Something You Should Know

Mike chats with Mark Ramsey of Inside the Exorcist about their favorite episodes on each other podcasts! Feast on these shows @ www.Wondery.com/Thanksgiving Something You Should Know Binge: Dirty John Inside the Exorcist Up & Vanished Sword & Scale Hardcore History Inside The Exorcist Binge: Morning Joe - Most Current Ep Hollywood & Crime - S1, Ep1 Dirty John - Ep 1 Fame is a Bitch - Harvey Weinstein Controversy Golden Age Horror - Classic Frankenstein

When you talk to your partner, there is something you do – or don’t do, that can predict with amazing accuracy whether or not your relationship will survive and thrive or crash and burn. I start this episode with an explanation of what that is exactly. Then, time is constant but we all experience time differently in different situations. Marnie Makridakis author of the book, Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life (http://amzn.to/2yjzCr3) reveals how to improve the way you experience the passing of time. She also explains how you can make time – or at least the way you perceive it – either speed up or slow down. Also, you know you should drink a lot of water but you may not know all the reasons why. When you hear them, you may just want to go get yourself some water. Plus, no one ever said parenting was easy. Psychologist Wes Crenshaw author of the book, Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Parents of Teens (http://amzn.to/2hr182v) offers some straight forward, down-to-earth advice for parents to be more effective parents and to make the process of parenting simpler.

You have to have experience to advance in any profession – or do you? Experience is good but in many cases being a rookie is even better. I’ll explain why in the first segment of this episode. Then, have we gotten too sensitive and too politically correct? A lot of people think so, including Larry Winget. Larry has been called the “Pitbull of personal development.” He has spoken to over 400 of the Fortune 500 companies and hosted the A&E TV series “Big Spender” and has authored six best-selling books. His latest book is called,  What’s Wrong with Damn Near Everything (http://amzn.to/2AnTIBN). Larry offers his no-nonsense view of finding happiness and success while not getting outraged and offended by things you don’t agree with. Then, there are some common American behaviors that can get you branded as a "loud obnoxious American tourist" in other countries. I’ll explain what they are and how to avoid them when you travel abroad. finally, conventional wisdom has always been that it is better to own a home rather than rent. But today, that isn’t always true. Jane Hodges, author of the book Rent vs. Own: A Real Estate Reality Check for Navigating Booms, Busts, and Bad Advice (http://amzn.to/2haDVhi). She explains why owning is best for some and renting is best for others. A lot of it has to do with how old you are, where you are in your life and career and how much money you have.

The holiday season is upon us! And if the holidays stress you out, you are in excellent company. I’ll explain who else finds the holidays stressful and why. Also, we take a look at home remedies that REALLY work. Pharmacologist Joe Graedon, founder of the www.PeoplesPharmacy.com and author of the book, The People’s Pharmacy (http://amzn.to/2z6Vabs) has been researching home remedies for a few decades now – figuring out what works and why. He joins me with some fascinating intel on home remedies and other medications that will surprise you and could save your life. One day you WILL have to speak in front of people. Whether it’s a presentation at work or a speech in front of a large group, there are things you can do to make it easier and far more effective. It’s all in the preparation – but it has to be the right kind of preparation. Public speaking expert and coach Darlene Price, author of the book, Well Said: Presentations and Conversations that Get Results (http://amzn.to/2zoIgZb), joins me with some powerful advice. Plus, you probably think you can “catch up” on your sleep by sleeping in on the weekends. If so, think again. If you are sleep deprived, there is a better way to fix your sleep – and it doesn’t have to do with how many hours you sleep – rather, it’s about HOW you sleep.

When you are playing a game, should you let your child win? It’s a question every adult asks themselves. If you beat them will it hurt their self-esteem? Listen and hear some interesting thoughts on that question. Also, how you see the world has a lot to do with your perception. How you interpret events is unique and different from everyone else. Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, author of the book, Perceptual Intelligence: The Brain’s Secret to Seeing Past Illusion, Misperception and Self-Deception (http://amzn.to/2zQQKEN  explains how you can control, alter and improve your perception to help you see the world as it really is. Plus, could you be doing things that cause people to NOT like you? There are several behaviors, including a few you may be doing on Facebook, that can be real turn-offs to others. And how resilient are you? Probably a lot more resilient than you think you are. Andrew Zolli, author of the book, Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back (http://amzn.to/2zQFzfi) explores how resilience works and what allows most of us to bounce back – but others to stay stuck.

Have you ever heard of misaphonia? It’s a real thing. If you have it, that means that certain sounds – like someone chewing their food with their mouth open or slurping their soup - drive you crazy. But people who have misaphonia also have something else going for them that is actually pretty good. I’ll explain what that is. Then, have you ever wanted to learn something new like a foreign language or a musical instrument? But maybe you didn’t bother because it would just take too long to get proficient at it. Well, maybe according to Josh Kaufman, author of the book The First 20 Hours (http://amzn.to/2ix9SUN). According to Josh, what you do in those early hours of learning can really accelerate you learning curve. Also, if you ever stay at hotels you need to be aware of a scam that is amazingly easy to fall for if you don’t know what it is. So, I’ll fill you in. Are people inherently good – or not? That is a question that has been debated by philosophers for centuries. And it is something explored in the book, The Fear Factor (http://amzn.to/2gEDvzm). Researcher Abigail March is the author and she is also an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University. She explores what makes some of us altruistic and others callous and uncaring. It’s a fascinating discussion with a silver lining.

I suspect we all mispronounce words from time to time. Either we learned them wrong or we get lazy. I know I usually pronounce affidavit as if it has a D on the end instead of a t because it is just easier. It’s wrong but it is easier. We start today’s episode by looking at some commonly mispronounced words because some people will judge you harshly when you mispronounce words. Then, what happens when you die? Of course we don’t know for sure – or do we? Dr. Mary Neal is a medical doctor who drowned in a kayaking accident in Chile several years ago. She was dead for 30 minutes. But she came back. Wait until you hear the story she tells of her experience of dying and returning to tell the tale. Dr. Neal is the author of the N.Y. Times best-selling book To Heaven and Back (http://amzn.to/2yFC7EL) . If you are a wine drinker, you have no doubt gone to take a sip only to see a fruit fly swimming in your glass. Should you toss out the fly and drink the wine or start all over? There is a little science you need to hear. And why are procrastinators made to feel bad that they always wait until the last minute to accomplish a task? What does it matter as long as it gets done? According to clinical psychologist Dr. Mary Lamia, author of the book, What Motivates Getting Things Done: Procrastination, Emotions, and Success (http://amzn.to/2zGr0Md). procrastinators should stop feeling bad and stop trying to change. First of all it is almost impossible to change and secondly, there is no reason to. And she explains all of that in today’s episode.

44% of Americans believe red cars cost more to insure. It is just one of many misconceptions about auto insurance people tend to believe. Listen as I explain these myths and reveal why it is important to know them because there is a good chance you believe at least one. Then, listen to Admiral William McRaven. A 37-year Navy Seal, Admiral McRaven delivered the commencement speech at the University of Texas in 2014. The video went viral and has now been seen by millions. Admiral McRaven is the author of the book Make Your Bed (http://amzn.to/2l05XR9) which explains some important life lessons he gave in that speech– and he explains some of them with me in this episode. Also, it is fairly well accepted that eating food late at night can lead to weight gain. But is it really true? Wait until you hear the facts. And going on job interviews can be stressful and nerve-racking. But understanding the process and how to prepare can make it easier and improve your chances of actually getting the job! Vicky Oliver author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (http://amzn.to/2yy58Uv) reveals what job interviewers are looking for, what they are likely to ask, how they try to trip you up – and more.

When you see people do embarrassing things, it is sometimes hard not to laugh or judge. But interestingly, you probably do the same or similar things that are just as embarrassing. I’ll explain how I know that. Also, could the size and color of your plate affect how much you eat? Dr. Brian Wansink, Director of the Food & Brand Lab at Cornell University and author of the book, Mindless Eating (http://amzn.to/2yqYHTp) offers some fascinating research that shows the different things that impact our food choices. Plus, we take a look at your imagination. Your imagination can run wild and create problems for you or you can use it to create a better life for yourself. James Mapes, researcher, speaker and author of the book Imagine That (http://amzn.to/2zaPpIC) helps you understand what your imagination is and how to use it to your advantage. Have you heard the advice that it is better to spend money on experiences than on material things? While there may be some wisdom in that, it isn’t always true. I’ll explain why.

How do you stand out in a crowd? It turns out that the people in a crowd who you notice first are usually doing something with their mouth. You can do it too. I’ll tell you how. Then, everyone must be vigilant in order to stay safe online. And one person who knows a lot about that is Dr. Eric Cole. He served as Commissioner on Cyber Security for President Obama, he’s advised the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and the FBI. Eric is also personal network security agent for Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his family. He is the CEO of Secure Anchor Consulting and author of the forthcoming book, Online Danger (http://amzn.to/2z0L6iQ). You will want to hear what he has to say. Also, everyone knows you should rinse produce before you eat it. What they don't know is - for how long? If you really want to get the bacteria and pesticides off, those few quick seconds under the tap are not helping much at all. I’ll explain how you should do it. And if you want to be persuasive, you have to master your “pitch.” Whether it’s getting a table at the restaurant or a better seat on an airplane or just getting your kids to do what you ask – it’s all in the pitch. And to discuss how to sharpen you pitch is Anthony Sullivan. You know Anthony from TV – “Hi, it’s Anthony Sullivan for Oxi-Clean…” Anthony has written a book called You Get What You Pitch (http://amzn.to/2xA2biN) and he has some great advice to be more persuasive.

Since this is episode 113, and since the audience for this podcast has grown so large over the past several months, it occurred to me that many listeners haven’t heard many of the earlier episodes. So, for this episode, I went through the first 70 episodes and picked out some of the best, most interesting moments. Then if any of those moments sound intriguing, I have put the links below to the original episodes if you would like to hear the entire episode.   Topics & Links in This Episode Physical Intelligence with Thalma Lobel. Podcast Episode 69 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/069-interesting-quirks-of-the-human-brain-how-your-5-senses-affect-your-behavior/ Life Hacks with David Pogue Podcast Episode 13 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/013-great-life-hacks-to-make-life-simpler-why-conversations-get-so-nasty/ Safety Rules with Tracey Brown Podcast Episode 23 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/023-how-all-our-safety-rules-make-life-more-dangerous-the-amazing-power-of-kindness/ Smart Machine with John Markoff Episode 37 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/037-fascinating-reason-you-go-to-work-will-robots-take-over-the-world/ Selling Your Stuff with Aaron Lapedis Episode 58 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/058-making-money-from-garage-sales-craigslist-and-ebay-the-power-of-courage-from-someone-who-had-a-lot-of-it/ The Risks in Life with Amram Shapiro Episode 43 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/043-the-decline-of-brand-loyalty-the-odds-of-everyday-life/ Exercise Myths with Gretchen Reynolds Episode 52 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/052-why-so-many-kids-fail-to-launch-exercise-myths-that-will-surprise-you/

While it is hard NOT to get angry sometimes, anger can take a toll on your health and lifespan. I’ll discuss some research that explains what is and isn’t worth getting angry about. Then, what does it take to have a happy relationship? You are going to hear some of the simplest, smartest and easiest advice to follow that can instantly start to transform your relationship. And it comes from Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret (http://amzn.to/2xV8Aqc). Her website is www.soulmatesecret.com. Also, you’ll learn about phubbing – or maybe it is spelled pphubbing. Anyway, it’s how your cellphone can mess up your relationship and it affects a lot of people - maybe even you. And what makes some people mentally tougher than others. Psychotherapist Amy Morin, a columnist for Forbesand Psychology Today has had to learn the hard way. She went through some difficult times where mental toughness was a requirement. She is author of the book The 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do (http://amzn.to/2xhXkCG) and she has some terrific insight into how to handle the inevitable tough times that life dishes out. Both guests in this episode have audio books available at Audible. For your free audio book and 30-day free trial, click here or go to www.Audible.com/something.

Remember Doc & Marty's time machine in Back to the Future? It was made out of a DeLorean. And one of the cool things about the DeLorean was how the doors opened up. But you hardly ever see those doors on other cars despite their coolness. Why? I’ll explain. Then, would you like to be more likable? Speaker and coach Michelle Tillis Lederman is author of the book The 11 Laws of Likability(http://amzn.to/2xQVPio). She explains what makes someone likable and how anyone can improve their likability. Also, if you are planning to travel during the holidays this year, it is time to start making those plans a reality. I'll explain why waiting will cost you money. And, would you consider yourself a savvy food shopper?  The problem is that food companies make a big effort to get you to buy foods that may not be as good for you as you think. Registered dietician Susan Burke March, author of the book Making Weight Control Second Nature (http://amzn.to/2yhWzhZ) has some excellent and practical advice for making healthy food choices in the store. She explains why a lot of the overweight and obesity problem we have today is because of poor choices in the supermarket. And she joins me to help fix that.

When you order a drink in a restaurant, whether it is iced tea, water or a cocktail, there is often a little piece of lemon or some other fruit dangling on the rim. After you hear what I am about to tell you, you will probably will never want to squeeze and toss that fruit in your drink again. Then, the art of setting and achieving goals. There is a lot of science here that can really help anyone succeed. Dr Heidi Grant Halverson, Associate Director of the Motivation Science Center at the Columbia University, and author of several best-selling books including Succeed – How We Can Reach our Goals (http://amzn.to/2xGKUrp)  explains what works and what doesn’t work if you have a goal you really want to accomplish. Do you worry about elevators when you ride them? What if they fall – would you survive? Well, you need to hear the facts about elevator safety when compared to stairs and escalators. Plus, Americans have long had a love affair with the automobile. But could things be changing? Owning a nice car isn’t necessarily the status symbol it once was – at least as far as younger people are concerned. Anne Fernandez, co-author of the book, Carjacked: The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effect on Our Lives (http://amzn.to/2k4Z5BT)  has taken a long hard look at the American car culture and you’ll be fascinated by what she has discovered.

The sugar you eat, the video games you play, the TV you watch and the music you play can all have an important impact on your brain function. I start this episode by explaining the science of how these things affect your brain power. Then, I’m sure you know Alan Alda from his years on M*A*S*H, The West Wing and countless other television shows and movies. What you may not know is that Alan Alda is also an expert on personal communication. He joins me in this episode to discuss the science and art of communication which is also the subject of his new book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? (http://amzn.to/2xzCkKY) Also, when you touch someone who has remarkably soft skin – it may all be an illusion. In fact it may just be evolution playing a little trick on you. Listen as I explore this. And loneliness is a big problem in the U.S. and all over the world. Marriage and family counselor, Dr. Pat Love co-author of the book Never Be Lonely Again: The Way Out of Emptiness, Isolation and a Life Unfilled(http://amzn.to/2wM9J6j) joins me. Dr. Love explains how you don’t have to be alone to feel loneliness and why loneliness is such a painful feeling. Then she offers advice to feel more connected.