Something You Should Know

How food tastes has surprisingly little to do with the food itself. The lighting in the room, the weight of your fork, and even the color of your plate can all change how much you enjoy a meal — without you realizing it. This episode begins with how easily your senses can be influenced. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/12/31/370397449/food-psychology-how-to-trick-your-palate-into-a-tastier-meal# When you recognize someone, it usually happens instantly — but what exactly are you recognizing? How much of a face do you need to see? Why are some people incredibly good at recognizing faces while others struggle or are completely face blind? And how does facial recognition software compare to the human brain? Sharrona Pearl joins me to explore why face recognition varies so dramatically between people. She is associate professor of medical ethics and history at Drexel University and author of Do I Know You?: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition (https://amzn.to/3TWc0VX). We like to believe we think clearly and rationally — but much of the time our brains are running on autopilot. That’s when bad decisions, faulty reasoning, and unnecessary mistakes creep in. Shane Parrish explains how to slow down your thinking, avoid mental traps, and make better decisions in everyday moments. Shane is an entrepreneur whose work is used by Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams, host of The Knowledge Project podcast, and author of Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results (https://amzn.to/3Hl0FHj). And finally, some people insist they can drink coffee right before bed and sleep just fine. Is that really possible — or are they fooling themselves? We wrap up with what sleep science actually says about caffeine and nighttime rest. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shift-worker-alert-curb-t_b_386058 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a reason hearing your mother’s voice can feel different from hearing anyone else’s — even when it’s just a phone call. This episode opens with the surprising effects researchers have discovered. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-psychology-of-relationships/202104/two-key-reasons-why-you-should-call-your-mom Guilt feels terrible — and that’s exactly what makes it so effective. While we tend to see guilt as something to avoid, it may actually play an essential role in helping us learn, repair relationships, and behave more ethically. Christopher Moore explains why guilt exists, how it evolved, and why feeling guilty can sometimes be a very good thing. Christopher is a professor of psychology and former dean of science at Dalhousie University, whose work has been cited in Psychology Today, Today’s Parent, and The New York Times. He is author of The Power of Guilt: Why We Feel It and Its Surprising Ability to Heal (https://amzn.to/3Nrt051). Plagiarism seems like a clear-cut wrongdoing — but the reality is far more complicated. People plagiarize more often than you might think, sometimes without even realizing it. And in some cases, you can be accused of plagiarism even if you’ve never seen the original work. With only so many ways to tell a story or write a song, where does coincidence end and plagiarism begin? Roger Kreuz joins me to explore this fascinating gray area. He is Associate Dean and professor of psychology at the University of Memphis, a columnist for Psychology Today, and author of Strikingly Similar: Plagiarism and Appropriation from Chaucer to Chatbots. (https://amzn.to/4soVFaS). And finally, there’s a widespread belief that dark roast coffee has more caffeine than light roast — or that espresso packs far more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. Both ideas sound logical, but they’re not quite right. We wrap up by explaining what actually determines caffeine content and why these myths persist. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/light-vs-dark-roast-coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When children grow up and look back on their childhood, what do they remember most about their parents? It turns out it’s not what many parents assume. This episode begins with research revealing which parenting behaviors leave the strongest, longest-lasting impressions — and how they shape adult relationships. https://time.com/4097995/parenting-kids-remember/ Some emotions can completely hijack your day. Anger, anxiety, frustration, and stress often feel automatic — as if you have no control once they show up. But that’s not actually true. Dr. Ryan Martin explains science-backed ways to regulate emotions both before they spiral and in the moment. Ryan is Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and author of several books on emotions, including Emotion Hacks: 50 Ways to Feel Better Fast (https://amzn.to/4qrv9fj). Laughter feels good — but why do we do it? And why do humans laugh so much more than other animals? Is laughter actually good for your health, or is it just enjoyable? And what makes something funny in the first place? Christopher Duffy joins me to unpack the science and psychology of laughter. He’s a comedian, television writer, host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human, and author of Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy (https://amzn.to/3LjKOyi). And finally, you’ve probably heard you should never let your gas tank drop below a quarter full — but is that really true? We wrap up by separating myth from reality and explaining when low fuel actually matters and when it doesn’t. https://www.carparts.com/blog/fact-or-myth-driving-with-less-than-a-quarter-of-a-tank-of-fuel-is-bad-for-your-car/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating strong passwords is a modern headache. Simple ones are easy to hack. Complex ones are hard to remember. And using the same password everywhere is just asking for trouble. This episode begins with a smarter, practical strategy for creating passwords that are both secure and memorable. Source: Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life (https://amzn.to/3SeWhA5) Men and women differ in ways that go far beyond the obvious — and some of the most fascinating differences rarely get discussed. From how men and women hear sound differently, to why women tend to live longer, to how hormones influence behavior in surprisingly specific ways, these differences are deeply rooted in biology and evolution. Cat Bohannon joins me to explain what science really shows. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is author of Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution (https://amzn.to/3SgBUlO). Rats, insects, bees, deer, spiders — the world is full of creatures we label as “pests.” But what actually makes an animal a pest? And why do humans respond to some species with fear, anger, or extermination, while others get sympathy or protection? Bethany Brookshire explains how humans often create pests through our own behavior, and what our reactions reveal about us. She’s an award-winning science writer and author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains (https://amzn.to/3vzlpZt) And finally, most drivers never adjust their car’s headrest — or even know how it should be positioned. In a crash, that small oversight can make a big difference. We wrap up with how to set your headrest properly to reduce the risk of whiplash and neck injury. https://www.adlergiersch.com/provider-blog/how-to-properly-adjust-your-headrest-to-prevent-whiplash/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driving with a cold might seem harmless — but research suggests even mild illness can seriously impair reaction time, focus, and judgment. Could driving while sick actually be more dangerous than driving drunk? This episode begins with some surprising evidence about what happens when you get behind the wheel with a cold or flu. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2283323/Dont-sniffle-drive-Driving-cold-dangerous-drunk-driving.html Why do some people love foods that others can’t stand? And why do foods you hated as a child sometimes become favorites later in life? Taste feels subjective, but it’s driven by biology, psychology, memory, and expectation. Beth Kimmerle joins me to explain how taste and flavor really work — and how our preferences can change over time. Beth is a sensory science expert who literally tastes food for a living (yes, her tongue is insured). She’s founder of Attribute Analytics and author of several books on sweets and flavor, including Chocolate: The Sweet History. (https://amzn.to/4s92MEB). Being a sports fan can feel deeply personal — victories feel like our wins, losses feel painful, and loyalty can last a lifetime. But why does sports fandom inspire such intense emotion? What psychological needs does it fulfill? And why do fans speak in terms of “we” instead of “they”? Aaron C.T. Smith explains what drives sports fandom and why being a fan can be so powerful. He is professor of management at Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, and author of The Psychology of Sports Fans.(https://amzn.to/49a5yRc) And finally — who wakes up grumpier in the morning, men or women? There actually is research on this, and it reveals some surprising insights into mood, sleep, and biology. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2292195/Its-official-Women-ARE-grumpier-men-mornings.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices