Something You Should Know

When you feel and ache or pain 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? I begin this episode with that explanation. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222154742.htm No matter how clean you think your home is, you are sharing your house with millions of creatures – both visible and invisible. From the tiniest germs to your dog or cat – all of these creatures have an impact on you. In fact, if you own a cat, there is an excellent chance of getting infected with a parasite that will change your behavior! I know it sounds crazy but you have got to hear this. Rob Dunn, biologist and professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University joins me to discuss the fascinating world inside your home you never knew was there. Rob is author of the book Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live (https://amzn.to/2VE0j5K) One of the big pitfalls of writing texts or emails is that people can misinterpret your intent – particularly if you are being sarcastic. But I have a solution that will make sure people will understand what you are really trying to say in your written communication. http://mentalfloss.com/article/73392/winky-faces-make-your-texts-sarcastic-scientists-say Do you know what your set point weight is? Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows there is a point where you get stuck and it is really hard to drop more weight. Jonathan Bailor, author of the bestselling book The Calorie Myth has researched this for his new book The Setpoint Diet (https://amzn.to/2SK4V8r). He joins me to explain why people get stuck on their set point weight and how to outsmart your body so you can lose more weight.   This Week's Sponsors -Capterra. To find the right software for your business visit www.capterra.com/something -ADT. Go to www.ADT.com/smart to learn how ADT can design and install a smart home system for you. -Geico. Go to www.Geico.com to see how Geico can save you money on your car insurance.

Everyone seems to have a cellphone – ALL the time. But 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. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9589232/Putting-a-mobile-phoneon-the-restaurant-table-will-ruin-your-meal.html It appears to be human nature to always want more. Then when we get what we want it is never enough. Why is that? It turns out there is a chemical in your brain that drives this behavior. To explain, I am joined by Daniel Lieberman, MD, who is a professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University and author of the book The More Molecule, How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex and Creativity – and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race (https://amzn.to/2RBclxi). Of course you know the results of reheating pizza in the microwave are horrible and heating it in the oven takes too long. But there is another way that is very fast and won’t leave your pizza all soggy and mushy. https://sciencenotes.org/why-microwave-pizza-with-a-glass-of-water/  What do you know about spices? One thing for sure is that your food would be pretty bland without them. But there is so much more to the world of spices and how to use them. Food science writer Stuart Farrimond, author of the book Spice (https://amzn.to/2GWVm4K) explains the science and lore of spices and offers suggestions to help you use them to cook tastier, more interesting food.   This Week's Sponsors -Capterra. To find the right software for your business visit www.capterra.com/something -ADT. Go to www.ADT.com/smart to learn how ADT can design and install a smart home system for you. -Geico. Go to www.Geico.com to see how Geico can save you money on your car insurance.

You think you understand the concept of distracted driving – yes? You know it is NOT a good idea to text and drive. But it turns out to be more complicated than that. I begin this episode with some fascinating research that shows that there is a residual effect when you get distracted that affects your driving for much longer than you think. You really need to hear this. http://www.calif.aaa.com/home/about/community-and-safety/hands-free-distractionstudy.html Ever make a really stupid mistake? Wouldn’t it be great if you could make far fewer of them and make a lot more good decisions instead? Listen to Charlie Seraphin author of the book, (One Stupid Mistake: Smart Decision-Making in a Crazy World https://amzn.to/2s3Qq3A.) He walks you through the process that will help you avoid mistakes, especially the big ones. Plus, he explains the importance of owning and learning from the mistakes you will inevitably make.  People love to watch reruns of old TV shows and re-watch old movies – but why? You know how it is going to end so why watch it again. Well there is a reason for that and it is the same reason people like hearing the same songs over and over. http://www.livescience.com/23148-tv-reruns-may-replenish-tired-minds.html People have been making New Year’s resolutions for a long time and scientists have studied the idea and the process a lot over the years. What has become clear is that there are some strategies that can dramatically improve your chances of success. Keith McArthur has looked at the science and joins me to help you achieve your New Year's resolution or any other goal for that matter. Keith has a podcast and blog called My Instruction Manual (https://myinstructionmanual.com/) and he is author of a book called (Winning Resolutions https://amzn.to/2BYi7zi.) This Week's Sponsors ADT. Go to www.ADT.com/smart to learn how ADT can design and install a smart home system for you. Geico. Go to www.Geico.com to see how Geico can save you money on your car insurance.

We end 2018 with the second of our two-part look back at the best moments of the past year. With so much fascinating information from the last twelve months, it is fun to hit some highlight moments and relive them. I know you will hear things in this episode that you either missed or forgot – so listen and enjoy!

You probably associate yawning with being tired or maybe being bored. However, according to some interesting research, yawning has nothing to do with either one of those things. I begin this episode of the podcast at a look at why we yawn and why yawning is contagious. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3425960&page=1 Why is change so hard? Anyone who has made a New Year’s resolution knows that sticking with a major change is difficult. One of the big reasons is what executive coach Marshall Goldsmith calls “triggers.” Triggers are the things that can in the way of achieving your goals. In fact, his book is called Triggers (http://amzn.to/2dWTWog). Listen as Marshall offers really solid, concrete advice for making lasting positive changes in your life and achieving your goals. If you have never heard Marshall speak, you will love this interview and you will come away inspired.  Have you ever wondered why you like the things you like? It is interesting that one person can hate something another person loves. It applies to food, colors, fashion, cars – almost anything. Why is that? What influences our tastes and preferences? Listen as I speak with Tom Vanderbilt author of the book You May Also Like http://amzn.to/2h8YecT and discover why you prefer some things over others and why your favorite color is your favorite color. What really matters when it comes to health and long life? It may have less to do with diet and exercise (although they are important) and more to do with the kind of person you are. To find out if you are that kind of person, you need to answer an important question. Listen and I will tell you what that question is. (Dr. Paul Persall author of Write Your Own Pleasure Prescription https://amzn.to/2RdFqyU) 

With over 100 episodes a year, it is entirely possible you may have missed some of the best, most interesting moments of the past year. Or perhaps you may have forgotten some interesting intel you learned. So here are some highlights from 2018. 

Does being unhappy make you more likely to get sick or even shorten your life span? A lot of people believe that. So, in this episode we look at the science behind that belief. How could unhappiness cause illness? The answer is complicated and not what you probably think. http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-12-08-happiness-and-unhappiness-have-no-direct-effect-mortality Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people would notice and appreciate just how great you are at doing what you do? Yes it would be but it seldom happens. If you want to really get noticed – if you want people to really see how competent you are, you have to project an image of competence. Jack Nasher, a consultant and negotiation trainer is author of the book Convinced: How to Prove Your Competence and Win People Over (https://amzn.to/2BqWojk) Jack joins me to explain what it takes to really get people (including your boss) to see just how great you are and how well you do your job. What time is it at the North Pole? Why does a whip crack? Why do people stick out their tongue when they are concentrating on a task? These are just some of the interesting questions I tackle with science writer Ivan Semeniuk. Ivan along with New Scientist magazine, published a book called Why Don’t Penguins Feet Freeze? (https://amzn.to/2R6JMHV) (yes we answer that one too.) which explores some of these fascinating questions you’ve always wondered about. What makes a food a “comfort” food? It turns out your favorite comfort food has more to do with who cooked it and where you ate it than it does with the food itself. Listen as I explain. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/appetite/media-coverage/we-love-comfort-food-because-we-love-the-cook This Week's Sponsors -Quip. Get your first refill pack free when you buy an electric toothbrush at www.GetQuip.com/something -Robinhood. Get a free stock when you sign up at something.robinhood.com -Stitch Fix. Get an extra 25% off when you keep all the items in your box at www.StitchFix.com/something

There are a lot of theories and myths about alcohol and how not to fall victim to its effects. For example, mixing caffeine with alcohol will make you feel less sleepy or that light beers are healthier than regular beers. I begin this episode with an examination of which of these and other common held beliefs about alcohol are true or false. http://www.purewow.com/wellness/Alcohol-Myths Why do you dream at night? Do those dream serve a purpose or are they random thoughts the brain has as your body rests? Journalist Alice Robb, author of the book Why We Dream (https://amzn.to/2LmMMuy) explores the science of dreaming and reveals some proven ways that you can use your dreams to help you in your waking life. What is the best tasting ketchup? Is it some fancy organic gourmet ketchup or is it Heinz or Hunts or maybe Del Monte? Blind taste tests reveal a very clear winner. Listen and discover which ketchup reigns supreme. (The New Best Recipe cookbook by America's Test Kitchen - (https://amzn.to/2LmL9gd) You probably have a lot more electronic friends on social media, texts and email than you have real friends. And while electronic friends are fine, having traditional friends and connections is probably more important than ever before. Susan RoAne author of the book How to Work a Room (https://amzn.to/2ElLcrk) explores the importance of friendships and offers practical ways to find and make new friends. This Week's Sponsors -Quip. Get your first refill pack free when you buy an electric toothbrush at www.GetQuip.com/something -Robinhood. Get a free stock when you sign up at something.robinhood.com -Stitch Fix. Get an extra 25% off when you keep all the items in your box at www.StitchFix.com/something

Do attractive people really get the best tables at a restaurant? Did you know menus are designed to steer you to particular dishes? These are just a few of the things I cover as we kick-off this episode. It turns out there are a lot of fascinating things going on behind-the-scenes at restaurants that are helpful for you to know. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2363861/The-restaurant-secrets-diners-know-Huge-mark-upswine-dishes-containing-chefs-saliva-blacklist-rude-customers.html My father used to tell me, “You have to ask for what you want.” While that is good advice, it is hard for many people to ask for what they want and even harder to negotiate to get it. With some very practical advice is Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma and author of the book, Everything is Negotiable The 5 Tactics to Get What You Want in Life, Love, and Work (https://amzn.to/2SFdnW3). Meg joins me with some unique and actionable steps that will help you get what you want.  If you want to appreciate how great medical care and knowledge is today, all you have to do is look back 100 years ago or so to see what medicine was like back then. Medical historian Thomas Morris author of the book The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth and Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine (https://amzn.to/2Lbjqiy) joins me to explore some of the curious oddities, treatments and miracles from 100 years ago that seem so strange today – just 100 year later. It makes you wonder what people will think of our medical practices 100 years from now! Choosing the right hospital is always important – but it also turns out that choosing the right day to check-in to the hospital also matters. Studies of hospitals all over the world conclude there are some days you might want to avoid. Listen and I’ll tell you which days those are. http://www.today.com/health/why-hospital-weekend-effect-dangerous-t30581 This Week's Sponsors -SimpliSafe. To save hundreds of dollars on home protection go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something -Quip. Get your first refill pack free when you get an electric toothbrush from www.GetQuip.com/something -Care/of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and use the promo code SOMETHING  

It is easy and tempting to overspend on holiday gifts. Plus retailers do everything they can to encourage you to spend more. So this episode begins with some strategies to help you spend a bit less and avoid those impulse purchases that you often wish you hadn’t made once you get home. http://www.womansday.com/life/work-money/g1877/how-to-stop-impulse-buying/ Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Why do we bring fir trees into our homes and decorate them? Why is Jingle Bells so popular at Christmas when it is really a Thanksgiving song? Ace Collins author of Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas (https://amzn.to/2QfN1NA) and Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas (https://amzn.to/2Up4wtg) joins me to reveal the fascinating backstories of some your favorite holiday traditions and songs.  Do you have the “It” factor? It’s the thing that makes people want to get to know you and perhaps become part of your life and help you succeed. Mark Wiskup is a top communications expert and coach and he is author of the book The It Factor (https://amzn.to/2EbHMXX). He joins me to explain how anyone can acquire the It factor even if you consider yourself shy or introverted.   Doing household chores may not be the most exciting thing you do but it turns out there are some great health benefits. Things like making your bed or doing the dishes can actually be good for you. I conclude this episode by discussing some great reasons to tackle those chores you have been putting off. http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/health-benefits-chores/ This Week's Sponsors -SimpliSafe. To save hundreds of dollars on home protection go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something -Quip. Get your first refill pack free when you get an electric toothbrush from www.GetQuip.com/something -Care/of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and use the promo code SOMETHING  

When you look at old holiday photos, you will notice something is definitely missing – and it is something you really wish was there. I begin this episode of the podcast with that missing ingredient and advice on how to put it back in to your photos for this Christmas and in the future. (Cheryl Lightle author of “The Creative Memories Way ) How often have you started something but never finished? How often have you said you wanted to accomplish something but never actually got around to starting it? It turns out these are very common experiences. Jon Acuff, author of the book Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done (https://amzn.to/2EgKYmi) researched the science of setting and achieving goals. He joins me to explain where people go wrong and how to set and reach goals that are truly important to you. Is the 5-Second Rule true? Is double dipping really so bad? How gross is it to eat birthday cake after someone blows out the candles? I explore all of these questions about food and germs and illness with scientist and Clemson University professor Paul Dawson, author of the book Did You Just Eat That? (https://amzn.to/2PqKLOw) You probably don’t use punctuation when you write a text to someone. But maybe you should – sometimes. Listen as I explain why certain punctuation can make you sound more sincere and other punctuation makes you sound less sincere. And what’s interesting is it only applies to texts, not to any other type of written communication. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563215302181 This Week's Sponsors –BetterHelp For 10% off your first month of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/something, promo code SOMETHING –Stitch Fix For an additional 25% off when you keep all the items in your box go to www.StitchFix.com/something -Calming Comfort Blanket. For 15% off the posted price of this incredible blanket to help you sleep better, go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com and use the promo code SOMETHING.

Sometimes you may find yourself in a bad mood for no real reason. So how do you snap out of it? We begin this episode with some very easy, practical and proven ways to get you out of your funk and back to being happy when you are feeling grumpy. http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/10-science-backed-ways-to-beat-a-bad-mood-fast/ar-BBlfz4d#page=5 Is eavesdropping nothing more than an impolite indiscretion – or is eavesdropping something humans must do? John Locke, Professor of Linguistics at Lehman College, City University of New York and author of the book Eavesdropping: An Intimate History (https://amzn.to/2zzH4kp) joins me for a fascinating exploration into what drives us to want to uncover other people’s secrets and what purpose it serves.  Why do some people like spicy food while others don’t? And what is that hot and spicy sensation you get in your mouth anyway – it is not a flavor or taste, so what is it? And perhaps the most important questions is, what is the best way to turn off the heat in your mouth when you eat something that is too hot and spicy? We will explore all of that in this episode. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3342526/So-S-chilli-peppers-tingle-tongue-Capsaicin-compoundbinds-pain-receptors-milk-really-does-help.html While the workplace has become more informal, how you dress and behave still matters. In fact it probably matters more than ever. For example, is it okay for colleagues to kiss at work anymore? How do you politely extract yourself from a conversation you don’t want to be in? What about opening doors for others? Who picks up the check – when? What’s the best way to introduce yourself? Should you give your boss a Christmas gift? Barbara Pachter author of The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Yourself to Success (https://amzn.to/2SqSG09) joins me to discuss all of that and more including social media etiquette. This Week's Sponsors –BetterHelp For 10% off your first month of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/something, promo code SOMETHING –Stitch Fix For an additional 25% off when you keep all the items in your box go to www.StitchFix.com/something Calming Comfort Blanket. For 15% off the posted price of this incredible blanket to help you sleep better, go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com and use the promo code SOMETHING.

Who doesn’t love the smell of a Christmas tree? For most of us, the scent of pine is wonderful. So much so that it is in all sorts of products from car air fresheners to kitchen cleaners. As it turns out smelling pine is also good for you and we begin this episode of the podcast exploring the benefits of that most enjoyable scent. (http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/12/04/healing-power-pine/#ixzz2E8XgB7J4) A large percentage of people classify themselves as passive. Many of those passive people wish they weren’t because they feel that other people walk all over them. So what’s the alternative? Dennis Adams, therapist, former minister and former passive person spent a long time developing a different approach for passive people that he calls - Honest Direct and Respectful. In fact that is the name of his book, Honest, Direct Respectful: 3 Simple Words That Will Change Your Life (https://amzn.to/2Q0tMrs). Dennis joins me to explain how and why it is such a powerful technique for passive people. The holiday season is a time to give thanks for all the things you have. And it turns out that feeling thankful is a good idea the rest of the year too. There are many mental and physical benefits when people feel gratitude. Listen and I will tell you what they are. (http://my.happify.com/hd/what-is-the-science-of-happiness/) If you travel, you don’t need me to tell you how stressful and challenging it can be – particularly around the holidays. Charles McPherson author of The Pocket Butler’s Guide to Travel (https://amzn.to/2KEAsp3) is here to share his advice to make traveling easier and more enjoyable and he has suggestions to help you get the most out of your travel dollars. 

When guests come in to your home, what do they notice most of all? If you are having guests into your house this holiday season you will want to hear this surprising list of things people notice when they come through your front door. http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/what-guests-really-notice-in-your-home/ss-BBnq4Uw#image=8 Money matters. It determines your lifestyle, how long you must work and forces you to make decisions on how to spend it. So it would seem that having more money would make you happier. But not always. Joining me to discuss the role of money and its relationship with happiness is Laura Rowley who has been a personal finance columnist for Self magazine and The Huffington Post and is author of the book Money & Happiness: A Guide to Living the Good Life (https://amzn.to/2SdFXgT). We spend a good deal of our life looking for answers to questions and problems. Interestingly, there are times where it may be more important to find a better question. That’s according to Hal Gregersen, Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center, senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and author of the book Questions Are The Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work and in Life (https://amzn.to/2DXAWWT). Hal joins me to explain the process of coming up with better questions which can lead to greater insight into any problem.  We all have to wash our hands in public bathrooms. So what is the best way to dry them afterwards? Some people prefer paper towels, some hot air dryers. But what does the best job of leaving you with clean germ-free hands? We’ll explore that in this episode. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04838.x/abstract This Week's Sponsors -BetterHelp For 10% off your first month of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/something, promo code SOMETHING

You most likely have a preference for either a neat or a cluttered work environment. So which is better? Well it depends on what type of work you are doing. Those two types of environments have an impact on you that affect your thinking. We begin this episode by exploring that. https://www.medicaldaily.com/clean-environment-leads-healthier-behavior-messy-desk-inspires-creativity-249383 What are the chances that there is life on other planets? Have aliens visited earth? There is no shortage of speculation on the topic and a lot of anecdotal stories about encounters but what does the science say? Michael Wall, senior writer at Science.com and author of the book Out There: A Scientific Guide to Alien Life, Antimatter, and Human Space Travel (For the Cosmically Curious) (https://amzn.to/2S9oJl7) joins me to examine the possibilities and the evidence of other life in our galaxy. Have you ever seen someone talking to themselves on the street or in a store? Your immediate reaction is probably to think it is really weird. But in fact you most likely talk to yourself out loud all the time. We all do. In fact there are several common behaviors we all do that we somehow think are strange when we see other people do them. We’ll explore what they are and why we think this way. http://mentalfloss.com/article/54126/6-embarrassing-things-you-do-and-why The world is full of manipulative people who try to control other people’s thoughts and/or actions. You most likely have come across some of them at work or in your personal life. These people have a name – Gaslighters. And since we all have to deal with them at some point, Stephanie Sarkis, licensed mental health counselor and author of the book Gaslighting (https://amzn.to/2S0NMXa) offers a fascinating explanation of who these people are, what they do, why they act this way and what you can do to identify and avoid them.  This Week's Sponsors -LinkedIn Talent For $50 off your first job posting go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast -Robinhood Go to http:something.robinhood.com to get your free account and receive a share of stock! -BetterHelp For 10% off your first month of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/something, promo code SOMETHING -Stitch Fix For an additional 25% off when you keep all the items in your box go to www.StitchFix.com/something -Madison Reed For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/something