Something You Should Know

Why is Stephen Hawking still alive? Most people who are diagnosed with ALS die within 5 years. Stephen Hawking was diagnosed in his 20’s and today he is in his 70’s. We begin this episode by looking at his amazing longevity. (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stephen-hawking-als/) Do you know a complainer? It’s a trick question because you probably know a lot more than one. In fact, you might be a complainer without realizing it. Cianna Stewart has studied the subject of complaining in great detail and even wrote a book on it called, No Complaints: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Own Joy (http://amzn.to/2CNYU1M). Listen as she reveals why some people complain about every little thing and strategies to stop yourself from complaining and to stop complainers from complaining. Look at any print or web ad and you will likely see the images on the left and the text on the right. There’s a reason for that – it is one of the techniques advertisers use. I’ll discuss several more you should be aware of. https://prezi.com/if57qeh9nw7a/key-to-advertisement/ Have you heard of the word “gamification”? You do it with your kids when you make cleaning their room a game instead of a chore. Fitbit is a good example of gamification. They make a game out of fitness. Other businesses do it as well – and you probably also do it in your life. Dave Eng is an expert on gamification. He is an adjunct  professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College and he joins me to discuss how gamification works, why it’s go effective and what some of the concerns are. Dave’s website is www.Davengdesign.com

So, what’s the deal with high fructose corn syrup? People talk about it a lot. Some say it is horrible for your health while others claim it is fine. But do you know what it actually is? Without stepping into the controversy, I’ll explain what it is exactly and how it is different than regular corny syrup or sugar for that matter. (http://www.finecooking.com/item/24865/corn-syrup-vs-high-fructose-corn-syrup) Why do you do the things you do? Everything you do has a reason. You go to school to learn and you go to the doctor get healthy – right? Well, what if the reason you THINK you do things isn’t the real reason? I want you to listen to Robin Hanson an associate professor of economics at George Mason University and author of the book, The Elephant in the Brain (http://amzn.to/2F4Vvk8). He explains that often the reason we THINK we do things is not the reason at all – and why it is important to understand all of this. I bet you’ve wondered how good a memory your dog or cat has. How long do they remember an event or a command or the last time you played with them? Listen and I think the answer will surprise you. (https://www.su.se/english/research/research-news/new-findings-on-animal-memory-1.222566) You might think etiquette is kind of an old-fashioned concept with little relevance in the 21st century. But you’d be wrong to think that. Etiquette is as valid today as ever – maybe more so. Thomas Farley, author of Modern Manners: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Social Graces (http://amzn.to/2F1xpHf), answers some common etiquette questions people have about social media, weddings, cellphones and more. His website is www.whatmannersmost.com

Back in Grandma’s day, you had to spend an afternoon defrosting the freezer once in a while. Today we have frost-free freezers but unfortunately they can do damage to the frozen food in there. I’ll explain what to do about it. One of the reasons life is so stressful is because we try to do things that we are just not wired to do. Gretchen Rubin, host of the “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” podcast and author of the audiobook The Four Tendencies has a solution. She explains how to figure out your own personality profile and then incorporate ways to live your life that are in line with your personality. When you do, life gets easier. By the way, to take the personality test Gretchen talks about, go to her website www.GretchenRubin.com Then, a lot more kids today have allergies and eczema compared to previous generations. And it may have to do with your dishwasher. You’ll want to hear this. We humans are very good at making irrational decisions. It seems we can’t help ourselves. We like to think we are rational beings but so often what we do and how we think is driven by something else. Ron Brafman, co-author of the book Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior explains why we do irrational things and offers some advice to help you be more rational when everyone else isn’t.  To see the before and after images of my living room courtesy of Modsy.com, go to: http://bit.ly/2EKrpmG

