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 you concentrate, the worse it gets. It’s true for everyone and there is a sweet spot after which your efforts suffer. This episode begins with a discussion on why this happens and when you should stop trying and go do something else. https://hbr.org/2014/07/get-your-brain-unstuckAt times in your life there have been important moments that have helped to shape who you are. These are transformative moments. Perhaps someone said something to you that made you think differently about yourself or your abilities – good or bad. So what is it about these brief moments in life that make them so powerful they can change your course in life or even change what you think of yourself? Dr. Michael Roussel is an associate professor at southern Oregon University and has been studying transformative moments for over three decades. He joins me to reveal the surprising reason why these moments stick with us and how you can use these moments to your advantage. To see Michael’s TED talk on the subject, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5O6mFWpgZo&t=3s How do you clean a dusty oil painting or rusty old gardening tools? Well, those are just a few of the dirty things you can clean with some handy items that are in your kitchen. Listen as I explain. https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/more-surprising-natural-cleanersAs many as half of all people in the U.S. consider themselves introverted. As you might imagine, those people often feel at a disadvantage particularly when it comes to getting ahead in the workplace. However, there are some advantages to being an introvert and ways to play to those strengths according to career coach Jane Finkle, author of the book The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide (https://amzn.to/2Z0YmRr). Listen as Nancy explains some great strategies for introverts to navigate through the world of work.This Week’s Sponsors-Proactiv. Go to www.Proactiv.com/SOMETHING and with your order, you’lll also receive Proactiv’s “On the Go Bag” (close to a $100 value!) PLUS FREE SHIPPING & a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee!

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://workrights.us/Do you have a lot of self-confidence? Could you use a little more? We probably all could and Lana Otoya author of The Mindset of Self Confidence: Why Self Confidence Has Nothing to Do with Speaking Up or Standing Straight (https://amzn.to/2yKXqWu) joins me to explain how self-confidence works, what it is and how to develop more of it.  Are you religious? If not, you might want to be? Listen as I discuss the amazing health benefits that happen when you believe in a religion. Duke Johnson, M.D. author of “Optimal Health”Intelligence is a funny thing. Sure, it’s good to be smart but there is also a down side. David Robson is a journalist for for the BBC, the Atlantic, and New Scientist and he is also author of the book The Intelligence Trap: The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes (https://amzn.to/2YRNYLz). He joins me to explain just what intelligence is and how (and when) being intelligent can be a bad thing.This Week’s Sponsors-Embark Dog DNA Test Kit. Go to www.Embarkvet.com and use Promo code SOMETHING to save 15%.-SimpliSafe. Go to www.SimpliSafe.com/SOMETHING to get free shipping and a money-back guarantee!

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. https://www.prevention.com/health/g20516173/6-creepy-things-you-never-knew-about-your-nightmares/Where do good ideas come from? Good ideas typically blossom in environments that encourage people to express their ideas. Yet we often shoot down people’s ideas before they have a chance to develop. One place that does NOT happens is in improv theater. That’s where someone throws out an idea and everyone adds to it to see if they can make it interesting or funny. And there may be a real lesson there for the rest of us according to Norm LaViolette an improv performer, founder of Improv Asylum in Boston and author of a book called The Art of Making it Up: Using the Principles of IMPROV to Become an Unstoppable Force (https://amzn.to/2YLvegE). Norm consults major corporations on how to use the skills of improv to nurture great ideas and he joins me to share his strategies with you.I know I’ve heard the advice that if you fake a smile that it can actually make you feel better. Or could it be that faking a smile when you don’t feel happy can actually make you feel worse? Listen and find out what the research says. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/msu-sfa022211.phpYou probably wouldn’t have guessed off the top of your head that mosquitoes are our deadliest predator - but they are according to Tim Winegard, a professor of history and political science at Colorado Mesa University and author of the book The Mosquito:A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator (https://amzn.to/31pWnHV). Tim joins me to offer a fascinating explanation of how the mosquito has killed more people and changed the course of history in ways you never knew. 

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 amazing sense of smell in the first segment of this episode.  https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/scentsWe spend our entire lives learning. Yet we seldom think about HOW we learn. One person who has thought about it a lot is Scott Young, author of the book UltraLearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career (https://amzn.to/2yCu4cF). Scott joins me to discuss the best and worst ways to learn anything and how you can learn anything better. Gotta cramp? Reach for the pickles. There is some fascinating research I discuss on how what appears to be an effective and fast cure for a muscle cramp and it is in a jar of pickles. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/phys-ed-can-pickle-juice-stop-muscle-cramps/We all come in contact with difficult and unreasonable people. What is the best way to deal with them? Well, it depends on what the goal is, according to Rick Brinkman, author of Dealing with People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst (https://amzn.to/2YG8cMa). Rick reveals the best ways to handle jerks, idiots and other difficult people who get in your way so that you get what you want without escalating the trouble. This Week's Sponsors-Dashlane. For a 30 day free trial of Dashlane Premium go to www.Dashlane.com/sysk

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 with an explanation of what vocal fry is and why it is harmful to a person’s vocal health and professional career. http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/15/get-your-creak-on-is-vocal-fry-a-female-fad/Have you ever sabotaged yourself? You go for a goal and somehow screw it up and it was no one else's fault but yours. The really good news is – everyone has done it. It is very human. And there is something you can do to stop it. Judy Ho a triple board-certified and licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and author of the book Stop Self Sabotage (https://amzn.to/2yltujB) joins me to explore this fascinating topic and reveals what you can do to stop it. Ever go to the beach but chicken out when it comes to going in the water? Whether it is an ocean, river or lake, you need to take a dip this summer and I will explain the excellent reasons why it is well worth it. https://www.livestrong.com/article/400377-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-swimming-in-sea-water/When you look at the universe, do you see chaos or order? While it may look chaotic, the great minds of science have discovered a distinct order to the universe. Why is this important? Graham Farmelo, senior research fellow at the Science Museum in London, adjunct professor of physics at Northeastern University and author of the book The Universe Speaks in Numbers: How Modern Math Reveals Nature's Deepest Secrets (https://amzn.to/2MtOJbg) is here to explain. He will fascinate you with his explanation about how the universe is quite mathematical – and not chaotic at all!This Week’s Sponsors-Dashlane. For a 30 day free trial plus 10% off Dashlane Premium go to www.Dashlane.com/SYSK

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 a mathematical formula that will save you real dough on your next pizza. http://lifehacker.com/the-math-equation-that-explains-why-you-should-alwaysb-1784641566How well do you organize, prioritize and execute your life? I bet you wish you were better at it – at least some of the time. World renowned productivity expert David Allen, author of the book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (https://amzn.to/32Vr6Or) is here to offer some amazingly simple yet powerful ways to live and work more efficiently so you have plenty of time for you. Since so many people are dehydrated, listen and discover a quick way to tell if you are. This test requires nothing more than to pinch the skin on the back of your hand. http://www.livestrong.com/article/252621-how-to-tell-if-you-are-dehydrated/Have you ever experienced brain fog? It’s knowing that you are not performing at your best. A lot of things can contribute to it – including stress and diet – and there can be serious long term effects. Dr. Mike Dow, author of the books The Brain Fog Fix (https://amzn.to/3105nTG) and Your Subconscious Brain Can Change Your Life (https://amzn.to/2yl6u3W) joins me to discuss how to combat the feeling and optimize your brain to perform at its best. This Week’s Sponsors-Capterra. To find the best software solutions for your business for free, go to www.Capterra.com/something-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.

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 revealing what happens to some people who use reusable grocery bags. https://grist.org/food/are-your-reusable-grocery-bags-making-you-fat/How you drive has a real impact on the flow of traffic. Tom Vanderbilt, author of the book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us (https://amzn.to/2XTgPDL) joins me to explain why traffic flows the way it does, why it sometimes stops for no reason and how your driving affects other drivers. He also reveals what we can all do to make traffic work better.What’s the best way to get ketchup out of the bottle? Everyone seems to have their own technique. However, the people at Heinz ketchup created a secret little way that works if you know what to look for. I’ll explain their method which actually works on any ketchup bottle. https://www.today.com/food/how-get-ketchup-out-bottle-trick-heinz-57-t118061Some people are just more likable than others. And there are some simple strategies anyone can use to make themselves more likable. Michelle Tillis Lederman author of the book The 11 Laws of Likability (https://amzn.to/2LwUoxn) is here to explain what makes someone likable and how anyone can improve their likability.This Week’s Sponsors-Native Deodorant. For 20% off your first purchase go to www.nativedeodorant.com and use the promo code SYSK at checkout -Grove. Get a 3-piece cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents, a free 60-day VIP membership, and a surprise bonus gift just for you when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more at www.grove.co/something-Linked In Jobs. Get $50 off your first job post at www.LinkedIn.com/podcast-Proactiv. Go to www.Proactiv.com/SOMETHING and with your order, you'lll also receive Proactiv’s “On the Go Bag” (close to a $100 value!) PLUS FREE SHIPPING & a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee!-Embark DNA Kit. Go to www.EmbarkVet.com and use Promo code SOMETHING to save 15% off your Dog DNA Test Kit

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 germs lurking in nasty places. This episode begins with some ways people try to avoid germs that fail and better ways instead. http://www.menshealth.com/health/things-that-do-not-protect-from-germs/slide/2Why do smart people do stupid things? Admit it, you’ve done dumb things and you KNOW you should have known better. What’s so interesting is there are several factors that make it more likely you will do something stupid. Joining me to explain what they are is Adam Robinson who is one of the co-founders of the Princeton Review and is now a top financial adviser. He created a Power Point presentation called “How Not to be Stupid” and I know you will find this conversation interesting and useful. BTW, you can find Adam on Twitter – @IAmAdamRobinson. Ask people what makes them laugh and they usually say they laugh at jokes or humor. Well that is partly true but we laugh at a lot of other things too. Listen to hear what we laugh at most often and why. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200011/the-science-laughterWhen you show appreciation, wonderful things happen. That’s according to Noelle Nelson who has written several books on the subject of appreciation including The Power of Appreciation (https://amzn.to/2JMOu87). She says there is real science that proves being appreciative is good for your physical and mental well-being and she joins me to discuss exactly how this works and how to put into practice. This Week’s Sponsors-Native Deodorant. For 20% off your first purchase go to www.nativedeodorant.com and use the promo code SYSK at checkout -Grove. Get a 3-piece cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents, a free 60-day VIP membership, and a surprise bonus gift just for you when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more at www.grove.co/something-Linked In Jobs. Get $50 off your first job post at www.LinkedIn.com/podcast-Proactiv. Go to www.Proactiv.com/SOMETHING and with your order, you'lll also receive Proactiv’s “On the Go Bag” (close to a $100 value!) PLUS FREE SHIPPING & a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee!-Embark DNA Kit. Go to www.EmbarkVet.com and use Promo code SOMETHING to save 15% off your Dog DNA Test Kit

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 begins with a look at what children tend to remember most about mom and dad. https://time.com/4097995/parenting-kids-remember/Some moments stand out in your life while many other moments are a blur or have long been forgotten. So what makes that special moments so special? And once you know that can you create more of them? Dan Heath joins me to explore that question. Dan is co-author of the book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact (http://amzn.to/2yY3fOH)Are you a worrier? Worriers are often told not to worry because supposedly, it doesn’t help. Well maybe it does. Listen as I discuss some interesting research that shows how all that worrying can really pay off. http://www.purewow.com/wellness/worrying-and-intelligenceBeing a perfectionist must be frustrating since it is impossible for humans to be perfect. Still, a lot of people strive for perfection in an imperfect world and it causes a lot of problems. If you are a perfectionist or know one, listen as I speak with clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo author of the book, Better Than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love (https://amzn.to/32tNfDb). This Week’s Sponsors-Omax Health. For 50% off your first box of Omax Sleep and Stress Remedy with CBD plus free shipping go to www.Omax Health.com and use the promo code: SYSK -SimpliSafe. For a 60 day risk-free trial and free shipping, go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something-Dashlane. For a 30 day free trial plus 10% off Dashlane Premium go to www.Dashlane.com/SYSK-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.

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 with some compelling evidence that we need to rethink that whole notion that low-fat is better. http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/foods-to-avoid-8-worst-foods-in-your-fridgeEvery day you spend time caring for your skin. It is, after all, the largest organ in the body. Yet there are so many myths about the skin and how to best care for it. Here to help bust those myths and offer some rock solid advice is dermatologist Dr. David Leffell. He is an internationally recognized expert in skin health, founder and chief of the Dermatologic Surgery Program at Yale Medicine and author of the book Total Skin: The Definitive Guide to Whole Skin Care for Life (https://amzn.to/30zZvjX).Who couldn’t use a little more space in their home? Listen as I offer some amazingly simple yet clever strategies for getting rid of things you will never miss and open up all kinds of space. http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/declutter-garageYour time is a precious commodity. So shouldn’t you be using it to do the things that matter most? That’s what time management expert John Zeratsky believes and he joins me to offer some ways to help get a handle on your time by eliminating those things that waste time and prevent you from doing things that are important to you. John is author of the book Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day (https://amzn.to/2jLBYwG).This Week’s Sponsors-Omax Health. For 50% off your first box of Omax Sleep and Stress Remedy with CBD plus free shipping go to www.Omax Health.com and use the promo code: SYSK -SimpliSafe. For a 60 day risk-free trial and free shipping, go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something-Dashlane. For a 30 day free trial plus 10% off Dashlane Premium go to www.Dashlane.com/SYSK-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.

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? This episode begins by explaining the answer to that and why it is so important. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/09/should-you-report-that-fender-bender-auto-insurance-claims-consumer-reports/index.htmHaving a job isn’t what it used to be. The changing economy is creating a lot of new jobs while eliminating others and somehow you have to survive amidst all that change. Joining me to help you navigate all of this is Neil Irwin, he is a senior economic correspondent at The New York Times, and author of the book How to Win in a Winner-Take-All World (https://amzn.to/2XKoFP2). Neil offers a strategy that will help bulletproof your career and allow you the grow in whatever field you choose.I bet you have wondered when you leave the house in the morning if you should turn off the AC and turn it back on when you get back – or just leave it on? Well, in terms of efficiency and saving money there is only one answer and I’ll reveal it here.  http://www.menshealth.com/guy-wisdom/should-you-turn-your-ac-off-when-you-leaveEver wonder why some advertising seems to work on you while other advertising messages don’t? Considering how many advertising messages you hear everyday, it is amazing you recall any of them. Marketing expert Neale Martin author of the book The 95% of Behavior Marketers Ignore (https://amzn.to/2LGFc02) joins me as we explore how advertising works on your mind and what causes you to respond or not.This Weeks Sponsors-Quip Toothbrush. Get your first refill pack free. Go to www.GetQuip.com/something-Capterra. To find the best software solutions for your business for free, go to www.Capterra.com/something-Linzess. For information about your IBSC symptoms go to www.ohmygut.info/podcast.

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 decades and you’ll never guess why. Listen and find out as this episode begins with an explanation – sort of. http://www.popsci.com/many-diseases-are-declining-and-doctors-arent-sure-whyDo you ever wish you had more willpower? It does seem that some people have a lot more of it than others. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal says you probably have more of it than you think and you can create more of it. Kelly is a lecturer at Stanford University and author of the book The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More (https://amzn.to/2JqGQ35). She joins me to explain how willpower works and how you can have more of it. When was the last time you washed your credit cards? Never right? Well your credit cards are one of many things crawling with germs you probably never think to clean. Listen to discover what else in your home might need a little disinfectant sooner than later. http://www.fitandfabliving.com/health/health-trends/6435-seven-surprisingly-dirtysurfacesYou may not think about it much but one very important ingredient in everything you eat or drink is – time! Too much time can ruin a lot of food yet some food gets better and better the longer you leave it alone. Food writer Jenny Linford, author of the book The Missing Ingredient: The Curious Role of Time in Food and Flavor (https://amzn.to/2XuHGWy) joins me with a fascinating explanation on how time matters in almost anything you eat or drink. This Weeks Sponsors-Quip Toothbrush. Get your first refill pack free. Go to www.GetQuip.com/something-Capterra. To find the best software solutions for your business for free, go to www.Capterra.com/something

Hot summer days are often called the “dog days of summer.” Why? This episode begins with an explanation of that. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a21725/dog-days/You make a lot of choices every day. Some are harder to make than others. Listening to this episode will likely help make better choices. Joining me is Joseph Bikart author of the book The Art of Decision Making: How We Move from Indecision to Smart Choices (https://amzn.to/2xsIwmW). After listening you may change the way you look at the choices you make. It seems a lot of homeowners are over-watering their lawns. Doing so not only wastes water but causes some other problems as well. Listen and discover how to check that your lawn is getting just the right amount of water. http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/water/lawn_care_and_irrigation.htmlHaving fun at work may seem counterproductive. How can you get work done if you are having fun? Well, it seems to be more complicated than that. In fact having fun may be just the thing for getting more work done – better! Joining me to explain is Dave Crenshaw a speaker and trainer who has authored five books. One of them is called The Power of Having Fun (https://amzn.to/2xoQYUj) This Week's Sponsors-Fab Fit Fun. For 10% off your first box go to www.FabFitFun.com and use the promo code: something-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com

You sometimes see products labeled refurbished – particularly electronics. Are they a good deal? This episode begins by looking at what refurbished means and whether or not it is a good deal worth considering or if you are better off leaving those products on the shelf. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/laptops/refurbished-electronics-buying-guideYou are constantly trying to persuade and influence people. Whether it is your boss, your family, your co-workers or your friends, exerting your influence is how you get them to understand you and go along with your ideas. Joining me with some practical advice on how to be more influential is Shelle Rose Chavret. She is an expert on influencing and persuasion and author of the book Words That Change Minds (https://amzn.to/2ITFGOt) While some people are more optimistic than others, there is no doubt that being more optimistic has a lot of benefits. I discuss some of those benefits and how to look at life in a more positive light. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/200911/dont-worry-be-happy-the-surprising-benefits-optimismPet ownership is at an all-time high. About 70% of us have at least one pet. And we all have questions about our pets’ health and happiness. Here with some answers to both common and perplexing pet questions is veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman who is host of the NPR radio show The Animal House and author of National Geographic Complete Guide to Pet Health, Behavior, and Happiness (https://amzn.to/2NllHN5)This Week's Sponsors-Fab Fit Fun. For 10% off your first box go to www.FabFitFun.com and use the promo code: something-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com

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 and watchband are and why they need a bath right now – today! http://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-watches-three-times-dirtier-than-toilet-seats-study-finds-20190623Some people believe vaccines cause autism – science says no. Some people believe in ghosts and UFOs – science says no. But just because science can’t explain it – does that mean it isn’t true? Steven Novella is a skeptic who believes that we should probably all be a bit more skeptical of things, events and phenomenon that can’t be explained and he joins me to reveal why this is so important. Steven is the author of the book The Skeptics Guide to the Universe (https://amzn.to/2Ycr16d) and host of the podcast of the same name which you can find on your favorite podcast platform or here: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcastsIf you like yogurt, you’ll like it even better if you eat from a certain type of spoon. If you like cheese it will most likely taste better to you if eat it off a particular type of utensil. Listen to find out which spoon and which utensil and why this happens to be true. https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/06/27/yogurt-tastes-different-depending-on-the-spoon/Do you suck at something? Maybe it’s playing an instrument or skiing or cooking. You probably didn’t start out wanting to suck at it – but here we are. You do it and you suck at it. Well, it turns out that may be a good thing. Writer Karen Rinaldi author of the book It’s Great to Suck at Something (https://amzn.to/2Lj05xY) explains why it is perfectly fine to NOT do some things well. She has been a surfer for 18 years and by her own admission – sucks at it. But she still does it, she still loves it and says there are actual benefits to doing things not for the achievement or the trophy but just to do it.  This Week's Sponsors-Paint Your Life. To learn more and get a 30% discount text SYSK to 48-48-48-Purple Mattress. To get a free pillow with a purchase of a mattress text the word: something to 84888-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.American River Nutrition. Get your free copy of Dr. Barrie Tan’s book The Truth about Vitamin E at www.BarrieTan.com/something

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 episode begins with a discussion on some common etiquette mistakes you may be making – and how to correct them. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/etiquette/etiquette-mistakesThe space and environment you are in right know can affect your thinking, your behavior and your communication in ways you likely don’t even realize. Lily Bernheimer is a researcher, writer, and consultant in environmental psychology and founding director of Space Works Consulting. She is also author of the book The Shaping of Us: How Everyday Spaces Structure our Lives, Behaviour, and Well-Being (https://amzn.to/2WXBd0X) and joins me to offer an interesting glimpse into how things like the table you sit at, the position of the chairs and the human desire for nature all affect how you think and perform in the space you are in.  Summer vacation photos will turn out dramatically better if you listen to some simple, expert photography advice I discuss in this episode. There are several good tips here including the need to move closer and closer to your subject. https://digital-photography-school.com/10-photography-hacks-will-dramatically-improve-photos/We now have an entire generation of mechanically illiterate kids according to Temple Grandin. She is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and she was also the subject of the Emmy and Golden Globe winning biographical film. She is one of the first individuals on the autism spectrum to publicly share insights from her personal experience of autism and she is the subject and author of several books including one called Calling All Minds: How To Think and Create Like an Inventor (https://amzn.to/2N5wFWS). She joins me to discuss how so many kids today are not exposed to tools and the mechanical world of things and how this has resulted in a generation of people who can’t build or fix anything. This has significant ramifications in our world including a lack of talented people in very lucrative trades like plumbing, electrical and auto repair. And that’s just the beginning of the problem.This Week's Sponsors-Paint Your Life. To learn more and get a 30% discount text SYSK to 48-48-48-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.American River Nutrition. Get your free copy of Dr. Barrie Tan’s book The Truth about Vitamin E at www.BarrieTan.com/something-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com

