Something You Should Know

While it is hard NOT to get angry sometimes, anger can take a toll on your health and lifespan. I’ll discuss some research that explains what is and isn’t worth getting angry about.

What does it take to have a happy relationship? You are going to hear some of the simplest, smartest and easiest advice to follow that can instantly start to transform your relationship. And it comes from Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret (https://amzn.to/36dpn97). Her website is www.soulmatesecret.com.

Why are unhappy people so unhappy? It turns out that unhappy people often get stuck being unhappy because of certain behaviors that keep them stuck. Listen to discover what those behaviors are and what to do to break out of them.

Also, are you using your mind correctly? The demands of the world require your mind to adapt but it doesn’t always adapt very well. For example, we think we multi-tasking is a good way to get more done – when in fact, it is not. It’s just not what the brain is wired for. Thomas Sterner, author of the book, The Practicing Mind (https://amzn.to/3g7STSD) explores better way to use your mind that will allow you to be more productive and happier.

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Smells can have a really interesting effect on you. They can make you happy, improve concentration and boost your energy. This episode begins with an explanation of which scents do what. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/26/scents-and-wellbeing_n_5193609.html

If the thought of having to negotiate with someone turns you off – you will love this. Alexandra Carter is an expert at negotiating and her approach is fascinating and simple to understand and execute. It’s all about asking the right questions. Alexandra is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School and author of the book Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything (https://amzn.to/2T6WaY8)

If your computer has a camera, it is important to remember that hackers could be watching you. Listen as I explain how to protect yourself from hackers hijacking your camera and watching you when you are unaware. http://us.norton.com/yoursecurityresource/detail.jsp?aid=webcam_hacking

Walking may seem simple and unexciting but there is a whole science to it. Walking has a profound effect on your personal well-being and the well-being of the society we live in. How? That’s what Shane O’Mara is here to explain. Shane is a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College in Dublin and author of the book In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration (https://amzn.to/2TuNs6z)

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Some foods get a bad rap – and undeservedly so. This episode begins with a list of foods you probably think are unhealthy but really aren’t all that bad according to science. http://www.businessinsider.com/foods-people-think-are-bad-unhealthy-that-arent-2017-3/

When you have too little confidence, that can be a real obstacle to success at anything. Then again, having too much confidence can mess things up as well. So how do you have the right amount of confidence and use it to your advantage? Here to discuss that is Don Moore, professor of management at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and author of the book Perfectly Confident (https://amzn.to/3cuzZTr).

Do cats really care about humans or do they just tolerate us because we feed them and give them a place to live? Listen and hear some fascinating research. http://people.com/pets/study-your-cat-probably-loves-you-more-than-it-loves-food-take-that-dogs

We have all heard the advice that when you are online you need to be careful and use common sense to protect your privacy and personal information. So what does that really mean? Aren’t most of us doing that? What more should we be doing – if anything? Listen to my guest Martin Keith. He is a professor of Information Security at Royal Holloway, University of London where he has worked in cryptographic research for thirty years. He is also author of the book, Cryptography: The Key to Digital Security, How It Works, and Why It Matters. (https://amzn.to/3bBzXbr)

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Have you ever put your car in “Drive” while it is still rolling backwards a little bit? People do it all the time – yet it is terrible for your car. I’ll explore this and several other things drivers do that can ruin their car and hurt the value. https://www.thrillist.com/cars/10-ways-you-didn-t-know-you-re-ruining-your-car-how-to-make-your-car-last-longer

Believe it or not, your own perceptions often deceive you. For example, would you notice something unusual if it popped out in front of you? You would think so. But it turns out you are not as observant as you think you are. Daniel Simons author of the book, The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us (http://amzn.to/2eLXgaX) explains why you completely miss much of what you think you see and how those distorted perceptions can cause you trouble.

Why do people get goose bumps? Does it serve some sort of evolutionary purpose? Listen and discover the surprising answer. http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/ever-wonder-what-causes-goosebumps

It isn’t just the elderly or dumb or greedy people who fall victim to fraud. A lot of smart people get taken too. Financial crime expert Jeffrey Robinson, author of the book, There’s a Sucker Born Every Minute (http://amzn.to/2j50Qyb) explains how big a problem fraud is, how enticing fraudsters make it all seem and how to make sure you do NOT become a victim.

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It is a bicyclist's nightmare – dooring! It is when someone in a car along the side of the road opens the door just as you drive by and – WHAM! It happens a lot more than you might think – and it probably ALMOST happens a lot more. There is an interesting way to prevent it that comes from the Netherlands. Listen and find out what it is. http://www.rd.com/advice/travel/open-car-door-right-hand/1

Have you ever wondered who discovered fire or who invented the wheel? You might think it was too long ago to ever figure out but Cody Cassidy has done the research and was actually able to trace it all back to discover the answers to these and other questions like who invented clothes and who drank the first beer. Cody is the author of the book Who Ate the First Oyster?: The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History (https://amzn.to/2WMDa2f) and he joins me to reveal some of these fascinating firsts. 

If you need a job, it may be tempting to respond to online job posts but that turns out to be an inefficient and often ineffective strategy. What works better? Listen to my guest Steve Dalton, founder and CEO of www.Contact2Colleague.com and author of the book The 2 Hour Job Search (https://amzn.to/2SXYBMC). He has developed a proven way to speed up a job search and get a job that is well suited to you.

If you want to know how sincere someone is, look at their hands. Listen as I explain what to look for. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/malleable-mind/201205/emotion-is-reversed-in-left-handers-brains

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Every year a lot of pedestrians crossing the street get hit by cars. So if you are out walking around, there is one technique that will drastically reduce your risk of getting hit. This episode begins with that explanation of that technique that will help you stay safe. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-key-to-crossing-the-street-safely-eye-contact-1427734205

Plastic is a relatively new invention. The vast majority of plastic in the world has been made only since the 1950s. Researchers are concerned about all this plastic because of its potential effects on the planet as well as on humans and other creatures. In fact, it seems we are unknowingly eating plastic – a lot of it. The cover story for the June 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine is titled How to Eat Less Plastic (https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2020/06/index.htm) which looks at the problem of plastic in our world. The article’s author is science journalist Kevin Loria and he joins me to explain what he found and tells us all how to eat less plastic! 

Have you heard of cognitive biases? All humans have them. It is when we judge people based on how they look or how they speak – positive or negative. For example, people who speak with foreign accents are often not considered as trustworthy as people who do not have an accent. Good looking people are often perceived to be smarter – just because they are attractive. Gleb Tsipursky is a cognitive neuroscientist and behavioral economist and he is author of the book The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias and Build Better Relationships. (https://amzn.to/2SH5m5r). Listen as he explains the problem with cognitive bias and what we can all do to be more aware of how we are judging people and how to stop. 

A lot of people buy ginger ale on the airplane than you might think. Often people who never drink it at home. Why? I will explain the reason and tell you if it is something you should try the next time you fly. http://www.rd.com/advice/travel/crave-ginger-ale-on-planes/

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If you use a wire brush to clean your outdoor grill – you should stop because someone could get hurt. I’ll start this episode by explaining why. http://www.aol.com/article/2016/05/31/study-highlights-serious-dangers-of-using-wire-bristle-grill-bru/21386551/

We don’t hesitate to treat physical wounds – but emotional wounds are things we tend to shrug off and assume time will heal – except sometimes it doesn’t. Psychologist Guy Winch author of the book Emotional First-Aid (http://amzn.to/2qH30nb) explores these wounds caused by failure, guilt and rejection and how to treat them.

Your personal and professional success depends a lot on how well people can trust you. Consultant and speaker David Horsager, author of the book The Trust Edge (http://amzn.to/2rLg1QH) explains how important trust is and how to be more trustworthy.

Look around and you will see a lot of fashion mistakes committed by men. We’ll discuss the big ones – according to Esquire magazine. http://www.esquire.co.uk/style/fashion/news/a5024/worst-style-mistakes/

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Why are names so hard to remember? This episode begins with an explanation and an experiment that explains why so many of us forget people’s names and what we can do to remember names better. http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2017/03/the-moses-illusion-explains-why-you-cant-remember-names.html

Do you ever get defensive? Actually we all do. We also have to deal with others who get defensive with us. What is going on here? Why do people get defensive? It turns out to be all about fear according to Jim Tamm. For 20 years, Jim worked as a judge helping defensive people resolve their disputes. Today he is a consultant with his own firm called Radical Collaborations (https://www.radicalcollaboration.com) and he is author of the book Radical Collaborations: Five Essential Skills to Overcome Defensiveness and Build Successful Relationships (https://amzn.to/2VVYJhN) . As an expert on defensiveness, Jim explains where it comes from and how to deal with it both within ourselves and others. 

The relationship between a mother and son is interesting to say the least – yet it isn’t talked about a lot. Pediatrician Dr. Meg Meeker believes that there is so much going on in every mother-son relationship and it is time to bring it out into the open. Dr Meeker is the author of the book Strong Mothers, Strong Sons (https://amzn.to/2y9ZV8h) and she joins me to help explain the mother-son relationship and offers advice on how to make it better.

Do you ever suffer from “ring anxiety?” It is the belief or the sensation that your cell phone is ringing when it isn’t. It happens to a lot of people. Why? Listen as I explain. http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/ringxiety-linked-insecurity-study

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Birds are building nests and laying eggs all over the place this time of year. And you have probably heard that if a baby bird falls out of the nest you shouldn’t put it back because the mother will abandon the baby. Is that true? Listen to hear the surprising answer. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2287/if-you-handle-baby-birds-will-their-parents-shun-them

Almost everyone dreams of being a successful entrepreneur. So, what separates the good entrepreneurs from the truly great ones? That is what Christopher Lochhead set out to discover. Christopher is a CEO marketing coach, speaker and author of the book Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets (https://amzn.to/3bQYzxJ). Listen as he explains how really successful business owners position their ideas and products to dominate the competition.

Speaking in front of people is scary for almost everyone. Yet it is also absolutely necessary for pretty much all of us whether at school or in a meeting or giving a formal speech. Since we will all be called on to speak, why not arm yourself with some skills that will make you less nervous and perform better? Here with some help to do that is Matt Abrahams . He is a lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business – he is the host of the podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart (https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast) and author of the book Speaking Up Without Freaking Out (https://amzn.to/3eZyKO1). His company, Bold Echo can be found at www.boldecho.com 

How many times have you heard that staring at a computer screen for too long is bad for your eyes? So, what does that mean - “bad for our our eyes”? Listen as I explain what research has shown about computer use and your eyesight. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/are-computer-screens-really-ruiningour-eyes_us_58b08e8de4b0a8a9b782192a

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Have you ever heard of misophonia? It’s a real thing. If you have it, that means that certain sounds – like someone chewing their food with their mouth open or slurping their soup – drive you crazy. But people who have misaphonia also have something else going for them that is actually pretty good. I’ll explain what that is. http://www.newsy.com/videos/hate-chewing-sounds-call-yourself-creative-then-just-deal/

Have you ever wanted to learn something new like a foreign language or a musical instrument? Maybe you didn’t bother because it would just take too long to get proficient at it. Well, maybe according to Josh Kaufman, author of the book The First 20 Hours (http://amzn.to/2ix9SUN). According to Josh, what you do in those early hours of learning can really accelerate you learning curve.

If you ever stay at hotels you need to be aware of a scam that is amazingly easy to fall for if you don’t know what it is. So, I’ll fill you in. http://www.thedailyberries.com/beware-new-hotel-scam-checking-hotel/

Are people inherently good – or not? That is a question that has been debated by philosophers for centuries. And it is something explored in the book, The Fear Factor (http://amzn.to/2gEDvzm). Researcher Abigail March is the author and she is also an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University. She explores what makes some of us altruistic and others callous and uncaring. It’s a fascinating discussion with a silver lining.

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