With today’s gas prices, you want to make every gallon count. So perhaps you’ve wondered if you should stop your engine at a railroad crossing or if you are in the drive-thru line at a takeout place for just a minute. Listen to the beginning of this episode and I’ll give you the answer. https://slate.com/technology/2008/05/is-it-more-efficient-to-leave-your-car-idling.html Sometimes your own thoughts can ruin your day. Thoughts can become toxic and distort your perception of the world and interf...
Jun 11, 2022•50 min•Ep. 745
About one in ten people claim to be allergic to penicillin. Interestingly, while they may think they are – many of them are not. How can this be? This episode begins with an explanation of how this can be. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-you-really-have-a-penicillin-allergy-2019022616017 Distractions are everywhere. People are always complaining about the distractions in their lives. So how do you not give in to temptation and stay focused on what’s important? Joining me to offer some rea...
Jun 09, 2022•52 min•Ep. 744
I’ve always thought it was odd that it is called “plastic” surgery. What’s even stranger is that the term goes back over 200 years – long before what we know as plastic was really a thing. This episode begins with an explanation that all makes sense once you hear it. Source: Lindsey Fitzharris author of The Face Maker (https://amzn.to/3x3IP69). When you hear the word evil, you know what it means – but what is evil really? Is it a sinister force? Is it an unexplainable phenomenon? What makes a pe...
Jun 06, 2022•50 min•Ep. 743
No one likes getting those annoying robocalls. This episode begins with a simple way to stop robocalls for free – and it really works. In fact it is so effective, it won a contest held by the Federal Trade Commission looking for the best way to stop robocalls. Source: Interview with Aaron Foss founder of www.Nomorobo.com Everyone breathes. However, we don’t all breathe correctly. It turns out that when you DO breathe the right way, amazing things can happen according to journalist James Nestor, ...
Jun 04, 2022•52 min•Ep. 742
Everyone snoops and eavesdrops. . It’s part of being human. This episode begins with a discussion on eavesdropping and snooping and why it is so hard to resist and what purpose it serves. ( Source: John L. Locke author of Eavesdropping (https://amzn.to/2O7an63) Financial advice often begins with the admonition that you need to stop spending so much - no more credit cards, save more - spend less, you know the drill. Maybe that is the is the wrong way to look at it. Maybe you should spend even mor...
Jun 02, 2022•49 min•Ep. 741
Did you know Memorial Day wasn’t declared a national Holiday until 1971? And it wasn’t always called Memorial Day either. Those are just a few of the interesting facts this episode starts with as we look at this uniquely American holiday and day of remembrance. https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/memorial-day-2022-facts-american-holiday A few years ago, we had Brian Little on as a guest. Brian is one of the leading researchers on the science of personality which I find particularly fascinating. I ...
May 30, 2022•47 min•Ep. 740
When you get a fever, what should you do? Some people say you should take medicine to knock it down – some say to leave it alone and let it run its course. Who’s right? This episode begins with an expert answer to that question. http://www.menshealth.com/health/clean-up-your-health-routine When you’re hungry - you’re hungry. Right? Not exactly. While you may think hunger is one thing, there is evidence to show that we have several different kinds of hungers – 5 actually. Stephen Simpson has stud...
May 28, 2022•47 min•Ep. 739
It seems that no matter how much water you drink, someone is always telling you to drink more. They may be right. It does seem that staying hydrated is good for you. This episode begins with an explanation of the benefits of drinking more water - both physical and mental. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/17435/why-drink-water-how-water-and-health-are-connected/ Everyone seems more stressed out than ever before. People sometimes even brag about how stressful their lives are. Yet stress can caus...
May 26, 2022•49 min•Ep. 738
For some reason, dogs seem to love to hang their head out the car window when it’s moving. Why do they do that? And is it a good idea to let them do that? This episode begins with an explanation of what dogs get out of the experience and what you should do as the dog’s owner. https://www.metlifepetinsurance.com/blog/pet-behavior/should-my-dog-hang-their-head-out-of-a-car-window/ Imagine where we would be without modern surgery. Many of us wouldn’t be here, actually. The history of surgery is rem...
May 23, 2022•51 min•Ep. 737
People say they are attracted to people who make them laugh and have a good sense of humor. But it is a bit more complicated than that. It is true that humor can bring people together, but it can also pull them apart. This episode begins with an explanation about humor and couples. https://www.theknot.com/content/couples-who-share-sense-of-humor-study When someone asks you for advice, you likely give it. After all, they asked. However, you may be better off by keeping quiet and withholding your ...
May 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 736
Do you know the difference between ice cream, gelato, soft-serve, frozen yogurt and sorbet? This episode begins by explaining what they all are and how they are different from each other. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/differences-between-ice-cream-gelato-frozen-yogurt-sherbet Pay attention! Stay focused. Do one thing at a time. We have all been told these things yet now more than ever, distractions are everywhere. So how exactly do you keep your attention focused? Is it really necessary? ...
May 19, 2022•51 min•Ep. 735
Two of the biggest problems facing the world today are hunger and food waste. So, what if you created a business that tackled both problems in a way that one helped solve the other? That’s exactly what Jasmine Crowe did. Listen to this wonderful story about a woman who went from cooking meals in her kitchen to help hungry people in Atlanta to founding Goodr. (https://goodr.co). Today Jasmine is not only helping feed hungry people all over the country but is tackling the problem of food waste in ...
May 18, 2022•10 min
Don’t you hate it when a doctor makes you wait well past your appointment time? Why do they do that? Should you complain? What’s a reasonable amount of time to wait before you say something? This episode begins with some interesting insight into the problem and what you should do to make sure the doctor understands your time is valuable. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/ppatients-switched-doctors-long-wait-times-vitals# How effective is peer pressure? Are we really influenced by the pe...
May 16, 2022•50 min•Ep. 734
Does a full moon really bring out craziness in people? Does it cause more car accidents and hospital admissions? This episode begins with a look at whether or not the moon really affects human behavior – or at least why so many people believe it does. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/stop-blaming-the-moon-says-ucla-scientist Being happy is a big goal for almost everyone. And finding it is often a struggle. Joining me with some insight and science regarding how we can all be happier is Tim Bono,...
May 14, 2022•52 min•Ep. 733
This is a special bonus episode that is part of the Dell PodFerence 2022… Everyone has been in a situation where your phone was running out of power, there was no place to charge it and you really needed to have it NOT DIE! Listen to this great story about an ambitious 23-year old entrepreneur who saw this universal problem and created a great opportunity. Hugo Tilomuth created a company in Great Britain called ChargedUp that directly addressed the problem of dying phones needing a charged. His ...
May 13, 2022•11 min
If you wear a certain fragrance, people will perceive you as 12 pounds thinner. That’s just one of many fascinating things I discuss about your sense of smell in the first segment of this episode. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/scents We are all learning all the time. But have you ever thought about HOW you learn? Maybe you can learn better if you did it differently. One person who has thoroughly researched the topic of learning is Scott Young, author of the book UltraLearning: Master Hard ...
May 12, 2022•47 min•Ep. 732
Every now and then you see someone being interviewed on television who has reached 100 years old - or older and claims to have smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey their whole life. Yet other people do all the right things and die young. This episode begins with and examination and explanation of this odd phenomenon and tells you what your odds are of living to 100 on the cigarette and whiskey diet. Source: Dr. Robert Butler author of The Longevity Prescription (https://amzn.to/392khSV) I’m sure ...
May 09, 2022•52 min•Ep. 731
What you smell can have a really interesting effect on you. Smells can make you happy, improve concentration and even boost your energy. This episode begins with an explanation of which scents do what to you. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/26/scents-and-wellbeing_n_5193609.html The thought of negotiation can turn some people off. IF you are one of those people, then you will love this. Alexandra Carter is an expert at negotiation and her approach is easy to understand and simple to execut...
May 07, 2022•53 min•Ep. 730
Holding on to a grudge can feel righteous. After all, you’ve been wronged. You are entitled to hold that grudge. However, there are a lot more reasons - and better ones - to let that grudge go. This episode begins with an explanation and a great quote to remember about grudges. Source: Judith Kuriansky author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship (https://amzn.to/3KQEetb) So many things can alter your thinking in ways you don’t realize. For example, the human brain has trouble ...
May 05, 2022•50 min•Ep. 729
Shoes can be dangerous - especially if they have big heels. This episode begins by looking at the long history of trouble caused by high heels and other interesting facts about women’s shoes. https://reut.rs/3rXNqoR & https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150521120924.htm Think about all the choices you have made based solely on your gut. Most likely that list includes things like; what career path to take, who to marry, how best to be happy and other life-changing choices. Yet, for ...
