Something You Should Know

Have you ever noticed that when two people walk together, they often fall into step without even trying? Or that people in conversation sometimes begin to mirror each other's movements? Humans have a curious tendency to synchronize with one another, often without realizing it. Why does this happen, and what does it reveal about how we connect? https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/social-synchronicity-37695

You've heard all your life that reading is good for you. It expands your vocabulary, sharpens your mind, and makes you more knowledgeable. But reading fiction may do something remarkable that other kinds of reading don't. There is something about the way fiction is written and the way our brains respond to it that produces some surprising benefits. Even the simple words "Once upon a time" can trigger something special. Andrew Piper, professor at McGill University and author of Why You Should Read More Fiction: What Data and AI Tell Us About the Value of Storytelling (https://link.amazon/B01VixDmx), joins me to explain what fascinating new research reveals about the power of fiction — and why picking up a novel may be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

We've all heard the warning about "groupthink" — that putting people together to solve a problem can sometimes produce worse results than letting them work alone. But what if the problem isn't collaboration itself, but how we collaborate? Research into collective intelligence reveals that under the right conditions, groups can become remarkably good at solving problems, generating ideas, and making decisions. The trick is knowing how to bring people together so their combined intelligence actually works. Damon Centola, professor of Communication, Sociology, and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, studies how this happens. He is also the author of Goodthink: The New Science of Collective Intelligence (https://link.amazon/B05J8lAqo). Listen as he explains what makes some groups smarter than others and how we can use this science to work better together.

Why does time seem to speed up as we get older? You look back and wonder where the summer went, or how five years could have passed so quickly. Interestingly, research suggests that time doesn't necessarily feel faster while we're living it. It's when we look back that things seem to have flown by. So what's going on in our brains that creates this illusion? And is there a way to make life feel like it's moving a little more slowly? https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-025-02833-z

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Can someone's taste in music make them more attractive to you? Apparently, it can. The music people listen to can influence how we perceive their personalities, how compatible we think we might be, and even how romantically interested we are in them. So what does your playlist say about you? And why do musical preferences matter when it comes to attraction? We begin with the surprising connection between music and relationships. https://www.medindia.net/news/Music-Predicts-Sexual-Attraction-80223-1.htm

Think about how many times you've written something down in a notebook. A shopping list, a brilliant idea, a diary entry, notes from a meeting, or just something you didn't want to forget. It seems like such an ordinary thing to do. But the simple act of putting thoughts on paper has helped change the course of human history. Notebooks have shaped scientific discoveries, inspired great works of art, helped build businesses, and transformed the way people think. So how did something as basic as a blank book become such a powerful tool? Roland Allen joins me to reveal the fascinating history of notebooks, the remarkable things people have done with them, and why writing things down still matters in our digital world. Roland is the author of The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper (https://amzn.to/3NGd2B8).

We all know we probably spend too much time looking at screens. But what exactly is all that scrolling, swiping, and staring doing to our brains? Is it really changing the way we think, concentrate, remember, and experience the world? And why is it so difficult to look away, even when we know we've had enough? Our brains evolved in a world very different from the one we live in today, and the constant flood of digital information may be more than they're equipped to handle. Dr. Richard Cytowic joins me to explain what's happening inside our heads when we spend so much time on our devices, why digital distraction is so powerful, and what we can do to regain control of our attention. He is a professor of neurology at George Washington University and author of Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age: Coping with Digital Distraction and Sensory Overload (https://amzn.to/4hsyVBp).

Advertisers love to use impressive-sounding claims that don't actually tell you very much. A shampoo promises to make your hair "five times silkier." Five times silkier than what? And how exactly do you measure silkiness? These claims can sound scientific and convincing, even when they're practically meaningless. And they work surprisingly well. Listen as I explain how advertisers use numbers and clever language to make products seem better than they may actually be—and why it's worth paying attention. Source: Charles Seife, author of Proofiness (https://amzn.to/3NL55KY).

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Where do you leave your car keys at night? On the kitchen counter? By the front door? It turns out that where you keep your key fob when you're not driving could actually affect your car's battery. And the reason why is something most drivers probably never consider. https://www.northway.aaa.com/magazine/news/not-so-fob-ulous

Can you really fall in love with a chatbot? Apparently, some people do. Millions of people are turning to AI for companionship, emotional support, intimate conversations, and even romance. And why not? A chatbot is always available, never gets impatient, and seems genuinely interested in everything you have to say. But there's a troubling catch: It can sound like it cares about you without actually caring at all. So what happens when we begin forming deep emotional attachments to machines? Sherry Turkle joins me to explore the fascinating and sometimes disturbing world of artificial intimacy. She is a professor at MIT, founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, and one of the world's leading experts on our relationship with technology. She is the author of Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines (https://link.amazon/B00VbMErE).

There is something remarkably powerful about family. We feel an almost instinctive connection to the people we call family, even when those relationships are difficult, complicated, or downright dysfunctional. We say "blood is thicker than water," yet some of our strongest family bonds aren't based on blood at all. So what actually makes a family? Why do we need one? Meredith Small joins me to explore the surprising science and anthropology of family, how family relationships have evolved, and why our need to belong is such a fundamental part of being human. Meredith is a professor of anthropology at Cornell University and author of several books, including Family: How the Human Need for Belonging Shapes Our Lives (https://link.amazon/B0cjvakMw).

When you're struggling with a difficult decision or a problem you just can't solve, someone will inevitably suggest you "sleep on it." And there's good science behind that advice. But what if you could get some of the same benefits without actually going to sleep? Research suggests there may be a surprisingly simple way to help your brain find answers when you're stuck. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30388441/

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There was a time when kids couldn't wait to grow up. Becoming an adult meant freedom, independence, making your own decisions, and finally being in charge of your own life. But something seems to have changed. Today, many young people aren't particularly excited about adulthood. In fact, some find the whole idea downright intimidating. Why? Has being an adult become less appealing, or have we somehow failed to prepare young people for the responsibilities that come with it? And what does it really take to become a capable, confident, independent adult?

Joining me to explore this fascinating generational shift is Julie Lythcott-Haims, a writer, former college dean, former attorney, and author of the book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult (https://amzn.to/3q89LOB). She explains why so many young people feel overwhelmed by the prospect of growing up, how parenting and cultural expectations may have contributed to the problem, and what parents and young adults can do to make the transition to adulthood less frightening and more rewarding. Whether you're raising teenagers, have grown children still finding their way, or are navigating adulthood yourself, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what growing up really means—and why it doesn't have to be something to dread.

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PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, this is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts!

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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

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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

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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
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