Episodes

Your mother probably told you not to lie – and she was right. Of course, there are the moral reasons for not lying but it seems lying is also bad for your health. This episode begins with the reasons why. http://newsinfo.nd.edu/news/32424-study-telling-fewer-lies-linked-to-better-health-relationships For most of human history, people married NOT for love. It is only recently that this idea of committing to someone because you fall in love came about and a lot of times it doesn’t work very well. ...

First impressions matter. That’s because once a person makes judgements about you, it can be difficult to change it. This episode begins by revealing 3 things people decide about you within the first 30 seconds and how you can make sure you put your best foot forward. Source: Sherry Maysonave author of Casual Power (https://amzn.to/2Thh1I7) Why should you fill your gas tank on Monday instead of Friday? Does transferring credit card balances to lower interest rate card make sense? What’s the best...

While I am certain you are a safe driver, there is one tip race car drivers know that will make you an even safer driver, particularly in the event when you need to suddenly take evasive action. This episode begins with this important tactic that will make you more in control behind the wheel. Source: http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-editors-tips-to-prevent-a-car-accident.html Change is scary. Often it means loss. But it can also mean opportunity. Since you can’t stop the world f...

Everyone knows what a placebo is. We have talked about the placebo effect on previous episodes. Most people probably think of it as applying to medication. However, I begin this episode by explaining how the placebo effect works with sleep. And the information could come in handy on those days you are feeling tired. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24417326/ I am sure you have felt bored at times – whether standing in line, waiting at the doctor’s office or just sitting around with nothing to do....

When people get angry, it is pretty common for them to get upset and maybe start yelling at whoever made them mad. That is a bad idea. This episode begins with a discussion how on to use anger to your advantage, so you get what you want without everyone getting 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 yet see it differently. We all look at the world through filters and biases that cause us to see things...

What follows is a list of the most popular Halloween candy overall in the U.S. Listen as I explain why this list is important if you plan to give out candy to trick-or-treaters this year: Reese’s Cups Skittles M&M’s Starburst Hot Tamales Sour Patch Kids Hershey’s Kisses Snickers Tootsie Pops Candy Corn Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/most-popular-halloween-candy-37144800 There is conflict in every relationship. What helps to ease the conflict is doing all the “little things” ...

Girls cry more than boys – that seems apparent. But why? Is it social conditioning or something more? Listen as I reveal what one researcher has discovered about boys and girls and tears. Source: Michael Gurian, author of What Could He Be Thinking?-How A Man's Mind Really Works (https://amzn.to/3evpJkm). Your body clock controls when you wake up and go to sleep – or at least when you SHOULD wake up and go to sleep. But does your body clock – or circadian rhythm – adapt to you or must you adapt t...

Confidence makes you more attractive. It just does. So, I begin this episode by offering a short list of simple things you can do that will make you feel and appear as confident as possible. https://www.askmen.com/money/body_and_mind_150/173_better_living.html You often hear people use the words kind and nice interchangeably. Actually though, they really don’t mean the same thing. To be kind is a lot harder and riskier and has a much greater chance of making the world a better place. Nice is jus...

What do the following symptoms have in common: Tiredness, dizziness, stomach issues, headaches, dry skin, joint problems and depression? The answer is that you may be able to eliminate or minimize those symptoms with one very easy change to your daily routine. Listen and I’ll tell you what it is. https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/dehydration-and-anxiety Quitters never win and winners never quit. We have all heard that. Quitting has a bad reputation. People who persevere are the heroes. Q...

It is always tempting to try to impress people and show them how fabulous you are – or your child is. However, there is a downside to appearing to be so exceptional. This episode begins with an explanation. Source: Steve Chandler, author of 50 Ways To Create Great Relationships (https://amzn.to/3e7uIYk) How could someone have a phobia or fear of popcorn or buttons? Well some people do. People have phobias about all sorts of things. Where do phobias come from? What’s the difference between a fear...

The humble sandwich has been around for thousands of years and eaten all over the world in one form or another. Guess how many sandwiches the average person eats in a year. Do you know why some sandwiches are called subs? Listen as I explore some fascinating sandwich facts to kickoff this episode. https://allthatsinteresting.com/sandwich-history Have you ever asked yourself: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Will my life really matter? What will my legacy be? Listen as I explore these and other...

If you are facing a big decision, you should sleep on it first. That is common advice. But is there any validity to it? This episode begins with the answer to that question. https://www.newswise.com/articles/sleep-on-it-is-sound-science-based-advice# We all get those weird feelings – you know like we are being watched or that feeling that time is passing by faster or you have memory from your past, but you are not sure if it is true. Why do humans get these feelings, and do they serve a purpose?...

Who do you project yourself to be? It’s an important question if you want to convince someone of something. This episode begins with a look at how people judge your recommendations and proposals and so much of it has to do with who you appear to be. Source: Robert Mayer author of the book Power Plays (https://amzn.to/3BWHKzy) Setting boundaries with the people in your life and getting them to respect those boundaries can actually make your life easier and more enjoyable. That’s according to Meli...

This episode begins with a fascinating example of just how amazing the human mind is. You see, how people feel about the medication they take impacts how well it works. Things like cost, size of the pill and number of doses will influence your recovery – I know it sounds implausible but it appears to be true. Listen and finds out. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html Innovation is a big buzzword today. Who doesn’t want to be innovative? However, there isn’t as much i...

You have likely never ordered a milkshake from room service at a hotel because milkshakes are most likely not on the room service menu. Still, if a hotel has a kitchen there is a good chance they have ice cream milk and a blender which is what you need to make a milkshake. So why can’t you get one? Listen as I explain the answer which points out a big problem in American business today. Source: Steve Little author of The Milkshake Moment (https://amzn.to/3BLAXZl) Have you ever wondered why time ...

It's weird but true that a lot of people’s behavior can actually change just because they wear sunglasses or are in a dimly lit room. This episode begins with an explanation of why this happens and how people act differently. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301122344.htm Being rich is about more than just accumulating money, it is about living the life you want to live. In fact how much money you have is less important than how you spend it. That’s according to Ramit Sethi. For y...

We call them expiration dates when referring to dates on food packages but they aren’t all really expiration dates. The dates sometimes mean other things. This episode begins by explaining 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#1 You are unique. There is not now, nor will there ever be another person like you. So, what is it exactly that makes you so unique and...

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the world. While there are many things you can do to reduce your risk, this episode begins by revealing a simple way to cut the risk more than 30%. And it’s all in your attitude. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-positive-mindset-can-help-your-heart-2019021415999 Have you ever found yourself overthinking? It’s when you think through an idea or a goal or a career move over and over, imagining every variable and possible outcome. The result is you don’t really...

If you are an iPhone user, you may have noticed that some of your texts show up in blue and some show up in green This episode begins with the explanation for why that happens and what it means. https://www.rd.com/article/why-are-my-texts-green/ Do you know what time poverty is? It’s that sense you get of having too much to do and never enough time to get it done. While a lot of us live in time poverty, others live in time affluence. So how do they do it? Cassie Holmes will tell you. Cassie is p...

It’s pretty clear that the placebo effect is a real thing even though we don’t understand it very well. This episode begins by exploring the reasons why what you believe about your health actually has an impact on your health and why believing you are healthy can actually make it so. Source: Howard Brody, M.D. author of “The Placebo Response” (https://amzn.to/2ZzmXzH) There are a lot of theories about what you should do with your money. For instance, most experts agree that paying off your mortg...

When you have to take a test and you don’t know the answer, the conventional advice is to go with your first answer. A lot of people believe that – but is it true? This episode begins with some interesting evidence that may help you the next time you take a test. https://www.spring.org.uk/2012/02/multiple-choice-tests-why-sticking-with-your-first-answer-is-probably-wrong.php Music is such an important part of life for so many of us. Most of us have a favorite song or band or type of music. Liste...

You have probably been in a situation where you felt shy. As a result, you probably held back and didn’t engage with people as much as you could have. There is a way to get over your shyness no matter what the situation. This episode begins with some interesting advice from a top shyness expert on how to work through those shy feelings in the moment – and it is very simple and requires almost no effort. Source: Bernardo Carducci author of Shyness (https://amzn.to/2XWCgl8) You’ve probably heard i...

Everyone loves ketchup – or so it seems. In fact, it is one of the most universally loved foods in America. Why? This episode begins with some interesting facts and history about ketchup that helps explain why there is a bottle of it in more than 97% of U.S. households. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/20/why-is-ketchup-so-delicious-science-answers-big-food-questions Have you ever felt you were on a winning streak? Maybe it was at work or gambling or a game of tennis – where you...

Your mother told you not to lie. After all, lying is dishonest. More importantly, it may also be bad for your health. This episode begins by revealing why telling the truth could help prevent you from getting sick. http://research.nd.edu/news/32485-study-telling-fewer-lies-linked-to-better-health-relationships/ How did YouTube go from being a simple dating site to the biggest video sharing service in the world that generates billions of dollars in ad revenue each year? How did it happen that man...