Something You Should Know

The sandwich has been around for thousands of years in some form or another. Do you know how many sandwiches the average person eats in a year? Or why some sandwiches are called subs? Listen as I explain some fascinating facts about sandwiches to kickoff this episode. https://allthatsinteresting.com/sandwich-history

You have no doubt contemplated questions like: Why am I here? Or what is my purpose? Will my life really matter? What legacy will I leave? Listen as I delve into these and other questions with one of my favorite guests, Brian Greene. Brian is a theoretical physicist, mathematician, professor at Columbia University and authored several books. His latest is Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe (https://amzn.to/2GsvlKO). If you have ever pondered the meaning of life, you will want to hear what Brian has to say. 

Whenever you are trying to convince someone of something, there is one key ingredient that will make the process a lot easier. And a lot of people miss this completely. Listen as I explain what it is. Source: Mark Magnacca author of So What (https://amzn.to/3cT1De3)

Why do we often run to hug people we haven’t seen in a while? Why do we walk slowly when we are sad? And this is really interesting – Parkinson’s patients tend to move slowly but they don’t have to. They could move faster and will move faster if there is a reason to. So what is going on here? What controls the speed at which we move?  Reza Shadmehr is a professor of biomedical engineering and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of the book Vigor: Neuroeconomics of Movement (https://amzn.to/3ladKpP) and he joins me to discuss this fascinating connection between what is going on in your brain that determines how quickly or slowly you move and why it is important.

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The power of the human mind is amazing. This episode begins with a fascinating example of that. It turns out that how people feel about the medication they take determines how well it works. Things like cost, size of the pill and number of doses will influence your recovery. Listen and finds out how. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html

There is sure a lot of talk about innovation. Who doesn’t want to be a great innovator? Interestingly though, there isn’t as much innovation going on as you might think and not all innovation is particularly good. Some innovation is actually destructive. That’s according to Andrew Russell, professor of history and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and co-author of the book, The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most (https://amzn.to/30nuPon). After you hear what he has to say, you may think differently about what innovation really means.

Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep. Listen as I explain a simple technique that will help just about anyone fall asleep faster on those nights where sleep does not come easy. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/631357/breathing-technique-helps-you-fall-asleep-faster

How does your GPS in your car really work? What is 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mean and what is the difference? Why are there dimples on a golf ball. Why does a balloon stick to the wall after you rub it on your head? The answer to all these questions is : PHYSICS! Joining me to explain all these things and more is Dr. Charles Liu, he is an associate professor at the City University of New York and author of the The Handy Physics Answer Book (https://amzn.to/3cTtxqp)

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No one enjoys getting a shot at the doctor’s office. But there is something you can do to ease the pain. We begin this episode with a little strategy that can cut the pain in half. But you have to do it just right. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27514-hold-your-breath-to-dampen-the-pain-of-an-injection/

Music plays an important role in our lives – but why? We don’t need it to survive yet every culture on the planet has music of some sort. John Powell, author of the books Why You Love Music (https://amzn.to/2IC5PTG) and How Music Works (https://amzn.to/2kcOYrP) joins me to examine the fascinating role music plays in our lives and why we like the music we like.

Buying something that is biodegradable or has biodegradable packaging sound like a good thing. However, things don’t really biodegrade in a landfill like you think they would. Listen as we explore that topic. http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/biodegradable-waste.html

Have you heard of the “New Power”? It is the power of connecting communities. Uber does it. Airbnb does it. Facebook does it. Their power comes not from owning something but from connecting people to something. Henry Timms has explores this in his book, New Power: How Power in Our Hyperconnected World – and How to Make it Work For You (https://amzn.to/2IzIDB7). He joins me to explain how it works and how you can put it to work for you and your organization.

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People generically call the dates on food packages, “expiration dates.” However, there are different kinds of expiration dates and they mean different things. This episode begins by sorting out what these different dates really mean. Don’t throw away any food until you hear this explanation. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/do-food-expiration-dates-matter#1

There is no one like you and never will be. Why is that? What makes you so unique and different than everyone else? Still, you are a little like your parents and maybe a little your siblings while still being uniquely you. Ever wonder why? Find out when you listen to this fascinating discussion with David Linden, Professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of the book Unique: The New Science of Human Individuality (https://amzn.to/2Sa7S3j)

Making a good first impression is so important. There are 5 simple keys to making that good first impression and three ways you can really screw it up. Listen as I explain how to be truly memorable when you meet someone. Source: Mark Mazzarella, co-author of the book "Put Your Best Foot Forward" (https://amzn.to/3372kNz)

You have heard all your life that exercise is good for you but do you know exactly how? And how much exercise is necessary to get the benefits? Listen to my conversation with Judy Foreman. She is a journalist who has won more than 50 journalism awards and she is author of 3 books including Exercise is Medicine: How Physical Activity Boosts Health and Slows (https://amzn.to/2Ge4VMI)

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You may be a good driver but there are a lot of bad ones out there. So how do you protect yourself from those people? This episode begins with some interesting intel on where and how serious traffic accidents happen and how to avoid them. Source: Reader’s Digest & author of an article titled “How Good Drivers Get Killed”

 Your neighborhood grocery store is a fascinating place. Did you know, for example, that some of the “fresh produce” could be over a year old? Did you know that selling groceries isn’t the only way your store makes money? Have you ever wondered why a store like Trader Joe’s has such fanatically loyal customers? Benjamin Lorr has taken a peek behind the curtain of the grocery business and you will be fascinated by what you hear in our discussion. Benjamin is the author of The Secret Life of Groceries (https://amzn.to/2RVd0Iy).

Have you heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth? Listen and find out if that could possibly be true. http://tristanmed.com/blog/entry/mythbusters-dogs-mouth-cleaner-than-humans

It seems to be human nature to want to know what will happen in the future. That’s why we want experts to predict the stock market or why we try to choose winning lottery numbers. Of course predictions are usually wrong. Most of life is unpredictable. That is why it is pointless to try and predict it. So what’s a better strategy? Here to tell you that is John Kay, a leading British economist and author of the book Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers (https://amzn.to/32WqnP6). He explains how to prepare for the future even though you cannot predict it and he reveals the important difference between risk and uncertainty.

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You obviously know better than to talk on your phone while driving – but you should also tell other people in the car to stay off their phones as well. This episode starts with a discussion on why passenger’s phone conversation can be trouble for the driver. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performance

How well do you sleep? Before you answer you should know that you may not HAVE the answer. So many people sleep so poorly, they don’t even know what good sleep is – or feels like. For some real insight into how people sleep and how we can all sleep better, listen as I speak with sleep medicine specialist Chris Winter, M.D., author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It (https://amzn.to/2JVEHMd)

Anyone who spends time on Facebook knows that feeling of, “Why does everyone else’s life seem so wonderful compared to mine?” There is now research that proves this happens to everyone who goes on Facebook and that actually people’s lives aren’t any better than yours – it just looks that way. Listen and I’ll explain. http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2015/April/040415FaceookStudy

Do you know much about virtual reality? You are about to. Peter Rubin, senior editor at Wired magazine knows a lot about it. In fact he is the author of a new book on the topic called Future Presence: How Virtual Reality is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy and the Limits of Ordinary Life (https://amzn.to/2HeLUFD). Peter joins me to explore some of the fascinating and fun parts of virtual reality and also some of the concerns about how it will impact how we humans live our lives.

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Everyone knows what “riding shotgun” means. And most people think they know where it came from, which is from the days of stagecoaches. But that is not exactly correct. This episode begins by revealing the real origins of the phrase. Source: Cecil Adams author of The Straight Dope (https://amzn.to/3iPlGfp)

What are you? It’s a fascinating question because we often don’t think about what we are made of. It turns out we are made from atoms that have been recycled and have been parts of stars, dinosaurs and even other people. Science writer Brian Clegg author of the book What Do You Think You Are? The Science of What Makes You You (https://amzn.to/35TifRq) reveals the latest science about what goes in to making you - you and how you are different from everything else on this planet and in the universe. 

If you ever got a bad grade in school, you were probably told to work harder to get better at that subject. While maybe that is a good idea sometimes, it basically sends the message that you should try to improve at things you are not especially good at. And that turns out to be some pretty bad advice, as I explain. Source: Kathryn D. Cramer, PhD, author of Change The Way You See Everything (https://amzn.to/2FW1tpC)

What do you think of when you think of a genius? Is it how smart someone is or is it much more than that? Can anyone be a genius or is it something you are born with. Joining me to discuss the whole concept of genius is Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University’s popular “Genius Course” and who has devoted more than two decades to exploring the nature of genius. He is author of the book The Hidden Habits of Genius (https://amzn.to/2HjA69S) and I think you will be surprised by what he has to say about genius and encouraged by your chances of becoming one. 

