Something You Should Know
Episodes
The Car’s History and Future & Inside Your Unconscious Mind – SYSK Choice
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“Sit up straight!” You’ve probably heard it since you were very young, and it turns out to be good advice. Your posture can affect your physical...
The Objective Science of Marijuana & Understanding the Certainty Trap
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Women apologize more than men. Why is that? This episode looks at the likely reason and it may surprise you. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
What the Internet Has Made Obsolete & Cool Health Care Hacks
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you are on the phone in a noisy environment, you probably cover your other ear to hear the phone better. Bad idea. This episode reveals a better ...
How to Happily Overcome Clutter & Why Pop Culture is so Valuable - SYSK Choice
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you shop for big ticket items like a house or car, it matters what day you choose to go – and probably for reasons you hadn’t thought of. Thi...
A Serious Look at UFOs & The Power of Grace in Today’s World
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you decide when to throw food out? If you go by the date printed on the package, you could be wasting a lot of money. Listen as this episode be...
How Notebooks Changed Your Life & Are Video Screens Really So Bad?
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you know someone’s musical tastes, it can affect what you think of that person. It can even impact how attractive you find someone. I begin thi...
A Smart Guide to Friendships & English Tips From A Master Grammarian - SYSK Choice
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I can’t imagine anyone who wants to receive MORE emails. Most of us would prefer to get far fewer. That’s why this episode begins with some quick ...
How Pleasure Makes People Miserable & How Weight Loss Really Works
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone understands that getting enough sleep is important. But how important? This episode begins by revealing the benefits of getting just a mere 1...
How Regular People Become Millionaires & How The Power of Suggestion Works
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is handwriting analysis a real thing? Can an “expert” really tell if handwriting is forged or real or is it just their opinion? And can you tell a...
The Keys to a Long Term Relationship & How Our Minds Are Quirky - SYSK Choice
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From a very early age you were likely told not to lie. Lying is bad. And it seems that one of the things it is bad for is your health! This episode b...
The Psychology of Crowds & Where Did Life Come From?
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us have heard that the speed at which you drive can impact your gas mileage but by how much? My guess is you probably believe it isn’t a lot...
Are You Treating Your Clothes All Wrong? & The Power of Being Quiet
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You have seen a dollar bill hundreds of times, but have you ever really studied it? It’s fascinating. And the number 13 plays a prominent role. This...
How to Master the Skill of Quitting & Deconstructing Conspiracy Theories - SYSK Choice
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you suffer from any of these symptoms: Tiredness, stomach issues, dizziness, headaches, joint problems, dry skin or depression? What’s interesti...
What You Never Knew About Your Childhood & Go Inside the U.S. Capitol
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Something interesting seems to happen when couples are together for a long time. Without even trying, they are able to tune into their partner’s voi...
What Makes You Uniquely Human & How Words Affect Your Thoughts
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Major storms all get names: Milton, Katrina, Ian, Sandy etc. Why do we name storms? Do the names of storms ever get used again for other storms? Find ...
Understanding Our Phobias & How Your Dog Thinks – SYSK Choice
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all tend to want to impress others with our accomplishments or skills or whatever else that makes us exceptional. Yet there is a real problem with ...
What Makes You an Introvert or Extrovert? & Why Things Smell
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you are focused on a task, interruptions can be annoying and maddening. Yet, there may be a positive side to interruptions that balance out the ...
How to Know What Someone is Thinking & The Amazing Success Story of LEGO
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Watch a couple hold hands as they stroll own the road. It often seems cute and quaint. But it is more than that. Holding hands has some real benefits....
Setting Effective Boundaries & How to Make Important Decisions Confidently - SYSK Choice
05 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When someone first sees you, what impression do they get? What image do you project? It’s important to think about this if you want to be persuasive...
How to Sync with Your Circadian Rhythms & A Fascinating History of Cars
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“You should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day!” Well, wait a second. That advice is about 80 years old and frankly doesn’t really “hol...
Why We Still Don’t Have Flying Cars & Your Amazing Teeth
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Groceries are expensive. So, if you would like a simple yet effective technique to cut your grocery bill down, listen to the start of this episode to ...
How to Get it All Done and Be Happy & Why Most Food Advice is Wrong - SYSK Choice
28 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
iPhone users have likely noticed that some texts show up in blue and some show up in green. What’s the difference? This episode begins by explainin...
Why Pets Act in Weird Ways & When Your Brain Does Its Best Work
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is your posture right now? If your shoulders are slouched, you are sending a message to others that you probably don’t want to send. I start thi...
When Doctors Get It Wrong & The Science of Kindness
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever fake a smile? We all do. What harm can it do? Well, it could do you some harm if you are the one doing the faking. Listen as I reveal the downsid...
The Solution to Overthinking & Why You’re Smarter Than AI - SYSK Choice
21 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could reduce your risk of heart disease by 30% without a lot of effort? After all, it is the number 1 killer in the U.S. This episode begi...
Remarkable Ways Horses Changed Your Life & The Real Benefits of Being Lazy
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have become much more of a cashless society in the last few years. That turns out to be a good thing because cash is really disgusting. Listen as I...
The Fascinating Gases that Surround You & Is Everyone Addicted to Something?
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some very popular drinks turn out to be really bad for your teeth. This episode begins with that list of drinks, what they do to your teeth and some s...
What Your Favorite Music Says About You & How to Ditch Negative Self-Talk - SYSK Choice
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My mother was a teacher, and I remember her saying that when you take a test and you don’t know the answer, go with the first answer that comes to y...
The Untold Dangers of Prescription Drugs & Fresh Look at Dealing with Anger
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At work, do you go out to lunch or eat at your desk? It makes a difference in the quality of your work after lunch is over. Listen and I’ll explain ...
Why Status is Critical to Your Success & Why Is There So Much Anxiety?
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the average lifespan, there are 2 separate years (and they are decades apart) where people report being the happiest. Can you guess what they are?...
Clues That Reveal a Person’s Thoughts & Our Shipwreck Fascination - SYSK Choice
07 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it true that opposites attract. After all you sometimes see couples that seem to prove the point. So just how common or rare is it for opposites t...
Why Most People Can’t Keep Secrets & Interesting Oddities of Language
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eye contact can be tricky. Too little and you look disinterested – too much and you look creepy. This episode begins with a few of the finer points ...
What Makes a Family Happy & What We Can Learn from the Dead
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While celebrities can sometimes pull it off, it can be almost impossible for regular folks to get a table at a busy restaurant without a reservation. ...
The Fascinating Story of Batteries & How Status Changes Culture - SYSK Choice
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hot dogs come in packages of ten. Hot dog buns come in packages of eight. Why? Is this some sort of marketing ploy or plot? What could possibly be the...
The Trouble With Cynics & How to Handle The Pressure to Perform
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Be careful what you say when someone pays you a compliment. This episode begins with some great advice on the importance of taking a compliment gracio...
Can Music Be Medicine? & Human Skills We Are Losing to Technology
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You may never have noticed it, but for many people – maybe you – a full moon can mess with your sleep and cause you to lose sleep. How does that h...
The Secret to Getting Things Done & The Brain Fog Fix - SYSK Choice
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone orders pizza at some point. So, everyone should that there is one size pizza that is a lousy deal almost every time. I begin this episode by ...
What Your Brain Does in an Emergency & Solitude Vs Loneliness
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are dogs color blind? Many people believe so, but they are not. They do see color but not the way we do. This episode begins with a look at what color...
The Good News About Feeling Sad & What You Never Knew About Reality TV?
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many things can affect the way food and drinks taste. This episode begins with a look at how just one element of the ambience in a room can alter p...
