Have you ever been completely stuck trying to solve a problem or come up with a new idea? There is a remarkably simple thing you can do that research shows can get your creative juices flowing. And it works surprisingly well. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2014/04/walking-vs-sitting-042414
Can you actually think yourself sick? Absolutely. It’s called the nocebo effect — essentially the evil twin of the placebo effect. If a doctor warns you that a medication might cause certain side effects, simply hearing that can make those symptoms more likely to occur. The same thing can happen when you read about an illness or medication online. Your expectations can trigger very real physical symptoms. So how does that happen — and how do you protect yourself from it? Helen Pilcher is a science writer with a PhD in neuroscience from London’s Institute of Psychiatry, and she has some remarkable examples of the nocebo effect in action. She is author of This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo’s Evil Twin (https://amzn.to/4qvrdLU).
Why are sideburns called sideburns? How could the first automatic door possibly have been invented before the birth of Christ? And where in the world did the word dude come from? Those are just a few of the strange facts and curious word origins explored by Jess Zafarris. She joins me to reveal some fascinating bits of history and language that will leave you with plenty of things you never knew you wanted to know. Jess is co-author of A Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts for Curious Humans Who Have Nothing Better to Do Than Read (https://amzn.to/4wFtLZq).
When you say something embarrassing, have a bad hair day or just feel awkward in a group, it can seem as if everyone notices. But how closely are other people really paying attention to you? Psychologists have studied this, and what they discovered should make your next embarrassing moment a little easier to handle. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199612/why-bad-hair-days-may-not-matter
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
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
INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at https://Indeed.com/PODCAST
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE:
Source for the story about coming up with ideas: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2014/04/walking-vs-sitting-042414
Amazon link for Helen Pilcher’s book, This Book May Cause Side Effects: https://amzn.to/4qCgGP5
Amazon link for Jess Zafarris’ book, A Miscellany of Weird and Wonderful Facts for Curious Humans Who Have Nothing Better to Do Than Read: https://amzn.to/3S3R5Ss
Source for the story about being embarrassed: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199612/why-bad-hair-days-may-not-matter
