Something You Should Know

Flattery works – if you know how to do it right. So this episode begins with a discussion on how to use flattery and why it is such a powerful tool in getting people to like you. Interestingly though, flattery doesn’t work on everyone and I’ll tell you who. http://changingminds.org/techniques/general/ingratiation/flattery.htm Math is an important part of almost every aspect of your life. You probably just don’t think about it. In fact there are ways to use math that can help you save time and money and make better decisions. Kit Yates joins me to explain the importance of math in our everyday lives and how it works. Kit is a senior lecturer in mathematical biology at the University of Bath in the UK and author of the book The Math of Life and Death (https://amzn.to/35aW5pI). Now that it is a new year and a new decade, it is probably a good time to let go of that grudge you’ve been holding on to. Listen as I explain the amazing benefits of NOT holding a grudge compared to the real downside of holding on to those thoughts of anger, resentment and revenge. http://www.drugs.com/mca/forgiveness-letting-go-of-grudges-and-bitterness What is consciousness? In short it is the essence of who you are at any moment. But where does it come from? Where does it go when you die? These are questions I tackle in this episode with Philip Goff. Who teaches at Durham University in the UK and is the author of the book Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness (https://amzn.to/2QggRjs).

Some people can’t imagine exercise without having their cellphone. You can listen to music, text and chat and it helps the time fly by. Well, there is also a problem with exercising with your cellphone and we will discuss what this is in this episode of the podcast. http://www.mensfitness.com/training/pro-tips/heres-how-your-phone-could-be-ruining-your-workout Have you heard of oxytocin? It’s sometimes called the “moral molecule.” Oxytocin is the brain chemical that helps us trust each other and feel good about each other. What’s interesting is that we know how to cause oxytocin to be released and when you understand how it works, it has implications for all our relationships with people who love, people know and even strangers. Neuroscientist Paul Zak, author of The Moral Molecule (https://alexa.design/2osVKNw) joins me for this fascinating discussion. People talk about healthcare a lot – but things only seem to be getting worse. And generally, I think people feel helpless to do anything. Perhaps you will feel more empowered when you hear Elisabeth Rosenthal, author of the bestselling book, An American Sickness (https://alexa.design/2pniwUd). Elisabeth was trained as a physician and spent years as a writer for the New York Times and is now editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News. Everyone knows that arguing isn’t good. But actually it may just be the thing to keep your relationships alive. We’ll explore why in this episode of the podcast. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38698442/ns/health-behavior/t/go-ahead-argue-it-can-be-good-your-health/

There’s nothing more embarrassing than those awkward moments in life – when your fly is down or there is spinach in your teeth or you embarrass yourself accidentally. But how you handle those moments is what really matters and that is topic number one on today’s podcast. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/11/23/the-science-of-awkwardness How you think about money – and how money plays tricks on is a fascinating topic everyone needs to understand. Claudia Hammond, a broadcaster for the BBC in London is author of the book Mind Over Money (https://amzn.to/2EXto4N) and has some amazing insight on how you handle money and make financial decisions – and how others use little mind games to get you to part with more of your money. Being aware of these things can really help you not fall victim. There is great power in expressing appreciation – yet most people think they don’t get enough of it. The result of that lack appreciation creates all kinds of havoc in relationships and organizations. Listen as we explore the power of appreciation and how to make it work for you. http://www.drpaulwhite.com/

There is something about flying that makes you feel – lousy. Since a lot of people are flying this time of year, this episode begins with a discussion on why flying in an airplane makes you feel so uncomfortable, what you can do about it and how everyone else feels exactly the same way. http://www.menshealth.com/health/feel-better-when-flying/slide/6 I bet you have heard the advice “Follow your passion…” or “Do what you love and the money will follow…” While that sounds great, it may be some of the worst advice you will ever hear when it comes to making a career choice. Cal Newport author of the book So Good They Can’t Ignore You (http://amzn.to/2nGmhpZ) has investigated this advice – where it came from and why it is such a bad idea. Perhaps you have heard of Big Data. Well there is also something called “Small Data.” And small data is a big deal according to Martin Lindstrom who is considered to be one of the world’s top brand-building experts. He is author of the book Small Data (http://amzn.to/2n64AkK) and he explains how small data works, how you collect and interpret this data and how it has helped many organizations focus their marketing better. In fact, small data brought LEGO from the brink of bankruptcy to becoming the number one brand in the entire world. When I say, “Chinese food take-out container,” you know exactly what I mean. It is that small cardboard box with the metal handle that all Chinese food is packed in. It is actually an engineering marvel. It is one piece of cardboard folded in such a way as to be leak-proof. And yet there is nothing Chinese about it and it is not used in China at all. It is a fascinating story worth hearing. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/magazine/the-chinese-takeout-container-is-uniquely-american.html

You can look dramatically younger by doing almost nothing. This episode begins with 3 simple ways that change how people perceive you. Do these things and you will instantly and dramatically appear younger than your actual age. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21895379 Humans are born to be hopeful. Interact with any 2-year old and you will see and hear nothing but hope in what they say and do. Yet sometimes, as adults, we lose hope. Then what? This holiday season, I want to share with you an interview I did a while back with Dr. Shane Lopez, author of the book Making Hope Happen (http://amzn.to/2j7su8N). Dr. Lopez was a leading researcher and authority on hope. Sadly, he died not long ago at the age of 46 but he left a message about hope that is so powerful. Life would be easier if we all had more courage. How to you get more? Debbie Ford is going to tell you how. Debbie Ford was the author of the book Courage: Overcoming Fear and Igniting Self-Confidence (https://amzn.to/34MVudy) and she had a ton of courage. Debbie passed away a few years ago. Shortly before her death I had a chance to talk with her and I think you will find the conversation inspiring as we all prepare for the new year, 2020. When your gas gauge says empty – are you really out of gas? Listen and discover how long you can drive before you must find a gas station. https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/whats-really-left-tank-when-gauge-reads-e

Do you really have a year to send a wedding gift? That turns out to be one of several etiquette myths we’ll explore as I begin today’s episode. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/etiquette/etiquette-mistakes We’ve all heard the stories of terrible, deadly disease outbreaks in other countries that take a devastating toll on the people who live there. Unfortunately, with modern air travel, those diseases could be in the jungles of some Third World country one day and on the streets of New York the next. You really need to hear Michael Osterholm. He is founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and author of the book, Deadliest Enemy (http://amzn.to/2mJxiTh). What he says about infectious diseases is both encouraging and scary – and is definitely something worth knowing. Then, you’ll meet Isaac Lidsky. He was a regular on the TV series “Saved By the Bell.” But he also became a very successful attorney – and along the way lost his sight to a rare disease. He is author of the book Eyes Wide Open (http://amzn.to/2mJwdev) and he shares his unique philosophy on life – and explains why losing his sight was a turning point in his life. You know it is not safe to talk on the phone while driving – but something interesting happens when you drive while. OTHER people in the car are talking on the phone. It is more dangerous than you could have imagined. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performance This Week’s Sponsors -Les Mills On Demand. Try the fitness app FREE for 21 days by going to www.TryLesMills.com/something

How many times have you heard that it is important to drink a lot of fluids when you have a cold or the flu? But why? Does it help flush the illness from your system? That what a lot of people think. But that’s not it. This episode begins with the real reason why it is a good idea to keep drinking when you are sick – but not too much. http://www.realsimple.com/health/first-aid-health-basics/too-much-water-whilesick-can-be-dangerous When you have a tough day or a difficult encounter, it can sometimes be hard to shake it off. The problem is it can negatively affect your performance the rest of the day. However, there is a technique that can really help. Dr. Adam Fraser author of the book The Third Space (https://amzn.to/35BAPub) explains how elite athletes, salespeople and peak performers everywhere don’t let a bad experience keep them down.  If you are going away for the holidays or any other time really, there are some important things to remember to keep burglars out of your house while you are gone. I’ll reveal what is on that very important checklist. http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/89892/5-tips-keeping-your-home-safe-while-youregone-holidays How do you spot a trend? Where do they come from? Rohit Bhargava has been trying to predict trends for a decade and has published a book about it every year for the last several years. He does this by engaging in what he calls “Non-Obvious Thinking” which he says we should all do to help us spot new opportunities. Listen as he explains how you do it and what the latest trends are. His latest book, which will be the last one in the series is called Non Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future (https://amzn.to/36PG61q). This Weeks Sponsors -Finance Pal. Start you free trial today by going to www.FinancePal.com/something 

It is the most wonderful tine of the year! Many people will tell you that Christmas is their favorite holiday. Did you know that there was a time in this country when it was illegal to celebrate Christmas? The episode begins with an explanation of when and why. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2972/surprising-christmas-facts/?slide=25 The sound of your voice and how you speak is a very important part of the image you project. Interestingly a lot of people don’t like their voice and wish it was better. Joining me to help you optimize your voice is Dr. Jackie Gartner-Schmidt a voice-specialized speech language pathologist and professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is also a presentation consultant. You can contact her at jgs@pitt.edu. You can see her TED talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGmGKAk3y-0&feature=youtu.be If you are sending packages to people this holiday season you are going to want to hear some simple suggestions from people who actually deliver packages. Their advice will help your packages get their safely, on time and undamaged. http://www.rd.com/culture/confessions-ups-handler/ You have probably heard that there are health benefits to owning a pet. But our connection with animals goes well beyond that according to Richard Louv author of the book Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives―and Save Theirs (https://amzn.to/2RUzdHX). Listen as he explains why, if you have ever had an encounter with a wild animal, you remember it vividly and what all encounters with animals do for us and the animals.  This Weeks Sponsors -SimpliSafe. Go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something to take advantage of special savings and free shipping. -LinkedIn. Get $50 off your first job post by going to www.LinkedIn.com/SYSK

Next time you do something really embarrassing in front of other people – you will remember what I am going to tell you in this episode – and it will make you feel a lot better about whatever embarrassing thing you did. http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/embarrassment Then, we are going to look at the problems created by parents today who give too much and do too much for their kids. Richard Watts, author of Entitlemania: How Not to Spoil Your Kids & What to Do If You Have (http://amzn.to/2mRbVCP) reveals the consequences of parents over indulging their kids in the name of love. Also, everyone knows that you should stretch before you exercise to become flexible and prevent injury. Yet, according to science it is actually a bad idea. It’s one of the many exercise myths I explore with New York Times writer Gretchen Reynolds, author of The First 20 Minutes (http://amzn.to/2n1Y7pK). You’ll hear the science that explains how many things people believe about exercise, health and weight loss are just plain wrong. There is this thing called the paradox of choice. It basically means that the more choices you give someone the more likely they are to pick none. It’s important to understand and I’ll explain why. http://conversionxl.com/17-lesser-known-ways-to-persuade-people/#

When your hands and feet are cold, you feel you cold. Why is that? And what can you do to warm them up quickly? This episode begins with some interesting help that will keep you warm this winter.  http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/keep-cold-feet-hands-warm/ You may not realize it but communicating with a computer with just your voice is a really big deal. It is a game changer according to Bradley Metrock, CEO of Score Publishing who produces events that revolve around voice computing. Bradley is the host of the podcast This Week in Voice and author of the book More than Just Weather and Music: 200 Ways to Use Alexa (https://amzn.to/2PbTAPe). Listen as he explains how smart speakers work, how some are different than others and what it all means to you. If you are going on a job interview, what is the worst color to wear? I’ll explain what hiring managers say about the worst and best clothes to wear if you want to make a good impression. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-colors-to-wear-to-job-interview-2013-11 You have probably never thought much about the topic of liquids but liquids are vital to our survival and the survival of every species on earth. British scientist Mark Miodownik, author of the book Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances that Flow Through Our Lives (https://amzn.to/2RMwSyL) joins me to discuss the fascinating world of liquids. For one thing, liquids are hard to define yet one liquid (water) covers 70% of the earth's surface. Interestingly, liquids are so important to our survival yet there is very little liquid in the universe. Listen to hear this fascinating discussion. This Week’s Sponsors -Beauty Counter. Check out great holiday specials before they are gone. Go to www.BeautyCounter.com 

Something strange happens when most people read emails and texts and it could cause a health problem. Listen to and discover what it is so you can see if you do it – so you can stop doing it. https://www.businessinsider.com/email-apnea-how-email-change-breathing-2012-12 Nutrition advice can be confusing. Is there an actual diet that will help you lose weight? Are salt and sugar really that bad for your health? Why is so much of the nutrition advice contradictory? Here to discuss the science of nutrition and offer some advice on how to navigate through all the information is Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society and author of the book A Grain of Salt :The Science and Pseudoscience of What We Eat (https://amzn.to/2PqB18N). Sometimes you need an alarm to make sure you wake up on time but it may not be the best way to wake up. There is a better and often easier way that isn’t quite so jarring. Listen to find out what it is. http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/53710/why-do-i-always-wake-5-minutesmy-alarm-goes Human beings like to explore. We have explored most of our earth and now we are exploring space. Why are we so curious? Why is exploration so important? And what will we explore next? Andrew Rader is an aerospace engineer who works as a mission manager at Space X. He has written a fascinating book about human exploration called Beyond the Known: How Exploration Created the Modern World and Will Take Us to the Stars (https://amzn.to/2Ry05NH) and he joins me to tell some exciting tales of exploration – past and present. This Week’s Sponsors -Fetch Rewards. Download the Fetch Rewards app and use promo code SYSK to receive 4000 points when you scan your first receipt. -Finance Pal. Start you free trial today by going to www.FinancePal.com/something 

What’s the best way to deal with a jerk? Well, according to psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston, there is one word that will shut them up – and it is kind of fun to watch. That’s first up today on this episode of the podcast. Plus, what does your dog really think about? Probably not what you think. Camilla Gray-Nelson, author of Lipstick & the Leash: Dog Training a Woman’s Way (http://amzn.to/2mkKr5Z) offers some amazing insight into what’s really going on inside that little doggie brain. Then, knowing what your dog is thinking, you can then train and relate to them in a way that works for everyone. Then, do you believe in magical thinking? Maybe you knock on wood or use a lucky charm or wear you lucky shirt. And deep down inside you know there is nothing to it really – but you do it anyway. So what’s this all about? Matthew Hutson, author of The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking (http://amzn.to/2lUpH8R) explores why virtually everyone (even skeptics) across all cultures engages in magical thinking. And he reveals how magical thinking can actually work – like magic! Finally, when you go on a trip, why does it seem that the trip back home is shorter than the trip there? There is actually an interesting psychological phenomenon at work. I’ll explain what it is in today’s episode. https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/06/why-the-trip-back-always-feels-shorter/395714/

This is the time of year when people give to people less fortunate – and that is great. However, if you are going to give, there are things that most homeless shelters and other organizations need more than others. This episode begins by explaining what most donation centers would really like you to get them for Christmas. http://www.purewow.com/home/best-items-to-donate-to-charity-drives If you think the way to win an argument is to give people a lot of evidence to prove you are right, you must listen to this because it will fundamentally change the way you argue EVERYTHING. Professor Niro Sivanathan of the London Business School is an expert on something called the “dilution effect” that says that more evidence is not better. In fact more evidence oftens weakens your argument. Listen as he explains how to strengthen any argument and more importantly how to NOT dilute your arguments by putting “everything on the table.” You can see his TED talk on this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=hkFCu6K8Ghw  Do you pay much attention to the age recommendations on toy boxes when you buy Christmas gifts? Listen as I explain why you should, what they mean and how to use them wisely. www.ToyTips.com  Are you a good writer? Would you like to be a better one? It’s not that hard to do according to Mary-Kate Mackey, author of the book Write Better Now: The Reluctant Writer’s Guide to Confident Communication and Self-Assured Style (https://amzn.to/34DBnPP). Listen as she offers some simple ways to improve the quality of your writing so people really understand what you are trying to say when you write letters, reviews, blog posts, texts, emails or anything else. This Week’s Sponsors -Flo Technologies. For 20% off your Flo device go to http://go.thoughtleaders.io/1516520191202 and use the promo code: SYSK20 -Finance Pal. Go to www.financepal.com/something to start your free trial today -Fetch Rewards. Download the Fetch Rewards app and use promo code SYSK to receive 4000 points when you scan your first receipt. 

People seem to get sadder in winter. Is it the weather? Is it just because it’s colder? Or is it the sunlight? This episode begins with the explanation of why more people get into bad moods this time of year. https://www.medicaldaily.com/seasonal-affective-disorder-happiness-actually-linked-sunshine-study-finds-403569 Computers and other electronic devices used to come with huge instruction manuals. Not anymore. We live in an age of “user-friendly” machines that don't need instructions. What’s so interesting is that the whole concept of the “user experience” is really traceable back to a specific point in time and it wasn’t all that long ago. Cliff Kuang is a user experience designer and author of the book User Friendly: How the hidden rules of design are changing the way we live, work, and play (https://amzn.to/37T1Vi0). Listen as he explains the evolution that has gone from teaching people how to use complicated machines to making complicated machines easy for people to use. Everyone loves a log fire on a cold winter’s night. But does it really keep you warm? And what about the pollution it causes? Listen and discover some interesting facts about log fires. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-10-06/business/0010060120_1_furnaceor-boiler-chimney-heat We spend a lot of time either trying to change people’s minds or listening to other people trying to change ours. Often it isn’t very successful despite the rational and reasonable arguments we all use. So you have to wonder if there is a better way. And you also have to wonder if it is worth trying to change someone's mind in the first place. Eleanor Gordon Smith has researched this and written a book about it called Stop Being Reasonable: How We Really Change Our Minds (https://amzn.to/2R9OxQQ). She joins me explain the fascinating results of her research on why changing your mind and my mind is so amazingly difficult.  This Week’ Sponsors -Simplisafe. For huge holiday savings and a free HD security camera to www.Simplisafe.com/something -Article Furniture. For $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more go to https://www.article.com/sysk -Capterra. To find the best software for your business for free go to www.Capterra.com/something

Can your pet really get sick eating poinsettia leaves or drinking Christmas tree water? We begin this episode looking at some of the real holiday pet hazards and some you don’t really need to worry about. http://www.paws.org/library/pet-info/pet-care/holiday-hazards/ Not long ago you most likely would choose a TV or a computer or even grocery items because of the name brand. That has a changed a lot of the last several years thanks to things like online ratings and reviews. Here to discuss this evolution is Itamar Simonson, professor of marketing at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and author of the book Absolute Value: What Really Influences Customers in the Age of (Nearly) Perfect Information (https://amzn.to/2Dl5dfW) Why is it that you can freeze your leftovers once – but only once? What’s so bad about freezing them again? I will explain the science of once is enough when it comes to freezing food. http://www.bonappetit.com/story/when-can-you-refreeze-food What are the odds you will be struck by lightning? What are the odds that your online dating partner lied about his or her age, height, weight or even marital status? What are the odds you’ll be injured by duct tape? The odds of things happening to you are very different than you might imagine. Joining me to discuss some of these interesting facts, stories and statistics is Amram Shapiro, author of The Book of Odds: From Lightning Strikes to Love at First Sight, the Odds of Everyday Life (https://amzn.to/34usiZI).