Something You Should Know

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 (https://amzn.to/2zRC39i) 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. 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. https://www.bioadvanced.com/articles/5-benefits-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 ASlobComesClean.com is author of the book, Declutter at the Speed of Life (https://amzn.to/2uKoHpy). 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.. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Get Honey FREE and start saving on your online purchases! Simply go to https://JoinHoney.com/Something and start saving! https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Get great cardio and strength training! Go to https://JoinFightCamp.com/something for free shipping and a gift worth $109 https://joinfightcamp.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Radio&utm_campaign=Something_You_Should_Know&utm_term=know&utm_content= Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you planning to re-gift a gift this Christmas? People have been regifting forever - although it was a Seinfeld episode that made the concept popular. This episode begins with a discussion of how you should re-gift and what the rules are. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/g30169200/regifting-etiquette-rules/ For many of us, our car is extremely important. It is hard to imagine life without a car. So how did the automobile become such a big part of our lives in a relatively short period of time? Joining me to discuss that as well as the fascinating history of cars and what the future may hold, is Dan Albert. He is an historian and writes about the past, present, and future of cars for “n + 1” magazine. He is also author of the book, Are We There Yet? The American Automobile Past, Present, and Driverless (https://amzn.to/2Wj6uO2). Every year people get stressed out around the holidays because there is a lot to do and people fear they won’t get everything done. Listen as I discuss why this is a needless worry. Once you hear it, you’ll be able to enjoy the holiday season a lot more and stress-out a lot less. Source: Donald Wetmore author of KISS Guide to Organizing Your Life (https://amzn.to/2WfXXLM). Life expectancy has continued to increase dramatically. You are more likely to live to 100 than at any time in human history. Not only are people living longer, they are also staying healthy and active longer. All of this is having an impact on our society and culture. We are more likely to keep working well past 65. Young people are more likely to postpone getting married and postpone the start of their career. Plus, if people are going to live a lot longer, they are going to need more money to support them in all those later years. These are just a few of the ramifications of our new longevity that I discuss with Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics at the London Business School, consulting scholar at Stanford University's Center on Longevity and author of the book The New Long Life: A Framework for Flourishing in a Changing World.(https://amzn.to/3nrIDI1). Whether you are young or old, you will want to hear this discussion. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! This episode is sponsored by Geico. https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the holidays, we use a lot of power strips to plug in lights and decorations. So this episode begins with a list of things to NEVER do with power strips for the safety of everyone in your home. And you will probably be surprised by some of what you hear. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/things-you-should-never-do-with-power-strips/ As a group, we humans are kind of quirky. There are things we do and ways we behave that are uniquely human and sometimes cause problems for ourselves and fellow humans. Joining me to explore some of the fascinating quirks of our humanness is Marty Jopson. Marty is the resident science reporter on BBC TV’s “The One Show” and is author of the book, The Science of Being Human: Why We Behave, Think and Feel the Way We Do (https://amzn.to/2VYTZqY). One interesting difference between men and women is that men are generally better at asking for what they want. Listen as I describe the consequences of that and what women can do to get more of what they want - and the solution is pretty simple. http://www.womendontask.com/questions.html Counting is one of those things you take for granted. Nothing is more objective than counting. If you want to find out how many of something - you count. However, it turns out that counting is actually a bit trickier than that. People can use numbers and counting to deceive you if you don’t understand what they are doing. Here to explain the intricacies of counting is Deborah Stone. She is a scholar who has taught at Brandeis, MIT, Duke, Dartmouth, Yale, Tulane, among others and she is author of the book Counting: How We Use Numbers to Decide What Matters (https://amzn.to/33UeKZ1) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Get Honey FREE and start saving on your online purchases! Simply go to JoinHoney.com/Something and start saving! https://www.joinhoney.com/page/dr-us-simplified-yellow-general/?utm_campaign=PODC_All_Audio_All_Education_NA_NA_something_DR-US-Simplified-Yellow-General&utm_source=podc&utm_medium=aud&utm_term=undefined&utm_content=undefined&from=r https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Get great cardio and strength training! Go to https://JoinFightCamp.com/something for free shipping and a gift worth $109 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Confident people just have a way about them. The way they act and talk draws people to them. So how can you be (and appear) more confident? I begin this episode with some expert advice on how to project confidence. https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2015/04/01/12-things-truly-confident-people-do-differently/?sh=2e5271174766 How does your money move around? In other words, you write me a check, how does the money get from your account to mine? What makes a $20 bill worth $20? And how does Bitcoin work? These questions and more are answered by my guest Charles Wheelan, who teaches economics at Dartmouth and is author of the Naked Money (https://amzn.to/2qb0N58). You probably have an ice maker in your freezer. If so, you should be aware that your ice maker has its own heater to keep it from freezing and that little heater is costing you. http://science.time.com/2011/04/14/how-the-ice-in-your-drink-is-imperiling-the-planet/ One reason that happiness can be so hard to find is because our brains aren’t wired for happiness – they are wired for survival. Rick Hanson, author of the book Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (https://amzn.to/2uY5Hr4) reveals how, with a little effort, you can rewire the brain so happiness becomes part of who you are. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Lampsplus.com/something for up to 50% off https://www.lampsplus.com/?src=verit&mdm=display&cmp=new&trm=pod&cnt=something&sourceid=MEVERITPODSOMETHING The Jordan Harbinger Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jordan-harbinger-show/id1344999619 HelixSleep.com/sysk (for up to $200 off and two free pillows!) https://helixsleep.com/pages/landing-page?promo=sysk https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Visit https://bluechew.com and get your first order FREE when you use promo code: SOMETHING https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas is a fun holiday with lots of stories and traditions. This episode begins with some interesting facts about Christmas you may not know. Ever wonder why we use the term Noel at Christmas time? OR did you ever wonder what Christmas decorations are edible? Listen to discover the answers and other fascinating Christmas intel? (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/50-things-yule-never-know-653613) We all have the best of intentions. We so often say we are going to do things with the best intentions yet often fail to follow through. Why is that? If you tell yourself you are going to do something, why don’t you just do it and get it done? Well there is a good reason and joining me to discuss this is Steve Levinson, clinical psychologist, inventor, entrepreneur and internationally recognized authority on the topic of following through. He is the author of a couple of books including Following Through (https://amzn.to/36rIldU). Your brain is really the control center of your body. It does so many wonderful things and works in so many ways - many of which you don’t even realize. Joining me to discuss how your brain functions and ways you can help make it work even better is neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett. She is a professor at Northeastern University, Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Harvard University and author of the book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (https://amzn.to/2JJecxK). Is it a good idea to let your car warm up on a cold morning before you drive it? If your car battery is dead and needs a jump, how long before it is fully charged? We tackle these important questions every car owner needs to know.(https://www.motorbiscuit.com/do-you-really-need-to-warm-up-your-car/ & https://bit.ly/2I2TyZ8) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! This episode is sponsored by Geico. https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The corona virus vaccine comes as a shot -most likely two shots! And getting shots is no fun. So this episode begins by explaining what you should do just before, during and after you get the shot to make it hurt less. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9018211/Pain-Grimacing-make-injection-bearable-study-claims-ahead-COVID-vaccine-rollout.html Why are so many people overweight? There are likely several contributing factors and one of them seems to be how food tastes. In short, it doesn’t taste as good as it used to according to Mark Schatzker author of the book The Dorito Effect. (https://amzn.to/2L7E0EB). Listen as Mark explains why good food has gone bland while junk food has gotten irresistible - and what we can do about it. We are told to not let little things bother us. But they do. Listen as I explain the top-rated irritants that bother people the most. https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2009/12/hidden-fees-top-survey-of-what-annoys-americans-most/ Who hasn’t felt awkward? Being awkward is embarrassing yet we have all done or said something that has made us feel that awful awkward feeling. Relationship expert Ty Tashiro joins me to discuss awkwardness, how to handle those awkward moments and why we should all understand that awkwardness isn’t as bad as we think. Ty is author of the book Awkward: The Science of Why We’re Socially Awkward and Why That’s Awesome (https://amzn.to/2JNsE8a). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Lampsplus.com/something for up to 50% off https://www.lampsplus.com/?src=verit&mdm=display&cmp=new&trm=pod&cnt=something&sourceid=MEVERITPODSOMETHING The Jordan Harbinger Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jordan-harbinger-show/id1344999619 HelixSleep.com/sysk (for up to $200 off and two free pillows!) https://helixsleep.com/pages/landing-page?promo=sysk https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! Visit https://bluechew.com and get your first order FREE when you use promo code: SOMETHING https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do 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. (Source: The Anger Trap by Les Carter https://amzn.to/2NYGHpd) A lot 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, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bestfiends.com Download Best Fiends FREE today on the Apple App Store or Google Play. https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Get great cardio and strength training! Go to JoinFightCamp.com/something for free shipping and a gift worth $109 https://joinfightcamp.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Radio&utm_campaign=Something_You_Should_Know&utm_term=know&utm_content= Get 12 weeks of The New Yorker magazine for just $6 and a free tote bag at NewYorker.com/something and use Promo Code: SOMETHING https://subscribe.newyorker.com/subscribe/newyorker/133107?source=cm_paid_other_podcast_12f6_SOMETHING&pos_name=SOMETHING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever had “one of those days”? You know those days when everything seems to go wrong and you can’t help but think about how wrong everything is going? This episode begins with a simple yet effective technique for you to use the next time you have one of those days. Source: Judith Orloff, M.D. author of Positive Energy (https://amzn.to/2KHzr3K) Dust, mold, dust mites, spiders, bugs and other things are lurking in your home. Are they dangerous? Quite possibly, according to Jeffrey May, a certified as a microbial consultant and an indoor air quality professional who specializes in identifying the causes of mold, odor, and moisture problems in homes, schools, and offices. He and his wife Connie are authors of the book My House is Killing Me! (https://amzn.to/3l84PF9). Jeffrey joins me to explain what these dangers are and what you should do about them. Even people who don’t mind cleaning would still probably prefer to do it quicker and more efficiently. Listen as I offer some sure-fire cleaning techniques that will help you do just that. They come from one of the nation’s leading cleaning experts Don Aslett author of No Time to Clean. (https://amzn.to/3fy5i2f) How did a parrot actually solve a murder? How could someone be so gullible that they actually believed that investing in an idea from a prince from Venus was a smart thing to do? Did you hear the story about the woman who survived the sinking of the Titanic as well as the accidents on Titanic’s 2 sister ships? These are just some of the strange but true stories you will hear from Steve Silverman, host of The Useless Information podcast (https://uselessinformation.org) and author of the book The Flip Side of History (https://amzn.to/3l7htEb). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bestfiends.com Download Best Fiends FREE today on the Apple App Store or Google Play. https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Get great cardio and strength training! Go to JoinFightCamp.com/something for free shipping and a gift worth $109 https://joinfightcamp.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Radio&utm_campaign=Something_You_Should_Know&utm_term=know&utm_content= Get 12 weeks of The New Yorker magazine for just $6 and a free tote bag at NewYorker.com/something and use Promo Code: SOMETHING https://subscribe.newyorker.com/subscribe/newyorker/133107?source=cm_paid_other_podcast_12f6_SOMETHING&pos_name=SOMETHING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eating cereal for breakfast is a relatively new concept that really didn’t catch on until the 1940s and 50s. So where did it come from and how did it get so popular? This episode begins by answering these questions and explaining how popcorn was really the first breakfast cereal. Source: David Hoffman, author of The Breakfast Cereal Gourmet (https://amzn.to/35UKIpr) You make a lot of decisions as you go through the day such as when to have your first cup of coffee, whether to sit or stand, how much water to drink and should you eat breakfast or not. How do you know if you are making the right decisions? Stuart Farrimond, M.D. is here to explain these and other daily decisions that can affect your health. Stuart is the author of Live Your Best Life: 162 Reasons to Rethink Your Daily Routine (https://amzn.to/2HpS0s0). Is the meat people eat okay to give dogs? After all, a lot of people give their dogs meat. But should you do it or could it cause harm to your dog? Listen as I explore this question as well as explain what your dog thinks about all day long. Source: Paulette Cooper-Noble author of Dog Secrets: Fun & Fascinating Things Your Dogs Wants You To Know (https://amzn.to/2KBskd9) Are humans good or evil? Are we programmed to be kind or are we more likely to act in our own self-interest? Historian Rutger Bregman joins me to take a serious look at human nature and what sets us apart from other animals. Rutger is the author of Humankind: A Hopeful History (https://amzn.to/3fzk09e) and he has some surprising insight into what makes us tick. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bestfiends.com Download Best Fiends FREE today on the Apple App Store or Google Play. https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best savings available now! https://www.bluenile.com Use Promo Code: SYSK to get $50 off orders of $500 or more at BlueNile.com! Get great cardio and strength training! Go to JoinFightCamp.com/something for free shipping and a gift worth $109 https://joinfightcamp.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Radio&utm_campaign=Something_You_Should_Know&utm_term=know&utm_content= Get 12 weeks of The New Yorker magazine for just $6 and a free tote bag at NewYorker.com/something and use Promo Code: SOMETHING https://subscribe.newyorker.com/subscribe/newyorker/133107?source=cm_paid_other_podcast_12f6_SOMETHING&pos_name=SOMETHING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting kids to eat their vegetables can be frustrating for parents. However there are some techniques that can help sway your kids to at least try to eat some vegetables. This episode begins with a couple of really easy ones. https://psychcentral.com/news/2020/02/21/when-both-parents-eat-veggies-kids-more-likely-to-follow-their-example/154381.html 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 (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. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bluechew.com First order free! Use promo code; SOMETHING https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best Black Friday savings available now! https://wondery.com/shows/jacked-rise-of-the-new-jack-sound/ Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound the new podcast from Wondery. Listen and subscribe today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all want people to like us and obviously a lot of things determine just how likable you are. However, 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 Errors: 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. 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 WHAM-O 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. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bluechew.com First order free! Use promo code; SOMETHING https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best Black Friday savings available now! https://wondery.com/shows/jacked-rise-of-the-new-jack-sound/ Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound the new podcast from Wondery. Listen and subscribe today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will you be traveling over the holidays? Obviously, the spike in Covid-19 cases is causing people to reconsider travel and family get-togethers. Listen as this episode begins with the results of a survey about just how many people will or won’t be traveling over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Source: https://bit.ly/32SL0eB When you think about what’s really important to your health, you likely think of medical care, diet and exercise. So what if I told you that friendship and kindness also have a huge impact? They do according to Kelli Harding, MD and author of The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness (https://amzn.to/3ptNlXb). Listen as she explains the surprising research that proves being kind and having positive social connections will help you live a long and healthy life. If you think the hamburger came from Hamburg, Germany, you are only technically correct. What we know as a typical hamburger today is a very American creation according to Sef Gonzales who writes the Burger Beast blog (https://burgerbeast.com/) and is author of All About the Burger (https://amzn.to/3pxLqAJ). Join us as Sef retraces the fascinating history of the all-American hamburger. What makes a happy family? It turns out it doesn’t take much. Listen as I explore a few simple things that will make any family happier. Source: Richard Eyre author of The Happy Family (https://amzn.to/3lCG2dl) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com One platform, better teamwork - First 2 weeks free! https://bluechew.com First order free! Use promo code; SOMETHING https://www.geico.com Bundle your policies and save! It's Geico easy! https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/mywalgreens.jsp Shop, Save & Stay Well - Join for free at myWalgreens.com https://deals.dell.com/en-us or 1-800-BUY DELL for the best Black Friday savings available now! https://wondery.com/shows/jacked-rise-of-the-new-jack-sound/ Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound the new podcast from Wondery. Listen and subscribe today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much water do you drink in a day? 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 already know 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just as you judge others based on their appearance, other people judge you. This episode begins with what exactly people decide about you when they first meet you based on how you are groomed and dressed. Source: Image consultant Sherry Maysonave author of Casual Power (https://amzn.to/3ffMODA) For many years John Cleese has been entertaining millions of people as a member of Monty Python, as well as a movie actor in a variety of films including Harry Potter and James Bond movies. He has also spent some time examining the creative process and in fact wrote a book about it called Creativity A Short and Cheerful Guide (https://amzn.to/3lKW5G7). Listen as he describes his creative process and his advice for everyone on how to be more creative in anything you do. What is laughter? We’ve all experienced it but how do you describe it? And is it really the best medicine? Listen as I explore some interesting facts about laughing that you probably don’t know. Source: Robert Provine author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation (https://amzn.to/2IRDN7E) Does everything happen for a reason? People like to think so. On the other hand, maybe we are here on this earth doing what we do all as a result of some amazingly random events. Sean B. Carroll is an award-winning scientist, writer, educator, and film producer as well as the author of the book A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You (https://amzn.to/36IesVO). Sean joins me to explain all the things that had to happen to bring us all to where we are today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been mesmerized by the flicker of a flame in a fire or on a candle? What is it about fire that draws us near to it? This episode begins with an explanation of why evolution has made us so interested in fire and why we love to watch it. https://www.livescience.com/19853-fire-fascination.html If you lose your wallet are you likely to get it back? What’s the best way to shuffle a deck of cards? Do plants have feelings? Listen as I explore these and other fascinating science questions with Jay Ingram, a broadcaster and author of 18 books. His latest is The Science of Why, Volume 5: Answers to Questions About the Ordinary, the Odd, and the Outlandish (https://amzn.to/36xStkd) You know not to drink and drive or text and drive but you also shouldn’t drive when you are drowsy or tired. Listen as I explain the problem of driving when tired and how it is a much bigger and more dangerous problem than you thought. https://abcnews.go.com/WN/driving-sleepy-common-deadly-thought-aaa-research-finds/story?id=12088552 Why do we get embarrassed? Why does the sense of embarrassment feel so awful? And what is the best way to handle embarrassing situations? That’s what Charise Harper is here to discuss. Charise is a prolific writer having written several books, mostly children’s books and one of her latest is called So Embarrassing: Awkward Moments and How to Get Through Them (https://amzn.to/35uLpFZ). Listen and feel a lot better knowing that everyone gets embarrassed just like you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you taken your temperature lately? Most of us think a normal temperature is 98.6 degrees. However, if you were to take your temperature now – it probably ISN’T 98.6. This episode begins with an explanation of why that is. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201028171432.htm Could it be you are not as smart as you think you are? Apparently so according to David McRaney author of the book 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. https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/pay-credit-card-bill-early-and-save/ 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. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! 1-800-BUY-DELL https://deals.dell.com/en-us/mpp For the best Dell Black Friday Deals The Jordan Harbinger Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jordan-harbinger-show/id1344999619 https://www.phone.com Promo Code: Something (for 20% off first 3 months) Lampsplus.com/something for up to 50% off https://www.lampsplus.com/?src=verit&mdm=display&cmp=new&trm=pod&cnt=something&sourceid=MEVERITPODSOMETHING HelixSleep.com/sysk (for up to $200 off and two free pillows!) https://helixsleep.com/pages/landing-page?promo=sysk https://monday.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever worry that an elevator you are in will somehow come loose and drop? Or that a big spider will come after you and bite you? This episode begins with some insight into these and other common worries and whether or not that could likely happen. https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/everyday-dangers-not-to-worry-about How well do you handle difficult emotions that come your way? Do you try hard to push them aside and focus on the positive or do you confront those tough emotions head-on? Harvard Medical School Psychologist Susan David joins me to discuss difficult emotions that life certainly brings and how best to experience and deal with them. Susan is author of the book Emotional Agility (https://amzn.to/3lbAiaf) as well as host of the podcast “Checking in with Susan David” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1504596643). You can also take her Emotional Agility Quiz at https://www.susandavid.com/#ea-quiz How could brushing your teeth and flossing impact how well your brain works? Listen as I reveal some interesting research that will have you brushing and flossing good tonight! https://www.ameritasinsight.com/wellness/health-and-wellness/dental-health-may-affect-mental-health Did you know that rocks from outer space are hitting the earth all the time? Tons and tons of rocks! What would happen if a big asteroid hits the earth – could it wipe us all out? Here to discuss that and explain the difference between meteors, meteorites and asteroids and why they are important is Tim Gregory. He is a is nuclear chemist and former research scientist at the British Geological Survey and author of the book Meteorite: How Stones from Outer Space Made Our World (https://amzn.to/3kbfrCD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens if you work hard to build up your FICO credit score but then you make a mistake and miss a payment? This episode begins by explaining what could happen and how to protect yourself from a drastic drop in your FICO score. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/does-one-late-payment-hurt-my-credit-score-11604078238?mod=personal-finance While there is a lot of science about what it takes to live a long and healthy life, there are also a lot of myths and misinformation. Joining me to set the record straight is Graham Lawton. He is a science journalist who has researched the data on what we should and shouldn’t do to stay healthy. Graham is the author of the book This Book Could Save Your Life: The Science of Living Longer Better (https://amzn.to/2I0ZiCJ) Being nice is underrated. Listen as I explain a few interesting examples of how former U.S. Presidents used the power of being nice to their ultimate advantage. Source: Linda Kaplan Thaler, co-author of The Power Of Nice (https://amzn.to/2U07J3r) Even if you don’t like to negotiate you are going to love my conversation with Herb Cohen. Herb is legendary negotiator who has been involved in some very high-profile negotiations over the years. He is also a real character who has some great advice and insight on how you can be a great negotiator. And it isn’t by being smart – it’s more about playing dumb. Listen, you’ll really enjoy it. Herb is the author of a couple of books including You Can Negotiate Anything. (https://amzn.to/3mXUMnj) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! 1-800-BUY-DELL https://deals.dell.com/en-us/mpp For the best Dell Black Friday Deals The Jordan Harbinger Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jordan-harbinger-show/id1344999619 https://www.phone.com Promo Code: Something (for 20% off first 3 months) Lampsplus.com/something for up to 50% off https://www.lampsplus.com/?src=verit&mdm=display&cmp=new&trm=pod&cnt=something&sourceid=MEVERITPODSOMETHING HelixSleep.com/sysk (for up to $200 off and two free pillows!) https://helixsleep.com/pages/landing-page?promo=sysk https://monday.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you would like to feel really good, then 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. Do you know a complainer? It’s a trick question because you probably know a lot more than one. In fact, you might be a complainer without realizing it. Cianna Stewart has studied the subject of complaining in great detail and even wrote a book on it called, No Complaints: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Own Joy (http://amzn.to/2CNYU1M ). Listen as she reveals why some people complain about every little thing and strategies to stop yourself from complaining and to stop complainers from complaining. 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-sound-smarter 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. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! https://monday.com https://bestfiends.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know how to get the most juice out of a lemon or lime? Or how to get the smell of garlic off your hands? This episode begins as I reveal a few very useful and well tested kitchen hacks you are sure to use in the kitchen. Source: Harold McGee author of On Food and Cooking (https://amzn.to/2TIxR2W) I bet there have been challenging times in your life when you wish you had been able to bounce back better and faster. Clearly some people do seem to be much more resilient in the face adversity – so how can you be more like that? Akash Karia joins me with some interesting and insightful thoughts about resilience. Akash is a keynote speak and author of several books including 7 Things Resilient People Do Differently (https://amzn.to/2TGATVg) A lot of people tend to hang on to stuff. And then one day that stuff turns into clutter. Why? Why do we hold on to so many things we don’t really need or want? Professional organizer Michelle Vig has some important insight into all of this. Listen as she explains how there are three types of clutter and offers some great strategies to get a better handle on your stuff so you can keep what you want and let go of what you don’t. Michelle is author of the book The Holistic Guide to Decluttering: Organize and Transform Your Space, Time, and Mind (https://amzn.to/3oJ1jnB) and her organizing business is called Neat Little Nest (www.neatlittlenest.com) . Life can be full of little aggravations. For example, why is it called your funny bone when there is nothing funny about it when it hit it? Why do mosquitoes bother some people but not others? How do you get an ice cream headache to stop hurting quicker? Listen as I explain some of these little aggravations. Source: Laura Lee author of The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation (https://amzn.to/3kGsvkq) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While you are probably more careful about the surfaces you touch and keeping things sanitized, you may have overlooked all the surfaces in your car. This episode begins with a discussion on the surfaces in your car and what you should do to keep them as germ-free as possible. Source: Westways Magazine Nov/Dec 2020 Can someone really sue you if you use their picture on your website? Will they win if they do? This is just one of the areas of intellectual property law I discuss with attorney Devin Miller, CEO of Miller IP Law (www.milleripl.com) and host of The Inventive Journey podcast. Devin explains how to protect your intellectual property and what you can and cannot do with other people’s. If you’ve ever wondered about copyrights, trademarks and patents and what they do, you need to listen. How do rich people become rich? There is actually a simple formula that most wealthy Americans follow that reliably builds wealth over time. Listen as I explain how most wealthy people get that way. https://consumerfed.org/press_release/how-americans-view-personal-wealth-v-how-financial-planners-view-this-wealth/ We all know that too much noise is a problem. So how big a problem is it? Are there really serious, long-term effects of noise? What can you do to protect yourself if you are bothered by all the noises around you? Listen to Marcia Epstein, a musicologist and historian at the University of Calgary as well as author of the book, Sound and Noise: A Listener's Guide to Everyday Life (https://amzn.to/2HEH5KG) . Once you hear her I think you’ll realize that noise is a bigger problem than you imagined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know the can opener was invented 50 years AFTER the tin can? So how did they open cans before that? That’s one of the interesting stories about product packaging that kicks off this episode of the podcast. Source: Thomas Hine author of The Total Package (https://amzn.to/3mlNoC1). If you watch the news, you would think the world falling apart and going to hell. Yet it is totally NOT true. Sure, the world has problems not the least of which is the corona virus but when you look at all the indicators of well-being in the world, things are actually going pretty well. . In fact we are living in an age of enlightenment according to Harvard professor Stephen Pinker. Author of the book, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science Humanism and Progress, (http://amzn.to/2FKuhNb). Listen as Stephen reveals why things are much better than you probably think. What he says will make you feel great! We all have our own musical tastes and preferences. Where do they come from? What do they say about us. That’s what Nolan Gasser is here to discuss Nolan is a composer and musicologist who was the chief architect of the Music Genome Project, which powers Pandora Radio. He is also author of Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste (https://amzn.to/31BCtfy) What’s the difference between flammable and inflammable? It’s weird because they are two words that sound as if they are opposites but actually mean the same thing. Listen as I explain why one of the words is 400 years older than the other and where it came from. https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-flammable-and-inflammable-607314 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First impressions count. One big reason why is that once a person makes judgements about you, they can be difficult to change even if they are not true. This episode begins with 3 things people decide about you within the first 30 seconds and how to make sure you put your best foot forward. Source: Sherry Maysonave author of Casual Power (https://amzn.to/2Thh1I7) Why should you fill your gas tank on Monday instead of Friday? Does transferring credit card balances to lower interest rate card make sense? What’s the best way to save money at the grocery store? Why should you always order a large pizza? These are just some of the questions I discuss with Lisa Rowan, author of Money Hacks: 275+ Ways to Decrease Spending, Increase Savings, and Make Your Money Work for You! (https://amzn.to/34iOM24). Listen and I am sure you will hear ideas you can use to spend less and keep more of your money. People love a bargain. That’s why outlet shopping has become popular. So why are outlet stores always out in the middle of nowhere? Listen as we discuss the psychology of outlet shopping and why it may not always be the great deal some people think. https://consumerist.com/2009/08/11/how-outlet-malls-fool-shoppers/ When you walk into an awe-inspiring building, you become friendlier. When kids work in rooms with high ceilings, they become more creative. In short, the room or building or environment you are in has an impact on how you think and on your well-being. That is according to Sarah Williams Goldhagen, an award-winning writer who has written about buildings, cities, and landscapes for many national and international publications. She taught at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design for several years and is author of Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives (https://amzn.to/3oem3mW). Sarah joins me to explain how building design impacts thought and behavior in ways you never knew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it true that nice guys finish last? Sure, there are a lot of successful nice guys but there are a lot of successful jerks too. So which is it? The answer may actually lie somewhere in between. This episode begins with some interesting insight into that http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/06/why-it-pays-to-be-a-jerk/392066 What is the best way to motivate people? Traditional thinking has been that carrots and sticks – in other words rewards or punishments are the best way to get people to do things. Well that may work but there are other ways that are better says Daniel Pink, author of the book, Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us (https://amzn.to/2LNHze7). Daniel joins me to offer some advice on how to successfully motivate yourself and others. Friends are important but I bet you didn’t know just HOW important. Let’s put it this way… research shows not having a strong social network is equal to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. And that’s just one of the things I discuss about the importance of friends. http://www.rd.com/slideshows/friends-facts/#slideshow=slide2 Are you one of those people who hates small talk? Or perhaps you find it difficult to talk to strangers and connect with people. Or maybe you just wish you were better at conversation. If so, you need to listen to Jill Spiegel, author of the book, How to Talk to Anyone About Anything.(https://amzn.to/2t6tIb3). Jill is an expert when it comes to striking up conversations and making them count. Incidentally, she is also the great granddaughter of Joseph Spiegel, founder of the famous Spiegel mail order catalog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone likes to feel appreciation, and everyone knows just how powerful appreciation can be. However, there is one huge problem with appreciation. This episode begins with an explanation of why appreciation is important and why it is so often a missed opportunity. http://ombudsfac.unm.edu/Article_Summaries/Beyond_Reason.pdf Laughter is important. Not just the act of laughter but the word laughter. People actually like it when you use that word in conversation. That’s according to my guest Will Jelbert, a communications consultant who has spent the last eight years researching how to best use the written and spoken word to connect with people. He is also the author of Word Wise: Say What You Mean, Deepen Your Connections, and Get to the Point (https://amzn.to/358ndaX). Will joins me to explain how using the right words in the right situation can make you a much more powerful communicator. Once you carve a pumpkin you know its clock starts ticking and it won’t be long before it turns into a moldy, gooey mess. So, what can you do to lengthen the life of your jack o’ lantern? Listen as I explain how to prolong the life by at least a week or more. https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/halloween/how-to-make-pumpkins-last-longer “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?” Well, because that’s what human beings like to do – we procrastinate. Maybe if we understood why we put things off, it would be easier to actually get them done. And joining me to explain how is Matthew Boone. Matt is a psychotherapist as well as an instructor at the University of Arkansas and he is author of Stop Avoiding Stuff (https://amzn.to/2FyXTlw). Listen as he reveals a simple technique that will have you conquering all those things you keep putting off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I bet you’ve had that experience of waking up just before the alarm goes off. It turns out it isn’t coincidence. Listen as this episode begins with the explanation as to why this happens so often to so many people. https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/why-do-we-wake-up-right-before-our-alarm/ The next time you take a walk around the block you will see it very differently after you listen to Spike Carlsen author of the book A Walk Around the Block (https://amzn.to/378CyuL). He discusses why the cement you walk on, the phone poles that line the street and the lawn in front of your house all have fascinating stories to tell. Who doesn’t love a cozy fire in the fireplace on a chilly night? However, there is a potential problem with your fireplace on the days and nights when you do not have