In most places around the world, Siri comes with a female voice by default. Of course you can change it but most people don’t. This is true for most other voiced-based computer programs. Why? We begin this episode with the fascinating reasons why most people prefer their devices sound female. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a18018/why-is-siri-a-female-voice/
Human nature – it is a collection of things we humans tend to do by default. Robert Greene, author of the bestseller The Laws of Human Nature (https://amzn.to/2yQtqZy) takes you on a fascinating journey into why we do the things we do and why these tendencies we have often get in the way of our happiness and success. There are 18 laws of human nature and Robert will explain how to use them to your advantage and how to counter them when they work against you. 
What could be simpler and more satisfying than a grilled cheese sandwich? Most of us have been eating them since we were kids. Actually though, there is some science and technique to making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich and a lot of it has to do with the cheese you select. Which is best? Listen and find out. http://www.businessinsider.com/science-making-grilled-cheese-2015-11
Household recycling has become habit for many people. We just do it because – well that’s what good citizens do. What you may not know is that there are a lot of problems with recycling. In fact a lot of what you recycle probably NEVER gets recycled. Instead it ends up in a landfill with all the other garbage. Beth Porter is an expert on the subject and she is author of the book Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Sorting Out the Recycling System (https://amzn.to/2JCkknD) . Beth joins me to reveal what’s wrong with recycling and what everyone can do to make the whole system work better and more efficiently.
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How Human Nature Screws Up Your Life (and How to Fix It) & The Trouble with Recycling

Sometimes all it takes is one little fact or one little piece of wisdom to change your life forever. That's the purpose and the hope of "Something You Should Know." In each episode, host Mike Carruthers interviews top experts in their field to bring you fascinating information and advice to help you save time and money, advance in your career, become wealthy, improve your relationships and help you simply get more out of life. In addition, Mike uncovers and shares short, engaging pieces of "intel" you can use to make your life better - today. Right now.

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Just how much pesticides residue is on the produce you buy? Should you be concerned? Should you buy organic? Consumer Reports recently did an investigation into pesticides on fruits and vegetables and I begin this episode with some of the surprising results. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/produce-without-pesticides-a5260230325/
Luck is just around the corner. It may be good luck or it may be bad luck but chance and luck have a huge impact on how things turn out for you. When you understand how luck and chance work in your life, you can do things to improve your good luck and minimize the bad. Joining me to explain how all this works is Mark Robert Rank, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis and author of the book The Random Factor: How Chance and Luck Profoundly Shape Our Lives and the World around Us (https://amzn.to/3W1mDb4).
Every living thing will die one day. What’s interesting is that some living things - for instance a butterfly - may live only a few days before it dies while a tortoise or whale might live hundreds of years. Why do something age quickly and others slowly. Can we somehow slow down human aging so we live longer than we do now? A lot is going on to understand the aging process and slow it down according to my guest Venki Ramakrishnan. He is a Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist and author of the book Why We Die (https://amzn.to/49KII0z) Listen as he offers some fascinating insight into how aging works and we can slow down the inevitable.
You’ve probably heard the advice to, “Stop and smell the roses.” While that’s certainly a good idea, you may also want to stop and listen to the birds sing and chirp. Listen and I will explain how bird songs are good for your soul. https://www.treehugger.com/why-do-birds-sing-5179422
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How to Improve Your Luck & A Much Better Way to Die

Everyone knows it is dangerous to talk on the phone while driving – but it seems like it shouldn’t be. After all you talk to people in the car while you drive and that seems to be okay. This episode explains the reasons why driving and talking on the phone don’t mix – at all. https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/care/centers/trauma-center/resources/distracted-driving
Do you know what visual intelligence is? It is how you look at all you see. What do you notice? What don’t you notice? It is how you look at the world. You can sharpen your visual intelligence if you know how and there are some real benefits to doing so. Here to explain it is Amy Herman, who has provided training to the FBI, Navy SEALs, NATO, the Peace Corps, Georgetown University Hospital, and executives at Microsoft and Google. She is author of the bestselling book Visual Intelligence (https://amzn.to/49LRD1U) There is also a new adaptation of that book for children called smART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain (https://amzn.to/49IX9T5)
Pain is something we are all intimately familiar with. Consequently, it is important to understand how pain works, what it is telling you and how to control it. That is precisely what Dr. Aneesh Singla is here to discuss. He is a physician who specializes in treating pain and a leading expert on the topic of pain. Aneesh serves on the physician faculty at Harvard Medical School, and he is author of the book, Why It Hurts: A Physician's Insights on The Purpose of Pain (https://amzn.to/3W26jHc).
People smile when they are happy. It’s natural. However, it may also be a good idea to smile even when you are not happy. It turns out there are some real benefits to simply smiling that you may not be aware of. Listen and I will tell you what they are. https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-to-smile-every-day-2223755
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﻿Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow
eBay Motors has 122 million parts for your #1 ride-or-die, to make sure it stays running smoothly. Keep your ride alive at https://eBayMotors.com
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Improving Your Powers of Perception & How Pain Works

It matters who your friends are. This episode starts with some interesting Gallup research that shows how the people you hang out with affect who you are in both good and bad ways. Source: Tom Rath author of Well Being (https://amzn.to/3EekZb7)
Ever feel stuck? Most of us have, whether it’s stuck in a job or a love relationship – or just a general feeling of being stuck in life. So how do you get unstuck? That’s the important question I explore with Britt Frank. She is a therapist and author of the book, The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward (https://amzn.to/3Efv33v).
Many alternative therapies are looked down upon – and sometimes, rightfully so. After all, there isn’t a lot of proof they work. Still, some things that have been labeled “woo-woo” or mystical do seem to have benefits even though no one is exactly sure how they work. These include things such as visualization, massage, aroma therapy, nature, kindness and so on. Sometimes the promises made regarding the power of these therapies are overstated. Still, there may still be something to them. Here to talk about this is Dr. David Hamilton. He is a writer and speaker and author of several books including Why Woo Woo Works (https://amzn.to/3JLtBXI).
It is pretty clear that people who eat fast tend to eat more. Seldom is that a good thing. There is a simple technique to help fast eaters slow down and eat less and maybe end up losing weight. Listen and I will tell you what it is. https://arstechnica.com/science/2010/12/imagine-eating-an-mm-taking/
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﻿TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees
﻿Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow
eBay Motors has 122 million parts for your #1 ride-or-die, to make sure it stays running smoothly. Keep your ride alive at https://eBayMotors.com
We love the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast! https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast
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How to Break Free of Being Stuck & Alternative Therapies That Work - SYSK Choice

A lot of people have autographs from someone famous. Could the one you have be worth anything? What makes an autograph valuable? How much do rare autographs sell for? This episode begins with a brief overview of autographs and some examples that sold for a lot of money. https://www.investopedia.com/most-valuable-autographs-5218552
We have all been told to be careful when we are online. We need secure passwords, we need to be careful what links we click on – that kind of thing. But have you ever wondered who is behind all the cyber crime that is requiring us to be so careful? How has cyber crime changed? Is there any progress in the fight against it? Joining me to help understand the bigger picture of this huge global threat to all of us who go online is Jessica Barker. She is one of the world’s leading experts on cyber crime and is often seen in the media talking on the topic. She recently received an award (MBE) from Prince William for her service to cyber security. Jessica is author of the book, Hacked: The Secrets Behind Cyber Attacks (https://amzn.to/4cO868z).
It may sound like science fiction but there are actually scientists exploring outer space (via very advanced telescopes) looking for life on other planets. This search has actually been going on for several years and while they have yet to discover actual evidence of life, what they have discovered is quite amazing. Joining me is one of the people involved in this search for life, Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger Director of the Carl Sagan Institute to Search for Life in the Cosmos at Cornell University where she is also an associate professor of astronomy. In addition, she is author of the book Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos (https://amzn.to/3vMH9S1)
The next time you are having trouble writing something, try changing the font or ink color to one specific hue. Listen and I’ll tell you which one and why it seems to help. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/green-colors-creative_n_1386190
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Indeed is offering SYSK listeners a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING
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﻿TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees
﻿Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow
eBay Motors has 122 million parts for your #1 ride-or-die, to make sure it stays running smoothly. Keep your ride alive at https://eBayMotors.com
We love the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast! https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast
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The Changing Threat of Cyber Crime & The Search for Life in the Cosmos

Where do you do your best work and think your best thoughts? Probably not at your workplace. This episode begins with some expert advice on how to optimize your thinking and performance, so you think and work at your very best. Source: Edward Hallowell author of Driven to Distraction (https://amzn.to/3PQgv1u).
You likely perform rituals every day of your life – even if you aren't aware of it. From shaking hands when you meet someone, to the rituals of religion to things you do to try and bring luck. Rituals are something humans seem to love and need to have. Why? What do they do for us? A lot, according to Michael Norton, a professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School. and author of The book The Ritual Effect (https://amzn.to/3U65Zpn). Listen as Michael explores the importance of rituals and what they do for us.
Much of the science about health is confusing and often contradictory. But if you would like some really good, scientifically proven, straight forward and simple advice on how to get and stay healthy, listen as I speak with Jacob Sager Weinstein. He is a writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, and on HBO, and the BBC . Jacob is author of the book, Be Healthier Now: 100 Simple Ways to Become Instantly Healthier (https://amzn.to/4cZedXV). No medical jargon – just great ideas to be healthy that are surprisingly easy to do.  
You have heard the saying, revenge is sweet. What is so sweet about it? Listen as I explain why just the thought of getting revenge on someone feels good, even if actually doing it may not be so wise. https://theconversation.com/revenge-isnt-always-sweet-but-it-can-be-beautiful-73653
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!
Indeed is offering SYSK listeners a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING
NerdWallet lets you compare top travel credit cards side-by-side to maximize your spending! Compare & find smarter credit cards, savings accounts, & more https://NerdWallet.com
﻿TurboTax Experts make all your moves count — filing with 100% accuracy and getting your max refund, guaranteed! See guarantee details at https://TurboTax.com/Guarantees
﻿Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow
eBay Motors has 122 million parts for your #1 ride-or-die, to make sure it stays running smoothly. Keep your ride alive at https://eBayMotors.com
﻿We love the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast! https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Human Nature Screws Up Your Life (and How to Fix It) & The Trouble with Recycling

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