Have you noticed that when you are working on a problem or trying to come up with a new idea there comes a point of diminishing returns? Then the more you try, the worse it gets. That appears to be true for everyone and there is a sweet spot after which your efforts suffer. This episode begins with a discussion on why this happens and when you should stop trying and do something else instead. https://hbr.org/2014/07/get-your-brain-unstuck When you think of the factors that impact your health, yo...
Aug 29, 2022•47 min•Ep. 779
I have never found over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to be very effective at relieving symptoms and I know a lot of people feel the same. However, research indicates that there is something in your kitchen cupboard that may be more effective and is totally free of side effects. This episode begins with a home remedy that really seems to work. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8641173/Honey-beats-antibiotics-curing-colds-Study-shows-effective-medication.html Most of the time you p...
Aug 27, 2022•49 min•Ep. 778
It’s a good thing you learned math in school. Why? Because when you apply math to pizza, you will realize that there is one size pizza that is almost always a lousy deal. This episode begins with a mathematical formula that will save you real dough on your next pizza order. http://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-alwaysb-1784641566 Most of us probably wish we were a bit better at being organized so that we could prioritize tasks and do things more efficiently. Fortun...
Aug 25, 2022•50 min•Ep. 777
Have you ever thought your relationship with your cellphone was a bit over the top? This episode begins with a look at how Americans use their cellphone, how often they check it, where they use it, how they use it and how they feel if they don’t have it. Then you can see where you fit in with everyone else. https://www.reviews.org/mobile/cell-phone-addiction/ There is an assumption that the reason people are overweight is that they eat too much food. That the obesity problem could be solved if o...
Aug 22, 2022•51 min•Ep. 776
The typewriter keyboard was invented in the 1800s. Today, the layout of the letters on a computer keyboard is essentially the same as it was back then. Maybe you have wondered why the order of the letters of the QWERTY keyboard hasn’t been changed in all that time. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.cnet.com/news/a-brief-history-of-the-qwerty-keyboard/ You’ve heard of FOMO, right? It stands for “Fear of Missing Out” and it has become part of the language and experience for many...
Aug 20, 2022•55 min•Ep. 775
There is an old adage that "opposites attract." And you do sometimes see couples that seem to prove the point. Still, just how common is it for very different people to be attracted to each other. This episode begins by explaining some research on the topic. http://www.livescience.com/5351-truth-opposites-attract.html How can you tell what someone else is REALLY thinking or what they REALLY want from you? If you know the clues to look for you can get a better idea of what is going on in their he...
Aug 18, 2022•50 min•Ep. 774
Ever have a night where your dreams seem really vivid and maybe even disturbing? This episode begins by looking at the typical causes of really weird and vivid dreams. https://www.livestrong.com/article/13773031-vivid-dreams/ It may be a tough sell in our culture but being humble can actually be a powerful and effective way to build confidence, strengthen relationships and achieve success. That’s according to Daryl R. Van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope College and author ...
Aug 15, 2022•53 min•Ep. 773
Who doesn’t love a barbecue? Still, there are some dangers with outdoor cooking. For instance, when was the last time you really cleaned your grill? If you think the fire burns off all the gunk, think again. I begin this episode by discussing this and other potential problems with cooking outdoors. http://www.menshealth.com/health/5-cookout-mistakes-that-make-you-sick Did you know carrots were not originally orange? Or that expensive weddings are a bad idea? Were you aware that the Mediterranean...
Aug 13, 2022•52 min•Ep. 772
Have you ever noticed how great ideas and solutions often come to you in the shower? This episode begins with an explanation as to why that often happens to so many people. https://www.headspace.com/articles/shower-epiphanies Is love an emotion? Not according to Anna Machin an evolutionary anthropologist at the Department of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, and author of the book Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships (https://amzn.to/3SzC8mp). Anna believes l...
Aug 11, 2022•49 min•Ep. 771
What if you could drink without getting drunk? Or at least feel the effects of alcohol less? One professional beer taster has a way to do it and this episode begins with his technique. And it is really simple.. http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/how-to/a26328/how-not-to-get-drunk/ Processed food has really gotten a bad reputation. But is it fair? Is processed food really that bad? Just because a food has a long list of ingredients or has chemicals you cannot pronounce doesn’t necessarily m...
Aug 08, 2022•52 min•Ep. 770
Your typical meeting involves people sitting in chairs talking. For many meetings, there may be a better way that yields better results. This episode begins by looking at why conducting meetings in an entirely different way can be more productive and rewarding. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/walking-meetingsat-linke_n_7035258.html?utm_hp_ref=business I think it's safe to say that people are generally friendly. And that’s for good reason. Being friendly is an excellent strategy most of ...
Aug 06, 2022•56 min•Ep. 769
Ever get a song in your head but you can’t remember the title? This episode begins with a simple trick using your smartphone that will help identify almost any song. https://lifehacker.com/how-to-identify-any-song-just-by-singing-it-1849039953 Have you ever wondered what makes you different from everybody else? Exactly what is it that makes you the person you have become? That’s the interesting question that Chantel Prat has investigated. Chantel is professor at the University of Washington and ...
Aug 04, 2022•48 min•Ep. 768
How many times did your mother tell you not to swim for half an hour after you eat or not to scratch a bug bite or don’t touch someone who has poison ivy because you can catch it? There is a lot of that summertime advice flying around. This episode begins by looking at whether this advice is true or not. https://www.silive.com/healthfit/2012/07/summer_myths_debunked.html There is something called toxic positivity. It is the idea that we should always look on the bright side, be happy, everything...
Aug 01, 2022•51 min•Ep. 767
Water is amazing. Drink it and it keeps you alive. But did you know that drinking water can also make you smarter? This episode begins by explaining why that is and you may find the answer quite surprising. https://becausewater.com/7-reasons-staying-hydrated-makes-smarter/ Anyone can count. It is one of the first things children learn to do. Yet figuring out how to count took a long time and involved a lot of differing theories about math and numbers. Marcus du Sautoy is professor of mathematics...
Jul 30, 2022•48 min•Ep. 766
Seems like there is always new research coming out about the benefits of coffee. This episode begins with another one – and maybe one you haven’t heard before. You just need to drink 3 cups a day – or more. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/food/can-your-coffee-habit-help-protect-you-skin-cancer Probably everyone has been witness to a bully or some other inappropriate behavior and didn’t intervene. And later regretted it. It’s called “The Bystander Effect.” Why don’t people step in and cal...
Jul 28, 2022•52 min•Ep. 765
You have likely heard people say that having a dog is good for you. Usually, dog lovers say that. So exactly how good is good? Do dogs really improve your health and well-being? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/ Shopping malls are an American institution. For decades they have been popular places to shop, eat, go to the movies and just hang out. But are their days numbered? Is the shopping mall a dinosaur today due...
Jul 25, 2022•52 min•Ep. 764
If you took driver’s education, you probably remember being told to keep your hands at 10:00 o’clock and 2:00 o’clock on the steering wheel. That may have been some really bad advice. We begin this episode with a discussion on the best way to steer your car. http://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/9882/team-oneil-shows-how-to-position-your-hands-on-the-wheel Is it possible to get someone to tell you the truth when they don’t want to? Jack Schafer says it is. As a former FBI agent, he has developed ...
Jul 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 763
You probably hate when people don’t respond to your emails, right? Well, you may be part of the problem. Listen as I explain how this one little mistake in the subject line makes it easy for others to dismiss your emails and how to fix it. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/291896/subject-line-typos-decrease-email-engagementrates.html Why is it that bad things feel bad more than good things feel better? Someone can say 9 wonderful things about you and one negative thing – and you dwel...
Jul 21, 2022•53 min•Ep. 762
The earth is getting warmer and the consequences of that have already begun to impact us all. Today, 6 out of 10 Americans describe themselves as “alarmed” or “concerned” about climate change, according to one recent study. Climate change is a huge global problem and there is likely not going to be a single solution. Joining me to explain and help us all understand the problem and the solutions to climate change is Christoph Gebald. He is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Climeworks. Listen as Christoph ...
Jul 20, 2022•31 min•Ep. 762
Dog owners love it when their dog kisses them on the face. But is it really safe? This episode begins by explaining just how clean a dog’s mouth is and whether you should be so intimate with your pet. https://nypost.com/2022/04/06/your-dogs-kisses-could-contain-deadly-superbug-study-says/ People say they love their car or their house or maybe even a pair of shoes. But is it really love? Maybe, according to Aaron Ahuvia, professor of marketing at the University of Michigan who is considered to be...
Jul 18, 2022•50 min•Ep. 761
Being healthy takes a lot of work. But maybe it doesn’t always have to. This episode begins with some simple yet effective techniques that will help your overall health – and they only take a minute and hardly any effort. http://www.menshealth.com/health/ways-to-be-healthier Why does time only go in one way? Every moment we move forward into the future, but we cannot go back into the past. How come? And what about intelligent life on other planets – and will we ever be able to travel to other pl...
Jul 16, 2022•47 min•Ep. 760
People cry when they are sad – so why do they also cry when they are happy? This episode begins with the explanation for why two opposite emotions can have the same symptom. And what happy occasion actually causes people to cry the most “tears of joy.” (BTW, it’s not weddings). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141111124047.htm Did you know that flavor and taste are not the same thing? In fact, your sense of taste is much more complicated than you imagined and really involves all you...
Jul 14, 2022•46 min•Ep. 759
Why is it that as soon as you get your car washed, a bird will find it and leave a nice big poop on your shiny clean car? Whatever force of nature causes that, you need to get that poop off – fast. Listen as I explain why and how to do it so you don’t cause more damage. https://www.mccarthycollisioncenters.com/blog/8-tips-to-clean-bird-poop-off-car-paint Traveling this summer has been challenging at best. For some travelers it has been downright miserable. High airfares, cancelled flights, unrul...
Jul 11, 2022•53 min•Ep. 758
It seems to be human nature that the more money you have in your wallet, the more likely you are to spend it. And it also turns out that what kind of money is in your wallet influences how much you spend as well. Listen as this episode begins with some interesting psychology that will help you spend less so you keep more of your money. http://www.forbes.com/video/4061993829001/ I bet you have had someone design a logo or brochure or website for you and then when they show you what they did, they...
Jul 09, 2022•53 min•Ep. 757
Nothing ruins a trip like getting car sick. But now there are motion sickness glasses. Do they work? Reader’s Digest tested them out and a lot of people who bought them left reviews. Listen and I’ll tell you what they said. https://www.rd.com/article/motion-sickness-glasses/ How can you be in a relationship and still be an individual? It has always been a tricky balance that has gotten even tougher as we have shifted to a more “It’s-all-about-me” culture. Joining me to discuss this is internatio...
Jul 07, 2022•51 min•Ep. 756
We’ve all seen how dogs sniff each other – and it appears we humans do the same thing. (Not to dogs but to other humans). I begin this episode explaining how people make judgements about others based on how they smell. And it all happens subconsciously. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220627125010.htm Are you resilient? Do you bounce back after facing a big challenge? Can we learn to be more resilient? These are just a few of the things I discuss with with Stephen Magness. He has b...
Jul 04, 2022•53 min•Ep. 755
Ever have a hard time finding your keys or wallet or glasses – or even where you left your car in a parking lot? Why is it so hard to keep track of them? This episode begins with an explanation and some advice to use the next time you can’t find one of those things. http://lifehacker.com/the-two-factors-that-make-you-forgetful-1563418168 Do you know what your DNA is? How does it work and how does it solve crimes? Your DNA is fascinating and if you’ve ever bought one of those DNA test kits, you k...
Jul 02, 2022•52 min•Ep. 754
Do you prefer fresh or frozen fish? Most people would likely choose fresh – but the topic is a bit more complicated than choosing one or the other. A lot of times what you think of as “fresh” fish was once frozen. To start this episode, I unravel the discussion about whether fresh fish is really better – or not. https://www.thespruceeats.com/frozen-fish-better-than-fresh-fish-1300625 What if you could solve problems before they actually happen? That’s why you change the oil in your car. Doing so...
Jun 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 753
We’ve all gotten the word about the importance of sunscreen. But there are several places on your body you are likely to miss when you apply it. This episode begins with an important list of the most likely places you need to make sure NOT to miss. https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/how-to-apply-sunscreen-to-commonly-missed-spots/ What if there was a drug that could give you better health, a longer life, more happiness and more success – would you take it? This drug actually exists accor...
Jun 27, 2022•51 min•Ep. 752
What is it about spicy food that makes some people love it and others avoid it like the plague? This episode begins with an interesting explanation and some helpful facts about hot and spicy food that could come in handy if things get too hot. http://lifehacker.com/how-to-actually-enjoy-the-painful-pleasure-of-spicy-foo-1794616828 How important is it that you do something you love? Must you be passionate about your career to be happy and fulfilled? Some people don’t really have a passion they ca...
Jun 25, 2022•51 min•Ep. 751
