Something You Should Know

Everyone is different but when I need to solve a problem or think of something creative, I often lie down, close my eyes and think. And it turns out that is good advice for everyone. I start this episode with some interesting research that reveals why lying down is a good position to think in. https://lifehacker.com/need-a-creative-boost-try-lying-down-5982463 Ever have your heart broken? I think...

Noise levels are increasing, and all that noise can have a lot of negative effects on your health and happiness. This episode begins by explaining the negative impact of too much noise so you can 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 any goal? There ar...

If you saw someone walking down the street and they were not swinging their arms, you would think it looks a little weird. Yet, humans don’t have to swing their arms to walk - we can walk fine with it. This episode begins with an explanation as to why most of us swing our arms when we walk and the benefits of doing so. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-we-swing-our-arms-when-we-walk No on...

When you feel pain or some ache in your body, you likely reach for a Tylenol. And it turns out that you should also reach for one when you are feeling emotional pain as well; such as loneliness or distress. Why? This episode begins with an interesting explanation. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222154742.htm Even if you keep your home immaculately clean, you are still sharing your...

You are more likely to be happy if your friends are happy- and even if your friend’s friends are happy. This episode begins with a discussion on why that is and how social interactions affects you health and happiness. Source: Tom Rath author of Well Being (https://amzn.to/3xcMYUM)  Your body is very good at telling you when you’ve reached your limit. When you have exercised enough or worked enoug...

Are only children at a social disadvantage? It has long been thought that children who grow up with no siblings don’t develop the social skills that as well as those who have brothers and sisters. This episode looks at just how accurate that assumption is. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-true-thing/201106/susan-newman-the-case-the-only-child Is your behavior all because you choose to d...

Who doesn’t have a cellphone? It is hard to find someone who doesn’t have one with them all the time. However, there are some circumstances when you really should put your phone away so others don’t see it. I begin this episode by discussing when that is and why it is important. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9589232/Putting-a-mobile-phone-on-the-restaurant-table-will-ruin-y...

Smile! Why? Because smiling offers a lot of benefits. This episode begins with a discussion on all the good things that happen when you smile more often. http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm What does it take to become wealthy? Sometimes it’s luck or having connections but when you look at middle-class people who become wealthy, it turns out they tend to have similar charact...

We all know music has an effect on us. One effect it has that you may not be aware of is how it impacts your shopping behavior in a store. This episode begins with a look at how different kinds of music can influence you to spend more or less. https://www.psychologistworld.com/behavior/ambient-music-retail-psychological-arousal-customers Finding that special someone is not always easy. In fact, it...

Conventional wisdom is that you should get a physical exam every year with your doctor. Should you really? This episode begins by exploring who should and maybe who should not get an annual check-up and why. http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/theres-no-evidence-you-need-annual-physical-exam-say-doctors Your unconscious mind affects your thoughts and behaviors in ways you can’t imagine -...

With public restrooms, there is a definite YUCK factor. Still, when it comes to choosing which stall or urinal to use, there is a smart strategy to minimize your exposure to germs and bacteria. I begin this episode by telling you which stall should be your first (and second) choice. https://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/a58568/cleanest-bathroom-stall/ As amazing as your brain is - it d...

This episode begins with a look at some fascinating science of everyday life. For example, how the calorie count for food is determined, what does it take to actually crush a Lego brick, why water of the same temperature feels colder than air of the same temperature – and more. http://mentalfloss.com/article/66086/11-scientific-explanations-everyday-life Do you swear? If so, why? Are there any ben...

Did you know the weather can affect your buying decisions? Apparently it can and that can be a big factor when you buy a big ticket item like a house or a car. This episode begins with an explanation of why and how the weather impacts such important decisions and why you are more likely to buy a convertible on a sunny day even though it may be a terrible idea. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-e...

What’s the fastest insect? How long does a common housefly live? How many kinds of insects are there in the world? Now that spring is here and the bugs are back, this episode begins with some interesting facts about bugs and insects you may not know. https://gohannan.com/common-pests/amazing-but-true-interesting-facts-about-bugs/  No matter how well you plan, things can - and often do - go wrong....

There is an often-quoted study about the importance of goal setting and success that happened at Yale University in 1953. This episode begins with an explanation of why you should NOT pay attention to this study at all. https://www.fastcompany.com/27953/if-your-goal-success-dont-consult-these-gurus Everyone knows what causes people to gain weight and lose weight - and, it turns out, everybody is w...

Do you play a musical instrument? If not, maybe you should. This is especially true if you are outgoing and an extrovert. It seems that your personality can predict with great accuracy, how much musical skill and talent you have. We begin this episode by exploring that. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/uoc-hyg101315.php You have certainly something about body language and how it work...

You know when you get part of a song stuck in your head? It can be hard to get rid of. As with most things, this has been studied and I begin the episode today with some ways that will help you get that song out of your head. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/21/heres-how-get-song-out-your-head/99264896/ We all like to think we have good memories but the human memory is flawed...

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Who started it? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief explanation of the origins of Mother's Day and how it got pretty ugly for a while. https://www.rd.com/list/history-of-mothers-day/ Human beings like to laugh - we enjoy humor. It also turns out to be really good for you. People who laugh a lot live longer and enjoy of host of other benefits. Incorpo...

It’s become a cliché to say that great ideas come in the shower. But the fact is – they do! And there is actually a psychological explanation for why that is. We begin this episode with a look at the reason for this common experience. http://mentalfloss.com/article/52586/why-do-our-best-ideas-come-us-shower What’s the difference between pleasure and happiness? It’s an important distinction because...

Everyone know that you should say “I love you” to your mate because it fosters intimacy and connection. It turns out there are 3 other words you should too because couples who say these words have stronger and closer relationships. What are those 3 words? Listen and find out. http://truetowords.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-me-us-we-little-words-big-impact.html Most of us are willing to help others if we...

We go through a lot of batteries in our house with all of our remotes and clocks and flashlights - and they aren’t cheap. I bet you have a lot of batteries in your home as well. This episode begins with some interesting facts and myths about household batteries you probably never knew. http://www.greenbatteries.com/ How do you feel about your voice? Do you love it or hate it? While it may sound li...

If you have ever cooked pasta you’ve likely considered using HOT tap water instead of cold to speed up the process. After all, hot tap water takes less time to boil. But is it really a good idea to cook with hot tap water? We begin this episode with a discussion on why it is such a bad idea. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/health/29real.html Whether or not something catches on and becomes popul...

Don’t you just hate it when you have to throw milk away when it goes bad? This episode begins with a little trick that will make milk last longer so maybe you don’t have to throw it away. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7673247/The-ways-groceries-fresh-longer.html Who are we? Why are we here in the universe? Are there aliens among us? When and how will the universe end? These are all go...

Which word in the English language has the most meanings? This episode begins by revealing this simple, 3-letter word that has over 600 meanings according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It's a word you have probably used several times today. https://www.rd.com/article/most-complicated-word-in-english/ How does heredity work? It is confusing because some traits you do inherit from your parents b...

You have probably heard It said that it Is illegal to kill a praying mantis. Is it? Not that you would want to – but could you actually be fined or go to jail if you got caught? This episode begins with a look at what the law really says and why you would never want to kill one anyway. https://www.thoughtco.com/is-it-illegal-to-kill-praying-mantis-1968526 Why are distractions so tempting? In fact,...