Something You Should Know

People will go to ridiculous lengths to avoid paying fees. Adding extra items to an online order just to get “free” shipping. Avoiding ATM fees like they’re a personal insult. Or driving across town to save a few cents on gas. There’s actually a fascinating psychology behind why humans hate fees so much—and why “free” has such unusual power over our decisions. https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/page-one-economics/2025/apr/psychology-of-free-how-price-of-zero-influences-decisionmaking

Most people dismiss the idea of “love at first sight.” How can you fall deeply for someone you barely know? Yet for some people, intense romantic attachment happens incredibly fast—and repeatedly. Researchers call this tendency “emophilia,” and it can dramatically affect relationships, judgment, and emotional wellbeing. Daniel Jones, who studies romantic attraction, personality, and deception at the University of Nevada Reno, explains why some people are wired to fall in love quickly, why those relationships can feel so powerful, and why understanding emophilia may help explain a lot of modern dating behavior. He is author of Falling Fast: The Perils and Possibilities of Emophilia (https://amzn.to/49gvbk9).

Recently, the U.S. government has released videos and images showing unidentified aerial phenomena—objects moving in ways that appear difficult to explain with known technology. Some people see proof of extraterrestrial visitors. Others think there must be more conventional explanations. But what do the videos actually tell us? And what don’t they tell us? Robert Powell, founding board member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies and an engineer with decades of experience in advanced technology development, joins me to separate speculation from science and explain what experts really know about these strange sightings and what is known about alien visitors. He is author of UFOs: A Scientist Explains What We Know (And Don’t Know) (https://amzn.to/3RtNwEe).

While it is pretty common to bring leftovers home from a restaurant, there is a danger associated with doing that. If you don’t handle that food and reheat it the right way, there could be some real problems. And they are problems you can easily avoid. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/fried-rice-syndrome

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Fear can save your life—or quietly ruin it.. Fear keeps you alert, helps you avoid danger, and in many situations can literally save your life. Without fear, humans probably wouldn’t survive very long. But fear also has another side.

Sometimes the fear response kicks in when there is no real danger at all—or at least not enough danger to justify the level of anxiety we feel. Worry about money, health, relationships, social situations, or the future can become overwhelming and begin to shape the way we live our lives. In some cases, fear becomes less of a protector and more of a prison.

Dr. Arash Javanbakht, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic at Wayne State University School of Medicine, studies how fear and anxiety work inside the brain. In our conversation, he explains why humans evolved to be fearful, why modern life can trigger anxiety so easily, and how understanding fear may help you gain more control over it rather than letting it control you.

If you’ve ever wondered why your mind sometimes reacts so strongly—or why anxiety can feel impossible to shut off—this discussion offers a fascinating look at what fear is actually trying to do for you and how to keep it from getting in the way of living a full life. Dr. Javanbakht is author of Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety (https://amzn.to/3LDJ93K).

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RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

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Dog owners tend to live longer and be healthier than people without dogs. But why would owning a dog have such a powerful effect on your health? The answer turns out to be surprisingly fascinating—especially when it comes to what dogs may be doing for children. https://hi.umn.edu/news/health-perks-pet-ownership

You know that frustrating moment when someone completely misunderstands what you meant—even though you thought you were being perfectly clear? Communication problems often happen because people aren’t all “speaking” the same way. According to psychotherapist Jason VanRuler, there are five distinct communication types, and each hears the world differently. Which means the problem may not be what you said—but how the other person processes it. Jason explains how understanding these communication styles can dramatically improve relationships, reduce conflict, and help people finally feel understood. He is author of Discovering Your Communication Type: The 5 Paths to Deeper Connections and Stronger Relationships (https://amzn.to/43iBcJB).

A lot of people were taught that if you work hard, stay humble, and keep your head down, success will eventually find you. That sounds nice. It’s also often terrible career advice. Promotions and opportunities frequently go to the people who know how to make themselves visible, memorable, and impossible to overlook. Courtney Johnson, creator of the viral “Problematic Career Cheat Codes” series on TikTok, explains the unspoken rules that actually drive career success—and why many talented people unknowingly sabotage themselves by following outdated advice. She is author of Career Cheat Codes: The Unspoken, Unconventional, and Unfiltered Rules of Career Success (https://amzn.to/4tIk7DD).

Nearsightedness has exploded around the world, especially among children and young adults. Most people blame screens. But researchers say the bigger issue may actually be something we’ve stopped doing—and the consequences could affect eyesight for life. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830598

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RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

DELL:  With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down.  Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro⁠⁠⁠

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Most people assume being rich would solve almost every problem in life. More freedom. Less stress. More happiness. But psychologists who work with wealthy families say money—especially when people grow up with a lot of it—can create a surprising set of emotional and psychological problems that few outsiders ever see. Source: Dr. Stephen Berglas author of Reclaiming the Fire (https://amzn.to/3VjeRIS).

Why do humans dream at all? Why does the brain create these intense experiences while we sleep? And why do dreams sometimes feel more emotionally real than waking life? Neurosurgeon and neuroscientist Dr. Rahul Jandial explains what modern science is discovering about the dreaming brain, including how dreams may help process emotion, simulate danger, strengthen memory, and shape mental health in ways we are only beginning to understand. He is author of This Is Why You Dream: What Your Sleeping Brain Reveals About Your Waking Life (https://amzn.to/3KmOE5N).

Modern life sends a clear message: if you spend too much time alone, something must be wrong. But researchers studying solitude say that idea may be completely backward. Time alone—when chosen intentionally—can improve creativity, emotional resilience, self-awareness, and even relationships with other people. Psychologist Netta Weinstein joins me to explain why humans actually need periods of disconnection from others and why learning to be comfortably alone may be one of the healthiest skills modern people can develop. Netta directs the European Research Council’s “Solitude: Alone but Resilient (SOAR)” project and is author of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone (https://amzn.to/3wVA7eb).

“Organic seafood” sounds healthy and environmentally friendly. But what does that label even mean when applied to fish and shellfish? The answer reveals a surprisingly murky world behind a term many consumers assume is carefully regulated. https://www.foodrepublic.com/1413904/why-organic-seafood-myth/

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RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

DELL:  With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down.  Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro⁠⁠⁠

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“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” We’ve all heard it countless times. But where did that idea come from—and is it actually true? Researchers have taken a much closer look at breakfast and the findings may surprise you. Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l42

Whether you realize it or not, you negotiate all day long—with your spouse, kids, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. The ability to persuade people and navigate difficult conversations can dramatically improve your personal and professional life. Attia Qureshi has spent decades teaching negotiation and persuasion strategies to leaders and organizations. In our conversation, she explains the subtle skills that make people more influential, why persuasion is often misunderstood, and how small changes in communication can help you get better outcomes without being manipulative or aggressive. Attia is founder of AQ Consulting, former MIT faculty member, adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, and co-author of Never Settle: Persuasion & Negotiation Skills to Get What You Want (https://amzn.to/4ugR3US).

Attia's exclusive link for SYSK listeners: https://www.attiaqureshi.com/something

Most people embrace emotions like joy and happiness while trying to avoid emotions such as anger, jealousy, shame, envy, and regret. But those darker emotions may actually contain important information about who you are, what you value, and what’s happening beneath the surface of your life. Daniel Smith, psychotherapist and author of Hard Feelings: Finding the Wisdom in Our Darkest Emotions (https://amzn.to/4dPzBkw), explains why these uncomfortable emotions exist, what purpose they serve, and why understanding them may be essential for emotional growth and self-awareness.

Human attraction is far more complicated than simply “good looks.” In fact, repeated exposure, familiarity, attention, and several other subtle factors can quietly make someone seem more attractive over time—even when nothing about their appearance changes. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/evolutionary-human-sciences/article/visual-attention-to-faces-during-attractiveness-and-dominance-judgements/38F4497B251EFE2D8ED9F4D37F82D9C5

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RULA: This Mental Health Awareness Month, don’t just think about your mental health - actually take the step to take care of it. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Rula.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started.

QUINCE: Refresh your everyday with luxury you will actual use! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

DELL:  With the Dell Pro laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra with vPro, no matter how many interruptions you have, your laptop won’t be one of them. With battery that’s optimized for the way you work, and built-in intelligence that quiets distractions the moment you’re trying to focus, your tech won’t slow you down.  Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠https://Dell.com/Dell-Pro⁠⁠⁠

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/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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