Something You Should Know

One way to blow your credibility in any conversation or in anything you write is to misuse or mispronounce words or phrases. So this episodes starts with some commonly misused words and phrases to make sure you are using them correctly. (https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/10-speaking-and-writing-errors-that-erode-your-credibility.html)   Taking risks can be good – or bad. It’s all in how you approach the risk and it also seems to depend on how old you are. Kayt Sukel, author of the book The Art of Risk: The New Science of Courage, Caution, and Chance (https://amzn.to/2HjkQoE) joins me to explain how important it is to take risks but also how to be a better risk taker so that you win more than you lose – and also how to learn from the risks that fail. Do you neatly fold your towel after a shower and place it on the towel rack? Or maybe you hang it on a hook? Well those are terrible things to do if you plan to use that towel again tomorrow! I’ll explain why. (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a26125/dirty-bathroom-mistakes/)  Do you like science? How can you not? Science is everywhere and governs everything you do and explains why our world works the way it does. Scientist Scott Bembenek author of the book The Cosmic Machine: The Science that Runs our Universe and the Story Behind It (https://amzn.to/2qQDIFn) joins me to explain some fascinating principles and mysteries of science. One mystery he talks about is why you will often see an egg fall to the ground and break but never see an egg jump back up on the counter and reassemble itself. But according to some equations – it should. You have to hear him explain it. So come listen!

Of course you 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.  

Passengers get kicked off airline flights a lot more than they used to. Do airlines have the right to just give people the boot for any reason? This episode begins by explaining why you can get kicked off any flight for almost any reason. (http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/04/09/how-to-get-kicked-off-flight/?intcmp=HPBucket)  The idea of “creating excellence” really became popular back in 1982 with the publication of the huge, best-selling book, In Search of Excellence (https://amzn.to/2qAE2qB) . So how have things changed since then? Co-author Tom Peters joins me to talk about that as well as discuss his new book The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last (https://amzn.to/2H2XQdo). Tom one of those people who always makes you think so I am sure you will find this conversation engaging.    Which is better for your car – synthetic motor oil or conventional motor oil? To answer that you need to know the difference so I’ll explain that and tell you what the experts recommend. (http://www.costcoconnection.ca/connectioncaeng/20150910?article_id=1320613&pg=NaN#pgNaN)  In our culture, we are encouraged to spend money. It is often difficult to save money and spend cautiously. Vicki Robin, author of the book Your Money or Your Life (https://amzn.to/2JMV1il) shares some fascinating ideas on how to look at money differently and spend wisely so you still get you everything you really want and also have money in the bank.

“Eat your veggies – they’re good for you!” Every parent has said that to a child and yet, as a parent, you probably shouldn’t. I start this episode of the podcast with some fascinating research about what to tell kids about healthy foods. (http://www.chicagobooth.edu/about/newsroom/press-releases/2014/2014-05-08) 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/2HtzsCC). 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 deemphasize 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/2v7gVtb). Ellen is also the host of the wildly popular podcast, Savvy Psychologist (https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist) 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.

I recently appeared on a different podcast to talk about the evolution and success of Something You Should Know. To listen to my appearance on "On Mic with Jordan Rich," follow this link: http://onmicwithjordanrich.blubrry.net/category/episodes/ 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://bit.ly/2qeuW3m) 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 book 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 (https://amzn.to/2uY5Hr4) reveals how, with a little effort, you can rewire the brain so happiness becomes part of who you are

Could some freaked-out passenger actually open the door on an airplane in the middle of the flight? There have been news reports of attempts to do so – but is it possible? That is one of the things I discuss regarding how things work on commercial airliners to begin this episode. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3023336/The-answers-question-ve-flying.html) There are five types of people who can ruin your life. All five are what you would call “high-conflict” types of people. Bill Eddy has some ways for you to handle these people so they DON’T ruin your life. In fact when you implement his strategies, these people won’t bother you much you at all. Bill is the president of the High Conflict Institute and author of the book 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life. (https://amzn.to/2JjIBOH)  Ever been in an elevator where some guy is wearing way too much cologne? That happens because a lot of men are clueless about HOW to apply it – they think the more the better. So I will explain GQ Magazine’s recommendation on how men should apply cologne in just the right way. (http://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2013/04/how-to-put-on-cologne-guide.html) You know what motivation is – right? It’s that thing that gets you to your goal. But where does it come from? Why do some people seem more motivated than others? Jeff Haden knows. He is a speaker, researcher and author of the book, The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win (https://amzn.to/2q8Dvg4). Listen and you will have a much better handle on how motivation works and how to make it payoff for you.

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.

If you have a big decision to make, wait until you have to go to the bathroom. I begin this episode by explaining why a full bladder helps make better decisions. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110228163141.htm) Do you control your phone or does your phone control you? It seems we can’t live without a cellphone for more than a few minutes. But what if you actually tried? What if it actually made things better? Catherine Price has taken a critical look at our relationship to smartphones in her book, How to Break Up With your Phone (https://amzn.to/2IbpViD). For more information go to www.PhoneBreakUp.com And for a free copy of Catherine’s audio book version, go to www.Audible.com/something and start a free trial with Audible and you get one free book to download and keep even if you cancel your subscription.  Did you know that Cheerios were once considered an unapproved drug by the FDA? And do you know how many varieties of Cheerios there are? (Hint: More than 12) Those are just a few of the many fascinating things I discuss about this iconic breakfast cereal. (http://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-cheerios)  So what do you do when your whole life fall apart? Of course you hope it never happens but life has a way of dishing up some pretty tough times to all of us at some point. Daphne Rose Kingma, author of the book, The 10 Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart (https://amzn.to/2IcSYma) reveals the secrets of getting through those horrible times so that life gets good once again. 

Your homeowner’s insurance (and renter’s insurance if you have it) 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 will discuss that your insurance probably covers. (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 Micahael 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.

A few times every year I like to shine a spotlight on some of the best moments from past episodes you may have missed. This time, it’s moments from the last few months of 2017. It’s a busy time of year, so in case you missed some moments, here are a few really great ones.. The links below will take you back to the original episodes from which these segments are taken so you can listen to the complete interviews if you wish. Topics and Links in this Episode Why Those Special Moments in Your Life Are So Special. Episode 79. http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/124-why-those-special-moments-in-your-life-are-so-special-the-5-numbers-you-must-know-to-stay-healthy/ Alan Alda’s Advice on Communicating and Relating to Others. Episode 109 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/109-alan-aldas-advice-on-communicating-and-relating-to-others-how-to-fight-off-feelings-of-loneliness/ How to Learn Anything Better and Faster. Episode 118 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/118-how-to-learn-anything-better-and-faster-are-people-inherently-good-or-evil/ The Serious Consequences of Not Asking For What You Want. Episode 132 http://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/132-amazing-ways-genes-affect-your-behavior-the-serious-consequences-of-not-asking-for-what-you-want/

Everyone has a blood type right? Well, not really. Some people have no blood type – not to be confused with people who have a universal blood type. Do you know if you are type A, B, AB or 0? Why do you have a blood type anyway? That’s the first topic of conversation today. (http://mosaicscience.com/story/why-do-we-have-blood-types) To hear tell, the world is going to hell. Watch the news and it seems as if we are on the road to self-destruction. But we are not. In fact we are living in an age of enlightenment according to Harvard Professor and bestselling author Stephen Pinker. In his new book, Enlightenment Now the Case for Reason, Science Humanism and Progress, (http://amzn.to/2FKuhNb), Stephen reveals that while many think the world is in decline, the opposite is true and he joins me to discuss. What he says will lift your spirits. (And remember, to get Stephen Pinker's audiobook version of Enlightenment Now for free from Audible, just go to www.audible.com/something and sign up for a 30-day trial and your first book is free!) If you use a handheld hair dryer, you may want to hold it a little differently than you probably do. That’s because hair dryers emit an electromagnetic force that may not be so good for your health. The same is true for other household appliances. I’ll explain which ones and what you should do differently. (https://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/electromagnetic-fields-and-your-health) Do you swear? Chances are you do. Most people do. But why? Melissa Mohr, author of the book Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing (http://amzn.to/2Dty0fM) explain why every language has swearing and what purpose it serves. 

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 Gortno 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.

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. East 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.

Handwriting analysis sounds like it might be scientific. After all some courts allow it during trials and it has helped to convict defendants. But how reliable is it really? When put to the test, do handwriting experts do better in spotting a forgery or confirming a signature than you or me? We’ll discuss that. (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/grapho.html)  You like to think that when you buy something, you do it for sound smart and logical reasons. And maybe YOU do. But most people don’t. Marketing expert Harry Beckwith, author of the book, Unthinking: The Surprising Forces Behind What We Buy (http://amzn.to/2FoSOHk) explains why we usually buy for reasons that have little to do with logic – even though we think otherwise.  All alcoholic drinks are not created equal. Some get you drunker, some are more likely to give you a hangover and one in particular is more likely to land you in a hospital emergency room although no one is really sure why. If you enjoy a cocktail, this is worth hearing. (http://www.menshealth.com/health/4-secretly-dangerous-drinks)  Ever go in to a conversation with the intent of changing someone’s mind? As you probably discovered, it almost never works. So perhaps that should not be the goal according to Celeste Headlee of Georgia Public Radio and author of the book We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter (http://amzn.to/2oXH1Zk). She discusses a different way to approach difficult conversations so they don’t end in arguments and maybe actually accomplish something. 

TV networks manipulate programs to make more time for commercials – a LOT more time. I’ll discuss that and you might want to watch this YouTube video that demonstrates just how it works. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6i1VVikRu0. And here is the source for this story: http://www.wsj.com/articles/cable-tv-shows-are-sped-up-to-squeeze-in-more-ads-1424301320   We all have our little quirks and idiosyncrasies. But why is that great innovators like Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Marie Curie and others seem weird and “off the charts” quirky compared to the rest of us? Melissa Schilling, professor of management and organization at the Stern School of Business at NYU is author of the book Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World (http://amzn.to/2GY5qFC). Listen and she explains why great genius is so often accompanied by quirkiness and what the connection is between the two. Want to be happier? Shorten your commute and sleep on the left side of the bed. Those are just two of the things that according to science can elevate your level of happiness. I’ll reveal more in this episode. (http://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/3447/16/10-surprising-things-that-make-you-happier.html). There are about the same number of cat owners as there are dog owners in the U.S. So what is it about cats that make them so interesting and mysterious? And why do so many people love cats when it seems cats couldn’t care less about people - or anything else for that matter? Professor Leslie Lyons is a cat lover who also happens to run the Lyons Feline Genetic Laboratory at the University of Missouri (http://felinegenetics.missouri.edu/) . She knows more about cats that just about anybody. And she joins me to discuss the feline fascination so many people have.