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Science
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
Sometimes all it takes is one little fact or one little piece of wisdom to change your life forever. That's the purpose and the hope of "Something You Should Know." In each episode, host Mike Carruthers interviews top experts in their field to bring you fascinating information and advice to help you save time and money, advance in your career, become wealthy, improve your relationships and help you simply get more out of life. In addition, Mike uncovers and shares short, engaging pieces of "intel" you can use to make your life better - today. Right now.
Amazing Ways Genes Affect Your Behavior & The Serious Consequences of Not Asking For What You Want
Do you keep stuff? You know, things from your past that you have a hard time giving up even though you don’t use them anymore? This episode begins with some interesting advice on what to keep and what to toss or give away.
You probably know that your genes influence things your eye color or hair color. But did you know that your genes also influence your behavior? Jay Phelan, an evolutionary biologist at UCLA and author of the book, Mean Genes: From Sex to Money to Food, Taming Our Primal Instincts, http://amzn.to/2CJZgXF explains how your genes make you want to do things that are often not good for you (like overeat or drink too much). However, there are strategies you can use to help prevent your genes from leading you astray.
Have you ever avoided asking someone for something – like for a raise or for a date? Asking can be hard but in many cases, if you don’t ask you don’t get. Linda Babcock, Walton Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon and author of the book, Women Don’t Ask (http://amzn.to/2BGui3e) offers advice on ways to ask that make it easier – so you don’t feel so uncomfortable. Because the more you ask, the more you get.
You probably never knew this but there is a simple trick that makes anything taste better. Whether it is a meal you cook or candy bar you get at the store, this one little trick improves the taste and it amazingly simple. I’ll explain what it is.
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36:5721/12/2017
How to Make or Break Any Habit Successfully & How to Calm Your Brain to Make You More Intelligent
You can manipulate your brain to change your mood. How? Biofeedback. For example, when you are happy you smile. But it also works in reverse - if you smile, that makes you happy. And there are other ways I’ll discuss that you can improve your mood by doing very simple things. It’s fascinating.
Then, have you ever wanted to create a new habit or break an old one? Charles Duhigg author of the book The Power of Habit (http://amzn.to/2yKznVb) joins me to discuss the science of habits. He offers some great techniques to start new habits and explains why you should never really try to “break” a habit. There is something else you should do instead.
Did you know you have more than five senses? For example, when you move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal when you drive, you are using another sense that allows you to find those pedals without looking or using any other of your five senses. I’ll explain what it is and what it is called.
There is real power in calming down. That’s according to Gyatri Devi, M.D., author of the book, A Calm Brain: How to Relax Into a Stress-Free, High-Powered Life (http://amzn.to/2on2EoX). Because our brains are always active – checking texts and emails and rushing around, we don’t have the d"own time" we need that allows the brain to perform at its best. Dr Devi has some ways to do that and she reveals the amazing benefits of a calm brain.
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37:1018/12/2017
The Secret to Achieving Any Goal & Why We Love the Same Christmas Songs Year After Year
It is called the “helper’s high.” It’s that feeling you get when you do something nice for someone else. It isn’t only a theory, there is solid evidence that doing the smallest thing for someone else is good for you. I’ll explore that as we begin this episode of the podcast.
Achieving any goal can be tough, whether it is a New Year’s resolution or some other important goal you want to accomplish. But there is a little secret that makes achieving any goal more likely. Matthew Ferry, a top executive coach for 20+ years and author of the forthcoming book, Quiet Mind, Epic Life (due in 2018) explains how he gets people to achieve their wildest dreams. And it turns out to be pretty simple.
Is there a laser pointer in your house? Sure it is fun to watch your cat chase the light – and there are even toy lasers for kids. But are they safe? Could it damage someone’s eyesight if you point it at them? Interestingly there has been a case of that happening – but only one. And there are millions of laser pointers. So what’s the deal? The answer is in this episode.
Have you ever wondered why there are hardly any new Christmas songs? Why do we listen to the same old songs every year? Ronald Lankford, scholar and author of the book, Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells & Silent Nights (http://amzn.to/2ACcGIu ) reveals why some Christmas songs are popular for decades and why we love those songs so much.
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42:0814/12/2017
How to Make Your Point So People Get It & Dealing with the Growing Entitlement Mentality
Does love at first sight exist? Many experts say no but many people claim to have experienced it. So what’s the truth? We begin this episode by looking at this intriguing phenomenon.
Then, whenever you speak, you should have a point. And not only should you have a point but you must make sure the person listening gets your point. Communications trainer Joel Schwartzberg, author of the book, Get to The Point: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter (http://amzn.to/2A5k8aL) explains that too often people don’t know what their point is. And even when they do, they don’t make it clear to the listener. In this discussion Joel reveals how to make your point crystal clear.
Then, the Navy Seals have something called the “40% Rule.” It has to do with human potential. When I first read it a while ago, I cut out the article and always remembered it during those teams when I needed to get more out of myself. I think you’ll find it useful in your life as well.
Are today’s kids and young adults too entitled? Do they think the world owes them something? Well, certainly not all of them think that but there does seem to be a growing entitlement mentality in our culture. So where did it come from? According to psychologist Michael Wetter, it is primarily a parenting problem. Parents want to protect their children and keep them happy but the unintended consequence is that kids are not prepared for the real world. Dr. Wetter is author of the book Earn It!: What to Do When Your Kid Needs an Entitlement Intervention (http://amzn.to/2BZL1hO) and he offers some great advice and insight to deal with this problem.
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41:1511/12/2017
Proven Ways to Be Instantly Happier Forever & Things About Christmas You Never Knew
How’s your driving? Sure you know you are a good driver but what do other drivers think? This episode starts with a slightly unusual driver’s test.
Then, you know those people who are always so happy? Is it hard work to be that happy or does it just come naturally? David Niven author of several books on happiness including 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People (http://amzn.to/2kqKd17), explores the science of happiness and offers amazingly simple strategies to make you and those around you a lot happier.
Also, there are four questions you should ask on a first date to see if you should bother with a second date. I’ll tell you what those questions are.
Plus, you are about to learn things about Christmas you never knew. Why do we celebrate this holiday the way we do, where did it really come from who is responsible for the way we view all things that are Christmas? Bruce Forbes is a professor of religious studies at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and author of the book Christmas: A Candid History (http://amzn.to/2B7pWEN) explains some of the fascinating facts behind Christmas and why he believes there are actually 2 Christmases – the religious one and the cultural one. And his explanation is fascinating.
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44:5807/12/2017
When Knowing Nothing Actually Gives You an Advantage & The Proven Way to Live a Long, Long Life
I bet you have Googled medical symptoms you are experiencing. Everyone does. But the information you get can be contradictory and often times inaccurate. However, there is a place to go online that has accurate information and you’ve probably never heard of it before. We start this episode with that.
Then, conventional wisdom is that having experience is always better than being a beginner. Well, not so fast. It turns out that starting at something as a newbie gives you a real advantage if you do it right according to Liz Wiseman, who is a researcher, adviser and teacher and has been ranked as one of the top 10 leadership thinkers in the world. Liz is also author of the book, Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work (http://amzn.to/2jcNLR2). For anyone fearful of having to start a new job or career or a new anything, you need to hear what Liz has to say.
Also, is there really a “Fountain of Youth?” There's something pretty close according to cardiologist Dr. John Day, author of the book, The Longevity Plan (http://amzn.to/2Aslo9a). There is a village in a remote part of China where the people who live there live a very long time and never suffer from heart disease, diabetes or obesity. What is it these people know and do that allows them such a long life? We unravel the mystery with Dr Day.
Plus, how often have you apologized for something unnecessarily? We all do it: Someone steps on your foot and you say, “I’m sorry.” Why? It wasn’t your fault. Interestingly, successful people apologize less because over-apologizing weakens your message and tends to make you less competent. We explore that in this episode of the program.
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44:0004/12/2017
000 Welcome to Something You Should Know
Just a brief hello from Mike Carruthers, host of Something You Should Know. Mike explains the background and history of how the podcast started and what this new podcast is all about.
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02:0011/08/2016