Something You Should Know

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/

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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/.

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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

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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

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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!

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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/

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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!

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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

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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
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