a fire. Listen as I explain how your fireplace could be causing you to waste a lot of money and the simple way to fix it. https://www.rennerinspectionservices.com/improve-home/ What makes someone an expert? In many cases people are experts only because they say they are. However, being a true expert in something is a bit more complicated than that. Here to explain is Roger Kneebone, MD Director of the Imperial College Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science and the Royal College of Music Imperial College Centre for Performance Science in the UK and he is author of the book Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery (https://amzn.to/31cUuR1). Listen as he explains what it takes to be a true expert and why you should be skeptical of anyone who claims to be an expert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We humans are programmed to flirt. It’s the beginning of the process that keeps the species going forward. And while some people are clearly better at the art of flirting – there is some science to it as well. I begin this episode with scientifically proven ways to improve your flirting skills. http://theweek.com/articles/448643/how-flirt-according-science One thing that makes us human is our creativity. We are all creative and many of us could be even more creative according to Allen Gannett. Allen is the CEO of Track Maven, a software analytics firm and he has been on the top “30 Under 30” lists for both Inc. and Forbes magazines. He is also the author of the new book, The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea at the Right Time ( https://amzn.to/2Jt9vaH) . Allen joins me to reveal some fascinating science behind creative people and the creative process that we can all benefit from. It turns out that not all olive oil is what it appears to be. In fact a lot of extra virgin olive oil isn’t what the label says. Is there fraud in the olive oil business? And if it isn’t olive oil, what is it? We’ll discuss. http://time.com/3894609/extra-virgin-olive-oil/ If happiness is a choice, why do so many people choose to be unhappy? That is just one of the questions I tackle with Rick Foster co-author of the book, Happiness & Health: 9 Choices That Unlock the Powerful Connection Between the Two Things We Want Most (https://amzn.to/2JEdz78). I think you will be amazed by what Rick has to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you get angry, it seems normal to also get upset and maybe start yelling at whoever made you mad. Bad idea. This episode begins with a discussion how on to use anger constructively, so you get what you want without everyone being mad at each other. Source: Thomas A. Schweich, author of Staying Power (https://amzn.to/34Qrb85). You and I can look at the same thing and see it differently. You look at the world through filters and biases and I see the same world through my filters and biases. So we each have our own perception of the world and so does everyone else. What is so interesting is we seldom think about that. We tend to believe there is this objective reality – the world is the way it is and everyone sees the same thing. But that’s not so, according to Dennis Profitt, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of the book Perception: How Our Bodies Shape Our Minds (https://amzn.to/3nPNhjI). Listen as he explains why you have your unique perceptions and why they are different from everyone else’s. How much time do you spend on your cellphone every day? Probably a lot. For many of us, our cellphones are our constant companion. You probably stop and interact with your phone many times a day. So it is safe to say you have a relationship with that phone. Here to discuss how to manage and improve that relationship is Tchiki Davis, PhD. Tchiki is a technology consultant who writes the Click Here for Happiness blog for Psychology Today and she is author of Outsmart Your Smartphone: Conscious Tech Habits for Finding Happiness, Balance, and Connection IRL (https://amzn.to/2GQwxIa) When was the last time you sent someone a handwritten note? If it has been a while, you need to hear why you need to start doing that again. It turns out the handwritten note can be very powerful when done correctly. https://www.handwrytten.com/resources/the-power-of-handwritten-notes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People will be more attracted to you if you appear confident. So this episode begins with short list of things you can do easily that will make you feel and appear as confident as possible. http://www.askmen.com/money/body_and_mind_150/173_better_living.html Kind and nice are two words that are often used interchangeably but they don’t mean the same thing. Truly being kind is a lot harder and riskier and has a much greater chance of making the world a better place. Listen as I speak with Houston Kraft, author of the book called Deep Kindness A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness (https://amzn.to/2SFKPhj) as he explains what it means to be kind and how it can change the world. When driving, you probably don’t think much about turning left – but left-hand turns are amazingly dangerous. Listen as I explain why avoiding left hand turns is a good idea whenever possible and why it is rare to see a UPS truck turn left. https://www.friedgoldberg.com/blog/how-left-hand-turns-affect-road-safety/ We hear a lot today about how we should “Trust the science!” So what does that really mean? What is science anyway? What makes something “scientific.” Someone who is well equipped to answer that is James C. Zimring, M.D. and Ph.D. in Immunology and professor of pathology at the University of Virginia. He is also author of the book, What Science Is and How It Really Works (https://amzn.to/2GNQQWA). Listen as he explains how science is used and sometimes misused to explain the world and why so many people don’t trust science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every time you sit down to eat, several things affect how MUCH you eat and how much you enjoy the food. I begin this episode by revealing how the environment and atmosphere of the room in which you are eating can have a big impact. When you learn the details, you can use this information to help you eat less while enjoying your food more. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/restaurant-lighting-calories-music_n_1841077 People in marriages and relationships cheat. No secret there. But why? Are we programmed to cheat? Are humans, by nature, NOT monogamous? And what can you do if there has been cheating in your relationship? These are all important questions addressed by my guest Dr. Kenneth Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg is a board certified addiction psychiatrist, sex addiction counselor and he is author of the book, Infidelity: Why Men and Women Cheat (https://amzn.to/2J2slRL) When you go to a business function you are often given a name tag to wear. So which side of your chest should you put it on – left or right – or does it even matter? While in the scheme of things it may not matter much, there is a correct side and it all has to do with function. I’ll tell you which side is the better side according to etiquette experts. https://etiquettedaily.com/index.php/2018/07/24/where-to-wear-a-name-badge-right-or-left/ In our culture we are obsessed with saving time. We have gadgets and apps and systems all designed to make us more productive so we get more done in less time. But then what do you do with the time you saved? Probably use it to get more things done. So what’s the point? For a different look at how you spend your time and what you spend it on, listen to my guest, Laura Vanderkam, author of the book, Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done (https://amzn.to/2xs4325). She has been speaking and writing about this topic for a while and has some interesting insight and practical advice I think you will enjoy hearing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sandwich has been around for thousands of years in some form or another. Do you know how many sandwiches the average person eats in a year? Or why some sandwiches are called subs? Listen as I explain some fascinating facts about sandwiches to kickoff this episode. https://allthatsinteresting.com/sandwich-history You have no doubt contemplated questions like: Why am I here? Or what is my purpose? Will my life really matter? What legacy will I leave? Listen as I delve into these and other questions with one of my favorite guests, Brian Greene. Brian is a theoretical physicist, mathematician, professor at Columbia University and authored several books. His latest is Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe (https://amzn.to/2GsvlKO). If you have ever pondered the meaning of life, you will want to hear what Brian has to say. Whenever you are trying to convince someone of something, there is one key ingredient that will make the process a lot easier. And a lot of people miss this completely. Listen as I explain what it is. Source: Mark Magnacca author of So What (https://amzn.to/3cT1De3) Why do we often run to hug people we haven’t seen in a while? Why do we walk slowly when we are sad? And this is really interesting – Parkinson’s patients tend to move slowly but they don’t have to. They could move faster and will move faster if there is a reason to. So what is going on here? What controls the speed at which we move? Reza Shadmehr is a professor of biomedical engineering and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of the book Vigor: Neuroeconomics of Movement (https://amzn.to/3ladKpP) and he joins me to discuss this fascinating connection between what is going on in your brain that determines how quickly or slowly you move and why it is important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The power of the human mind is amazing. This episode begins with a fascinating example of that. It turns out that how people feel about the medication they take determines how well it works. Things like cost, size of the pill and number of doses will influence your recovery. Listen and finds out how. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html There is sure a lot of talk about innovation. Who doesn’t want to be a great innovator? Interestingly though, there isn’t as much innovation going on as you might think and not all innovation is particularly good. Some innovation is actually destructive. That’s according to Andrew Russell, professor of history and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and co-author of the book, The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most (https://amzn.to/30nuPon). After you hear what he has to say, you may think differently about what innovation really means. Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep. Listen as I explain a simple technique that will help just about anyone fall asleep faster on those nights where sleep does not come easy. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/631357/breathing-technique-helps-you-fall-asleep-faster How does your GPS in your car really work? What is 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mean and what is the difference? Why are there dimples on a golf ball. Why does a balloon stick to the wall after you rub it on your head? The answer to all these questions is : PHYSICS! Joining me to explain all these things and more is Dr. Charles Liu, he is an associate professor at the City University of New York and author of the The Handy Physics Answer Book (https://amzn.to/3cTtxqp) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one enjoys getting a shot at the doctor’s office. But there is something you can do to ease the pain. We begin this episode with a little strategy that can cut the pain in half. But you have to do it just right. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27514-hold-your-breath-to-dampen-the-pain-of-an-injection/ Music plays an important role in our lives – but why? We don’t need it to survive yet every culture on the planet has music of some sort. John Powell, author of the books Why You Love Music (https://amzn.to/2IC5PTG) and How Music Works (https://amzn.to/2kcOYrP) joins me to examine the fascinating role music plays in our lives and why we like the music we like. Buying something that is biodegradable or has biodegradable packaging sound like a good thing. However, things don’t really biodegrade in a landfill like you think they would. Listen as we explore that topic. http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/biodegradable-waste.html Have you heard of the “New Power”? It is the power of connecting communities. Uber does it. Airbnb does it. Facebook does it. Their power comes not from owning something but from connecting people to something. Henry Timms has explores this in his book, New Power: How Power in Our Hyperconnected World – and How to Make it Work For You (https://amzn.to/2IzIDB7). He joins me to explain how it works and how you can put it to work for you and your organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People generically call the dates on food packages, “expiration dates.” However, there are different kinds of expiration dates and they mean different things. This episode begins by sorting out what these different dates really mean. Don’t throw away any food until you hear this explanation. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/do-food-expiration-dates-matter#1 There is no one like you and never will be. Why is that? What makes you so unique and different than everyone else? Still, you are a little like your parents and maybe a little your siblings while still being uniquely you. Ever wonder why? Find out when you listen to this fascinating discussion with David Linden, Professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of the book Unique: The New Science of Human Individuality (https://amzn.to/2Sa7S3j) Making a good first impression is so important. There are 5 simple keys to making that good first impression and three ways you can really screw it up. Listen as I explain how to be truly memorable when you meet someone. Source: Mark Mazzarella, co-author of the book "Put Your Best Foot Forward" (https://amzn.to/3372kNz) You have heard all your life that exercise is good for you but do you know exactly how? And how much exercise is necessary to get the benefits? Listen to my conversation with Judy Foreman. She is a journalist who has won more than 50 journalism awards and she is author of 3 books including Exercise is Medicine: How Physical Activity Boosts Health and Slows (https://amzn.to/2Ge4VMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may be a good driver but there are a lot of bad ones out there. So how do you protect yourself from those people? This episode begins with some interesting intel on where and how serious traffic accidents happen and how to avoid them. Source: Reader’s Digest & author of an article titled “How Good Drivers Get Killed” Your neighborhood grocery store is a fascinating place. Did you know, for example, that some of the “fresh produce” could be over a year old? Did you know that selling groceries isn’t the only way your store makes money? Have you ever wondered why a store like Trader Joe’s has such fanatically loyal customers? Benjamin Lorr has taken a peek behind the curtain of the grocery business and you will be fascinated by what you hear in our discussion. Benjamin is the author of The Secret Life of Groceries (https://amzn.to/2RVd0Iy). Have you heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth? Listen and find out if that could possibly be true. http://tristanmed.com/blog/entry/mythbusters-dogs-mouth-cleaner-than-humans It seems to be human nature to want to know what will happen in the future. That’s why we want experts to predict the stock market or why we try to choose winning lottery numbers. Of course predictions are usually wrong. Most of life is unpredictable. That is why it is pointless to try and predict it. So what’s a better strategy? Here to tell you that is John Kay, a leading British economist and author of the book Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers (https://amzn.to/32WqnP6). He explains how to prepare for the future even though you cannot predict it and he reveals the important difference between risk and uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You obviously know better than to talk on your phone while driving – but you should also tell other people in the car to stay off their phones as well. This episode starts with a discussion on why passenger’s phone conversation can be trouble for the driver. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performance How well do you sleep? Before you answer you should know that you may not HAVE the answer. So many people sleep so poorly, they don’t even know what good sleep is – or feels like. For some real insight into how people sleep and how we can all sleep better, listen as I speak with sleep medicine specialist Chris Winter, M.D., author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It (https://amzn.to/2JVEHMd) Anyone who spends time on Facebook knows that feeling of, “Why does everyone else’s life seem so wonderful compared to mine?” There is now research that proves this happens to everyone who goes on Facebook and that actually people’s lives aren’t any better than yours – it just looks that way. Listen and I’ll explain. http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2015/April/040415FaceookStudy Do you know much about virtual reality? You are about to. Peter Rubin, senior editor at Wired magazine knows a lot about it. In fact he is the author of a new book on the topic called Future Presence: How Virtual Reality is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy and the Limits of Ordinary Life (https://amzn.to/2HeLUFD). Peter joins me to explore some of the fascinating and fun parts of virtual reality and also some of the concerns about how it will impact how we humans live our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows what “riding shotgun” means. And most people think they know where it came from, which is from the days of stagecoaches. But that is not exactly correct. This episode begins by revealing the real origins of the phrase. Source: Cecil Adams author of The Straight Dope (https://amzn.to/3iPlGfp) What are you? It’s a fascinating question because we often don’t think about what we are made of. It turns out we are made from atoms that have been recycled and have been parts of stars, dinosaurs and even other people. Science writer Brian Clegg author of the book What Do You Think You Are? The Science of What Makes You You (https://amzn.to/35TifRq) reveals the latest science about what goes in to making you - you and how you are different from everything else on this planet and in the universe. If you ever got a bad grade in school, you were probably told to work harder to get better at that subject. While maybe that is a good idea sometimes, it basically sends the message that you should try to improve at things you are not especially good at. And that turns out to be some pretty bad advice, as I explain. Source: Kathryn D. Cramer, PhD, author of Change The Way You See Everything (https://amzn.to/2FW1tpC) What do you think of when you think of a genius? Is it how smart someone is or is it much more than that? Can anyone be a genius or is it something you are born with. Joining me to discuss the whole concept of genius is Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University’s popular “Genius Course” and who has devoted more than two decades to exploring the nature of genius. He is author of the book The Hidden Habits of Genius (https://amzn.to/2HjA69S) and I think you will be surprised by what he has to say about genius and encouraged by your chances of becoming one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why pumpkins are associated with Halloween? After all, they aren’t particularly scary and have nothing to do with ghosts. This episode begins with an explanation of why pumpkins and Halloween go hand in hand. www.pumpkin-patch.com I am sure you have wondered things like: Why do coincidences happen? Why is it so hard to find a 4-leaf clover? What day is best to buy a lottery ticket? Why do traffic jams happen? These are just some of the fascinating life questions tackled by Rob Eastaway, author of the book Why Do Buses Come in Threes?: The Hidden Mathematics of Everyday Life (https://amzn.to/2FEWfib) When your “check engine” light comes on it means there is something wrong. However it may be something simple that you can fix yourself and there is a very easy way to find out. Listen and discover what it is. Source: Phil Edmonston author of The Lemon-Aid Car Guide (https://amzn.to/33wtJaC) Some people are cautious while others seek danger and thrills. Why? Why do some people love the thrill of a wild rollercoaster or scary movie or even skydiving while other people would much rather stay home and read a book? Ken Carter has explored the minds of thrill seekers to discover what makes them seek danger and actually enjoy it while others dread the idea. Ken is a board certified clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University and author of the book Buzz!:Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies (https://amzn.to/35FIwCn) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every kid on the planet is told to, “Eat your veggies – they’re good for you!” Yet, as a parent, you probably shouldn’t say that to your kids. This episode begins with some fascinating research about what to tell kids about healthy foods and what not to tell them. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/don-t-tell-kids-why-veggies-are-good-for-them-study-suggests-1.1833274 What if I told you that nothing really goes viral? You’d probably say, “Of course it does – cat videos, songs, lots of things go viral.” Well, not according to Derek Thompson, senior editor at the Atlantic magazine and author of the book, Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction (https://amzn.to/3iwagNK). Derek reveals exactly how things become popular – and it isn’t the way you might think. In schools today there is a lot of emphasis on typing on a keyboard rather than writing with pen and paper. So you may be surprised to hear the benefits kids receive by simply writing on paper – and maybe schools should re-think their policies that de-emphasize penmanship in early grades. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=0 Who hasn’t been socially anxious? I am sure you’ve been in one of those situations where a lot is on the line or you don’t know anyone and it makes it uncomfortable and difficult. This is especially true for the millions of people who are naturally socially anxious anyway. With some help is clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen author of How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety (https://amzn.to/33s5jyS). She joins me to offer some rock-solid suggestions to help navigate those anxiety provoking situations so you act, look and feel like you belong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all we know about how medicine works, we still don’t understand the placebo effect very well. Yet, by all accounts it is very powerful. This episode begins with some interesting research that seems to show that believing you are healthy really makes it so. Source: Howard Brody, M.D. author of “The Placebo Response” (https://amzn.to/2ZzmXzH) Money is a tricky subject for just about everyone. Of course there is the “math of money” that shows how money works numerically but there is also how we feel about money. For example, most experts agree that paying off your mortgage is a bad idea, yet many people feel great when they do it. So, who is right? Joining me to discuss why your attitudes about money are just as important as the math is Morgan Housel. He is a partner at the Collaborative Fund and has been a columnist for the Wall Street Journal and the Motley Fool. Morgan is also author of the book The Psychology of Money (https://amzn.to/2Ftrrkb) When was the last time you cleaned your car seats? Think about all the times people come in and out of your car and all the stuff they have with them. When you hear this, you will want to clean your seats very soon and clean them very well. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8712437/Disgusting-video-proves-washing-car-seats-dark-upholstery-often.html Everyone has witnessed a time when an attractive person got preferential treatment. Good looking people get out of speeding tickets, they get better tables at restaurants, they make more money and they get promoted faster. And it turns out that just about all of us are likely to treat attractive people better. Why? To answer that and explain the ramifications of all of this is Daniel Hamermesh. He is an economist, and a Professor of Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of the book Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful. (https://amzn.to/2FskwrE) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who doesn’t like ketchup? It is one of the most universally loved American foods. Why? This episode begins with some interesting facts and history about ketchup that helps explain why there is a bottle of it in more than 97% of U.S. households. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/20/why-is-ketchup-so-delicious-science-answers-big-food-questions Have you ever had a winning streak? Maybe it was at work or in a game of tennis or chess – where you just could do no wrong. You often see winning streaks in professional sports. Interestingly, some people claim that winning streaks are a myth. However, my guest believes they are very real and that we can all learn how to do anything better by understanding how winning streaks work. Ben Cohen is a sports reporter for The Wall Street Journal and author of the book, The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks (https://amzn.to/32gobSl) and he joins me to offer some fascinating insight into winning and losing streaks. At some point in your education some teacher likely told you that you should never end a sentence with a preposition. However, anyone who writes knows that to follow that rule can be very awkward. So, is it really a rule? Listen as I explain where it came from and whether you should bother following it. Source: Patricia O’Connor author of “Woe Is I” (https://amzn.to/3igwWkT) We all have times when we really need to do work that requires real careful concentration. Yet in today’s world of distractions, it can be hard to find the time to do that kind of work without interruption. Cal Newport has researched this problem and come up with some great insight into how to get that important work done even when your life is pulling you in all different directions. Cal is a writer and an assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown University and host of the podcast Deep Questions. https://www.calnewport.com/podcast/. He is also author of the book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (https://amzn.to/3heGXO9). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance covers much more than you probably realize – and it is worth knowing. For example, if you receive counterfeit money – your homeowner’s insurance may likely cover you for the loss. Who knew? And that’s only one thing we discuss about insurance you may not know. http://consumerist.com/2012/04/12/stuck-with-a-forged-check-homeowners-insurance-to-the-rescue/ How do peak performers get to the top of their field? And what separates a peak performer from everyone else? High performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais has some interesting answers that can help you become a peak performer. Michael works with top musicians, action sports stars and athletes including the Seattle Seahawks. He is also the host of the podcast, Finding Mastery: Conversations with Michael Gervais (https://findingmastery.net). The number of people who are near-sighted has grown dramatically over the last 20 years or so. Why? You’ve probably heard that it is because we do so much “close-up” work like looking at computer screens and reading books. But that is apparently not it. So what is the reason? Listen to find out. http://www.nature.com/news/the-myopia-boom-1.17120?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews Is zero really a number? What is so important about pi? These are just two of the fascinating aspects of mathematics I explore with mathematician Ian Stewart, retired Professor at the University of Warwick in England and author of several books including The Beauty of Numbers in Nature (https://amzn.to/2DUo0fM). Even if you are not a math lover, you will find this conversation fascinating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blue jeans have been in fashion for a very long time. How did that happen? After all, they started out as work clothes. This episode begins by exploring the origins of jeans and how they became so popular. Source: James Sullivan, author of Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (https://amzn.to/2F0wyID) How often have you looked back on a conversation and wish you had said something different – something brilliant? Well now you can. Listen to my guest Phil M. Jones, author of the book Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact (http://amzn.to/2vGIR2R). Phil is one of the world’s top sales trainers and he has researched and studied what words and phrases work in what situations to help you get the outcomes you want in all areas of your life. Laughing is so good for you and so is crying. Even better if you can do them both at the same time. Listen as I explore the fine line between laughing and crying and the benefits of both. https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/09/07/curious-behvaior-provine/ You make judgments about people based on the way they speak. And people judge you the same way. Certain accents or dialects cloud or view of people both in good ways and bad ways. But is it fair? Why should we judge someone based on their speech pattern and why do we do it in the first place? Joining me to discuss that is Katherine Kinzler a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and author of the book How You Say It: Why You Talk the Way You Do and What it Says About You (https://amzn.to/3lSvZkU) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watching a scary movie can be terrifying and unpleasant. So why do people do it? This episode begins with a discussion on the appeal of scary movies and what watching them actually does for people. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725152040.htm Ever wonder why you chose to eat the foods you eat? The fact is there are a lot of things that influence food choice and many of those influences make it hard to eat a healthy diet. To help you sort out how to make better food choices and resist those negative influences so you can eat a healthy diet is Marion Nestle, PhD. She is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, she has researched and written several books about food, nutrition and the politics of food – and her latest book is Unsavory Truth: How Food Companies Skew the Science of What We Eat (https://amzn.to/2EUTGbm) She also has an amazingly simple way to lose weight that you are going to want to hear. Millions of people sit at a computer all day – and nothing could be worse! We slouch and strain our neck and all of that can cause all sorts of physical problems. In addition, when you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone, that’s not helping either. Joining me to give some expert advice on this is Erik Peper. He is a professor of Holistic Health at San Francisco State University and co-author of the book Tech Stress: How Technology is Hijacking Our Lives, Strategies for Coping, and Pragmatic Ergonomics (https://amzn.to/2QEyZCS). What makes it more likely that you get pulled over by the police? It turns out that it’s not just about speeding, it’s also about where you position yourself in relation to the other cars as well as other factors. Listen to hear some advice on how to improve your chances that you don’t get pulled over by the cops. Source: Interview with Eric Peters of https://www.ericpetersautos.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a lot of devices – cellphones, tablets, laptops – and they all need to be charged up constantly. How much does that cost? And how much does it cost to run a television, light bulb or a Tesla every year? Listen to discover the answers. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ekhf45ellkj/ipad-1-50-per-year/ It seems as if the truth has taken a beating in recent years. Your truth may not be my truth and then, of course, there is alternative truth. Huh? It’s time we take a closer look at what the truth is and isn’t. So joining me is Hector MacDonald, he is strategic communications consultant who has advised the leaders of some of the world’s top corporations as well as the British government. Hector is the author of a new book called TRUTH: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality (https://amzn.to/2pVUYs6) and I think you will find what he has to say very enlightening. Everyone has been worried about their breath on occasion. We all know what a huge turn-off bad breath can be. So I will let you in on some proven strategies to fight bad breath when you aren’t able to brush your teeth. I’ll also tell you a few myths about bad breath that may surprise you. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/03/cure-bad-breath_n_1126196.html You’ve heard of Murphy’s Law… Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But why is that so? Why do things go wrong? Whether it is your morning routine to get the kids off to school (which in my house OFTEN goes wrong) to how you do your job or cook Thanksgiving dinner to disastrous space shuttle launches – things can and do go wrong. Listen to Chris Clearfield, co-author of the book, Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It (https://amzn.to/2pZgPy3) as he delves into the science of failure. You’ll discover how failure works and more importantly how you can learn from failure to prevent it from happening again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When someone is sick or in the hospital, it is customary to send them flowers. Who doesn’t love flowers? But do flowers actually help sick people heal? This episode begins with a discussion on some interesting research that connects healing with plants and nature. http://askinyourface.com/2012/05/06/the-healing-power-of-flowers/ Everyone makes mistakes, including doctors. But medical errors can have serious consequences. It has been reported that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America. Could that be true? What is being done to prevent medical errors and what can we as patients do to make sure we are not the recipient of one of those errors. Here to discuss that is Dr. Ofri, Clinical professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and practicing physician at New York’s Bellevue Hospital for more than two decades. She is author of the book When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error (https://amzn.to/3hVGku9) Have you ever wondered why traffic seems to stop on a highway for no apparent reason and then just starts up again? How does that happen? Listen as I explain the science of phantom traffic jams and what we could all do to stop them if we all worked together. http://www.livescience.com/713-science-traffic-jams.html How does evolution actually happen? How did fish come out of the water and start walking? Where did their lungs and legs and feet come from? How did reptiles transform into birds? How does any creature evolve into another? We have a lot of new evidence that helps explain that says Neil Shubin. Neil is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and Professor at the University of Chicago and author of the book Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA (https://amzn.to/3gzfoii). Listen as he explains the fascinating world of evolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many things are taking up space in your house that you will never, ever, ever use again? This episode begins with some simple advice that will help you clear out some things from your home or office and free up some space for what’s really important. Source: Barbara Hemphill author of “Love It or Lose It (https://amzn.to/31wfIdq) Your sense of smell is fascinating. Still, it is the one sense that people would be most likely to give up if they had to. That’s likely because people don’t realize how important smell is to your physical and emotional well-being. Here to explain why smell is important and how to make the most of it is Rachel Herz. Rachel is a researcher who teaches at Brown University and Boston College and is author of the book The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell (https://amzn.to/3gtkP21) A lot of people believe that playing classical music helps plants grow. People also believe that certain types of music will make babies smarter. But what does this research say? Listen and find out Dan Levitan author of This Is Your Brain On Music https://amzn.to/3jivqyJ We all have things we want to do before we die. What often happens though is, people put off those experiences until later in life - often after they retire. However, for many experiences, it isn’t just having the experience – it is WHEN you have it. Some things are meant to happen when you are 30 not 70. Bill Perkins has given this a lot of thought. Bill is a hedge fund manager, Hollywood film producer, high stakes tournament poker player and author of the book Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life (https://amzn.to/2YEt31d). Listen as he explains how timing is so important when it comes to the experiences in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People hate unsolicited advice – and they seldom follow it. Still, that doesn’t stop us from dishing it out to those we are trying to help. Well maybe there is a better and more effective way to influence people other than just telling them what we think they should do. I’ll tell you what it is. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/do-the-right-thing/201407/giving-people-advice-rarely-works-does Some people have all the luck. But why? Why are some people luckier than others? Can you create a life that has more luck in it? Can you be one of those people that other people think of as lucky? Absolutely, says Janice Kaplan. Janice is the former Editor-in-Chief of Parade magazine and her new book is called, How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life (http://amzn.to/2Dp0wiH). Janice joins me to discuss how luck really works and how anyone can craft a luckier life. Organic onions, swordfish and gluten-free muffins are just 3 things you shouldn’t buy at the supermarket if you want to save money. I’ll explain why and give you a few other things NOT to buy. http://www.mc3cb.com/pdf_nutrition_articles/2011_3_8_7%20Worst%20Supermarket%20Rip.pdf Has this ever happened…? You send an email or leave a voicemail for someone to get back to you – but they don’t. As a result, you start to imagine why they don’t. And the why is usually a negative story. Why do we do this? And how can we stop doing that? Scott Gornto is a therapist and author of the book , The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Stop Jumping to Conclusions. Free Yourself from Anxiety. Transform Your Relationships (http://amzn.to/2DjTHix). Listen as he explains this interesting quirk in human behavior and why it gets us into trouble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you flip a coin and it comes up heads a couple of times in a row, chances are you would bet the next flip will come up tails. That is the perfect example of the “gambler’s fallacy.” Because the next flip is NOT more likely to come up tails. It gets gamblers in Las Vegas in trouble but it can also get you in trouble if you let it enter in to your decision making process. http://news.tamhsc.edu/?post=committing-the-gamblers-fallacy-may-be-in-the-cards-new-research-shows You instinctively know about body language. When people act a certain way or don’t make eye contact with you – it causes you to make assumptions about them. Plus, how YOU act and carry yourself causes people to make assumptions about you. All this non-verbal communication is fascinating and Tonya Reiman, Fox News, contributor and author of The Yes Factor: Get What You Want. Say What You Mean (http://amzn.to/2Fuh7rp), joins me to offer some insight and advice to help you better use nonverbal communication to your advantage. If you don’t have time to floss, maybe you should chew some gum. It seems that chewing gum can do a lot for your oral health but you have to chew the right kind of gum and you have to make sure you don’t chew it too long. Listen to hear the explanation. http://www.medicaldaily.com/oral-health-hack-chewing-gum-removes-100m-bacteria-10-minutes-similar-flossing-319120 What you eat turns out to have a lot to do with how well your brain works. Eat the right foods and your cognitive performance increases. Eat the wrong foods and the opposite occurs. Neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi, author of the new book, Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power (http://amzn.to/2HqihAA) explains the connection between food (and drink) and your brain and she offers her list of best and worst foods to eat if you want to optimize your brain’s performance. This Week's Sponsors The Jordan Harbinger Show Aimen Dean episode part 1 https://www.jordanharbinger.com/aimen-dean-nine-lives-of-a-spy-inside-al-qaeda-part-one/ Aimen Dean episode part 2 https://www.jordanharbinger.com/aimen-dean-nine-lives-of-a-spy-inside-al-qaeda-part-two/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices