Distractions while driving can be dangerous. Good drivers know they need to minimize distractions. However, some things that are intended to deliberately distract drivers, such as billboards. And it turns out certain types of billboards can be REALLY distracting. Listen as I explain. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2280521/

It would seem that being an optimist would be better than being a pessimist. But is it something you can really change? And why do some people see the glass half empty, and some see it half full? It turns out that the science of optimism is fascinating and there is a lot we can do to become more optimistic about the world and our lives. Joining me to explain how is Dr. Sue Varma. She is a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University. She is also author of a book called Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being (https://amzn.to/3TbPjv5).

When you search online for something whether it’s a movie on Netflix or a screwdriver on Amazon, the choices you see are determined by an algorithm. In other words, you don’t see every screwdriver in the world, you see the ones the algorithm has determined you might like. While that may be good for a screwdriver, it may be very limiting when it comes to other things. Here to explain why this is important is Kyle Chayka. He is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he writes a column on digital technology and the impact of the Internet and social media on culture and he is author of the book, Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture (https://amzn.to/4bSgpj6).

Everyone knows that it is dangerous to drive if you have been drinking. However, driving when you're sick may be even more dangerous. Listen as I reveal how even a slight cold can affect your body and put you at risk when you drive. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2283323

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A person’s first name can have a profound impact on their life. This episode begins as I describe how people instantly get preconceived ideas about you based solely on your name – some good ideas and some not so good. It seems your name can shape who you are for the rest of your life. https://www.theifod.com/how-does-your-name-shape-who-you-are/

Some people can just walk into a room and exude charisma. I am sure you have seen it happen. People are attracted to charismatic people. But it is sometimes hard to figure exactly what makes someone charismatic. Listen as my guest Vanessa Van Edwards, reveals the ingredients of charisma and explains how anyone can express more of that quality that people find so attractive. Vanessa is founder and lead investigator at Science of People (https://www.scienceofpeople.com), she is a sought after speaker and author of the book Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication (https://amzn.to/3vFoLZ0).

What science has discovered about genetics and DNA in just the last few decades is amazing. Remember it wasn’t all that long ago when we started using fingerprints as a crime solving tool. Today DNA evidence is helping to solve decades-old cold case crimes with incredible accuracy. Plus, we now know so much about our genetics and how it all relates to our health. Joining me to discuss this is Dr. Joshua Rappoport. Joshua is a cellular biology expert who teaches at Boston College and is author of the book Mapping Humanity: How Modern Genetics is Changing Criminal Justice, Personal Medicine and Our Identities (https://amzn.to/35RY6wT).

Could it be that shopping actually has health benefits? Listen as I describe one study that equates shopping with physical exercise. Plus, it also seems to offer emotional benefits as well – depending on how you shop. https://business.time.com/2013/04/16/is-retail-therapy-for-real-5-ways-shopping-is-actually-good-for-you/

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Everyone loves getting flowers – but of course they don’t last very long. To make them last as long as possible, what works best, the flower food that comes with the flowers, or maybe aspirin in the water or maybe something else? This episode begins by revealing a surprising additive that will keep your flowers perky – longer. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12981249/

No matter how excited you get about something or someone – it is impossible to stay excited for very long. It’s just how humans are wired. We get used to things no matter how great they are at first. It is called habituation. Still, there are ways to “resparkle” some of that excitement and appreciate things again that you have come to take for granted, as you will hear from my guest Tali Sharot. She is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College, London and at MIT. She is the founder and director of the Affective Brain Lab and co-author of the book Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (https://amzn.to/49F5vLD).

I bet you know someone who is simply a joy to talk to. They make you feel smart, they listen to what you say and you just feel better speaking to them. That person is what Charles Duhigg calls a “super communicator” And really anyone can master the skill and Charles is here to explain how and why it is so important for your personal and professional success. Charles is the author of a new bestselling book called Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection (https://amzn.to/3wmhwHv).

Next time you are trying to figure out a problem or come up with a solution, you might want to switch your body position. Listen and I’ll tell you which position appears to be best. https://phys.org/news/2005-05-creative-lying.html

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Why are there so many different shampoos? Does it really matter which one if all you want is clean hair? This episode begins by explaining which shampoo is best for you. https://theconversation.com/does-the-price-of-your-shampoo-affect-how-clean-your-hair-is-heres-the-science-71597

We live in a colorful world. Color matters to us. We care what color our clothes are and what color our walls are painted and what color car we drive. We also love the colors found in nature. We admire the colorful leaves in autumn and a beautiful blue sky. Why do colors matter to us? Are there other colors we just cannot see? Are the colors I see the same ones you see? Joining me to take you on a colorful journey is Adam Rogers, s senior correspondent at Wired and author of the book Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern (https://amzn.to/3hlKmhH).

We are all expected to recycle. After all, it is the right thing to do. However, there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about how recycling works and what you should and should not recycle. What about plastic forks, or plastic grocery bags or loose bottle caps? Should those be recycled? The answer is no for all three. You might also wonder just how much of what we put in our recycle bin actually gets recycled into something else. Listen and be surprised by my guest Jennie Romer. She is an attorney and leading expert on single-use plastics, and she author of the book CAN I RECYCLE THIS? A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics (https://amzn.to/32BfVeS).

How great would it be to find something stored away in your attic or basement that is actually valuable? Listen as I reveal some items that could actually be in your home that you could turn into cash. Source: Brian Kathenes author of Betcha Didn’t Know That! (https://amzn.to/3xaJn9A)

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With all the advances in automobile technology, it seems they still haven’t solved the problem of that terrible thumping noise that happens when you are driving with one of the back windows rolled down. Listen as I explain why it happens in almost every car. https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/wind-buffeting-how-to-stop-it/

Like it or not, we are all delusional. Interestingly, it turns out to be a good thing – for the most part That’s according Stuart Vyze, a behavioral scientist, teacher and author of a book called The Uses of Delusion: Why It’s Not Always Rational to be Rational (https://amzn.to/3HhzJG7). Stuart reveals why being just a bit delusional helps us all in ways you never imagined. 

We humans may be at the top of the food chain but certainly not without our flaws. Particularly, physical flaws. Vision problems, back pain, foot trouble and more are rampant throughout the world’s population. Are people just designed poorly, or maybe we haven’t yet evolved into the creatures we will one day be? That’s what I discuss with Alex Bezzerides. Alex is a professor of biology and author of the book Evolution Gone Wrong: The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don’t) (https://amzn.to/3I2WS1P). Listen as Alex takes you on an journey into the world of human evolution and reveals why we are built the way we are and what we may become one day in the future.

Your silverware gets beaten up over time and can come out of the dishwasher looking less than sparkly. Listen to this very simple tip I saw on a TikTok video that will make your silverware look better than it has looked in a long time. https://www.rd.com/article/aluminum-foil-dishwasher-hack/

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Are the things in your kitchen laid out efficiently? We often place kitchen items randomly – or wherever they fit. This episode begins with a quick little test you can do that could ultimately save you hours in the kitchen. Source: Mary Collette Rogers author of Take Control of Your Kitchen (https://amzn.to/4bGts7q).

What does it mean to be mentally healthy? Is it possible to have outstanding mental health or are we all a bit flawed? To get a better understanding about your mental health, I’d like you to listen to Camilla Nord. She leads the Mental Health Neuroscience Lab at the University of Cambridge and she is author of the book The Balanced Brain – The Science of Mental Health (https://amzn.to/3SK1IpA). She offers some great insight into how a mentally healthy brain handles the ups and downs of life.

Just because you remember something doesn’t mean that is how it happened. While the human memory is amazing and serves us well, it can be amazingly inaccurate. The fact is you forget a lot more than you remember and over time those memories blur, fade and distort. Yet without your memory, you wouldn’t be able to function. To bring this all into focus is Charan Ranganath. He is a professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis and author of the book Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters (https://amzn.to/42Lp8zt)

Is it true that having a large and bold signature says something about your personality? Maybe so according to a study of 605 bosses with big signatures. Listen as I explain why working for one of those types of bosses might be challenging. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2275180/Does-boss-sign-flourish CEOs-big-signatures-likely-narcissists-study-reveals.html

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When you drink something and start choking, people often say, “Oh it must’ve gone down the wrong pipe.” This episode begins by explaining what the wrong pipe is and why it’s there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsz2Od5jDQ

A lot of health advice is just plain wrong. Myths abound when it comes to taking care of yourself. Here to explode some of those myths and offer some sound advice on your health is Dr. Karan Rajan. He is a surgeon who has millions of followers on social media where he dispenses solid, high quality health advice. He is also author of the book, This Book May Save Your Life: Everyday Health Hacks to Worry Less and Live Better (https://amzn.to/48fnVlh). Listen as he offers suggestions on maintaining your gut, your heart, your nose and ears and so much more. Here is a link to his YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrKaran

All of us frequently find ourselves in conflict with other people. You can’t escape it but you can get better at dealing with the conflict. Joining me to offer some excellent advice on just how to do that is Jayson Gaddis He is one of the world’s leading authorities on interpersonal conflict. For almost two decades, Jayson has helped individuals, couples, and teams get to the bottom of their deepest conflicts. Jayson is author of the book Getting to Zero: How to Work Through Conflict in Your High-Stakes Relationships (https://amzn.to/3Uzll6k).

Heating your home in the winter can be very expensive. One big reason is that a lot of your expensive heat leaks out. Listen as I reveal some of the places heat seeps out that you may not realize. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/lifestyle/home/where-heat-leaves-your-house/index.html

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Gotta big decision to make? Before you make it, you might want to wash your hands first. This episode begins with the explanation for why it is such a good idea. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/100506-health-brain-wash-hands-choices-decisions#

Can you really smell fear from someone ? Why do some odors make you feel sick while others are extremely pleasant? Why do some smells trigger vivid memories? These are just some of the questions I tackle with Jude Stewart author of the book Revelations in Air: A Guidebook to Smell (https://amzn.to/3Jxae55) . When you hear what she has to say, you will have renewed respect for your sense of smell. 

You often hear people talk about being “burned out.” What does that mean? Is burnout a real thing or just a vague complaint. What are the actual symptoms? Perhaps most importantly, what causes burnout and what is the cure? For some important insight into all of this, listen to my guest, Jonathan Malesic. He was once a tenured professor who got burned out. So, he quit. Afterwards he studied burnout and wrote a terrific book about it called The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives (https://amzn.to/354CJID). If you have ever felt burned out, you need to hear this conversation. 

“Listen to your gut.” That is common advice for people who have an important decision to make. Is it good advice or are there situations when your gut instinct may lead you down the wrong path? Listen as I discuss this. Source: Wray Herbert author of On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits (https://amzn.to/3I1PPVl)

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The concept of body language is based on the idea that what you do with certain body parts sends a message to other people. This apparently holds true for your belly button. Today’s episode begins by explaining what message your belly button sends to others and what theirs sends to you. Source : Source: Janine Driver author of You Say More Than You Think (https://amzn.to/3SPYVwt)

Have you ever eaten food when you weren’t actually hungry? Or continued to eat even though you were full – and then regretted it? I imagine we all have. What if there was a way to stop that and actually enjoy the food you eat even more? That’s what you are going to hear from Dr. Jud Brewer. He is a professor at Brown University’s School of Public Health author of the book The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop (https://amzn.to/49sbiEw). If you have ever eaten for a reason other than hunger, you need to hear what he has to say. His app is called Eat Right Now and is available wherever you get your apps.

Generally, people don’t understand how randomness or coincidences really work and how they affect predictions we make about our own futures. It seems that coincidences happen a lot more often than you think and randomness doesn’t look as random as you would expect. How all this works together is fascinating as you will hear from my guest Kit Yates. He is a senior lecturer of mathematical science in the UK and author of the book How to Expect the Unexpected: The Science of Making Predictions―and the Art of Knowing When Not To (https://amzn.to/3Ur3PRM).

Kit Yates' last appearance here was episode 362 about the math of life and death. Hear it here https://www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/362-the-interesting-math-of-life-and-death-understanding-the-science-of-consciousness/

Back in 2008 a list came out from Oxford University of the 10 most overused and despised words and phrases in the English language. Listen as I tell you what they are and hear how familiar they still sound 16 years later. https://www.wired.com/2008/11/oxford-research/

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Kissing has a lot of benefits you likely never knew. And it appears that the more you kiss – the more the benefits. This episode begins with several really good reasons why you should kiss someone more often. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/opinion/the-kiss-of-life.html

People who have their own business are often revered. Being an entrepreneur is considered a worthy accomplishment. And many people think it is the best path to career success. Is it though? While there are certainly perks to being self-employed, there are also some dangers and pitfalls. Joining me to explain the good and the bad of owning your own business is Benjamin Waterhouse He is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of the book, One Day I'll Work for Myself: The Dream and Delusion That Conquered America (https://amzn.to/3OyaOV5).

Creativity is often misunderstood. Just because something is different or unusual doesn’t make it creative. And have you ever wondered what is the difference between creativity and innovation? Can you make yourself more creative? These are just a few of the questions I discuss with Barry Kudrowitz. He is a professor of product design at the University of Minnesota and has taught toy design for over a decade. In fact, he co-designed a Nerf toy amongst other things. Barry is the author of the book Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design (https://amzn.to/484SlXg).

Space heaters can be extremely useful in the cold winter months, but they can also be a serious hazard. If you use a space heater to stay warm, listen as I reveal some important precautions that will keep you safe. https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/how-to-safely-run-your-space-heater/

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