Something You Should Know

Can certain sounds actually be good for your health? Yes, according to some important research. From a purring cat to the sound of a harp to crashing waves – certain sounds can have a very positive effect. We begin this episode with an explanation of which sounds do what. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/04/harp-music-blood-pressure-icu-patients-pain_n_1734615.htmlSomewhere in your home are some valuable family treasures or heirlooms that mean something special to you. Maybe it’s your mother’s wedding dress, your old record collection or a prized piece of old furniture. The enemy of all these things is time. All these valuables will deteriorate over time if you don’t care for them properly. Joining me with some real help is Don Williams. Don was the senior conservator at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and he is author of the book Saving Stuff… How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions (https://amzn.to/2RWnW6L). No one knows better how to keep your stuff in excellent shape as it marches through time.While Thanksgiving is an important American holiday, much of the story we've been told is made up myth. Peter Mancall, professor of history and anthropology at the University of Southern California is an expert on early America. He joins me to explain the real origins of Thanksgiving, what the first Thanksgiving was really like and how it came to be a national holiday that ended up being celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.While some people seem to like to be touched more than others, physical human touch does seem to have real benefits for everyone. Listen as we explore some of the remarkable, positive effects touching has for children and adults. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-body-connection/201309/why-we-all-need-touch-and-be-touchedThis Week's Sponsors-LinkedIn Talent For $50 off your first job posting go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast-Robinhood Go to http:something.robinhood.com to get your free account and receive a share of stock!-BetterHelp For 10% off your first month of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/something, promo code SOMETHING-Stitch Fix For an additional 25% off when you keep all the items in your box go to www.StitchFix.com/something-Madison Reed For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The evidence is pretty clear that in order to be productive and to do excellent work, you need to take breaks. You can’t just work non-stop. But when is the best time to take a break? I begin this episode by telling you EXACTLY when to take a break for optimum performance. http://www.menshealth.com/best-time-for-breakThere’s a pretty good chance you have at least one or two pairs of blue jeans – and maybe many more in lots of other colors! Jeans are the iconic American garment and have been for decades. Even as fashions and trends have come and gone there has always been a place for jeans. So where did they come? Why have they lasted? And what exactly is denim anyway – how is it different from other fabrics? Journalist James Sullivan, author of the book, Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (https://amzn.to/2DGD45j) joins me to take you on an historical journey from Italy to the American west to a John Wayne movie set to explain the story of blue jeans. I bet there is someone famous or rich or super successful you would love to meet and maybe even get their advice –right? But you probably never tried because you figured they would never respond and it would be a complete waste of time. And maybe it would be. And then again, maybe not. Listen as I tell a story of a regular guy with no connections who got a lot of very important people to talk to him and exactly how he did it. https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-schedule-a-phone-call-with-a-billionaire/answer/Daniel-L-JacobsYou have got to hear science writer Marcus Chown explain why over 99% of your DNA isn’t yours or how you could squeeze the entire human race into a space the size of a sugar cube or why the moon is actually hurtling towards earth – constantly! Marcus is author of the new book, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand – 50 Wonders That Reveal an Extraordinary Universe (https://amzn.to/2OKnczM) and he joins me to explain some scientific facts that will absolutely amaze you. This Week's SponsorsCalming Comfort Blanket. For 15% off the posted price of this incredible blanket to help you sleep better, go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com and use the promo code SOMETHING.-SimpliSafe Home Security.  For great home security with no contracts or hidden fees go to www.Simplisafe.com/something-LinkedIn Marketing Solutions. To redeem a free $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to www.LinkedIn.com/SOMETHINGMadison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingJet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com Lincoln. To learn more about the Lincoln MKC go to www.Lincoln.com/wondery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret to a happy life? Probably the best people to ask are people who say they are happy. So we begin this episode by revealing what happy people say is what makes them so happy. John Izzo, author of The 5 Secrets You Must Know Before You Die (https://amzn.to/2DdJDLA)Probably the one word you hear more than any other throughout your life is –NO! For some people no means no but for others it means something else entirely. BJ Gallagher, author of the book Yes Lives in the Land of No (https://amzn.to/2JXlPNh) offers some great advice for handling the word no when people tell you that you can’t have or do something. Since you will hear NO a lot for the rest of your life – this is worth listening to.Who doesn’t love going to a live concert? And yet when you really dissect the experience, it is probably not as good as we tell ourselves it is. I’ll reveal what one writer has to say about the concert-going experience that you may not have thought about before. (http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a39525/live-music-overrated/)We humans need people. We are social creatures. We thrive with others. Yet many of us are alone and isolated with few, if any friends. Someone who is very concerned about this is Radha Agrawal, who is an entrepreneur, investor, inventor, speaker, and community builder. She founded Daybreaker a grassroots, early-morning dance phenomenon that is now in over 25 countries. She is also author of the book Belong: Find Your People Create Community and Live a More Connected Life https://amzn.to/2DfaczU. Radha explains not only why friends are important but how and where to go and find them. This Week's Sponsors-SimpliSafe Home Security.  For great home security with no contracts or hidden fees go to www.Simplisafe.com/somethingCalming Comfort Blanket. For 15% off the posted price of this incredible blanket to help you sleep better, go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com and use the promo code SOMETHING.-LinkedIn Marketing Solutions. To redeem a free $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to www.LinkedIn.com/SOMETHINGMadison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingJet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com Lincoln. To learn more about the Lincoln MKC go to www.Lincoln.com/wondery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you really need to get a physical exam every year? We begin this episode by exploring who should and maybe who should not get an annual check-up and why. http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/theres-no-evidence-you-need-annual-physical-exam-say-doctorsYour unconscious mind affects your thoughts and behaviors in ways you can’t imagine. That is the message from John Bargh, Yale professor of psychology and author of the book Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do (https://amzn.to/2JLKN2b). For example, feeling physically warm actually makes you more socially warm; feeling fear makes you think more politically conservative – it’s just amazing. Listen as professor Bargh takes you on a tour of your unconscious mind.  A lot of things can get messy in your kitchen – from lingering cooking smells to fruit flies and a million other things. Listen as I reveal some great ways to solve common kitchen problems you probably haven’t heard before. http://food52.com/blog/14173-7-kitchen-cleaning-tricks-that-really-workHow did Facebook, Amazon, Google and other big companies get so big so fast? The answer is “blitzscaling.” It is a recent phenomenon in business that was named and identified by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and entrepreneur Chris Yeh in their new book Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies (https://amzn.to/2D4HW33). Chris Yeh joins me to explain how blitzscaling works and others in business can use the same principles. This Week's SponsorsCare/Of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and use the promo code SOMETHING  Home Chef. Go to www.HomeChef.com/something to get $30 off your first order. Madison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingJet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In most places around the world, Siri comes with a female voice by default. Of course you can change it but most people don’t. This is true for most other voiced-based computer programs. Why? We begin this episode with the fascinating reasons why most people prefer their devices sound female. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a18018/why-is-siri-a-female-voice/Human nature – it is a collection of things we humans tend to do by default. Robert Greene, author of the bestseller The Laws of Human Nature (https://amzn.to/2yQtqZy) takes you on a fascinating journey into why we do the things we do and why these tendencies we have often get in the way of our happiness and success. There are 18 laws of human nature and Robert will explain how to use them to your advantage and how to counter them when they work against you. What could be simpler and more satisfying than a grilled cheese sandwich? Most of us have been eating them since we were kids. Actually though, there is some science and technique to making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich and a lot of it has to do with the cheese you select. Which is best? Listen and find out. http://www.businessinsider.com/science-making-grilled-cheese-2015-11Household recycling has become habit for many people. We just do it because – well that’s what good citizens do. What you may not know is that there are a lot of problems with recycling. In fact a lot of what you recycle probably NEVER gets recycled. Instead it ends up in a landfill with all the other garbage. Beth Porter is an expert on the subject and she is author of the book Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Sorting Out the Recycling System (https://amzn.to/2JCkknD) . Beth joins me to reveal what’s wrong with recycling and what everyone can do to make the whole system work better and more efficiently.This Week's SponsorsCare/Of Vitamins. For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins go to www.TakeCareOf.com and use the promo code SOMETHING  Home Chef. Go to www.HomeChef.com/something to get $30 off your first order. Madison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingJet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is released a few days before most people in the U.S. change their clocks back to standard time. And each time we change the clocks, people complain about all the bad things that result from that. Well, there are some good things as well. So I begin with some of those and the reasons behind daylight savings time that you may not know or understand. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a18011/in-defense-of-daylight-saving-time/When you get a bad grade on your report card in school, you know that is a subject you really need to work on. But is that a good strategy in real life? Will you be more successful if you try to get better at the things you don’t like or do very well with or are you better served by focusing on those things that you are already good at and enjoy? Business consultant Marcus Buckingham, author of the book The One Thing You Need to Know (https://amzn.to/2SAJiHS) reveals why it is so important to identify your strengths and weaknesses and offers advice that will lead you to success.  Got a bunch of Halloween candy in your house? Well, you could eat it or take it to work or you could do something to help our troops. Listen and I’ll explain how – and it’s very easy. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-3500-calories-candy. The website mentioned is www.operationgratitude.comIt’s a bit of a mystery why so many more people today struggle with body weight than in previous generations. With some interesting answers and strategies is Stephan Guyenet, a neuroscientist and author of the book The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Makes Us Overeat (https://amzn.to/2JvirZW). Stephan explains exactly what it is that makes it so hard to resist some foods and the amazingly simple solutions to stop overeating in the first place. The instinct to eat is strong. However, you can overcome the instinct to OVER eat by following his advice. This Week's SponsorsHotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking.Jet.com For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The weather can affect your buying decisions without you realizing it. That can be a big factor when you buy a big ticket item like a house or a car. This episode begins with an explanation of why and how the weather impacts such important decisions and why you are more likely to buy a convertible on a sunny day even though it may be a terrible idea. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-effect-of-weather-on-purchasing-decisions-2012-11You have a personality – right? Well actually, more than one. Science writer Rita Carter author of the book The People You Are: The New Science of Personality (https://amzn.to/2D6RHON) reveals how we all have multiple personalities which all come out in different situations. While it may seem like you simply have different facets of your core personality, Rita explains why it is more complicated than that. Everyone reading this has tried to make a significant change in their life – and failed! Change is hard however there are some ways to make the process easier and more effortless according to James Clear author of the book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones https://amzn.to/2ELIcq0. James’s work on the subject of personal change and habits has appeared in the New York Times, CBS This Morning among others. He joins me to explain how anyone can make big changes that stick. James website is www.JamesClear.com“Out of the box” and “move the needle” are examples of common business jargon that we can probably do without. This episode concludes with a list of words and phrases people use in business that are unnecessary, vague and often pointless. There are usually better ways to say the same thing. https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/20-corporate-phrases-that-make-you-sound-really-boring.htmlThis Week's SponsorsHotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking.Jet.com For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all have those times when we are stressed and need to chill out. So I begin this episode with some proven simple and easy ways to reduce anxiety and stress instantly – and one way is so easy all you have to do is listen a hit song from 1972. https://us.ditchthelabel.org/101-ultimate-ways-chill-reduce-stress/Most of your communication is probably virtual – email, text, telephone, etc. And as you and probably everyone else has learned, virtual communication can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstandings which in turn can lead to real trouble. Communication expert Nick Morgan, author of the book, Can You Hear Me? How to Connect with People in a Virtual World (https://amzn.to/2D2RPyL) joins me to discuss the pitfalls of virtual communication and how to avoid them so you stay out of trouble.With Halloween approaching I thought it would be fun to uncover the stories behind some of the classic Halloween candy. I am partial to Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and I am sure you have your favorites as well. Candy expert Darlene Lacey, author of the book, Classic Candy (https://amzn.to/2EImfs3) explains the fascinating stories of how many of these iconic candies came to be, where their names came from and why we tend to like the same candy as our parents and grandparents did.Speaking of sweets, why is it that some people prefer sweet snacks while others like salty? And still others like both? We wrap up this episode with the science of sweet and salty and why they are so satisfying. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/why-some-people-have-a-sweet-toothThis Week’s SponsorsRobinhood. Go to something.robinhood.com to get your free account and receive a share of stock!Home Chef. Go to www.HomeChef.com/something to get $30 off your first order. Madison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingHotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking.The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations.Jet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com Stroke of Genius podcast. Listen at Apple podcast or at IPOEF.ORG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you don’t play a musical instrument – maybe you should. This is especially true if you are outgoing and an extrovert. It seems that your personality can predict with great accuracy, how much musical skill and talent you have. We begin this episode by exploring that. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/uoc-hyg101315.phpWhile you are probably aware of how some body language clues work, you are about to get a much better and deeper understanding of it and how you can use it to improve your communication skills. Joe Navarro was a special agent for the FBI for 25 years and he is author of the book What Every Body is Saying https://amzn.to/2CWKSiR Listen and be amazed at how nonverbal communication really works.There was a golden age of corporate slogans. It was the 60s and 70s. That’s when you flew “the friendly skies” of United or “you deserved a break today” at McDonalds or when you used Fed Ex because it “absolutely, positively had to be there overnight.” Those and many other corporate taglines were an important part of their brand. Now do you know the United Airlines, McDonalds or FedEx taglines are today? Marketing executive Steve Cone joins me to make the case that taglines – or slogans – are important and he explains why. Steve is author of the book Powerlines: Words that Sell Brands, Grip Fans and Sometimes Change History https://amzn.to/2Cs38zJNext time you are in your kitchen, stand there are look around to see just how much food you see. Is it in the fridge and cabinets or is there a lot of food out on the counter? I’m going to explain why it matters especially if you are concerned about your body weight. http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/OP/Kitchen_CountersThis Week’s SponsorsRobinhood. Go to something.robinhood.com to get your free account and receive a share of stock!Home Chef. Go to www.HomeChef.com/something to get $30 off your first order. Madison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingHotel Tonight. Download the app Hotel Tonight to your phone and get $25 off your first eligible booking.The Lodge at Woodloch. $50 resort credit off any 2-night stay at The Lodge at Woodloch when mentioning promo code SOMETHING by calling 800-966-3562, Option 2, then Option 1 for reservations.Jet.com. For a great online shopping experience go to www.Jet.com Stroke of Genius podcast. Listen at Apple podcast or at IPOEF.ORG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you get ready to make a salad and you rinse the lettuce and carrots and tomatoes under the faucet for a few seconds. Does that really get rid of the pesticides and bacteria? We explore that very important question and you really need to hear the answer. http://www.menshealth.com/how-to-wash-produceDo you understand the difference between pleasure and happiness? It’s an important distinction because the more pleasure you seek, the less happy you become. That’s the contention of Dr Robert Lustig, author of The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains https://amzn.to/2yp2xMf. Dr. Lustig sees some troubling developments in our quest for pleasure and I think you’ll be interested in what he has to say.It’s become a cliché to say that great ideas come in the shower. But the fact is – they do! And there is actually a psychological explanation for why that is. We begin this episode with a look at the reason for this common experience. http://mentalfloss.com/article/52586/why-do-our-best-ideas-come-us-showerNobody likes failure – but maybe we should all rethink that. Failure turns out to have a silver lining – and not just in the way that “Every cloud has a silver lining.” Chris Gethard is a pretty successful stand-up comedian who has written a book about failure called Lose Well https://amzn.to/2CpJcgz. Although Chris has had some clearly successful moments (his own HBO special and his own sitcom on Comedy Central for example) he has also had some colossal failures. He joins me to discuss why failure is inevitable and really something to be celebrated on your journey to success.This Week's SponsorsLinkedIn Talent. To find the right person for the job and get $50 off your first job post, go to www.Linkedin.com/somethingSimplisafe. For amazing home security at a great price go to www.simplisafe.com/somethingGlip. Sign up for your FREE GLip account now and support this podcast by going to www.Glip.com/somethingLinkedIn Marketing Solutions. For your free $100 ad credit to launch your first campaign go to www.Linkedin.com/somethingMadison Reed. For 10% off plus free shipping on your first order go to www.Madison-Reed.com/somethingJet.com. For a great online shopping experience like no other go to www.jet.comHotel Tonight. To get $25 off your first eligible booking download the Hotel Tonight app and use the promo code something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices