*Podcasts Archives

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Seems people are traveling lighter these days. A new British survey found that there’s been a 50% drop in people taking a bag (purse, briefcase, backpack, or otherwise) with them when they go out. 25% said they try to take fewer things with them when they leave the house now – using their phone as their wallets these days. No surprise, then, that according to the survey, a phone is one of the few essentials people take with them when they leave the house. Other essentials? A face mask and hand sanitizer. (SWNS)

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As if spending weeks and months stuck at home due to the pandemic isn’t enough isolation, a group of 15 volunteers are entering a large cave in France and will stay there for 40 days to study the effects of effects of long-term isolation on the human brain. Eight men and seven women will have no access to sunlight, phones, watches, or any other way to tell time. The only devices they will have are special sensors to allow scientists above ground to monitor them. Volunteers will be provided with food and supplies, but they will have to figure out how to draw their own water and generate their own electricity. They are doing this merely for the good of science and are receiving no compensation. This would have been a better experiment a year ago. We kind of already have a good idea about what isolation can do to us. (The Connexion)

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Birds who live in the hustle and bustle of major cities like New York have proven that they can adapt to any environment, specifically once the pandemic shut down all that hustle and bustle. Streets grew quieter, noise pollution reduced, and urban birds reverted back to their natural behavior – early morning singing. I just imagine people in New York throwing up their windows and screaming ‘shut up why don’t ya!’ (Insider)

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You may have to go back to the office soon … but corporate execs plan to be much more flexible with work environments – and that means allowing pets in the office. Lots of people adopted animals during the pandemic, and more than 50% of executives in a new survey realize that and said they are planning to allow pets in the workplace when offices open up again. 57% of employees surveyed said they’d be happiest returning to work if their pets could be with them. And 38% said their biggest concern about returning to the office is worrying about their pet having separation anxiety. (SWNS)

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Seems Elf on a Shelf has a new springtime helper … The Peep on a Perch. Yep, the Peep, which come with its own storybook, is there to help the Easter Bunny and make sure all kids are being good before its time for Peep on a Perch to fill up the Easter baskets. (Delish)

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Have you heard about the TikTok “Nature’s Cereal” trend? Everyone from influencers to celebrities have jumped on the craze — including Lizzo. Instead of your standard cereal, whole food gurus started filling their breakfast bowls with pomegranate seeds and a variety of berries from blackberries to blueberries. Instead of milk, it gets topped with coconut water. Some people even add crushed ice for an added calorie-free crunch. Voilà — “Nature’s Cereal.” Really, it’s just a bowl of fruit for breakfast … but call it whatever you want. (GMA)

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In his address to the nation last night, President Joe Biden said that he is directing states to make all American adults eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines by May 1. To be clear — this does not mean every adult will get a shot by May 1, but that they should be eligible for one by then. (USA Today)

When it comes to getting vaccinated, do you have a type of vaccine you want to get – or will you take anything you’re offered?

According to a YouGov/Economist poll, people are choosier than you would think. It seems people really seem to have a preference for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with 61% saying it’s the one they want to get. Moderna was the second choice in the poll with 45%, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine was the third favorite with 42%.

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Do you always edit/filter photos of yourself before you post them? A new survey found that 90% of young women do – changing everything from the shape of their face to shaving off weight  “Posting on social media can produce the intense pleasure of ‘getting likes’ and appreciative attention, but it is also a source of huge anxiety for most young women,” said professor Rosalind Gill of the University of London. “I was struck by young women saying to me again and again: ‘I feel judged.’” (EurekAlert)

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Remember going to bed and then not waking up again – at all — till the next morning? Yeah, we don’t either. Seems most of us haven’t had a good night’s sleep since we were kids. A new survey found that 67% of adults said they haven’t had a night of uninterrupted sleep since they were teenagers. (SWNS)

TODAY IS:... [Read Full Story]

International Day of Awesomeness: A day to celebrate everything in your life that is awesome — including yourself!

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Think dogs shouldn’t be allowed in stores, or restaurants … or even hospitals? Think again. Turns out that your dog’s paws are cleaner than your shoes. Researchers in The Netherlands examined dogs’ paws and the soles of their owners’ shoes for bacteria, including those found in poop, and it turned out the dogs were cleaner. “The dogs’ paws turned out to be cleaner than the soles of their shoes,” said a researcher at Utrecht University. “This makes the hygiene argument that is often used to ban assistance dogs from public locations invalid.”

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A new survey of office workers has found that lots of people aren’t happy with their boss – especially these days. 66% of the workers surveyed said the pandemic has had a negative effect on their relationship with their boss, and 52% said they’re looking for a new job because of their boss or manager. 65% of the office workers polled said they could do a better job at work if they had a better boss. What are some of workers’ biggest gripes about their bosses? 55% said they wish there were fewer “pointless meetings,” 47% said they were tired of all the “last-minute emergencies,” and 40% said they want their boss to stop micro-managing them. And this is interesting … 53% said they wish they got more feedback from their boss.

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Escape … to the bathroom? Where do you go in your home when you need to “get away”? For many people, it’s the bathroom. Yep, the bathroom has become our sanctuary during the pandemic, with 22% of people in a recent survey saying it’s the only place they can get some peace and quiet. 33% said they enjoy the “calmness” of the bathroom and 36% said they’ve been spending more time in the bathroom than ever before. And a whopping 68% said the bathroom had a positive impact on their mood. Think about that. Being in the bathroom improved their mood. (SWNS)

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You know that feeling you get when you don’t get enough time to yourself? There’s a name for it – alonely. Basically, it’s the opposite of lonely. It’s the need to carve out some time for yourself. While the pandemic has led to increased feelings of loneliness – 65% reported feeling lonely in a survey from last year – the other side of it is couples and families spending so much time together that they are in need of some space and time to themselves. (Vice)

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Does the temperature you like your coffee reveal your personality? According to a new survey, if you like your coffee cold, you’re probably a Gen Z-er and are into sunny weather and binge-watching science-fiction. Cold brew lovers are also more likely to be introverted, love to travel, and have a water or air zodiac sign.

Hot coffee drinkers, according to the survey, are more likely to be Baby Boomers. In fact, 94% of people over 56 like their coffee hot. They’re also more likely to be extroverts, prefer overcast weather, like comedies, listen to artists like Taylor Swift, and have a fire or earth zodiac sign.

But whether hot or cold, coffee drinkers all agree that they can’t fathom mornings without it. The survey revealed that coffee drinkers would rather give up social media (22%), TV (18%), alcohol (16%), and video games (4%) than coffee.

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Who says you can’t celebrate spring break this year? Chili’s is bringing the party to you … with to-go margaritas … available by the gallon. Yep, in celebration of its founding on March 13, 1975, some Chili’s locations are filling up 128-ounce bags of their Presidente Margaritas. The best part? They’re selling them for just $30. According to Chili’s, each bag holds about 30 drinks. While the $30 bags are only available on Saturday, March 13th, that doesn’t mean the party is over. The margarita bags are available now – and will be available after Saturday – they’ll just cost you $40. (Food & Wine)