Episodes

We go through a lot of batteries in our house with all of our remotes and clocks and flashlights - and they aren’t cheap. I bet you have a lot of batteries in your home as well. This episode begins with some interesting facts and myths about household batteries you probably never knew. http://www.greenbatteries.com/ How do you feel about your voice? Do you love it or hate it? While it may sound like a cliché, your voice really is an instrument and like a musical instrument you have to learn how ...

If you have ever cooked pasta you’ve likely considered using HOT tap water instead of cold to speed up the process. After all, hot tap water takes less time to boil. But is it really a good idea to cook with hot tap water? We begin this episode with a discussion on why it is such a bad idea. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/health/29real.html Whether or not something catches on and becomes popular may seem as if it’s luck or chance. But it isn’t really luck at all. If you’ve ever wondered why ...

Don’t you just hate it when you have to throw milk away when it goes bad? This episode begins with a little trick that will make milk last longer so maybe you don’t have to throw it away. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7673247/The-ways-groceries-fresh-longer.html Who are we? Why are we here in the universe? Are there aliens among us? When and how will the universe end? These are all good questions (along with many others) that I tackle with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Directo...

Which word in the English language has the most meanings? This episode begins by revealing this simple, 3-letter word that has over 600 meanings according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It's a word you have probably used several times today. https://www.rd.com/article/most-complicated-word-in-english/ How does heredity work? It is confusing because some traits you do inherit from your parents but others you might think come from your parents - don’t. And why do tall people usually have tall c...

You have probably heard It said that it Is illegal to kill a praying mantis. Is it? Not that you would want to – but could you actually be fined or go to jail if you got caught? This episode begins with a look at what the law really says and why you would never want to kill one anyway. https://www.thoughtco.com/is-it-illegal-to-kill-praying-mantis-1968526 Why are distractions so tempting? In fact, it seems that more you need to stay focused on your work, the more irresistible those distractions ...

One way to blow your credibility in any conversation or in anything you write is to misuse or mispronounce words or phrases. So this episodes starts with some commonly misused words and phrases to make sure you are using them correctly. https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/10-speaking-and-writing-errors-that-erode-your-credibility.html Taking risks can be good – or bad. It’s all in how you approach the risk and it also seems to depend on how old you are. Kayt Sukel, author of the book, The Ar...

How much gold is on our planet? And have found most of it? This episode begins with some fascinating intel on gold including how much gold is actually in an Olympic Gold Medal and how much more gold is on a Nobel Prize. https://www.rd.com/article/gold-facts/ Why would Disney or HBO encourage you to share your passwords illegally? If you own your home, how much of the sky above it do you own? These are just some of the interesting things about ownership you will hear discussed with Michael Heller...

Have you ever gone to the supermarket only to find everything had been moved around? Why do they move things around when you have gotten to know where every thing is? I’ll explain why they do that and other little tricks supermarkets play on you. http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Supermarket-Psychology-Tricks-18344600?stream_view=1#photo- Ever wonder why certain things disgust you? The things you find disgusting may be perfectly acceptable – even pleasing to someone else. Disgust turns out to...

One thing cats do that annoys a lot of people is they hunt, kill and bring home birds and mice and other animals. However, there is something cat owners can do to help cut down the number of times that happens. This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210211113943.htm We are all afraid of something - probably many things frighten us. Often that’s a good thing. Fear keeps us safe. So what is fear? Where does it come from? And what do you do if fear is...

Men - and teenage boys - sometimes act foolishly in front of beautiful women. They are also known to take more risks if they know a woman is watching. Why? This episode begins with an interesting explanation that points to evolution as the reason why. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/sp-wdm031810.php We like to think that the world is fairly predictable and that we have good explanations for why things happen. The fact is we don’t in many cases. Why does one smoker die young while ...

Many men - and women too - wish they were taller. Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for that. But there are ways to LOOK taller and we start this episode with some effective techniques. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/a37254/7-style-tips-that-will-make-you-look-taller/ Did anyone ever teach you HOW to think? Likely not. So when you have a problem to solve or need to come up with a solution – you just think the way you think. But what if you could think better? Tim Hurson author of ...

Dust is everywhere. And as soon as you get rid of it, it comes right back again. This episode begins with an explanation of what the dust in your house is made of and the best ways to keep it under control. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028114023.htm Probably everyone wishes they had more self-confidence. Who wanted want to be one of those people who can just walk into a room and take control. Nothing seems to bother them and they don’t seem to care what anyone thinks of them. ...

Where do potholes come from? Did you know there is a “pothole season” when they are more likely to happen? This episode begins with a discussion on one of my biggest pet peeves - potholes. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642198/reason-roads-have-potholes We all have big events we need to prepare for. Whether it’s a speech or an interview or a performance of any kind, you need to be prepared. So what is the most effective way to prepare? One person who knows a lot about preparing for a big ev...

When you ask someone on a date, is it better to call or send a text or email? There is a preferred method if the goal is to get a - yes. This episode begins by explaining all of this. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150901140703.htm When someone walks into your home, they immediately make assumptions about you. So what do people assume about you? What does your home say? According to Winifred Gallagher author of the book, House Thinking: A Room by Room Look at How We Live (https://...

Wearing a face mask has become part of everyday life. What type of mask is the best to protect you and others? While the mask itself is important, there is something else about the mask that is critical for it to be effective. Listen as I explain what that is. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22251362/mask-fit-coronavirus-best-cloth-n95 Have you ever wondered how your sense of smell really works? What makes some scents pleasant and others repulsive? Did you know a lot of the odors here are on earth...

From the producers of "Something You Should Know" comes The Washies! As a SYSK subscriber you are getting a “first peek” of Episode 1 just in time for President's Day and Washington's birthday. Here is what this podcast is all about… In the not so distant future of 2025, amid a backdrop of significant political unrest, a TV producer finds and promotes five millennials who happen to be direct descendants of George Washington. The three women and two men participate in a reality TV show that cata...

How do you get someone to say - YES? There is a simple phrase or two you can add to any request that will increase the chances that almost anyone will do you the favor you ask. This episode begins with what those phrases are. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10510974.2012.727941?journalCode=rcst20 Certainly one of the appeals of watching professional sports is knowing you are watching the best of the best play the game. So how did those players get to be the best and what can you learn...

If you have ever lost weight, you’ve probably asked yourself, “When I lose weight, where does the fat go?” It is an interesting question and the fact is most health professionals cannot answer it. But I can – and will as we begin this episode. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/26/health/lose-weight-where-does-it-go-partner/index.html If the “lose-it-or-use-it” theory applies to anything – it applies to memory. U.S. Memory Champion Chester Santos, author of the book, Mastering Memory (https://amzn.to/2...

We all have regrets. And when you stop and think about it, having regrets doesn’t help you very much. This episode begins with some simple strategies that will help anyone let go of some of those big regrets we all have that we tend to play over and over in our heads for no good reason. Source Hamilton Beazley author of the book No Regrets (https://amzn.to/3rfuf7k) You dream every night. You may not remember your dreams - in fact you probably don’t remember most of them. But you do dream. Why do...

How many times do you see food labels claim things like “All-Natural” or “Doctor Recommended” or “Made with Whole Grains”? What do these phrases mean? This episode begins by discussing why those words are really on the label and what they mean to you. https://www.cornucopia.org/2010/05/nutrition-buzzwords-make-hay-out-of-grains-of-truth/ How do you get people to do what you want? Well, the best way is to get them to do it because THEY want to do it, according to Christopher Hadnagy. Christopher ...

How do you show you care? Sometimes simple is better. In fact there are a few simple things you can do that can have a huge impact on someone else. I begin this episode with those things which I am sure will come in handy at some point in your life. https://news.butler.edu/blog/2012/01/5-surprising-ways-to-show-your-love/ When you want to make a point or sell your idea or convince someone of something – nothing can do it like a picture. But what if you suck as an artist? Well, according to Dan R...

Did you know there is a day that is considered to be the most depressing day of the year? Yup. It happened just a few weeks ago. Why ls “Blue Monday” so depressing? Listen as I explain. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/blue-monday-2021-uk-why-today-b1788755.html You may never have thought about it but there is a real difference between happiness and joy. In fact, you can make the argument that joy is what creates happiness. You may also not realize that there are things that are universa...

I’m sure you’ve seen construction crews sandblasting. Next time you see that - run!. This episode begins with a discussion on the problem with being around sandblasting. And it is a serious problem. Source: Dr. Paul Blanc author of “How Everyday Products Make People Sick” (https://amzn.to/3iug5Me) You know that voice inside your head? It tells you all kinds of things both good and bad. It can be a coach or a critic. Where does that voice come from? How can you use that voice to help steer your l...

When you have pain – you want it to go away. While taking a pill or two can help ease the pain, there are some other interesting and unconventional ways to ease pain that have been proven to work. This episode begins with those and at least most of them will likely be new to you. http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/12-weird-pain-remedies/ss-AAcuOQ#image=1 Self-sabotage is when you set a goal, attempt to achieve it and in the process screw the whole thing up all by yourself. Seems rather poi...