May 02, 2022•54 min•Ep. 728
Spring is when birds build nests and lay eggs all over the place. And you have probably heard that if a baby bird falls out of the nest you shouldn’t put it back because the mother will abandon the baby. Is that true? Listen to hear the surprising answer. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2287/if-you-handle-baby-birds-will-their-parents-shun-them Who hasn’t thought how great it would be to be a successful entrepreneur? However, it takes a certain kind of person to handle the ups and downs...
Apr 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 727
How many times have you heard that - “We live in a fast-paced world?” Yet, in many ways we set that pace for ourselves. We like to do things quickly. So, this episode begins with a look at things that would go a lot better for all of us if we just slowed down a little. Source, Debbie Mandel, author of “Addicted to Stress” https://amzn.to/3v9JpzD Politics has gotten downright nasty. It seems people on opposite sides of a political issue can’t have a civil discussion about their differences anymor...
Apr 28, 2022•53 min•Ep. 726
How many hours of sleep do you need? Some people claim they can do just fine with 4 or 5 hours. Can they really? This episode begins with a look at what happens when people don’t get a full 8 hours of sleep. https://lifehacker.com/how-many-hours-of-sleep-do-you-really-need-5802650 While most people would agree that creativity is a wonderful human attribute, the fact is creativity isn’t always good. It is sometimes evil and destructive - in fact it often is. Still, humans are born to create. Join...
Apr 25, 2022•51 min•Ep. 725
Have you heard of dooring? It is a bicyclist’s nightmare. Dooring is when someone in a car along the side of the road opens the door just as you ride by on your bicycle and – WHAM! It happens a lot more people than you might think – and it probably ALMOST happens even more. There is an interesting way to prevent it that comes from the Netherlands. Listen and find out what it is. https://www.rd.com/article/open-car-door-right-hand/ Have you ever wondered the name of the person who discovered fire...
Apr 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 724
As the weather gets warmer, people wear flip flops. While they may be easy and convenient, there are some problems with flip flops. This episode begins with some advice if flip flops are part of your warm weather wardrobe. https://abc7.com/archive/6266861/ Being a perfectionist may seem like a good thing. After all, if you are going to do something, why not do it right? Still, striving for perfection may not be wise in a world where “good enough” is just fine in many cases. Joining me to discuss...
Apr 21, 2022•49 min•Ep. 723
Who you hang out with can affect your health. This episode begins with some interesting research from Gallup about the impact your friends can have on you - both positive and negative. Source: Tom Rath author of Well Being (https://amzn.to/3EekZb7) We all feel stuck at some point in life. Maybe you are stuck in a job or a relationship - or you just feel stuck in general. So how do you get unstuck? Well, there are some good ways and some bad ways. Here to explain what works and what doesn’t and h...
Apr 18, 2022•53 min•Ep. 722
Every year a lot of pedestrians crossing the street get hit by cars and trucks. If you are often a pedestrian walking the streets, there is one technique that will drastically reduce your risk of getting hit. This episode begins with that simple technique that could save your life. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-key-to-crossing-the-street-safely-eye-contact-1427734205 I hate to tell you this but you are eating a lot of plastic. You may think you aren’t - but you are. Consumer Reports has taken ...
Apr 16, 2022•54 min•Ep. 721
If Easter is a Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ, how did the Easter Bunny become part of it? This episode begins by explaining where rabbits fit into Easter and where the Easter basket came from. Source: The History of Easter https://www.phancypages.com/newsletter/ZNewsletter2599.htm How the human body works is a marvel. Joining me to explain and take us on a tour of parts of the human body is Dr. Jonathan Resiman, a doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics and he is author ...
Apr 14, 2022•55 min•Ep. 720
Your freezer has an ice maker and your ice maker - believe it or not - has a heater. This episode begins with an explanation of why your ice maker has a heater in the first place and how it is costing you more money than you might imagine.https://lifehacker.com/save-some-energy-and-money-by-turning-off-your-ice-ma-5792410 Do you ever wish people would listen to you and take your ideas more seriously? Well, if you want to have more influence over the people in your life, you need to listen to Zoe...
Apr 11, 2022•54 min•Ep. 719
Why do some headaches seem to happen out of the blue? This episode begins with a list of reasons people seldom consider for what could be causing their headache - many of which you would likely never guess. https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/common-headaches-17/mild-moderate/slideshow-headache-triggers Many of us work long hours. It is often a badge of honor. But could working less actually make us more productive and happier? That’s what Celeste Headlee believes. She is a journalist and ...
Apr 09, 2022•55 min•Ep. 718