Something You Should Know

Don’t you hate it when you put on a mask to go out in public and your glasses get all fogged up? This episode begins with a few tips to keep your glasses clear as a bell while you are wearing a face mask. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-keep-your-glasses-fog-free-while-wearing-a-mask/

You hear a lot about DNA today – there are test kits that can trace your DNA and locate your ancestors and on TV it seems DNA can solve a lot of crimes. So what is DNA exactly, how does it work, where does it come from and is it really as good at solving crime as it appears on TV? Here to explain all about is Alan McHughen who is a scientist, educator, DNA expert and author of the book DNA Demystified (https://amzn.to/3eUNihl).

Teenagers can easily sleep until noon – but it’s a lot harder when you get older. Why? That’s one of the things I discuss about sleep and just how important it is to get enough sleep and how it can wreak havoc with your health if you don’t. http://www.menshealth.com/health/sleep-and-age

There is a really fascinating food culture today. Young people especially spend a great deal of their time and money eating certain foods, watching cooking shows on TV, going to trendy restaurants and identifying themselves by the food they eat – or don’t eat (I’m a vegan!) . The question is -why? Why are people getting so wrapped up in this food culture and spending so much money on it? Eve Turow-Paul has been living in and researching all about food culture around the world and she joins me with some really interesting insight. Eve is author of the book Hungry: Avocado Toast, Instagram Influencers, and Our Search for Connection and Meaning (https://amzn.to/38lrc54).

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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. http://www.wired.com/2014/07/whats-up-with-the-other-line-is-always-faster/

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. Here is the link to Roger’s website: http://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. http://lifehacker.com/5875162/how-often-should-i-charge-my-gadgets-batteryto-prolong-its-lifespan

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 It…Not Worth It? (http://amzn.to/2FCjtRm), 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.

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Some people really love spicy food. Why? This episode begins with an explanation of that and what to do if you put something in your mouth that is way too spicy. http://lifehacker.com/how-to-actually-enjoy-the-painful-pleasure-of-spicy-foo-1794616828

If you have a passion, does that mean that is what you are meant to do? And what if you don’t really have a passion or you have one that doesn’t lend itself to a career? Before you blindly try to “Follow your passion,” listen to Brad Stulberg author of the book The Passion Paradox (https://amzn.to/2Bjuw4H). Bruce explains some interesting facts and science about what passion really is and what you should – and should not do with your passion. He is also host of The Growth Equation Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-equation-podcast/id1505257676

If you have outdoor allergies, there are some things you may be doing to make your symptoms worse than they need to be. Listen as I explain what to do and not do to clear the air and breathe better with fewer allergy symptoms. http://www.finlandiapharmacy.com/treating-allergies-naturally/

The assumption is that a harmonious relationship is the best kind of relationship. Well, it turns out a little trouble, messiness and chaos is also good for a relationship. Listen as I am joined by Ed Tronick PhD. Ed is a developmental neuroscientist and clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School and author of the book The Power of Discord (https://amzn.to/3dHMta6). He explains why striving for a perfectly happy relationship is a prescription for trouble. 

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People tend to like reruns. We like to watch old TV shows and movies over and over again, we often order the same meal at a restaurant that we have had before, we listen to the same songs over and over again. Why? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-you-like-to-watch-the-same-thing-over-and-over/

How often have you tried to make an important change in your life only to have your efforts fail? Why is change so hard – and is there a way to make it easier? Listen to my conversation with Ross Ellenhorn. He is a sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker and he is author of the book How We Change (and 10 Reasons We Don’t) (https://amzn.to/2VeIUSx) He has some important advice on how to approach change so it is more likely to stick. 

If you have a problem, chances are there is some expert or some piece of technology that will tell you how to fix it. While advice is good, it is also important to think for ourselves. Some people say we are losing our ability to think critically and make our own decisions. Instead we let experts decide for us. Vikram Mansharamani is a lecturer at Harvard and author of the book Think For Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence. (https://amzn.to/2A30BNs). Listen as he makes the case for more critical thinking when it comes to the big decisions in life. 

Did you know spring fever is a real thing – with real symptoms? Listen as I explain what they are and what they are trying to tell you, if you have them. https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/diseases_cures/2010/04/29/spring_fever_has_scientific_basis_psychologist.html

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Do you keep stuff? You know, things from your past that you have a hard time giving up even though you don’t use them anymore? This episode begins with some interesting advice on what to keep and what to toss or give away – and why it’s a good idea to get rid of things you will never ever need again. http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-09-2010/Kick_Clutter_And_Lose_Weight.html

You probably know that your genes influence things your eye color or hair color. But did you know that your genes also influence your behavior? Jay Phelan, an evolutionary biologist at UCLA and author of the book, Mean Genes: From Sex to Money to Food, Taming Our Primal Instincts (http://amzn.to/2CJZgXF), explains how your genes make you want to do things that are often not good for you (like overeat or drink too much).

Did you know you have more than five senses? For example, when you move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal when you drive, you are using another sense that allows you to find those pedals without looking or using any other of your five senses. I’ll explain what it is and what it is called. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/propioception-body-parts-sense-research/420765/

There is real power in calming down. That’s according to Gyatri Devi, M.D., author of the book, A Calm Brain: How to Relax Into a Stress-Free, High-Powered Life (http://amzn.to/2on2EoX) Because our brains are always active – checking texts and emails and rushing around, we don’t have the down time” we need that allows the brain to perform at its best. Dr Devi has some ways to do that and she reveals the amazing benefits of a calm brain.

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When you are in the drive-through or waiting for a train to pass, is it better to turn off your car’s engine or let it idle? This episode begins with an explanation and advice on when it becomes more efficient to turn off your car. https://slate.com/technology/2008/05/is-it-more-efficient-to-leave-your-car-idling.html

You are thinking thoughts all day long. That’s what humans do – we think. Sometimes though, your thoughts get in the way. They can become toxic and ruin your day, they can mess up your perception of the world and interfere with relationships. Here to discuss how to take control of your thoughts and see them for what they really are is Andrea Bonior, PhD. Andrea is a journalist, who writes the popular "Baggage Check" advice column for the Washington Post. She serves on the faculty of Georgetown University and she is author of the book, Detox Your Thoughts: Quit Negative Self-Talk for Good and Discover the Life You've Always Wanted (https://amzn.to/2AXyPlQ).

If you share a bed, how far apart do the two of you sleep? Listen as I discuss why the distance apart and the direction you face while in bed may say a lot about the state of your relationship. http://time.com/64966/what-your-sleeping-position-says-about-your-relationship/ 

Do you take good care of your skin? What are the most important things to do – or not do - to keep your skin healthy and looking good? Monty Lyman, M.D., is a doctor in at Oxford University and author of the book The Remarkable Life of the Skin (https://amzn.to/3dnvcD0). He joins me to explain the latest research and best practices to take care of your skin and keep it looking young.

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Do dolphins really have their own language? Why is it warmer in the summer? Does lightning ever strike the same place twice? This episode begins with a short and fun science quiz. Let’s see how well you score. https://thebestschools.org/magazine/25-popular-science-myths-debunked/

We all use diplomacy when we deal with people. There are certain rules we all follow to make interactions pleasant and productive – that’s diplomacy. Joining me to discuss how diplomacy works and to share some great stories of diplomacy from the White House is Capricia Penavic Marshall who was social secretary to Bill and Hilary Clinton and the Chief of Protocol for President Obama. Capricia is also author of the book Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You (https://amzn.to/2AJyl2E)

Want to be a better cook? If so, listen as I explain some great ideas to help you become a master of the kitchen from what kind of chicken to buy, where to keep your lemons to why you need a new ice tray for the freezer. http://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/best-cooking-advice-ever-article

 Some people just seem to be lucky. But is it just chance or is it that those people just know how to capitalize on lucky moments that come along in everyone’s life? Here to discuss that is Christian Busch, PhD, Director of the Global Economy Program at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and author of the book, The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck (https://amzn.to/30VClYu)

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You probably think you are a good driver. But what do other people think about your driving? Listen to take this simple driving test to see whether or not you do things that really annoy other drivers. https://www.thrillist.com/cars/nation/14-ways-people-drive-like-dicks-most-annoying-driving-habits

Did you know that pessimistic and unhappy people are more likely to look down at the ground when they walk? And that happy people tend to look up? This is one of the really interesting and unusual finding about happy people I discuss with David Niven, researcher and author of the book 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People (https://amzn.to/2C5oPHr). Listen as David offers some really interesting ways to be happier and explains what it means to be a happy person.

First impressions are important and they happen faster than you think. Listen as I explain how important first impressions are and how to make a good one.

You will love math a little bit more when you listen to my conversation with Arthur Benjamin. Arthur finds and explains the magic in math and explains why math is so important to learn and understand. Arthur is a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California and he is author of the book The Magic of Math (https://amzn.to/3d6GriW).

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If you have ever gotten a paper cut (and who hasn’t), you may have wondered why a tiny little cut from a piece of paper can hurt so much. This episode begins with the explanation and the best way to treat that paper cut. http://www.menshealth.com/health/why-are-paper-cuts-so-painful

You probably think your personality is pretty much set in stone. In fact, it is changing all the time whether you like it or not. Organizational psychologist Benjamin Hardy joins me with a fascinating discussion on how your personality changes over time and how you can manipulate those changes to become the person you want to be. Benjamin is a contributor to Inc., and Psychology Today and he is author of the book Personality Isn’t Permanent (https://amzn.to/3e14e5s).

Why can’t you find your keys or wallet? What is it that makes them so easy to lose? Listen as I explain why you likely misplaced them and the best way to figure where you left them. http://lifehacker.com/the-two-factors-that-make-you-forgetful-1563418168

 The pace of life sure seems a lot faster than it used to. While a lot of people don’t like it, it isn’t going to slow down any time soon. So perhaps the better approach is to learn to mange the speed of life and make it work for you. That’s the recommendation and advice of Vincent Poscente, former Olympic speed-skier and author of best selling book, The Age of Speed (https://amzn.to/2UGj8Gm).

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Everyone has had that "pins and needles" feeling when your foot or arm falls asleep. Why does it happen? A lot of people believe it is because you cut off circulation. But that’s not it. Listen as this episode of the podcast begins with an explanation of why your limbs fall asleep and what that tingly sensation actually is. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-feet-and-legs-to-fall-asleep-2014-6

The buildings and the rooms you spend time in have a powerful impact on all aspects of your life. And you probably never realized it. Your health, your mood, your work, your ability to think – even your relationships are influenced by your indoor environment. To discuss how this happens is Emily Anthes , a science journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, Slate, Businessweek and elsewhere. She is also author of the book The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness (https://amzn.to/2Yr8ip3).

Human language is amazing. It is one of the main things that distinguishes us from other animals. Without it, communication would be very difficult. The complexities of languages and how it changes are really fascinating and important. Joining me to discuss this is David Adger. He is Professor of Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London and author of the book Language Unlimited: The Science Behind Our Most Creative Power (https://amzn.to/37huAxr)

What brand of dishwashing liquid is sitting on your kitchen sink? Everyone has their favorite but does one really do a better job than the others? Listen as I explain what Consumer Reports says after testing a bunch of them. https://www.consumerreports.org/video/view/appliances/laundry/937114224001/testing-dishwashing-liquids/

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