Something You Should Know

Have you ever noticed that when two people walk together, they often fall into step without even trying? Or that people in conversation sometimes begin to mirror each other's movements? Humans have a curious tendency to synchronize with one another, often without realizing it. Why does this happen, and what does it reveal about how we connect? https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/social-synchronicity-37695 You've heard all your life that reading is good for you. It expands your vocabulary, sharpens your mind, and makes you more knowledgeable. But reading fiction may do something remarkable that other kinds of reading don't. There is something about the way fiction is written and the way our brains respond to it that produces some surprising benefits. Even the simple words "Once upon a time" can trigger something special. Andrew Piper, professor at McGill University and author of Why You Should Read More Fiction: What Data and AI Tell Us About the Value of Storytelling (https://link.amazon/B01VixDmx), joins me…

Can someone's taste in music make them more attractive to you? Apparently, it can. The music people listen to can influence how we perceive their personalities, how compatible we think we might be, and even how romantically interested we are in them. So what does your playlist say about you? And why do musical preferences matter when it comes to attraction? We begin with the surprising connection between music and relationships. https://www.medindia.net/news/Music-Predicts-Sexual-Attraction-80223-1.htm Think about how many times you've written something down in a notebook. A shopping list, a brilliant idea, a diary entry, notes from a meeting, or just something you didn't want to forget. It seems like such an ordinary thing to do. But the simple act of putting thoughts on paper has helped change the course of human history. Notebooks have shaped scientific discoveries, inspired great works of art, helped build businesses, and transformed the way people think. So how did something as basic as a blank book…

Where do you leave your car keys at night? On the kitchen counter? By the front door? It turns out that where you keep your key fob when you're not driving could actually affect your car's battery. And the reason why is something most drivers probably never consider. https://www.northway.aaa.com/magazine/news/not-so-fob-ulous Can you really fall in love with a chatbot? Apparently, some people do. Millions of people are turning to AI for companionship, emotional support, intimate conversations, and even romance. And why not? A chatbot is always available, never gets impatient, and seems genuinely interested in everything you have to say. But there's a troubling catch: It can sound like it cares about you without actually caring at all. So what happens when we begin forming deep emotional attachments to machines? Sherry Turkle joins me to explore the fascinating and sometimes disturbing world of artificial intimacy. She is a professor at MIT, founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, and…

There was a time when kids couldn't wait to grow up. Becoming an adult meant freedom, independence, making your own decisions, and finally being in charge of your own life. But something seems to have changed. Today, many young people aren't particularly excited about adulthood. In fact, some find the whole idea downright intimidating. Why? Has being an adult become less appealing, or have we somehow failed to prepare young people for the responsibilities that come with it? And what does it really take to become a capable, confident, independent adult? Joining me to explore this fascinating generational shift is Julie Lythcott-Haims, a writer, former college dean, former attorney, and author of the book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult (https://amzn.to/3q89LOB). She explains why so many young people feel overwhelmed by the prospect of growing up, how parenting and cultural expectations may have contributed to the problem, and what parents and young adults can do to make the transition to adulthood less…

Ever send an email asking several questions, only to get a reply that answers just one of them? Or discover that someone completely missed your most important point? It turns out the way you write and organize an email can make a big difference in how people respond. Listen as I explain some simple techniques that can help you get better, more complete answers to your emails. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/ You know exactly what you meant. So why did the other person hear something completely different? Misunderstandings happen constantly, even between people who know each other well. Innocent comments get interpreted as criticism, conversations turn into arguments, and people become convinced their version of events is the right one. Why does communication go wrong so easily? And what can you do to make sure people actually understand what you're trying to say? Dr. Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown…

You know getting enough sleep is important. But what if you could make a meaningful difference in your health and well-being by getting just 15 minutes more sleep each night? That doesn't sound like much, but research suggests even a small increase can have some surprising benefits. Listen as I explain why those extra few minutes may be more valuable than you think. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/162769 We have more ways to entertain ourselves, indulge our desires, and experience pleasure than any generation in history. Great food, endless entertainment, social media, shopping — whatever feels good is usually just a click away. So why aren't we happier? Could it be that all this pleasure is actually making us miserable? Psychiatrist Anna Lembke says our brains simply weren't designed for a world of nonstop gratification, and the consequences can be profound. Anna is medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine and author of the bestselling book Dopamine Nation (https://amzn.to/3BahOhY). Listen…

Ever meet someone for the first time and then spend the next hour wondering what they thought of you? Did you say the right things? Were you interesting? Did you make a good impression? It turns out we're not particularly good at judging how these encounters go. Researchers have discovered something surprising about what happens when two strangers meet — and understanding it might change the way you think about your next conversation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30183512/ Should you tip when you pick up takeout? Is it okay to let someone cut in line? And if everyone around you gives a standing ovation to a performance you thought was terrible, should you stand too? Life is full of these little dilemmas, and the answers aren't always as obvious as they seem. In fact, thinking them through can be surprisingly entertaining — and reveal a lot about how you make decisions and what really matters to you. Joining me to explore the hidden logic behind these everyday puzzles is Ward Farnsworth, professor at the…

You are constantly sending signals without saying a word—and so is everyone around you. The way someone sits, moves their hands, looks at you, or suddenly changes their posture can offer clues about what they’re thinking and feeling. But reading body language correctly is more complicated than simply assuming crossed arms mean someone is defensive. Scott Rouse is a behavior analyst and body language expert who holds multiple certificates in advanced interrogation training and has trained alongside the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, and Department of Defense. In this episode, he explains what body language and other forms of nonverbal communication can really tell you about another person—and what they can’t. Listen as Scott reveals the signals worth paying attention to, how to spot changes in someone’s behavior that may be significant, and why context is so important when interpreting gestures and expressions. He also explains how your own body language affects the way people perceive…

When you delete a spam text, your phone often gives you the option to “Delete and Report.” But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you report it? Who gets the report? Does anyone do anything with it? Turns out, hitting that button isn’t as pointless as it may seem. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages Imagine two people shopping for the exact same thing — but being offered different prices based on what a company knows about each of them. That’s the unsettling idea behind “surveillance pricing” and it happens all the time. Companies can use data, algorithms, hidden fees and other techniques to determine how much they think you are willing to pay — and then charge accordingly. So how does it work and what can consumers do about it? My guest is Lindsay Owens is president and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative, an economic think tank and corporate watchdog in Washington, D.C. She has testified before Congress and advised lawmakers on consumer and economic…

Most of us know that driving faster burns more gas. But just how much does slowing down actually save you? The difference is bigger than you might think. And if you drive around with a bike rack attached to your car, even when there’s no bike on it, you’ll definitely want to hear this. https://abc7.com/archive/9151803/ There is something powerful about being part of a crowd. At a concert or sporting event, thousands of strangers can suddenly feel connected, sharing an energy and sense of belonging that is hard to create anywhere else. But crowds can also have a darker side. How does a peaceful gathering turn into an angry or even violent mob? And does being in a crowd really cause people to behave in ways they never would on their own? Dan Hancox has studied the fascinating science and history of crowds and explains what really happens to us when we become part of one. He is author of Multitudes: How Crowds Made the Modern World (https://amzn.to/40axzVW). Every living thing comes from something else that was…

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…

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). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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?…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…