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Have you ever wondered why pumpkins are associated with Halloween? After all, they aren’t particularly scary and have nothing to do with ghosts. This episode begins with an explanation of why pumpkins and Halloween go hand in hand. www.pumpkin-patch.com

I am sure you have wondered things like: Why do coincidences happen? Why is it so hard to find a 4-leaf clover? What day is best to buy a lottery ticket? Why do traffic jams happen? These are just some of the fascinating life questions tackled by Rob Eastaway, author of the book Why Do Buses Come in Threes?: The Hidden Mathematics of Everyday Life (https://amzn.to/2FEWfib)

When your “check engine” light comes on it means there is something wrong. However it may be something simple that you can fix yourself and there is a very easy way to find out. Listen and discover what it is. Source: Phil Edmonston author of The Lemon-Aid Car Guide (https://amzn.to/33wtJaC) 

Some people are cautious while others seek danger and thrills. Why? Why do some people love the thrill of a wild rollercoaster or scary movie or even skydiving while other people would much rather stay home and read a book? Ken Carter has explored the minds of thrill seekers to discover what makes them seek danger and actually enjoy it while others dread the idea. Ken is a board certified clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University and author of the book Buzz!:Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies (https://amzn.to/35FIwCn)

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Every kid on the planet is told to, “Eat your veggies – they’re good for you!” Yet, as a parent, you probably shouldn’t say that to your kids. This episode begins with some fascinating research about what to tell kids about healthy foods and what not to tell them. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/don-t-tell-kids-why-veggies-are-good-for-them-study-suggests-1.1833274

What if I told you that nothing really goes viral? You’d probably say, “Of course it does – cat videos, songs, lots of things go viral.” Well, not according to Derek Thompson, senior editor at the Atlantic magazine and author of the book, Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction (https://amzn.to/3iwagNK). Derek reveals exactly how things become popular – and it isn’t the way you might think.

In schools today there is a lot of emphasis on typing on a keyboard rather than writing with pen and paper. So you may be surprised to hear the benefits kids receive by simply writing on paper – and maybe schools should re-think their policies that de-emphasize penmanship in early grades. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=0

Who hasn’t been socially anxious? I am sure you’ve been in one of those situations where a lot is on the line or you don’t know anyone and it makes it uncomfortable and difficult. This is especially true for the millions of people who are naturally socially anxious anyway. With some help is clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen author of How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety (https://amzn.to/33s5jyS). She joins me to offer some rock-solid suggestions to help navigate those anxiety provoking situations so you act, look and feel like you belong.

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With all we know about how medicine works, we still don’t understand the placebo effect very well. Yet, by all accounts it is very powerful. This episode begins with some interesting research that seems to show that believing you are healthy really makes it so. Source: Howard Brody, M.D. author of “The Placebo Response” (https://amzn.to/2ZzmXzH)

Money is a tricky subject for just about everyone. Of course there is the “math of money” that shows how money works numerically but there is also how we feel about money. For example, most experts agree that paying off your mortgage is a bad idea, yet many people feel great when they do it. So, who is right? Joining me to discuss why your attitudes about money are just as important as the math is Morgan Housel. He is a partner at the Collaborative Fund and has been a columnist for the Wall Street Journal and the Motley Fool. Morgan is also author of the book The Psychology of Money (https://amzn.to/2Ftrrkb)

When was the last time you cleaned your car seats? Think about all the times people come in and out of your car and all the stuff they have with them. When you hear this, you will want to clean your seats very soon and clean them very well. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8712437/Disgusting-video-proves-washing-car-seats-dark-upholstery-often.html

Everyone has witnessed a time when an attractive person got preferential treatment. Good looking people get out of speeding tickets, they get better tables at restaurants, they make more money and they get promoted faster. And it turns out that just about all of us are likely to treat attractive people better. Why? To answer that and explain the ramifications of all of this is Daniel Hamermesh. He is an economist, and a Professor of Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of the book Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful. (https://amzn.to/2FskwrE)

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