Something You Should Know

If you are facing a big decision, you should sleep on it first. That is common advice. But is there any validity to it? This episode begins with the answer to that question. https://www.newswise.com/articles/sleep-on-it-is-sound-science-based-advice# We all get those weird feelings – you know like we are being watched or that feeling that time is passing by faster or you have memory from your past...

Who do you project yourself to be? It’s an important question if you want to convince someone of something. This episode begins with a look at how people judge your recommendations and proposals and so much of it has to do with who you appear to be. Source: Robert Mayer author of the book Power Plays (https://amzn.to/3BWHKzy) Setting boundaries with the people in your life and getting them to resp...

This episode begins with a fascinating example of just how amazing the human mind is. You see, how people feel about the medication they take impacts how well it works. Things like cost, size of the pill and number of doses will influence your recovery – I know it sounds implausible but it appears to be true. Listen and finds out. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html I...

You have likely never ordered a milkshake from room service at a hotel because milkshakes are most likely not on the room service menu. Still, if a hotel has a kitchen there is a good chance they have ice cream milk and a blender which is what you need to make a milkshake. So why can’t you get one? Listen as I explain the answer which points out a big problem in American business today. Source: St...

It's weird but true that a lot of people’s behavior can actually change just because they wear sunglasses or are in a dimly lit room. This episode begins with an explanation of why this happens and how people act differently. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301122344.htm Being rich is about more than just accumulating money, it is about living the life you want to live. In fact how...

 We call them expiration dates when referring to dates on food packages but they aren’t all really expiration dates. The dates sometimes mean other things. This episode begins by explaining what these different dates really mean. Don’t throw away any food until you hear this explanation. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/do-food-expiration-dates-matter#1 You are unique. There is not now...

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the world. While there are many things you can do to reduce your risk, this episode begins by revealing a simple way to cut the risk more than 30%. And it’s all in your attitude. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-positive-mindset-can-help-your-heart-2019021415999 Have you ever found yourself overthinking? It’s when you think through an idea or a goal or a care...

If you are an iPhone user, you may have noticed that some of your texts show up in blue and some show up in green This episode begins with the explanation for why that happens and what it means. https://www.rd.com/article/why-are-my-texts-green/ Do you know what time poverty is? It’s that sense you get of having too much to do and never enough time to get it done. While a lot of us live in time po...

It’s pretty clear that the placebo effect is a real thing even though we don’t understand it very well. This episode begins by exploring the reasons why what you believe about your health actually has an impact on your health and why believing you are healthy can actually make it so. Source: Howard Brody, M.D. author of “The Placebo Response” (https://amzn.to/2ZzmXzH) There are a lot of theories a...

When you have to take a test and you don’t know the answer, the conventional advice is to go with your first answer. A lot of people believe that – but is it true? This episode begins with some interesting evidence that may help you the next time you take a test.  https://www.spring.org.uk/2012/02/multiple-choice-tests-why-sticking-with-your-first-answer-is-probably-wrong.php Music is such an impo...

 You have probably been in a situation where you felt shy. As a result, you probably held back and didn’t engage with people as much as you could have. There is a way to get over your shyness no matter what the situation. This episode begins with some interesting advice from a top shyness expert on how to work through those shy feelings in the moment – and it is very simple and requires almost no...

Everyone loves ketchup – or so it seems. In fact, it is one of the most universally loved foods in America. Why? This episode begins with some interesting facts and history about ketchup that helps explain why there is a bottle of it in more than 97% of U.S. households. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/20/why-is-ketchup-so-delicious-science-answers-big-food-questions Have you ever...

Your mother told you not to lie. After all, lying is dishonest. More importantly, it may also be bad for your health. This episode begins by revealing why telling the truth could help prevent you from getting sick. http://research.nd.edu/news/32485-study-telling-fewer-lies-linked-to-better-health-relationships/ How did YouTube go from being a simple dating site to the biggest video sharing service...

You just might want to take your car keys to bed with you at night. Why? This episode begins with an interesting explanation – and it all has to do with your personal safety. http://worldofwonder.net/lifehack-put-car-keys-beside-bed-night/  How do you best learn something new? Probably not the way you think. There are actually proven ways to engage the brain so material really sticks. Joining me t...

Since watching a scary movie can be so stressful and even unpleasant – why do people do it? This episode begins with a discussion on why people watch them and the benefits of doing so. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725152040.htm We all make food choices every day. And a lot of things influence those choices which can make it difficult to eat a healthy diet.  To help understand ho...

“ I wish I got more emails!” – said no one ever. Many of us start the day wading through emails we wish we never got in the first place. This episode begins with some easy strategies to cut down on your email clutter and lighten the load of your inbox. Source: Kaitlin Sherwood author of Overcome Email Overload (https://amzn.to/3RBsKNW) For a million reasons you already know, friends are important....

Anyone who cooks on a grill has wondered why it is that hot dogs come in packages of ten while hot dog buns are sold in packages of eight. Why the mismatch? This episode begins with the explanation. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a40984485/hot-dogs-buns-packages/ Much of your life is powered by batteries. From your TV remote to your car to your cellphone, you rely on batteries every single d...

Do you save things that take up space that you know you will never, ever use again? This episode begins with some simple advice that will help you clear out some items from your home or office and free up some space for what’s really important. Source: Barbara Hemphill author of “Love It or Lose It (https://amzn.to/31wfIdq)  People say that if they had to give up one of their senses, they would gi...

You probably don’t think of the Internet as an actual place but it really is – sort of. All of our computers have to connect to each other somewhere – and there is a place where that happens. And that place has a particular smell to it. This episode begins with an explanation. Source: Andrew Blum author of the book Tubes (https://amzn.to/3pwX3Jq). It is hard to argue with nice. Being nice to other...

Have you noticed that when you are working on a problem or trying to come up with a new idea there comes a point of diminishing returns? Then the more you try, the worse it gets. That appears to be 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 do something else instead. http...

I have never found over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to be very effective at relieving symptoms and I know a lot of people feel the same. However, research indicates that there is something in your kitchen cupboard that may be more effective and is totally free of side effects. This episode begins with a home remedy that really seems to work. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-86411...

It’s a good thing you learned math in school. Why? Because when you apply math to pizza, you will realize that there is one size pizza that is almost always a lousy deal. This episode begins with a mathematical formula that will save you real dough on your next pizza order. http://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-alwaysb-1784641566 Most of us probably wish we were a bi...

Have you ever thought your relationship with your cellphone was a bit over the top? This episode begins with a look at how Americans use their cellphone, how often they check it, where they use it, how they use it and how they feel if they don’t have it. Then you can see where you fit in with everyone else. https://www.reviews.org/mobile/cell-phone-addiction/ There is an assumption that the reason...

The typewriter keyboard was invented in the 1800s. Today, the layout of the letters on a computer keyboard is essentially the same as it was back then. Maybe you have wondered why the order of the letters of the QWERTY keyboard hasn’t been changed in all that time. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.cnet.com/news/a-brief-history-of-the-qwerty-keyboard/ You’ve heard of FOMO, right...

There is an old adage that "opposites attract." And you do sometimes see couples that seem to prove the point. Still, just how common is it for very different people to be attracted to each other. This episode begins by explaining some research on the topic. http://www.livescience.com/5351-truth-opposites-attract.html How can you tell what someone else is REALLY thinking or what they REALLY want f...