Something You Should Know

Most of us think of intelligence as something that happens entirely in the brain. But there's another kind of intelligence that lives in your body. It's what allows you to ride a bicycle years after your last ride, catch a ball without calculating its path, type on a keyboard without looking, or instinctively keep your balance on uneven ground.

Scientists call this physical intelligence, and it's far more important to your everyday life than you may realize. According to my guest Scott Grafton, your body and brain are constantly working together in ways you're barely aware of. In fact, many of the skills you rely on every day don't come from conscious thought at all—they come from this remarkable partnership between mind and body.

Modern life, however, may be working against us. As technology makes more of our daily tasks easier and more automated, we may be losing opportunities to develop and maintain the very abilities that help us navigate the physical world. That has consequences that go well beyond athletic performance.

Scott Grafton is a professor of neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the book Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Body and the Mind Guide Each Other Through Life (https://amzn.to/3aiI4dm). Listen as he explains how physical intelligence shapes the way we learn, move, solve problems, and interact with the world—and why challenging your body may be one of the best things you can do for your brain.

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Heat can make people do some strange things. It can change your mood, cloud your judgment, and even affect the way you treat other people. Scientists have discovered that hot weather has a surprisingly powerful influence on the human mind—and the effects show up in places you would never expect. Listen as I explain what's really going on and why it's important to know. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/heat-affects-mental-health

More people today say they feel their lives lack meaning and purpose than at any point in recent decades. Why? Has modern life quietly stripped away something essential—or are we simply searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places? And if purpose really is the key to a happier life, where does it actually come from? There is no better person to explore these questions with than my guest Arthur Brooks. He is a professor at Harvard Business School, one of the world's leading experts on happiness and human flourishing, a nationally syndicated columnist, CBS News contributor, and co-author with Oprah Winfrey of the bestselling book Build the Life You Want. His latest book is The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness (https://amzn.to/4yUyVTp). If you've ever wondered what truly gives life meaning—and why so many people struggle to find it—you'll find this conversation fascinating.

Every few months it seems we're told to stop eating one food and start eating another. Fat is bad—until it isn't. Carbs are the problem—unless they're not. With so much conflicting advice, it's no wonder so many people have no idea what a healthy diet actually looks like. According to Daniel Lieberman, much of what we've been taught about food is based on myths, misconceptions, and oversimplified thinking. Lieberman is Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of Fed Up: A Hungry Person's Guide to the Story and Science of Food and Diets (https://amzn.to/4btal2d). He explains what the science really says, why nutrition has become so confusing, and how understanding our evolutionary past can help us make smarter decisions about what we eat.

Have you ever worried that everyone could tell you were nervous? Maybe before giving a presentation, going on a date, or walking into an interview? Most of us assume our anxiety is obvious—but is it? The answer may surprise you. Listen as I reveal what researchers discovered about how well other people can actually read your emotions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9731312/

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Ever wonder why you're always told to wait about 10 seconds before turning your phone, computer, router, or tablet back on after rebooting it? Is there really something magical about 10 seconds, or is it just one of those tech myths everyone repeats? The answer has to do with what happens inside your device after the power goes off—and why waiting just a little while can make all the difference. https://www.howtogeek.com/165110/do-i-really-have-to-unplug-my-cable-modem-for-at-least-10-seconds/

Americans throw away an astonishing amount of perfectly good food—about 40% of everything produced. That's money straight into the trash, and much of it is completely avoidable. The surprising part is that food waste often has less to do with leftovers and more to do with everyday habits, confusing expiration dates, oversized refrigerators, and the way we shop. Kathryn Kellogg explains simple, practical changes that can dramatically reduce waste, save you money, and make life a little easier. Kathryn is founder of Going Zero Waste and author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste (https://amzn.to/3yfHSMV)

Kathryn's website GoingZeroWaste.com https://www.goingzerowaste.com

Insects may be tiny, but they are among the most successful creatures ever to inhabit Earth. They pollinate crops, recycle dead plants and animals, feed countless other species, and have survived for hundreds of millions of years. Yet most of us know almost nothing about them. Why are there so many insects? What's the difference between a bug and an insect? Why do some live only a day while others survive for decades? And what would happen if they disappeared? Steve Nicholls answers these questions and reveals why the future of insects is closely tied to our own. Steve is an Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker and author of Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth, and Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future (https://amzn.to/4d1M1mP).

An afternoon nap might seem like an indulgence, but research suggests it can be one of the easiest ways to improve alertness, memory, learning, and even problem-solving ability. The key isn't sleeping for hours—it's knowing how long to nap so you wake up refreshed instead of groggy. Listen as I explain why a short daytime snooze can actually make you smarter. https://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a69068628/are-naps-healthy/

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Humans are remarkably bad at predicting how long something will take. Whether it's a home project, a work assignment, or even a quick trip across town, we almost always underestimate the time involved. Psychologists have studied this tendency for decades—and understanding why it happens can help you make better plans, meet more deadlines, and avoid unnecessary frustration. https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy

We tend to think of imagination as something artists, inventors, and children rely on. But imagination is actually one of the most powerful—and overlooked—abilities we all possess. It shapes the decisions you make, the problems you solve, the goals you pursue, and even the life you create. There is fascinating science behind how imagination works, and once you understand it, you can use it far more effectively. My guest is Dr. Cassandra Vieten, clinical psychologist, Director of Research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at the University of California, San Diego, and author of the book Imagine That: Unlocking the Science of Imagination to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live (https://amzn.to/4bqbZl7)

Here is the link to discover your imagination profile: https://imagination.ucsd.edu/profile/

Artificial intelligence can write essays, diagnose diseases, generate stunning images, and defeat the world's best chess players. Yet ask it to perform certain tasks that are effortless for a human child, and it can stumble badly. Why? What exactly makes AI so powerful in some areas—and surprisingly weak in others? Beneath the headlines are some fascinating realities about how AI actually works and where it still falls short. Here to explain it is Toby Walsh, one of the world's leading AI researchers. He is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Chief Scientist at its AI Institute, and author of The Shortest History of AI: The Six Essential Ideas That Animate It (https://amzn.to/4hCjycc)

When a highway lane is closed ahead, should you merge immediately or wait until the very end? Most drivers have strong opinions, but traffic engineers have spent years studying what actually keeps traffic moving. The answer is NOT what many people expect—and understanding it may change the way you drive through every construction zone. https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/FHWA-HRT-23-070.pdf=

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QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

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Anyone who has ever owned a dog has probably wondered what goes on inside that furry little head. Does your dog feel guilty after chewing up your favorite shoes? Does it know when you've had a bad day? Does it love you the way you love it? We often assume we know what our dogs are thinking, but many of our assumptions are completely wrong. Understanding how dogs actually perceive the world can transform the relationship you have with your pet.

According to dog behavior expert Camilla Gray-Nelson, dogs don't think the way humans do, and many common training mistakes happen because people expect dogs to understand things they simply don't. Once you begin to see the world from your dog's perspective, communication becomes easier, unwanted behaviors are easier to change, and training becomes far less frustrating—for both of you. Camilla shares fascinating insights into how dogs interpret our actions, what motivates their behavior, and how to build a happier, more cooperative relationship with your four-legged companion. She is author of Lipstick & the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's Way (http://amzn.to/2mkKr5Z).

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AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you’ll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor’s 30-day money back guarantee

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: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠

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