Ever wonder how spiders get into your house? This episode begins with an explanation and some ideas on how to make your home less appealing to spiders. https://www.prevention.com/life/a32332424/how-to-get-rid-of-spiders/ Probably a day doesn’t go by when you don’t laugh at something. So what is it that makes something funny? What do humor and laughter do for us? Is laughter really the best medicine? Why do we seek out comedy in movies, TV shows and standup comedy shows? Believe it or not, there ...
Jun 26, 2023•50 min•Ep 908•Transcript available on Metacast Before the mid 60s, a can of beer on a hot summer day was worthless without a can opener. Then along came the pop-top can. This episode begins with the interesting story of how the pop-top can changed our world. https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ermal_Fraze No doubt, you have a secret. Everyone has a secret – perhaps more than one. The problem is that carrying around secrets can cause real harm according to Michael Slepian, one of the leading researchers on the psychology of secrets and a profess...
Jun 24, 2023•48 min•Ep 907•Transcript available on Metacast A common recommendation for people trying to control their weight is to get enough sleep. Why? What could sleep have to do with losing weight? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.webmd.com/obesity/features/cant-shed-those-pounds “Cut to the chase.” “ Made from scratch.” Close but no cigar.” Where did these phrases come from? That’s just one of the things I discuss with Erin McCarthy, VP/Editor-in-Chief of MentalFloss.com author of the book Mental Floss: The Curious Compendium of...
Jun 22, 2023•49 min•Ep 906•Transcript available on Metacast People who blush know it can be embarrassing. That begs the question – why do people blush in the first place? This episode begins with a brief discussion about why people blush and the purpose it serves. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/bering-in-mind/why-we-blush-the-social-purpose-of-showing-embarrassment/ Have you ever found yourself hurrying to do something, even when there is no need to hurry? Many of us are just stuck in that mode. No matter what we are doing, we try to do it quickly....
Jun 19, 2023•49 min•Ep 905•Transcript available on Metacast Most of us have had déjà vu – that feeling that what you are experiencing now, you have somehow experienced before. This episode begins with some interesting insight into what it is, why it happens and when it is most likely to occur. Source: Marie Jones author of The Déjà Vu Enigma (https://amzn.to/3xB94j3). Humans have the need to own things according to psychologist Bruce Hood, author of the book Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need (https://amzn.to/3iRBpxv) Even when you were a child, yo...
Jun 17, 2023•49 min•Ep 904•Transcript available on Metacast When you think how much your smartphone costs to buy and maintain, it’s a smart idea to try to make it last as long as possible. This episode begins with some simple ways to extend the life of your phone and battery. https://www.popsci.com/diy/how-to-make-your-phone-last-longer/ Some of the very best and most successful ideas are the result of lateral thinking. Uber and Airbnb are two examples and there are many more that you will hear from my guest Paul Sloane. Paul is a recognized authority on...
Jun 15, 2023•50 min•Ep 903•Transcript available on Metacast We are all pretty clear on the dangers of driving while intoxicated. But there also appears to be some danger in driving while dehydrated. Who knew? This episode begins with some fascinating research that shows a link between dehydration and driver error – and the results will surprise you. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/driving-while-dehydrated-can-be-just-as-dangerous-as-drinkdriving-study-suggests-10187670.html How do you get a lot of things done without the feeling of being overwh...
Jun 12, 2023•47 min•Ep 902•Transcript available on Metacast There are a lot of good reasons to be more optimistic. Interestingly, it also seems simply pretending to be an optimist has many of the same benefits. This episode starts with a discussion on how real or pretend optimism can be good for everyone and why even the most hardened pessimist might want to try looking at the bright side of life. Source: Michael Mercer, PhD author of Spontaneous Optimism (https://amzn.to/3vo7oc9). To be successful typically requires skill, practice and hard work. Howeve...
Jun 10, 2023•49 min•Ep 901•Transcript available on Metacast If you want to take a nap, it might be a good idea to find a hammock. This episode begins with an explanation for why hammocks can help just about anyone sleep better. https://www.livescience.com/14680-hammock-rocking-improves-sleep.html Saying no can be difficult. You certainly don’t want to disappoint others and you worry people will think you are not a team player if you say no. Still, we have all said yes to things we wish we hadn’t. Now, there is some great research that shows that HOW you ...
Jun 08, 2023•50 min•Ep 900•Transcript available on Metacast 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•52 min•Ep 899•Transcript available on Metacast 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•53 min•Ep 898•Transcript available on Metacast 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•50 min•Ep 897•Transcript available on Metacast 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•50 min•Ep 896•Transcript available on Metacast 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•48 min•Ep 895•Transcript available on Metacast 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•49 min•Ep 894•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•47 min•Ep 891•Transcript available on Metacast 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•49 min•Ep 890•Transcript available on Metacast 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•52 min•Ep 889•Transcript available on Metacast “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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•50 min•Ep 886•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•51 min•Ep 884•Transcript available on Metacast 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•53 min•Ep 883•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•49 min•Ep 881•Transcript available on Metacast 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•50 min•Ep 880•Transcript available on Metacast “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•Transcript available on Metacast 
