Something You Should Know

Have you ever noticed that when you are working on a problem or trying to come up with an idea there comes a point of diminishing returns? The harder you concentrate, the worse it gets. It’s 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 go do something else. https://hbr.org/...

Can your boss spy on you? You bet! This episode explains just how far an employer can go to keep tables on you and what you are up to. http://workrights.us/ Do you have a lot of self-confidence? Could you use a little more? We probably all could and Lana Otoya author of The Mindset of Self Confidence: Why Self Confidence Has Nothing to Do with Speaking Up or Standing Straight (https://amzn.to/2yKX...

Why do people have nightmares? Do they serve a purpose? This episode begins with some fascinating facts about nightmares and the people who have them. https://www.prevention.com/health/g20516173/6-creepy-things-you-never-knew-about-your-nightmares/ Where do good ideas come from? Good ideas typically blossom in environments that encourage people to express their ideas. Yet we often shoot down peopl...

If you wear a certain fragrance, people will perceive you as 12 pounds thinner. That’s just one of many fascinating things I discuss about you amazing sense of smell in the first segment of this episode. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/scents We spend our entire lives learning. Yet we seldom think about HOW we learn. One person who has thought about it a lot is Scott Young, author of the book...

Kim Kardashian and her sisters speak with something called “vocal fry.” In fact a lot of women do and it is a real problem. This episode begins with an explanation of what vocal fry is and why it is harmful to a person’s vocal health and professional career. http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/15/get-your-creak-on-is-vocal-fry-a-female-fad/ Have you ever sabotaged yourself? You go for a goal and so...

Pizza math. It’s worth knowing because when you understand it, you’ll realize why a small pizza is usually a lousy deal. This episode begins with a mathematical formula that will save you real dough on your next pizza. http://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-alwaysb-1784641566 How well do you organize, prioritize and execute your life? I bet you wish you were better at...

If you take your own bags to the grocery store, there may be an unintended health consequence – and it’s not good. This episode begins by revealing what happens to some people who use reusable grocery bags. https://grist.org/food/are-your-reusable-grocery-bags-making-you-fat/ How you drive has a real impact on the flow of traffic. Tom Vanderbilt, author of the book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We...

Ever flush the toilet with your foot to avoid the germs on the handle? It’s one of many well-intentioned but flawed techniques to steer clear of germs lurking in nasty places. This episode begins with some ways people try to avoid germs that fail and better ways instead. http://www.menshealth.com/health/things-that-do-not-protect-from-germs/slide/2 Why do smart people do stupid things? Admit it, y...

I suspect every parent wonders how they will be remembered in their child’s mind. What kind of parents do your kids think you were? This episode begins with a look at what children tend to remember most about mom and dad. https://time.com/4097995/parenting-kids-remember/ Some moments stand out in your life while many other moments are a blur or have long been forgotten. So what makes that special...

Low-fat milk and dairy products are better than whole fat versions of the same thing – right? That is the prevailing wisdom. Yet this episode begins with some compelling evidence that we need to rethink that whole notion that low-fat is better. http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/foods-to-avoid-8-worst-foods-in-your-fridge Every day you spend time caring for your skin. It is, after all, the larg...

If you have a fender bender with another driver, should you just work it out between the two of you or should you report it to the insurance company? This episode begins by explaining the answer to that and why it is so important. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/09/should-you-report-that-fender-bender-auto-insurance-claims-consumer-reports/index.htm Having a job isn’t what it use...

People are not getting sick and dying like they used to. The number of cases of some very common diseases have dropped dramatically over the last few decades and you’ll never guess why. Listen and find out as this episode begins with an explanation – sort of. http://www.popsci.com/many-diseases-are-declining-and-doctors-arent-sure-why Do you ever wish you had more willpower? It does seem that some...

Hot summer days are often called the “dog days of summer.” Why? This episode begins with an explanation of that. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a21725/dog-days/ You make a lot of choices every day. Some are harder to make than others. Listening to this episode will likely help make better choices. Joining me is Joseph Bikart author of the book The Art of Decision Making: How W...

You sometimes see products labeled refurbished – particularly electronics. Are they a good deal? This episode begins by looking at what refurbished means and whether or not it is a good deal worth considering or if you are better off leaving those products on the shelf. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/laptops/refurbished-electronics-buying-guide You are constantly trying to persuade and influen...

When was the last time you washed your watch? Not recently I bet. So this episode begins with just how gross and disgusting the surface of your watch and watchband are and why they need a bath right now – today! http://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-watches-three-times-dirtier-than-toilet-seats-study-finds-20190623 Some people believe vaccines cause autism – science says no. Some people believe in ghost...

Is it okay to talk with people on a speakerphone with their permission? What about bringing a gift to a party when the invitation says: No Gifts? This episode begins with a discussion on some common etiquette mistakes you may be making – and how to correct them. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/etiquette/etiquette-mistakes The space and environment you are in right know can affect your think...

Driving while texting, talking, eating or drinking can all distract you from paying attention to the road. So what about listening to the radio while driving? Is that a distraction? This episode begins with an exploration of that question that yields a surprising answer.https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20130620/music-doesnt-hurt-driving-performance-study-suggests#1 So many relationships st...

When you appear confident, people find that attractive. Sometimes though, when you wish you could appear confident you feel just the opposite. So I begin this episode with quick, easy and effective techniques to appear more confident when the feeling doesn’t come naturally. http://www.rd.com/advice/relationships/how-to-be-confident/1/ What if you could start a successful side business with little...

Every airport runway has a number and it is always between 1and 36. This episode begins with how airport runways get their numbers (it is not random) and what purpose those numbers serve. I’ll also explain why sometimes the runway numbers have to change. https://www.wired.com/2014/05/the-hidden-beauty-of-airport-runways-and-how-to-decipher-them/ When you make a decision, you hope you make the righ...

My mother used to tell me when I was a kid that coffee would stunt my growth. But seriously, can coffee do that? Can coffee sober you up if you are drunk? This episode begins with a look at what coffee can and cannot do. http://lifehacker.com/four-popular-coffee-myths-debunked-by-science-1780764499 We’ve all been told that generic drugs are equivalent to name brand drugs at a fraction of the price...

When I smell the scent of fresh cut grass it transports me back to my childhood. It is a great smell. It also turns out to be beneficial to most people. I begin this episode by explaining the scientific benefits of smelling a freshly mowed lawn.( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1209360/Why-mowing-lawn-relieves-stressboosts-memory.html) How do you make real change in yourself and others?...

Automobile traffic, like the weather, is hard to predict. The slightest thing can cause a traffic jam and sometimes it seems that traffic jams just happen for no apparent reason. I begin this episode by exploring one oddity of traffic – where the solution usually makes the problem worse. (Edward Humes author of the book Door to Door). To be a success you have to get really good at one thing as soo...

Ever had to wait forever to get a prescription filled? Why does it take so long to take pills out of a big bottle and put them in a little bottle? I start this episode with the answer – and it may surprise you. http://mentalfloss.com/article/79615/12-behind-scenes-secrets-pharmacists When I think of innovators, I think of the champions of innovation – Leonardo DaVinci, Steve Jobs or that guy who i...

While you are likely very good at noticing when you fail in life, keeping track of all the little victories is a much better activity. I begin this episode by explaining why those little victories can propel into big ones and why keeping a list is such a great idea. http://www.lifehack.org/398112/science-explains-how-writing-down-tinyachievements-every-day-changes-our-brains You are surrounded by...

Do you turn your headlights on when you drive during the day? You should - and that is just one of several things I discuss that can instantly make you a better and safer driver even if you think you already are. http://www.cracked.com/article_20106_6-little-known-driving-tips-that-couldsave-your-life_p2.html If you have a computer then you have been hacked. That’s the conclusion of Marcus Carey w...