Don’t Eat Less, Eat Better & The Magic of Mystery - SYSK Choice
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Look around and you will likely see someone doing something on their cellphone. For many of us, cellphones are a necessity and a constant companion. ...
Buying Things That Really Make You Happy & Setting Clear Boundaries
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your signature reveal anything about you? Does it send a message to those who see it? I start this episode by sharing some insight into how other...
How to Read A Person's Behavior & The Science of Extremes
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s weird sometimes how you meet someone and hear their name is Lucy, for example and think – “Yeah, she kinda looks like a Lucy.” Is that re...
Why Humility is a Superpower & Celestial Wonders Explained - SYSK Choice
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a really vivid or even disturbing dream? This episode begins with a look at what often causes very strange and vivid dreams. https:/...
Easy Ways to Stop Wasting Food & Why Are There So Many Insects?
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When your phone or tablet or computer starts acting weird or gets glitchy, the conventional wisdom is to reboot. In other words, turn it off and on ag...
How Animals Really Communicate & Proven Ways to Make Meaningful Connections
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should you get a second opinion? A lot of people faced with a medical diagnosis often wonder about that. Will they offend the original doctor if they ...
The Neuroscience of You & Making Sense of the Weather - SYSK Choice
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t you hate it when you hear or think of a familiar song but can’t recall the title? This episode begins with a clever trick that will help ide...
How Light Seriously Impacts Your Health & What If You Had a Different Profession?
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are men more rational shoppers than women? Most definitely not. This episode begins by revealing how men are easily duped into thinking something is a...
The Interesting Science of Eating & The Amazing World of Rats
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it that mosquitoes seem to go after and bite some people more than others? This episode begins with an explanation of what does and doesn’t m...
The Downside of Positivity & Turn Back the Clock on Aging - SYSK Choice
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot of common summertime advice. For example, don’t go swimming for a half hour after you eat. Don’t scratch a bug bite. Don’t touch ...
Why Politeness is a Super Power & How to Ace Any Job Interview
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will a medication work better if you believe and expect it to? This episode begins with some compelling evidence that having faith in a medical treatm...
Why Building Muscles Matters - The Latest Dream Research & Mental Health First-Aid
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people don’t bother taking a summer vacation. What’s maybe more surprising is that many who do take a vacation spend some of the time doi...
“The Bystander Effect” & Modern Idioms Explained - SYSK Choice
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The consensus seems to be that drinking coffee has several excellent health benefits – and now there is another one you probably haven’t heard bef...
The Brighter Side of Dying & Words We Use Interchangeably – But Shouldn’t
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How much you like and enjoy a certain food is influenced by many things besides the food itself. The utensils, the color of the plate, etc. This episo...
Why You Might Need More Friends & How Your Imagination Works
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While “digital dementia” is not a real medical diagnosis, you still see it everywhere. People are so reliant on (and overloaded by) technology tha...
Why We Love Things & Your Guide to Deadly Risk - SYSK Choice
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it safe to let your dog lick your face or eat off your plate? It pretty much depends on how clean your dog’s mouth is. This episode begins with a...
Great Stories of Extraordinary Success & Why You Should Care About Black Holes
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your chances of winning the lottery are horrible. Still, a lot of people play. This episode starts by revealing a few things worth knowing about playi...
Why You Remember and Why You Forget & Unusual Origins of Great Inventions
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you go out to eat, the restaurant wants you to spend money. Nothing wrong with that. That’s how they stay in business. Still, you should be awa...
How Our Brains Experience Taste & The Upside of Anger - SYSK Choice
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It makes sense that people cry when they are sad – but why do some of us cry when we are happy? This episode starts by examining how two opposite em...
Where Would We Be Without Alcohol & Good Reasons to Go Outside Right Now
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s nothing better than a really good laugh. What’s even better is, laughing offers some excellent health benefits too. I begin this episode b...
Why We Love to Push Buttons & Why We All Need to Play Games
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all have a sense of what romantic music is. But can that type of music really make you feel and act romantic? This episode begins with some interes...
US: Getting Past the You and Me Relationship & How Fragrance Works - SYSK Choice
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Getting car sick can really ruin a trip – for EVERYONE in the car! But maybe you’ve heard – there are now motion sickness glasses. Do they work...
How to Live Your Life with No Regrets & What Bad Words Do
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s more to making a great burger than meets the eye. This summertime episode begins with expert advice on preparing the perfect burger on the g...
How Your Refrigerator Changed Your Life & Why Are There Volcanoes?
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In an argument there are usually two things going on that make it so difficult. Listen as I begin this episode by explaining what those two important ...
How to Bounce Back From Tough Times & How to Beat the Surveillance Economy – SYSK Choice
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When dogs meet they often sniff each other. It appears we humans do the same thing (to other humans, not dogs). This episode begins with an explanatio...
Why Leadership is So Overrated & How Supply Chains Work or Don’t
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sunscreen has been around for a long time. Has it changed much? Are there advancements in “sunscreen technology”? As summer begins, I explore the ...
The Science of Sexual Attraction & What Does Your Job Mean to You?
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Of course, you know what a tank top is – but do you know why it is called a tank top? A tee-shirt looks like the letter T. But a tank top doesn’t ...
Why Compassion is a Wonder Drug & Essential Survival Advice - SYSK Choice
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all know sunscreen is important – but only if you cover all the places you need to cover. Interestingly, there are several spots people often mis...
How Safe Are You in Today’s World? & What Would You Change About Yourself?
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whenever you see the equal sign, you know what it means. So how did these two little parallel lines come to mean - Is equal to? This episode begins wi...
A Brilliant Way to Be More Productive & Why We Have Skyscrapers
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
10% of the human population is left-handed but what about other animals? Do they have a preference for which paw, foot, fin or wing to use? And what a...
Is Luck a Real Thing? & How to Accept What You Can't Change - SYSK Choice
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gasoline is expensive and we all need to make sure we are squeezing every mile out of every gallon. You have probably heard a lot of suggestions on ho...
What Are You Doing on Your Cellphone? & The Fascinating World of Paradoxes
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever try to get your dog or cat to recognize themselves in the mirror? This episode begins with an explanation as to why the result is almost always d...
What You Do and Don’t Dream About & What Happens to You When You’re Alone
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many of us fantasize about being rich. Wouldn’t it be great to win the lottery or inherit a ton of money or be born into a wealthy family? Well i...
The Science of Evil & How the Bicycle Changed Our Lives - SYSK Choice
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do they call it PLASTIC surgery? It seems like a weird word to use. What’s even weirder is that the term goes back a couple of centuries, even b...
An Easy Way to Make Good Friends & Housekeeping Hacks You Will Love
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sound of crickets on a summer night can be quite pleasing. And the little critters making that sound have some interesting characteristics and abi...
Where Your Deep Desires Comes From & How Evolution Shaped You
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here is a problem about spaghetti that has stumped some of the brightest minds in science, including Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman: Ho...
The Psychology of Personality & Why Argument Matters - SYSK Choice
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even though we have celebrated Memorial Day for a long time, it wasn’t made an official national Holiday until 1971. And it wasn’t always called M...
Ozempic: Weight Loss Risks and Benefits and What We Miss About Analog
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Look at any can of cooking spray and it will say on the label that it has zero calories. How can that be? It can’t be. Listen as I explain how they ...
Why People Waste So Much & How Creative People-Create
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whenever I fly, I see people on the plane who look like they are doing important work on their laptops. That may actually be a really bad idea because...
The Fascinating Evolution of Surgery & Asking Questions That Connect-SYSK Choice
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do you suppose it is that dogs love to hang their heads out of a moving car window? What’s the thrill? More importantly, should you let your dog...
How a Room Can Change Your Behavior & Strange Stories from History
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“Your call is very important to us.” That is just one of many phrases businesses use trying to convince us how customer-focused they are. Do these...
The 2 Keys to Your Happiness & Defying the Rules of English
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even though people seem to enjoy dining out, many find the process frustrating and difficult. And the restaurant’s menu has a lot to do with it. Thi...
Why Your Knowledge of Relationships is Mostly Wrong & The Art of Saying No - SYSK Choice
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it you see people on the news every once in a while who claim to drink and smoke and eat a questionable diet – and still live to be 100 while...
How to Master Any Skill & The Strange World of Tattoos
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what the most popular and least popular car colors are? What’s so interesting is that buying a car that is an unpopular color can actual...
The Strange Intelligence of Plants & Why Restaurants Seem So Expensive
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you ever feel down, anxious or get that sense of doom, you might want to take some Tylenol. You are probably wondering how in the world that could ...
Why Misperception is So Common & Animal Superpowers We Might Have - SYSK Choice
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It feels natural to hold a grudge when someone betrays you or upsets you. After all, you are the injured party, so you are entitled to hang on to that...
New Tech That Is Changing Your Life Now & The Best Way to Fail
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The season during which you were born may have an effect on your health. This episode begins by revealing a study from a few years ago that shows some...
3 Things to Fix Your Life & Finding Awe Everyday
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is a good chance you have thought your cellphone was ringing or vibrating when it wasn’t. It seems weird and makes you wonder why it is such a...
Communication Secrets for Divided Times & The Anatomy of Anxiety - SYSK Choice
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While it may seem that life moves at a faster pace, we are the ones who set that pace. Many of us like to do things quickly but that doesn’t mean we...
How to Improve Your Luck & A Much Better Way to Die
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Just how much pesticides residue is on the produce you buy? Should you be concerned? Should you buy organic? Consumer Reports recently did an investig...
Improving Your Powers of Perception & How Pain Works
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone knows it is dangerous to talk on the phone while driving – but it seems like it shouldn’t be. After all you talk to people in the car whi...
How to Break Free of Being Stuck & Alternative Therapies That Work - SYSK Choice
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It matters who your friends are. This episode starts with some interesting Gallup research that shows how the people you hang out with affect who you...
The Changing Threat of Cyber Crime & The Search for Life in the Cosmos
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people have autographs from someone famous. Could the one you have be worth anything? What makes an autograph valuable? How much do rare auto...
How Rituals Enrich Your Life & The Simple Science of Being Healthy
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where do you do your best work and think your best thoughts? Probably not at your workplace. This episode begins with some expert advice on how to opt...
The Secrets to Being Influential & What We Learn From Grief - SYSK Choice
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If your freezer has an ice maker then your freezer has a heater. This episode begins with an explanation of why your ice maker needs a heater in the f...
Why We Like Superstitions & Science You Never Knew
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Apologizing is often difficult. Why though? It seems like doing the right thing and saying you’re sorry should make you feel great. Well, it may mak...
Human Biases That Shape Your Thinking & The Science of Elite Performers
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you approach a table where you are going to sit with a group of people, which chair do you take? This episode begins with a strategy to choose th...
How Expectations Steer Your Life & The History of the World’s Most Favorite Food - SYSK Choice
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Well, this sucks… it turns out that nice people make less money than mean people. That hardly seems fair. This episode begins with an explanation of...
What the Government Knows About You & How to Break a Bad Habit
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The percentage of depressed people who smoke is higher than the general population. Way higher. When you dig a little deeper, it turns out there is an...
The Surprising Biology of Love & How to Keep More of Your Money
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you go to Disneyland or Disney World, something happens in the parking lot when you get there and when you leave that is worth paying attention t...
How Aging Can Be Reversed & Science “Facts” That Aren’t True - SYSK Choice
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a food – a comfort food? Are you actually comforted by these foods? This episode begins by revealing why people crave certain comfort foo...