Episodes

Why do people have nightmares? Do they serve a purpose? This episode begins with some fascinating facts about nightmares and the people who have them. https://www.prevention.com/health/g20516173/6-creepy-things-you-never-knew-about-your-nightmares/Where do good ideas come from? Good ideas typically…

If you wear a certain fragrance, people will perceive you as 12 pounds thinner. That’s just one of many fascinating things I discuss about you amazing sense of smell in the first segment of this episode.  https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/scentsWe spend our entire lives learning. Yet we seldom th…

Kim Kardashian and her sisters speak with something called “vocal fry.” In fact a lot of women do and it is a real problem. This episode begins with an explanation of what vocal fry is and why it is harmful to a person’s vocal health and professional career. http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/15/ge…

Pizza math. It’s worth knowing because when you understand it, you’ll realize why a small pizza is usually a lousy deal. This episode begins with a mathematical formula that will save you real dough on your next pizza. http://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-alwaysb-178…

If you take your own bags to the grocery store, there may be an unintended health consequence – and it’s not good. This episode begins by revealing what happens to some people who use reusable grocery bags. https://grist.org/food/are-your-reusable-grocery-bags-making-you-fat/How you drive has a rea…

Ever flush the toilet with your foot to avoid the germs on the handle? It’s one of many well-intentioned but flawed techniques to steer clear of germs lurking in nasty places. This episode begins with some ways people try to avoid germs that fail and better ways instead. http://www.menshealth.com/h…

I suspect every parent wonders how they will be remembered in their child’s mind. What kind of parents do your kids think you were? This episode begins with a look at what children tend to remember most about mom and dad. https://time.com/4097995/parenting-kids-remember/Some moments stand out in yo…

Low-fat milk and dairy products are better than whole fat versions of the same thing – right? That is the prevailing wisdom. Yet this episode begins with some compelling evidence that we need to rethink that whole notion that low-fat is better. http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/foods-to-avoid-8…

If you have a fender bender with another driver, should you just work it out between the two of you or should you report it to the insurance company? This episode begins by explaining the answer to that and why it is so important. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/09/should-you-repo…

People are not getting sick and dying like they used to. The number of cases of some very common diseases have dropped dramatically over the last few decades and you’ll never guess why. Listen and find out as this episode begins with an explanation – sort of. http://www.popsci.com/many-diseases-are…

Hot summer days are often called the “dog days of summer.” Why? This episode begins with an explanation of that. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a21725/dog-days/You make a lot of choices every day. Some are harder to make than others. Listening to this episode will likely help m…

You sometimes see products labeled refurbished – particularly electronics. Are they a good deal? This episode begins by looking at what refurbished means and whether or not it is a good deal worth considering or if you are better off leaving those products on the shelf. http://www.consumerreports.o…

When was the last time you washed your watch? Not recently I bet. So this episode begins with just how gross and disgusting the surface of your watch and watchband are and why they need a bath right now – today! http://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-watches-three-times-dirtier-than-toilet-seats-study-fin…

Is it okay to talk with people on a speakerphone with their permission? What about bringing a gift to a party when the invitation says: No Gifts? This episode begins with a discussion on some common etiquette mistakes you may be making – and how to correct them. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/fami…

Driving while texting, talking, eating or drinking can all distract you from paying attention to the road. So what about listening to the radio while driving? Is that a distraction? This episode begins with an exploration of that question that yields a surprising answer.https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z…

When you appear confident, people find that attractive. Sometimes though, when you wish you could appear confident you feel just the opposite. So I begin this episode with quick, easy and effective techniques to appear more confident when the feeling doesn’t come naturally. http://www.rd.com/advice…

Every airport runway has a number and it is always between 1and 36. This episode begins with how airport runways get their numbers (it is not random) and what purpose those numbers serve. I’ll also explain why sometimes the runway numbers have to change. https://www.wired.com/2014/05/the-hidden-bea…

My mother used to tell me when I was a kid that coffee would stunt my growth. But seriously, can coffee do that? Can coffee sober you up if you are drunk? This episode begins with a look at what coffee can and cannot do. http://lifehacker.com/four-popular-coffee-myths-debunked-by-science-1780764499…

When I smell the scent of fresh cut grass it transports me back to my childhood. It is a great smell. It also turns out to be beneficial to most people. I begin this episode by explaining the scientific benefits of smelling a freshly mowed lawn.( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1209360/Wh…

Automobile traffic, like the weather, is hard to predict. The slightest thing can cause a traffic jam and sometimes it seems that traffic jams just happen for no apparent reason. I begin this episode by exploring one oddity of traffic – where the solution usually makes the problem worse. (Edward Hu…

Ever had to wait forever to get a prescription filled? Why does it take so long to take pills out of a big bottle and put them in a little bottle? I start this episode with the answer – and it may surprise you. http://mentalfloss.com/article/79615/12-behind-scenes-secrets-pharmacistsWhen I think of…

While you are likely very good at noticing when you fail in life, keeping track of all the little victories is a much better activity. I begin this episode by explaining why those little victories can propel into big ones and why keeping a list is such a great idea. http://www.lifehack.org/398112/s…

Do you turn your headlights on when you drive during the day? You should - and that is just one of several things I discuss that can instantly make you a better and safer driver even if you think you already are. http://www.cracked.com/article_20106_6-little-known-driving-tips-that-couldsave-your-l…

Texting and driving is dangerous. Everyone know that. But why is it so much more dangerous than driving and drinking coffee or driving and talking or driving and tuning the radio? There is actually a good answer for that you need to hear so this episode starts with that. http://www.eurekalert.org/p…