Something You Should Know

Don’t you hate it when people ignore your emails? Well, there may be something you are doing in your subject line that increases the odds you will be ignored. This episode starts by revealing what that is – and the simple fix. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/291896/subject-line-typos-decrease-email-engagementrates.html It appears to be human nature that bad things feel bad more than good things feel better. As an example, it feels worse to lose $20 than it feels good to win $20. It’s called the negativity effect. Consequently, we will do more to avoid bad things happening than we will do to make good things happen. This has amazing implications to your life you have likely never thought about.. John Tierney is a writer has researched and written a book about this called The Power of Bad: How The Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It (https://amzn.to/30Gn3EQ). He joins me to explain how the negativity effect plays a role in many parts of your life. Some people can swallow a pill without drinking water with it. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Listen as I explain the dangers of dry-swallowing medication. http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/swallowing-pills-without-water-danger/ Why do some people have so much trouble maintaining a reasonable body weight while it is no problem for others? While there is no simple answer a lot of it has to do with environment, genetics and how you respond to your sense of hunger. Joining me to discuss this and what science says can really work to lose weight and keep it off is Dr. Giles Yeo. He is a geneticist with over 20 years’ experience dedicated to researching the genetics of obesity and author of the book Gene Eating: The Science of Obesity and the Truth About Dieting (https://amzn.to/3arsV9C). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every credit card bill comes with a due date. And if you pay the balance every month by the due date – you don’t pay any interest. But if you carry a balance month-to-month, the rules are different. You pay interest every day on the unpaid balance. So, the question is, if you make your payment earlier than the due date, do you save money? We start this episode by doing that math. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/pay-credit-card-bill-early-and-save-1.aspx Starting your own business is a romantic idea. But is it practical? Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup (http://amzn.to/2rc9dv4) shares the results of his fascinating research on people who started a successful business with very little money – and explains how anyone can do it. There is one particular app that is sucking your smartphone dry. And by that I mean it is sucking a lot of battery power and storage space. Which app is it? I’ll reveal which one and explain how you can easily live without it. http://mashable.com/2016/02/08/delete-facebook-app-iphone-battery/#OStOxq1kk8qi If you are one of those people (or you know one of those people) who works all the time and never takes a vacation or takes weekends off, you need to hear award-winning journalist Katrina Onstad, author of The Weekend Effect (http://amzn.to/2qPxRRl). She explores the harm this “all work – no fun” approach to life does to a person’s mental and physical health as well as to the quality of work they do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you breathe through your mouth you are doing it all wrong. This episode begins with a discussion on how to breathe properly and why breathing through your nose is so much better. http://www.breathing.com/articles/nose-breathing.htm Physical intelligence is that thing that allows you to never forget how to ride a bike or allows you to play a musical instrument or a sport. Scott Grafton teaches neuroscience at the University of California Santa Barbara and he is author of the book Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Body and the Mind Guide Each Other Through Life (https://amzn.to/3aiI4dm). Scott joins me to explain how our physical intelligence helps us navigate the physical world and how our world is actually getting too easy for us to navigate. No matter what your age is, your posture today is probably not as good as it used to be. Still, good posture is important and I discuss some things you can do (and not do) to improve your posture. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4082990/Don-t-old-tortoise-Want-old-age-head-held-highJust-follow-expert-s-brilliant-tips-fit-flexible-past-40.html#ixzz4UiBJYSuY You’ve probably heard the advice that too make a change you need to break it down into smaller steps. But maybe it would be better to break it down into even smaller – tiny steps. That’s what BJ Fogg says works better for humans. BJ Fogg is a social science research associate at Stanford and founder of the Stanford Behavior Design Lab. He is also author of the book Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything (https://amzn.to/2RnpgRl). Listen as he explains how the tiniest of changes can lead to big and lasting changes in your life. This Week's Sponsors -Best Fiends. Download this fun mobile game for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard of “Imposter Syndrome?” It’s that feeling that you don’t really deserve the success you have achieved. A lot of people suffer from it so we begin this episode with an explanation of where it comes from and how to stop feeling like such a fake so you can truly enjoy your success. http://mentalfloss.com/article/75699/what-imposter-syndrome-and-what-can-you-do-about-it Would you take relationship advice from a divorce lawyer? Think about it – who knows better why relationships fall apart than a seasoned divorce attorney? And perhaps with that knowledge you could reverse engineer a relationship, so it stays together. That’s what my guest James Sexton is going to discuss. James is a divorce lawyer and author of the book How to Stay in Love: Practical Wisdom from an Unexpected Source (https://amzn.to/39XlfvB). From his unique perspective he has some suggestions that I think will resonate with you and that you will find very practical if you want to keep your relationship or marriage going smoothly - or at least understand why it isn’t. One reason people eat yogurt is because it has bacteria in it that is supposed to be good for you. Well, it turns out it might not be as good for you as you think. Listen as I discuss what yogurt really does – or doesn’t do to promote “gut health.” http://www.businessinsider.com/ed-yong-explains-yogurt-not-healthy-2016-9 Your sense of taste is rather amazing. It turns out it is so much more than the flavor you experience on your tongue. And it also changes. Foods you hated as a kid you may enjoy as an adult. And why do you like some foods that other people hate? Camilla Arndal Andersen is a food scientist in Denmark who studies people’s sense of taste and she joins me to explain the fascinating, complicated and very subjective sense of taste. Camilla also has a TED talk on the subject which you can watch here: https://www.ted.com/talks/camilla_arndal_andersen_what_happens_in_your_brain_when_you_taste_food?language=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People who overeat tend to do so at the same time on the same days. This episode begins with me telling you exactly when those times are so you can defend yourself against temptation. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2306736/Fat-oclock-7pm-Sunday-revealed-time-likely-comfort-eating.html Solving problems and developing new ideas doesn’t come from focus and concentration as much as it does from “unfocusing” and letting your mind wander. Psychiatrist Dr. Srini Pillay author of Tinker, Dabble, Doodle, Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind (http://amzn.to/2pMIVy3) explains the science behind how the creative brain works better when it is distracted rather than when it is trying to be creative. There is something called “double standard parenting.” In other words, when you accidentally break a lamp – well it’s just an accident. But what happens when your kid accidentally breaks a lamp? Does he or she get punished and shamed for doing it? We’ll explore some sage advice on why you shouldn’t hold your kids to higher standard than you hold yourself. Source: The Awakened Family by Dr. Shefali Tsabary (https://amzn.to/2R9kLtC). The world of video games isn’t all about war, aliens, shooting people and blowing things up. Andrew Ervin, author of Bit by Bit: How Video Games Transformed Our World (https://amzn.to/2NeohBU) reveals an entirely different world of video games and also discusses the importance of video games as a true art form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listening to music is more than just a pleasant experience. It is also good for you in several ways. This episode begins with a discussion of how valuable music is to your mental and physical well-being. http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml Could your genes or microbes or even a parasite actually dictate parts of your personality? Likely so, according to Bill Sullivan, a professor at Indiana School of Medicine and author of the book Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are (https://amzn.to/2t2VOYT). Listen as he explains how these forces can actually determine and even alter what makes you – you. You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t store tomatoes in the fridge or that you shouldn’t fry food in olive oil. These are just a couple of common kitchen practices that may not stand up to scientific scrutiny. Listen as I explain why. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4539884/Should-continuously-stir-risotto-soak-onions.html It can sometimes be hard to explain something to someone so they really and truly get it. Listen as scientist, Dr. Dominic Walliman offers the four key ingredients that will help you explain anything to anyone. Link to Dominic’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2TaTOIW Link to Dominic’s books: https://amzn.to/39TRko7 Link to his TED talk: https://bit.ly/2FGCMKp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a woman cries it can have a dramatic effect on a man. Not only because she is sad but also because of how hears smell – seriously. This episode begins with an explanation of the connection between a woman’s tears and a man’s testosterone. http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/06/the-crying-game-womens-tears-dial-down-testosterone/ Many New Year’s resolutions are about exercise because for some, staying active is hard to do. Well, for some amazing motivation, listen to Kelly McGonigal, research psychologist and lecturer at Stanford and author of the book, The Joy of Movement (https://amzn.to/2N2wide). Kelly explains not only the long-term benefits of movement but the instant and satisfying benefits of moving your body even just a little. Why are there revolving doors? They are heavy and hard to push and some people hate them. So where did they come from and what was the original purpose. Listen to hear a very surprising story. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63378/whats-point-revolving-doors Talking to strangers can be tedious. After all, what’s the point of having a 15 second conversation with someone in line at the supermarket who you will never se again? Perhaps that is not the way to look at it. Kio Stark has been seeking out strangers to talk to for a long time. She loves it. Kio is author of the book When Strangers Meet (https://amzn.to/2s2ihEU). Listen to hear her explain why and what benefits you can get for investing in those brief conversations rather than avoiding them. You can see her TED talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/kio_stark_why_you_should_talk_to_strangers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to keep your fresh cut flowers, fresher? My grandmother always said put aspirin in the water and I’ve also heard you should put a penny in the water or some sugar. Well someone actually tested all these things out – and you’ll hear the results and discover what works best. http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/gardening/gardening-flowers/keep-cut-flowers-fresh/flower-food You constantly receive criticism and feedback from people – some of it is welcome some not. Some of it is warranted and some of it not. So how can you learn to evaluate the feedback coming at you so you can determine what is true and what is false – and not get defensive? And then how do you use that feedback to your advantage? Sheila Heen author of the book, Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well (http://amzn.to/2pelwW0) has studied this and you will find what she has to say extremely helpful. Why do so many marriages and relationships go bad? Dr Harville Hendrix has been studying relationships and has worked with couples for over 30 years. He has authored several books on the topic including Making Marriage Simple (http://amzn.to/2pYzh9k). He shares some incredible insight into how any relationship can be made better – instantly if at least one person is willing to make some simple changes. Who doesn’t love bacon? Just the smell of bacon cooking is enough to make you crave it. So what is it about bacon that makes it so desirable? I’ll explain the science of bacon in this episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=133&v=27EBed9rzs8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you set any New Year’s resolutions? The chances of them sticking for a long time are pretty slim. However, there is something you can do to improve your odds. This episode begins with a strategy to help make life changes really stick. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-years-resolutionspsychology_us_5862d599e4b0d9a59459654c Do you know what your circadian rhythm is? It’s your internal 24-hour clock that controls you in ways you probably never knew. Dr. Emily Manoogian is a post-doctoral fellow at the Salk Institute (https://inside.salk.edu/fall-2018/emily-manoogian/) and is an expert in chronobiology which is the study of our internal clocks and how they affect us. Emily joins me to explain how these clocks work and how they control your life. Watch her TED talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=SrBYSinpEtU&feature=emb_logo Getting ice off your windshield in the morning can be a slow process. However there is a fast, safe and effective way to do it. Listen as I explain what it is. http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/defrost-car-windshield Some people like meetings but I suspect more people don’t. Why? Because meetings are often a waste of time. David Grady is a writer and communications expert who created an interesting TED talk on how to save the world from bad meetings (https://bit.ly/37CnJxE) and he joins me to discuss how to get out of meetings you shouldn’t be in – and how to make better the ones you do have to attend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you just found out over the holidays, finding the right gift to someone can be difficult. However, there is some science to it that can make gift giving a little easier. This episode begins with some interesting insight on finding the right gifts for everyone the next time you need to. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4017156/The-science-perfectgift-Focus-experiences-make-sure-usefull-NEVER-suprise-someone.html Have you ever wondered why you are the person you are? Where did your personality come from? Does it change – and can you change it if you want to? Christopher Soto is an associate professor of psychology at Colby College in Maine (http://www.colby.edu/psych/personality-lab/) and has studied personality for a long time. Listen as he explains why you are you and why you might be a better you, later on. Procrastination is generally considered to be a bad trait. Still, we all do it. So maybe it isn’t all bad – maybe it serves a purpose. Dominic Vogue is Senior Associate Director of The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning at Princeton University (https://mcgraw.princeton.edu) and is an expert on the subject of procrastination. I think you’ll find what he has to say quite fascinating and may make you feel less guilty the next time you decide to put something off. Police give out speeding tickets for several reasons: they punish fast drivers, they deter other drivers from speeding and they are a source of revenue for government. But there is also a problem. The practice of handing out speeding tickets can be dangerous. Listen as I explain why. http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/news/a31850/study-finds-that-strict-speedenforcement-is-actually-a-danger/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s your favorite sleep position? It turns out that one sleep position is better than the others for eliminating “brain waste” and preventing Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s and other brain problems. In this episode, you’ll discover the best way to sleep. https://www.sciencealert.com/sleeping-on-your-side-could-reduce-alzheimer-s-and-parkinson-s-risk-study-finds How do you spot a liar? It’s not just one or two things – you have to understand the process of determining whether someone is being deceptive. Listen as Maryann Karinch, co-author of the book How to Spot a Liar (https://amzn.to/2QDEMYZ), helps you become a better truth detector. With all the texts, and memos and emails and reports you write – you probably strive to make your writing effective - right? Laura Brown, author of How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide (https://amzn.to/2MH8c7B) – and an expert writer herself – offers some simple ways to punch up and improve your writing so that people understand you and your message is crystal clear. What’s in your garage? Some of the things you probably have in there are better off somewhere else, according to Home & Garden magazine. We’ll explore what things you should either get rid of or bring into the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timing is everything. And when you have a big decision to make, the time of day you choose to make it is more important than you might realize. This episode begins with explanation of why it matters and what is the best time of day to decide anything. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-better-decisions-2016-11 Have you ever stopped to think what things make you most angry? When you do get angry, how do you react? What do you do with your anger? Listen as I explore these questions and more with Ryan Martin. He is a professor of psychology and associate dean at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and has studied anger extensively. He even has a TED talk about it called The Upside of Anger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcQaXG_Qhs). After you hear this, you’ll get a better understanding of why you get angry and how to handle it. You can’t cure the common cold or flu but there is a technique that can help you not catch them in the first place. In fact, according to research, you can reduce your chances by 40% by doing it. Listen to hear what this simple technique is that was reported in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/health/28real.html?_r=0 When you are in a relationship and both of you have your own careers, there are bound to be conflicts and problems. Professor Jennifer Petriglieri has studied and examined these problems and has some great advice to help couples find ways to pursue their professional goals and dreams while being in a rewarding and satisfying relationship. Jennifer is author of a book on the topic called Couples That Work (https://amzn.to/37GxWd2). This Week’s Sponsors -The Undercovers podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undercovers/id1479344440 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots of people listen to music when they are working because they believe it helps them concentrate and be more productive? Does it? This episode begins by exploring which, if any kind of music really helps your concentration and productivity. https://www.businessinsider.com/10-minute-trick-to-boost-your-productivity-2016-1 How suggestible are you? Could you be hypnotized into believing something that isn’t true? What about placebos? If I tell you a sugar pill will cure your headache, will your headache go away? It’s fascinating to think that the human brain can be fooled into thinking and doing things. Science writer Erik Vance is a science writer who has explored why it seems your brain is so suggestible - even if you think it isn't. He is the author of the National Geographic book, Suggestible You: The Curious Science of Your Brain's Ability to Deceive, Transform, and Heal (https://amzn.to/2L5ptqn) and he joins me to shed light on this interesting quirk of the human brain and what it means. You know when you go to drug store and right next to the name brand lotion or shampoo or pain reliever is the store brand in a bottle that looks kind of like the name brand but a lot cheaper? So is it the same as the name brand? Listen to discover the answer. (Shopsmart magazine Dec 2014 issue) When you are sick and go to the doctor, you expect the doctor will treat you. And the doctor knows you expect him or her to do something – and so you walk out with a prescription. But there is often a flaw in that process that is leading to a lot of patient overtreatment. Norway neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset has explored this problem and has come up with 4 questions you should ask your doctor went he prescribes a medication or medical test. Hear what they are and discover why this is such an important subject. Dr. Mjåset did a TED talk on this which you can see here: https://www.ted.com/talks/christer_mjaset_4_questions_you_should_always_ask_your_doctor?language=en This Week’s Sponsors -Fetch Rewards. Download the Fetch Rewards app and use promo code SYSK to receive 4000 points when you scan your first receipt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are wasting too much time on email. It’s estimated that you waste 30 seconds each time you stop and check it. So how can you cut down on the amount of time you waste? In this episode, you’ll discover some great techniques that can cut your time in half. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/09/brevity-in-email/501986/ Also, if you are concerned about aging and you want to age well, there is some great news. Washington Post reporter Margaret Pressler, author of the book Cheat the Clock http://amzn.to/2k6Ctyx did an amazing amount of research – looking at all we know about the aging process. What she found is that staying young is a lot easier than you ever imagined. Listen and hear her explanation. Leadership skills - they aren’t just for CEO’s, corporate big shots or managers. We all need to lead others at times – and developing leadership skills is important for everyone. Courtney Lynch, co-author of the bestselling book Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success http://amzn.to/2kV668g is here to tell her story and offer some excellent leadership advice you probably haven’t heard before. Why you should salt your cookies, cook your eggs slow and cook bacon in the oven… those are just some of the expert tips you’ll discover that will transform your cooking, whether you are a gourmet chef or can barely boil water. http://www.popsugar.com/food/Right-Way-Cook-Things-42682898#photo-42682898 This Week's Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you leave your garage opener in the car? Do you know where your main water shutoff valve is? No matter where you live, there are a few questions you should ask yourself about your home. This episode begins with some of those questions – and the answers. https://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/things-every-homeowner-must-know/ You smile at people all day long and most of your smiles are fake ones. That’s just one of the fascinating things I discuss with Marianne LaFrance, professor of psychology at Yale University and author of the book Why Smile? The Science Behind Facial Expressions (https://amzn.to/35ij7vp). Listen as she reveals why we smile, what smiling can do for you and how your smile communicates to other people. More people put up artificial Christmas trees than real ones. Artificial trees look a lot more realistic than they used to but are they a better choice? Actually there are pros and cons to both. Listen and decide which you should choose this year. http://www.rd.com/culture/real-vs-fake-christmas-tree/ “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” That wisdom is flawed according to Kim Scott, CEO of Candor Inc and author of the book Radical Candor (https://amzn.to/2rcq6XI). This is particularly true in the workplace where we need to be honest and direct. Listen as Kim reveals how important it is to say what needs to be said and how to do it without coming off like a jerk. This Week’s Sponsors -Fetch Rewards. Get 4000 points when you scan your first receipt. Download the app and use the promo code SYSK when you sign up to get your rewards. –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -The Undercovers podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undercovers/id1479344440 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where do you go when you have to come up with a creative idea? The shower is a favorite spot. And a lot of people like to sit in silence for inspiration. However, there is another place you might want to try that seems to be even better in helping people generate creative ideas. This episode begins by revealing this surprising location which is probably just down the street from you. https://www.fastcompany.com/3013437/dialed/the-strange-scientific-connectionbetween-coffee-shops-and-creativity When you ask people why they go to work every day, many of them will likely say it is for the money. While that is true for some, it is not true for most people according to Barry Schwartz, a professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and author of the book Why We Work (https://amzn.to/2D37VXv). Listen as he explains why it is that people find a lot more value in work than a paycheck – even if they don’t realize it. And how organizing your work in certain ways can make it far more rewarding. If it feels natural to stay up late – you are probably a genuine night owl. Scientists have proven there are difference in the brain between night owls and those who are not. Those difference are both good news and bad news for night owls and I will explain exactly why. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201311/how-will-you-sleep-tonight-its-in-your-genes It is hard to imagine that simply sitting down to dinner could be a life-threatening experience. But in the late 1800s it really was in many parts of the U.S. Listen as I speak with Pulitzer prize winning author Deborah Blum who reveals how eating store bought food back then made a lot of people sick and many died. What is so fascinating is there was noting illegal about it. There was no crime. Deborah reveals how this happened and how one man made a huge difference in changing the rules of food safety – and as a result may be one reason you are alive today! Deborah is author of the book The Poison Squad (https://amzn.to/32WGTeA). This Week’s Sponsors -Native Deodorant. For 20% of your first purchase go to www.nativedeodorant.com and use promo code SYSK -LinkedIn. For $50 off you first job post, go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Upstart. See how low your interest rate is at www.Upstart.com/something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You develop driving habits over time and some of those habits may not be so great for your car or the engine. Listen to some advice from Popular Mechanics about how to change some of your driving habits to prolong the life of your vehicle. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/g2846/10-bad-habits-car/ Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Many of us do. While a lot of gurus tell you that you should pursue your passion, follow your dreams and go for the gusto, they are often a bit short on the details of how to do it. That’s why I am anxious for you to hear Jeremy Cage. His dream was to sail around the world. He did it. And that experience was the basis for his book, All Dreams on Deck (http://amzn.to/2jtk6nM). I am hoping – and I am confident – his words will inspire you to go after your dreams. The home field advantage. It is a proven thing in the sports world – and it turns out you can use it too. Listen and find out how. https://www.influenceatwork.com/inside-influence-report/will-having-the-home-field-advantage-help-you-hit-an-influence-home-run/ Odd as it sounds, there are a lot of people who feel lonely even though they are in a relationship. Maybe even you. Dr. Holly Parker, clinical psychologist and teacher of psychology at Harvard has a new book out called, If We’re Together, Why Do I Feel So Alone? (https://amzn.to/2CNOxNU). She is here to discuss this very common problem and what to do about it – even if your partner is unwilling. This Week’s Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is it that your stomach growls at exactly the wrong time? When you are taking a test in school or during a meeting when the room is quiet and all of a sudden your stomach starts making all those weird little noises. This episode begins with an explanation as to why that happens and how to prevent it. https://www.outsideonline.com/1784166/why-does-my-stomach-growl We all like to think we know what we are talking about – and yet so often we don’t. Human beings have a tendency to believe things that are not true – particularly if what we believe supports our view of the world. And what is so fascinating is we tend to believe things are actually worse than what the truth suggests. When you understand why and how this happens, you can protect yourself from other people’s deception. Joining me to discuss this strange human quirk is Bobby Duffy, a professor of public policy at King’s College in London and author of the book Why We’re Wrong About Nearly Everything (https://amzn.to/2qdz9aK). The afternoon slump hits most of us around 3 pm. And while a cup of coffee might lift you up a bit – there is actually a way to prevent yourself from getting it – or at least minimize that late day slump. Listen and I’ll explain a simple yet effective technique. https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/avoiding-the-afternoon-energy-slump It seems like people are more anxious than they used to be. Tempers are shorter, patience wears thin quicker and people just seem worried about a lot of things. So how do you turn down the dial on anxiety and worry? That’s what Olivia Remes is here to discuss. Olivia is an anxiety researcher at the University of Cambridge in London. Her writing has appeared in several major publications and she posts a lot of information on the topic on Twitter. (@OliviaRoxann). She offers some simple ways to ease your anxiety and find more joy in life. This Weeks’s Sponsors -Proven Skin Care. Go to www.PROVENSKINCARE.COM/SOMETHING and use promo code SOMETHING to get your exclusive 10%. - Feals. Go to www.FEALS.COM/SYSK to get 50% off your order plus free shipping. –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How accurate is Wikipedia? If you go to one of their articles, how likely is it to be accurate and objective. This episode begins with some surprising facts about Wikipedia and its accuracy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/wikipedia-explained-what-is-it-trustworthy-how-work-wikimedia-2030-a8213446.html People lie. In fact everyone lies. Many times those lies are small and inconsequential – other times they are a very big deal. Pamela Myers is one of the leading experts on lies and deception and she joins me to take us on a journey into how deception works, how to identify it and how to get people to tell the truth. Pamela Myers is author of the book Liespotting (https://amzn.to/2K8Bj2b) and you can her her TED talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_6vDLq64gE. If a store posts a sign that says “You Break It You Buy It” can they actually enforce that? Accidents happen – so how can you be forced to pay for something just because it slipped or because you happened to walk by it when it fell and broke? Listen and find out what the law says. https://blogs.findlaw.com/common_law/2012/01/if-you-break-it-must-you-buy-it.html The world is getting a lot louder. And all that noise is taking a toll on you – even if you don’t really notice it. Listen to some fascinating insight on what noise does to you physically and psychologically from Mathias Basner. He is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on how noise affects sleep and health. This Week’s Sponsors -Bitsbox. Get $25 off any Bitsbox subscription of $50 or more by going to https://campaign.bitsbox.com/something enter promo code SOMETHING at checkout. -Simplisafe. For free shipping and a 60-day free trial go to www.Simplisafe.com/something -Article Furniture. For $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more go to https://www.article.com/sysk -Capterra. To find the best software for your business for free go to www.Capterra.com/something –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you cook, I’m sure you’ve heard that when you cook with alcohol, the heat burns off the alcohol quickly. Well, according to science that is impossible. We’ll explore that and why it is important for every cook to know. http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholCooking.htm People talk about how busy & overwhelmed they are like it is a badge of honor. However, being busy doesn’t mean you get more done. And it often means tasks don’t get done as well as they could. My first guess in this episode is Christine Carter, a happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and author of the book The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and at Work (http://amzn.to/2iFBDJi). She is here to discuss the negative effects of too much busyness – and a better way to structure your day so you actually get more done – and done well. You probably know creepy people but what makes people creepy? Most of us know a creepy person when we see one – but what is it about some people that creeps us out? And how do you make sure you aren’t sending out any creepy vibes? Find out in today’s episode. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-love/how-to-tell-if-hes-a-creep Do you get an annual physical? It is a common practice because people believe it helps keep them healthy. But does it really? Family physician Davis Liu, M.D., author of The Thrifty Patient (http://amzn.to/2j1UP0m) reveals what is and what is NOT important when it comes to staying healthy and living a long and active life. By the way, he has also discovered the “Fountain of Youth.” He’ll tell you what it is – but you may not like it. This Week’s Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Simplisafe. For free shipping and a 60-day free trial go to www.Simplisafe.com/something -How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast. https://awesomeatyourjob.com/podcast/ -The Undercovers podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undercovers/id1479344440 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People cry when they are sad – so why do they also cry when they are happy? This episode begins with the explanation for why two opposite emotions can have the same symptom. And what happy occasion actually causes people to cry the most "tears of joy.” (And it’s not weddings). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141111124047.htm You probably know who Mike Rowe is. For years he hosted the TV show Dirty Jobs on the Discover Channel. He has become a champion for the blue collar workers in America and has his foundation that supports that cause called mikeroweWORKS. (www.mikeroweworks.com) . He is also the host of a podcast (https://mikerowe.com/podcast/) and author of a book – both called The Way I Heard It (https://amzn.to/34Dikog). Mike joins me with his interesting and often contrarian view on a lot of what we have come to believe about success including education, persistence efficiency and more. Kids skip. You probably skipped when you were a kid. So why don’t adults skip? Listen as I explain that it actually might do us all a world of good to do a little more skipping – even if you look foolish. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3895968/Why-adults-stop-skipping-s-hard-Activity-uses-quarter-energy-running-speed.html As a culture we are becoming less empathetic towards our fellow humans. Yet empathy is one of those things that is good for everyone concerned. When you show empathy towards others it can ease their pain and it is beneficial to you as well. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and author of the book The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World (https://amzn.to/2qtq4dX). He joins me to explain exactly what empathy is, how it works and why having it is so good for you. This Week’s Sponsors -Proven Skincare. Go to www.PROVENSKINCARE.COM/SOMETHING and use promo code SOMETHING to get your exclusive 10%. –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Simplisafe. For free shipping and a 60-day free trial go to www.Simplisafe.com/something -How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast. https://awesomeatyourjob.com/podcast/ -The Undercovers podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undercovers/id1479344440 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you let your dog sleep on the bed? Some experts claim it is bad for your health. But I am going to start this episode by explaining why it may be just fine. http://www.purewow.com/entry_detail/national/22018/7-Reasons-Its-Actually-Betterto-Let-Your-Dog-Sleep-in-Your.htm When you are trying to communicate your idea or pitch your proposal it is easy to over explain it. After all, it is your baby and you want people to understand every little detail. The problem is that people don’t really want to hear all that detail. Brant Pinvidic a producer who has sold more than three hundred TV shows and movies, run a TV network, and ran one of the largest production companies in the world with smash hits like The Biggest Loser and Bar Rescue. He is author of the book The 3 Minute Rule (https://amzn.to/36uNAHI) and he is here to explain how and why your ideas will always go over better when you are brief and to the point, No matter how good a person you are, you are probably a better person in the morning than you are after dinner. How can that be? Listen and I’ll tell you. https://www.medicaldaily.com/morning-morality-effect-you-are-more-likely-lie-steal-and-cheat-afternoon-261482 What if what your reality isn’t real? What if real, objective reality is something humans can’t possibly perceive? And what if our inability to perceive objective reality is what has helped us to survive? I know it’s a bit hard to get your head around. That’s why Don Hoffman is here. Don is a professor at the University of California in Irvine and author of the book The Case Against Reality (https://amzn.to/2Nb2r2L). Don joins me to explain this theory which is more than just an academic exercise. There are some fascinating practical implications as well. This Week’s Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -3 Day Blinds. For their “Buy 1/Get 1 at half-off” deal go to www.3DayPodcast.com and use promo code: SOMETHING. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You need to know about the “27 Second Effect.” This is a critical part of the whole “distracted driving” problem that most people don’t realize. If you don’t understand what happens during these 27 seconds, you are putting your safety – and the safety of your passengers – at risk. http://www.calif.aaa.com/home/about/community-and-safety/hands-free-distraction-study.html Want to be happy? First you need to understand what happiness is – and isn’t. Dr. Amit Sood, author of The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness (http://amzn.to/2iy2hQI) explains why happiness is so often elusive and offers some great, concrete suggestions to live a more joyous and happy life today, no matter what is happening in your life. How well do you handle your money? For many of us, it isn’t something we were taught, we just had to figure it out on our own. Mix into that all the emotions we feel around money and it is no wonder people struggle to attain financial security. Certified Financial Planner Carl Richards, author of The One Page Financial Plan (http://amzn.to/2hhDbED) offers some great insight into why money is such a difficult and touchy subject and has some great advice to help you control your money and feel good about it. Wouldn’t it be great if you had more time in your day? In this episode, you’ll get 5 expert strategies that will open up all sorts of time and get each day started in just the right way. http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/stop-wasting-time This Week's Sponsors –Airbnb.To learn more about being an Airbnb host visitwww.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When someone meets you, the first thing they likely notice are your eyes. But do you know what they notice second? Or third? Or fourth? This episode begins by explaining what folks notice and how they interpret what they see. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-impressions-are-everything-new-study-confirms-people-with-straight-teeth-are-perceived-as-more-successful-smarter-and-having-more-dates-148073735.html The success story of Netflix is legendary. It was a little startup that became a huge success. Today every business school and entrepreneurial seminar likely spends some time talking about the extraordinary success of Netflix. So you might find it surprising that the founder was leaning towards starting a shampoo-by-mail and a custom-dog food-by-mail business before he decided on renting videos. My first guest today is Netflix co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph who tells the Netflix success sage firsthand. Marc is the author of the book That Will Never Work: The Brirth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea (https://amzn.to/2WjwPeb). Nothing brings a family together more than spending time together. However, WHERE you spend that time is really important. Listen as I reveal whether it’s better to spend family time at home or whether going on trips helps strengthen family bonds. http://time.com/4526901/home-time-key-to-family-happiness/ More and more people work from home or work remotely. This means a lot of employees are working with people who they have never met and will never meet. That can create a lot of problems according to Jason Morwick. Jason is a certified Project Management Professional, author of the book Making Telework Work (https://amzn.to/36eUsZW) and he is publisher of a newsletter called "Open Kimono" www.theopenkimono.co which delivers business management research. He joins me to discuss the challenges faced by the people who work remotely and by the people who have to work with them. He offers some great advice for individuals and businesses to mitigate those problems so everyone feels part of the team no matter where they actually are. This Week’s Sponsors: -Les Mills On Demand. Try the fitness app FREE for 21 days by going to www.TryLesMills.com/something –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you go to the movies, is there really a “best seat in the house?” Actually, yes. Although people have their own preferences, theaters are calibrated for sound from one seat in particular. This episodes begins by telling you which seat that is and where to sit if someone is already sitting in it. https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/how-to-find-best-seat-movie-theater.html?mid=twitter_vulture How can four seconds change your life? Trust me, it can and it is one of several pieces of advice you are about to hear from consultant Peter Bregman, CEO of Bregman Partners and author of several books including Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Replace Counter-Productive Habits with Ones That Really Work (https://amzn.to/31LQfJG). Peter has some powerful and some would consider counter-intuitive advice that will get you to think – including why you should take the blame when things go wrong because it will actually make you more trustworthy. Why do we celebrate Halloween? Where did it come from and why do kids dress in costumes and go seeking candy? Halloween expert Lisa Morton author of The Halloween Encyclopedia (https://amzn.to/2BKMg5J) joins me to answer these questions and discuss how Halloween has changed over the years. While Halloween is a time to be afraid – there are some things people are afraid of that should be of no concern at all. This episode concludes with a list of things that may frighten you but it turns out they are nothing to be concerned about at all. https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/everyday-dangers-not-to-worry-about This Week’s Sponsors -Simplisafe. For free shipping and a 60-day free trial go to www.Simplisafe.com/something -Forevernote. For $25 off go to www.Forevernote.com/something and use promo code: something –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know about The 40% Rule. It’s what Navy Seals use to be mentally tough – and you can use it as well. It just takes a simple change in thinking. http://lifehacker.com/cultivate-mental-toughness-with-the-navy-seals-40-perc-1745307249 Who knew going to the doctor or the hospital could be so dangerous? Sure there are a lot of sick people there so you could catch some weird disease but that’s not the big problem. It’s MEDICAL ERRORS. I was shocked when I heard the statistic that medical errors are the third biggest killer in the U.S. behind cancer and heart disease. Here to discuss this is my guest, Leslie Michelson who has been working hard to create a “culture of safety” in medicine and he needs all of us to help. He is the founder and chairman of Private Health Management, former CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation – and he is author of The Patients Playbook. (http://amzn.to/2hdUaf6). Since all of us will be a patient in the hospital at some point – this is essential for you to hear. Since you likely send text messages to people on your phone, you need to understand what adding punctuation does that change the meaning of what you are saying. It’s interesting – and it only applies to text messages. If you are a texter, this can keep you out of trouble. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563215302181 How organized are you? If you could use a little help, I’ve got just the person. Sue Crum spends her life helping people get more organized though her coaching and consulting as well as speaking. She is also author of the book Clear Your Clutter (http://amzn.to/2hdWzGF) and discusses simple strategies to help you get more organized. This Week's Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably know the many ways supermarkets use psychology to get you to spend more money. Well it turns out that airports do the same thing. This episode begins with a discussion how airports are designed to manipulate you to spend, spend,spend while you wait to take-off. http://www.neatorama.com/2015/06/11/12-Behind-the-Scenes-Secrets-of-Airports/ Humans tend to hang out with their own kind. It just is the way it is. And yet meeting and spending time with strangers and people NOT like you can have tremendous benefits. Strategy and innovation consultant Alan Gregerman, author of the book The Necessity of Strangers (https://amzn.to/2NkRxX5) explores the importance and payoffs of being around people who are different than you. This is the time of year people bring firewood into their homes to prepare for the looming cold weather. Bad idea! Listen as I discuss how bringing firewood into your house can have a lot of very bad unintended consequences. http://stlouispestcontrolblog.com/2011/12/ You have no doubt heard about metabolism. You have a metabolism and it has something to do with how you do or don’t lose weight. Well, here to clear up the mystery of exactly what metabolism is how it works and how to speed it up is Angelo Poli. Angelo is a fitness and nutrition expert and founder of MetPro (www.MetPro.co). Angelo joins me to explain how your metabolism works and simple and seldom heard strategies to speed it up and keep your weight under control. This Week’s Sponsors -Capterra. To find the best software for your business for free go to www.Capterra.com/something –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com -Calming Comfort. To get 15% off the displayed price go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com and use the promo code: something. -3 Day Blinds. For their “Buy 1/Get 1 at half-off” deal go to www.3DayPodcast.com and use promo code: SOMETHING. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all sometimes struggle to remember important things – like names or passwords or what to get at the grocery store. This episode begins with some very simple techniques that will sharpen your memory and help you remember. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7591279/DR-MICHAEL-MOSLEY-stop-forgetting-passwords-Does-gum-disease-really-cause-heart-attacks.html Food poisoning is amazingly common. Every year, millions of people get it, over 120,000 end up in the hospital and some die from it. Yet most of it is preventable according to Dr. Mark Tamplin author of the The Food Safety Book (https://amzn.to/2pya8GT). Listen as he explains some of the myths about food poisoning as well as how people typically get it and the precautions we all need to take. Do you eat breakfast? A lot of people don’t and even feel good about the fact that they skipped all those calories. But there are several really good reasons NOT to take a few moments to eat something for breakfast that will improve your mental performance and help you eat less. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26239831 Your ability to connect with people is so important because every relationship or friendship starts with that initial connection. Someone who know a lot about this is Brian Grazer. Brian is an academy award-winning producer, partners with Ron Howard in Imagine Entertainment and is author of the book Face to Face: The Art of Human Connection (https://amzn.to/32xyVcC). Listen as Brain offers insight into the best ways to connect with anyone and hear his stories of meeting U.S. presidents, Fidel Castro and Dr. Jonas Salk – who he threw up on. This Week’s Sponsors –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com -Upstart. See how low your interest rate is at www.Upstart.com/something. -3 Day Blinds. For their “Buy 1/Get 1 at half-off” deal go to www.3DayPodcast.com and use promo code: SOMETHING. -Article Furniture. For $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more go to www.Article.com/SYSK -Forevernote. Visit www.Forevernote.com and get $25 off when you use promo code :SOMETHING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you cure a cough? Well, there is one idea that has been floating around that some people swear works – even though it appears to be impossible. This episode begins with this weird cure. https://startsat60.com/health/mythbusting-does-vicks-on-the-feet-really-stop-coughing Being an entrepreneur appeals to a lot of people – more today than ever before. More and more people today are taking the entrepreneurial route rather than working 9-5. While it sounds exciting, it is risky. So how do you find success when so many fail with their ideas? Jay Samit has some very insightful and encouraging advice you should hear. Jay is a billionaire entrepreneur and author of the book Disrupt You! (https://amzn.to/2BucWao). When you are done listening you will be inspired! When you get stressed out because people cut you off on the highway or take too long in line at the airport – there is a way to relieve yourself of getting all stressed out about it. And it doesn’t take more than a simple shift in how you think. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/147819-we-judge-ourselves-by-our-intentions-and-others-by-their This Week's Sponsors -Beautycounter. To get 10% of your entire first order go to www.beautycounter.com and use promo code SOMETHING –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people agree that if you know how a book, movie or TV show ends that will ruin the experience of reading or watching it. Really? Maybe knowing the ending first could make the experience better. This episode begins with some research that looked at the whole idea of spoiler alerts. https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/archive/newsrel/soc/2011_08spoilers.asp Can you deliberately use your brain power to achieve what you want? Is there really brain science to support the idea that you can use your brain power very deliberately to create the life you want? Yes, according to Tara Swart, neuroscientist, psychiatrist and author of the book The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain (https://amzn.to/33D6fPC). Listen as Tara explains the cutting-edge brain research that will empower you to really achieve the things you want. Every workplace seems to be too hot for some people, too cold for others. So how do you make sure you are comfortable no matter what the temperature? Listen for the simple secret to feeling just right no matter what the thermostat says. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/09/office-too-cold-shoes/502184/ Halloween is the time for monsters. So joining me for an explanation of why we have monsters and where they came from is Carlyn Beccia, author of the book Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters (https://amzn.to/32jWHJ6). If you want to know why we have zombies or vampires or what kind of creature Godzilla actually is, you will want to hear this discussion. This Week’s Sponsors -Beautycounter. To get 10% of your entire first order go to www.beautycounter.com and use promo code SOMETHING –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smile! Smiling turns out to be really good for you in a lot of ways. This episode begins with an explanation of all the benefits of smiling more often. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/03/22/the-untapped-power-of-smiling/#23fc80fc7a67 Why do we find ourselves listening to and paying attention to some people but not others? What makes certain people seemingly more credible? It turns out there are subtle characteristics (in fact 8 of them) that make some people more credible and believable than others – and it has nothing to do with the message they are delivering. Researcher Stephen Martin joins me to discuss this fascinating topic. Stephen is a visiting professor of behavioral science at Columbia University and author of the book Messengers: Who We Listen To. Who We Don’t. And Why. (https://amzn.to/2MDAtej) There is a simple question you should always ask your doctor whenever you go to see him or her. The answer to the question could save your life or at least keep you from getting sick. Listen to discover this all important question. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303918804579107202360565642.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet All of us have some project we want to accomplish yet never seem to. And it is always there in the back of your mind nagging you to finish it or least start it. Well if you would like to get the nagging to stop, listen to my guest Charlie Gilkey. He is the founder of Productive Flourishing, a website that helps people tackle and finish the things that matters – and he is author of the book Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done (https://amzn.to/33t5dp6). Charley has some proven ways to help you get to those projects – or let them go. This Week’s Sponsors -SimpliSafe. Get free shipping and a money back guarantee go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something -Forevernote. For $25 off go to www.Forevernote.com and use the promo code: something -LinkedIn. For $50 off you first job post, go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast –Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can people actually become addicted to cheese? This episode begins with some surprising information how why people love cheese so much. I’m sure you have, at some point in your life, relied on your “gut instinct.” You made a decision that just felt right at that moment. And while that may be fine for small decisions – is it really smart to use your gut to make the big decisions? After all – what exactly is your gut? Well, Mary Ellen O’Toole, author of Dangerous Instincts (https://amzn.to/2OAbkE5), is a former FBI profiler who has seen plenty of people get in trouble because the “went with their gut.” If you want to keep you and your family safe – you should hear what she has to say. Sound is all around you. So what is it doing to your health? Probably more than you realize. My guest, Alex Doman is co-author of Healing at the Speed of Sound (https://amzn.to/318yyUq) and he will explain what impact sound and noise have on you and how to protect yourself. And the next time your “Check Engine” light comes on, you may not want to rush up to your mechanic as a first course of action. You can easily figure out what’s wrong yourself. I’ll explain how to do it – and why it is such a good idea that can save you time, money and a lot of hassle. This Week's Sponsors --Airbnb.To learn more about being an Airbnb host visitwww.Airbnb.com/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know people who claim they can focus and work just fine in a messy and disorganized office? Well researchers at Princeton did some research to see if this is really true. Listen and find out what they discovered. https://unclutterer.com/?s=scientists+find+physical+clutter For centuries humans have used storytelling as a powerful way to communicate. And it is very effective. That is why great speakers and leaders use stories to make their point and win people over to their side. Carmine Gallo, keynote speaker and former journalist is the author of the book The Storyteller’s Secret (https://amzn.to/2LYPWXc). He joins me to talk about the power of stories and how anyone can tell a great story to make their point and connect with other people. Are there Hot Wheels cars in your house? Millions of us have played with Hot Wheels cars and some of the early ones are incredibly valuable. One sold for $125,000 a few years ago! Discover what you need to look for to see if any of the old Hot Wheels cars around your house are worth big bucks. http://mentalfloss.com/article/86634/11-collectible-facts-about-hot-wheels It used to be that staying in the same job showed security and stability. Today the employment landscape is very dynamic. It has to be because so many careers and even industries disappear while others seem to pop up out of nowhere. Understanding how the world of employment has changed can help you find the right job and the right career for you. Dawn Graham is host of "Career Talk" on SiriusXM Radio as well as a regular contributor to Forbes.com. She is also Career Director for the Executive MBA Program at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers -- and Seize Success (https://amzn.to/2OFWcFj). Listen to her advice on how to stay relevant in today’s job market and maneuver into the perfect job for you. This Week’s Sponsors -Les Mills On Demand. Get 21 days FREE access to their fitness app. Go to www.Trylesmills.com/Something -Zapier. Save up to 40 hours a week and try it for free for 14 days. Go to www.Zapier.com/SYSK --Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6 months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Never cry at work!” has been some long standing advice for employees. So if you DO cry at work, what will people think of you? This episode begins with how people perceive their colleagues when they see them crying on the job. http://time.com/4513209/cry-crying-at-work-tears/ It would sure be nice of people said yes to you whenever you ask for something. Unfortunately they don’t. So how do you become more persuasive so more people say yes to you more of the time? Brian Ahearn specializes in applying the science of influence and persuasion in everyday life and he is author of the book, Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical (https://amzn.to/2oH9xlu). Brian joins me to discuss the principles of influence that get people to do what you ask. Ever drink straight from the milk carton? C’mon, of course you do! And if you get caught people will tell you that it is just plain gross. But how gross is it? Listen as we explore the science of drinking from the carton and what that does for the next person who drinks from that carton and what it also does to the milk. http://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/we-debunked-the-5-second-rule-double-dippingand-other-food-myths/ We have a lot more rules than we used to. Kids today are taught to be far more cautious than in earlier generations. And while it is good to be careful, there are some unintended consequences to living in a world where there are so many rules and so many thing you are forbidden from doing. Tracey Brown has researched our overly cautious society and found some very surprising things which are in her book Playing By The Rules: How Our Obsession with Safety is Putting Us At Risk (https://amzn.to/2nUUSTJ). Tracey joins me to reveal that the world today is not as dangerous as people think and how all these rules are harming our children and our way of life. This Week’s Sponsors -Noom. Sign up for your trial today at www.Noom.com/something -Airbnb. To learn more about being an Airbnb host visit www.Airbnb.com/host -Babbel. Get 6months for the price of 3 when you use the promo code SYSK at www.Babbel.com -Zapier. Try Zapier for free for 14 days. Go to www.Zapier.com/SYSK -Les Mills. For 21-day free access to their app go to www.TryLesMills.com/Something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost all voice guided apps – like Siri and Alexa – have a female voice. Ever wonder why? This episode begins with the explanation as to why the female voice is favored in most apps. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/apples-siri-female-voice/story?id=14802733 Are you a good negotiator or would you prefer to avoid negotiation like the plague? Well, the fact is we all negotiate every single day – and a big part of the problem with negotiation is how we approach it. Dan Shapiro is going to give a fresh and rather positive outlook on negotiation and help you become much better at it. Dan is one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject of negotiation. He is the founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program, associate professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital and author of the book Negotiating the Nonnegotiable (https://amzn.to/3328Ty8). We tend to use the word “busy” a lot. As in – “I’ve been really busy.” There is a problem with that though. Telling people how busy you are tends to push them away. Listen as I explain why. What is your purpose in life? Maybe you have multiple purposes. If so, that is a good thing according to Victor Strecher author of Life On Purpose (https://amzn.to/334m41x). Victor explains the importance of having a purpose and living a life in harmony with that purpose. It turns out when you do, amazing things can happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices