Something You Should Know

We all have vivid memories of major events from our past — moments we can picture so clearly that we’re certain we remember exactly what happened. They’re known as “flashbulb memories.” But here’s the strange thing: even when those memories feel crystal clear, they may not be very accurate and there is an interesting reason why. https://dictionary.apa.org/flashbulb-memory Why are some foods simply more fun to eat than others? Why does restaurant food often seem to taste better than what we make at home? And is there actually a right way to build the perfect sandwich? Dan Pashman has spent a lot of time thinking about questions like these. He is host of the culinary podcast The Sporkful (https://www.sporkful.com/), which TIME named one of the 100 Best Podcasts of All Time. He also invented his own pasta shape, cascatelli — and there’s a great story behind that. Listen as Dan explores the surprisingly fascinating details that can turn eating from something we have to do into something we really enjoy. He is also author of Anything’s Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People (https://link.amazon/B0geSlwHB). Humans have a powerful need to understand why. We’re constantly asking for explanations and giving them to other people — but some explanations click immediately while others leave us more confused than when we started. So what actually makes an explanation satisfying? Why are some people naturally better at explaining things? Tania Lombrozo is a professor of psychology at Princeton University and author of Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand (https://link.amazon/B0fYNqZiB). She reveals the fascinating science behind our need to understand — and how we can all become better explainers. You probably like to think you can spot something that sounds suspicious or simply isn’t true. But there’s an amazingly simple technique that can make even skeptical people more likely to believe a false claim — and it’s used all the time. Listen and see if you recognize it when I tell you what it is. https://www.sciencefocus.com/advertisement-feature/psychological-tricks-hackers-everyday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The human body is full of strange, ingenious, and often overlooked features that keep us alive every second of every day. And some of the most fascinating parts are the ones we rarely think about — until something goes wrong. Dr. Jonathan Reisman takes us on an unusual tour inside the human body to reveal what our organs, tissues, and bodily fluids can teach us about how we work. He explains why certain parts of the body are far more remarkable than they appear, what doctors can learn from the substances our bodies produce, and why understanding anatomy can change the way you think about your own body. And yes, you’ll also hear why, of all the bodily fluids to choose from, urine is his favorite. Jonathan Reisman is a physician specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics and author of The Unseen Body: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy (https://amzn.to/37vUz8u). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know that stretch you instinctively do when you first wake up — arms out, back arched, often accompanied by a yawn or a strange noise? Dogs and cats do it too. There is actually a name for it, and a reason it feels so incredibly good. Listen and discover what your body is accomplishing when you do it. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-does-pandiculation-feel-so-good Something startling is happening between young men and women. They are dating less, marrying less, and increasingly seem to distrust and disengage from each other. What is driving this divide — and what happens if it continues? Daniel Cox joins me with some eye-opening research on this consequential social change. Daniel is founder and director of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is author of Generation Uncoupled: America's New Gender Divide and the Crisis of Human Connection (https://link.amazon/B0bAUzOoI). The excitement at the beginning of a romantic relationship doesn’t last forever. So what do successful couples do next? Anna Elton says there are specific, surprisingly simple things couples can do to keep desire, intimacy and connection alive — and some can actually be fun. Anna is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and clinical sexologist who writes for Psychology Today. She is author of The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection (https://link.amazon/B02Uzxa9n). To take the assessment she discusses go to: https://theformulaofdesire.com/assessments/ Ever pour yourself a glass of ice water only to discover it tastes or smells vaguely like garlic, onions or last night’s dinner? The water probably isn’t the culprit. It’s your ice. Listen as I explain how those strange flavors get into ice cubes — and the simple thing you can do to stop it. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/refrigerators/refrigerator-is-making-smelly-ice-cubes-a1166770149/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have seen a dollar bill hundreds of times, but have you ever really studied it? It’s fascinating. And the number 13 plays a prominent role. This episode begins with a short tour of a U.S. $1 bill. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/kids/games/riddles/jokes/dollar-bill-trivia You spend a lot of time with clothes – wearing them, buying them, and washing them. How you care for your clothes is important. If you care for them the right way, they will last a lot longer and look a lot better. You will also probably save yourself a lot of time and money. Joining me to explain the right and wrong ways to care for clothes is Zach Pozniak. He is a fourth-generation fabric-care expert and dry cleaner. He is all over social media offering popular advice on this topic at https://www.instagram.com/jeeves_ny/ and he is the author of the bestselling book, The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Clothes and Linens (https://amzn.to/3Nu3I2Z). When was the last time you carved out some quiet time in your day to just sit alone with your thoughts? Today, people are constantly seeking distraction and stimulation from other people or their smartphone with zero quiet time. Yet, that quiet time can deliver huge benefits to you. For one thing, it allows you to be better prepared and more deliberate about what you do rather than just race through your day reacting to whatever comes along. And there is so much more to this as you will hear from my guest Joe McCormack. He is an entrepreneur and writer who in 2022 launched the Quiet Works program to help people manage the noise in their lives. He is author of the book Quiet Works: Making Silence the Secret Ingredient of the Workday (https://amzn.to/3NwuKa9). There is some controversy around those baby “cocktail” carrots sold in the store. Some people claim they are unsafe to eat and that they don’t taste as good as regular carrots. Listen as I reveal where these carrots come from and whether you should eat them or not. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8068373/baby-carrots-vs-regular-carrots/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever get a song stuck in your head that simply will not leave? That’s an earworm, and while it will eventually fade away on its own, there are some things you can do to help get rid of it sooner. Listen and discover what works. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/songs-get-stuck-head Being a good conversationalist can make an enormous difference in your personal and professional life. Yet most of us were never actually taught how to have a great conversation. How do you comfortably talk to someone you don’t know? What do you do when the conversation stalls? How do you change the subject without making it awkward? Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards joins me with practical strategies for making conversations easier, more natural and more memorable. She is an instructor at Harvard University and author of Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone and Make Every Interaction Count (https://link.amazon/B027NJjiF). Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology, so you might assume he has always been an extraordinarily optimistic person. Not even close. Martin has struggled with pessimism and negative thoughts throughout his life. He joins me to explain what optimism really is, why it matters, and how something called agency can change the way you approach your life and your future—even if optimism doesn’t come naturally to you. Martin is the author of more than 30 books. His latest is Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress (https://link.amazon/B08KM3n8m). There are sounds all around you right now that your brain has decided you don’t need to hear—the refrigerator humming, a clock ticking, traffic in the distance. So how does your brain decide what gets your attention and what disappears into the background? Listen and find out. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3715733 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are some questions about the universe that are almost too big to wrap your head around. Why are we here? How did everything begin? Are we alone — or is there intelligent life somewhere else? Could aliens already know about us? And if the universe had a beginning, how does this whole thing eventually end? In this episode, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles some of the most fascinating mysteries of the cosmos and separates what scientists actually know from what remains speculation. He explains what we know about our place in the universe, the chances that life exists elsewhere, what an encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence might look like, and what science predicts about the ultimate fate of the universe. Along the way, Neil offers the kind of perspective that comes from thinking on a cosmic scale — where Earth is just one tiny place in an unimaginably enormous universe and some of our biggest questions still don't have definitive answers. It’s a fascinating conversation about what we know, what we don’t know, and what we may someday discover. Neil deGrasse Tyson is Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, host of the podcast StarTalk (https://www.startalkradio.net/), and author of the book Cosmic Queries (https://amzn.to/3bp2dkr). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are spiders doing inside your home? You’ve probably spotted a few crawling around, especially in the fall. But contrary to what you might assume, many of those spiders didn’t just wander in from outdoors. And there’s a very specific reason you suddenly start seeing more of them this time of year — it has a lot to do with romance. https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-come-indoors Should you say something — or just keep your mouth shut? It’s a dilemma we face all the time. Do you tell someone they have something stuck in their teeth? Should you ask a stranger who is crying if they’re okay? What about telling a friend what you really think about the person they’re dating? It turns out we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how people will react when we speak up — or how they’ll feel when we don’t. Vanessa Bohns joins me with fascinating research that can help you handle these awkward everyday moments much better. She is a social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of Should I Say Something?: The Science of What to Share—and What to Keep to Yourself (https://link.amazon/B03B4LfqD). We like to think investing is about numbers, facts and rational decisions. Yet stock prices and investor behavior can be influenced by things that seemingly have nothing to do with money — including the weather, politics and even the outcome of a sporting event. Why do otherwise intelligent investors make such irrational decisions, and can understanding those quirks actually give you an advantage? Alex Edmans explains the fascinating psychology that drives financial markets and how recognizing it can help you make smarter decisions. Alex is a professor of finance at London Business School and a leading expert on behavioral finance. He is author of The Madness of Markets: Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions—and How to Exploit Them (https://link.amazon/B0eq2D3g9). Come autumn, pumpkins are everywhere. We carve them, decorate our homes with them and, of course, eat plenty of pumpkin-flavored foods. But the pumpkin you scoop out of a can looks nothing like the inside of that big orange pumpkin sitting on your porch. So what exactly is in canned pumpkin — and why is it so different? The answer may change the way you look at pumpkin pie. https://www.allrecipes.com/what-is-canned-pumpkin-11747656 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Groceries are expensive, but there is a surprisingly simple way to leave the supermarket with a smaller bill — and it has less to do with what you buy than how you shop. I begin this episode with a technique that could help you spend less every time you go to the grocery store. Source: Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko(https://link.amazon/B03ckVUuD) For decades, we’ve been told the future would bring flying cars, human-like robots, smart cities, self-driving vehicles and all sorts of other technological wonders. So…where are they? Why do so many innovations that always seem to be “just around the corner” never quite arrive? Technology and science journalist Nicole Kobie reveals what really happens between a great futuristic idea and the day it becomes part of everyday life — and why predicting the future of technology is so difficult. Nicole is a contributing editor for Wired and author of The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow’s Technology Still Isn’t Here (https://link.amazon/B0h9cxllC). You probably don’t give your teeth much thought until one of them hurts. Yet teeth have an extraordinary story. Some creatures have no teeth at all, while others continually replace theirs throughout their lives. So why do humans get only two sets? And how did teeth become so important to eating, speaking, survival and even our appearance? Zoologist Bill Schutt takes us through the strange and fascinating history of teeth and explains how they evolved into what is in your mouth today. Bill is the author of six books, including Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans (https://link.amazon/B08TCbaUy). Paying off debt is obviously good for your finances. What’s surprising is what it may do for your body. Research has found a connection between carrying significant debt and some important measures of physical health. Listen as I explain why reducing what you owe could benefit more than just your bank account. https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2013/08/16/debt_and_health/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https:AquaTru.com⁠ and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably seen the warning on your passenger-side car mirror: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Which raises an obvious question: Why put a mirror on your car that deliberately distorts reality? Turns out there is a very good reason—and that distortion may actually help keep you safe. https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/why-objects-in-mirror-closer-than-they-appear.htm We hear all the time that the world has become a riskier place and that the smart thing to do is play it safe. But is that really true? And what do you give up when avoiding risk becomes your default? Economist Allison Schrager explains why younger people appear more risk-averse than previous generations, why safety has a price, and how to tell the difference between a foolish gamble and a risk actually worth taking. Allison is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion. She is author of Worth the Risk: The Seven Myths That Keep Us from Taking the Chances We Need to Take (https://link.amazon/B0cRfL4UU). Right now, there are things you believe about yourself that feel like undeniable facts. Maybe you believe you’re bad at something, that certain people don’t like you, or that you simply aren’t the kind of person who can do certain things. But what if some of those “facts” aren’t facts at all? They may be what social psychologist Owen Fitzpatrick calls inner propaganda—stories your mind has repeated so often that you’ve come to accept them as truth. Owen explains why this inner propaganda can be so convincing and, most importantly, how to recognize it and challenge it. He has studied propaganda around the world, including in North Korea, and his TEDx talk on mind control has been viewed more than 1.4 million times. His latest book is Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times (https://link.amazon/B0aZRzMzg). Cats are missing the ability to taste something humans often find irresistible. Oddly enough, cats can also taste something that we can't. Neither is an accident. The explanation goes back to what cats evolved to eat—and offers a fascinating little glimpse into just how differently your cat experiences its dinner. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-cats-taste-no-sweets/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https:AquaTru.com⁠ and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who doesn’t like a bit of juicy gossip? We tend to think gossip is petty, mean or something we probably shouldn’t be doing. Yet practically everyone gossips—and it turns out there are some very good reasons why. Gossip actually serves several useful purposes in our personal and professional lives. It can help us figure out whom to trust, learn what’s going on within a group and warn us about people we might want to steer clear of. So why does gossip have such a bad reputation? When does it turn nasty? And is there a right way to gossip? Frank McAndrew is one of the leading researchers on the psychology of gossip. He joins me to explain why we gossip, why most gossip isn’t nearly as bad as we think, and how to gossip well. Frank is Professor of Psychology at Knox College in Illinois. You can learn more about him at https://www.frankmcandrew.com/. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https:AquaTru.com⁠ and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever tried to look at your phone while wearing sunglasses and found the screen strangely dark—or even completely black—there’s a fascinating reason why. And you don’t necessarily have to take off your sunglasses to fix it. Listen and discover a very simple trick. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/sunglasses/lenses/polarized-lenses-and-lcd-screens/ Imagine walking into a meeting, party or conference and quickly figuring out who has influence, who knows whom, who feels uncomfortable and what is really going on beneath the surface. That’s the skill of “reading the room.” Some people seem naturally good at it, but it turns out the rest of us can learn it too. Pamela Meyer explains what to watch and listen for—and how becoming a better social observer can give you a real advantage at work and in everyday life. Pamela is an expert in deception and human behavior, a Certified Fraud Examiner and founder and CEO of Calibrate. She is author of How to Read the Room: The Art and Science of Social Observation(https://link.amazon/B07AOq218). Most of us assume that good self-esteem comes from feeling positive about ourselves. But trying to convince yourself that you’re wonderful may not work—and can sometimes make you feel worse. So where does genuine self-worth actually come from? Psychologist Dr. Marisa Franco explains the surprising science of self-esteem, why compliments and positive self-talk don’t always have the effect we expect, and what actually helps us feel more secure in ourselves and our relationships. Marisa is a professor at the University of Maryland and author of Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment (https://link.amazon/B01yeoZk0). There is an unmistakable smell when you walk into an old bookstore or open a book that has been sitting on a shelf for decades. Where does that “old book smell” actually come from? Even more interesting is why so many people find it so pleasant. It turns out there’s some intriguing chemistry—and psychology—behind it. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/why-do-old-books-smell-so-good PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to https:AquaTru.com and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is your posture right now? If your shoulders are slouched, you may be sending a message to other people that you never intended to send. Your shoulders can communicate confidence, uncertainty, stress and more. Listen as I explain what your posture may be saying about you. https://www.jnforensics.com/post/what-the-shoulders-say-about-us Why are dogs so picky about where they poop? Can cats tell how you’re feeling? And does a goldfish really have a three-second memory? We love our pets, but some of the things they do can be baffling. Eleanor Spicer Rice is an entomologist and author of Your Pet’s Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors (https://amzn.to/3BblxB3). Listen as she reveals what’s really behind some of the strangest things our pets do. Your brain doesn’t work the same way all day long. Certain kinds of thinking are easier at particular times, which means when you tackle a task may be almost as important as how you tackle it. Dr. Mithu Storoni is a physician, neuroscience researcher and author of Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work (https://amzn.to/3TAAOSd). Listen as she explains how to work with your brain’s natural rhythm instead of fighting against it. You might assume that someone with a bigger head has a bigger brain — and therefore must be smarter. Sounds logical, but is it true? Scientists have actually looked at the relationship between brain size and intelligence, and the answer is more interesting than you might expect. Listen and find out what really matters. https://odditiesbizarre.com/people-with-big-heads/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When someone gets a nosebleed, what are you supposed to do? Many of us learned that you should tilt your head back. That’s not a good idea. There are a couple of key actions to take when your nose bleeds that many people don’t know or don’t do. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-nosebleeds/basics/art-20056683 It’s easy to dismiss optimism as hoping for the best or always looking for the bright side. Yet, true optimism is so much more than that once you understand it. And adopting an optimistic mindset has been proven to make people happier, improve health and longevity and a host of other benefits. True optimism is a belief about yourself as you are about to hear from Michelle Gielan. She is a positive psychology researcher, former anchor of the CBS Morning News and author of the book Resilient Optimism (https://amzn.to/4xNeyqi). For decades, the go to food for breakfast for many people is cereal. Is it a good choice? Well, that’s going to depend on which of the many cereals you choose. Where did cereals come from and how did they become synonymous with breakfast? What’s in them? And should you really start your day with a bowl of it. Here to discuss that is Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at NYU a leading expert on food politics. She is the author of many books, and her latest is Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America's Favorite Breakfast Food. (https://amzn.to/46NqQTL). Everyone knows walking is good for you. But there is a particular time when a walk or even a leisurely stroll can pay big dividends. And the right time to take that stroll depends on when you eat. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/walking-after-eating PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Someone says nine wonderful things about you and one negative thing. Which one are you still thinking about hours later? Probably the negative one. Bad experiences, criticism and unpleasant news seem to have more power over us than equally good things. And it turns out there is a reason for that. Psychologists call it the negativity effect — our tendency to give more weight and attention to what goes wrong than to what goes right. It influences what we remember, the risks we take, the decisions we make and even how we judge other people. We will often work harder to avoid something bad than we will to gain something equally good. John Tierney has researched this phenomenon and explains why negativity has such a powerful hold on us — and, more importantly, what we can do about it. John is a journalist and co-author of The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It (https://amzn.to/30Gn3EQ). Listen as he reveals how the negativity effect shows up in relationships, work, parenting and everyday decisions — and how understanding it can keep the bad from overpowering all the good. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do your fingers and toes sometimes feel freezing cold when the rest of you feels perfectly comfortable? It’s actually your body doing something very deliberate to protect you. Listen and discover what’s going on — and why warming those fingers and toes back up can be so difficult. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold-and-should-i-worry Are you getting enough sleep? Is it good-quality sleep? Why did you wake up at 3 a.m.? For a lot of people, sleep has become something to measure, manage and worry about. But all that effort may actually be making sleep worse. Sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski says one of the best things you can do for your sleep may be to stop trying so hard. She has worked in sleep research at Harvard Medical School and is author of Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic & Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep (https://amzn.to/3SOGsmM). Listen as she explains why sleep is more resilient than you think — and how worrying about it can become the real problem. There is something almost irresistible about “new.” A new phone, new car, new clothes, new gadgets — new things grab our attention and promise that life will somehow be a little better once we have them. And today, getting something new is easier than ever. But all that novelty comes at a price in money, time and attention. Eric Athas, an editor at The New York Times, explores why we are so attracted to new things, why the feeling wears off so quickly and what we may gain by resisting the urge to constantly upgrade. He is author of Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness―And How to Take Back Your Life(https://amzn.to/4iTUs9c). Goosebumps are strange when you think about them. They appear when you’re cold, scared or even moved by music — yet they don’t seem to accomplish much. Turns out they once served a very useful purpose. Listen and discover why humans still get goosebumps even though we no longer have much use for them. https://humanorigins.si.edu/education/fun-facts/why-do-we-get-goose-bumps PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have become much more of a cashless society in the last few years. That turns out to be a good thing because cash is really disgusting. Listen as I explain just how disgusting and you are not going to like it! Source: Elizabeth Scott, author of How to Prevent Food Poisoning (https://amzn.to/3XKAvHf). Horses are the “Swiss army knife of animals.” They can do so much. Consequently, over the last 5,000 years they have done more to shape our lives and alter human history than any other animal. If it weren’t for horses, your life today would be considerably different. That’s according to my guest, Timothy Winegard who has researched the remarkable impact horses have had on us. He is author of the book, The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity (https://amzn.to/4grRHZa). Listen as Timothy takes you on a fascinating journey through equine history. Being lazy isn’t considered a good thing by most people. But maybe it is. If you want to achieve your goals and be successful, there is a great case to be made for being lazy some of the time That’s according to Todd McElroy. He is a researcher, educator, and author of the book The Science of Laziness (Achieving More by Doing Less) (https://amzn.to/4e1R5rw). Listen as Todd explains the power of strategic laziness and revels exactly how to do it. In the heat of summer, air conditioning can be wonderful. Still, it can also be the source of concern, particularly when it comes to weight gain and obesity. Listen as I explain the connection and why we need to be concerned. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-gravity-weight/201606/body-weight-in-the-time-climate-control PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠https://kachava.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Certain smells can instantly transport you back to another time and place — sometimes more vividly than a photograph ever could. Why is your sense of smell so closely tied to memory, and why are those memories often so emotional? Listen and find out. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/connections-between-smell-memory-and-health Getting good customer service can feel like an obstacle course. You can’t reach a human being, the chatbot sends you in circles, you wait on hold forever, and sometimes it seems as if the company would simply prefer that you give up. So what actually works when you have a problem and need someone to fix it? Christopher Elliott has spent years helping consumers get results, and he explains the strategies that work, the mistakes that can make things worse, and how some companies manage to provide extraordinary service while others fail miserably. Christopher is a consumer advocate and nationally syndicated columnist who writes the newsletter Elliott Confidential. You can find his work and subscribe at https://www.elliott.org. His podcast is at https://www.elliottshow.com. Remote controls are incredibly convenient — right up until you lose one in the couch cushions or stare at a row of buttons you have never pressed and have no idea what they do. And the remote has changed far more than just the way we watch television. The surprisingly interesting story of how remote controls came to be, how they changed our behavior, and where they may be headed next is told by Caetlin Benson-Allott. She is a professor of English and Film & Media Studies at Georgetown University and author of the book Remote Control (https://amzn.to/4xDig5W). Why do your fingers and toes get all wrinkly after you’ve been in the water for a while? It turns out it is not simply because your skin soaks up water. Your body is actually doing something quite deliberate — and scientists think there is a very practical evolutionary reason for it. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-water-makes-your-skin-look-like-a-prune-and-not-a-plum PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠https://kachava.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does time seem to move faster and faster the older you get? Summers that once felt endless suddenly seem to disappear in a flash. There are some intriguing theories about why our perception of time changes — and what may actually slow it down. Your brain is constantly interpreting the world, making predictions and influencing what you think and do — usually without you realizing it. That helps explain some surprisingly common quirks of human behavior. Why do we tend to believe we have more control over events than we really do? Why are we so easily influenced by advertising even when we know exactly what advertisers are trying to accomplish? And why does your sense of time change so dramatically over the course of your life? Here to explore these and other fascinating questions about how your mind works is Art Markman, professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of Brain Briefs: Answers to the Most (and Least) Pressing Questions About Your Mind (https://amzn.to/2xcxdyJ). Art explains some of the hidden mental processes quietly shaping the way you experience the world — and why understanding them can help you better understand yourself. Your brain is doing a lot behind the scenes that you never notice. And some of what it is doing may explain behaviors and experiences you have probably wondered about for years. Art Markman’s website: http://www.smartthinkingbook.com/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to https://kachava.com and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠https://Trees.com ⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do leaves turn such spectacular colors every fall? It seems as if the green simply changes to red, orange or yellow — but that isn’t quite what happens. There is a lot more going on inside those leaves than you might imagine. Listen as I explain the fascinating process that creates the colors of autumn. https://www.weather.gov/dvn/climate_fall_colors When you want to make a big change — lose weight, save money, get ahead at work, break a habit — the usual advice is to buckle down and try harder. But there may be a much smarter and easier way. Research shows that where you are and who you surround yourself with can dramatically change what you do and who you become. Angela Duckworth joins me to explain why changing your situation can sometimes be far more effective than relying on willpower — and how to deliberately put yourself in places and around people that bring out your best. Angela is a psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Her TED Talk is one of the most watched of all time, and her book Grit was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her new book is Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best (https://amzn.to/4xvpE3g). Cats are strange pets when you think about it. They can be affectionate one minute and act as if you don't exist the next. Yet humans have welcomed hundreds of millions of them into our homes. So how did this unlikely relationship begin? It turns out cats had something humans desperately needed — and humans had something cats wanted just as badly. Rod Phillips reveals the remarkable history of how cats worked their way into human civilization and ultimately into our homes and hearts. Rod is a professor of history at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and author of Cats: A History (https://amzn.to/3SEKrCi). Why does food often taste so lousy on an airplane? You might blame the airline or whoever prepared your meal, but part of the problem is actually you. At 35,000 feet, something happens that can make perfectly good food taste surprisingly different. Listen and you may never judge airplane food quite the same way again. https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-04-03/why-airline-food-tastes-so-bad PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠https://Trees.com ⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some very popular drinks can do a surprising amount of damage to your teeth. Which ones are the worst offenders? This episode begins with what certain drinks do to your tooth enamel and some simple ways to minimize the damage if you drink them. https://news.uthscsa.edu/more-u-s-teeth-susceptible-to-silent-enamel-eating-syndrome/ You are surrounded by gases every moment of your life. They fill your lungs, power engines, warm the planet and help create stars—yet gases may be the least understood materials in our world. Mark Miodownik reveals the fascinating and often surprising ways gases shape our lives. He is professor of materials and society at University College London and author of It’s a Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World (https://amzn.to/3XDpcjX). People casually say they’re “addicted” to their phones, shopping, social media or video games. But when does something you enjoy—or simply do a lot—cross the line into addiction? And why are some things so incredibly hard to stop? Psychotherapist Talitha Fosh explains what really makes us get hooked and what it takes to break free. She is author of Hooked: Why We Are Addicted and How to Break Free (https://amzn.to/3XDW8sq). The shoes you wear while driving can actually affect how safely you control the car—and some popular types of footwear are particularly bad choices. So what should you wear, and is driving barefoot really dangerous? Listen as I sort out the best and worst footwear for driving. https://www.rd.com/list/shoes-shouldnt-wear-driving/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠https://Trees.com ⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the power goes out, how long will food in your refrigerator and freezer stay safe? And how bad is it to open the door and check? Consumer Reports has some useful answers that could save you from throwing out perfectly good food—or eating something you shouldn’t. https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/emergency-preparedness/what-to-feed-your-family-when-the-power-is-out-a4425760304/ Before you trust an airplane, a child’s toy or just about anything else, it has probably been subjected to some serious testing—and some of those tests get wonderfully weird. Engineers have fired chickens into jet engines and enlisted real bears to test bear-proof containers. Alex Davies takes us inside this strange, mostly invisible world of product testing. He is a senior editor at Amazon and author of Kobuk the Destroyer: And Other Tales from the Wild, Unseen World of Test Engineering (https://amzn.to/3UR4YEg). You may not consider yourself especially sensitive—but chances are you know someone who feels things more intensely than others. Criticism can really sting, rejection can linger, and an offhand remark can hit surprisingly hard. Why are some people wired this way, and is it something they need to change? Psychiatrist Dr. Sasha Hamdani explains the science of sensitivity, rejection and resilience. She is author of Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply (https://amzn.to/4c9bgFn). When you are suspicious that someone is lying to you, watching them for clues may be counterproductive. Those commonly believed visual giveaways are often inaccurate. But there is another way to help confirm whether someone is lying that can be much more accurate and it easy to do. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/14/hidden-secret-to-spotting-a-liar-voice-inflections PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TREES.COM: Right now, https://Trees.com have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do you believe some people almost immediately, while others make you skeptical? You might assume credibility comes down to expertise, experience and having the facts on your side. But there is much more going on. Research shows that we respond to subtle signals that can make someone seem more believable — sometimes before we’ve really considered what they’re saying. Even more surprising, some of the things people do to appear credible can actually make them less convincing. And many of the signals that influence us have little to do with the actual message. Understanding this matters more than ever. Every day we have to decide which experts, politicians, salespeople, coworkers, influencers and strangers we should believe — and which ones we shouldn’t. Stephen Martin is a visiting professor of behavioral science at Columbia University and an expert on influence and persuasion. He is co-author of Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don’t, and Why (https://amzn.to/2MDAtej). He joins me to explain the surprisingly subtle characteristics that make people seem credible, why they work on us, and how understanding them can help you become more persuasive — and a little harder to fool. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been completely stuck trying to solve a problem or come up with a new idea? There is a remarkably simple thing you can do that research shows can get your creative juices flowing. And it works surprisingly well. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2014/04/walking-vs-sitting-042414 Can you actually think yourself sick? Absolutely. It’s called the nocebo effect — essentially the evil twin of the placebo effect. If a doctor warns you that a medication might cause certain side effects, simply hearing that can make those symptoms more likely to occur. The same thing can happen when you read about an illness or medication online. Your expectations can trigger very real physical symptoms. So how does that happen — and how do you protect yourself from it? Helen Pilcher is a science writer with a PhD in neuroscience from London’s Institute of Psychiatry, and she has some remarkable examples of the nocebo effect in action. She is author of This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo’s Evil Twin (https://amzn.to/4qvrdLU). Why are sideburns called sideburns? How could the first automatic door possibly have been invented before the birth of Christ? And where in the world did the word dude come from? Those are just a few of the strange facts and curious word origins explored by Jess Zafarris. She joins me to reveal some fascinating bits of history and language that will leave you with plenty of things you never knew you wanted to know. Jess is co-author of A Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts for Curious Humans Who Have Nothing Better to Do Than Read (https://amzn.to/4wFtLZq). When you say something embarrassing, have a bad hair day or just feel awkward in a group, it can seem as if everyone notices. But how closely are other people really paying attention to you? Psychologists have studied this, and what they discovered should make your next embarrassing moment a little easier to handle. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199612/why-bad-hair-days-may-not-matter PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eye contact can be tricky. Too little can make you seem bored or distracted. Too much can get uncomfortable fast. So what is the right amount? This episode begins with some fascinating research on eye contact and the subtle signals you send with your eyes. http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/07/how-eye-contact-works.php Someone tells you a secret and makes you promise not to tell. You intend to keep that promise — so why can the urge to tell someone else become so strong? Secrets can weigh on us, yet revealing one can damage relationships and destroy trust. So which secrets do we keep, which do we tell and who do we tell them to? Andrew Gold is an investigative journalist, podcaster and filmmaker who has made documentaries for the BBC and HBO. He is author of The Psychology of Secrets: My Adventures with Murderers, Cults and Influencers (https://amzn.to/3MiwXoS). Listen as he explores why keeping something to yourself can be surprisingly difficult. Why is the alphabet in the order ABCDE? Why do we have uppercase and lowercase letters? What’s the dot over a lowercase i and j for? And why do we capitalize I? Behind many of the oddities of English are some wonderful stories. Linguist Paul Anthony Jones joins me to explain how some of the strangest features of our language got that way. He has a popular YouTube channel devoted to language and is author of Why Is This a Question?: Everything About the Origins and Oddities of Language You Never Thought to Ask (https://amzn.to/3Z0Nrtm). Humans have long debated monogamy, but some animals seem to have it figured out. A handful form remarkably strong pair bonds that can last for years — sometimes for life. Listen as I reveal which creatures are among nature’s most devoted couples. https://www.treehugger.com/animals-that-mate-for-life-4869332 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to significantly improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep? There is one surprisingly simple thing you can do during the day that may actually help you sleep better that night. And no, it doesn’t involve exercise, meditation or giving up your phone. This episode begins with what it is and why it may work. https://sleepopolis.com/news/make-bed-better-sleep/ Every language and every culture has swear words. We’re taught as children not to say them, yet somehow we all learn exactly what they are. So why does swearing exist in the first place? And why are certain words considered so much more powerful and offensive than others? It turns out that swearing serves some interesting purposes — and under the right circumstances, it may even have some benefits. Timothy Jay is one of the world’s leading authorities on the psychology of swearing. He is professor emeritus of psychology at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and author of Cursing in America (https://amzn.to/3CMIs36) and Why We Curse (https://amzn.to/46hZ2FN). Listen as he reveals where our swear words come from, why they have such emotional punch and what happens when we use them. Confidence is one of those qualities that seems easy to recognize in other people and much harder to summon up in yourself — especially at the exact moment you need it. Maybe you need to speak up, walk into a room full of strangers, ask for something you want or handle a difficult conversation. So can you actually become more confident on demand? Selena Rezvani says you can, and the techniques are surprisingly practical. Selena is a speaker, journalist and author of Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Create Connections and Make Bold Bets on Yourself (https://amzn.to/43WVJ59). She joins me with simple strategies you can use to quiet self-doubt, appear more confident and actually feel more confident when it counts. Could changing the expression on your face actually change the way you feel? There is a remarkably simple thing you can do with your face right now that may give your mood a little lift. Listen as I explain what to do — and the intriguing reason it appears to work. Source: Dr. Stephanie McClellan, author of The Ultimate Stress Relief Plan for Women (https://amzn.to/3NLj04s). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Processed food has gotten a pretty terrible reputation. We’re warned to avoid foods with long ingredient lists, mysterious additives and chemical names we can’t pronounce. “Ultra-processed” has practically become another way of saying “bad for you.” But is that a useful way to judge what we eat? After all, almost everything we eat has been processed in some way, and everything we eat — including perfectly natural food — is made of chemicals. So how can you tell which ingredients are worth worrying about and which ones just sound scary? Why do manufacturers put preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial flavors, stabilizers and other additives into food in the first place? And does a complicated-looking ingredient label actually tell you much about whether a food is healthy? Here to sort through the chemistry is George Zaidan, an MIT-trained chemist who created National Geographic’s web series Ingredients: The Stuff Inside Your Stuff. He is also author of Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us (https://amzn.to/2Zykgij). Listen as George explains what some of those strange-sounding ingredients actually are, what they do, what the science says about their safety and why our instincts about “natural” versus “chemical” can sometimes lead us astray. If you have ever stood in a grocery store reading a label and wondered, “What IS all this stuff?” this conversation may change the way you look at what’s in your food. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠https://Monarch.com⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https://AquaTru.com⁠ now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever notice that the trip home often seems shorter than the trip there—even when the distance and travel time are exactly the same? It happens so often that researchers have given it a name: the “return trip effect.” And the explanation reveals something fascinating about how your brain experiences time. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3179583 You’re told to “take charge of your healthcare.” But how exactly are you supposed to do that when the doctor is the expert, appointments are short, and navigating the healthcare system can be frustrating and confusing? It turns out there is a lot you can do to get better care. Dr. Lucy McBride explains how to make better use of your doctor, ask the right questions, know when to push for answers, and become a more effective partner in your own healthcare. She is a primary care physician and author of Beyond the Prescription: A Doctor’s Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health (https://amzn.to/4hAEoc3). Weather is doing things to you that you probably never realize. Sunshine, rain, heat, cold, wind and even changes in atmospheric pressure can affect how you think, feel, sleep and behave. Why are some people far more sensitive to weather than others? Can certain weather actually make us more aggressive or anxious? And why can a particular kind of day trigger such powerful memories and emotions? Dr. Trevor Harley has spent years studying the surprisingly intimate relationship between weather and the human mind. He is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Dundee and author of Head in the Clouds: How the Weather Affects Our Minds and Mental Health (https://amzn.to/4xN5L7v). Could you tell whether water is hot or cold just by listening to someone pour it? You probably can—even if you’ve never realized it. Hot and cold water actually sound different, and there is a fascinating reason why. https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/why-does-hot-water-sound-different-cold-water-when-poured PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at https://Monarch.com to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to https://AquaTru.com now and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably know that light, noise, temperature and stress can all interfere with your sleep. But what about the moon? Strange as it sounds, some research suggests people really do sleep differently around the time of a full moon — even when they aren’t outside looking at it. So what could possibly explain that? Listen as I reveal what researchers have discovered. https://www.self.com/story/full-moon-sleep Most of us know instinctively that music can change how we feel. The right song can calm you down, lift your mood or bring back a memory in an instant. But scientists are discovering that music may do considerably more than that. There is now fascinating research into how music can affect the brain and body and even be used to help treat certain medical conditions. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin has been following this research for years, and he joins me to explain what we now know about the remarkable connection between music and our health. Dan is author of the book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine (https://amzn.to/46QoQcE). Technology does so many things for us that we no longer have to do for ourselves. GPS finds our way, search engines remember things for us, and our phones make sure we never have to sit quietly with nothing to do. Convenient? Absolutely. But what happens to the human abilities we stop using? Some surprisingly important skills are beginning to fade from our lives, and losing them may have consequences we haven’t considered. Graham Lee joins me to explain which skills are disappearing, why they still matter and what we can do to get them back. He is author of the book Human Being: Reclaim 12 Vital Skills We’re Losing to Technology (https://amzn.to/46MP53A). Your brain is not equally good at everything all day long. There are times when you may be better at concentrating, solving problems or doing mentally demanding work — and other times when trying to force it may be an uphill battle. So how do you know when your brain is at its best? Listen as I explain how understanding your brain’s natural rhythms can help you decide what to do — and when to do it. David Rock is author of Your Brain at Work (https://amzn.to/4g3Fk5F). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a goal you really want to accomplish, when you start may matter more than you think. January 1st gets all the attention, but there are other dates and occasions that can give you a surprisingly powerful motivational boost. https://behavioralscientist.org/new-years-resolutions-failed-be-prepared-to-leverage-other-fresh-starts How often do you strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know very well? Probably not as often as you could. It is usually easier to look at your phone, avoid eye contact and keep to yourself. Yet those little interactions you have with a cashier, a neighbor, a coworker or even a stranger in line can have a surprisingly big impact on your life. And chances are, you are seriously underestimating how much you and the other person will enjoy them. Nicholas Epley joins me to explain the fascinating research showing what happens when we become just a little more social and why the payoff can extend well beyond simply having a pleasant conversation. Nicholas is a professor of behavioral science and director of the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His new book is A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection (https://amzn.to/4g5vYHf). Spend enough time watching the news and it can seem as if the end of the world is always just around the corner. Nuclear war, artificial intelligence, asteroids, pandemics, climate change — there appears to be no shortage of things that could wipe us out. But which threats should genuinely worry us, which ones are wildly exaggerated. Ben Bradford has been investigating the things that supposedly threaten our existence and what he has discovered may change how you think about all those dire warnings. Ben is a journalist and host of the NPR podcast Are We Doomed? (https://doompod.com/), which examines the threats facing humanity — both real and imagined. Every time you fill your car with gas, you trust a surprisingly simple piece of technology to do something very important: stop the pump at exactly the right moment. So how does it know? Listen as I reveal the clever bit of engineering hiding inside every gas pump. https://www.southernliving.com/should-you-keep-pumping-gas-after-the-nozzle-clicks-off-12027088 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seems like paying attention should be easy. Yet for many of us, it has become one of the hardest things to do. We start reading an article and suddenly we're checking email. We pick up our phone to do one thing and, twenty minutes later, we've forgotten why we picked it up in the first place. We often blame ourselves for lacking discipline, but what if that's only part of the story? Is our ability to focus actually being stolen—and if so, by whom? Journalist and bestselling author Johann Hari set out to answer those questions by traveling the world and interviewing many of the leading scientists and experts studying attention, distraction, and the brain. What he discovered challenges many of the assumptions we have about why it's become so difficult to concentrate and why simply trying harder isn't enough. In this fascinating conversation, Johann explains what's really happening to our attention, why deep focus matters so much for creativity, productivity, happiness, and relationships, and what all of us can do to reclaim it. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by distractions or wondered why staying focused seems harder than it used to, you'll find this discussion both eye-opening and surprisingly hopeful. Johann Hari is the author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—And How to Think Deeply Again (https://amzn.to/3Mfsp12). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seems like paying attention should be easy. Yet for many of us, it has become one of the hardest things to do. We start reading an article and suddenly we're checking email. We pick up our phone to do one thing and, twenty minutes later, we've forgotten why we picked it up in the first place. We often blame ourselves for lacking discipline, but what if that's only part of the story? Is our ability to focus actually being stolen—and if so, by whom? Journalist and bestselling author Johann Hari set out to answer those questions by traveling the world and interviewing many of the leading scientists and experts studying attention, distraction, and the brain. What he discovered challenges many of the assumptions we have about why it's become so difficult to concentrate and why simply trying harder isn't enough. In this fascinating conversation, Johann explains what's really happening to our attention, why deep focus matters so much for creativity, productivity, happiness, and relationships, and what all of us can do to reclaim it. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by distractions or wondered why staying focused seems harder than it used to, you'll find this discussion both eye-opening and surprisingly hopeful. Johann Hari is the author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—And How to Think Deeply Again (https://amzn.to/3Mfsp12). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "It smells like rain"? It turns out that distinctive scent is very real—and it's not your imagination. Scientists know exactly where it comes from, why some people notice it more than others, and why it can signal that rain is on the way. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-causes-the-smell-after-rain-180974692/ Love Amazon or hate it, there's no denying it has changed the way we shop—and perhaps the way business itself is done. But how did Amazon become so dominant? What really happened behind the scenes as Jeff Bezos built one of the world's most powerful companies? The story is far more complicated—and far more surprising—than most people realize. Joining me to pull back the curtain is Dana Mattioli, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal who has been reporting on Amazon for years. She is author of The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power (https://amzn.to/4qdwEin). We like to think social media simply documents our lives. But what if it's quietly changing the way we experience them in the first place? Are vacations, birthdays, dinners, and even everyday moments becoming less about living them and more about making them look good on Instagram? Kathryn Jezer-Morton says social media isn't just influencing what we post—it is reshaping our memories, our identities, and the stories we tell about ourselves. Kathryn is a journalist, New York magazine columnist, and author of The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything (https://amzn.to/3Skz16s). There's something about hotel towels that just feels better. They're softer, fluffier, and more luxurious than the ones hanging in most bathrooms at home. Is it the towels themselves, or is there a simple trick hotels know that most of us don't? The answer may surprise you—and it could make every shower a little more enjoyable. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/laundry/how-to-make-your-towels-soft-and-fluffy-again/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "It smells like rain"? It turns out that distinctive scent is very real—and it's not your imagination. Scientists know exactly where it comes from, why some people notice it more than others, and why it can signal that rain is on the way. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-causes-the-smell-after-rain-180974692/ Love Amazon or hate it, there's no denying it has changed the way we shop—and perhaps the way business itself is done. But how did Amazon become so dominant? What really happened behind the scenes as Jeff Bezos built one of the world's most powerful companies? The story is far more complicated—and far more surprising—than most people realize. Joining me to pull back the curtain is Dana Mattioli, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal who has been reporting on Amazon for years. She is author of The Everything War: Amazon's Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power (https://amzn.to/4qdwEin). We like to think social media simply documents our lives. But what if it's quietly changing the way we experience them in the first place? Are vacations, birthdays, dinners, and even everyday moments becoming less about living them and more about making them look good on Instagram? Kathryn Jezer-Morton says social media isn't just influencing what we post—it is reshaping our memories, our identities, and the stories we tell about ourselves. Kathryn is a journalist, New York magazine columnist, and author of The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything (https://amzn.to/3Skz16s). There's something about hotel towels that just feels better. They're softer, fluffier, and more luxurious than the ones hanging in most bathrooms at home. Is it the towels themselves, or is there a simple trick hotels know that most of us don't? The answer may surprise you—and it could make every shower a little more enjoyable. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/laundry/how-to-make-your-towels-soft-and-fluffy-again/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! HEALTH MATTERS: If you enjoy learning new ways to live a healthier life, check out NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters. Listen now and follow NewYork-Presbyterian's Health Matters wherever you get podcasts. SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think dogs see the world only in black and white—but that's simply not true. Dogs do see color, just not the same colors you do. Understanding how your dog actually experiences the world explains everything from why certain toys are easier to find to why some colors practically disappear. It's a fascinating glimpse into life through your dog's eyes. Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors Disasters strike without warning, leaving people with only seconds to react. Yet those first few moments often determine who survives and who doesn't. Surprisingly, the biggest factor isn't always physical strength, experience, or even luck. It's how your brain responds under extreme stress. Amanda Ripley has spent years studying real-life disasters and the people who lived through them. She explains what happens inside your mind during an emergency, why so many people freeze or make dangerous decisions, and what you can do now to dramatically improve your chances when the unthinkable happens. Amanda is author of the book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why (https://amzn.to/4fGJakN). Many people think spending lots of time alone is a sign that something is wrong—that you're lonely, antisocial, or missing out on life. But research tells a very different story. Solitude, when chosen rather than forced, can improve creativity, emotional resilience, relationships, and even your overall well-being. Psychologist Netta Weinstein explains why healthy solitude is one of the most misunderstood tools for living a happier, healthier life—and how to know whether you're getting too much, too little, or just the right amount. She is author of the book Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone (https://amzn.to/3X1XkWf). Your phone goes almost everywhere you do—into your hands, your pocket, your car, the kitchen, even the bathroom. Along the way, it quietly picks up far more than texts and emails. The surprising part isn't that your phone is covered with germs—it's how easily those germs can wind up on you. Listen as I explain why your phone deserves more attention than you probably give it and the simple habit that can keep it from becoming a health hazard. Source: https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/quick-dose-is-your-cell-phone-making-you-sick PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think dogs see the world only in black and white—but that's simply not true. Dogs do see color, just not the same colors you do. Understanding how your dog actually experiences the world explains everything from why certain toys are easier to find to why some colors practically disappear. It's a fascinating glimpse into life through your dog's eyes. Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors Disasters strike without warning, leaving people with only seconds to react. Yet those first few moments often determine who survives and who doesn't. Surprisingly, the biggest factor isn't always physical strength, experience, or even luck. It's how your brain responds under extreme stress. Amanda Ripley has spent years studying real-life disasters and the people who lived through them. She explains what happens inside your mind during an emergency, why so many people freeze or make dangerous decisions, and what you can do now to dramatically improve your chances when the unthinkable happens. Amanda is author of the book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why (https://amzn.to/4fGJakN). Many people think spending lots of time alone is a sign that something is wrong—that you're lonely, antisocial, or missing out on life. But research tells a very different story. Solitude, when chosen rather than forced, can improve creativity, emotional resilience, relationships, and even your overall well-being. Psychologist Netta Weinstein explains why healthy solitude is one of the most misunderstood tools for living a happier, healthier life—and how to know whether you're getting too much, too little, or just the right amount. She is author of the book Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone (https://amzn.to/3X1XkWf). Your phone goes almost everywhere you do—into your hands, your pocket, your car, the kitchen, even the bathroom. Along the way, it quietly picks up far more than texts and emails. The surprising part isn't that your phone is covered with germs—it's how easily those germs can wind up on you. Listen as I explain why your phone deserves more attention than you probably give it and the simple habit that can keep it from becoming a health hazard. Source: https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/quick-dose-is-your-cell-phone-making-you-sick PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to lose their hearing gradually while insisting they hear just fine? It turns out this isn't simply denial or stubbornness. The way hearing fades can fool the brain into believing everything is normal—often delaying treatment until significant hearing has already been lost. Listen as I explain what's really happening and why recognizing the signs isn't nearly as easy as you might think. Source: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss Few things are more painful—or more confusing—than discovering a partner has been unfaithful. Why do people risk everything for an affair? Is it simply a lack of self-control, or is something much deeper happening beneath the surface? And if infidelity comes to light, is the relationship automatically doomed, or can couples actually recover? Glenn Hutchinson, a clinical psychologist and behavioral researcher, joins me to separate myth from science and reveal what decades of research tells us about why people cheat, what their behavior really means, and what happens next. He is author of the new book Unfaithful Minds: The Science and Psychology of Infidelity (https://amzn.to/3UedjS8). Why do smart, capable people forget appointments, lose their train of thought, make impulsive decisions, or struggle to stay focused—even when they know better? The answer lies in something called executive function, the remarkable system in your brain that quietly manages attention, planning, memory, emotional control, and decision-making. When it works well, life feels easier. When it doesn't, the consequences can show up everywhere. Adrian Owen, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario, explains how executive function shapes nearly everything you do—and, more importantly, what you can do to strengthen it. He is author of the new book Think Before You Think: Understanding and Mastering Executive Function (https://amzn.to/4fGvlFd). Why do so many projects seem to fly along at first... only to crawl painfully toward the finish line? Whether you're remodeling a house, writing a report, or tackling a long to-do list, there's a surprising psychological reason the last stretch often feels endless. Once you understand what's happening, you'll have a much better chance of finishing on time instead of wondering where all the extra time disappeared. Source: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to lose their hearing gradually while insisting they hear just fine? It turns out this isn't simply denial or stubbornness. The way hearing fades can fool the brain into believing everything is normal—often delaying treatment until significant hearing has already been lost. Listen as I explain what's really happening and why recognizing the signs isn't nearly as easy as you might think. Source: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss Few things are more painful—or more confusing—than discovering a partner has been unfaithful. Why do people risk everything for an affair? Is it simply a lack of self-control, or is something much deeper happening beneath the surface? And if infidelity comes to light, is the relationship automatically doomed, or can couples actually recover? Glenn Hutchinson, a clinical psychologist and behavioral researcher, joins me to separate myth from science and reveal what decades of research tells us about why people cheat, what their behavior really means, and what happens next. He is author of the new book Unfaithful Minds: The Science and Psychology of Infidelity (https://amzn.to/3UedjS8). Why do smart, capable people forget appointments, lose their train of thought, make impulsive decisions, or struggle to stay focused—even when they know better? The answer lies in something called executive function, the remarkable system in your brain that quietly manages attention, planning, memory, emotional control, and decision-making. When it works well, life feels easier. When it doesn't, the consequences can show up everywhere. Adrian Owen, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario, explains how executive function shapes nearly everything you do—and, more importantly, what you can do to strengthen it. He is author of the new book Think Before You Think: Understanding and Mastering Executive Function (https://amzn.to/4fGvlFd). Why do so many projects seem to fly along at first... only to crawl painfully toward the finish line? Whether you're remodeling a house, writing a report, or tackling a long to-do list, there's a surprising psychological reason the last stretch often feels endless. Once you understand what's happening, you'll have a much better chance of finishing on time instead of wondering where all the extra time disappeared. Source: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us think of intelligence as something that happens entirely in the brain. But there's another kind of intelligence that lives in your body. It's what allows you to ride a bicycle years after your last ride, catch a ball without calculating its path, type on a keyboard without looking, or instinctively keep your balance on uneven ground. Scientists call this physical intelligence, and it's far more important to your everyday life than you may realize. According to my guest Scott Grafton, your body and brain are constantly working together in ways you're barely aware of. In fact, many of the skills you rely on every day don't come from conscious thought at all—they come from this remarkable partnership between mind and body. Modern life, however, may be working against us. As technology makes more of our daily tasks easier and more automated, we may be losing opportunities to develop and maintain the very abilities that help us navigate the physical world. That has consequences that go well beyond athletic performance. Scott Grafton is a professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the book Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Body and the Mind Guide Each Other Through Life (https://amzn.to/3aiI4dm). Listen as he explains how physical intelligence shapes the way we learn, move, solve problems, and interact with the world—and why challenging your body may be one of the best things you can do for your brain. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us think of intelligence as something that happens entirely in the brain. But there's another kind of intelligence that lives in your body. It's what allows you to ride a bicycle years after your last ride, catch a ball without calculating its path, type on a keyboard without looking, or instinctively keep your balance on uneven ground. Scientists call this physical intelligence, and it's far more important to your everyday life than you may realize. According to my guest Scott Grafton, your body and brain are constantly working together in ways you're barely aware of. In fact, many of the skills you rely on every day don't come from conscious thought at all—they come from this remarkable partnership between mind and body. Modern life, however, may be working against us. As technology makes more of our daily tasks easier and more automated, we may be losing opportunities to develop and maintain the very abilities that help us navigate the physical world. That has consequences that go well beyond athletic performance. Scott Grafton is a professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the book Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Body and the Mind Guide Each Other Through Life (https://amzn.to/3aiI4dm). Listen as he explains how physical intelligence shapes the way we learn, move, solve problems, and interact with the world—and why challenging your body may be one of the best things you can do for your brain. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heat can make people do some strange things. It can change your mood, cloud your judgment, and even affect the way you treat other people. Scientists have discovered that hot weather has a surprisingly powerful influence on the human mind—and the effects show up in places you would never expect. Listen as I explain what's really going on and why it's important to know. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/heat-affects-mental-health More people today say they feel their lives lack meaning and purpose than at any point in recent decades. Why? Has modern life quietly stripped away something essential—or are we simply searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places? And if purpose really is the key to a happier life, where does it actually come from? There is no better person to explore these questions with than my guest Arthur Brooks. He is a professor at Harvard Business School, one of the world's leading experts on happiness and human flourishing, a nationally syndicated columnist, CBS News contributor, and co-author with Oprah Winfrey of the bestselling book Build the Life You Want. His latest book is The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness (https://amzn.to/4yUyVTp). If you've ever wondered what truly gives life meaning—and why so many people struggle to find it—you'll find this conversation fascinating. Every few months it seems we're told to stop eating one food and start eating another. Fat is bad—until it isn't. Carbs are the problem—unless they're not. With so much conflicting advice, it's no wonder so many people have no idea what a healthy diet actually looks like. According to Daniel Lieberman, much of what we've been taught about food is based on myths, misconceptions, and oversimplified thinking. Lieberman is Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of Fed Up: A Hungry Person's Guide to the Story and Science of Food and Diets (https://amzn.to/4btal2d). He explains what the science really says, why nutrition has become so confusing, and how understanding our evolutionary past can help us make smarter decisions about what we eat. Have you ever worried that everyone could tell you were nervous? Maybe before giving a presentation, going on a date, or walking into an interview? Most of us assume our anxiety is obvious—but is it? The answer may surprise you. Listen as I reveal what researchers discovered about how well other people can actually read your emotions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9731312/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heat can make people do some strange things. It can change your mood, cloud your judgment, and even affect the way you treat other people. Scientists have discovered that hot weather has a surprisingly powerful influence on the human mind—and the effects show up in places you would never expect. Listen as I explain what's really going on and why it's important to know. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/heat-affects-mental-health More people today say they feel their lives lack meaning and purpose than at any point in recent decades. Why? Has modern life quietly stripped away something essential—or are we simply searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places? And if purpose really is the key to a happier life, where does it actually come from? There is no better person to explore these questions with than my guest Arthur Brooks. He is a professor at Harvard Business School, one of the world's leading experts on happiness and human flourishing, a nationally syndicated columnist, CBS News contributor, and co-author with Oprah Winfrey of the bestselling book Build the Life You Want. His latest book is The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness (https://amzn.to/4yUyVTp). If you've ever wondered what truly gives life meaning—and why so many people struggle to find it—you'll find this conversation fascinating. Every few months it seems we're told to stop eating one food and start eating another. Fat is bad—until it isn't. Carbs are the problem—unless they're not. With so much conflicting advice, it's no wonder so many people have no idea what a healthy diet actually looks like. According to Daniel Lieberman, much of what we've been taught about food is based on myths, misconceptions, and oversimplified thinking. Lieberman is Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of Fed Up: A Hungry Person's Guide to the Story and Science of Food and Diets (https://amzn.to/4btal2d). He explains what the science really says, why nutrition has become so confusing, and how understanding our evolutionary past can help us make smarter decisions about what we eat. Have you ever worried that everyone could tell you were nervous? Maybe before giving a presentation, going on a date, or walking into an interview? Most of us assume our anxiety is obvious—but is it? The answer may surprise you. Listen as I reveal what researchers discovered about how well other people can actually read your emotions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9731312/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder why you're always told to wait about 10 seconds before turning your phone, computer, router, or tablet back on after rebooting it? Is there really something magical about 10 seconds, or is it just one of those tech myths everyone repeats? The answer has to do with what happens inside your device after the power goes off—and why waiting just a little while can make all the difference. https://www.howtogeek.com/165110/do-i-really-have-to-unplug-my-cable-modem-for-at-least-10-seconds/ Americans throw away an astonishing amount of perfectly good food—about 40% of everything produced. That's money straight into the trash, and much of it is completely avoidable. The surprising part is that food waste often has less to do with leftovers and more to do with everyday habits, confusing expiration dates, oversized refrigerators, and the way we shop. Kathryn Kellogg explains simple, practical changes that can dramatically reduce waste, save you money, and make life a little easier. Kathryn is founder of Going Zero Waste and author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste (https://amzn.to/3yfHSMV) Kathryn's website GoingZeroWaste.com https://www.goingzerowaste.com Insects may be tiny, but they are among the most successful creatures ever to inhabit Earth. They pollinate crops, recycle dead plants and animals, feed countless other species, and have survived for hundreds of millions of years. Yet most of us know almost nothing about them. Why are there so many insects? What's the difference between a bug and an insect? Why do some live only a day while others survive for decades? And what would happen if they disappeared? Steve Nicholls answers these questions and reveals why the future of insects is closely tied to our own. Steve is an Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker and author of Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth, and Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future (https://amzn.to/4d1M1mP). An afternoon nap might seem like an indulgence, but research suggests it can be one of the easiest ways to improve alertness, memory, learning, and even problem-solving ability. The key isn't sleeping for hours—it's knowing how long to nap so you wake up refreshed instead of groggy. Listen as I explain why a short daytime snooze can actually make you smarter. https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a69068628/are-naps-healthy/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder why you're always told to wait about 10 seconds before turning your phone, computer, router, or tablet back on after rebooting it? Is there really something magical about 10 seconds, or is it just one of those tech myths everyone repeats? The answer has to do with what happens inside your device after the power goes off—and why waiting just a little while can make all the difference. https://www.howtogeek.com/165110/do-i-really-have-to-unplug-my-cable-modem-for-at-least-10-seconds/ Americans throw away an astonishing amount of perfectly good food—about 40% of everything produced. That's money straight into the trash, and much of it is completely avoidable. The surprising part is that food waste often has less to do with leftovers and more to do with everyday habits, confusing expiration dates, oversized refrigerators, and the way we shop. Kathryn Kellogg explains simple, practical changes that can dramatically reduce waste, save you money, and make life a little easier. Kathryn is founder of Going Zero Waste and author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste (https://amzn.to/3yfHSMV) Kathryn's website GoingZeroWaste.com https://www.goingzerowaste.com Insects may be tiny, but they are among the most successful creatures ever to inhabit Earth. They pollinate crops, recycle dead plants and animals, feed countless other species, and have survived for hundreds of millions of years. Yet most of us know almost nothing about them. Why are there so many insects? What's the difference between a bug and an insect? Why do some live only a day while others survive for decades? And what would happen if they disappeared? Steve Nicholls answers these questions and reveals why the future of insects is closely tied to our own. Steve is an Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker and author of Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth, and Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future (https://amzn.to/4d1M1mP). An afternoon nap might seem like an indulgence, but research suggests it can be one of the easiest ways to improve alertness, memory, learning, and even problem-solving ability. The key isn't sleeping for hours—it's knowing how long to nap so you wake up refreshed instead of groggy. Listen as I explain why a short daytime snooze can actually make you smarter. https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a69068628/are-naps-healthy/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans are remarkably bad at predicting how long something will take. Whether it's a home project, a work assignment, or even a quick trip across town, we almost always underestimate the time involved. Psychologists have studied this tendency for decades—and understanding why it happens can help you make better plans, meet more deadlines, and avoid unnecessary frustration. https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy We tend to think of imagination as something artists, inventors, and children rely on. But imagination is actually one of the most powerful—and overlooked—abilities we all possess. It shapes the decisions you make, the problems you solve, the goals you pursue, and even the life you create. There is fascinating science behind how imagination works, and once you understand it, you can use it far more effectively. My guest is Dr. Cassandra Vieten, clinical psychologist, Director of Research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at the University of California, San Diego, and author of the book Imagine That: Unlocking the Science of Imagination to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live (https://amzn.to/4bqbZl7) Here is the link to discover your imagination profile: https://imagination.ucsd.edu/profile/ Artificial intelligence can write essays, diagnose diseases, generate stunning images, and defeat the world's best chess players. Yet ask it to perform certain tasks that are effortless for a human child, and it can stumble badly. Why? What exactly makes AI so powerful in some areas—and surprisingly weak in others? Beneath the headlines are some fascinating realities about how AI actually works and where it still falls short. Here to explain it is Toby Walsh, one of the world's leading AI researchers. He is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Chief Scientist at its AI Institute, and author of The Shortest History of AI: The Six Essential Ideas That Animate It (https://amzn.to/4hCjycc) When a highway lane is closed ahead, should you merge immediately or wait until the very end? Most drivers have strong opinions, but traffic engineers have spent years studying what actually keeps traffic moving. The answer is NOT what many people expect—and understanding it may change the way you drive through every construction zone. https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/FHWA-HRT-23-070.pdf= PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans are remarkably bad at predicting how long something will take. Whether it's a home project, a work assignment, or even a quick trip across town, we almost always underestimate the time involved. Psychologists have studied this tendency for decades—and understanding why it happens can help you make better plans, meet more deadlines, and avoid unnecessary frustration. https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy We tend to think of imagination as something artists, inventors, and children rely on. But imagination is actually one of the most powerful—and overlooked—abilities we all possess. It shapes the decisions you make, the problems you solve, the goals you pursue, and even the life you create. There is fascinating science behind how imagination works, and once you understand it, you can use it far more effectively. My guest is Dr. Cassandra Vieten, clinical psychologist, Director of Research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at the University of California, San Diego, and author of the book Imagine That: Unlocking the Science of Imagination to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live (https://amzn.to/4bqbZl7) Here is the link to discover your imagination profile: https://imagination.ucsd.edu/profile/ Artificial intelligence can write essays, diagnose diseases, generate stunning images, and defeat the world's best chess players. Yet ask it to perform certain tasks that are effortless for a human child, and it can stumble badly. Why? What exactly makes AI so powerful in some areas—and surprisingly weak in others? Beneath the headlines are some fascinating realities about how AI actually works and where it still falls short. Here to explain it is Toby Walsh, one of the world's leading AI researchers. He is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Chief Scientist at its AI Institute, and author of The Shortest History of AI: The Six Essential Ideas That Animate It (https://amzn.to/4hCjycc) When a highway lane is closed ahead, should you merge immediately or wait until the very end? Most drivers have strong opinions, but traffic engineers have spent years studying what actually keeps traffic moving. The answer is NOT what many people expect—and understanding it may change the way you drive through every construction zone. https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/FHWA-HRT-23-070.pdf= PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who has ever owned a dog has probably wondered what goes on inside that furry little head. Does your dog feel guilty after chewing up your favorite shoes? Does it know when you've had a bad day? Does it love you the way you love it? We often assume we know what our dogs are thinking, but many of our assumptions are completely wrong. Understanding how dogs actually perceive the world can transform the relationship you have with your pet. According to dog behavior expert Camilla Gray-Nelson, dogs don't think the way humans do, and many common training mistakes happen because people expect dogs to understand things they simply don't. Once you begin to see the world from your dog's perspective, communication becomes easier, unwanted behaviors are easier to change, and training becomes far less frustrating—for both of you. Camilla shares fascinating insights into how dogs interpret our actions, what motivates their behavior, and how to build a happier, more cooperative relationship with your four-legged companion. She is author of Lipstick & the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's Way (http://amzn.to/2mkKr5Z). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who has ever owned a dog has probably wondered what goes on inside that furry little head. Does your dog feel guilty after chewing up your favorite shoes? Does it know when you've had a bad day? Does it love you the way you love it? We often assume we know what our dogs are thinking, but many of our assumptions are completely wrong. Understanding how dogs actually perceive the world can transform the relationship you have with your pet. According to dog behavior expert Camilla Gray-Nelson, dogs don't think the way humans do, and many common training mistakes happen because people expect dogs to understand things they simply don't. Once you begin to see the world from your dog's perspective, communication becomes easier, unwanted behaviors are easier to change, and training becomes far less frustrating—for both of you. Camilla shares fascinating insights into how dogs interpret our actions, what motivates their behavior, and how to build a happier, more cooperative relationship with your four-legged companion. She is author of Lipstick & the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's Way (http://amzn.to/2mkKr5Z). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're hungry, you know you're more interested in food. But hunger also changes the way you think—and the effects can spill over into decisions that have nothing to do with eating. Researchers have discovered some surprising consequences of making important choices on an empty stomach. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/press-release/dont-make-major-decisions-empty-stomach-research-suggests Finding cheap airfare has become almost a game. People swear by booking on Tuesdays, searching in incognito mode, or buying tickets at a certain time of day. But how much of that actually works? The truth is that airline pricing is driven by a surprisingly complex system—and once you understand what really causes fares to rise and fall, you can dramatically improve your odds of paying less. Here with an insider's look at how airfare pricing really works is Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), which tracks airfare deals for more than two million travelers worldwide. Listening to this conversation will save you money. People say they're "burned out" all the time. But are they really? According to the official definition, true burnout is far less common than most people think. In fact, many people who believe they're burned out are actually dealing with something very different—and treating the wrong problem only makes things worse. Psychotherapist and mental strength expert Amy Morin explains how to tell the difference, what burnout really looks like, and the practical steps that can help you regain your energy. Amy hosts the award-winning Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast (https://amymorinlcsw.com/podcasts/), her TEDx Talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbv757kup4) has been viewed more than 25 million times, and she is author of The Mental Strength Playbook. (https://amzn.to/4yG8yR5). Waiting in line, sitting on hold, or watching the spinning wheel on your computer can feel maddening. But here's the interesting part: it's often not the wait itself that frustrates us. What really gets under our skin is something else entirely. Once you understand why waiting feels so unpleasant, you'll discover a few surprisingly simple ways to make almost any wait seem much shorter and more tolerable. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/15/i-waited-45-minutes-to-buy-a-single-croissant-in-fitzroy-why-do-humans-queue PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/realm INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're hungry, you know you're more interested in food. But hunger also changes the way you think—and the effects can spill over into decisions that have nothing to do with eating. Researchers have discovered some surprising consequences of making important choices on an empty stomach. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/press-release/dont-make-major-decisions-empty-stomach-research-suggests Finding cheap airfare has become almost a game. People swear by booking on Tuesdays, searching in incognito mode, or buying tickets at a certain time of day. But how much of that actually works? The truth is that airline pricing is driven by a surprisingly complex system—and once you understand what really causes fares to rise and fall, you can dramatically improve your odds of paying less. Here with an insider's look at how airfare pricing really works is Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), which tracks airfare deals for more than two million travelers worldwide. Listening to this conversation will save you money. People say they're "burned out" all the time. But are they really? According to the official definition, true burnout is far less common than most people think. In fact, many people who believe they're burned out are actually dealing with something very different—and treating the wrong problem only makes things worse. Psychotherapist and mental strength expert Amy Morin explains how to tell the difference, what burnout really looks like, and the practical steps that can help you regain your energy. Amy hosts the award-winning Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast (https://amymorinlcsw.com/podcasts/), her TEDx Talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbv757kup4) has been viewed more than 25 million times, and she is author of The Mental Strength Playbook. (https://amzn.to/4yG8yR5). Waiting in line, sitting on hold, or watching the spinning wheel on your computer can feel maddening. But here's the interesting part: it's often not the wait itself that frustrates us. What really gets under our skin is something else entirely. Once you understand why waiting feels so unpleasant, you'll discover a few surprisingly simple ways to make almost any wait seem much shorter and more tolerable. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/15/i-waited-45-minutes-to-buy-a-single-croissant-in-fitzroy-why-do-humans-queue PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/realm INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your signature reveal more about you than just your name? It turns out the way you sign your name may influence what people assume about your personality, confidence, and even your success—whether those assumptions are accurate or not. Listen as I explain what your signature may be saying every time you put pen to paper. https://graciousliving.typepad.com/the_write_event/2003/11/what_does_your_.html Why do so many purchases that seem exciting at first end up leaving us...underwhelmed? We chase the next gadget, car, vacation, or pair of shoes hoping it will make us happier, yet the feeling rarely lasts. Is there a better way to spend your money so it actually improves your life? According to Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton, there is—and it has surprisingly little to do with how much you spend. Michael is the author of the book Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending (https://amzn.to/3iFzDOq). Listen as he explains how a few simple changes in the way you spend can produce far more satisfaction than buying more stuff. Setting boundaries sounds simple—until you're the one who has to do it. Say yes too often and people take advantage of you. Say no too forcefully and you risk damaging relationships. So how do you establish boundaries that people actually respect without coming across as selfish, cold, or difficult? Joining me with practical, real-world advice is licensed therapist and relationship expert Terri Cole, author of Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free. (https://amzn.to/3AhKXwz) Most people only see what happens in the dining room of a restaurant. The real story unfolds behind the kitchen doors. Restaurant workers have revealed some surprising secrets about what goes on behind the scenes—from menu tricks to customer habits—that may change the way you order your next meal. Listen as I share some of the most fascinating insider revelations. (https://abcnews.go.com/Business/13-secrets-waiter-tips-menu/story?id=16948508) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices