Something You Should Know

When you search for something in Google does it matter what order you put the words in? What about punctuation – does that matter? We start this episode with the best ways to optimize Google searches to get the best results. (https://edu.google.com/coursebuilder/courses/pswg/1.2/assets/notes/Lesson1.5/Lesson1.5Wordordermatters_Text_.html)

What makes someone beautiful? Can you really become more beautiful? These are important questions because beauty and attractiveness have some clear benefits for everyone. Rachelle Smith, associate professor of psychology at Husson University, is author of the book The Biology of Beauty (https://amzn.to/2JOKMtn). Rachelle joins me to explain the importance of your own beauty and how to maximize what you have. 

If you are going on a job interview it matters whether you are the first person interviewed or the last person or better yet, the fourth person. I’ll explain why. (http://www.businessinsider.com/always-go-fourth-during-interviews-2015-5)

Seemingly small inventions like the razor blade, the TV dinner and paper money have had profound impacts on our lives and the economy in ways you never knew. Tim Harford, author of the book Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern Economy (https://amzn.to/2JV5zM9) joins me for a fascinating explanation of how these innovations have transformed our lives.

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Do nice guys finish last? Sure, there are a lot of successful nice guys but there are a lot of successful jerks too. So which is it? The answer may actually lie somewhere in between. This episode begins with some interesting insight into that (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/06/why-it-pays-to-be-a-jerk/392066)

Humans are motivated by….what? Traditional thinking has been that carrots and sticks – in other words rewards or punishments are the best way to get people to do things. Well that may work but there are other ways that are better says Daniel Pink, author of the book Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us (https://amzn.to/2LNHze7). Daniel joins me to offer some advice on how to successfully motivate yourself and others.

Friends are important but I bet you didn’t know just HOW important. Let’s put it this way… research shows not having a strong social network is equal to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. And that’s just one of the things I discuss about the importance of friends (http://www.rd.com/slideshows/friends-facts/#slideshow=slide2)

Are you one of those people who hates small talk? Or perhaps you find it difficult to talk to strangers and connect with people. Or maybe you just wish you were better at conversation. If so, you need to listen to Jill Spiegel, author of the book How to Talk to Anyone About Anything (https://amzn.to/2t6tIb3). Jill is an expert when it comes to striking up conversations and making them count. Incidentally, she is also the great granddaughter of Joseph Spiegel, founder of the famous Spiegel mail order catalog.

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Humans are programmed to flirt. It’s the beginning of the process that keeps the species going forward. And while some people are clearly better at the art of flirting – there is some science to it as well. I begin this episode with scientifically proven ways to improve your flirting skills.  (http://theweek.com/articles/448643/how-flirt-according-science)

One thing that makes us human is our creativity. We are all creative and many of us could be even more creative according to Allen Gannett. Allen is the CEO of Track Maven, a software analytics firm and he has been on the top “30 Under 30” lists for both Inc. and Forbes magazines. He is also the author of the new book The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea at the Right Time (https://amzn.to/2Jt9vaH). Allen joins me to reveal some fascinating science behind creative people and the creative process that we can all benefit from.

It turns out that not all olive oil is what it appears to be. In fact a lot of extra virgin olive oil isn’t what the label says. Is there fraud in the olive oil business? And if it isn’t olive oil, what is it? We’ll discuss. (http://time.com/3894609/extra-virgin-olive-oil/)

If happiness is a choice, why do so many people choose to be unhappy? That is just one of the questions I tackle with Rick Foster co-author of the book Happiness & Health: 9 Choices That Unlock the Powerful Connection Between the Two Things We Want Most (https://amzn.to/2JEdz78). I think you will be amazed by what Rick has to say about the connection between your health and your happiness. 

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Ever feel good about saving a spider because you took it out of your house and put it outside rather than killing it? It seems like a noble thing to do. But what you may not know is what is likely to happen to that spider once you put it outside. This episode of the podcast starts with that interesting explanation. (http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/curated/spider-myths)

You probably don’t think about it much but the way your body heals itself from illness and injury is really remarkable. We are learning more and more about how the healing process works and how to enhance it. Joining me to shed some light on all of this is Wayne Jonas, MD, professor of medicine at Georgetown University and author of the book How Healing Works. (https://amzn.to/2JB911l )

We all make typos when we write emails. But what you probably realize is that those typos alter the impact of your message – sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way. Listen as I explain. (https://www.aol.com/2015/06/01/your-email-typos-reveal-more-about-you-than-you-realize/)

How you perceive your world is different than everyone else because your brain is so different than everyone else's. One great way to understand those differences in our brain is to look at some people with peculiar brain disorders. Science writer Helen Thomson author of the book Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World’s Strangest Brains (https://amzn.to/2M6kswj) introduces you to a woman who gets lost going from her kitchen to her bathroom EVERY single time as well as the doctor who actually feels other people’s pain. It’s important to hear this because it gives you a clue as to why your brain sees a very different reality than mine or anyone else's. Plus Helen offers some brain enhancing techniques you can use that she has learned from the science. 

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Mental health is complicated. But there are some things that can trigger depression in almost anyone. I begin this episode with a list of things that can cause you to lose your objectivity and make you sad if you let them. (https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/surprising-reasons-young-people-get-depressed/)

If you knew there was a good chance that you could get a discount on a new shirt or pair of pants or a vacuum cleaner – but you had to ask – would you? It turns out that you can get discounts on many items in retail stores by asking but you have to ask the right way. To find out how listen to my discussion with Emily Hunter. Emily Hunter. Emily is an associate professor of management at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business, where she teaches negotiation and conflict management. (https://business.baylor.edu/directory/?id=Emily_M_Hunter)

Who hasn’t felt guilty about not visiting grandma or some other friend or relative? You go when you can but you wish you could go more often– right? Well if you ever feel that way, there is something important to understand. It is called the “certainty of contact.” I’ll explain what it is. (Dr. Charles Foster, author of Feel Better Fast - https://amzn.to/2Jm9YdH) 

How often have you heard people talk about the “rat race” and how important it is to get out of it? The idea is that the rat race is so stressful that it is somehow bad for you. But is it really? Not according to economist Todd Buchholz author of the book, RUSH: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race (https://amzn.to/2LiKQSF). Todd makes a compelling case that the stress of the rat race is exactly the fuel we need. By the way Todd served as White House director of economic policy under George H.W. Bush. His latest book is called The Price of Prosperity: How Rich Nations Fail and How to Renew Them (https://amzn.to/2Linigr)

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When you sit down to eat, several things affect how MUCH you eat and how much you enjoy the food. I begin this episode by revealing how the environment and atmosphere of the room in which you are eating can have a big impact. When you learn the details, you can use this information to help you eat less while enjoying your food more. (http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/outreach/musiclight.html)

Sometimes people in relationships cheat. No secret there. But why? Are we programmed to cheat? Are humans, by nature, NOT monogamous? And what can you do if there has been cheating in your relationship? These are all important questions addressed by my guest Dr. Kenneth Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg is a board certified addiction psychiatrist, sex addiction counselor and he is author of the book Infidelity: Why Men and Women Cheat (https://amzn.to/2J2slRL) He also has a quiz on his website so you can assess your cheating potential. Go to : https://drkenrosenberg.com/

When you go to a business function you are often given a name tag to wear. So which side of your chest should you put it on - left or right – or does it even matter? While in the scheme of things it may not matter much, there is a correct side and it all has to do with function. I’ll tell you which side is the better side according to etiquette experts. (http://emilypost.com/2009/05/right-or-left-where-to-wear-a-name-badge/)

In our culture we are obsessed with saving time. We have gadgets and apps and systems all designed to make us more productive so we get more done in less time. But then what do you do with the time you saved? Probably use it to get more things done. So what’s the point? For a different look at how you spend your time and what you spend it on, listen to my guest, Laura Vanderkam, author of the book Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done (https://amzn.to/2xs4325). She has been speaking and writing about this topic for a while and has some interesting insight and practical advice I think you will enjoy hearing.

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Does having more sex make a couple happier – or is it just that happier couples have more sex? We begin this episode by looking at which is the cause and which is the effect. (http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2015/may/more-sex-does-not-lead-to-happiness.html)

You likely know the importance of staying out of the sun and using sunscreen when you are in the sun. But proper skin care involves much more than that. As we begin the unofficial start of summer, Dermatologist and plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, M.D., explains some important facts about skin care you may not know and offer simple and practical tips to keep your skin looking and staying younger. Dr. Youn is the author of the book The Age Fix (https://amzn.to/2GTve5o), he is host of the podcast, The Holistic Plastic Surgery Show (http://www.dryoun.com/podcast/) and his website is www.dryounonline.com 

Here’s an interesting physics question: Let’s say you have to get from point A to point B in the pouring rain. Will you get wetter by running or walking there? I’ll reveal the answer and explain the science. (http://gizmodo.com/5970075/do-you-get-less-wet-walking-or-running-in-the-rain)

Have you ever had trouble getting along with people at work? It is a universal problem. And a big part of the problem is that people have different working styles. Some of those styles work well together – some clash. When you understand what those different styles are and how they work with each other, you can have a happier more productive work environment. Kim Christfort is an executive with Deloitte, an accounting and consulting firm, is co-author of the book Business Chemistry: Practical Magic for Crafting Powerful Work Relationships (https://amzn.to/2IRgE0a). She joins me to reveal how to better get along with and work with all the people at work.

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Years ago coffee was called “The Think Drink” in a marketing campaign. Those were the golden days of coffee. Later coffee was demonized as something that caused all kinds of health problems. Later it turned out, coffee had health benefits and was just fine to drink – but not too much. So we begin this episode with a look at the research to discover whether coffee is good or evil. (http://www.rd.com/slideshows/coffee-myths/#slideshow=slide6)

Ever think about what traits or behaviors or illnesses may have been passed down to you by your parents and ancestors? What will you pass down to your children and their children? Can you really inherit your mother’s laugh or your father’s depression? Heredity is a fascinating and often misunderstood topic. To help sort it all out is Carl Zinmmer. Carl is a writer for The New York Times and author of the book, She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions and Potential of Heredity (https://amzn.to/2IG8KKR).  

Couples fight about money more than most other subjects. That’s because they don’t talk about it until it escalates into a fight. So how can couples talk about money in a calm and reasonable manner so there are no fights? I’ll explain that in this episode (The Couple’s Guide to Financial Compatability by Jeff Motske - https://amzn.to/2KNiek2)

When you do or say something that hurts someone else, you are supposed to apologize. But as simple as that sounds, sometimes an apology can make matters worse not better. In fact that is a lot about apologies and forgiveness people don’t understand. One person who understands this very well is Dr. Harriet Lerner, a psychotherapist and author of the book Why Won't You Apologize?: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts (https://amzn.to/2s7Nanl). Harriet joins me to dissect what does and doesn’t make the perfect apology and how to diver it so it really does some good.

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No one likes 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. Henry Timms has explored this in his new 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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You know what is one of the most common decorating mistakes people make? It is hanging art on the walls incorrectly – usually too high. I’ll explain a simple rule that art galleries and museums use and you should too. (https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-high-to-hang-pictures/)

Imagine asking 45 successful, billionaire entrepreneurs what made them successful. That’s exactly what Robert Jordan did for his groundbreaking book, How They Did It: Billionaire Insights from the Heart of America (https://amzn.to/2rNN18u). Robert joins me to discuss how we can all put these principles to build our own success.

What if I told you that one-third of the fish in your store could be mislabeled? And that you may not be getting what you think you are? That is just one of the interesting facts about supermarkets I share in this episode. (http://www.thedailymeal.com/11-secrets-supermarkets-dont-want-you-know-slideshow)

How often have you been told to stop wasting time? Well it turns out that is often really bad advice according to Professor Alan Lightman author of the new book, In Praise of Wasting Time (https://amzn.to/2ImyFHj). Alan explains the problems created by scheduling every moment of the day as well of the benefits of simply doing nothing. And those benefits are pretty impressive!

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