The Surprising Power of Being Polite & Job Interview Secrets That Really Work-SYSK Choice
Can simply believing a treatment will work actually help it work better? Surprisingly, yes. Researchers have found that your expectations can have a powerful effect on how your body responds to medication—even when the treatment itself hasn't changed. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect Most of us think of politeness as little more than saying "please" and "thank you." But good manners do much more than make social interactions pleasant. They help build trust, strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and even influence how people judge our competence and character. So why are some people naturally more polite than others? Do the rules of politeness change depending on where you are or who you're talking to? And can you be blunt—or even rude—and still earn people's respect? Louise Mullany has spent more than 25 years studying the science of politeness. She is Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Nottingham and author of Polite: The Art of Communication at Home, at Work and in Public (https://amzn.to/3xVN9Jo). You can outsource your résumé, polish your LinkedIn profile, and even use AI to help write a cover letter. But when it's time for the interview, it's all on you. Too many candidates hope they'll "just answer the questions," only to discover they weren't nearly as prepared as they thought. Sam Owens explains what hiring managers are really looking for, the mistakes that immediately hurt your chances, and how a little preparation can dramatically improve your performance—whether you're interviewing in person or over Zoom. Sam is founder of Sam's Career Talk (https://www.samscareertalk.com/) and author of I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want (https://amzn.to/4f7xJSX). MSG has had a bad reputation for decades. Many people avoid it because they believe it's unhealthy or causes unpleasant reactions. But where did that belief come from? And does today's science actually support it? The answer is much more surprising than most people realize. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-msg-really-harmful PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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. RULA: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. 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/sysk 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
The Mystery of Accents and the Dangerous Habit of Rumination
Have you ever pushed on a door that was supposed to be pulled—or pulled when you should have pushed? It feels embarrassing, but don't blame yourself. It turns out the problem usually isn't you. It's the door. https://uxdesign.cc/intro-to-ux-the-norman-door-61f8120b6086 Everyone has an accent—even if they don't think they do. The way you speak tells a story about where you've been, who influenced you, and sometimes even how other people perceive you before you've said more than a few words. Why do accents develop? Why are they so difficult to lose? And do people with accents realize they have one, or do they think everyone else sounds different? Erik Singer, one of Hollywood's leading dialect coaches, explains the fascinating science, history, and psychology behind the way we speak. He has analyzed accents from around the world for millions of viewers online (https://www.eriksinger.com/) and is author of the forthcoming book The Case of the Disappearing R. We all replay conversations in our heads. We rethink decisions, relive embarrassing moments, and imagine what we should have said or done differently. It feels productive—as if we're solving a problem. But more often than not, we're simply trapped in a mental loop called rumination. Far from helping, rumination can fuel anxiety, depression, stress, and self-doubt while making it harder to move forward. Science journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa explains why our brains get caught in these loops, why they're so difficult to break, and what actually works to quiet an overactive mind. She is author of Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist (https://amzn.to/4vKWiNs). You've probably heard the advice that couples who want happier relationships should simply have sex more often. It sounds logical—but research suggests the relationship between sex and happiness may work very differently than most people assume. https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2015/may/more-sex-does-not-lead-to-happiness.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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. RULA: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. 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/sysk 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
SYSK TRENDING - A Different View of Success
What does it really mean to be successful? Most people would probably say it's about making more money, climbing the career ladder, earning recognition, or becoming well known. But what if we've been measuring success all wrong? After spending years traveling the country as host of Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe met thousands of people whose work is essential but rarely celebrated. Welders, plumbers, linemen, mechanics, farmers, and countless others showed him that fulfillment, purpose, and success often have very little to do with prestige—and a lot to do with attitude, craftsmanship, and showing up when it matters. In this fascinating conversation, Mike challenges many of the assumptions we've come to accept about work, education, persistence, efficiency, and what it really takes to build a satisfying life. Even if you don't agree with all of his conclusions, his perspective is thoughtful, refreshing, and guaranteed to make you reconsider some deeply held beliefs. Mike Rowe is creator and longtime host of Dirty Jobs, founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation (www.mikeroweworks.com), host of the podcast The Way I Heard It (https://mikerowe.com/podcast/), and author of the bestselling book The Way I Heard It (https://amzn.to/34Dikog). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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. RULA: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. 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/sysk 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
Has Therapy Gone Too Far? & The Hidden Genius of Birds
Need a favor? The way you ask may matter as much as what you're asking for. Researchers have found that a few simple changes in how you make a request can dramatically increase the chances someone will say yes—and most people overlook them completely. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/francis-flynn-if-you-want-something-ask-it Going to therapy has become more common—and more socially accepted—than ever before. For many people, it has been life-changing. At the same time, anxiety, depression, and loneliness continue to rise, prompting an important question: Are we asking therapy to solve problems it was never designed to solve? Should everyone have a therapist, even if nothing is seriously wrong? Where is the line between normal struggles and issues that truly require professional treatment? In this thoughtful conversation, therapist Jonathan Alpert explores who benefits most from therapy, where it can fall short, and why resilience, personal responsibility, and strong relationships still play an essential role in emotional wellbeing. Jonathan has spent more than two decades treating patients and is author of Therapy Nation: How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why It's Left Us More Anxious and Divided (https://amzn.to/4xMXS2I). Birds are so common that it's easy to stop noticing them. Yet they are among the most extraordinary creatures on Earth. Every feather is a masterpiece of engineering. Their bones are optimized for flight. Some navigate across continents with astonishing accuracy, others build intricate nests without blueprints, and many possess abilities that scientists are still trying to understand. Even more remarkable, every bird alive today is a living descendant of the dinosaurs. Lorna Gibson, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and lifelong bird enthusiast, reveals the hidden science behind feathers, flight, migration, and the incredible adaptations that make birds some of nature's greatest engineering achievements. She is author of Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders (https://amzn.to/4eOiE9C). The next time you open a bag of potato chips, pay attention to the sound it makes. That loud crinkling isn't an accident. Food manufacturers carefully engineer snack bags to produce a particular sound because what you hear can actually influence what you think about the freshness and quality of what's inside. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/food/noisy-chip-bags PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 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. RULA: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. 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/sysk 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
SYSK TRENDING - The Dangers of Collective Illusions
Humans are social creatures, and one of our strongest instincts is to fit in with the group. We want to belong. We want approval. And often, we assume that if enough people appear to believe something, it must be true. But what if a lot of people are only pretending to agree? According to Dr. Todd Rose, this happens far more often than we realize. People routinely stay quiet about what they truly think because they fear being judged, criticized, or isolated. The result is something he calls a “collective illusion”—a situation where many people privately disagree with something while publicly going along with it because they mistakenly believe most others support it. And in today’s world of social media, that problem may be getting worse. Loud, confident voices online can create the impression that an opinion is widely accepted—even when it isn’t. Yet humans are wired to interpret visibility and volume as popularity and truth. Dr. Todd Rose, Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions (https://amzn.to/3CZz6AF), joins me to explain how conformity shapes behavior, why groups sometimes make terrible decisions, and how easily people can be influenced by what they think everyone else believes. This conversation may change the way you look at public opinion, social pressure, and even your own willingness to speak up. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS POCKET HOSE: For a limited time, when you purchase a new Pocket Hose Ballistic, you'll get a FREE 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a FREE thumb drive nozzle! Just text SYSK to 64000 AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. 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. RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down. Find out more at https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro 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/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why Humans Crave Rituals & How Music Transports Your Mind
A lot of people treat melatonin like a harmless sleeping pill. But that’s not really what it is. Researchers are increasingly concerned that melatonin is misunderstood, overused, and often taken in ways that may not help sleep much at all. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9892750/ Humans have always relied on rituals to mark important moments in life—weddings, funerals, graduations, religious ceremonies, even small personal traditions. Rituals help create meaning, connection, and a sense of belonging. Yet many traditional rituals are fading as fewer people marry, attend religious services, or follow long-standing customs. At the same time, entirely new rituals are emerging all over the world to fill that void. Bruce Feiler joins me to explain why rituals matter so deeply to humans, why we continue creating them even when old traditions disappear, and how rituals may be more important to our emotional wellbeing than most people realize. Bruce is author of A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World—and How It Can Save Us (https://amzn.to/4nrtvtP) Have you ever heard a song that instantly transported you somewhere else? Suddenly you’re reliving a memory, imagining a scene, or feeling emotions that seem almost cinematic. Those experiences are called musical daydreams—and they happen far more often than most people realize. What’s fascinating is that people from completely different backgrounds often report remarkably similar experiences when listening to the same music. Elizabeth Margulis, professor of music at Princeton University and director of the Music Cognition Lab, explains why music has this unusual power over the mind, how musical daydreams work, and what they reveal about the way humans experience emotion and imagination. She is author of Transported: The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams (https://amzn.to/4tDmqrL). Closing your eyes while kissing feels natural and romantic. But why does it actually feel strange to keep your eyes open during a passionate kiss? Neuroscience suggests there may be a very specific reason your brain prefers eyes you NOT watch what you are doing. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-we-kiss-with-eyes-closed-psychologists-research-a6943731.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS POCKET HOSE: For a limited time, when you purchase a new Pocket Hose Ballistic, you'll get a FREE 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a FREE thumb drive nozzle! Just text SYSK to 64000 AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. 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. RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down. Find out more at https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro 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/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Make Better Friends & Cleaning Myths That Waste Your Time - SYSK Choice
The sound of crickets on a warm summer night is instantly recognizable. But the tiny creatures making all that noise are far more fascinating than most people realize. Crickets have some remarkable abilities and behaviors that may change the way you think about them entirely. Source: Hugh Raffles author of Insectopedia (https://amzn.to/4bOcK51) People today have fewer close friendships than in the past, and loneliness is becoming increasingly common. Yet making and maintaining friendships may not be nearly as complicated as many people think. Anna Goldfarb, friendship journalist and author of Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections (https://amzn.to/3K9Fqdb), explains why friendship often feels harder in adulthood, what gets in the way of meaningful connection, and the surprisingly simple things people can do to build stronger, more fulfilling relationships. Housecleaning sounds boring—until you realize a lot of what people believe about cleaning is outdated, ineffective, or just plain wrong. Some common cleaning habits waste time, waste money, and don’t even work particularly well. Melissa Pateras, whose wildly popular TikTok videos have attracted millions of viewers (https://www.tiktok.com/@melissadilkespateras?lang=en), joins me to share smarter, simpler ways to clean your home, do laundry, and tackle everyday messes more effectively. She is author of A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can’t Live Without (https://amzn.to/3VbJ0ts). Getting kids outside to play has all kinds of benefits—but one of the most important has to do with protecting their eyesight. Researchers are discovering a fascinating connection between outdoor time and children’s vision health. https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/outdoor-activity-and-myopia-in-children%E2%81%A0 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS POCKET HOSE: For a limited time, when you purchase a new Pocket Hose Ballistic, you'll get a FREE 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a FREE thumb drive nozzle! Just text SYSK to 64000 AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. 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. RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down. Find out more at https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your Hormones Control More Than You Think & How Big Mistakes Shape You
People love giving advice—but most of the time, it doesn’t actually change anyone’s behavior. In fact, there’s a much more effective way to influence people that works far better than telling them what they should do. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4675534/ Hormones influence nearly every aspect of your life, yet most people only have a vague understanding of what they actually do. These powerful chemical signals affect mood, stress, sleep, energy, appetite, weight, sex drive, and much more. And when hormones fall out of balance, the effects can ripple throughout the entire body. Dr. Saira Hameed, endocrinologist and author of Signals: The Hidden Power and Secret Language of Hormones (https://amzn.to/4eO37IB), explains how hormones work, why they matter so much, and what happens when this intricate signaling system goes wrong. Everyone makes mistakes—but some mistakes hit differently. A bad decision involving work, relationships, money, or reputation can feel overwhelming and difficult to move past. Michael Lynton understands this firsthand. As former CEO of Sony Entertainment, he approved a film that unexpectedly triggered an international crisis involving North Korea, cyberattacks, leaked emails, and worldwide controversy. In our conversation, he explains what he learned from that experience, why major mistakes can shake your identity so deeply, and how people can recover, grow, and even find meaning after things go terribly wrong. He is co-author of From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn't Own You (https://amzn.to/4toBGZj). Coffee may be doing more for your health than simply waking you up. Large-scale research suggests it appears to protect one important organ in the body—and interestingly, the protective effect may increase the more coffee you drink. https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/health/liver-function/overview PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS POCKET HOSE: For a limited time, when you purchase a new Pocket Hose Ballistic, you'll get a FREE 360 degree rotating pocket pivot and a FREE thumb drive nozzle! Just text SYSK to 64000 AQUA TRU: Take the guesswork out of pure, great-tasting water. 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. RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down. Find out more at https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus: SYSK TRENDING - The Science of Sleeping, Breathing, and Hydration
Why would anyone need to be taught how to sleep, breathe, or drink water? Those are things you already do every day. And yet, it turns out most of us are doing them just wrong enough to undermine our health. In this SYSK Trending episode, I talk with Michael Breus, one of the world’s leading sleep experts, about how small adjustments to when and how you sleep, breathe, and hydrate can produce outsized benefits for your energy, immunity, metabolism, and long-term health. Dr. Breus is a double-board-certified clinical psychologist and sleep specialist, and the author of Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health (https://amzn.to/3ZposzW). His research shows that better health doesn’t always require doing more—it often comes from doing the basics correctly. This is simple advice, but it’s powerful—and it may change how you think about your daily habits. You can also take the Chrono Quiz Dr. Breus discusses here: https://sleepdoctor.com/pages/sleep-quiz PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS QUINCE: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince! Go to https://Quince.dom/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! HIMS: For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, ED, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/SOMETHING for your free online visit! SHOPIFY: Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk DELL: Dell Tech Days are here. Enjoy huge deals on PCs like the Dell 14 Plus with Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Visit https://Dell.com/deals PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Automatic Path to Wealth & How to Beat Self-Doubt
We’ve all heard the “rules” about sleep — you need exactly eight hours, falling asleep in front of the TV is bad, and you can make up for lost sleep on the weekend. But how much of that is actually true? This episode begins by separating sleep myths from sleep reality — and the answers may surprise you. https://www.thehealthy.com/sleep/sleep-facts-myths/ When it comes to building wealth, complexity is often the enemy. Many financial experts agree that the simplest strategy — saving automatically before you ever see the money — is also one of the most powerful. But how does it work in practice? How quickly does it add up? And why does automation matter so much? David Bach joins me to explain why this approach has helped millions of people grow wealth quietly and consistently. David is author of ten best-selling books, including The Automatic Millionaire (https://amzn.to/4rjqoow), recently expanded and updated. Self-doubt has a sneaky way of holding us back. It shows up right when opportunities appear, making us hesitate, second-guess, or play it safe — even when we know what we want. Where does that inner voice come from, and how do you turn it down without pretending it doesn’t exist? Shadé Zahrai offers insight into how self-doubt forms and how to build real confidence that lasts. She’s a behavioral researcher, award-winning peak-performance educator, and author of Big Trust: Rewire Self-Doubt, Find Your Confidence (https://amzn.to/49VY9GV). And finally, no matter how bug-free you think your home is, you’re not alone in it. A surprising number of tiny creatures live alongside us — and in many cases, that’s actually a good thing. We wrap up with who these unseen roommates are and why they’re part of a healthy home ecosystem. https://www.ipm.org/show/amomentofscience/2023-03-28/arthropods-in-your-house PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS QUINCE: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince! Go to https://Quince.dom/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! HIMS: For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, ED, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/SOMETHING for your free online visit! SHOPIFY: Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk DELL: Dell Tech Days are here. Enjoy huge deals on PCs like the Dell 14 Plus with Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Visit https://Dell.com/deals PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why Everything We Do Matters & The Importance of Big Tech Oversight - SYSK Choice
Human touch feels good — but it may also do far more than we realize. From a reassuring hand on the shoulder to a long hug or massage, deliberate touch can trigger measurable biological responses in the body. This episode begins with what science reveals about why touch matters and what happens when we don’t get enough of it. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyone-top/202108/the-vital-importance-human-touch It’s easy to assume that the big moments shape our lives — but what if tiny, seemingly meaningless choices matter just as much, or even more? A few minutes, a small decision, or a random event can quietly ripple outward in ways we never see. Brian Klaas joins me to explain how chance, chaos, and randomness shape our lives — and how understanding this can actually help you make better choices. Brian is an associate professor in global politics at University College London, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and author of Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters (https://amzn.to/3SrRj31). “Big Tech” companies influence how we communicate, shop, work, and even think — yet they operate with surprisingly little oversight. Who should be setting the rules for companies with that much power? And what happens if no one does? Tom Wheeler explains why tech regulation matters, what’s at stake, and who should be in charge. Tom served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission during the Obama administration and is author of Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age? (https://amzn.to/47OunPU). And finally, could what kids eat affect their risk of asthma, eczema, or other allergic conditions? Research suggests a link between fast food consumption and respiratory allergies. We wrap up with what scientists have found and why it matters. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.3005803 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why We Buy Cheap Stuff - Then Regret It & Important Clues About Your Health
There’s an art — and a surprising amount of psychology — behind giving a great compliment. When done well, flattery can strengthen relationships, build trust, and make people more receptive. When done poorly, it can feel awkward or manipulative. This episode begins with what research says about how to give and receive compliments the right way. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202109/the-psychology-compliments-nice-word-goes-long-way Americans buy an astonishing amount of cheap stuff — souvenirs, knick-knacks, novelty items, gadgets — most of which quickly lose their appeal and end up forgotten in drawers or closets. Why are we so drawn to these things in the first place? And why do they so often disappoint us? Wendy Woloson joins me to explain the deep cultural, emotional, and historical forces behind our love of “cheap crap.” She’s an associate professor of history at Rutgers University–Camden and author of Crap: A History of Cheap Stuff in America (https://amzn.to/3M9M9WM). When it comes to health, many people may be thinking about exercise all wrong. Staying healthy isn’t just about gym workouts or formal exercise — it’s about how much you move throughout the entire day. Small movements, done consistently, can have a powerful impact on longevity and overall fitness. Juliet Starrett explains why everyday movement matters more than you think and how to easily build it into your routine. She’s co-author of Built to Move (https://amzn.to/3ZwADHH) and host of The Ready State podcast.(https://thereadystate.com/podcasts/) And finally — if you’re someone who doodles while listening, you may not be distracted at all. Research suggests doodling can actually improve focus and memory. We wrap up with why letting your pen wander may help your brain pay better attention. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-the-doodle-improve-your-focus-and-memory-1406675744 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus: SYSK TRENDING - Finding Your Motivation
SYSK TRENDING takes a look back at conversations from the Something You Should Know archive that connect directly to topics people are talking about right now. Motivation is one of them. We tend to think people are motivated by carrots and sticks — rewards if you do what’s expected, punishment if you don’t. And while that approach can work in some situations, research shows it’s often not the most effective way to motivate yourself or others. Daniel Pink explains what actually drives human motivation and why autonomy, mastery, and purpose matter far more than we realize. Daniel is the author of Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us (https://amzn.to/4kn5DGs) , and in this conversation he shares practical insights you can use at work, at home, and in your own life — especially at a time when so many people are struggling to stay motivated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our Strange Relationship With Robots & What is Confidence? - SYSK Choice
In almost every job interview, there’s one question that catches people off guard — not because it’s rare, but because most candidates think they already know how to answer it. They don’t. This episode begins by revealing that question and how to craft a response that instantly sets you apart. https://www.forbes.com/pictures/lml45mmjg/why-should-i-hire-you-2/?sh=4c5a502c53d8 Robots fascinate us — and that fascination may be leading us into trouble. Even when we know robots are just machines, we instinctively treat them like thinking, feeling beings. We trust them, empathize with them, and sometimes overestimate their intelligence. Eve Herold explains why this happens, the real risks it creates, and how humans can maintain control and clarity as social robots become part of everyday life. She’s an award-winning science writer and author of Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding on to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots. (https://amzn.to/3ObcBzb) Most people think confidence is something you either have or you don’t — but that assumption may be the problem. According to Viv Groskop, you likely already have more confidence than you realize. The key is knowing how to access it and project it in the moments that matter most. Viv is a writer, comedian, executive coach, and author of Happy High Status: How to Effortlessly Be Confident. (https://amzn.to/3vQYj0h) And finally, an eye exam does far more than determine whether you need glasses or contacts. In many cases, it can reveal early warning signs of serious health conditions you might not otherwise detect. We wrap up with why regular eye exams are more important than most people realize. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/cost-and-how-often/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY: In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why You Click With Some People & How to Pursue Anything with Excellence
If you want a conversation to feel more engaging and connected, there’s a small, often overlooked detail that can quietly shape how the other person experiences you before either of you even says a word. And it all has to do with your phone. This episode begins with research revealing what that detail is and why it matters more than most people realize. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12110250/ You’ve likely experienced that rare moment when you just click with someone. Conversation flows. It seems effortless – it’s feels magical. But what’s actually happening in those moments — and why doesn’t it happen with everyone? Journalist Kate Murphy joins me to explain the science behind interpersonal synchrony, the conditions that make clicking more likely, and why these moments feel so meaningful. Kate has written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and is author of Why We Click: The Emerging Science of Interpersonal Synchrony. https://amzn.to/4sM4a04 We hear the word excellence everywhere — but what does it really mean to pursue it? Do we need to strive for excellence in everything we do? Is it okay to be average at some things? And how do you avoid chasing what looks like excellence but actually leads to burnout or dissatisfaction? Brad Stulberg explains the difference between true excellence and what he calls “pseudo-excellence,” and how to pursue mastery in a way that leads to both high performance and deep satisfaction. Brad is a writer, researcher, performance coach, and author of The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World. https://amzn.to/4qY237s When you spend discretionary money, you probably think you know what you’re buying. But there’s another way to think about those purchases — one that research suggests can have a big impact on how satisfied and balanced you feel about spending that money. We wrap up with a shift in perspective that may change how you decide what’s worth spending money on. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/outsourcing-household-chores-happier-relationship/3871202/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY: In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Great Ideas Are Born & Why We Stick With People Like Us
Written communication strips away tone, facial expression, and nuance — which is why texts and emails are so easy to misinterpret. Sarcasm, humor, and intent can get lost, sometimes with awkward or costly consequences. This episode begins with how emojis can restore subtlety to digital communication — if you know which ones actually help and which ones make things worse. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563221002946?utm Some of the greatest ideas — and even entire careers — were never planned. Potato chips, penicillin, and Post-it Notes were all accidents. Success often comes not from careful design, but from noticing opportunities hidden inside unexpected events. Innovation expert Paul Sloane explains how breakthroughs really happen and how you can position yourself to recognize them when they appear. Paul is author of The Art of Unexpected Solutions (https://amzn.to/3ZeKEvw). People naturally gravitate toward others who think, act, and believe the same way they do. We form tribes — social, political, professional — and those bonds can feel deeply comforting. But this instinct also shapes how we see outsiders and influences cooperation, conflict, and culture itself. Cultural psychologist Michael Morris explores why humans evolved this instinct and whether it ultimately helps or harms us. He is author of Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together (https://amzn.to/4pJ6K4n). And finally, weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions — and one of the quickest to be abandoned. Research suggests that a handful of surprisingly small habits can dramatically improve your chances of sticking with it. We wrap up with what actually works. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34259635/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY: In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Powerful Ways Culture Shapes Us & Why We Struggle With Fitness-SYSK Choice
Is a newborn baby more likely to resemble mom or dad – or is it a toss-up? This episode begins by explaining why a baby is more likely to look like one parent and not the other and why that is. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/health/the-claim-babies-tend-to-look-like-their-fathers.html When people talk about the “culture” – why do they mean? What is culture. You probably use the word in conversation and you have a sense of what it means but it is actually a difficult word to define. Here to define it and explain why it is so important to understand what culture is and how it changes is Marcus Collins. He is a clinical assistant professor of marketing at the Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan and recipient of Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 award. He is also author of the book, For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be (https://amzn.to/3tOT4On). It is a little strange that there is such a fitness craze in America yet so many people are not physically fit at all. The medical evidence is pretty clear that being physically fit and keeping your weight under control is so important to a long and healthy life. So why are so many people not motivated to do it and how can you find the motivation to start if you are not feeling inclined? Joining me to talk about this is Natalia Petrzela. She is an historian of contemporary American politics and culture as well as a fitness instructor and she is author of the book Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession (https://amzn.to/48V5LGb) Is it ever too late to change your life or must you set your course early if you are ever to make something of yourself? Interestingly, researchers followed 350 students for decades – all the way into adulthood to see how they turned out. Listen as I explain how people tend to change and how those goof-offs you remember from high school are likely to end up doing pretty well. Source: Susan Krause Whitborne author of The Search for Fulfillment (https://amzn.to/3O9XuWP). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Your Sense of Taste Really Works & Why Sports Fans Care So Much
Driving with a cold might seem harmless — but research suggests even mild illness can seriously impair reaction time, focus, and judgment. Could driving while sick actually be more dangerous than driving drunk? This episode begins with some surprising evidence about what happens when you get behind the wheel with a cold or flu. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2283323/Dont-sniffle-drive-Driving-cold-dangerous-drunk-driving.html Why do some people love foods that others can’t stand? And why do foods you hated as a child sometimes become favorites later in life? Taste feels subjective, but it’s driven by biology, psychology, memory, and expectation. Beth Kimmerle joins me to explain how taste and flavor really work — and how our preferences can change over time. Beth is a sensory science expert who literally tastes food for a living (yes, her tongue is insured). She’s founder of Attribute Analytics and author of several books on sweets and flavor, including Chocolate: The Sweet History. (https://amzn.to/4s92MEB). Being a sports fan can feel deeply personal — victories feel like our wins, losses feel painful, and loyalty can last a lifetime. But why does sports fandom inspire such intense emotion? What psychological needs does it fulfill? And why do fans speak in terms of “we” instead of “they”? Aaron C.T. Smith explains what drives sports fandom and why being a fan can be so powerful. He is professor of management at Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, and author of The Psychology of Sports Fans.(https://amzn.to/49a5yRc) And finally — who wakes up grumpier in the morning, men or women? There actually is research on this, and it reveals some surprising insights into mood, sleep, and biology. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2292195/Its-official-Women-ARE-grumpier-men-mornings.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Ozempic and Similar Weight Loss Drugs Really Work & The Story of Money
Can simply imagining yourself doing something actually make you better at it? Athletes, musicians, and performers have sworn by mental rehearsal for years — but does it really work? This episode begins by exploring when visualization helps, when it doesn’t, and why. https://www.popsci.com/will-practicing-skill-your-head-make-you-better-it/ Weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions — and today, any serious conversation about losing weight quickly turns to Ozempic and similar drugs. For many people, these medications have been remarkably effective. But how do they actually work? Are they safe long-term? What are the side effects? And what happens when you stop taking them? Aimee Donnellan joins me to break down the science, the risks, and the realities. She is a columnist at Reuters who covers the pharmaceutical industry and author of Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity (https://amzn.to/44tBoqE). Money is so embedded in our lives that we rarely stop to question it — yet nearly every culture on Earth has invented its own version. Money has shaped human behavior, powered civilizations, and driven innovation, for thousands of years. David McWilliams explains the extraordinary history of money and how it really works. He is a former central bank economist, host of The David McWilliams Podcast, and author of The History of Money: A Story of Humanity. (https://amzn.to/4anViHd). Cold weather can feel unbearable — but there are simple, science-backed ways to stay warmer (or at least feel warmer) when temperatures drop. This episode wraps up with practical strategies that actually work. https://www.thehealthy.com/home-remedies/make-body-feel-warmer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How the Moon Transformed Earth & Fun and Easy Housecleaning Hacks - SYSK Choice
Have you ever noticed that one foot is often slightly bigger than the other? It sounds odd, but it’s extremely common — and there’s a clear biological reason for it. This episode begins with why it happens, which foot is usually larger, and what it means for comfort and health. https://www.feetbypody.com/blog/is-it-normal-for-one-foot-to-be-bigger-than-the-other/ The Moon has been hanging over our heads for billions of years — but why is it there at all? Where did it come from? Why doesn’t it crash into Earth? And what would life be like if the Moon never existed? Rebecca Boyle joins me to explore how Earth’s closest companion shaped our planet, influenced evolution, and made life as we know it possible. Rebecca is a columnist at Atlas Obscura, a contributor to Scientific American, The New York Times, Popular Science, and Smithsonian Air & Space, and author of Our Moon: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are. (https://amzn.to/3O1xn4s). Most people don’t enjoy cleaning — but some people absolutely love it. And when they do, they tend to discover remarkably effective (and sometimes surprising) ways to do it better. You’re about to meet Patric Richardson, known as The Laundry Guy on HGTV and Discovery+. He shares smart, unconventional cleaning tips that will change how you do laundry — including why cheap vodka might become your new secret weapon. Patric is author of House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You’re In (https://amzn.to/3vidAao). Here are some of the products Patric mentions: Scrubbers that attach to a drill: https://amzn.to/47vgd6h Waste baskets: https://vipp.com/en-us/shop/bins Laundry soap (not detergent): https://laundryevangelist.com/products/laundry-evangelist-laundry-soap-flakes And finally, many people resolve to lose weight at the start of a new year — yet most don’t stick with it. The problem isn’t motivation; it’s how goals are set. We wrap up with a smarter way to create resolutions that actually last, using proven strategies that make success far more likely. Source: Kent Sasse M.D. author of Doctor’s Orders (https://amzn.to/48AhFFm) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now! QUINCE: Give and get timeless holiday staples that last this season with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! AG1: Head to https://DrinkAG1.com/SYSK to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe! NOTION: Notion brings all your notes, docs, and projects into one connected space that just works . It's seamless, flexible, powerful, and actually fun to use! Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at: https://notion.com/something SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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.
