Something You Should Know

We 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-scienceOne 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you get angry, it seems normal to also get upset and maybe start yelling at whoever made you mad. Bad idea. This episode begins with a discussion how on to use anger constructively, so you get what you want without everyone being mad at each other. Source: Thomas A. Schweich, author of Staying Power (https://amzn.to/34Qrb85).You and I can look at the same thing and see it differently. You look at the world through filters and biases and I see the same world through my filters and biases. So we each have our own perception of the world and so does everyone else. What is so interesting is we seldom think about that. We tend to believe there is this objective reality – the world is the way it is and everyone sees the same thing. But that’s not so, according to Dennis Profitt, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of the book Perception: How Our Bodies Shape Our Minds (https://amzn.to/3nPNhjI). Listen as he explains why you have your unique perceptions and why they are different from everyone else’s. How much time do you spend on your cellphone every day? Probably a lot. For many of us, our cellphones are our constant companion. You probably stop and interact with your phone many times a day. So it is safe to say you have a relationship with that phone. Here to discuss how to manage and improve that relationship is Tchiki Davis, PhD. Tchiki is a technology consultant who writes the Click Here for Happiness blog for Psychology Today and she is author of Outsmart Your Smartphone: Conscious Tech Habits for Finding Happiness, Balance, and Connection IRL (https://amzn.to/2GQwxIa) When was the last time you sent someone a handwritten note? If it has been a while, you need to hear why you need to start doing that again. It turns out the handwritten note can be very powerful when done correctly. https://www.handwrytten.com/resources/the-power-of-handwritten-notes/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People will be more attracted to you if you appear confident. So this episode begins with short list of things you can do easily that will make you feel and appear as confident as possible. http://www.askmen.com/money/body_and_mind_150/173_better_living.htmlKind and nice are two words that are often used interchangeably but they don’t mean the same thing. Truly being kind is a lot harder and riskier and has a much greater chance of making the world a better place. Listen as I speak with Houston Kraft, author of the book called Deep Kindness A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness (https://amzn.to/2SFKPhj) as he explains what it means to be kind and how it can change the world. When driving, you probably don’t think much about turning left – but left-hand turns are amazingly dangerous. Listen as I explain why avoiding left hand turns is a good idea whenever possible and why it is rare to see a UPS truck turn left. https://www.friedgoldberg.com/blog/how-left-hand-turns-affect-road-safety/ We hear a lot today about how we should “Trust the science!” So what does that really mean? What is science anyway? What makes something “scientific.” Someone who is well equipped to answer that is James C. Zimring, M.D. and Ph.D. in Immunology and professor of pathology at the University of Virginia. He is also author of the book, What Science Is and How It Really Works (https://amzn.to/2GNQQWA). Listen as he explains how science is used and sometimes misused to explain the world and why so many people don’t trust science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every time 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. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/restaurant-lighting-calories-music_n_1841077People in marriages and 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) 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. https://etiquettedaily.com/index.php/2018/07/24/where-to-wear-a-name-badge-right-or-left/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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sandwich has been around for thousands of years in some form or another. Do you know how many sandwiches the average person eats in a year? Or why some sandwiches are called subs? Listen as I explain some fascinating facts about sandwiches to kickoff this episode. https://allthatsinteresting.com/sandwich-historyYou have no doubt contemplated questions like: Why am I here? Or what is my purpose? Will my life really matter? What legacy will I leave? Listen as I delve into these and other questions with one of my favorite guests, Brian Greene. Brian is a theoretical physicist, mathematician, professor at Columbia University and authored several books. His latest is Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe (https://amzn.to/2GsvlKO). If you have ever pondered the meaning of life, you will want to hear what Brian has to say. Whenever you are trying to convince someone of something, there is one key ingredient that will make the process a lot easier. And a lot of people miss this completely. Listen as I explain what it is. Source: Mark Magnacca author of So What (https://amzn.to/3cT1De3)Why do we often run to hug people we haven’t seen in a while? Why do we walk slowly when we are sad? And this is really interesting – Parkinson’s patients tend to move slowly but they don’t have to. They could move faster and will move faster if there is a reason to. So what is going on here? What controls the speed at which we move?  Reza Shadmehr is a professor of biomedical engineering and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of the book Vigor: Neuroeconomics of Movement (https://amzn.to/3ladKpP) and he joins me to discuss this fascinating connection between what is going on in your brain that determines how quickly or slowly you move and why it is important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The power of the human mind is amazing. This episode begins with a fascinating example of that. It turns out that how people feel about the medication they take determines how well it works. Things like cost, size of the pill and number of doses will influence your recovery. Listen and finds out how. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.htmlThere is sure a lot of talk about innovation. Who doesn’t want to be a great innovator? Interestingly though, there isn’t as much innovation going on as you might think and not all innovation is particularly good. Some innovation is actually destructive. That’s according to Andrew Russell, professor of history and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and co-author of the book, The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most (https://amzn.to/30nuPon). After you hear what he has to say, you may think differently about what innovation really means.Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep. Listen as I explain a simple technique that will help just about anyone fall asleep faster on those nights where sleep does not come easy. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/631357/breathing-technique-helps-you-fall-asleep-fasterHow does your GPS in your car really work? What is 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mean and what is the difference? Why are there dimples on a golf ball. Why does a balloon stick to the wall after you rub it on your head? The answer to all these questions is : PHYSICS! Joining me to explain all these things and more is Dr. Charles Liu, he is an associate professor at the City University of New York and author of the The Handy Physics Answer Book (https://amzn.to/3cTtxqp) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one enjoys 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.htmlHave 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 to something. Henry Timms has explores this in his 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People generically call the dates on food packages, “expiration dates.” However, there are different kinds of expiration dates and they mean different things. This episode begins by sorting out what these different dates really mean. Don’t throw away any food until you hear this explanation. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/do-food-expiration-dates-matter#1There is no one like you and never will be. Why is that? What makes you so unique and different than everyone else? Still, you are a little like your parents and maybe a little your siblings while still being uniquely you. Ever wonder why? Find out when you listen to this fascinating discussion with David Linden, Professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of the book Unique: The New Science of Human Individuality (https://amzn.to/2Sa7S3j)Making a good first impression is so important. There are 5 simple keys to making that good first impression and three ways you can really screw it up. Listen as I explain how to be truly memorable when you meet someone. Source: Mark Mazzarella, co-author of the book "Put Your Best Foot Forward" (https://amzn.to/3372kNz)You have heard all your life that exercise is good for you but do you know exactly how? And how much exercise is necessary to get the benefits? Listen to my conversation with Judy Foreman. She is a journalist who has won more than 50 journalism awards and she is author of 3 books including Exercise is Medicine: How Physical Activity Boosts Health and Slows (https://amzn.to/2Ge4VMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may be a good driver but there are a lot of bad ones out there. So how do you protect yourself from those people? This episode begins with some interesting intel on where and how serious traffic accidents happen and how to avoid them. Source: Reader’s Digest & author of an article titled “How Good Drivers Get Killed” Your neighborhood grocery store is a fascinating place. Did you know, for example, that some of the “fresh produce” could be over a year old? Did you know that selling groceries isn’t the only way your store makes money? Have you ever wondered why a store like Trader Joe’s has such fanatically loyal customers? Benjamin Lorr has taken a peek behind the curtain of the grocery business and you will be fascinated by what you hear in our discussion. Benjamin is the author of The Secret Life of Groceries (https://amzn.to/2RVd0Iy).Have you heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth? Listen and find out if that could possibly be true. http://tristanmed.com/blog/entry/mythbusters-dogs-mouth-cleaner-than-humansIt seems to be human nature to want to know what will happen in the future. That’s why we want experts to predict the stock market or why we try to choose winning lottery numbers. Of course predictions are usually wrong. Most of life is unpredictable. That is why it is pointless to try and predict it. So what’s a better strategy? Here to tell you that is John Kay, a leading British economist and author of the book Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers (https://amzn.to/32WqnP6). He explains how to prepare for the future even though you cannot predict it and he reveals the important difference between risk and uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You obviously know better than to talk on your phone while driving – but you should also tell other people in the car to stay off their phones as well. This episode starts with a discussion on why passenger’s phone conversation can be trouble for the driver. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performanceHow well do you sleep? Before you answer you should know that you may not HAVE the answer. So many people sleep so poorly, they don’t even know what good sleep is – or feels like. For some real insight into how people sleep and how we can all sleep better, listen as I speak with sleep medicine specialist Chris Winter, M.D., author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It (https://amzn.to/2JVEHMd)Anyone who spends time on Facebook knows that feeling of, “Why does everyone else’s life seem so wonderful compared to mine?” There is now research that proves this happens to everyone who goes on Facebook and that actually people’s lives aren’t any better than yours – it just looks that way. Listen and I’ll explain. http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2015/April/040415FaceookStudyDo you know much about virtual reality? You are about to. Peter Rubin, senior editor at Wired magazine knows a lot about it. In fact he is the author of a new book on the topic called Future Presence: How Virtual Reality is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy and the Limits of Ordinary Life (https://amzn.to/2HeLUFD). Peter joins me to explore some of the fascinating and fun parts of virtual reality and also some of the concerns about how it will impact how we humans live our lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices