Something You Should Know

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? Listen and find out. 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.

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Your computer keyboard looks a lot like the typewriter keyboard that was invented in the 1800s. The letters are in the same places now as they were then. Why are the letters of the QWERTY keyboard in the order they are in and why hasn’t anyone come up with anything better? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.cnet.com/news/a-brief-history-of-the-qwerty-keyboard/

Several years ago, Patrick McGinnis coined the term “Fear of Missing Out” or FOMO. It has now become part of the language and life experience for many people. The problem is, FOMO doesn’t do anyone any good and only causes stress and worry. Today we have so many choices – there are so many things we could do. Spending time worrying about what you didn’t choose to do or where you didn’t choose to go doesn’t really make much sense. Yet somehow the road not taken seems so attractive. Listen as Patrick joins me to explore FOMO and how to best deal with it. Patrick is author of the book Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice (https://amzn.to/3kK0MQe)

You have certainly heard of your immune system. It is that thing that fights off germs, viruses and illness so you stay healthy. However most people don’t really understand how it works and what causes it to work better or worse. Dr. Jenna Macciochi is an MD who has over 20 years' experience as a scientist researching the impact of lifestyle on the immune system in health and disease and she is author of the book Immunity: The Science of Staying Well (https://amzn.to/3kVHnMv). Listen as she explains how to keep up your immunity against illness and disease. 

Who thinks about ketchup? Yet, the fact is there are different grades of ketchup and some brands are better than others. Listen as I take a look at how ketchup is graded and who makes the ketchup for your favorite fast food restaurant. https://www.today.com/food/what-fancy-ketchup-it-actually-better-regular-ketchup-t144019

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Everyone has felt shy. It really depends on the situation. So how can you get over your shyness so you can engage with the people around you? This episode begins with some excellent advice from one of the leading shyness experts on how to work through those shy feelings in the moment – and it is really quite simple. Source: Bernardo Carducci author of Shyness (https://amzn.to/2XWCgl8)

You’ve probably heard something somewhere about how indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. And yes that is true but that is just the tip of the iceberg. You spend 90% of your life indoors and that environment has a big impact on your health, productivity and performance. And it is not just the air quality. It is also the noise level, the lights and the temperature as well. Joining me to discuss this is Joseph Allen, Director of the Healthy Buildings program and an Assistant Professor at Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health and author of the book Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity (https://amzn.to/30SX3b4)

Telephone scams rob people of billions of dollars every year – even seemingly very smart people who are sure they are too savvy to get taken in. But you can protect yourself from telephone scams by asking any telephone solicitor 4 questions. Listen to discover what they are. Source: Joseph Wilt author of Do I Need Help? (https://amzn.to/3gXTG8v)

When you have a lot of things to do, how do you decide what to do first? How do you get the important things done? You can start by asking a simple question according to Kendra Adachi author of the book called The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done (https://amzn.to/341FO9B). This book was just released and went right to the top of the best seller list so clearly her message is resonating with busy people who have a lot to do and need help doing it. Listen as she joins me to explain exactly how.

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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. Professor Leslie Lyons website is: http://felinegenetics.missouri.edu

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Where do you keep your car keys at night? This episode begins with an explanation as to why you might want to keep those keys within easy reach of wherever you are sleeping. http://worldofwonder.net/lifehack-put-car-keys-beside-bed-night/

What’s the best way to learn anything new? IT is probably NOT reading information over and over. There are better ways to engage the brain so material really sticks. Here to explain what those methods are is Ulrich Boser who has spent a lot of time understanding the science of learning. He is founder and CEO of The Learning Agency and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the book Learn Better (https://amzn.to/30P03Wh)

Lobster is often the most expensive thing on the menu at any seafood restaurant. Why? Listen as I explain how getting the lobster from the seas to your plate is no small feat – and an expensive at that. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/why-lobster-so-expensive-worth-price

The human brain is quirky. Some of those quirks are good but others are maddening and can cause us a lot of stress. Neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnet has explored and researched the oddities in our brain that make us human and joins me to explain what they are, why they are important and how to better deal with them when they get in the way. Dean is a tutor and lecturer based at Cardiff University’s Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences and author of the book Idiot Brain: What Your Head is Really Up To (https://amzn.to/3ab7Dxp)

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Outdoor cooking and eating can be fun and tasty. Still, there are some potential dangers we all need to be aware of. For example, when was the last time you really cleaned your grill? If you think the fire burns off all the bad stuff, think again. That’s just one of the things about outdoor cooking I discuss as we begin this episode. http://www.menshealth.com/health/5-cookout-mistakes-that-make-you-sick

Carrots were not originally orange. Expensive weddings are a bad idea. The Mediterranean Sea will disappear one day. These are just a few items of fascinating knowledge I discuss with Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of the book Uncommon Knowledge (https://amzn.to/2DFoeNA). Listen as he explains why kids’ summer vacations are too long, what Interpol really is and who owns all the material in outer space – amongst other things.

