Something You Should Know
Episodes
SYSK Choice: Great Advice on How to Succeed from a Self-Made Billionaire
19 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do you cure a cough? Well, there is one idea that has been floating around that some people swear works – even though it appears to be impossibl...
How to Harness the Power of Your Brain & Where Halloween Monsters Come From
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most people agree that if you know how a book, movie or TV show ends that will ruin the experience of reading or watching it. Really? Maybe knowing th...
Why You Believe Some People but Not Others & How to Finish What’s Really Important to You
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Smile! Smiling turns out to be really good for you in a lot of ways. This episode begins with an explanation of all the benefits of smiling more often...
SYSK Choice: Is "Gut Instinct" A Real Thing? & The Fascinating Ways Sound Affects You
12 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Can people actually become addicted to cheese? This episode begins with some surprising information how why people love cheese so much. I’m sure you...
The Powerful Advantages of Telling a Good Story & Why You Need To Change Jobs
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know people who claim they can focus and work just fine in a messy and disorganized office? Well researchers at Princeton did some research to ...
How to Get People to Say Yes to You & Have We Become Overly Cautious?
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“Never cry at work!” has been some long standing advice for employees. So if you DO cry at work, what will people think of you? This episode begin...
SYSK Choice: Become a Brilliant Negotiator & Finding Your Purpose in Life
05 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Almost all voice guided apps – like Siri and Alexa – have a female voice. Ever wonder why? This episode begins with the explanation as to why the ...
A Better Way to Look at Success and Failure & How to Buy and Wear Clothes That Look Great
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most people never read the “Terms of Service” when they download an app. However, when you click OK you enter into a contract that says you will a...
Why You Have Trouble Sleeping & How to Fix It & How to Get the World’s Attention
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
80% of infectious disease are spread by touch. This is why it is so important to wash your hands. Still, most people don’t wash their hands correctl...
SYSK Choice: How to Be More Powerful & Fascinating Facts from the “Google Earth” of Health
28 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is there such a thing as the best seat in the house at a movie theater? Yes according to the people who design them. Listen to discover where to sit t...
How Word-of-Mouth Marketing Really Works & Why Your Dog Loves You So Much
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Your taste in music can have a big impact on who you are attracted to and who is attracted to you. Whether you like jazz, country or classical music, ...
How You Can Access Better Health Care Now & Subtle Factors That Influence Your Decisions
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you ever lose something at an airport – where do you go to find it? The Lost & Found of course. But do you know how many Lost & Founds there are ...
SYSK Choice: Getting Your Dream Project Done & Food Science for Better Cooking
21 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know bacon is really a low-fat food? That is just one of the many fascinating food science facts you’ll discover when you listen to food wr...
How to Figure Out Any and Every Problem & How to Use Statistics to Make Your Case
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you want someone to do something for you, it is all about how you phrase it. This episode begins with a discussion on the psychology of requests an...
How to Beat Distractions That Eat Up Your Time & A Positive Way to Fix Problems
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people claim to be allergic to penicillin. In fact 1 out of 10 do. Most of those people are wrong and this episode begins with the explanatio...
SYSK Choice: Great Life Hacks & The Nasty Political Discussion Fix
14 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s something interesting – as sunscreen use has increased over the last several years, so has the rate of skin cancer. So what is going on? I’...
How Regular People Get Rich & What You Never Knew About the Clothes You Wear
12 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever eavesdrop? Be honest now. The fact is we almost all do – it is human nature and once served an important purpose. This episode begins wi...
How Your Social Life Affects Your Health & Can You Be Selfish in a Relationship?
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to be more successful and make more money there is one very simple and seemingly unrelated thing you can do that has been proven by lookin...
SYSK Choice: The Simple Solution to Beating Stress For Good
07 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why do dogs do what they do? They seem obsessed with smelling everything and everybody and they universally love the snow. Why? This classic episode b...
How Probability and Chance Rule Your Life & Understanding How Motivation Really Works
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever have someone offer to help you and you say – “No, I got it.”? Why? Why we are so reluctant to ask other people for help when we really coul...
How Anyone Can Learn Anything & The Fascinating Science of Human Attachment
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s quite common and convenient to take medication or vitamin pills with a gulp of coffee or juice in the morning. But should you? The episode begi...
SYSK Choice: You Are Eating Fake Food & Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know
31 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Men and women approach online dating very differently and consequently get different results. This classic episode begins with a discussion on who doe...
How Just a Little Rest Can Change Your Life & Fascinating Stories You Never Knew
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You know what customer service people really like? They like when you are nice to them. This episode begins with a magical phrase the next time you ne...
How to Be More Creative Than You Ever Imagined & A Simpler Way to Change Any Behavior
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People who have high credit scores are often quite proud of them. And there is no doubt that a high credit score is better than a low credit score. Bu...
How to Drastically Improve Your Intuition & How Planet Earth Has Shaped Who You Are
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Your shoulders speak volumes. It turns out how you hold your shoulders telegraphs a message to the world as to what kind of person you are. This episo...
Why Feedback Often Fails & A More Effective Way to Have a Conversation
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How physically strong are you? Interestingly, men today are not as strong as they once were. I begin this episode with the explanation of why that is ...
How a Little Surprise Will Change Your Life & How Introverts Can Thrive in the Workplace
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that when you are working on a problem or trying to come up with an idea there comes a point of diminishing returns? The harder ...
How to Effectively Grow Your Self-Confidence & Why Intelligent People Do Dumb Things
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Can your boss spy on you? You bet! This episode explains just how far an employer can go to keep tables on you and what you are up to. http://workrigh...
How to Kill a Good Idea (and Why You Shouldn’t) & Fighting Humans’ Deadliest Predator
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why do people have nightmares? Do they serve a purpose? This episode begins with some fascinating facts about nightmares and the people who have them....
The Best Way to Learn Anything New & How to Deal With People You Can’t Stand
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you wear a certain fragrance, people will perceive you as 12 pounds thinner. That’s just one of many fascinating things I discuss about you amazi...
Our 300th Episode! - How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself & A Fascinating Explanation of the Universe
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kim Kardashian and her sisters speak with something called “vocal fry.” In fact a lot of women do and it is a real problem. This episode begins wi...
The Secret to Getting Everything Done & How to Optimize Your Brain for Peak Performance
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Pizza math. It’s worth knowing because when you understand it, you’ll realize why a small pizza is usually a lousy deal. This episode begins with ...
How YOUR Driving Affects Traffic & How You Can Make Yourself More Likable
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you take your own bags to the grocery store, there may be an unintended health consequence – and it’s not good. This episode begins by revealin...
Why Smart People Do Stupid Things (and How to Stop It) & The Remarkable Power of Appreciation
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever flush the toilet with your foot to avoid the germs on the handle? It’s one of many well-intentioned but flawed techniques to steer clear of ger...
How to Create More Special Moments in Life & The Problem with Trying to Be Being Perfect
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I suspect every parent wonders how they will be remembered in their child’s mind. What kind of parents do your kids think you were? This episode beg...
Skin Care Myths You Need to Know & How to Find Time for What Matters Most
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Low-fat milk and dairy products are better than whole fat versions of the same thing – right? That is the prevailing wisdom. Yet this episode begins...
How to Accelerate and Bulletproof Your Career & How Advertising Affects You
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a fender bender with another driver, should you just work it out between the two of you or should you report it to the insurance company? ...
How to Dramatically Increase Your Willpower & The Fascinating Ways Time Affects Food
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People are not getting sick and dying like they used to. The number of cases of some very common diseases have dropped dramatically over the last few ...
How to Make Smarter Choices in Every Day Life & Why You Must Have More Fun at Work
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hot summer days are often called the “dog days of summer.” Why? This episode begins with an explanation of that. http://www.popularmechanics.com/s...
How to Be More Influential & A Top Veterinarian Answers Important Pet Questions
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You sometimes see products labeled refurbished – particularly electronics. Are they a good deal? This episode begins by looking at what refurbished ...
How to Tell What’s Real From What’s Fake & Why It Is Good to Suck at Something
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you washed your watch? Not recently I bet. So this episode begins with just how gross and disgusting the surface of your watch ...
How Spaces and Places Affect Your Behavior & Why Johnny Can't Build or Fix Anything
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is it okay to talk with people on a speakerphone with their permission? What about bringing a gift to a party when the invitation says: No Gifts? This...
Why Relationships Go Bad and How to Fix Yours & A Better Way to Manage Email
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Driving while texting, talking, eating or drinking can all distract you from paying attention to the road. So what about listening to the radio while ...
How to Start a Successful Side Hustle & How Weather Predictions Really Work
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you appear confident, people find that attractive. Sometimes though, when you wish you could appear confident you feel just the opposite. So I be...
Instantly Improve Your Decision Making & Vices that Are Really Good for You
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every airport runway has a number and it is always between 1and 36. This episode begins with how airport runways get their numbers (it is not random) ...
The HUGE Problem With Generic Drugs & The Science of Choosing the Right Career For You
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My mother used to tell me when I was a kid that coffee would stunt my growth. But seriously, can coffee do that? Can coffee sober you up if you are dr...
How to Create Lasting Personal Change & The Best Way to Learn New Things
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When I smell the scent of fresh cut grass it transports me back to my childhood. It is a great smell. It also turns out to be beneficial to most peop...
Why Being a Specialist is Overrated & The Extreme Creatures that Roam Our Planet
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Automobile traffic, like the weather, is hard to predict. The slightest thing can cause a traffic jam and sometimes it seems that traffic jams just ha...
How To Innovate Like The Great Innovators & How to Clean Faster and Better Than Ever
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever had to wait forever to get a prescription filled? Why does it take so long to take pills out of a big bottle and put them in a little bottle? I s...
The Fascinating Way Ordinary Things Affect You & The Best Plan to Eliminate Debt
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While you are likely very good at noticing when you fail in life, keeping track of all the little victories is a much better activity. I begin this ep...
Why Hackers Hack and Ways to Protect Yourself & How AI Will Improve Healthcare
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you turn your headlights on when you drive during the day? You should - and that is just one of several things I discuss that can instantly make yo...
The Power of Asking the Right Questions & How to Escape the Baggage of Your Past
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Texting and driving is dangerous. Everyone know that. But why is it so much more dangerous than driving and drinking coffee or driving and talking or ...
Why So Many People Are Unhappy at Work & A Better Way to Make Financial Decisions
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get top dollar when you sell on eBay? Well of course you need good photos and a great description but it turns out some of the specific wor...
Solving the Mystery of the Hamburger & Understanding the Risks in Your Life
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to learn something better and faster, there is a little trick that seems to work. We begin this episode by revealing some research from Jo...
The Voice Computing (Siri and Alexa) Revolution & Why So Many Bosses are Incompetent
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does cooking food on the grill increase your risk of getting cancer? The answer is – maybe. But it isn’t that simple. This episode begins with a d...
How Your Mind Really Works & Why People Are Insecure and How to Fix It
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you travel, there is a good chance you don’t sleep all that well the first night you are at your destination. It is so common it has a name –...
How the Internet Makes You a Better Consumer & Why the Experts Are So Often Wrong
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Restaurants want you to spend more money. And the menu can be a powerful tool to accomplish that. This episode begins with exactly how restaurant menu...
The Amazing Benefits of Creating Order in Your Life & the Math that Changed Your World
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to feel good, grab some money! I begin this episode by explaining how the simple act of handling money can make you feel a lot better if y...
How to Use Failure To Make Your Good Ideas Better & Why You Check Your Phone 86 x a Day
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine that while you are sleeping, a cleaning crew gets into your brain to clean out all the toxins so that your brain works better the next day. I ...
How to Get People to Really Like You & Why Humans Can Be So Kind & So Cruel
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You probably don’t write much with a pen and paper anymore. Most of us type. However, there are a lot of benefits to writing the old-fashion way. I ...
