Something You Should Know

Patrick McGee, author of 'Apple in China', shares insights into Apple's immense $3 trillion valuation and its intricate relationship with China, particularly in manufacturing and market dynamics. Jesse David Fox, comedy critic at Vulture, explores the essence of laughter, discussing its evolutionary purpose and psychological benefits. The conversation touches on the power of humor in social connection, while also delving into the captivating evolution of comedy through history, including the impact of social media on its future.

Eleanor Gordon Smith, an NPR producer and author of 'Stop Being Reasonable', dives into the challenges of changing minds, revealing that emotional ties often outweigh rational arguments. Cliff Kuang, a user experience designer and author of 'User Friendly', discusses the evolution of intuitive design, tracing it back to post-WWII developments. They explore how personal identity shapes decisions, the complexities of user-friendly technology, and whether knowing the endings of stories enhances enjoyment, highlighting fascinating insights on persuasion and design.

Sara Leila Sherman, a musician and educator, discusses how music impacts our brains and enhances emotional awareness. She explains how intentional music choices can boost focus and productivity. Dr. Jerry Avorn, a Harvard medical professor, provides insights into the drug approval process, critiquing its complexities and the FDA's role in medication safety. He highlights the need for accountability and a better understanding of drug risks. Together, they explore the fascinating intersection of music and medicine, revealing their profound effects on our daily lives.

Cutter Wood, author of 'Earthly Materials', shares insights on the astonishing functions of our bodies, like the surprising importance of tears and mucus. Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, dives into the history and profound cultural impact of the 'like' button, exploring its psychological effects on self-esteem and engagement in social media. They discuss everything from the allure of a long-lasting Twinkie to how these daily interactions shape our lives, making for a fascinating blend of food facts and digital sociology.

Jake Robinson, a microbial ecologist and author of "Invisible Friends," shares fascinating insights into how our trillions of microbes play crucial roles in health and well-being. He discusses the vibrant world of microbes and their unexpected benefits. Meanwhile, Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate and author of "Paved Paradise," delves into the paradox of parking: despite the abundance of spaces, finding one is a challenge. He explores the impact of free parking on urban congestion and offers alternative solutions for better city living.

Want to get someone to like you – or like you more? If so, there is a simple thing you can do that can work wonders to improve your likeability. This episode begins with this simple technique. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201608/people-will-you-if-you-make-them-laughWhy are we here? You must have thought about this question. I mean, here we are, intelligent creatures hurtling through the universe on this tiny little planet. Why? What’s the point of it all? What had to happen for us to be here? These are questions that science has struggled with but is now finding more and more insight into the real reasons we exist. Here to reveal what we do know is Tim Coulson, a professor of zoology at Oxford University whose teaching and research have earned him multiple awards. He is author of the book The Science of Why We Exist: A History of the Universe from the Big Bang to Consciousness (https://amzn.to/4jLgb0n).There is a growing type of relationship that doesn’t even have a proper name. It’s 2 people in a partnership and they are not romantically connected but they are more than friends. They are more than best friends. They often live together, are in each other’s wills, travel together and essentially live as partners. How do these partnerships begin? Who are the people in them? Why is this a growing arrangement? The first person to really look at this is my guest, Rhaina Cohen. She is an award-winning producer and editor for NPR’s documentary podcast, Embedded and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New Republic and elsewhere. She is author of the book The Other Significant Other (https://amzn.to/42unjsn).You probably have no idea what all is involved when you sneeze. It’s really quite something! And it involves a lot of different muscles to make it happen. Listen and you will learn things about why and how you sneeze and when you can and cannot sneeze. https://www.medicinenet.com/11_facts_about_sneezes_and_sneezing/article.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kibosh, chicanery, affluent and Seuss (as in Dr. Seuss) are words a lot of people mispronounce. This episode begins with the correct pronunciation of these and other mispronounced words you may not be aware you are saying incorrectly. http://mentalfloss.com/article/32273/11-common-words-youre-probably-mispronouncingYou (or someone you know) have most likely dropped your phone in the toilet, spilled coffee on your laptop or had some other electronic device suffer “death by liquid.” Our electronic devices are very much NOT water-proof. Why is that? That horrible feeling you get when you get your devices wet is a combination of guilt, panic and horror. Yet, it happens to almost everyone. Why can’t they make these devices more resistant to liquids? That is an interesting question which I explore with Rachel Plotnick. She is a historian and cultural theorist whose research and teaching focus on information, communication, and media technologies. She is also author of the book License to Spill: Where Dry Devices Meet Liquid Lives (https://amzn.to/3Ru1xyz).Stress kills! But it is also good for you. In fact, GOOD stress can actually counter the effects of the bad stress in your life. So, what is the difference between good and bad stress? And how can you make stress work for you? Here to explain all this and the science behind it, is Dr. Sharon Bergquist, MD. She is an award-winning physician and visionary researcher renowned for spearheading a science-based approach to applying lifestyle as medicine. She has a Ted-Ed video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-t1Z5-oPtU) about how stress affects you which has been viewed over 8 million times and she is author of the book The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier (https://amzn.to/43XOj4B).Most of us have some trouble remembering the names of people right after we meet them. It seems doing something with your eyes and making a few movements with your body can help you recall names according to some research. Listen and I’ll tell you how it works.https://www.livescience.com/1473-moving-eyes-improves-memory-study-suggests.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Keller, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of 'Quitting: A Life Strategy', redefines quitting as a strategic choice rather than a failure. She shares insights on how precision quitting can lead to greater fulfillment. Wallace J. Nichols, a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy, explores our deep connection to water, revealing how it fosters creativity and emotional well-being. Together, they discuss the empowering nature of quitting and the profound psychological benefits of being near water.

You are familiar with the advice that you shouldn’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry because you will spend more money and buy more junk. However, that’s just a piece of story. Hunger and shopping are related in other ways. This episode begins by explaining how. https://phys.org/news/2015-03-hungry-people-food.html#google_vignetteThe idea that spending too much time on your phone, tablet or computer is bad for you has become conventional wisdom. But is that true? What does the research say about this? It turns out it's not black and white, there are shades of gray worth understanding. Here to explain this is Jacqueline Nesi. She is a psychologist and assistant professor at Brown University who writes the popular weekly newsletter Techno Sapiens (https://technosapiens.substack.com), which provides tips to manage your screen time better. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications related to technology use and has appeared on CNBC, CNN, and NPR.Your body is an amazing collection of processes and systems that all work to keep you alive and moving. Most of us have no idea what goes on inside of us to make it all happen so, here to explain some of it and unravel a few mysteries of the human body and explain why we can’t live forever, how the body defends itself, why we need to sleep and so much and more is Dr. Darragh Ennis. He is a scientist and researcher who has worked at the University of Oxford and the University of Glasgow and he is author of the book The Body: 10 Things You Should Know (https://amzn.to/42ApkC5).Have you heard the word “halfalogue? It’s when you hear someone else talking on their phone but you are hearing only their side of the conversation. It can drive you crazy and it has other implications, especially if you are driving a car. Listen as I explain. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2010/05/half-heard-phone-conversations-reduce-performancePLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!!FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50offTIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure!  Go to https://Timeline.com/SOMETHINGINDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now!SHOPIFY:  Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Russ Frushtick, co-founder of Vox Media’s Polygon and author of 'The Book of Fun,' explores the rich history of games and the universal human need for fun. He delves into the origins of iconic board games and video games, emphasizing their cultural significance. Joining him is Dr. Guy Leschziner, a neurologist and author of 'The Nocturnal Brain,' who reveals the critical role of sleep in our health, discussing sleep disorders and the vital connection between rest and creativity. Expect a fascinating dive into both play and slumber!