conversation with film historian Jeremy Arnold. Jeremy teamed up wit...
Dec 13, 2021•52 min•Ep. 668
If I asked you, could you tell me where your main water shutoff valve is for your home? Do you leave your garage door opener in your car? These are just a couple of important questions you should ask yourself. This episode begins by answering those and other questions and answers you really need to know. https://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/things-every-homeowner-must-know/ As sincere as you think you are, most of the smiles you make throughout the day are fake ones. That’s just one of...
Dec 11, 2021•48 min•Ep. 667
Have you heard of “touch starvation”? It’s a real thing that happens when you don’t have the skin-to-skin physical contact with others that you need or that you are used to. This episode begins with a brief discussion about how the pandemic has deprived people of touch and why we need to be aware of it. https://www.webmd.com/balance/touch-starvation What can you do to live as long a life as possible? That is what biologist and science writer Andrew Steele set out to discover. And what he found i...
Dec 09, 2021•54 min•Ep. 666
How many times have you opened up a new box with electronics or shoes or maybe even some beef jerky and found one of those silica gel packs? If you look closely, they usually have warnings not to eat them - that doing so could be hazardous to your health. So, what exactly would happen if you did eat one of them? Just how dangerous are they? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-to-know-silica-gel For a few centuries now, humans have been interact...
Dec 06, 2021•54 min•Ep. 665
People often listen to music while they are working because they believe it helps concentrate and possibly makes them more productive. Does it? This episode begins by exploring which, if any kind of music can help your concentration and productivity. https://www.businessinsider.com/10-minute-trick-to-boost-your-productivity-2016-1 Are you suggestible? Could you be hypnotized into believing something that isn’t really true? What about placebos? If I tell you a sugar pill will cure your headache, ...
Dec 04, 2021•45 min•Ep. 664
Something is probably missing in your old holiday photos. In fact, the older you get, the more you notice what’s not in them and you really regret it. This episode begins with that missing ingredient in your older pictures and advice on how to make sure you don’t make the same mistake with your holiday photos from now on. Source: Cheryl Lightle author of “The Creative Memories Way: https://amzn.to/3riziqL It’s a pretty universal problem - you start something but never finish. I bet it has happen...
Dec 02, 2021•49 min•Ep. 663
Why do people kiss under the mistletoe? When did that all start? This episode begins with a brief history of the mistletoe-kissing tradition. https://ourcommunitynow.com/local-culture/the-myth-behind-the-mistletoe You have never heard a discussion about pride, gratitude and compassion like this one. Psychology professor David Desteno of Northeastern University joins me to explain how these three emotions can fuel your personal and business success as well as create better relationships. We seldo...
Nov 29, 2021•50 min•Ep. 662
Want to know if someone you like is truly compatible with you? Check out their taste in music. This episode begins with an interesting look at how your taste in music can have a big impact on who you are attracted to and who may be attracted to you. Turns out you can tell a lot about someone by the tunes they listen to. http://www.medindia.net/news/Music-Predicts-Sexual-Attraction-80223-1.htm I often urge you to tell other people about this podcast because word-of-mouth marketing is considered t...
Nov 27, 2021•51 min•Ep. 661
Ever talk to someone who is looking at their phone and they act as if they don’t even hear you? This episode explains why that happens so often and why that is likely not the best time to try to talk to someone. https://www.yahoo.com/health/weird-way-looking-phone-mess-195042844.html You’ve heard those phrases like, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or “Everyone deserves a second chance" or “Think outside the box.” It may be time to rethink these common conventio...
Nov 25, 2021•47 min•Ep. 660
Most of us have heard the poinsettia plants are poisonous to people and pets. How poisonous? Will eating leaves from a poinsettia kill you? Will it make you sick? Do you even need to be worried? This episode begins with some interesting facts about just how dangerous poinsettias are. https://www.stranges.com/are-poinsettias-poisonous/ Human instincts are what have helped us to survive. Yet, some of those instincts are not so practical in today’s modern world according to evolutionary biologist D...
Nov 22, 2021•55 min•Ep. 659
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