How to Stop Postponing the Important Things in Your Life & How Food Fights Disease
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The scent of lavender is supposed to be calming. It may also be the scent of trust. I begin this episode by explaining how lavender can make you appea...
How to Embrace Conflict and Fight Well & Why We Love to Live in Cities
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Grocery stores have a lot of germs. For one thing there is a lot of raw meat and fish moving around in the store. Some of those germs can cause you an...
How to Use a Secret Identity to Get What You Want & Why We Have a Moon
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sibling relationships change as we move from childhood to adulthood. Sometimes they change for the better – sometimes not. We begin this episode by ...
The Science of Sin: Why We Do Bad Things & How to Lead When You Are Not in Charge
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why does traffic just seem to stop for no reason then magically clear up? You are sure there must be an accident or construction but there isn’t. So...
Time Cleansing: How to Make Time Work For You & The Ultimate RX For Your Pet's Health and Happiness
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you have to ask a stranger for a favor. Perhaps you need to borrow their phone or help you carry something. And there is one proven way that...
The Surprising Ways Algorithms Steer Your Life & How to Make Your Ideas Stick
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever long for the good old days? Nostalgia can be such a wonderful thing. We begin this episode with a look at why the past can seem so idyllic...
Are We Killing English or is It Just Evolving? & How to Make Big Changes Easier
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Springtime means the return of annoying allergy symptoms for a lot of us. I begin this episode with some simple but very effective techniques that can...
Toxins in Your Home You Really Need to Worry About & Cutting Edge Career Advice You Must Hear
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Salt makes food taste good – maybe too good. We begin this episode by discussing research that shows how salty foods may make you eat more food than...
How to Fail Well and Move On & Diet Tricks that Never Work and What Works Better
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Of course you want high self-esteem and you sure want your kids to have it. But there is actually only one way to get it and it is not the way a lot o...
How to Apply the Science of Success to Your Career & What You Never Knew About Your Bones
18 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Isn’t it great when you have an “A-Ha Moment”? It’s when an idea or the answer to a problem just pops in your head. But is it actually a GOOD ...
How to Actually Make Yourself Smarter & How Too Much Efficiency Makes You Less Efficient
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has heard about antioxidants. In fact, a lot of people take antioxidant supplements. But is more better? We begin this episode with a look at...
Negotiation Strategies for Regular People & Brain Hacks to Get Things Done That You Hate To Do
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Decision making is easy when you have to choose one of two options. However, when you add that third option (or more), it is amazing how the decision ...
Fascinating Backstories of Modern Technology & What Really Determines How Long You Live
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every driver has likely had the experience of encountering a motorcycle that “came out of nowhere.” How does that happen? There is actually an exp...
Surprising Ways We Influence Each Other & How to Handle Emotions at Work
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever have the feeling someone is watching you? Almost everyone has had the experience but do humans actually have the ability to sense that? I begin t...
Amazing Factors that Determine What and How Much You Eat & How to Better Deal with Life’s Catastrophes
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever go out knowing your hair looks horrible or there is something wrong with your clothes? Everyone probably has but the more important question is –...
Powerful Success Secrets You Never Knew & Why Conventional Wisdom is Often Wrong
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Can you tell just by looking if someone is honest and trustworthy? Actually you can but the reason will surprise you. Listen as I begin this episode o...
The Damage Done by Your Negative Self-Talk and How to Fix It & Why Boys Falling Behind
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of things you likely believe that are not true. For example, sugar causes hyperactivity in children. That’s just one of several comm...
The Important Difference Between Being Rich and Being Wealthy & How to Control Any Conversation
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you grocery shop, are you one of those people who sometimes changes their mind and takes items out of your shopping cart and stashes them somewhe...
How to Use Your Memory to be More Successful & The Secrets of Loving Couples
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Couples should have a date night. That’s common advice to help keep the romance alive in long term relationships. But interestingly, “couple time”...
The Fascinating Things That Make You Human & Natural Remedies – Which Ones Really Work?
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to be more persuasive, there is one little sentence to tack on to the end of any request that is more likely to get people to do what you ...
Really Dumb Things Smart People Do with Money and The Power of Having the Right Attitude
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People who deal with the public as part of their job often begin to believe that people in general are not very bright. For example, one question work...
If Your Heart Has Ever Been Broken - Listen to This & Amazing Ways Numbers Affect You
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When I need to solve a problem or think of something creative, I often lie down, close my eyes and think. And it turns out that is good advice for eve...
How Social Media Sucks You In Without You Knowing It & How Chemicals in Your Home Mess with Your Hormones
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Some people like their chocolate chip cookies crispy right out of the often while others like them soft and chewy and some people like them somewhere ...
How to be a Great Customer So You Get What You Want & What do Facebook and Google Really Know About You?
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We have all heard how some people become sad or depressed during the winter months? Maybe it’s the lack of sunlight or the social isolation of winte...
The Science of Making Meetings Not Suck & How to Be Much Happier (and Why You Should)
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As I write and post this, much of the U.S. and other parts of the world have been hit by extreme cold in the last several days. So I begin today’s e...
Amazing Stories Behind Cool Whip, Mac & Cheese and other Iconic Food & What It Takes to Be in the Top 1%
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There is a good chance that your partner is not a lot taller or shorter than you are. People seem to be attracted to people who are of a similar heigh...
The Magic of Building On Your Strengths and How to Better Handle the Admin of Daily Life
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Should you really get an annual check-up or go to the dentist twice a year? What about wearing sunscreen everyday? Are all these things really necessa...
How to Scientifically Make Your Brain Perform Noticeably Better & How to Effectively Hold a Grudge
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How many times have you been told you should be thankful for what you have? Well, there may be some profound wisdom in that. I begin this podcast with...
How the House You Live In Affects Who You Are & The Scientific Way To Lose Weight for the New Year
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you feel and ache or pain in your body, you likely reach for a Tylenol. And it turns out that you should also reach for one when you are feeling ...
The Fascinating Reason Why More is Never Enough & What You Never Knew About Spices
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone seems to have a cellphone – ALL the time. But there are some circumstances when you really should put your phone away so others don’t see...
How to Stop Making Stupid Mistakes & How to Nail Your New Year’s Resolution
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You think you understand the concept of distracted driving – yes? You know it is NOT a good idea to text and drive. But it turns out to be more comp...
Best Moments of 2018 You May Have Missed - Part 2
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We end 2018 with the second of our two-part look back at the best moments of the past year. With so much fascinating information from the last twelve ...
How to Become the Person You Really Want to Be & Why You Like What You Like
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You probably associate yawning with being tired or maybe being bored. However, according to some interesting research, yawning has nothing to do with ...
Best Moments of 2018 You May Have Missed – Part 1
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With over 100 episodes a year, it is entirely possible you may have missed some of the best, most interesting moments of the past year. Or perhaps you...
How to Get People to Notice Just How Great You Really Are & Answers to Fascinating Life Questions
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Does being unhappy make you more likely to get sick or even shorten your life span? A lot of people believe that. So, in this episode we look at the s...
The Amazing Science Behind Why You Dream at Night & How to Make Real Friends and Connections
17 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of theories and myths about alcohol and how not to fall victim to its effects. For example, mixing caffeine with alcohol will make you...
How to Ask For and Get Anything You Want & How Medicine Has Changed in 100 Years
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do attractive people really get the best tables at a restaurant? Did you know menus are designed to steer you to particular dishes? These are just a f...
Fascinating Stories Behind Holiday Songs and Traditions & How to Acquire the “It Factor” for Success
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It is easy and tempting to overspend on holiday gifts. Plus retailers do everything they can to encourage you to spend more. So this episode begins wi...
The Science of Achieving Your Goals & The Truth Behind Double Dipping and the 5-Second Rule
06 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you look at old holiday photos, you will notice something is definitely missing – and it is something you really wish was there. I begin this e...
Why We All Eavesdrop (Even When We Shouldn’t) & Important Business Etiquette You Never Knew
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you may find yourself in a bad mood for no real reason. So how do you snap out of it? We begin this episode with some very easy, practical a...