Do you ever turn your phone off? I mean ALL the way off. This episode begins by explaining why it is a good idea to do it and how often you should. https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/tech/should-you-turn-off-your-phone Asking someone for something can be hard. After all, you might not like the answer. Still, as the saying goes, “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” Whether you are asking for a job or for help or money or a favor, asking can be stressful. What if there was a formula to follow that would make...
Jun 05, 2023•51 min•Ep. 899
Back when grocery stores started charging for new plastic bags, there was a concern that using reusable grocery bags could be dangerous because of the germs and bacteria that accumulate in those bags when you use them over and over again. You don’t hear so much about this concern today like you used to. Should you be worried about your reusable grocery bags? This episode begins with an exploration into that. https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-clean-are-your-reusable-shopping-bags-the-truth-...
Jun 03, 2023•52 min•Ep. 898
Everyone has secrets. And that can be a problem. The burden of keeping a secret has a ripple effect in your life you likely don’t realize. This episode begins with an explanation. http://now.tufts.edu/articles/how-burdensome-are-secrets The world of work and career is changing in a lot of interesting ways. More of us are looking for meaning in what we do rather than just climbing the ladder and making money. A lot of people today have more than just one job – sometimes more than two! And there s...
Jun 01, 2023•49 min•Ep. 897
Ever wonder why mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others? I begin this episode by discussing 5 factors that make you so irresistible to those pesky insects. https://theweek.com/articles/462191/5-things-that-make-irresistible-mosquitoes Consumer behavior is a fascinating area of research. While people like to think they make objective decisions about what to buy or not buy, there are a lot of factors that influence those decisions such as description, price, ease of use and many m...
May 29, 2023•49 min•Ep. 896
Ask people what their favorite or lucky number is, and you will get a lot of different answers. But if you ask enough people and you start to notice that one number emerges as the clear winner above the others. This episode begins with that number and why it is so popular. Source: Alex Bellos author of Here’s Looking at Euclid (https://amzn.to/3wgjt3z) We are all afraid of something . Maybe it is spiders or the dark or public speaking. Whatever it is, that creates that feeling of fear in you can...
May 27, 2023•47 min•Ep. 895
Here’s some good advice: SLOW DOWN! This episode begins with a list of things you do every day that you would actually do better if you did them slower. Source: Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress https://amzn.to/45kCGDc Traveling today can be difficult. Still, people like to travel. So, if you are heading off on vacation or taking a trip of any kind, you will enjoy hearing my guest, Patricia Schultz. She is a veteran travel journalist who has accumulated a knowledge base of travel hacks...
May 25, 2023•48 min•Ep. 894
As you know, you can’t tickle yourself. But if you are ticklish, anyone else can tickle you. So why is that? Even if you know someone is about to tickle you, it still tickles. Listen as this episode begins with an explanation of how tickling works. http://www.livescience.com/3882-tickle.html Our culture – in fact the whole world lives on schedule of a 7-day week. Yet, the week is a totally artificial, man-made invention. Other ways of measuring time such as days, hours, months and years are rela...
May 22, 2023•49 min•Ep. 893
When you have a smart phone, you can take pictures of anything, anytime, anywhere. This episode starts with one very simple piece of advice that can make the pictures you take more interesting and more memorable. And it is really, really simple. https://daystarvisions.com/Docs/Tuts/Comp/ Love isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be really hard sometimes. That’s because despite our desire and need for love – we are not especially good at it. Perhaps that is because we are looking for the wrong char...
May 20, 2023•55 min•Ep. 892
Where and when did someone come up with the idea for sunglasses? This episode begins with a brief history that goes way back in time to the very first sunglasses and how our modern-day sunglasses came about not so long ago. http://www.glasseshistory.com/glasses-history/history-of-sunglasses/ You know what wonder is. It’s that feeling you get when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time or a double rainbow or a beautiful sunset. The problem is we tend to lose our sense of wonder over time. St...
May 18, 2023•46 min•Ep. 891
You know that if you don’t drink enough water you get dehydrated. Still, there are other factors that can accelerate dehydration you may not be aware of. This episode begins by explaining what situations can bring this on, even if you think you are taking in plenty of water. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8034255/sneaky-reasons-youre-dehydrated-nothing-to-do-with-water/ We all get stuck in life. Whether it is a job, relationship, a project or just trying to come up with a new idea, it is com...
May 15, 2023•48 min•Ep. 890
Timing is important, especially when it comes to the big life decisions you make. In fact, the time of day you make a big decision matters a lot. This episode begins with an explanation of how timing can impact decisions you make and what is the best time of day to decide anything. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-better-decisions-2016-11 Human beings tend to think they are smarter than they actually are. We also have a tendency to believe things that are simply not true. This is accor...
May 13, 2023•51 min•Ep. 889
“Don’t spoil the ending!” It seems no one wants to know how a story or movie ends until they see it end in real time. But maybe knowing the ending first could make the experience better. Is that possible? Listen and find out. alerts. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/spoiler-alert-spoilers-make-you-enjoy-stories-more Remember when computers and other electronic devices came with huge instruction manuals? Not anymore. Today we expect things to be user-friendly, so we don’t need instruct...
May 11, 2023•51 min•Ep. 888
Drinking coffee in the morning is a pleasant habit for many of us. However, this episode begins by explaining why you might want to smell your coffee as well as drink it to help you think better and be more productive. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6881620/ In many metropolitan areas, parking is the number one land use. The U.S. has 4 parking spaces for every car on the road! So why is it so hard to find a spot when you need one? That is what Henry Grabar is here to explain and di...
May 08, 2023•50 min•Ep. 887
Doctors are supposed to know medical truth from myth. Yet a lot of doctors are misinformed – at least on some things. This episode begins with some information about a survey that showed how many pediatricians believe in some common parenting advice that has been proven to be untrue. Source: Andrew Adesman, M.D. author of Baby Facts (https://amzn.to/3h0oPLw) We all use digital means of communication because it makes it easy to keep in touch with people. Still there are some drawbacks. Often, ema...
May 06, 2023•49 min•Ep. 886
Most cars today are “connected cars.” That means that automakers and vendors can send and receive information directly with your car. Sounds like a great thing. But this episode begins with an explanation on how it can also cause trouble for drivers as well as cost them more money. Source: Automotive journalist Peter Bohr writing in Westways magazine (AAA) Summer 2023 issue. Listen and you will hear some things about your blood and how to take care of it that you have likely never heard before. ...
May 04, 2023•49 min•Ep. 885
Is beginner’s luck a real thing or just some weird occurrence that happens occasionally? This episode starts with a brief explanation of beginner’s luck and why it often isn’t really about luck at all. Source: Sian Beilock author of Choke (https://amzn.to/3Nj53uE) “No one likes a quitter.” “You should finish what you start”. We have somehow allowed this to be drummed into our consciousness - that quitting is bad and that grit and perseverance are good. But now wait a minute! Maybe, in some cases...
May 01, 2023•50 min•Ep. 884
Decent sunglasses are a must. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble. If you doubt that, just ask any eye doctor. We know that ultraviolet light is bad for your eyes – and sunglasses can be a big help but you have to get the right kind of sunglasses. This episode begins with a description of what makes for a decent pair. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/how-to-choose-best-sunglasses You are the person you have always been - right? Actually that’s only partly true. It may seem like you are the ...
Apr 29, 2023•52 min•Ep. 883
Is spring fever a real thing? This episode begins with a brief discussion on what spring fever is, what the symptoms are and if there is a cure. https://www.newswise.com/articles/spring-fever-blossoms-in-warm-weather-but-is-it-a-real-ailment Why do we name generations? We have baby boomers, millennials, Gen Z, Gen X – what is the point of grouping people based solely on when they were born? Well, it turns out that it helps to explain a lot of what is going on in our culture. There are some inter...
Apr 27, 2023•49 min•Ep. 882
People with names that are difficult to pronounce are often discriminated against. It is not intentional necessarily, but it happens. The result can be that you don’t advance personally and professionally as quickly as someone who has a name that is easy to pronounce. This episode begins with a look at this problem and what you can do to help yourself. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-power-of-names Some of the most successful and approachable people you meet, seem to have...
Apr 24, 2023•48 min•Ep. 881
How can too much noise make you less generous? As we have discussed here in the past, noise levels are increasing, and all that noise can have negative effects on your health as well as your happiness. This episode starts by explaining the negative impact of too much noise and what you can do to protect yourself. https://www.sehn.org/sehn/noise-pollution-takes-toll-on-health-and-happiness-everyday-noise-can-overstimulate-the-bodys-stress-response What is the best way to achieve a big goal? Peopl...
Apr 22, 2023•49 min•Ep. 880
“Never cry at work!” has been common, long-standing advice for employees. Still, people DO cry at work sometimes – so what do other people think of those people? This episode begins with how people perceive their colleagues when they see them crying on the job. https://time.com/4513209/cry-crying-at-work-tears/ Some people are just more persuasive than others. If you would like to be one of those more persuasive people, listen to my guest Brian Ahearn. Brian Ahearn is here to talk about how to a...
Apr 20, 2023•50 min•Ep. 879
It is hard to get through life without writing things down on a yellow legal pad. You probably have some of those writing pads in your home right now. So, why are they yellow? And what makes them “legal”? Listen as I start this episode with the story. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30325/why-are-legal-pads-yellow You probably take your five senses for granted. That’s about to change when you hear my discussion with Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen had an experience in a doctor’s office that caused ...
Apr 17, 2023•51 min•Ep. 878
If you want to be happy, it helps that you have happy friends. And it helps even more if your friends’ friends are happy too. I begin this episode discussing how social connections can influence our health and happiness. Source: Tom Rath author of Well Being (https://amzn.to/3xcMYUM) You probably think you know what your physical limits are. For example, when you exercise, you know when to stop because you “hit the wall.” Actually though, that may not be such a good indicator. You could likely d...
Apr 15, 2023•51 min•Ep. 877
There is likely something you are worried about right now. After all, humans worry. This episode begins with some good news for you regarding whatever it is you are worried about https://www.huffpost.com/entry/85-of-what-we-worry-about_b_8028368 It is easy to find advice on how to be successful. The problem is one size does not fit all. For you to be successful and creative in what you do, you have to find what works for you. That is why Ozan Varol is here. Ozan has some interesting insight into...
Apr 13, 2023•53 min
You would have a hard time finding someone who doesn’t like the smell of freshly cut grass. In fact, some people love that scent. Why? What’s so special about it? This episode begins with an explanation why it is so universally loved and why that scent may actually be good for you. https://www.prevention.com/life/a20432070/spending-time-outside-relieves-stress/ Whether it is a warm hug, a simple handshake or a passionate embrace, when people touch each other, something special happens. What is i...
Apr 10, 2023•50 min•Ep. 875
Music can affect us in lots of ways. You may not know that the music playing in a store can impact your spending behavior. This episode begins by looking at how different types of music can steer you to spend more or less. https://www.psychologistworld.com/behavior/ambient-music-retail-psychological-arousal-customers Finding true love can be tricky. Sometimes it seems impossible. Here to the rescue is behavioral scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury. She has the latest research on what will an...
Apr 08, 2023•52 min•Ep. 874
There is an art and science to flattery This episode starts with a look at how powerful it can be if you know how to give and take a compliment and offers advice on how to execute a great compliment. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202109/the-psychology-compliments-nice-word-goes-long-way Americans buy a lot of cheap crap. Knick-knacks, souvenirs, gadgets and who knows what else. What is the lure of this cheap crap? Why are our closets and drawers full of it? That t...
Apr 06, 2023•52 min•Ep. 873
Are you a doodler like me? I often doodle when I listen to a talk or a presentation – even when I interview people for the podcast. And it seems there is a real benefit when you doodle. This episode begins with the explanation. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-the-doodle-improve-your-focus-and-memory-1406675744 You may be looking at exercise all wrong. Health and fitness may be less about going to the gym for an hour or other formal exercise and more about fitting more movement into you...
Apr 03, 2023•47 min•Ep. 872
Using a public bathroom is usually not the highlight of your day. However, when it comes to choosing which stall or urinal to use, there is a way to minimize your potential exposure to germs and bacteria. I begin this episode by telling you which one you should choose – and if that one is taken, what should be your second choice. https://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/a58568/cleanest-bathroom-stall/ Sure, we’ve all heard how amazing the human brain is. Yet, it actually is rather lousy...
Apr 01, 2023•49 min•Ep. 871
How can the clothes you wear influence your personality? You will be surprised to discover how different clothes and different colors change the way you act, the way others perceive you and even how you perceive yourself. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/clothes-and-self-perception.html There are all kinds of popular musical genres from rock, country, hip-hop, dance R&B, pop and more. And all that music came from somewhere. If you are a music lover you will want to hear the stories Kel...
Mar 30, 2023•52 min•Ep. 870
