Something You Should Know

Ever feel good about saving a spider because you took it out of your house and put it outside rather than killing it? It seems like a noble thing to do. But what you may not know is what is likely to happen to that spider once you put it outside. This episode of the podcast starts with that interesting explanation. (http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/curated/spider-myths) You probably don’t think abo...

Mental health is complicated. But there are some things that can trigger depression in almost anyone. I begin this episode with a list of things that can cause you to lose your objectivity and make you sad if you let them. (https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/surprising-reasons-young-people-get-depressed/) If you knew there was a good chance that you could get a di...

When you sit down to eat, several things affect how MUCH you eat and how much you enjoy the food. I begin this episode by revealing how the environment and atmosphere of the room in which you are eating can have a big impact. When you learn the details, you can use this information to help you eat less while enjoying your food more. (http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/outreach/musiclight.html) Some...

Does having more sex make a couple happier – or is it just that happier couples have more sex? We begin this episode by looking at which is the cause and which is the effect. (http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2015/may/more-sex-does-not-lead-to-happiness.html) You likely know the importance of staying out of the sun and using sunscreen when you are in the sun. But proper skin care involves...

Years ago coffee was called “The Think Drink” in a marketing campaign. Those were the golden days of coffee. Later coffee was demonized as something that caused all kinds of health problems. Later it turned out, coffee had health benefits and was just fine to drink – but not too much. So we begin this episode with a look at the research to discover whether coffee is good or evil. (http://www.rd.co...

No one likes getting a shot at the doctor’s office. But there is something you can do to ease the pain. We begin this episode with a little strategy that can cut the pain in half. But you have to do it just right. (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27514-hold-your-breath-to-dampen-the-pain-of-an-injection/) Music plays an important role in our lives – but why? We don’t need it to survive yet...

You know what is one of the most common decorating mistakes people make? It is hanging art on the walls incorrectly – usually too high. I’ll explain a simple rule that art galleries and museums use and you should too. (https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-high-to-hang-pictures/) Imagine asking 45 successful, billionaire entrepreneurs what made them successful. That’s exactly what Robert Jordan did...

When you have a meeting it is usually sitting down in an office at a table. That just may be one of the worst ways to conduct a meeting and maybe it is why nothing much gets accomplished. There is a better way and it is something Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and others do. I’ll explain what that is as we begin this episode. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/walking-meetings-at-linke_n_703...

What is the stronger motivator – reward or punishment? In other words, does hurt more to lose something than it feels good to gain something? We start this episode t with a look at some interesting research into this. (https://source.wustl.edu/2015/05/carrot-or-stick-punishments-may-guide-behavior-more-effectively-than-rewards/)  Some people are just way too nice. They sacrifice their own needs fo...

What color lipstick makes a woman most attractive? Do women prefer a beard on a man or not? What can anyone do to make themselves more attractive? We begin this episode by exploring this. (https://www.healthyway.com/content/ways-to-be-more-attractive-according-to-science/) Entrepreneurship is alive and well. So should you start a business? Maybe you already have. When you think about it, people wh...

The more decisions you make during the day, the worse you get at it. It’s called “decision fatigue” and everyone gets it. Listen as we begin this episode and discover just how it happens and what you can do about it. (http://jamesclear.com/willpower-decision-fatigue)  What does your stuff say about you? Tons, according to my first guest, Sam Gosling. Sam sent investigators and scientists to snoop...

In my house, whenever we turn on the microwave oven in the kitchen – it screws up the Wi-Fi. Why is that? And is there anything you can do to prevent that? We start this episode by exploring the microwave/Wi-Fi conflict. (http://io9.com/why-does-your-microwave-oven-mess-with-the-wi-fi-connec-1666117933)  Time sure flies when you are having fun. We’ve all had that experience but have you ever wonde...

When you go grocery shopping it is hard to resist the urge to buy things you know you shouldn’t. Temptation is down every aisle! So what can you do? There is a simple yet very effective technique that will help you resist those urges.  (http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/OP/Trigger_Apple)  You probably know someone you would consider powerful. So how did they get their power? Where did it come from...

One way to blow your credibility in any conversation or in anything you write is to misuse or mispronounce words or phrases. So this episodes starts with some commonly misused words and phrases to make sure you are using them correctly. (https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/10-speaking-and-writing-errors-that-erode-your-credibility.html)   Taking risks can be good – or bad. It’s all in how you...

Of course you know better than to talk on your phone while driving – but you should also tell other people in the car to stay off their phones as well. This episode starts with a discussion on why passenger’s phone conversation can be trouble for the driver. (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performance)  How well do you sleep? Before you answer you...

Passengers get kicked off airline flights a lot more than they used to. Do airlines have the right to just give people the boot for any reason? This episode begins by explaining why you can get kicked off any flight for almost any reason. (http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/04/09/how-to-get-kicked-off-flight/?intcmp=HPBucket)  The idea of “creating excellence” really became popular back in 1982 wi...

“Eat your veggies – they’re good for you!” Every parent has said that to a child and yet, as a parent, you probably shouldn’t. I start this episode of the podcast with some fascinating research about what to tell kids about healthy foods. (http://www.chicagobooth.edu/about/newsroom/press-releases/2014/2014-05-08) What if I told you that nothing really goes viral? You’d probably say, “Of course it...

I recently appeared on a different podcast to talk about the evolution and success of Something You Should Know. To listen to my appearance on "On Mic with Jordan Rich," follow this link: http://onmicwithjordanrich.blubrry.net/category/episodes/ Confident people just have a way about them. The way they act and talk draws people to them. So how can you be (and appear) more confident? I begin this e...

Could some freaked-out passenger actually open the door on an airplane in the middle of the flight? There have been news reports of attempts to do so – but is it possible? That is one of the things I discuss regarding how things work on commercial airliners to begin this episode. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3023336/The-answers-question-ve-flying.html) There are five type...

We have a lot of devices – cellphones, tablets, laptops – and they all need to be charged up constantly. How much does that cost? And how much does it cost to run a television, light bulb or a Tesla every year? Listen to discover the answers. (http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ekhf45ellkj/ipad-1-50-per-year/)  It seems as if the truth has taken a beating in recent years. Your truth may not be my trut...

If you have a big decision to make, wait until you have to go to the bathroom. I begin this episode by explaining why a full bladder helps make better decisions. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110228163141.htm) Do you control your phone or does your phone control you? It seems we can’t live without a cellphone for more than a few minutes. But what if you actually tried? What if it...

Your homeowner’s insurance (and renter’s insurance if you have it) covers much more than you probably realize – and it is worth knowing. For example, if you receive counterfeit money – your homeowner’s insurance may likely cover you for the loss. Who knew? And that’s only one thing we will discuss that your insurance probably covers. (http://consumerist.com/2012/04/12/stuck-with-a-forged-check-hom...

A few times every year I like to shine a spotlight on some of the best moments from past episodes you may have missed. This time, it’s moments from the last few months of 2017. It’s a busy time of year, so in case you missed some moments, here are a few really great ones.. The links below will take you back to the original episodes from which these segments are taken so you can listen to the compl...

Everyone has a blood type right? Well, not really. Some people have no blood type – not to be confused with people who have a universal blood type. Do you know if you are type A, B, AB or 0? Why do you have a blood type anyway? That’s the first topic of conversation today. (http://mosaicscience.com/story/why-do-we-have-blood-types) To hear tell, the world is going to hell. Watch the news and it se...

People hate unsolicited advice – and they seldom follow it. Still, that doesn’t stop us from dishing it out to those we are trying to help. Well maybe there is a better and more effective way to influence people other than just telling them what we think they should do. I’ll tell you what it is. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-the-right-thing/201407/giving-people-advice-rarely-works-does)...