Learning an Instrument, Handwashing, Benjamin Franklin Effect, One Day at Disney, Easier Resolutions, Living with Stress and Fear

Learning an Instrument (0:00:00) It’s a pretty commonly held belief that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks—right? But that isn’t necessarily true. Learning doesn’t have to be something that’s exclusive to youth, and there might actually be some great benefits to pushing yourself to learn something in adulthood. Here to tell us more about why maybe we should try picking up that untouched guitar is Allison Taylor, violist and director of the New Horizons Orchestra. Handwashing (0:15:25) I think it would be absolutely horrifying to look at the world under a microscope. Germs are everywhere, especially here in winter. Although washing our hands is something that has been drilled into our heads since we were barely even old enough to know what germs were, many of us as adults find ourselves forgetting to do this simple task, or, even worse, voluntarily skipping it all together! We have the epidemiologist Dr. David Berendes with us on the show to teach us about proper handwashing—and what you might be doing wrong without even knowing it.  Benjamin Franklin Effect (0:31:04) Have you ever had a neighbor that for whatever reason just really doesn’t like you? You drop off holiday cookies, pick up their newspaper, and even invite them to a summer barbecue, but nothing seems to work. Well as a solution, have you ever thought to ask your unfriendly neighbors for a favor? We are talking with Itamar Shatz, from Effectiviology, about The Benjamin Franklin Effect—a theory that explains how we can make friends by asking for favors. One Day at Disney (0:50:32) Have you ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at a Disney park? One Thursday in 2019, a small army of photographers and videographers scattered around the world to capture a day in the life of Disney! One Day at Disney: Meet the People Who Make the Magic Across the Globeis the result.?The project – a book and a documentary -- features authentic, unplanned moments and cast members that bring joy and “magic”. We’re talking to Bruce Steele, the author of the book to get the inside scoop on these Disney parks.  Easier Resolutions (1:01:59) How many times have you started a new year with huge aspirations of starting fresh, setting goals and actually sticking to them? And how many times has February rolled around and you can’t even remember what your goals were in the first place? Well maybe you’re thinking too big. We’re joined by author and well-being specialist Megan McNealy to talk about how smaller, simpler resolutions can have an even bigger impact on our lives. Living with Stress and Fear (1:23:25) Stress and Fear are two traits of the human experience that are necessary, but unpleasant. No one wants to be ruled by their fears, but we all have experienced a time where fear holds us back. There are many people who may be wondering how they can cope with their fears and stresses and rise to their full potential. Joining us is Dr. Kirk Voss, a marriage and family therapist.