Episodes

Next time you are feeling stressed or need a little reassurance there is someone you need to call - immediately! It is a very close relative of yours. This episode begins with some stress reducing advice and an explanation of why it works so well. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/may/12/mother-phone-call-study-us-oxytocin I think we all like to believe we know what we are talking about but a lot of times we don’t. It’s human nature apparently. We believe things that are not true and we t...

Often people who deal with the public as part of their job often begin to believe that people in general are not very bright. As an example, one question workers at Disney theme parks are often asked is “What time is the 3 o’clock parade?” Which is, of course, a pretty stupid question on its surface. But it’s how the employees answer the question that makes Disney customer service so legendary – and any organization can do the same thing. https://www.disneyinstitute.com/blog/how-would-you-respon...

When it comes to medical advice, a doctor is supposed to know what is truth and what is myth. However, an amazing number of doctors are misinformed. This episode begins with some information about a survey that showed how many pediatricians believe some common parenting advice that has been proven to be untrue. Source: Baby Facts by Andrew Adesman, M.D. (https://amzn.to/3h0oPLw) Digital communication makes it easy to keep in touch with people but there are also pitfalls. Emails, texts, chats and...

If you don’t wear decent sunglasses outside, you are asking for trouble. Just ask any eye doctor. Ultraviolet light is bad for your eyes - and sunglasses can stop it - if you get the right kind of sunglasses. This episode begins with a description of what to look for in a good pair of sunglasses. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/how-to-choose-best-sunglasses It certainly seems like you are the same person you were 1, 2 or 10 years - but you are so very different. In fact, you are not the pers...

Everyone is different but when I need to solve a problem or think of something creative, I often lie down, close my eyes and think. And it turns out that is good advice for everyone. I start this episode with some interesting research that reveals why lying down is a good position to think in. https://lifehacker.com/need-a-creative-boost-try-lying-down-5982463 Ever have your heart broken? I think we all have at some point. Psychologist Guy Winch, author of the book How to Fix a Broken Heart (htt...

Noise levels are increasing, and all that noise can have a lot of negative effects on your health and happiness. This episode begins by explaining the negative impact of too much noise so you can protect yourself. https://www.sehn.org/sehn/noise-pollution-takes-toll-on-health-and-happiness-everyday-noise-can-overstimulate-the-bodys-stress-response What is the best way to achieve any goal? There are a lot of theories and ideas but there is also solid research about this. If you want to know what ...

If you saw someone walking down the street and they were not swinging their arms, you would think it looks a little weird. Yet, humans don’t have to swing their arms to walk - we can walk fine with it. This episode begins with an explanation as to why most of us swing our arms when we walk and the benefits of doing so. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-we-swing-our-arms-when-we-walk No one knows more about how influence and persuasion work than Robert Cialdini. For decades he has studie...

When you feel pain or some ache in your body, you likely reach for a Tylenol. And it turns out that you should also reach for one when you are feeling emotional pain as well; such as loneliness or distress. Why? This episode begins with an interesting explanation. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222154742.htm Even if you keep your home immaculately clean, you are still sharing your house with millions of creatures – both visible and invisible. From the tiniest germs to your dog o...

You are more likely to be happy if your friends are happy- and even if your friend’s friends are happy. This episode begins with a discussion on why that is and how social interactions affects you health and happiness. Source: Tom Rath author of Well Being (https://amzn.to/3xcMYUM) Your body is very good at telling you when you’ve reached your limit. When you have exercised enough or worked enough or done anything that pushes you to the limit - your body tells you to stop. But have you really re...

Are only children at a social disadvantage? It has long been thought that children who grow up with no siblings don’t develop the social skills that as well as those who have brothers and sisters. This episode looks at just how accurate that assumption is. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-true-thing/201106/susan-newman-the-case-the-only-child Is your behavior all because you choose to do it or are there other forces that determine your actions? Could it be that you don’t really have f...

Who doesn’t have a cellphone? It is hard to find someone who doesn’t have one with them all the time. However, there are some circumstances when you really should put your phone away so others don’t see it. I begin this episode by discussing when that is and why it is important. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9589232/Putting-a-mobile-phone-on-the-restaurant-table-will-ruin-your-meal.html Everyone wants more! Or at least it appears that way. The idea that enough is never en...

Smile! Why? Because smiling offers a lot of benefits. This episode begins with a discussion on all the good things that happen when you smile more often. http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm What does it take to become wealthy? Sometimes it’s luck or having connections but when you look at middle-class people who become wealthy, it turns out they tend to have similar characteristics and they do a lot of similar behaviors that allows them to accumulate wealth. Joining me to...

We all know music has an effect on us. One effect it has that you may not be aware of is how it impacts your shopping behavior in a store. This episode begins with a look at how different kinds of music can influence you to spend more or less. https://www.psychologistworld.com/behavior/ambient-music-retail-psychological-arousal-customers Finding that special someone is not always easy. In fact, it can be downright difficult - and in the midst of a pandemic, seemingly impossible. Not necessarily ...

Conventional wisdom is that you should get a physical exam every year with your doctor. Should you really? This episode begins 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-doctors Your unconscious mind affects your thoughts and behaviors in ways you can’t imagine - because that part of your mind is unconscious. That is the message from John Bargh, Yale professor o...

With public restrooms, there is a definite YUCK factor. Still, when it comes to choosing which stall or urinal to use, there is a smart strategy to minimize your exposure to germs and bacteria. I begin this episode by telling you which stall should be your first (and second) choice. https://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/a58568/cleanest-bathroom-stall/ As amazing as your brain is - it does a lot of things poorly. Our memories get distorted, your brain makes mistakes and misjudgments- ...

This episode begins with a look at some fascinating science of everyday life. For example, how the calorie count for food is determined, what does it take to actually crush a Lego brick, why water of the same temperature feels colder than air of the same temperature – and more. http://mentalfloss.com/article/66086/11-scientific-explanations-everyday-life Do you swear? If so, why? Are there any benefits to swearing? And how has swearing changed over the years? These are a couple of the questions ...

Did you know the weather can affect your buying decisions? Apparently it can and 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-2012-11 We like to think we have a personality - but actual...

What’s the fastest insect? How long does a common housefly live? How many kinds of insects are there in the world? Now that spring is here and the bugs are back, this episode begins with some interesting facts about bugs and insects you may not know. https://gohannan.com/common-pests/amazing-but-true-interesting-facts-about-bugs/ No matter how well you plan, things can - and often do - go wrong. Even though you seldom know what will go wrong there are some ways to plan for it according to Frank ...

There is an often-quoted study about the importance of goal setting and success that happened at Yale University in 1953. This episode begins with an explanation of why you should NOT pay attention to this study at all. https://www.fastcompany.com/27953/if-your-goal-success-dont-consult-these-gurus Everyone knows what causes people to gain weight and lose weight - and, it turns out, everybody is wrong! That’s according to Herman Pontzer. Herman is one of the foremost researchers in human metabol...

Do you play a musical instrument? If not, 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.php You have certainly something about body language and how it works. Well, you are about to get a much better and deeper understanding of it and how you can use it to...

You know when you get part of a song stuck in your head? It can be hard to get rid of. As with most things, this has been studied and I begin the episode today with some ways that will help you get that song out of your head. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/21/heres-how-get-song-out-your-head/99264896/ We all like to think we have good memories but the human memory is flawed in many ways. Some things we don’t remember at all, other things we don’t remember well and most me...

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Who started it? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief explanation of the origins of Mother's Day and how it got pretty ugly for a while. https://www.rd.com/list/history-of-mothers-day/ Human beings like to laugh - we enjoy humor. It also turns out to be really good for you. People who laugh a lot live longer and enjoy of host of other benefits. Incorporating more humor, laughter and lightness into your life has more benefits than you can imagine acco...

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-shower What’s 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, a...

Everyone know that you should say “I love you” to your mate because it fosters intimacy and connection. It turns out there are 3 other words you should too because couples who say these words have stronger and closer relationships. What are those 3 words? Listen and find out. http://truetowords.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-me-us-we-little-words-big-impact.html Most of us are willing to help others if we can. It feels good to help someone in need. Yet many of us have trouble asking for help when we nee...