Something You Should Know

Ever send an email asking several questions, only to get a reply that answers just one of them? Or discover that someone completely missed your most important point? It turns out the way you write and organize an email can make a big difference in how people respond. Listen as I explain some simple techniques that can help you get better, more complete answers to your emails. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/ You know exactly what you meant. So why did the other person hear something completely different? Misunderstandings happen constantly, even between people who know each other well. Innocent comments get interpreted as criticism, conversations turn into arguments, and people become convinced their version of events is the right one. Why does communication go wrong so easily? And what can you do to make sure people actually understand what you're trying to say? Dr. Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, joins me to explain the surprising science behind miscommunication. Drawing on decades of relationship research, she reveals why we so often misinterpret one another, why we stubbornly defend our own perceptions, and how to repair a conversation when things go wrong. She is author of Why Don’t You Understand Me?: The Surprising Science Behind Connecting in a World of Missed Signals. (https://link.amazon/B01SuP5Do). Leaves are everywhere. You've probably seen millions of them without giving them much thought. But those ordinary-looking leaves are actually performing some of the most extraordinary feats in nature. Powered by sunlight, they manufacture their own food, pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release the oxygen that makes life on Earth possible. And here's something remarkable: There was a time when trees didn't even have leaves! So why did leaves evolve? How do they accomplish so much? And what would happen to our world without them? Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Silverman joins me to reveal the fascinating hidden world of leaves and explain why these seemingly simple things are among nature's greatest inventions. He is author of nine books, including Nature's Magicians: How Leaves Conjure Up Our World (https://link.amazon/B06dPGc2Y). You might think the best way to impress people is to appear smart, capable, and completely on top of things. But being too perfect can actually make people like you less. Research suggests that a small, harmless mistake can sometimes make a competent person seem more appealing. So how does that work? And what's the surprisingly simple lesson you can use to make yourself more likable? Listen and find out. https://openmedia.yale.edu/projects/iphone/departments/psyc/psyc110/transcript09.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! 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

Ever meet someone for the first time and then spend the next hour wondering what they thought of you? Did you say the right things? Were you interesting? Did you make a good impression? It turns out we're not particularly good at judging how these encounters go. Researchers have discovered something surprising about what happens when two strangers meet — and understanding it might change the way you think about your next conversation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30183512/ Should you tip when you pick up takeout? Is it okay to let someone cut in line? And if everyone around you gives a standing ovation to a performance you thought was terrible, should you stand too? Life is full of these little dilemmas, and the answers aren't always as obvious as they seem. In fact, thinking them through can be surprisingly entertaining — and reveal a lot about how you make decisions and what really matters to you. Joining me to explore the hidden logic behind these everyday puzzles is Ward Farnsworth, professor at the University of Texas School of Law and author of Should You Tip for Takeout?: Solving the Puzzles of Everyday Life (https://link.amazon/B0d9xGyRN). You'll probably find yourself rethinking a few things you've always taken for granted. What possesses someone to spend years trying to set a world record? And who decides whether they've actually done it? For more than 70 years, Guinness World Records has celebrated extraordinary human achievements — along with some accomplishments that are just plain bizarre. But how does someone get into the record books? Are there records anyone can attempt? And what do you actually get if you succeed? Here to take us behind the scenes of this fascinating and sometimes wonderfully weird world is Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records since 2005. He oversees the enormously popular annual book series, including the latest edition, Guinness World Records 2027 (https://link.amazon/B09nnHdTx). Listen as Craig reveals what it takes to become a world record holder, why people are so obsessed with breaking records, and some of the stranger things people have done to earn a place in history. Taking pictures is supposed to help us remember life's important moments. But what if snapping that photo actually makes you remember less? Researchers have discovered a curious phenomenon called the photo-taking impairment effect, and it suggests that the simple act of taking a picture can change what your brain remembers about an experience. Listen as I explain what happens — and why you might want to think twice before reaching for your camera. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24311477/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you delete a spam text, your phone often gives you the option to “Delete and Report.” But have you ever wondered what actually happens when you report it? Who gets the report? Does anyone do anything with it? Turns out, hitting that button isn’t as pointless as it may seem. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages Imagine two people shopping for the exact same thing — but being offered different prices based on what a company knows about each of them. That’s the unsettling idea behind “surveillance pricing” and it happens all the time. Companies can use data, algorithms, hidden fees and other techniques to determine how much they think you are willing to pay — and then charge accordingly. So how does it work and what can consumers do about it? My guest is Lindsay Owens is president and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative, an economic think tank and corporate watchdog in Washington, D.C. She has testified before Congress and advised lawmakers on consumer and economic issues. She is author of Gouged: The End of a Fair Price—and What That Means for Your Wallet (https://link.amazon/B0f69O9qK). Envy has a terrible reputation. We’re told not to compare ourselves to others, to be grateful for what we have and certainly not to covet what someone else has. But what if envy isn’t a character flaw at all? What if that uncomfortable feeling is actually giving you useful information about what you want from your own life? Social scientist Stacy Kim explains why envy may be worth paying attention to and how to use it without letting it consume you. She has spent more than 15 years helping people understand and use envy more productively and is author of Envy: Why Wanting What They Have Is the Key to Getting What You Want (https://link.amazon/B01U7KWW1). Why do certain foods — lasagna, chili, stews and other leftovers — often taste even better the next day? What could possibly happen sitting in the refrigerator overnight that improves the flavor? There is actually some interesting science behind it. And in some cases, cooling and reheating food may even change it nutritionally. Listen and discover what your leftovers are doing while you sleep. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-does-food-taste-better-the-next-day PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all have vivid memories of major events from our past — moments we can picture so clearly that we’re certain we remember exactly what happened. They’re known as “flashbulb memories.” But here’s the strange thing: even when those memories feel crystal clear, they may not be very accurate and there is an interesting reason why. https://dictionary.apa.org/flashbulb-memory Why are some foods simply more fun to eat than others? Why does restaurant food often seem to taste better than what we make at home? And is there actually a right way to build the perfect sandwich? Dan Pashman has spent a lot of time thinking about questions like these. He is host of the culinary podcast The Sporkful (https://www.sporkful.com/), which TIME named one of the 100 Best Podcasts of All Time. He also invented his own pasta shape, cascatelli — and there’s a great story behind that. Listen as Dan explores the surprisingly fascinating details that can turn eating from something we have to do into something we really enjoy. He is also author of Anything’s Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People (https://link.amazon/B0geSlwHB). Humans have a powerful need to understand why. We’re constantly asking for explanations and giving them to other people — but some explanations click immediately while others leave us more confused than when we started. So what actually makes an explanation satisfying? Why are some people naturally better at explaining things? Tania Lombrozo is a professor of psychology at Princeton University and author of Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand (https://link.amazon/B0fYNqZiB). She reveals the fascinating science behind our need to understand — and how we can all become better explainers. You probably like to think you can spot something that sounds suspicious or simply isn’t true. But there’s an amazingly simple technique that can make even skeptical people more likely to believe a false claim — and it’s used all the time. Listen and see if you recognize it when I tell you what it is. https://www.sciencefocus.com/advertisement-feature/psychological-tricks-hackers-everyday PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know that stretch you instinctively do when you first wake up — arms out, back arched, often accompanied by a yawn or a strange noise? Dogs and cats do it too. There is actually a name for it, and a reason it feels so incredibly good. Listen and discover what your body is accomplishing when you do it. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-does-pandiculation-feel-so-good Something startling is happening between young men and women. They are dating less, marrying less, and increasingly seem to distrust and disengage from each other. What is driving this divide — and what happens if it continues? Daniel Cox joins me with some eye-opening research on this consequential social change. Daniel is founder and director of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is author of Generation Uncoupled: America's New Gender Divide and the Crisis of Human Connection (https://link.amazon/B0bAUzOoI). The excitement at the beginning of a romantic relationship doesn’t last forever. So what do successful couples do next? Anna Elton says there are specific, surprisingly simple things couples can do to keep desire, intimacy and connection alive — and some can actually be fun. Anna is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and clinical sexologist who writes for Psychology Today. She is author of The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection (https://link.amazon/B02Uzxa9n). To take the assessment she discusses go to: https://theformulaofdesire.com/assessments/ Ever pour yourself a glass of ice water only to discover it tastes or smells vaguely like garlic, onions or last night’s dinner? The water probably isn’t the culprit. It’s your ice. Listen as I explain how those strange flavors get into ice cubes — and the simple thing you can do to stop it. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/refrigerators/refrigerator-is-making-smelly-ice-cubes-a1166770149/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever get a song stuck in your head that simply will not leave? That’s an earworm, and while it will eventually fade away on its own, there are some things you can do to help get rid of it sooner. Listen and discover what works. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/songs-get-stuck-head Being a good conversationalist can make an enormous difference in your personal and professional life. Yet most of us were never actually taught how to have a great conversation. How do you comfortably talk to someone you don’t know? What do you do when the conversation stalls? How do you change the subject without making it awkward? Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards joins me with practical strategies for making conversations easier, more natural and more memorable. She is an instructor at Harvard University and author of Conversation: How to Connect with Anyone and Make Every Interaction Count (https://link.amazon/B027NJjiF). Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology, so you might assume he has always been an extraordinarily optimistic person. Not even close. Martin has struggled with pessimism and negative thoughts throughout his life. He joins me to explain what optimism really is, why it matters, and how something called agency can change the way you approach your life and your future—even if optimism doesn’t come naturally to you. Martin is the author of more than 30 books. His latest is Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress (https://link.amazon/B08KM3n8m). There are sounds all around you right now that your brain has decided you don’t need to hear—the refrigerator humming, a clock ticking, traffic in the distance. So how does your brain decide what gets your attention and what disappears into the background? Listen and find out. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3715733 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com ⁠and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are spiders doing inside your home? You’ve probably spotted a few crawling around, especially in the fall. But contrary to what you might assume, many of those spiders didn’t just wander in from outdoors. And there’s a very specific reason you suddenly start seeing more of them this time of year — it has a lot to do with romance. https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-come-indoors Should you say something — or just keep your mouth shut? It’s a dilemma we face all the time. Do you tell someone they have something stuck in their teeth? Should you ask a stranger who is crying if they’re okay? What about telling a friend what you really think about the person they’re dating? It turns out we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how people will react when we speak up — or how they’ll feel when we don’t. Vanessa Bohns joins me with fascinating research that can help you handle these awkward everyday moments much better. She is a social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of Should I Say Something?: The Science of What to Share—and What to Keep to Yourself (https://link.amazon/B03B4LfqD). We like to think investing is about numbers, facts and rational decisions. Yet stock prices and investor behavior can be influenced by things that seemingly have nothing to do with money — including the weather, politics and even the outcome of a sporting event. Why do otherwise intelligent investors make such irrational decisions, and can understanding those quirks actually give you an advantage? Alex Edmans explains the fascinating psychology that drives financial markets and how recognizing it can help you make smarter decisions. Alex is a professor of finance at London Business School and a leading expert on behavioral finance. He is author of The Madness of Markets: Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions—and How to Exploit Them (https://link.amazon/B0eq2D3g9). Come autumn, pumpkins are everywhere. We carve them, decorate our homes with them and, of course, eat plenty of pumpkin-flavored foods. But the pumpkin you scoop out of a can looks nothing like the inside of that big orange pumpkin sitting on your porch. So what exactly is in canned pumpkin — and why is it so different? The answer may change the way you look at pumpkin pie. https://www.allrecipes.com/what-is-canned-pumpkin-11747656 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AIRDOCTOR: Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SYSK to get up to $300 off ANY of their select AirDoctor models, plus you will get a 3-year warranty, absolutely FREE! with a 30-day money back guarantee.  TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably seen the warning on your passenger-side car mirror: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Which raises an obvious question: Why put a mirror on your car that deliberately distorts reality? Turns out there is a very good reason—and that distortion may actually help keep you safe. https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/why-objects-in-mirror-closer-than-they-appear.htm We hear all the time that the world has become a riskier place and that the smart thing to do is play it safe. But is that really true? And what do you give up when avoiding risk becomes your default? Economist Allison Schrager explains why younger people appear more risk-averse than previous generations, why safety has a price, and how to tell the difference between a foolish gamble and a risk actually worth taking. Allison is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion. She is author of Worth the Risk: The Seven Myths That Keep Us from Taking the Chances We Need to Take (https://link.amazon/B0cRfL4UU). Right now, there are things you believe about yourself that feel like undeniable facts. Maybe you believe you’re bad at something, that certain people don’t like you, or that you simply aren’t the kind of person who can do certain things. But what if some of those “facts” aren’t facts at all? They may be what social psychologist Owen Fitzpatrick calls inner propaganda—stories your mind has repeated so often that you’ve come to accept them as truth. Owen explains why this inner propaganda can be so convincing and, most importantly, how to recognize it and challenge it. He has studied propaganda around the world, including in North Korea, and his TEDx talk on mind control has been viewed more than 1.4 million times. His latest book is Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times (https://link.amazon/B0aZRzMzg). Cats are missing the ability to taste something humans often find irresistible. Oddly enough, cats can also taste something that we can't. Neither is an accident. The explanation goes back to what cats evolved to eat—and offers a fascinating little glimpse into just how differently your cat experiences its dinner. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-cats-taste-no-sweets/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to ⁠https:AquaTru.com⁠ and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! 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

If you’ve ever tried to look at your phone while wearing sunglasses and found the screen strangely dark—or even completely black—there’s a fascinating reason why. And you don’t necessarily have to take off your sunglasses to fix it. Listen and discover a very simple trick. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/sunglasses/lenses/polarized-lenses-and-lcd-screens/ Imagine walking into a meeting, party or conference and quickly figuring out who has influence, who knows whom, who feels uncomfortable and what is really going on beneath the surface. That’s the skill of “reading the room.” Some people seem naturally good at it, but it turns out the rest of us can learn it too. Pamela Meyer explains what to watch and listen for—and how becoming a better social observer can give you a real advantage at work and in everyday life. Pamela is an expert in deception and human behavior, a Certified Fraud Examiner and founder and CEO of Calibrate. She is author of How to Read the Room: The Art and Science of Social Observation(https://link.amazon/B07AOq218). Most of us assume that good self-esteem comes from feeling positive about ourselves. But trying to convince yourself that you’re wonderful may not work—and can sometimes make you feel worse. So where does genuine self-worth actually come from? Psychologist Dr. Marisa Franco explains the surprising science of self-esteem, why compliments and positive self-talk don’t always have the effect we expect, and what actually helps us feel more secure in ourselves and our relationships. Marisa is a professor at the University of Maryland and author of Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment (https://link.amazon/B01yeoZk0). There is an unmistakable smell when you walk into an old bookstore or open a book that has been sitting on a shelf for decades. Where does that “old book smell” actually come from? Even more interesting is why so many people find it so pleasant. It turns out there’s some intriguing chemistry—and psychology—behind it. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/why-do-old-books-smell-so-good PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 AQUATRU: Head to https:AquaTru.com and get 20% off your purifier using promo code SYSK, with a 30 day best-tasting water guarantee or your money back! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! 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

When someone gets a nosebleed, what are you supposed to do? Many of us learned that you should tilt your head back. That’s not a good idea. There are a couple of key actions to take when your nose bleeds that many people don’t know or don’t do. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-nosebleeds/basics/art-20056683 It’s easy to dismiss optimism as hoping for the best or always looking for the bright side. Yet, true optimism is so much more than that once you understand it. And adopting an optimistic mindset has been proven to make people happier, improve health and longevity and a host of other benefits. True optimism is a belief about yourself as you are about to hear from Michelle Gielan. She is a positive psychology researcher, former anchor of the CBS Morning News and author of the book Resilient Optimism (https://amzn.to/4xNeyqi). For decades, the go to food for breakfast for many people is cereal. Is it a good choice? Well, that’s going to depend on which of the many cereals you choose. Where did cereals come from and how did they become synonymous with breakfast? What’s in them? And should you really start your day with a bowl of it. Here to discuss that is Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at NYU a leading expert on food politics. She is the author of many books, and her latest is Sugar Coated: Unboxing the Hidden Forces Shaping America's Favorite Breakfast Food. (https://amzn.to/46NqQTL). Everyone knows walking is good for you. But there is a particular time when a walk or even a leisurely stroll can pay big dividends. And the right time to take that stroll depends on when you eat. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/walking-after-eating PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do your fingers and toes sometimes feel freezing cold when the rest of you feels perfectly comfortable? It’s actually your body doing something very deliberate to protect you. Listen and discover what’s going on — and why warming those fingers and toes back up can be so difficult. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold-and-should-i-worry Are you getting enough sleep? Is it good-quality sleep? Why did you wake up at 3 a.m.? For a lot of people, sleep has become something to measure, manage and worry about. But all that effort may actually be making sleep worse. Sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski says one of the best things you can do for your sleep may be to stop trying so hard. She has worked in sleep research at Harvard Medical School and is author of Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic & Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep (https://amzn.to/3SOGsmM). Listen as she explains why sleep is more resilient than you think — and how worrying about it can become the real problem. There is something almost irresistible about “new.” A new phone, new car, new clothes, new gadgets — new things grab our attention and promise that life will somehow be a little better once we have them. And today, getting something new is easier than ever. But all that novelty comes at a price in money, time and attention. Eric Athas, an editor at The New York Times, explores why we are so attracted to new things, why the feeling wears off so quickly and what we may gain by resisting the urge to constantly upgrade. He is author of Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness―And How to Take Back Your Life(https://amzn.to/4iTUs9c). Goosebumps are strange when you think about them. They appear when you’re cold, scared or even moved by music — yet they don’t seem to accomplish much. Turns out they once served a very useful purpose. Listen and discover why humans still get goosebumps even though we no longer have much use for them. https://humanorigins.si.edu/education/fun-facts/why-do-we-get-goose-bumps PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts! KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Certain smells can instantly transport you back to another time and place — sometimes more vividly than a photograph ever could. Why is your sense of smell so closely tied to memory, and why are those memories often so emotional? Listen and find out. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/connections-between-smell-memory-and-health Getting good customer service can feel like an obstacle course. You can’t reach a human being, the chatbot sends you in circles, you wait on hold forever, and sometimes it seems as if the company would simply prefer that you give up. So what actually works when you have a problem and need someone to fix it? Christopher Elliott has spent years helping consumers get results, and he explains the strategies that work, the mistakes that can make things worse, and how some companies manage to provide extraordinary service while others fail miserably. Christopher is a consumer advocate and nationally syndicated columnist who writes the newsletter Elliott Confidential. You can find his work and subscribe at https://www.elliott.org. His podcast is at https://www.elliottshow.com. Remote controls are incredibly convenient — right up until you lose one in the couch cushions or stare at a row of buttons you have never pressed and have no idea what they do. And the remote has changed far more than just the way we watch television. The surprisingly interesting story of how remote controls came to be, how they changed our behavior, and where they may be headed next is told by Caetlin Benson-Allott. She is a professor of English and Film & Media Studies at Georgetown University and author of the book Remote Control (https://amzn.to/4xDig5W). Why do your fingers and toes get all wrinkly after you’ve been in the water for a while? It turns out it is not simply because your skin soaks up water. Your body is actually doing something quite deliberate — and scientists think there is a very practical evolutionary reason for it. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-water-makes-your-skin-look-like-a-prune-and-not-a-plum PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS KA'CHAVA: Ka’Chava’s new Salted Caramel is the perfect balance of mouthwatering flavor and benefits. Embrace your salty side. Go to ⁠https://kachava.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get 15% off your first order! TREES.COM: Right now, ⁠⁠https://Trees.com ⁠⁠have great deals on planting essentials, up to half off on select plants. And listeners to our show get 20% OFF their purchase when using the promo code SYSK at checkout. MONARCH: Write your own money story with Monarch! Use promo code SYSK at ⁠⁠⁠https://Monarch.com⁠⁠⁠ to get your 1st year of Monarch Core half off at just $50 VINTED: Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money?Download the Vinted app for free and start listing! With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn and for a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the US on Vinted. WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Find your next Fall favorites at Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! DELL: Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you! 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