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 driving? Is that a distraction? This episode begins with an exploration of that question that yields a surprising answer.https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20130620/music-doesnt-hurt-driving-performance-study-suggests#1So many relationships start off great and then end badly. So what is it that goes wrong? Here with some great insight into that and some unique solutions to improve your relationship is Mort Fertel. Mort is a relationship expert and creator of the “Marriage Fitness” program that has helped thousands of couples save their marriages. He is a frequent expert guest on television and author of the book Marriage Fitness: 4 Steps to Building & Maintaining Phenomenal Love (https://amzn.to/2KrnNZc)To get Mort’s free report: 7 Secrets to Fix a Marriage go to www.MarriageMax.com  Next time you go on a job interview try to pick the day and time if you can. I’ll explain why it could make a huge difference and exactly what day and time to schedule it. https://lifehacker.com/the-best-time-to-schedule-a-job-interview-1738809779You probably spend more time on email than you realize. A lot more! That’s why communications expert Dianna Booher is here to discuss the problem and more importantly, the solutions. Dianna is the author of the book, Faster Fewer Emails: Manage the Volume, Reduce The Stress Love the Results (https://amzn.to/2FkoVda) and she has some very powerful advice that will help you get a handle on your email so it stops running your life. This Week’s Sponsors-American River Nutrition. Get your free copy of Dr. Barrie Tan’s book The Truth about Vitamin E at www.BarrieTan.com/something-Mighty Travels Premium. Get your 30 day free trial at www.MightyTravels.com/something -Ancestry. For 20% off your Ancestry DNA Kit go to www.Ancestry.com/something -Grove. Get a 3-piece cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents, a free 60-day VIP membership, and a surprise bonus gift just for you when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more at www.grove.co/something-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com

When you appear confident, people find that attractive. Sometimes though, when you wish you could appear confident you feel just the opposite. So I begin this episode with quick, easy and effective techniques to appear more confident when the feeling doesn’t come naturally. http://www.rd.com/advice/relationships/how-to-be-confident/1/What if you could start a successful side business with little money and get it up and running in 30 days? Sound impossible? Well Chris Guillebeau says otherwise. Chris is the author of 100 Side Hustles: Unexpected Ideas for Making Extra Money Without Quitting Your Day Job (https://amzn.to/2IIo4nv) and host of the popular podcast Side Hustle School (https://sidehustleschool.com). He has become the expert on what it takes to start a side hustle, keep your day job and find a new revenue stream that can help you be more financially secure. Listen as Chris explains how you can start your own side hustle. You’ve probably heard the stories about how attractive people get better treatment from others, make more money and basically seem to have an easier path in life. Well, it also turns out you are more likely to trust someone who is good looking too. Listen as I explore one more perk enjoyed by the beautiful people. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160613111652.htmThink about how important the weather is to your life. In many ways we plan our lives around the weather – or more specifically around the weather forecast. We rely on the predictions of meteorologists who are sometimes right and other times – dead wrong! Journalist Andrew Blum is author of the book The Weather Machine: A Journey inside the Forecast (https://amzn.to/2F2LLWE) and he joins me to explain the fascinating way weather is predicted and how weather forecasts are getting more and more accurate – most of the time. This Week’s Sponsors-American River Nutrition. Get your free copy of Dr. Barrie Tan’s book The Truth about Vitamin E at www.BarrieTan.com/something-Mighty Travels Premium. Get your 30 day free trial at www.MightyTravels.com/something -Grove. Get a 3-piece cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents, a free 60-day VIP membership, and a surprise bonus gift just for you when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more at www.grove.co/something-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com

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) and what purpose those numbers serve. I’ll also explain why sometimes the runway numbers have to change. https://www.wired.com/2014/05/the-hidden-beauty-of-airport-runways-and-how-to-decipher-them/When you make a decision, you hope you make the right one. And there are some decision making models that can help you make better decisions more consistently. Gabriel Weinberg has looked at these mental models and put them in a book called Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models (https://amzn.to/2F5c3re). Listen as Gabriel explains how these models work and how you can use them to be a much better decision maker.So often we’ve been told that things like alcohol, coffee and other vices are bad for you. That doesn’t always tell the whole story. A lot of what people consider sinful, may not be so bad in moderation according to journalist Erik Ofgang. Erik and his father Dr. Henry Ofgang have looked at the latest research and found some vices may actually be beneficial. They have putt their findings in a book called The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, the Surprising Truth About What's Actually Good for You (https://amzn.to/2MH6sgR). Listen as Erik joins me to explain what they found.With summer vacation season here, there is a phone call or two you need to make before you leave for your vacation that can save you a lot of hassle when you get to your destination. Listen to discover who you should call. https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/photo-gallery/35113991/image/45008935/Call-your-bankThis Week’s Sponsors-Paint Your Life. To learn more and get a 30% discount text SYSK to 48-48-48-SimpliSafe. For free shipping and a 60 day risk-free trial go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.-Lively. For $10 off your first order go to www.WearLively.com/something and use promo code: something-Linzess. For information about your IBSC symptoms go to www.ohmygut.info/podcast.-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com-Geico. Save 15% or more on car insurance at www.Geico.com 

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 drunk? This episode begins with a look at what coffee can and cannot do. http://lifehacker.com/four-popular-coffee-myths-debunked-by-science-1780764499We’ve all been told that generic drugs are equivalent to name brand drugs at a fraction of the price. Well, not necessarily. Most generic drugs are made in India and China and oversight by the FDA is not as great as you think. Investigative journalist Katherine Eban has just published an explosive expose that tells a troubling story about the safety and effectiveness of generic drugs. The book is called Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom (https://amzn.to/2K1f6Vm). If you or someone you know takes prescription drugs, you need to hear this. Katherine’s website is www.KatherineEban.com Too much sun is a problem. But so is too little sun. It turns out there is strong medical evidence that some sun is good for your health. Listen to hear how much and what it is good for. (http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/sun-affects-your-body/)Choosing on a career path and finding the right job is a haphazard experience for a lot of us. However, there is actually some science behind how to find a job, do it well and move up the ladder. One of the leading expert in this field is Art Markman, professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the new book Bring Your Brain To Work: Using Cognitive Science to Get a Job, Do It Well and Advance Your Career (https://amzn.to/2WpTbc6). Art joins me for a fascinating look at a better way to find professional success.This Week’s Sponsors-SimpliSafe. For free shipping and a 60 day risk-free trial go to www.SimpliSafe.com/something-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform.-Lively. For $10 off your first order go to www.WearLively.com/something and use promo code: something-Linzess. For information about your IBSC symptoms go to www.ohmygut.info/podcast.-Capital One. What's in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com-Geico. Save 15% or more on car insurance at www.Geico.com 

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 people. I begin this episode by explaining the scientific benefits of smelling a freshly mowed lawn.( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1209360/Why-mowing-lawn-relieves-stressboosts-memory.html)How do you make real change in yourself and others? That’s the topic of my discussion with Joseph Grenny, a social scientist, speaker and one of the authors of a book Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change (https://amzn.to/2XADNeJ) . Joseph explains just how you can influence and change behavior so it benefits you and lasts a long time.Have you noticed when you go to a party that the more people drink – the louder the party gets? There is actually a fascinating reason why – and it has to do with your hearing. Listen as I explain. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2031886For your entire life, you learn. Learning is how we grow and improve and find meaning in life. Yet HOW we learn is something that is seldom discussed even though it is critical to how well we learn new skills, facts and ideas. Joining me to discuss how we can all learn anything better is Bradley Staats. He is a professor at the University of North Carolina where his teaching focuses s on how to improve individual learning. He is also author of the book Never Stop Learning: Stay Relevant, Reinvent Yourself, and Thrive (https://amzn.to/2ImJYN3). This Week's Sponsors-Lively. For $10 off your first order go to www.WearLively.com/something and use promo code: something-LinkedIn. To get $50 off your first job post, go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast-Capterra. To find the best software solutions for your business for free, go to www.Capterra.com/something-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform-Fab Fit Fun. To get $10 off your first Fab Fit Fun box go to www.FabFitFun.com and use promo code: something

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 happen for no apparent reason. I begin this episode by exploring one oddity of traffic – where the solution usually makes the problem worse. (Edward Humes author of the book Door to Door). To be a success you have to get really good at one thing as soon as possible. In other words, you have to specialize. While that concept seems to make sense, it turns out to be flawed, according to journalist David Epstein, author of the book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Listen as he explains why being a generalist is a better path to success despite popular opinion to the contrary.Spanking as a form of punishment is a lot less common than it used to be but there are still many parents around the world who still believe that when you spare the rod, you spoil the child. Listen as I explain why a lot of those parents will live to regret it. (30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer)Our world is crawling with “extreme” creatures. By that I mean the largest, fastest, smallest, strongest and smartest. There is a lot we can learn from these animals and organisms. For example, the largest mammal could help us end cancer. The fastest bird is teaching engineers about flight. Matthew LaPlante, a professor of journalism at Utah State University is author of the book Superlative: The Biology of Extremes. He joins me to reveal the fascinating reasons why these creatures became so extreme in their own right and why they are so fascinating.  This Week's Sponsors-LinkedIn. To get $50 off your first job post, go to www.LinkedIn.com/podcast-Capterra. To find the best software solutions for your business for free, go to www.Capterra.com/something-Stroke of Genius Podcast. Subscribe to Stroke of Genius on Apple Podcasts, at www.ipoef.org, or your favorite podcast platform-Fab Fit Fun To get $10 off your first Fab Fit Fun box go to www.FabFitFun.com and use promo code: something

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 start this episode with the answer – and it may surprise you. http://mentalfloss.com/article/79615/12-behind-scenes-secrets-pharmacistsWhen I think of innovators, I think of the champions of innovation – Leonardo DaVinci, Steve Jobs or that guy who invented the wheel. But we all actually innovate. We have to in order to solve the problems in our lives. According to Hal Gregerson, we can all learn to be better at it. Hal is Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center and Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and co-author of the book The Innovators DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators (https://amzn.to/2Qz26qm). Listen and discover the secrets of great innovators. You would think that a sad song would make a sad person even sadder. In fact it can actually cheer them up. Listen as I explain how this works. http://www.wnyc.org/story/why-sad-songs-make-us-happy/Few people love to clean but since we all have to do it, we might as well do it faster and better. Melissa Maker is a real authority on the topic. She has over a million subscribers to her YouTube Channel called Clean My Space and she is author of the book Clean My Space (https://amzn.to/2K9r7rf). Listen as Melissa joins me to dazzle you with her cleaning advice. This Week’s Sponsors-Ancestry.For 20% off your Ancestry DNA kit, go to www.Ancestry.com/something-Omax Health.  For 50% off OMAX Sleep and Stress Remedy go to www.OmaxHealth.com and use the promo code SYSK-Omax Health. For 20% off your on OMAX CryoFreeze or any purchase sitewide go to www.OmaxHealth.com and use the promo code: something-Purple. To get a free pillow with your mattress purchase text the word “Something” to 79-79-79.-Capital One. What’s in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com 

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 episode by explaining why those little victories can propel into big ones and why keeping a list is such a great idea. http://www.lifehack.org/398112/science-explains-how-writing-down-tinyachievements-every-day-changes-our-brainsYou are surrounded by colors, shapes, objects, nature and light. And all of those things have an effect on you. They impact your mood, your productivity and how you view the world and your fellow humans. Ingrid Fetell Lee is an expert on how design affects your health and well-being and is author of the book Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness (https://amzn.to/2M7N3pa). What she has to say will change the way you view the world around you.It is pretty common for parents to mix up the names of their children and call them by the wrong name. Interestingly though, you never call your kids by your cat’s name. So why does this happen? Parents obviously know the difference between their own kids. Listen and discover why the mix up is so common. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3594971/Do-mix-people-s-names-Don-tworry-not-going-senile-merely-filing-error-brain.html)Getting into debt is really easy – but getting out of debt is a whole other story. If you have more debt than you wish you had, you’ll want to hear Shannon Lee Simmons. She is a certified financial planner and author of the book Living Debt Free: The No Shame No Blame Guide to Getting Rid of Your Debt (https://amzn.to/2EzNa6N). Shannon joins me to explain the best and fastest way to get out of debt and still live your life. This Week’s Sponsors-Ancestry.For 20% off your Ancestry DNA kit, go to www.Ancestry.com/something-Omax Health. For 20% off your on OMAX CryoFreeze or any purchase sitewide go to www.OmaxHealth.com and use the promo code: something-Purple. To get a free pillow with your mattress purchase text the word “Something” to 79-79-79.-Capital One. What’s in your wallet? www.CapitalOne.com 

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 you a better and safer driver even if you think you already are. http://www.cracked.com/article_20106_6-little-known-driving-tips-that-couldsave-your-life_p2.htmlIf you have a computer then you have been hacked. That’s the conclusion of Marcus Carey who is a cybersecurity expert and what you call a “white hat hacker.” Companies pay him to break into their computer systems to see how vulnerable they are. He joins me to discuss just how easy it is for hackers to hack into your computer, your thermostat, your refrigerator and any other device hooked up to the Internet – and why they do. He also has some excellent suggestions to protect yourself. Marcus is the author of the book Tribe of Hackers: Cybersecurity Advice from the Best Hackers in the World (https://amzn.to/2VGRdUv).Will you be going to church this weekend? It is worth considering if you want to live a long life. I discuss some fascinating research that connects longevity with attending religious services. http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2521827You can certainly argue that healthcare today has lost some of its personal touch. If you’ve ever gone to the doctor and had him look at a computer screen more than he looks at you – then you know what I mean. So what can be done to help doctors and patients connect and put a little more humanity make in the healthcare business? Dr. Eric Topol sees a solution. Eric is the author of the book Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Medicine Human Again (https://amzn.to/2HxZoii). He joins me to explain how we can integrate artificial intelligence into our medical care to make it better for everyone. This Week's Sponsors-Grove. Get a 3-piece cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents, a free 60-day VIP membership, and a surprise bonus gift just for you when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more at www.grove.co/something-Calming Comfort. Order a Calming Comfort weighted blanket and get $15 off the displayed price when you use promo code: something15. Go to www.CalmingComfortBlanket.com.-Capital One. Go to www.CapitalOne.com. What's in your wallet?