Why do you sigh? Usually it is because you feel relief or you are sad or tired. But it turns out there is more to a sigh than you thought. In fact it turns out to be good for you. I’ll explain as I start this episode. The world is full of jerks. And unfortunately you have to deal with them. So what’s the best way? Here with some expert help is Bob Sutton, a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford and author of the book The A**hole Survival Guide (http://amzn.to/2HqacwR). Bob explains why jerks are so jerky and reveals the different categories of jerks and then offers some tactical advice to deal with them and still get what you want. Did you know different airlines have different flying styles? Did you know the armrest closest to the aisle on an airplane that can’t be raised actually CAN be raised if you know a little trick? These are just two of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about air travel that we’ll explore. Everyone today has a camera on them almost all the time. And cellphone cameras have gotten pretty good. So, since you may likely be photographing much of your life, why not make those photos the best they can be? Photographer Jim Miotke, founder of www.BetterPhoto.com and creator of the online course Outstanding Photography offer some simple tips and idea that will transform your cellphone photos so they truly capture the moment. Come see my dog Taffy and her new Bark Box on the episode page on the website. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/2HtCYN8 To discover more about Bark Box go to: www.BarkBox.com/something Check out Health IQ. They offer lower rates on life insurance for health-conscious people. See if you qualify by going to: www.HealthIQ.com/something

Want to be more persuasive? There is a simple phrase or two you can add to any request that will increase the chances that almost anyone will do you the favor you ask. I’ll tell you what those phrases are. If you’ve been watching the Olympics, you’ve seen THE best athletes in the world competing against each other. So how do you get to be the best? And what separates the very best from the “pretty good?” Ashley Merryman, co-author of the book Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing (http://amzn.to/2CiopYU) reveals some fascinating stories and research that anyone can use to improve your chances of winning in whatever you choose to do. There isn’t a soul alive who hasn’t gotten an email or 2 (or thousands!) offering male enhancement pills, creams and lotions. The problem is, none of them work. And there is even a bigger problem with these fake potions. Listen to discover what it is. Are people becoming ruder? Sure seems that way to me. So where did this need to be “brutally honest” come from? Danny Wallace, author of the book F You Very Much (http://amzn.to/2HeCzxV) looks at the origins of this new lack of civility as well as what it is doing and how we can stop it.

So the dentist has you open your mouth wide and while he is poking around in there with sharp instruments, he asks you a question. Why? You can’t really answer. I’ll explain this and other fascinating things that go on in the dentist’s office. Since it is Valentine’s week, I think you’ll enjoy hearing my discussion with Helen Fisher, author of the Anatomy of Love A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray  (http://amzn.to/2EvFAvd).  Helen has been studying how people connect, fall in love and stay in love and she has some great suggestions on where to go to find love and how to keep the spark alive in the long term. Why do retail prices still end in 99 cents - as in $29.99? Do retailers still think we don’t know that $29.99 is closer to $30 than $20? It turns out that pricing strategy still works and I’ll explain why. Everyone has creative ability. It’s just a matter of understanding your particular creative process and how to use it. That’s according to Roger Von Oech, author of the book, A Whack on the Side of the Head (http://amzn.to/2nT7XK7). Roger has been studying, researching and speaking about creativity for years and he will help ignite your creative thinking to come up with better ideas.

Has anyone ever told you that you couldn’t sing or carry a tune? Kids are often told that and it can really embarrass them and leave a lasting impression. The truth is just about anyone can sing and sing well. So forget what you were told and listen to my explanation. The ability to forgive is wonderful. But while people can forgive we also have the ability (and often the desire) to seek revenge when someone has harmed us. Psychologist Michael McCullough author of the book Beyond Revenge (http://amzn.to/2BgFwNI)  talks with me about how to best deal with someone who has hurt you and he explores whether or not you can make a case for revenge in some circumstances. There is a good chance you have a favorite coffee mug. Lots of people do. And I think you will find it either odd or comforting just how attached people get to their coffee mug and what they feel if someone else uses it or – God forbid – it breaks! All your life you deal with money. And how well you deal with it and understand it will have a huge impact on you. Jeff Kreisler author of the book Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter (http://amzn.to/2nMsCiQ) uncovers some of the mysteries of money like why you enjoy spending money on some things but hate spending money on others; how you decide what the value of things are; why you will spend more on vacation than you will at home for the very same things and more.

Identity theft is often NOT the result of some high-tech scam. It is frequently because someone digs through your trash and finds documents with personal information. I start this episode explaining ways you haven't heard before to protect yourself from low-tech but highly effective dumpster divers who want to steal your identity. It is amazing how people you know influence you in ways you don’t realize. The things you do, the decisions you make and the thoughts you think can all be heavily but unknowingly influenced by the people around you. Dr. Nicholas Christakis is a physician, sociologist and author of the book, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (http://amzn.to/2BVJAQ3) and he explains how this phenomenon works and why it is so important. A lot of people have gotten very sick this winter from colds and flu. Often it is the result of touching things with germs on them then transferring those germs from your hands to your face. I’ll reveal all the things at work you want to make sure NOT to touch or at least clean before you do so you don't get sick. Ever struggle to do something, like carry too many grocery bags – and someone offers to help and you say, “No thanks, I got it.”? Why? You need help, someone offers – why in the world would you decline? But we do it all the time. It seems that people just don’t like asking for help. Nora Klaver, author of the book, Mayday! Asking for Help in Time of Need (http://amzn.to/2EDT0Tq) explains why it is that we are so reluctant to ask for help and why accepting help is often a much better decision for so many reasons. 

When you fly on an airplane – you think things. Like: “How good, is the air I’m breathing? Will I get drunker than normal if I drink at 35,000 feet? What if some lunatic tries to open the airplane door during the flight?” I’ll reveal the answers to these and other common questions about air travel. Some people seem to be born with a lot of self-confidence. But most of us are not. So how do we increase our confidence and project it to the world? Psychotherapist Sheenah Hankin, author of the book, Complete Confidence (http://amzn.to/2El5bV0) has some excellent strategies to increase your confidence that you can put into practice immediately. The U.S. Postal Service is a part of everyone’s life. And sometimes it seems that they can make your life difficult. So, I have some tips from actual postal employees to help you navigate the postal service with more efficiency and do it in less time. Are you doing what you are really good at? Or do you work in a job that leaves your true skills idle and untouched? Sir Kenneth Robinson, author the book,  Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life (http://amzn.to/2GAxyPP) explores ways to discover what you do well and then find ways to incorporate those things into your life. It’s important because when you do what you are good at and it is something you find satisfying, it can transform your life.

You have likely been the victim of the Doorway Effect. It’s when you walk into a room and forget why you walked in there. We start this episode with an explanation of what this is and why it happens. Wouldn’t it be great if people regarded you as particularly fascinating? Well it turns out there are specific ways to do that according to Sally Hogshead, speaker and author of the book Fascinate: The 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation (http://amzn.to/2BBZT4I). Sally reveals what you can do so that others find you interesting and how to use your personal fascination to great benefit. If you love guacamole, there is a secret ingredient I want you to try the next time you make it. It’s just a tablespoons worth but it is going to make all the difference in the world, according to Esquire magazine. What are you afraid of? If you watch the news you would think that crime, terrorism and natural disasters are the real threats. But they are not – at least not statistically. The things that harm and kill more people are much more mundane according to Dan Gardner, author of the book, The Science of Fear (http://amzn.to/2DTW8ws). Listen and understand what is really likely to do you harm and what isn’t. It’s going to help you live longer, healthier and happier.

I am sure you have had to perform under pressure. And so you know that it is difficult to do and often your performance suffers. But why? Well a couple of interesting things happen in that situation and when you understand them you can make the experience of performing under pressure a lot easier. Listen as I begin this episode with this fascinating intel. Then, we are going to explore the process of making choices. Today, we have so many choices for everything – breakfast cereal, cars, food, careers – everywhere choices abound! And that can be great except that too many choices can actually be paralyzing. Anyone who has spent more time choosing what show to watch on Netflix than actually watching a show knows what I mean. Barry Schwartz, author of the book, The Paradox of Choice (http://amzn.to/2n9IpHD) joins me to explain why trying to make the “best” choice may be a waste of time and he offers a better way to make choices that will leave you more satisfied. Have you heard that we only use about 10% of our brain? Well, that turns out to be nonsense and it is just one of several myths about the brain we will clear up in this episode. What attracts men to women and women to men? Allan Pease has some very interesting answers. Allan has been studying how people communicate and he is author of the book, Why Men Want Sex and Women Need Love (http://amzn.to/2Fcp7IW). Listen as he explains how to make yourself more attractive to the opposite sex based on evolutionary drives and urges that still rule our feelings and actions. 

Sure, it’s great to want more money but if you don’t have the time to enjoy it – what’s the point? We begin this episode with a look at why spending more of your money on things that actually create more free time for you can make your life much more enjoyable. While the phrase “timing is everything” is tossed around a lot, it turns out there is a lot of wisdom in it.  In short, it is not just WHAT you do in your life that is important it – it is also WHEN you decide to do it. Daniel Pink, author of the book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing (http://amzn.to/2Dne4Ml) reveals why timing is so important and how to time events in your life to be more successful. Who hasn’t reheated pizza in the microwave? Everyone does with predictably disappointing results. Listen and you'll discover a better way that doesn’t take much more time but delivers much better results. And wouldn’t it be great to save money on prescription drugs? It turns out there are a lot of ways to save beyond the simple advice of getting generic drugs rather than name brands. Edward Jardini, M.D is author of the book How to Save On Prescription Drugs: 20 Cost Savings Methods (http://amzn.to/2mY1bBH) and he has some very clever ways to keep more money in your pocket and not waste it on medicine. 

I bet this has happened to you… you are all set to take a bite of something delicious when you notice a fly has landed on it - a filthy disgusting fly! So is that food still safe to eat? Find out what the science says as we begin this episode of the program. Then, your success in life is due in large part with how you deal with people and how people perceive you. Wouldn’t it be great to know how to make yourself more approachable and interesting to others? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to size up and read people when you meet them? Vanessa Van Edwards has been studying people and their behavior for a long time. She is author of the book Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People (http://amzn.to/2rfyB3T) and she joins me to discuss some effective strategies to improve your people skills like you won’t believe.    Then, there is a fascinating limitation of the human brain you must know about. IT seems you cannot keep track of more than 3 things at once unless condition is met. What is it? Listen and find out. Since you were a child you’ve heard that honesty is the best policy. However, dig as little deeper and you’ll find that most of us think a little dishonesty is probably okay. The fact is we do think dishonesty is acceptable as long as it is not too much and as long as it is not too overt. Dan Ariely, author of the book, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves (http://amzn.to/2Dg1FtE) explains the little ways we are all a bit dishonest and why we think it is perfectly fine - so maybe it is.

Do you often find yourself in the slowest line at the supermarket? Me too. Is it bad luck or just your perception? I’ll explore what’s behind this universal annoyance and suggest a better way to handle this. It seems everyone hates the sound of their voice when they hear it played back. But what if you LOVED the sound of your voice? Vocal coach Roger Love explains how anyone can have a beautiful voice – you are not stuck with the one you have now. Listen to this episode and you will instantly have the tools to improve the sound of your voice. Then if you want to learn more, check out Roger’s program, The Perfect Voice at www.ThePerfectVoice.com. Have you heard that it is a good idea to let your cellphone battery run all the way down to zero? Supposedly that is to help it last longer and keep a better charge. Is it true? We’ll find out. All of us have asked some basic financial questions at some point such as: Is it better to own or rent a home; buy or lease a car; pay off debt of save money? Jack Otter, editor at Barrons.com and author of the book, Worth…Not Worth It? (http://amzn.to/2D5U68I) has examined these questions, done the math and come up with the answers. Listen as Jack may surprise you with what he has to say about what you should do with your money.

It sucks when you have a cold. I’m sure you’ve heard that you should drink a lot of fluids and get rest and eat chicken soup – but there are other things you may not have heard before that can help alleviate the symptoms of a cold while you wait for it to go away. And since this is cold season, we begin this episode with great ways to ease the misery of having a cold. Everyone knows being neat and tidy is preferable to being messy. But wait! Not so fast. Says who? There is a case for being messy. Because it turns out that life is messy and often life doesn’t fit neatly into categories, files and folders. Tim Harford, journalist, economist and author of the book Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives (http://amzn.to/2Die1Cw) explains why being neat isn’t always the solution and suggests ways to embrace the messiness of life and use it to your advantage. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed that whenever you cry, you get a runny nose. Why? Listen and find out. Then, sooner or later – and probably sooner, you will need to clean something. And no one knows better how to keep your life clean and sparkly bright than Jolie Kerr. Jolie is an advice columnist and host of the podcast, “Ask a Clean Person.” She is also author of the book, My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag (http://amzn.to/2Df2BPL). NO ONE loves to clean like Jolie and you will love her cleaning hacks that I know you will use within hours if not minutes after hearing them.