Something You Should Know

When it comes to successful online dating, the two things that seem to matter most are your screen name and your profile picture. I begin this episode by explaining what works best as determined by researchers who reviewed thousands of online profiles of people who were successful online daters and people who failed miserably. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150212212100.htm What determines your behavior? Is everything you do the result of your free will or is your behavior determined by something else? Could it be you are not responsible for your own actions? Robert Sapolsky, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University joins me to make the case that we are not responsible for what we do – that it is determined by all sorts of biological influences. What he says will either make you a believer – or make you crazy. Robert is the author of several books including the bestseller, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. https://amzn.to/2LWQRZR Do you know what you look like – really? You’d think so but actually other people are probably better than you at identifying photos of you that REALLY resemble what you like you. Sounds odd, right? We shall explore why that is and why your self-image may be somewhat distorted. http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=154010&CultureCode=en Are we too obsessed with being clean? Are we over-sanitizing our world? It looks like it. Marie-Claire Arrieta, assistant professor at the University of Calgary in Canada is co-author of the book Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World https://amzn.to/2vj6r7S . She joins me to explain the unintended consequences of keeping our homes, our children and everything else in our lives TOO clean. Those consequences include an increase in asthma, allergies, resistance to antibiotics and much more. Her website is www.LetThemEatDirt.com This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSK and use the promo code SYSK FIXD. Buy 2 FIXD devices and get a third one free plus get 10% off your already discounted price at www.ListenToMyCar.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Simplisafe.com. Check out this incredible security system and if you order one through this special link, Simplisafe will donate a security system to a family in need. Go to www.Simplisafe.com/something

This episode begins with a look at some fascinating science of everyday life. For example, how the calorie count for food is determined, what does it take to actually crush a Lego brick, why water of the same temperature feels colder than air of the same temperature – and more. http://mentalfloss.com/article/66086/11-scientific-explanations-everyday-life Do you swear? If so, why? Are there any benefits to swearing? And how has swearing changed over the years? These are a couple of the questions tackled by Emma Byrne author of the book Swearing is Good For You. https://amzn.to/2vq8R3P. Listen to Emma and you may just come away with a whole new view of the power and usefulness of bad words.  You’ve heard the phrase – “Sex sells.” Right? Well actually sex doesn't sell. Violence doesn’t sell either. You’ll hear about some fascinating research that shows that in terms of advertising effectiveness, sex and violence really get in the way. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3169550/Sex-DOESN-T-sell-Consumers-distracted-raunchy-violent-ads-forget-product-study-reveals.html#ixzz3gdzJRKwe If you watch the news or look at social media a lot, you might think the world is becoming a harsh and terrible place. But could it just be perception? Could it really be that the world and the people in it are getting better and have been for a long time? That is the contention of Gregg Easterbrook author of It’s Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age of Fear. https://amzn.to/2MddPYH . Gregg explains that when you objectively measure the things that determine how our lives are trending – there are a lot of reasons to celebrate. This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSKand use the promo code SYSK Hotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking. Bombas Socks.Get 20% off your first order by going towww.Bombas.com/something and use the promo code SOMETHING Madison Reed. Get 10% off your first hair color kit plus free shipping by going to www.madison-reed.com and use the promo code SOMETHING InterContinental Hotel Group. Listen to the podcast called “Stories of the InterContinental Life” at Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay or wherever you listen to podcasts.  

Negotiating your own salary can be stressful and difficult. This episode begins with some proven ways to help you maneuver through the negotiation process effectively so you get the best deal and the most money possible. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-negotiate-a-higher-salary Just about everyone enjoys music. But it is more than mere entertainment. Researcher and writer Dan Levitin author of the book, This is Your Brain on Music discusses how people have used music throughout history and how we use it today to help wake us up, make us think, enhance our mood and help us sleep. https://amzn.to/2zRC39i Houseplants can make any home look better but houseplants also have real health benefits. I’ll reveal why it is worth the fuss and effort for you and your family to fill your home with houseplants. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/articles/5-benefits-of-houseplants So many of us struggle with clutter – whether it’s our workspace, a room or our entire home. It’s not just getting rid of clutter that’s hard, it’s making sure more clutter doesn’t come in and take its place. Decluttering expert Dana White of www.ASlobComesClean.com is author of the book Declutter at the Speed of Life. She joins me to share some very simple, practical strategies for getting rid of clutter and also talks about the amazing benefits that come when the clutter is gone. https://amzn.to/2uKoHpy This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSKand use the promo code SYSK Hotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking. Bombas Socks.Get 20% off your first order by going towww.Bombas.com/something and use the promo code SOMETHING Madison Reed. Get 10% off your first hair color kit plus free shipping by going to www.madison-reed.com and use the promo code SOMETHING InterContinental Hotel Group. Listen to the podcast called “Stories of the InterContinental Life” at Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What’s the real reason people get angry over the little things? At least one leading expert believes it’s all about control. I begin this episode of the podcast discussing the high cost your pay by getting so upset over nothing and how to let go of life’s little aggravations. (The Anger Trap by Les Carter https://amzn.to/2NYGHpd) So much of the advice on eating healthy is about what to avoid – meat, dairy, gluten, sugar, oil etc. But pediatrician Dr. Aaron Carroll, professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and author of the book The Bad Food Bible (https://amzn.to/2uuXeJk) says there isn’t much science to support these kind of restrictive diets in terms of them being healthier. He joins me to explain what it really means to eat healthy and talks about how many of the foods people think are bad – really are not. If your relationship has lost some of the magic or passion – how can you steam things up a bit? I have a couple of very simple techniques that are proven to help you feel the romance and excitement once again. http://www.womansday.com/relationships/sex-tips/g654/spice-up-your-relationship/ Why does it seem some people are incredibly productive and others of us never seem to have enough time to get all the things done we need to? Charles Duhigg has the fascinating answer to that. Charles is one of the leading authorities on productivity and is author of the books Smarter Faster Better (https://amzn.to/2NYMw5J) and The Power of Habit (https://amzn.to/2NUsadT). Charles joins me with some very practical advice that will help you get everything done and still have time left over.    This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSK and use the promo code SYSK Hunt A Killer. Order now and get 10% of your first box. Go to www.HuntAKiller.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Sworkit. Get your 30 day free trial and then 10% off your subscription by going to www.Sworkit.com/something and use the offer code SOMETHING Helix Sleep. Get up to $125 off your mattress order by going to www.Helixsleep.com/something Udemy. Go to www.Ude.my/something for up to 90% off when you sign up for classes. InterContinental Hotel Group. Listen to the podcast called “Stories of the InterContinental Life” at Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay or wherever you listen to podcasts Madison Reed. Get 10% off your first hair color kit plus free shipping by going to www.madison-reed.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Care/Of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code SOMETHING

Should you really not go swimming until a half hour after eating? Can you really get poison ivy by touching someone who already has it? These are just some of the common pieces of summertime advice you often hear. We’ll take a look at the science behind these and several others and reveal whether or not they are true. http://www.silive.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/07/summer_myths_debunked.html If you want to be persuasive, it is not only what you say but how you prepare the person in advance to hear your message. That’s according to Robert Cialdini author of the book PREsuasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade https://amzn.to/2NScEiP. Several years ago Robert wrote the landmark book on the topic of persuasion titled Influence https://amzn.to/2Jr8jj5. This new research can easily be applied to your life with amazing results making you much more persuasive. Your mother or grandmother likely rinsed or pre-washed dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. With today’s dishwashers it is not a good idea. I’ll reveal the interesting reasons why your dishwasher works best when the dishes are really dirty. http://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/a51170/stop-prerinsing-dishes/ What is your "personal presence"? In other words, what is the image that you give off about who you are and what you stand for? It’s a tough question. It is easy to determine the personal presence of others but not so easy to figure out how the world perceives us. Kristi Hedges author of the book The Power of Presence https://amzn.to/2L08kA0 joins me to explain how to the world sees you and how you can improve the image you present to others to help create stronger connections. Kristi also is the author of another book called The Inspiration Code https://amzn.to/2NjbDPE  This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSK and use the promo code SYSK Hunt A Killer. Order now and get 10% of your first box. Go to www.HuntAKiller.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Sworkit. Get your 30 day free trial and then 10% off your subscription by going to www.Sworkit.com/something and use the offer code SOMETHING Helix Sleep. Get up to $125 off your mattress order by going to www.Helixsleep.com/something Udemy. Go to www.Ude.my/something for up to 90% off when you sign up for classes. InterContinental Hotel Group. Listen to the podcast called “Stories of the InterContinental Life” at Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay or wherever you listen to podcasts Madison Reed. Get 10% off your first hair color kit plus free shipping by going to www.madison-reed.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Care/Of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code SOMETHING

When you want something from someone else – like in a negotiation – it usually doesn’t pay to get mad. But it might be a good idea to get sad. This episode begins with some interesting research that can help you get better at getting what you want. http://www.thestar.com/business/careers/2015/07/02/wanta-raise-try-crying-it-8217-s-science-.html Does eating sweets put you in a sweeter mood? Does thinking a food is high in fat rev your body up to burn the calories better? These are just a few questions I discuss with neuroscientist Rachel Herz, who teaches at Brown University and Boston College. Rachel is the author of the book Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food https://amzn.to/2L5HAxj. What she has to say about you and your food will startle you. Why do mosquito bites always itch? Why can’t they take your blood and be done with it? I’ll reveal the anatomy of a mosquito bite and why it is so annoying. http://mentalfloss.com/article/64950/why-do-mosquito-bites-itch-so-much Who doesn’t love life hacks? And there is no better expert on the topic than David Pogue, author of Pogue’s Basics: Life https://amzn.to/2NPyhAo. David joins me to discuss simple hacks that can save you time and money: like how to get the last of ketchup out of the bottle, how to read when you don’t have your glasses, how to get a better price on hotels and more. You’ll like and remember what he has to say.  This Week’s Sponsors Hoka One One. Get free expedited shipping on your first pair of shoes by going to www.hokaoneone.com/SYSK and use the promo code SYSK InterContinental Hotel Group. Listen to the podcast called “Stories of the InterContinental Life” at Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay or wherever you listen to podcasts Quip Toothbrush. Order your Quip toothbrush and get your first refill pack free by going to www.GetQuip.com/something Bombas Socks. Get 20% off your first order by going to www.Bombas.com/something and using the promo code SOMETHING Hunt A Killer. Order now and get 10% of your first box. Go to www.HuntAKiller.com and use the promo code SOMETHING Sworkit. Get your 30 day free trial and then 10% off your subscription by going to www.Sworkit.com/something and use the offer code SOMETHING FIXD. Get 10% off your purchase by going to www.ListenToMyCar.com and use the promo code SOMETHING

A kiss is just a kiss. Or is it? It turns out kissing does a lot. I begin this episode with some interesting facts about what kissing does, the messages it sends and why men and women tend to prefer different kinds of kisses. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/20-things-you-never-knew-about-kissing/ss-AA3gtBD Why would you ever want to pay more when you can pay less? Well, that turns out to be a complicated question. There is a cost to chasing the lowest prices according to Ellen Ruppel Shell, a writer for the Atlantic magazine, professor at Boston University and author of the book Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture https://amzn.to/2NKHeLe. Anyone who bought something on sale but then never wore it or used it needs to hear this. Why do kids get the entire summer off? The myth has been that it started back when kids lived mostly on farms and took the summer off to help bring in the crops. But the crop harvest in the fall when kids are back in school – so that can’t be it. I’ll explain the real reason. http://mentalfloss.com/article/56901/why-do-students-get-summers Have you heard that gum disease can lead to heart attacks? How can that be – what’s the connection? The answer is inflammation. Dr. Duke Johnson, Medical Director of the Nutrilite Health Institute Center for Optimal Health in Southern California and author of the book Optimal Health https://amzn.to/2ugDngD explains how inflammation in the body is linked to chronic diseases – and more importantly what you can do about it.  Advertisers in this episode: Quip Toothbrush. Get a Quip toothbrush and get your first refill pack free when you go to: www.getquip.com/something

A lot of things about you determine how likable you are but there are a few simple techniques to make you appear more likable instantly. I start this episode with three ways, according to Psychology Today, that will make you more likable to others when you meet them. And they aren’t what you probably think. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201107/get-anyone-you-instantly-guaranteed-1 Evolution is what got us to where we are today. But the evolutionary road we have traveled to get here is a bumpy one. Biology professor Nathan Lents author of the book, Human Error: A Panorama of our Glitches from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes https://amzn.to/2zo2u67 takes us on a journey of the human evolution timeline and points out what went right and what went wrong. Ever wonder why so many people have back and knee trouble? Could it be a flaw in our evolution? Why do humans get so many colds? Another flaw? You will find the answers in this episode. As you go through life, you collect stuff. Then, over time that stuff collects in your home and you forget about it – even if that stuff serves no purpose, is outdated or useless. We start with a list of things you may not even notice that are most likely cluttering up your home that you really ought to throw out – NOW! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/08/things-in-your-home-to-get-rid-of_n_4748455.html Frisbee, Hula-Hoop, Slip & Slide – they are all toys you and just about everyone else have played with for over 60 years. And they are all made by the Wham-O Toy Company. Had did one small company create such iconic toys? Tim Walsh, author of The Whamo Superbook: Celebrating 60 Years Inside the Fun Factory https://amzn.to/2NE8LxX takes you inside the workings of Wham-O, which has specialized and excelled by making outdoor toys while other toy companies have gone high tech.  Advertisers in this episode: Helix Sleep. Get up to $125 off your mattress order by going to www.helixsleep.com/something SimpliSafe. Protect your home with the best home security system. Go to www.simplisafe.com/something

Do you blush? Most people who do blush wish they didn’t because it is embarrassing and – as blushers know – it is impossible to stop doing it. But blushing has a purpose and I begin this episode by discussing who blushes, why they blush and what it means to others when you do. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-we-blush-social-embarrassment I’m sure you know that feeling of delight when someone surprises you on your birthday or anniversary or surprised you for no particular reason at all. When you understand how you can create that feeling of delight in others, those people will go out of their way to help you in all sorts of ways. Andy Nulman author of the book Pow! Right between the Eyes! Profiting from the Element of Surprise (https://amzn.to/2J5IwN5) joins me to discuss the power of surprise.  Finding true love isn’t always easy – especially the second or third time around. One of the tricks is knowing where to look. So I will tell you the top 3 ways people find the next love of their life. Not just where people meet to find someone to date – but where they find real love. https://amzn.to/2uenFBW Everyone worries about their breath sometimes. Bad breath is sometimes hard to get rid of – and that is partly because people don’t understand where it comes. Dr. Harold Katz, DDS, is the founder of the California Breath Clinics and author of the book The Bad Breath Bible https://www.therabreath.com/ebook/ and he joins me to clear up some myths about bad breath and how to conquer it once and for all.  Advertisers in this episode: Bombas Socks. Get 20% off your first sock order from Bombas! Go to www.bombas.com/something and enter the word – something – in the promo code space. Hims. If you are concerned about hair loss get a trial month of prescription treatment for just $5. Go to www.ForHims.com/something.  

Getting kids – or even some grownups – to eat their vegetables can be frustrating. However there are some simple techniques that researchers at Cornell University have studied that appear to be quite effective Listen and I’ll tell you how and you’ll discover the fascinating side effects of improving your reputation as a cook and a human being amongst your family members. And who wouldn’t want to do that? http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/OP/Loving_Cook You likely don’t give a lot of thought to how important strangers are to you because, well, they are strangers. However, certain strangers can play a far more important and seemingly mysterious role in your personal and professional success. Melinda Blau, author of the book Consequential Strangers (https://amzn.to/2NdVWKv) joins me to discuss this. Do you or someone in your circle get motion sickness? Ever wonder why that is and the best cure for it? I’ll discuss some interesting findings from a leading researcher on motion sickness that can offer some real relief. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/how-to-beat-motion-sickness?page=2 How many ad messages do you think you are exposed to every day? The number will astound you. Journalist Ken Auletta, author of the book Frenemies: The Epic Disruption of the Ad Business (and Everything Else) https://amzn.to/2tL09x8 joins me to explain why the advertising business is in turmoil and the rather serious consequences it can have on you as a consumer. 

Not drinking enough water is a big problem. And while being a little dehydrated won’t kill you, dehydration does have a lot of significant and negative effects on your physical and mental wellness. This episode starts with a look at some surprising findings. http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/5-signs-dehydration-besides-color-your-pee Language controls what you think and how you think it. Imagine how differently you would think if you didn’t have words like “left” or “right”? Or what if your language had no specific numbers? Well it turns out there are languages like that. And the differences in languages, including English, frame the way you think according to Lera Boroditsky who is a professor of cognitive science at the University of California San Diego. She has a fascinating TED talk on this subject which led me to her. Here is the link:  https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think You’ve surely been told the importance of maintaining good eye contact with people when you speak with them. But sometimes you shouldn’t. In fact sometimes you can’t maintain eye contact – it’s virtually impossible. Listen to hear the reason why. http://www.livescience.com/7155-helps-concentration.html While you may not spend a lot of time thinking about it, your emotions play a huge role in your personal and professional success. Psychiatrist Dr. Norman Rosenthal, author of the book The Emotional Revolution https://amzn.to/2KxxlSd joins me to reveal things about how your emotions work, how you can control them and the purpose they serve. 

It is rare to see a UPS truck turning left. Sure, sometimes they have to but they try not to. And there is a really good reason why that we can all learn from. I begin this episode with a discussion on that. (http://mentalfloss.com/article/60556/19-secrets-ups-drivers) Could it be you are not as smart as you think you are? Apparently so according to David McRaney author of the book and host of the podcast called You Are Not So Smart (https://amzn.to/2tGvPTq). David explains some of the interesting quirks and flaws of the human brain that make us think the way we do – that also makes our perception quite inaccurate a lot of the time. I bet you’ve wondered if it helps to pay your credit card bill early. Well, if you carry a balance it does. I will explain a simplified version of the math to show you how. You may not get rich from doing it but it certainly worth knowing and can save a fair amount of money over time. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/pay-credit-card-bill-early-and-save-1.aspx How long will you live?  It’s important to grasp this because there are ramifications to the question for you, your parents and your children. Longevity continues to rise and with that comes the good and the bad. Dr. Laura Carstensen, professor of psychology and public policy at Stanford University is founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and author of the book, A Long Bright Future (https://amzn.to/2KqrvPe) offers up so fascinating insight into how wonderful it is to be living so much longer than our ancestors – and why perhaps the best is yet to come. 

There is only one right way to build a fire. It has always been this way and it is unlikely anyone will ever come up with a better way. Interestingly, you probably already do it. I start this episode with an explanation on how to build the perfect fire. http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/fire People tend to ask for help all wrong! Humans like to help, we get joy from helping and if you ask the right way, you will often get the help you want. It’s HOW you ask that really matters. Social psychologist Heidi Grant, author of the book Reinforcements: How to Get People to Help You https://amzn.to/2MRA4Ep has explored the research and when you hear what she has to say, you will become better and more effective at asking for help. How you prepare some food has an impact on how healthy it is for you. For example, you shouldn’t cut strawberries until just before you eat them – but for garlic the opposite is true. You should peel and chop and let it sit for a while first. Why? I’ll explain and tell you how to make several other foods healthier. http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/25/health/eating-foods-wrong/index.html Why are there so many financial gurus, websites, books, magazine and TV shows offering advice on how to invest your money? Is it really that hard? Not according to financial journalist Helaine Olen who writes for the Washington Post and is author of the book The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated https://amzn.to/2tuVnUr. Helaine explains why so much financial advice is horrible and how anyone can do a great job managing their own finances.

Want to feel REALLY good? Watch this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiKxytbCWk. It’s a dull and boring video about folding towels and will make you (or at least many people) get chills and give you a “brain orgasm.” Why? No one really knows for sure but I’ll explain what is known about it as I start this episode. How could 95% of the universe be missing? Why is it that science can’t quite explain why we need to die or how free will works? Michael Brooks joins me for a fascinating discussion on things that baffle science. Michael holds a PhD in quantum physics and is author of the book 13 Things that Don’t Make Sense : The Most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of Our Times (https://amzn.to/2JSTD17) and he is co-host of the podcast series Science(ish) which looks at the scientific issues raised by popular culture fiction such as Hollywood films and TV. A lot of the time you use the word “that” in a sentence, it is totally unnecessary. Oh, and so is “totally” as in totally unnecessary. I’ll have a list of words you probably use that you don’t really need to – in fact you really shouldn't. https://www.themuse.com/advice/15-words-you-need-to-eliminate-from-your-vocabulary-to-soundsmarter# You may have people in your life who “gaslight” you. It is a form of manipulation and it is very toxic. Therapist Robin Stern, author of the book, The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life (https://amzn.to/2M8RzyP), joins me to explain how it works and how to defend yourself from gaslighters. 

When you search for something in Google does it matter what order you put the words in? What about punctuation – does that matter? We start this episode with the best ways to optimize Google searches to get the best results. (https://edu.google.com/coursebuilder/courses/pswg/1.2/assets/notes/Lesson1.5/Lesson1.5Wordordermatters_Text_.html) What makes someone beautiful? Can you really become more beautiful? These are important questions because beauty and attractiveness have some clear benefits for everyone. Rachelle Smith, associate professor of psychology at Husson University, is author of the book The Biology of Beauty (https://amzn.to/2JOKMtn). Rachelle joins me to explain the importance of your own beauty and how to maximize what you have.  If you are going on a job interview it matters whether you are the first person interviewed or the last person or better yet, the fourth person. I’ll explain why. (http://www.businessinsider.com/always-go-fourth-during-interviews-2015-5) Seemingly small inventions like the razor blade, the TV dinner and paper money have had profound impacts on our lives and the economy in ways you never knew. Tim Harford, author of the book Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern Economy (https://amzn.to/2JV5zM9) joins me for a fascinating explanation of how these innovations have transformed our lives.