It’s fairly well accepted that moderate drinking has health benefits. However, that may be a big overstatement. Listen as I discuss research that questions the validity of that idea and why there is a flaw in the theory that a glass of wine is good for you. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4529928/A-glass-red-wine-NOT-good-heart.html

We were supposed to be moving towards a paperless society. That doesn’t really seem to be happening. In fact, a lot of us have more documents, forms, certificates, letters and memos than we know what to do with. If you have filing cabinets, drawers and boxes full of papers, you need to listen to Lisa Woodruff. She is founder of Organize365 (www.organize365.com) which helps people tame all the paper in their lives and she is author of the book The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life (https://amzn.to/3gIojyE).

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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, this episode begins with an explanation of what it is exactly and how it is different than regular corn 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 is not 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, editor of Modern Manners: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Social Graces (http://amzn.to/2F1x), answers some common etiquette questions people have about social media, weddings, cellphones and more. His website is www.whatmannersmost.com

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If you have blue eyes, you are related to me! That is just one of the fascinating things I discuss as I begin this episode with a fascinating look at your eyes and how they work so well to help you navigate and see the world. http://www.buzzfeed.com/acuvue/impossibly-cool-facts-you-may-not-know-about-yo#.kjpwxlkvO

Where do new ideas and innovations come from? Often, they seem to strike like lightning with no real pattern or explanation. But that is not exactly right according to my guest Matt Ridley. Matt is a journalist and businessman and author of the book How Innovation Works: And Why It Flourishes in Freedom (https://amzn.to/2D6syWe). Matt has studied how great ideas are created, developed and accepted and he joins me to explain it all.

Social media is a great way to let people know about your latest accomplishments. And people sure do it a lot. However, it may not be such a great idea – at least not too often. Listen as I discuss how self-promotion on social media can actually have the opposite effect you think it does. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150512104037.htm

How does your diet affect your mood and mental health? In a lot of interesting ways – good and bad – according to Dr. Uma Naidoo, a board certified psychiatrist, director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Mass General Hospital and author of the book This is Your Brain on Food (https://amzn.to/3fejgo0). Uma is here to discuss the fascinating connection between what goes on in your gut and your mental frame of mind and what foods to eat to help you improve your mental health. 

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When you think of having a meeting, you probably imagine sitting in a room around a table. You may want to change that whole idea. This episode begins by looking at how conducting meetings in a an entirely different way can result in a much more productive and rewarding meeting. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/walking-meetingsat-linke_n_7035258.html?utm_hp_ref=business

Your brain is wired to be friendly. Being friendly is a good strategy most of the time. Why? Listen to Brian Hare, who is a member of the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience, a Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, and Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University and author of the book – Survival of the Friendliest (https://amzn.to/3jLQnmN). Brian joins me to explain why and how friendliness has been absolutely critical to human survival and it continues to serve all of us as we move through life. 

“How are you?” How many times do we say or hear that in a day? Most of the time is just a quick and somewhat meaningless greeting. Still, if you would rather have a more substantial conversation, there is a simple way to alter the question, “How are you?” by adding one word. Listen to discover what it is. http://www.businessinsider.com/sheryl-sandberg-common-question-asking-how-are-you-interviewoption-b-book-grief-2017-5

Millions of Americans are drowning in debt from credit cards, student loans and other forms of debt. Personal finance writer Jen Smith and her husband found themselves with $78,000 of debt and made a commitment to get rid of it. Listen as she explains how they did it in less than half the time they thought – and how they actually enjoyed doing it. Jen is co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com) and author of the book, The No Spend Challenge Guide. (https://amzn.to/2XaZnYZ).

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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. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75330/frequent-sighing-helps-keep-you-alive

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. http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a19193/airline-employee-secrets/

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.fun 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.

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