Something You Should Know

Major storms all get names: Milton, Katrina, Ian, Sandy etc. Why do we name storms? Do the names of storms ever get used again for other storms? Find out as we start this episode with a brief look at the tradition of naming major storms. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-do-hurricanes-get-their-names-who-chooses-and-why-list/

What is it that makes us human and separates us from all the other animals on the planet? The answer will surprise you because a lot of characteristics you may think are uniquely human are not. Yet there are other things that do make us unique that you may have never considered. Here to sort it all out and make you think differently about what it means to be a human is Adam Rutherford. He is a science writer, broadcaster, and author of the book The Book of Humans: A Brief History of Culture, Sex, War, and the Evolution of Us (https://amzn.to/3YsxLyF)

At some point our ancestors stopped grunting and started using words to communicate. And those words started to affect how we think. So, how did that all happen? Where did our words come from? Why do some words seem so arbitrary while other words sound like the word they are describing? All this is what Steven Mithen is here to discuss. He is an archaeologist and professor of early prehistory at the University of Reading. He has written more than 200 hundred articles and books, his latest book is called The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved (https://amzn.to/4dDd8E1).

People have theories of what should and should never be put down the garbage disposal. Consumer Reports actually did some tests and came up with some interesting recommendations. Listen as I reveal if eggshells and chicken bones and a bunch of other things should or should not be put down there. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/garbage-disposals/foods-you-can-cant-put-down-a-garbage-disposal-a1074300549/

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We all tend to want to impress others with our accomplishments or skills or whatever else that makes us exceptional. Yet there is a real problem with trying to appear so exceptional. This episode begins with an explanation. Source: Steve Chandler, author of 50 Ways To Create Great Relationships (https://amzn.to/3e7uIYk).

Are there actually people who have a fear or phobia about buttons? Or popcorn? Of course! People have phobias about lots of things. It sure makes you wonder why. Where do phobias originate? What’s the difference between a fear and phobia? Can you make a phobia disappear or are you stuck with it? Here with a look inside the world of phobias is Kate Summerscale author of The Book of Phobias & Manias : A History of Obsession (https://amzn.to/3e7vjcw).

If you have a dog, you probably think you know your dog well. But maybe not says Alexandra Horowitz. She is a researcher who studies dog behavior and cognition and she is author of the book The Year of The Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves (https://amzn.to/3CmfaYO). She joins me to reveal what dogs really think – or don’t think, how intelligent they are and what we can do to improve our bond with dogs. 

Conventional wisdom is that you should change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. However, that is very OLD conventional wisdom – and totally untrue.  Listen and you will save time, money, and the planet by not changing your oil so often. https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/stop-changing-your-oil.html

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When you are focused on a task, interruptions can be annoying and maddening. Yet, there may be a positive side to interruptions that balance out the negative. This episode begins with some surprising research the suggests there is a silver lining to being interrupted. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210803175253.htm

What determines whether you are an introvert or extrovert? Is one better than the other? Can you change which one you are? Are all introverts shy? These are just a few of the questions I tackle in my conversation with Holley Gerth. Holly hosts the podcast More Than Small Talk (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-small-talk-with-suzanne-holley-jennifer-klrc/id1447539391) and she is also author of the book The Powerful Purpose of Introverts (https://amzn.to/2XEHrJl). Whether you consider yourself an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in the middle, you should hear what she has to say. Holly’s website is www.holleygerth.com

Have you noticed how certain smells and odors can instantly transport you back to a time or place in your past? Why do you like some smells but hate others? Is there any smell that people universally love or hate? Your sense of smell is unlike any other sense you have. And here to help you understand how it works is Ann-Sophie Barwich. She is a cognitive scientist, an empirical philosopher as well as an assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington. She is also author of the book. Smellosophy: What the Nose Tells the Mind (https://amzn.to/2W52jsJ)

Do you know what MAYDAY or SOS really mean? Of course, they are universally known distress signals but is SOS an acronym for something? What does MAYDAY refer to? Unless you know the answer, you will never guess. Listen as I explain the surprising story. https://grammarist.com/usage/sos-and-mayday/

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Watch a couple hold hands as they stroll own the road. It often seems cute and quaint. But it is more than that. Holding hands has some real benefits. Even monkeys know this. Listen as I explain. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/fashion/05hands.html

You probably like to think you are pretty good at reading people – right? As you talk with someone, you probably think you can generally tell what they are thinking or where their head is at. Well, what if I told you were not as good as you think you are? What if it turns out that reading body language or trying to "put yourself in someone else’s shoes" are actually pretty lousy strategies? What if there is a much better – almost full-proof technique to know what someone is thinking? This is what Nicholas Epley is here to discuss. He is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of the book, Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want (https://amzn.to/3BuU6SY)

Who hasn’t played with LEGO bricks? They have been around for decades. So, how does a low-tech, simple LEGO brick compete in the world of high-tech video games and other electronic distractions? The answer is: VERY WELL! Lego is a phenomenon that started from a transatlantic phone call in 1954 to a cultural phenomenon today. And the story of LEGO is truly a fascinating one. Joining me to tell it is Daniel Konstanski, the US Editor for Blocks Magazine (https://blocksmag.com/) and author of a book The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks: The Story of a Design Icon (https://amzn.to/3Y8E8qE).

When you are sad, it can affect your vision. You may not see things the same as you would if you were happy. That may sound odd, but listen as I explain. https://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2010/07/22/feeling-blue-seeing-gray#google_vignette

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When someone first sees you, what impression do they get? What image do you project? It’s important to think about this if you want to be persuasive. This episode begins by looking at how people judge you, your ideas, opinions and recommendations. And so much of it has to do with who you present yourself to be. Source: Robert Mayer author of the book Power Plays (https://amzn.to/3BWHKzy).

Do you ever wish you were better at setting boundaries with others? If you can accomplish it, the benefits are tremendous and it can make your life much more enjoyable.  And it may not be as difficult as you think says my guest Melissa Urban who is an expert on setting boundaries. Melissa is author of The Book of Boundaries: End Resentment, Burnout, and Anxiety –and Reclaim Your Time, Energy, Health, and Relationships. (https://amzn.to/3BVoxOF). Listen as Melissa explains how to set boundaries with people without offending them. You’ll hear actual scripts to say to make it easy for you to do.

When it comes to making big decisions in life, the problem is often not making the wrong decision – it is making no decision at all. We put off deciding and either never decide or decide too late. Joining me on today’s episode with some wonderful advice on this is Dr. Neil Shortland. He is an expert on military decision making and has worked with the Department for Defense and National Institute for Justice. He’s also served as an international expert on security and has been an expert witness on court cases involving decision making. Neil is author of the book Decision Time: How to Make the Choices Your Life Depends On (https://amzn.to/3Ef7fPc).

Your sleep environment has a big impact on how well and how much you sleep. Listen as I share one simple thing you can do tonight before you go to bed that will help you sleep so much better. is. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/09/clean-crisp-bedding-brings-comfort-like-nothing-else

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“You should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day!” Well, wait a second. That advice is about 80 years old and frankly doesn’t really “hold water.” This episode begins by explaining how much water you really should drink and how some people might actually be drinking too much. https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/medical-myths-drink-8-glasses-water-each-day

Every cell in your body apparently has a little clock built into it. These clocks know when you should sleep, when you should get up, when you do your best work and more. The whole system is called you circadian rhythms and you are about to take an interesting journey into how they work so that you can understand your personal circadian rhythms and how to optimize them. Here to explain it is Lynne Peeples. She is science journalist and former staff reporter at The Huffington Post. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Scientific American, Nature and other publications. Lynne is also author of the book, The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (https://amzn.to/3XJWcWx)

Do you know who built the first internal combustion engine-powered car? And when? Have you ever wondered why American cars look so different (and bigger) than most European cars? Whatever happened to the station wagon? Here to explore these questions and explain some of the amazing history of the automobile is Witold Rybczynski. He is an architect and emeritus professor of urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He has written 21 books with his latest being The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car (https://amzn.to/3BlWCuN).

Can dogs or cats be vegetarian or even vegan? It is a growing trend but is it the right thing to do as a pet owner? This episode begins with some thoughts on this. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-07/can-your-pet-become-vegan/10969616

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Groceries are expensive. So, if you would like a simple yet effective technique to cut your grocery bill down, listen to the start of this episode to discover exactly how. Source: Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko (https://amzn.to/3ZKjVs6).

For decades many of us have looked forward to flying cars, real human-like robots, smart cities, driverless cars and other technologies. Yet, they just never quite seem to get here. Why is that? Well, that is exactly what Nicole Kobie is here to explain and discuss. Nicole is a technology and science journalist and a contributing editor for Wired. She is author of the book The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow's Technology Still Isn't Here (https://amzn.to/3Bg3z0d).

It is hard to imagine life without your teeth. You use them to eat, to talk and they are an important part of your appearance. Still, some animals have no teeth while other creatures grow new ones when the old ones fall out. There is a lot you likely don’t know about teeth that I know you will find fascinating when you listen to my guest, Bill Schutt. He is a zoologist and author of six books. His research has been published in Natural History magazine, The New York Times, Newsday, the Economist, and Discover. His latest book is titled, Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans (https://amzn.to/3zvSVSK).

Paying down your debt is considered good for your financial health. It appears to also be good for your physical health. Listen as I reveal some interesting research that shows the health benefits of lowering the amount you owe. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2013/08/high-debt-could-be-hazardous-to-your-health/

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iPhone users have likely noticed that some texts show up in blue and some show up in green. What’s the difference? This episode begins by explaining why that happens and what it means. https://www.rd.com/article/why-are-my-texts-green/

Have you heard the expression “time poverty”? It’s when you have too much to do and never enough time to do it. Why live in time poverty when you can live in “time affluence”. Cassie Holmes is here to tell you how. She is a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at UCLA Anderson School of Management and author of the book Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most (https://amzn.to/3QOReSV). Listen as she explains how to get the important things done and still have time for fun and pleasure.

Is salt really all that bad for you? Do vegetarians actually live longer? Are sugar substitutes better than plain sugar? These are just some of the questions I explore with my guest Tim Spector. He is a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and the author of four books, including, Spoon-Fed: Why Almost Everything We’ve Been Told About Food Is Wrong (https://amzn.to/3xQ77lB).Tim is on the advisory board of Zoe.com, a company that does research and offers personal nutrition (https://www.joinzoe.com)

A lot of people wear the same shoes every day. There is a problem with that. Listen as I explain why the experts say you might want to think about rotating your shoes. Your feet will appreciate it. https://blog.schulershoes.com/can-i-wear-the-same-shoes-every-day/

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How is your posture right now? If your shoulders are slouched, you are sending a message to others that you probably don’t want to send. I start this episode by discussing how your posture speaks volumes – good and bad. https://www.jnforensics.com/post/what-the-shoulders-say-about-us

Why do dogs seem so picky about where they poop? Can cats tell what you are feeling? Does a goldfish memory last only 3 seconds? While we pet owners love our pets, there is a lot we don’t know or understand. Here to reveal many of these mysteries is Eleanor Spicer Rice. She is an entomologist and the author of several nonfiction books, one of which is called Your Pet’s Secret Lives : The Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors (https://amzn.to/3BblxB3).

Your brain is on its own schedule. It does some kind of work better in the morning and other work better later in the day. It’s important to understand this because you may not be scheduling the type of tasks you are doing to coincide with when your brain is at its peak for that kind of work. Joining me to explain how this works is Dr. Mithu Storoni. She is a physician, neuroscience researcher and ophthalmic surgeon who also advises multinational corporations on mental performance and stress management. She is author of a book called Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work (https://amzn.to/3TAAOSd).

It sort of stands to reason that if someone has a big head, they would have a bigger brain and therefore be smarter. But what does the research say about that? Listen as I explore this. I think you will find that the answer is more interesting than you might imagine. https://odditiesbizarre.com/people-with-big-heads/ 

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Ever fake a smile? We all do. What harm can it do? Well, it could do you some harm if you are the one doing the faking. Listen as I reveal the downside of faking a smile. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2011/02/22/study-finds-fake-smile-is-bad-for-business/

While modern medicine is responsible for many miraculous things, there are some blind spots – some blunders. For example, the skyrocketing rate of peanut allergies is primarily due to some bad medical science. Same with over prescribing of antibiotics, the reluctance to prescribe hormone replacement therapy for women – all bad science. And there’s more! You need to be aware of these errors and be armed with the information to protect yourself. Here to provide this alarming data is Dr. Marty Makary. He is Professor at Johns Hopkins and has been a visiting professor at 25 medical schools. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and author of two bestselling books. His newest book, which is already a bestseller is called Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health  (https://amzn.to/4gqSjhP)

Your mother probably told you to always be kind. While that is good advice, it appears that kindness has a more significant impact on you than you ever knew. It’s not just being kind either. Just witnessing kindness has a cascade of effects on you that you need to hear about. So come listen to my guest Dr. David Hamilton. He is the author of 11 books and his latest is called The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck: How Kindness Can Cure Stress and Make You Happy (https://amzn.to/3TxKZHw)

Why do we drink so much cow’s milk? Lots of animals produce milk but cow’s milk is clearly the preferred favorite. Listen as I reveal the amazingly practical reasons for the popularity of cow’s milk. https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2022/03/13/why-do-people-drink-cows-milk/

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