DiscoverSomething You Should Know
Something You Should Know

Something You Should Know

Author: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media

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Sometimes all it takes is one little fact or one little piece of wisdom to change your life forever. That's the purpose and the hope of "Something You Should Know." In each episode, host Mike Carruthers interviews top experts in their field to bring you fascinating information and advice to help you save time and money, advance in your career, become wealthy, improve your relationships and help you simply get more out of life. In addition, Mike uncovers and shares short, engaging pieces of "intel" you can use to make your life better - today. Right now.

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Hot dogs come in packages of ten. Hot dog buns come in packages of eight. Why? Is this some sort of marketing ploy or plot? What could possibly be the reason for this obvious mismatch? This episode begins by revealing the explanation. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a40984485/hot-dogs-buns-packages/ Think of all the batteries you use in a day. A good part of your life is powered by batteries. From your flashlight, all your remotes, your car to your cellphone – all these devices require batteries to function. As necessary as they are, you may not know a lot about batteries. For example, why are there different sizes? Why do batteries seem to last longer than before? Joining me to answer these questions and to reveal the interesting history of battery technology is James Morton Turner, author of the book Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future (https://amzn.to/3QYnR1n). You probably cringe when you see old pictures of yourself because your clothes and hairstyle look so horrible. Why is that? They looked fine at the time the picture was taken. What causes these things to fall in and out of style? It comes down to culture and status. Culture changes over time and so does our desire for status. That’s according to W. David Marx. David is a long-time writer on culture based in Tokyo and he is author of a book called Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion and Constant Change (https://amzn.to/3wNJeub). Listen as he discusses the fascinating connection between status and culture and how they work together to drive changes. Can your morning cup of coffee predict the weather? Maybe, if you know how to read the surface bubbles. Listen as I reveal how those bubbles predict the kind of day you are about to have. https://www.instructables.com/Predict-weather-with-a-cup-of-coffee/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Be careful what you say when someone pays you a compliment. This episode begins with some great advice on the importance of taking a compliment graciously. https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/how-to-accept-a-compliment-with-class/ Is it good to be cynical? After all, cynics claim they see the world and the people in it more accurately – they are not so naïve and trusting as the rest of us. Well, it seems being a cynic has a downside – a BIG downside as you are about to hear from Dr. Jamil Zaki. He is a professor of psychology at Stanford University, the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab and author of the book Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness (https://amzn.to/3XeRfpL). If you or someone you know leans to the cynical side, you need to hear this discussion.  When the pressure is on, it makes any task more difficult. Some people rise to the occasion while others crumble. Why? It has a lot to do with what you are telling yourself. That’s according to my guest Dr. Dana Sinclair who is a psyhologist, clinical assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and founder and partner of Human Performance International. Dana has been working with top athletes in every major sport since 2000. She is author of the book, Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most (https://amzn.to/4dvvW8Y). Moths and bugs seem very attracted to lights at night. You see them fly in circles around a light source and sometimes crash and die into a light or fire. Why do they do that? Listen and I’ll explain the prevailing theories. https://earthsky.org/earth/why-are-moths-attracted-to-flame/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You may never have noticed it, but for many people – maybe you – a full moon can mess with your sleep and cause you to lose sleep. How does that happen? Listen as I explain. https://www.self.com/story/full-moon-sleep Over the last several years, research has uncovered some remarkable benefits of listening to music. Not just vague, “music makes you feel better” benefits – it now appears music can actually treat some illnesses. Neuroscientist Dan Levitin has been looking at this research for several years and joins me to share some exciting news about the powerful, positive health effects of listening to music you like. Dan is author of a book called I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine (https://amzn.to/46QoQcE). Many skills humans have possessed for ages are getting lost. For example, using a map or your sense of direction to find your way somewhere. With GPS people have lost this skill. Solitude. The idea of sitting alone with your thoughts is so uncomfortable, people just reach for their phone to keep them occupied. While technology makes these (and many other skills) no longer necessary, there is a price to pay. Here to explore and explain that is Graham Lee, author of the book, Human Being: Reclaim 12 Vital Skills We’re Losing to Technology (https://amzn.to/46MP53A)  You may have noticed your brain seems sharper at some times more than others. Listen as I explore why it is important to realize when that happens and what to do when it does. David Rock author of “Your Brain At Work” https://amzn.to/4g3Fk5F Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Everyone orders pizza at some point. So, everyone should that there is one size pizza that is a lousy deal almost every time. I begin this episode by revealing a mathematical formula that will save you money on pizza from this day forward. https://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-always-b-1784641566 We could probably all stand to be a little more organized. And here with some rock-solid, proven strategies is David Allen. He is an internationally recognized expert in productivity and organization and author of the book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (https://amzn.to/32Vr6Or). He is here to offer some simple yet powerful ways to be more efficient so you can create more time for the things you enjoy.  You know that feeling when you aren’t performing at your best mentally? That’s called brain fog and a lot of things can cause it like stress, diet and lack of sleep. The bigger issue is it can have long term effects. Joining me to discuss it is Dr. Mike Dow, author of the book The Brain Fog Fix (https://amzn.to/3105nTG). Listen as he explains exactly what brain fog is, how to combat it and how to optimize your brain to perform at its best. Supposedly, a lot of people are walking around right now who are dehydrated. Are you one of them? I have a quick test that will take less than 5 seconds. https://www.livestrong.com/article/507087-should-i-take-vitamin-b-if-dehydrated/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are dogs color blind? Many people believe so, but they are not. They do see color but not the way we do. This episode begins with a look at what colors they can and can’t see and why it is important. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors How you will react in an emergency or disaster is hard to predict. Yet how people react can make the difference between life and death. It’s not just physical preparation but also mental – to think about what you will do. Here to explain the process your brain goes through when an emergency or disaster strikes and offer some suggestions on how to better plan for them is Amanda Ripley. She is a writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications and she is author of the book, The Unthinkable Who Survives When Disaster Strikes--and Why (https://amzn.to/4fGJakN). Some people like their solitude more than others. They cherish their time alone. Yet there is a stigma about solitude. People often think that others who spend a lot of time alone must have something wrong with them or they must be lonely or have no friends. Not necessarily. In the right dose, solitude can be very powerful. Joining me to discuss this is Netta Weinstein is an internationally recognized psychologist and director of the European Research Council's 'Solitude: Alone but Resilient (SOAR)' project. She is also professor of psychology at the University of Reading and an associate researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK. Netta is author of the book Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone (https://amzn.to/3X1XkWf). Your cellphone is crawling with germs – more than you realize. You touch it all the time, you take it everywhere and put it down on all kinds of surfaces. Listen as I reveal how all the junk on your phone can make you sick – and the simple solution to make sure that doesn’t happen. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/quick-dose-is-your-cell-phone-making-you-sick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
So many things can affect the way food and drinks taste. This episode begins with a look at how just one element of the ambience in a room can alter people’s perception of wine – and make cheap wine taste expensive. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215171510.htm With all the talk of how to find happiness, you might think sadness should be avoided at all costs. Yet, you are about to hear about all the benefits of sadness, including the fact that it is a necessary and beneficial emotion. That’s according to David Huron a professor at Ohio State University and author of the book The Science of Sadness: A New Understanding of Emotion. Listen as he explains when a good cry can be helpful or hurtful – and why we cry when we are both sad and happy. After hearing this conversation you won't look at sadness quite the same as you did. (By the way...David is giving away a pdf of his book so you don’t have to buy it. Here is the link https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5772/The-Science-of-SadnessA-New-Understanding-of. If you do want a hard copy, here is the link on Amazon. (https://amzn.to/3yy8cSy) Reality TV – you either love it or hate. Where did it come from? Why is it so popular? How “real” is reality TV or is mostly faked? For a look at the fascinating history and development of reality TV, I am joined by Emily Nussbaum. She is a staff writer and former television critic for The New Yorker. In 2016, she won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Emily is author of the book Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV (https://amzn.to/46GsiGK). Some people put butter on their bread, while others dip it in olive oil. Which is healthier? That turns out to be a tricky question. Listen as I explain why. https://www.foxnews.com/health/tanyas-tasty-tips-olive-oil-or-butter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Look around and you will likely see someone doing something on their cellphone. For many of us, cellphones are a necessity and a constant companion. What about your relationship with your cellphone? This episode begins with a look at how Americans use their cellphone, how often they check it, and how they feel if they don’t have it. You can then compare and see how you fit in with everyone else. https://www.reviews.org/mobile/cell-phone-addiction/ Why are some people overweight? The assumption is that they simply eat too much food and the way to lose weight is to simply eat less. But what if the real answer is not to eat less but to eat BETTER. There is some compelling science to support that, and it is what Mark Schatzker is here to discuss. He is a writer-in-residence at the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center at Yale University and author of the book The End Of Craving : Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well (https://amzn.to/3QPFS1l) People like mysteries. It seems to be human nature that we want to figure out how a magic trick is done or figure how whodunnit in a murder mystery. Think of all the movies, TV shows, books and podcasts that revolve around a mystery - and we want to solve it. Here to explain why mysteries are so appealing and how we can all use mystery to our advantage is Jonah Lehrer. He is a writer journalist and author of the book Mystery: A Seduction, A Strategy, A Solution (https://amzn.to/3QvN6aZ). When you go grocery shopping on a hot summer day, you’ve probably worried about food melting or getting too hot and spoiling in the car on the way home. Is it safe to run another errand or two while the groceries are in the car or is that flirting with danger? Listen and I’ll explain how long the experts say you have to get the food home and into the fridge https://www.budget101.com/frugal-living/598158-how-long-can-groceries-stay-in-a-car/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Does your signature reveal anything about you? Does it send a message to those who see it? I start this episode by sharing some insight into how others may make assumptions about you based on how you sign your name. https://graciousliving.typepad.com/the_write_event/2003/11/what_does_your_.html One reason to spend money is to buy things that make you feel good – and happy. But does a fancier car or another pair of shoes really make you happy? Usually not. After a while, that fancy car is just your car and that pair of shoes you had to have just sit in the closet with all the others. Maybe, if we were more deliberate about what we choose to spend money on, it might really make an impact on our overall happiness. That seems to be the case according to research by my guest Michael Norton who has been investigating how and why people spend their money and what it does and doesn’t do for them. Michael is a professor at Harvard Business school and author of the book Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending (https://amzn.to/3iFzDOq) It can be difficult to set boundaries that other people honor. But if you don’t set boundaries people can take advantage of you and make you feel resentful. So how do you create boundaries people will respect while not being perceived as cold and inflexible? Joining me with some really great advice on this is Terri Cole. She is a licensed therapist, relationship expert and author of the book Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free (https://amzn.to/3AhKXwz). A lot goes on behind the scenes at restaurants that you are totally unaware of. Listen as I reveal the results of a survey taken of restaurant kitchen workers that let some interesting secrets out of the bag regarding the way restaurants work that you likely never knew. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/13-secrets-waiter-tips-menu/story?id=16948508 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s weird sometimes how you meet someone and hear their name is Lucy, for example and think – “Yeah, she kinda looks like a Lucy.” Is that really a thing – do people look like their name? Listen as I reveal some fascinating research on this. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405334121 Tells. They are those little behaviors people have that give them away. You hear about tells in poker, but you can learn to read someone’s tells in everyday life according to my guest Peter Collett. Peter is a social psychologist who has taught at Oxford University and is widely acknowledged as an international expert on communication. He has been called a “grand master of the secret code of fleeting gestures, signs and expressions that give us all away.” He is author of the book, How To Tell What People Are Thinking From the Bedroom to the Boardroom (https://amzn.to/3WVytDM). Listen as he offers some very practical advice on how to read people based on their behavior.  This is a fun topic – EXTREMES! The biggest, the brightest, the stickiest, the loudest, the quietest. We are going to discuss the extremes in many categories with my guest David Darling. He is a science writer, astronomer and author of about 50 books –including Ka-boom!: The Science of Extremes (https://amzn.to/3X5gTgJ). If you have ever wondered what the most poisonous thing or what’s the brightest light on earth, or the slowest thing that actually moves – this will be a fascinating conversation to listen to.  How could it be that a birthday cake will taste better if you sing “Happy Birthday” first? Listen as I explain how this phenomenon and how it works in other areas of life as well. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/to-savor-the-flavor-perform-a-short-ritual-first.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have you ever had a really vivid or even disturbing dream? This episode begins with a look at what often causes very strange and vivid dreams. https://www.livestrong.com/article/13773031-vivid-dreams/ There are huge benefits to being humble. Humility can be an excellent and effective way to build your confidence, strengthen your relationships and achieve success. That’s according to Daryl R. Van Tongeren, an associate professor of psychology at Hope College and author of the book Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World (https://amzn.to/3QCxemC). Listen as Daryl explains how a little humility can go a long way to improving your life. There are lots of stars in the night sky – but do you actually know what a star is? Or where it came from or how it got to be where it is? Maybe you’ve wondered how planets and moons came to be. Or whether there are other planets in space that can sustain life? Here to reveal answers to these and other mysteries is Emily Levesque. She is a professor of astronomy at the University of Washington and author of the book The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers (https://amzn.to/3zQ6oAM). People get pretty casual in the summer when it comes to footwear. Sandals, flip flops and other open-toe shoes are common. Yet there is a problem. Open shoes like that allow your feet to pick up some rather disgusting things that you then you then track into your home. Listen as I explain the problem and a simple solution. Source: Philip Tierno, author of Secret Life of Germs. (https://amzn.to/3Aad3d9) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When your phone or tablet or computer starts acting weird or gets glitchy, the conventional wisdom is to reboot. In other words, turn it off and on again. And usually, the recommendation is to turn it off for at least 10 seconds before turning it back on. Why 10 seconds? Is it really that important? Listen as I reveal the answer. https://www.howtogeek.com/165110/do-i-really-have-to-unplug-my-cable-modem-for-at-least-10-seconds/ So much food gets wasted – especially in the United States. Specifically, 40% of all food in the US goes to waste! How can that be? What’s the problem? There are a lot of factors from the size of your fridge to the demand for “perfect” produce. Yet there is a lot we can all do to help solve the problem with very little effort – and you will save a lot of money in the process. Here to explain how is Kathryn Kellogg, owner and founder of https://www.goingzerowaste.com and author of the book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste (https://amzn.to/3yfHSMV). Insects are an almost constant companion in the summer. Yet most of us don’t know much about them other than the fact that they are annoying. There are millions of species of insects. They travel all over the world. Do they do the world any good? What’s the difference between an insect and a bug? How long do they live? Why should we care about them? All of those questions and more are tackled by my guest Steve Nicholls, an Emmy award winning producer and director of acclaimed wildlife documentaries and author of the book, Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth, and Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future (https://amzn.to/4d1M1mP). It may not be practical, but taking an afternoon nap might just do you a world of good and make you smarter. Listen as I explain the benefits of a short afternoon snooze. https://www.trinityhealthofne.org/about-us/blog/midday-nap-could-leave-you-smarter-study Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Should you get a second opinion? A lot of people faced with a medical diagnosis often wonder about that. Will they offend the original doctor if they ask for a second opinion? Is it really necessary? Is it worth the trouble? Listen as I explain the value of a second opinion. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/second-opinions We know animals communicate – but what are they communicating? When a wolf howls or a dolphin clicks, or a cricket chirps – what is it saying? Is it a language that can be translated or is it just noise to say, “Here I am!” Or is it something else entirely? And here is something interesting – we can teach our language to chimps and parrots – and they are able to use it. But they don’t use it when they are with another chimp or parrot who can also speak our language. Why not? Here to explain the science of animal communication is Arik Kirschebaum. He is a zoologist, college lecturer and fellow at Girton College, University of Cambridge and he has done extensive fieldwork on animal communication. He is author of the book Why Animals Talk: The New Science of Animal Communication (https://amzn.to/3LN4fwe) It's easy to think that loneliness and lack of social connections is a 21st century thing – but it’s not. Research going back decades shows that people have long felt they didn’t have enough friends and connections. Given that we are social creatures who crave connection, why is it so hard to make real friends? Maybe it isn’t. Maybe we just think it is. That’s what David Robson is here to discuss. He says that once we understand the barriers to connecting to other people, they are easy to overcome. David is an award-winning science writer and the author of the book The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network (https://amzn.to/3ynUTDZ). Have you ever struggled with how to end an email? “Sincerely” sounds a bit formal. “Cheers” may be a little too informal. So, what’s best – and worst? Listen as I explain some popular email sign offs that you might want to avoid. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-end-an-email/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Don’t you hate it when you hear or think of a familiar song but can’t recall the title? This episode begins with a clever trick that will help identify any song and all it takes is a smartphone. https://lifehacker.com/how-to-identify-any-song-just-by-singing-it-1849039953 Why are you different from me and everyone else? What makes you the person you are? That’s what Chantel Prat has investigated and is here to discuss. Chantel is professor at the University of Washington and author of the book The Neuroscience of You (https://amzn.to/3OJDyHL). She joins me to discuss what makes us all individuals and why we are constantly changing who we are. Extreme weather is fascinating to watch on television – but horrible to live through. And lately we have seen a lot of extreme weather – fires in the west, flooding in the southeast, tornadoes in the Midwest and more. Why is this happening and how does weather work? Here to explain the fascinating world of weather is Matthew Cappucci. He is an on-air meteorologist at FOX5DC in Washington D.C. and author of the book Looking Up: The True Adventures of a Storm-Chasing Weather Nerd (https://amzn.to/3vvSceW). Whenever you are in a situation where you are feeling upset, anxious or nervous, there is a simple strategy you can employ that can help reduce those stressful feelings in about 1 minute. Listen as I explain how to do it - in fact it is something you already know how to do. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/humming-for-self-care-tool-for-leaders-toolboxes-1234956725/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are men more rational shoppers than women? Most definitely not. This episode begins by revealing how men are easily duped into thinking something is a bargain when it isn’t. https://www.businessinsider.com/consumers-link-color-with-savings-2013-7 The invention of the electric light has made life easier. But there is a real downside to artificial light. It is messing up your body clock and it can have a serious negative impact on your health. Diabetes, cancer and heart disease have been linked to light exposure. The evidence is compelling and one of the leading experts in this field joins me to explain the seriousness of this problem. He is Dr. Martin Moore-Ede who is s a medical doctor, former professor at Harvard Medical School and he is one of the leading experts on circadian rhythms, biological clocks and light exposure. Dr. Moore-Ede holds multiple patents related to light and circadian rhythms and he is author of a bestselling book on this subject called The Light Doctor The Light Doctor: Using Light to Boost Health, Improve Sleep, and Live Longer (https://amzn.to/3WnqzBo) I bet you have seen people working in other professions and wondered what it must be like to perform that job. Some jobs seem glamorous, others look boring while others appear to be extremely difficult – but are they? Dan Heath, who is the author of several bestselling books and a previous guest here, has a new podcast called What It's Like to Be (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-its-like-to-be/id1707204412) where he explores what it is like to work in other professions. Listen as he reveals what it is like to be a Secret Service agent, a high school principal, a marriage counselor, a comedian and more.  You probably don’t wash your credit cards, but you should. They are one of several rather germy surfaces you touch all the time but never think about. Listen and I will reveal what these nasty surfaces are and why touching them is a bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why is it that mosquitoes seem to go after and bite some people more than others? This episode begins with an explanation of what does and doesn’t make you attractive to this summertime pest. https://hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleId=42234&publicid=395# When it comes to health and managing your weight, "going on a diet” is one of the worst things you can do. That’s because most diets are all about what you CANNOT eat rather than what you should eat. And it turns out you can eat just about anything if you understand a few important things about nutrition. That’s what Dr. Sarah Ballantyne is here to reveal. She is author of the book, Nutrivore: The Radical New Science for Getting the Nutrients You Need from the Food You Eat (https://amzn.to/4cREoPN). You may hate rats but they happen to be very interesting, adaptable and crafty creatures. They basically go wherever humans go (with one interesting exception). Rats are vilified all over the world, but is it all warranted? Are they as horrible as people think? Listen to my guest Joe Shute. He is author of a book called Stowaway: The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat (https://amzn.to/3WiYzPl). He explains rats like nobody else. Listen and you may have some new respect for these rodents even if they totally creep you out.  In kindergarten, you probably sat in a circle much of the time. There is good reason to believe that would be the best way to conduct most meetings – in a circle. Listen and I’ll explain why. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-to-make-your-team-more-collaborative.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There is a lot of common summertime advice. For example, don’t go swimming for a half hour after you eat. Don’t scratch a bug bite. Don’t touch someone who has poison ivy because you might catch it. Are these things true or summertime folklore? This episode starts with some answers. https://www.silive.com/healthfit/2012/07/summer_myths_debunked.html Do you know what toxic positivity is? It’s the philosophy that says to look on the bright side. Try to stay positive no matter what. Don’t worry – everything’s going to be just fine. We often say these things to comfort people, but it may be doing more harm than good. That’s according to my guest, Whitney Goodman. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the book, Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed With Being Happy (https://amzn.to/3cwrhcf).  You may know your chronological age, but do you know your biological age? There is pretty strong evidence that how you live your life can accelerate or roll back your biological age, according to my guest, Morgan Levine. She is an assistant professor of pathology at Yale University School of Medicine and author of the book, True Age: Cutting-Edge Research to Help Turn Back the Clock (https://amzn.to/3zaRepw). Listen as she explains what you can do to slow or reverse the aging process so you stay as young as you can for as long as you can.  The old advice to, “Stop and smell the roses” may be more important than you ever thought. It appears the scent of a rose can improve your memory, your dreams and even your happiness. Listen as I explain. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1059329/How-sweet-dreams–simply-smell-roses.html and https://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/news070305-10.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will a medication work better if you believe and expect it to? This episode begins with some compelling evidence that having faith in a medical treatment has a real impact on just how well it works. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect Imagine a world where people are not polite. What would it be like if we weren’t civil to each other and didn’t care? Our willingness to be polite is a cornerstone of our civilization. But Lord knows, we are not all polite all the time. Are women more polite than men? Do the rules of politeness change? Can you be impolite and still be liked and admired? What are the benefits of being polite? These are some questions I tackle with Louise Mullany. She has taught the science of politeness at the University of Nottingham for the past 25 years, where she is a professor of sociolinguistics. She is also author of the book Polite: The Art of Communication at Home, at Work and in Public. (https://amzn.to/3xVN9Jo) Many parts of the job search process can be outsourced – except one. The job interview. That is all you! Whether you have to interview virtually or in-person, job interviews can be stressful. How well you perform can spell the difference between getting an offer or not. Yet, it seems many people try to “wing it.” That turns out to be a really bad idea. While it’s true you can’t predict what you’ll be asked specifically, preparation is still a key factor according to my guest Sam Owens. He is the founder of Sam's Career Talk (https://www.samscareertalk.com/) where he provides career coaching services and helps people land their dream jobs Sam has worked as a chief marketing officer for three multi-billion-dollar companies and he is author of the book, I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want (https://amzn.to/4f7xJSX). I know several people who claim MSG is really bad for you. Is it really? What does the science say? Listen to hear how it got such a bad reputation and what the truth is about how MSG affects people.https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-msg-got-a-bad-rap-flawed-science-and-xenophobia/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A lot of people don’t bother taking a summer vacation. What’s maybe more surprising is that many who do take a vacation spend some of the time doing work! It’s more of a “work-cation.”  Listen as I reveal some facts and stats about vacations and work. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/half-americans-work-while-vacation-feel-guilty-taking-one When people talk about “getting healthy”, they usually mean exercise, lose weight and eat better. While those are admirable goals, something is missing – building muscle and getting stronger. It’s clear that the older you get, and the more you “diet to lose weight” – the more muscle you lose, which can have serious negative effects on your health. And cardiovascular exercise does little to build muscle. The links between muscle and health are not well known by most people but you are about learn a lot about it from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. She is a board certified physician in family medicine and author of the book Forever Strong: A New Science Based Strategy for Aging Well (https://amzn.to/4d5eW8X). Dreams are interesting. We all have them and they are often weird and unusual. Do they mean anything? When you look at the research, there is a lot of disagreement about what dreams are, why we have them and what they are good for. Here to shed some light on what we do and do not understand about the dreaming process is Melanie Gillespie Rosen. She is an assistant professor at Trent University in Canada and author of the book, Dreams: Brief Books about Big Ideas (https://amzn.to/4cBziqB) We could probably all use a few mental health strategies when life throws us a curve ball – or worse. Whether it is fighting with your inner critic or dealing with toxic family members or just finding the motivation to get through the day, it can all be a little overwhelming. Joining me with some practical help is Liz Kelly. Liz is a psychotherapist, clinical social worker and author of the book This Book is Cheaper Than Therapy: A No-Nonsense Guide to Improving Your Mental Health (https://amzn.to/3xPVYV6). Some commonly refrigerated foods should actually not be chilled at all. For these foods, refrigeration actually helps them spoil faster. What food are they? Listen and I will tell you. https://stilltasty.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The consensus seems to be that drinking coffee has several excellent health benefits – and now there is another one you probably haven’t heard before. This episode begins with the explanation. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/food/can-your-coffee-habit-help-protect-you-skin-cancer You have most likely seen a bully in action and were maybe reluctant to intervene. After all, it’s not your problem. There is actually a name for this – it’s “The Bystander Effect.” It is when people don’t step in and call out a bully. Why does that happen? Why do we sometimes leave it to someone else or no one at all when clearly someone has stepped over the line? Have you ever thought what would happen if you did step in? And if you do decide to intervene, what’s the best way to do it so you don’t escalate the situation? Here with some answers and insight is psychologist Catherine Sanderson, a professor in Life Sciences at Amherst College and the author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders into Moral Rebels (https://amzn.to/3vfUgrs) You know what an idiom is – right? Idioms are little phrases that work their way into our conversations that help us make a point. For example, play with fire, move the goal posts or drink the Kool-Aid. Ever wonder where these phrases come from and why they take on this new meaning? Do other languages have idioms? Joining me to explore this fascinating quirk in our language is Gareth Carrol a senior lecturer and researcher in linguistics at the University of Birmingham and author of the book, Jumping Sharks and Dropping Mics: Modern Idioms and Where They Come From (https://amzn.to/3J5XnaX). Summer is the favorite time of year for many people. Still, too much of a good thing can be a problem. Listen as I explore how summer weather can impact your mood and mental state. https://www.livescience.com/21431-hot-temperatures-mood.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much you like and enjoy a certain food is influenced by many things besides the food itself. The utensils, the color of the plate, etc. This episode begins with some interesting examples of this and why, if you are eating yogurt, you want to use one particular kind of spoon. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/utensils-can-influence-food-taste-how-much-you-eat-study-finds/ One thing we all must face is – death. As inevitable as it is, it’s not a topic most of us like to discuss. However, I think you will find this conversation to be different. Julie McFadden is a hospice care nurse with a unique take and unique perspective on death and dying as someone who deals with it every day. Is it possible to have a “good” death? What do people talk about in their final days and moments? What does Julie think about an afterlife? (She has a great story!). Julie has over 1 million followers on TikTok,(https://www.hospicenursejulie.com) she has been featured in Newsweek, USA Today, the Atlantic, Daily Mail and she is the author of the bestselling and highly acclaimed book Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully (https://amzn.to/3VWvN77)  Have you noticed we have words in English that almost mean the same thing as other words? For example, persuade and convince -what’s the difference? Or typeface and font – aren’t they the same? What about assume and presume? And is there a difference between the deep web and the dark web? Here to explain these fascinating and subtle differences in our language is Eli Burnstein. He is a humor writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and other publication and he is author of a book called Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning (https://amzn.to/4cOURU8). When you have an important decision to make, you may want to pause and have a snack first. Listen as I explain why eating can help with decision making and what exactly you should eat first. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2010-01-decision-sugar.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Comments (545)

Mohammad

Really thanks for your trying to give us the best experience of listening to your podcast. I think this kind of topic and subject is more related to our present lives and useful, as I already need to fix my brain fog😅. Hope you continue this way Ken❤

Aug 30th
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Soheyla Barzegar

Great, I really enjoy listening your podcast and learn a lot.

Aug 17th
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leo Gracia

Do we know the name of the podcast where we talked about how insect killing ants they talked about how ants had a whole system set up from soldiers to first aid and a rescue team

Aug 15th
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Jejj

I've never thought about how traditions might impact our sensory experience (birthday cake after singing, drinks after toasts, dinner after prayer). Fascinating!

Aug 13th
Reply

MdMi

I enjoyed it very much. Good job. Thanks for this informative episode like the other ones.

Aug 12th
Reply

Mona Peterson

I absolutely love the 'Something You Should Know' podcast! The range of topics covered is both diverse and fascinating. Every episode provides valuable insights and practical tips that are easy to apply in everyday life. The host’s engaging style and ability to distill complex information into digestible pieces make it a standout in my podcast lineup. https://castbox.fm/episode/Balancing-Quality-and-Budget-with-Mailer-Boxes-id6232912-id722000280?country=us

Aug 2nd
Reply

Tammy Buchanan

Let's think about shade. It's 95 degrees where I am and shade is sooo important.

Jul 5th
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Chesca

the ideas and titles seen interesting but my GOSH the episodes are so boring!

Jun 14th
Reply

Radio QUDS

Free Palestine ✌🏻🇵🇸

Jun 13th
Reply (1)

Niayesh Bhrn

Having listened to this episode twice, I really enjoyed it.

Jun 10th
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free Iran

hi, we can't download or listen to your episodes anymore in lran. Even with vpn, do you know how we can fix it? Thanks a lot

May 25th
Reply (5)

Zahra Rezaei

Why I couldn't listen to any of this podcast 😔non of them can play, was it related to my country?

May 13th
Reply (1)

eshan8

what i have learned through this episode was unique and special rnx for sharing these practical information

May 2nd
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Yashar Babashpour

Great 👌

Apr 20th
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Ali Almesbah

Great episode 👏

Apr 18th
Reply (1)

Asma

Hey! I've made a decision to start to listen these podcasts in order to learn sth and improve my listening cuz I'm not a native one. do these podcasts have context?

Mar 29th
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Amirmahdi Naseri

۹۹۹۸۹

Mar 16th
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Hamideh Ma

We should not overlook the role of Iranian scientists like Albu Reyhan

Feb 21st
Reply

Hamideh Ma

The calendar of khayam Neishabouri, according to atronomers, is considered the most accurate calender in the world, which was completed on March6, 1079 AD by Iranian scientist and mathematician Hakim Omar Khayam Neyshabouri. It is very strange that there was no mention of this in the podcast.

Feb 21st
Reply

malutty malu

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Feb 4th
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