Watch a couple hold hands as they stroll own the road. It often seems cute and quaint. But it is more than that. Holding hands has some real benefits. Even monkeys know this. Listen as I explain. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/fashion/05hands.html You probably like to think you are pretty good at reading people – right? As you talk with someone, you probably think you can generally tell what they are thinking or where their head is at. Well, what if I told you were not as good as you think y...
Oct 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1110
When someone first sees you, what impression do they get? What image do you project? It’s important to think about this if you want to be persuasive. This episode begins by looking at how people judge you, your ideas, opinions and recommendations. And so much of it has to do with who you present yourself to be. Source: Robert Mayer author of the book Power Plays (https://amzn.to/3BWHKzy). Do you ever wish you were better at setting boundaries with others? If you can accomplish it, the benefits a...
Oct 05, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1109
“You should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day!” Well, wait a second. That advice is about 80 years old and frankly doesn’t really “hold water.” This episode begins by explaining how much water you really should drink and how some people might actually be drinking too much. https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/medical-myths-drink-8-glasses-water-each-day Every cell in your body apparently has a little clock built into it. These clocks know when you should sleep, when you should get...
Oct 03, 2024•48 min•Ep. 1108
Groceries are expensive. So, if you would like a simple yet effective technique to cut your grocery bill down, listen to the start of this episode to discover exactly how. Source: Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko (https://amzn.to/3ZKjVs6). For decades many of us have looked forward to flying cars, real human-like robots, smart cities, driverless cars and other technologies. Yet, they just never quite seem to get here. Why is that? Well, that is exactly what Nicole Kobie is here to explain an...
Sep 30, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1107
iPhone users have likely noticed that some texts show up in blue and some show up in green. What’s the difference? This episode begins by explaining why that happens and what it means. https://www.rd.com/article/why-are-my-texts-green/ Have you heard the expression “time poverty”? It’s when you have too much to do and never enough time to do it. Why live in time poverty when you can live in “time affluence”. Cassie Holmes is here to tell you how. She is a professor of marketing and behavioral de...
Sep 28, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1106
How is your posture right now? If your shoulders are slouched, you are sending a message to others that you probably don’t want to send. I start this episode by discussing how your posture speaks volumes – good and bad. https://www.jnforensics.com/post/what-the-shoulders-say-about-us Why do dogs seem so picky about where they poop? Can cats tell what you are feeling? Does a goldfish memory last only 3 seconds? While we pet owners love our pets, there is a lot we don’t know or understand. Here to...
Sep 26, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1105
Ever fake a smile? We all do. What harm can it do? Well, it could do you some harm if you are the one doing the faking. Listen as I reveal the downside of faking a smile. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2011/02/22/study-finds-fake-smile-is-bad-for-business/ While modern medicine is responsible for many miraculous things, there are some blind spots – some blunders. For example, the skyrocketing rate of peanut allergies is primarily due to some bad medical science. Same with over prescribing of a...
Sep 23, 2024•54 min•Ep. 1104
What if you could reduce your risk of heart disease by 30% without a lot of effort? After all, it is the number 1 killer in the U.S. This episode begins with this simple little tactic – and by the way, it’s all in your attitude. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-positive-mindset-can-help-your-heart-2019021415999 “Stop overthinking this!” You have either said that to someone or had someone say it to you. Overthinking is that process where you think through an idea or a goal or a career move o...
Sep 21, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1103
We have become much more of a cashless society in the last few years. That turns out to be a good thing because cash is really disgusting. Listen as I explain just how disgusting and you are not going to like it! Source: Elizabeth Scott, author of How to Prevent Food Poisoning https://amzn.to/3XKAvHf Horses are the “Swiss army knife of animals.” They can do so much. Consequently, over the last 5,000 years they have done more to shape our lives and alter human history than any other animal. If it...
Sep 19, 2024•48 min•Ep. 1102
Some very popular drinks turn out to be really bad for your teeth. This episode begins with that list of drinks, what they do to your teeth and some strategies to help you minimize the damage if you are going to drink them. https://news.uthscsa.edu/more-u-s-teeth-susceptible-to-silent-enamel-eating-syndrome/ We are surrounded by gases - oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas, steam. Gases are everywhere. They fill our lungs, power our movement, create stars, and warm our atmosphere. As im...
Sep 16, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1101
My mother was a teacher, and I remember her saying that when you take a test and you don’t know the answer, go with the first answer that comes to your mind or the one that initially seems right. A lot of people believe that – but is it really good advice? This episode begins with the evidence that proves or disproves this theory. https://www.spring.org.uk/2012/02/multiple-choice-tests-why-sticking-with-your-first-answer-is-probably-wrong.php Hard to imagine life without music. You probably have...
Sep 14, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1100
At work, do you go out to lunch or eat at your desk? It makes a difference in the quality of your work after lunch is over. Listen and I’ll explain the details. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/going-out-lunch-zaps-mental-focus Drug companies. Big Pharma. They create life-altering and life-saving drugs that help people all over the world. However, the way they sometimes do business has a lot of people concerned. Why do some drugs get recalled after they were deemed to be safe and effective? W...
Sep 12, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1099
In the average lifespan, there are 2 separate years (and they are decades apart) where people report being the happiest. Can you guess what they are? Listen and find out. https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/07/22/study-23-and-69-are-the-happiest-ages/ The higher your status, the more likely you are to be successful. So how do you acquire high status? You might think power grants you status but that’s not really it. People of high-status exhibit 2 qualities – and you can too, according to my guest Ali...
Sep 09, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1098
Is it true that opposites attract. After all you sometimes see couples that seem to prove the point. So just how common or rare is it for opposites to really attract? This episode starts by explaining some of the research on the topic. http://www.livescience.com/5351-truth-opposites-attract.html Can you really tell what someone else is thinking or what they want from you? It appears there are some clues to look for to get a better idea of what is going on in their head. Here to explain what the ...
Sep 07, 2024•50 min•Ep. 1097
Eye contact can be tricky. Too little and you look disinterested – too much and you look creepy. This episode begins with a few of the finer points of proper eye contact. http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/07/how-eye-contact-works.php It’s clear from research that keeping a secret is difficult to do. We often feel compelled to share secrets even if we promised not to. So why is that? According to my guest, keeping a secret causes stress and has been linked to diseases like ulcers and cancer. By telli...
Sep 05, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1096
While celebrities can sometimes pull it off, it can be almost impossible for regular folks to get a table at a busy restaurant without a reservation. This episode begins by offering some advice that can help. It may not always work, but it doesn’t hurt to try. Source: Frank Luntz author of Words That Work (https://amzn.to/37Ay5A8) You probably know someone whose family seems genuinely happy. And then there are families that seem less happy and have lots of conflict. What do happy families do to ...
Sep 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1095
Hot dogs come in packages of ten. Hot dog buns come in packages of eight. Why? Is this some sort of marketing ploy or plot? What could possibly be the reason for this obvious mismatch? This episode begins by revealing the explanation. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a40984485/hot-dogs-buns-packages/ Think of all the batteries you use in a day. A good part of your life is powered by batteries. From your flashlight, all your remotes, your car to your cellphone – all these devices require batt...
Aug 31, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1094
Be careful what you say when someone pays you a compliment. This episode begins with some great advice on the importance of taking a compliment graciously. https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/how-to-accept-a-compliment-with-class/ Is it good to be cynical? After all, cynics claim they see the world and the people in it more accurately – they are not so naïve and trusting as the rest of us. Well, it seems being a cynic has a downside – a BIG downside as you are about to hear from D...
Aug 29, 2024•54 min•Ep. 1093
You may never have noticed it, but for many people – maybe you – a full moon can mess with your sleep and cause you to lose sleep. How does that happen? Listen as I explain. https://www.self.com/story/full-moon-sleep Over the last several years, research has uncovered some remarkable benefits of listening to music. Not just vague, “music makes you feel better” benefits – it now appears music can actually treat some illnesses. Neuroscientist Dan Levitin has been looking at this research for sever...
Aug 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1092
Everyone orders pizza at some point. So, everyone should that there is one size pizza that is a lousy deal almost every time. I begin this episode by revealing a mathematical formula that will save you money on pizza from this day forward. https://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-always-b-1784641566 We could probably all stand to be a little more organized. And here with some rock-solid, proven strategies is David Allen. He is an internationally recognized expert in ...
Aug 24, 2024•50 min•Ep. 1091
Are dogs color blind? Many people believe so, but they are not. They do see color but not the way we do. This episode begins with a look at what colors they can and can’t see and why it is important. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors How you will react in an emergency or disaster is hard to predict. Yet how people react can make the difference between life and death. It’s not just physical preparation but also mental – to think about what you will...
Aug 22, 2024•50 min•Ep. 1090
So many things can affect the way food and drinks taste. This episode begins with a look at how just one element of the ambience in a room can alter people’s perception of wine – and make cheap wine taste expensive. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215171510.htm With all the talk of how to find happiness, you might think sadness should be avoided at all costs. Yet, you are about to hear about all the benefits of sadness, including the fact that it is a necessary and beneficial em...
Aug 19, 2024•52 min•Ep. 1089
Look around and you will likely see someone doing something on their cellphone. For many of us, cellphones are a necessity and a constant companion. What about your relationship with your cellphone? This episode begins with a look at how Americans use their cellphone, how often they check it, and how they feel if they don’t have it. You can then compare and see how you fit in with everyone else. https://www.reviews.org/mobile/cell-phone-addiction/ Why are some people overweight? The assumption i...
Aug 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 1088
Does your signature reveal anything about you? Does it send a message to those who see it? I start this episode by sharing some insight into how others may make assumptions about you based on how you sign your name. https://graciousliving.typepad.com/the_write_event/2003/11/what_does_your_.html One reason to spend money is to buy things that make you feel good – and happy. But does a fancier car or another pair of shoes really make you happy? Usually not. After a while, that fancy car is just yo...
Aug 15, 2024•54 min•Ep. 1087
It’s weird sometimes how you meet someone and hear their name is Lucy, for example and think – “Yeah, she kinda looks like a Lucy.” Is that really a thing – do people look like their name? Listen as I reveal some fascinating research on this. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405334121 Tells. They are those little behaviors people have that give them away. You hear about tells in poker, but you can learn to read someone’s tells in everyday life according to my guest Peter Collett. Peter is ...
Aug 12, 2024•49 min•Ep. 1086
Have you ever had a really vivid or even disturbing dream? This episode begins with a look at what often causes very strange and vivid dreams. https://www.livestrong.com/article/13773031-vivid-dreams/ There are huge benefits to being humble. Humility can be an excellent and effective way to build your confidence, strengthen your relationships and achieve success. That’s according to Daryl R. Van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope College and author of the book Humble: Free Yo...
Aug 10, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1085
When your phone or tablet or computer starts acting weird or gets glitchy, the conventional wisdom is to reboot. In other words, turn it off and on again. And usually, the recommendation is to turn it off for at least 10 seconds before turning it back on. Why 10 seconds? Is it really that important? Listen as I reveal the answer. https://www.howtogeek.com/165110/do-i-really-have-to-unplug-my-cable-modem-for-at-least-10-seconds/ So much food gets wasted – especially in the United States. Specific...
Aug 08, 2024•57 min•Ep. 1084
Should you get a second opinion? A lot of people faced with a medical diagnosis often wonder about that. Will they offend the original doctor if they ask for a second opinion? Is it really necessary? Is it worth the trouble? Listen as I explain the value of a second opinion. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/second-opinions We know animals communicate – but what are they communicating? When a wolf howls or a dolphin clicks, or a cricket chirps – what is it saying? Is it a language that can be tr...
Aug 05, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1083
Don’t you hate it when you hear or think of a familiar song but can’t recall the title? This episode begins with a clever trick that will help identify any song and all it takes is a smartphone. https://lifehacker.com/how-to-identify-any-song-just-by-singing-it-1849039953 Why are you different from me and everyone else? What makes you the person you are? That’s what Chantel Prat has investigated and is here to discuss. Chantel is professor at the University of Washington and author of the book T...
Aug 03, 2024•47 min•Ep. 1082
Are men more rational shoppers than women? Most definitely not. This episode begins by revealing how men are easily duped into thinking something is a bargain when it isn’t. https://www.businessinsider.com/consumers-link-color-with-savings-2013-7 The invention of the electric light has made life easier. But there is a real downside to artificial light. It is messing up your body clock and it can have a serious negative impact on your health. Diabetes, cancer and heart disease have been linked to...
Aug 01, 2024•53 min•Ep. 1081
