Episodes

Why do people sometimes choke when they swallow? Is it really because it went down “the wrong pipe”? This episode begins with an interesting look at what swallowing is all about and why sometimes thing go wrong. Source: Joel Herskowitz, author of Swallow Safely (https://amzn.to/3pXFjqv) You probably think that having fun is something you do after the hard work is done. Fun is a reward, not a necessity. Yet, there is some solid evidence that having fun is good for you. In fact, making it a priori...

Which is better at stopping a cough - cough syrup with codeine or chocolate? This episode begins with some surprising intel on what works to stop that nagging urge to cough. https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/chocolate-can-fight-coughs-better-than-some-cold-medicine/ What’s your favorite Christmas movie? Could it be White Christmas or It’s a Wonderful Life or maybe Home Alone? Well, whatever it is, it will likely come up in my conversation with film historian Jeremy Arnold. Jeremy teamed up wit...

If I asked you, could you tell me where your main water shutoff valve is for your home? Do you leave your garage door opener in your car? These are just a couple of important questions you should ask yourself. This episode begins by answering those and other questions and answers you really need to know. https://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/things-every-homeowner-must-know/ As sincere as you think you are, most of the smiles you make throughout the day are fake ones. That’s just one of...

Have you heard of “touch starvation”? It’s a real thing that happens when you don’t have the skin-to-skin physical contact with others that you need or that you are used to. This episode begins with a brief discussion about how the pandemic has deprived people of touch and why we need to be aware of it. https://www.webmd.com/balance/touch-starvation What can you do to live as long a life as possible? That is what biologist and science writer Andrew Steele set out to discover. And what he found i...

How many times have you opened up a new box with electronics or shoes or maybe even some beef jerky and found one of those silica gel packs? If you look closely, they usually have warnings not to eat them - that doing so could be hazardous to your health. So, what exactly would happen if you did eat one of them? Just how dangerous are they? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-to-know-silica-gel For a few centuries now, humans have been interact...

People often listen to music while they are working because they believe it helps concentrate and possibly makes them more productive. Does it? This episode begins by exploring which, if any kind of music can help your concentration and productivity. https://www.businessinsider.com/10-minute-trick-to-boost-your-productivity-2016-1 Are you suggestible? Could you be hypnotized into believing something that isn’t really true? What about placebos? If I tell you a sugar pill will cure your headache, ...

Something is probably missing in your old holiday photos. In fact, the older you get, the more you notice what’s not in them and you really regret it. This episode begins with that missing ingredient in your older pictures and advice on how to make sure you don’t make the same mistake with your holiday photos from now on. Source: Cheryl Lightle author of “The Creative Memories Way: https://amzn.to/3riziqL It’s a pretty universal problem - you start something but never finish. I bet it has happen...

Why do people kiss under the mistletoe? When did that all start? This episode begins with a brief history of the mistletoe-kissing tradition. https://ourcommunitynow.com/local-culture/the-myth-behind-the-mistletoe You have never heard a discussion about pride, gratitude and compassion like this one. Psychology professor David Desteno of Northeastern University joins me to explain how these three emotions can fuel your personal and business success as well as create better relationships. We seldo...

Want to know if someone you like is truly compatible with you? Check out their taste in music. This episode begins with an interesting look at how your taste in music can have a big impact on who you are attracted to and who may be attracted to you. Turns out you can tell a lot about someone by the tunes they listen to. http://www.medindia.net/news/Music-Predicts-Sexual-Attraction-80223-1.htm I often urge you to tell other people about this podcast because word-of-mouth marketing is considered t...

Ever talk to someone who is looking at their phone and they act as if they don’t even hear you? This episode explains why that happens so often and why that is likely not the best time to try to talk to someone. https://www.yahoo.com/health/weird-way-looking-phone-mess-195042844.html You’ve heard those phrases like, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or “Everyone deserves a second chance" or “Think outside the box.” It may be time to rethink these common conventio...

Most of us have heard the poinsettia plants are poisonous to people and pets. How poisonous? Will eating leaves from a poinsettia kill you? Will it make you sick? Do you even need to be worried? This episode begins with some interesting facts about just how dangerous poinsettias are. https://www.stranges.com/are-poinsettias-poisonous/ Human instincts are what have helped us to survive. Yet, some of those instincts are not so practical in today’s modern world according to evolutionary biologist D...

Just how accurate is Wikipedia? If you go to one of their articles, how likely is it to be correct and objective. This episode begins with some surprising facts about Wikipedia and its accuracy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/wikipedia-explained-what-is-it-trustworthy-how-work-wikimedia-2030-a8213446.html As you know, people lie. In fact, we all lie. Often the lies we tell are small and inconsequential – other times they are a big deal. Pamela Myer is a leading experts on lies and...

Finding the right holiday for co-workers can be a challenge. You don't want to spend too much but you want to give something that shows you put some thought into it, at least. Listen as I begin this episode by making this gift-giving task easy while still giving people something they will actually like. If anything in this world is safe, you would think the spices in your spice rack would be. I mean what kind of danger could a little oregano or basil pose to you or your family? Well, you are ab...

Ever have trouble hearing someone on the phone so you cover your other ear to block out the noise? This episode explains why there is a much better way than that if you want to hear someone better. https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3206007/strange-but-true-improve-clarity-of-phone-calls While the internet has given us so much, it has also robbed us of a lot of things many of us liked. For example, solitude, maps, handwritten letters, even the rolodex to name just a few. Pamela Paul has taken a h...

You have probably heard that it not a good idea to allow your dog to sleep on the bed. Despite what the experts say, I am going to begin this episode by telling you exactly why it is probably just fine. http://www.purewow.com/entry_detail/national/22018/7-Reasons-Its-Actually-Betterto-Let-Your-Dog-Sleep-in-Your.htm The world is full of people who over explain their ideas. To really be an effective communicator of ideas, the details can - and often do - get in the way. Brant Pinvidic is a produce...

If you have a male doctor who wears a tie, that tie could come into contact with you as your doctor examines you. This episode begins by explaining why that could be dangerous and why you should probably stay away from your doctor’s tie or maybe even ask him to take it off. https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20040524/nasty-neckties-doctors-ties-carry-germs Trying to understand the rules of English can be maddening. Some words follow the certain rules - others don’t. Some words that should rhyme -d...

With people drinking more around the holiday season, it is important to realize that not all drinks are created equal. This episode begins with some interesting differences between beer, wine and hard liquor that everyone should keep in mind because they can affect you differently. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00190.x What makes a person lucky or unlucky? Are some people cursed with bad luck? Are some people born lucky? To explore these questions, we turn to R...

Who doesn’t struggle occasionally to remember important things – like names or passwords or what to get at the grocery store? This episode begins with some very simple techniques that will help sharpen your memory so you remember. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7591279/DR-MICHAEL-MOSLEY-stop-forgetting-passwords-Does-gum-disease-really-cause-heart-attacks.html Ever had food poisoning? It is amazingly common. In fact, each year, millions of people get it, over 120,000 end up in the ho...

You have likely heard the advice that you should get an annual physical exam from your doctor and you should go to the dentist twice a year for a checkup. And what about the recommendation that you wear sunscreen every day? Are all these things really necessary? We begin this episode with a look what the experts say about common health advice you’ve probably heard all your life - some of which may not be necessary. https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/slideshows/do-you-really-ne...

Your siblings have had an important impact on you, whether you realize it or not. This episode begins by talking about how brothers and sisters can affect your personality and character later in life. https://www.unilad.co.uk/life/having-a-sister-makes-you-happier-and-more-optimistic-study-finds Have you ever had a déjà vu experience? Most people have. What is it? What causes it? Joining me to discuss that is Anne Cleary, she is a professor at Colorado State University where she studies the phen...

What’s the best seat in a movie theater? While people do have their own preferences, there actually is one “best seat in the house” at least for the audio. You see, theaters are calibrated for sound from one seat in particular. This episodes begins by telling you which seat that is and where to sit if someone is already sitting in it. https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/how-to-find-best-seat-movie-theater.html?mid=twitter_vulture Can you change your life in four seconds? Yes you can and that is just...

What’s the difference between an antique, a collectible and a vintage item? This episode begins with a brief and helpful explanation. https://www.antique-hq.com/the-difference-between-antique-vintage-and-collectible-item-127/ Since we don’t swear on this podcast, we won’t use the word that BS stands for - but we all know what it is. As you are aware, a lot of people fling BS around to try to make themselves look good or try to sell you something. So, how do you tell what is true, what is a lie a...

If you are booking a commercial flight, what is the best seat to choose? You might want to look at row 49. Listen as I explain why flight attendant Sandra Jeenie Kwon (who has 7 million social media followers) says row 49 is where you will find the best seat on the flight. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10115201/Flight-attendant-reveals-best-seat-plane-four-rows-back.html Who hasn’t thought, “ I could stand to lose 5-10 pounds”? It seems like everyone wishes they weighed less. Yet, a...

Is it possible to work and stay focused in a messy office or environment? This question has actually been tested by researchers at Princeton to see. Listen and find out what they discovered. https://aurorastorage.com/resources/additional-resources/workspace-clutter-reduces-focus-and-productivity/ For centuries people have used storytelling as a powerful way to communicate. The reason is - it is very effective. That is why great speakers and leaders use stories to make their point and win people ...