Podcasts about Smarts

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to talk about the temperature drop bringing cold weather and how pre-treating with ice melt can help keep your walkways from getting too slippery. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions.

This week's New to Lou Too feature is the Huga Heated Cushion! Durable, long-lasting, and rechargeable, these heated cushions are a game-changer in colder weather. Hand-sewn in Maine with tough, waterproof materials.! For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

If you fall short on sleep, can you really “catch up” the next night? Many people think so — but our bodies don't quite work that way. This episode begins with what science says about recovering from poor sleep and how to optimize deep sleep when your schedule gets disrupted. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a40511210/deep-sleep/ What makes a song a hit? Trends, personal taste, timing, and luck all play a role — but today, technology shapes popular music more than ever. From how songs are created to how they spread, the path to a hit is constantly evolving. Chris Dalls Riva joins me to unpack it all. He's Senior Product Manager at Audiomack, a musician and writer, creator of the newsletter Can't Get Much Higher, and author of Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves. (https://amzn.to/4pODklu). All kinds of things can be explained by math – from the beauty of a rainbow to the incredible pattern of sunflower seeds to why we have some left-handed people but not too many. Joining me to drill into the numbers on all this is Eddie Woo. He is the head mathematics teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School in Sydney, Australia. In 2012, he began recording his lessons and posting them on YouTube and created Wootube https://misterwootube.com/ which has more than 600,000 subscribers and over 33 million views. He's also author of It's a Numberful World: How Math Is Hiding Everywhere (https://amzn.to/3KOHPOb). There are 12 core workplace skills that shape how well we perform — and everyone has strengths and weaknesses across them. Understanding yours can make a big difference in how you work and how others work with you. Insights come from Chuck Martin, author of Smarts.(https://amzn.to/3KzlaWc) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! QUINCE: Give and get timeless holiday staples that last this season with Quince.  Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! AG1: Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://DrinkAG1.com/SYSK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe!  NOTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Notion brings all your notes, docs, and projects into one connected space that just works . It's seamless, flexible, powerful, and actually fun to use! Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://notion.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative, this… is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. SHOPIFY:  Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover budget-friendly holiday tips and creative gift ideas on Dollars & Sense In this festive episode of Dollars & Sense, hosts Zach Keister and Rob Field dive into the emotional and financial realities of holiday spending. The show kicks off with lighthearted banter about holiday traditions and a playful debate over whether “Die Hard” counts as a Christmas movie, setting the stage for practical advice on surviving the season without overspending. Zach and Rob tackle two major topics: how to avoid blowing your holiday budget and how to give gifts that go beyond the usual — like helping loved ones start a 529 college savings plan or a UTMA custodial account. Listeners learn why emotions drive us to spend more, how “buy now, pay later” services can be a financial trap, and actionable ways to keep spending in check, from making gift lists to crafting homemade presents. The episode also introduces “No Spend January,” a challenge to help listeners recover from December's splurges by spending only on essentials for an entire month. With tips for planning ahead, breaking financial habits, and turning savings into fun, Zach and Rob show how the choices you make now can set the tone for the year ahead. Thinking about ways to be generous without getting tied up in financial knots? Wondering how to make your money work for you and your family? Tune in for expert insights, relatable stories, and a few laughs as Dollars & Sense makes budgeting and financial planning approachable—and even a little fun. 

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us about all the supplies you'll want to have on hand and ready to go for Christmas week . Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions.

This week's New to Lou Too feature is the Resparked Customizer Engraving Pen! From wood, metal, glass, and plastic to ceramics, this pen allows you to transform any material with unique, professional designs! For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

Come fly with us to the isle of Berk, where we will get our 2nd lesson in dragon training. We watched the live action remake of How To Train Your Dragon (2025) and remembered how much we enjoyed the original. We also discuss why so many animated films of our youth are getting the live action treatment. Leave a review and give us 5 stars. Also Play:Cinema Chain Game--------------------------------------------Subscribe, rate, and review:Apple Podcasts: Our Film FathersSpotify: Our Film FathersYouTube: Our Film Fathers---------------------------------------------Follow Us:Instagram: @ourfilmfathersTwitter / X: @ourfilmfathersEmail: ourfilmfathers@gmail.com

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent for Lou's To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

Think you've got super smarts?

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou talks about dripping water to avoid your pipes freezing, and the best setting for your thermostat during the winter. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning […]

This week's New to Lou Too feature is the Little Elf Wrapping Paper Cutter! The fastest, most efficient way to cut wrapping paper. Straight lines, no jagged edges! For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

Send us a textA deep freeze is rolling across the East Coast and we're using the cold snap as a stress test for practical preparedness. From closing foundation vents and trickling faucets to moving the flock into the garage, we break down the simple moves that keep a small problem from becoming a costly mess. That real-world lens leads straight into value: when silver rockets past your budget, what actually trades when the grid is down and nerves are up?We walk through a no-nonsense barter list built on human needs and speed: coffee for comfort and caffeine, lighters and waterproof matches for instant fire, batteries for light and comms, and mini liquor bottles that double as morale and basic antiseptic. We add feminine hygiene, heirloom seeds that compound into future harvests, contractor bags and paracord for shelter and sanitation, honey packets for wound care and calories, glow sticks for signaling and kid management, journals and pens for records and calm, condoms for prevention and waterproofing, and compact multi-tools that keep small failures from becoming big ones. Along the way, we address the legal risk landscape around prescription medications, why over-the-counter meds belong in every kit, and how to package and store items so they are trade-ready and durable.Then we get to the heart of it: skills beat stuff. If you can revive a generator, patch a roof, tune a small engine, or mend clothing, you don't just barter—you set terms. But leverage without ethics backfires. Fair dealing builds community memory in your favor; gouging gets you iced out when you need help most. If you're staring at a weather map and a rising silver price, consider this your cue to stock small, useful items, sharpen a practical skill, and invest in a reputation that pays dividends when it matters. If this helped your plan, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review—what's your number one barter pick right now?https://augasonfarms.com?sca_ref=9315862.VpHzogdDNuAugason FarmsSupport the podcast. Click on my affiliate link and use coupon code PODCASTPREP for 10% discount!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showHave a question, suggestion or comment? Please email me at practicalpreppodcast@gmail.com. I will not sell your email address and I will personally respond to you.

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent for Lou's To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

Parents everywhere feel the December pressure: "What on earth do I buy my kids this year?" In today's Facing the Dark episode, Dr. Kathy and Wayne unpack the gift-giving stress that so many families carry, whether it's the hunt for the "perfect" present, or navigating Amazon wish lists, trying to understand what a nine-year-old even likes anymore is dynamic. Together, Dr. Kathy and Wayne explore how gifts can honor a child's identity, how the 8 Great Smarts can guide meaningful choices, and why experiences often build deeper belonging than toys ever could. With stories, humor, and deeply practical wisdom, this episode reframes holiday giving as a chance to communicate connection, confidence, and love, not pressure. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend, this conversation helps you give with purpose, joy, and peace.

In this episode, Matthew Ticknor reveals how outdated wiring led to a unique flip strategy in San Francisco — turning a big insurance issue into a scalable, value-add business model.

Ricky discusses his health - which is OK ya pigeons, relax! Then the fellas chat Leafs recent surge, Oil trending with those class new tarps, and we get into some of the juicy nicorette rumours surrounding the league right now, like Quinn Hughes to NJ?! Ps. 'Still no darts' cuz Rick is on Year 5 of quitting darts and devoting himself to Team Nicorette

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins Wendy Snyder, filling in for John Williams, to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. This week, Lou tells us what you can do to prevent ice dams. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions and absolves himself from any blame for the […]

This week's New to Lou Too feature is the Wuben G5 EDC Flashlight! A zippo-sized flashlight that's affordable and powerful. For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

When teens and college-age kids come home for the holidays, families often feel the tension between independence and connection. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack what's really happening in the brain during "emerging adulthood," why young adults come home exhausted, and how parents can welcome them without slipping back into old patterns. You'll learn how to set healthy expectations, reframe the transition with hope, and use each child's unique strengths, including their 8 Smarts, to build meaningful connections this holiday season. This episode brings clarity, grace, and practical wisdom for anyone navigating the in-between years.

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent for Lou's To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

Reading scores are dropping across the country, and behind every statistic is a child trying to make sense of words, meaning, and identity. In today's episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack why reading matters so deeply, not just for academics but for confidence, identity, and a child's formation. They explore a Georgia district working to retrain teachers, explain why vocabulary and decoding are such obstacles today, and show parents simple, powerful ways to support struggling readers using the 8 Great Smarts. With wisdom from Scripture, especially the beautiful pattern in Acts 8, this episode gives parents practical hope: you can help your child learn to read, and you don't have to panic or do it alone.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Mr. Fix It offers his suggestions to prevent porch pirates, and to give some tips on how to best prepare your home for winter. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

This week's New to Lou Too feature is The Magnetic Bag Company! Keep your bottle, phone, wallet, and keys secure, clean, and handy with these magnetic gym bags. For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

This week, we kick off the holiday season with a little Thanksgiving talk — and a big reminder to stay sharp. From new scam tactics targeting holiday shoppers to the surprising bioengineering controversy stirring up Campbell's Soup fans, there's plenty to unpack. We'll also walk through what to do immediately if you get one of those dreaded "data security incident" letters, plus how upcoming car tech could make driving less distracting (finally!). And of course, we wrap it all up with the top picks in streaming for your long weekend. Cozy up, tune in, and head into the holidays a little smarter and a lot safer.

Spec Smarts: What Every BAS Salesperson Should Know If you're in BAS sales, your relationship with specifications and submittals can make or break your projects. Too often, opportunities are missed, or risks overlooked, simply because specs weren't fully understood or questioned. This episode helps you build that essential spec literacy. You'll learn how to approach project specs and submittals with clarity and confidence, so you can better support your customers, reduce risks, and win more work. Topics Covered How to decode and leverage Division 23, 25, and 26 specifications Navigating ambiguities and gray areas in project specs Building credible and accurate submittals Coordinating scope and responsibilities across trades Using specification knowledge as a competitive sales edge Don't quote blindly. Know the spec, win the project, and protect your margin.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou has some amazing advice on how to pre-clean your dishwasher before Thanksgiving. And, as always, Lou answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

This week's New to Lou Too feature is Tulip Shades! Shades that hide ugly ceiling fixtures and create softer lighting in the home, no rewiring needed. For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with valuable advice for homeowners, special guests, as well as information on new products and more!

Is Grok going too far? Also, how will the new Hunger Games film play out? We talk about a California town banning pickleball for being too loud, a potential Knives Out and Muppets crossover getting shot down, and lots more!

Street smarts is the REAL currency—the raw, gut-level intelligence that turns weak negotiators into deal-closers, and average salespeople into legends. This isn't theory. This is survival-level dominance—the kind that reads a room in 3 seconds, flips objections into yeses, and makes people beg to buy from you. Without it? You're getting eaten alive. With it? You can increase your income, your influence, your LIFE. Street smarts defined: It's your social IQ —reading people like a book, adapting in chaos, and making split-second moves that win. It's not EQ. It's not book smarts. It's real-world radar: spotting lies, building trust fast, knowing when to push, when to walk. It's the hidden code that separates the 1% who crush from the 99% who get crushed. maximizeyourinfluence.com

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent for Lou's To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. This week, Lou offers tips on how to prep your house if you are hosting Thanksgiving. Lou also answers your home improvement questions about window cleaning, outside hoses, and fruit flies. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each […]

Bryan Nooner, Owner & CEO of Midwest Innovations, joins HouseSmarts Radio for Lou's Cool Products Show to share the Rhino Cart, a lightweight, but heavy-duty moving cart that can move up to 2,000lbs! Get yours at rhinocart.com.

Igor Murokh, Owner of Mr. Floor, joins Housesmarts Radio for Lou’s Cool Products Show to talk about how these products can maintain, protect, and continue to make your wood floors look just like new! Learn more and order your Mr. Floor product at mrfloor.com.

Bryan Nooner, CEO and Inventor at Midwest Innovative Products, joins Housesmarts Radio for Lou’s Cool Products Show to share how Twist and Seal can protect your outdoor cord connections for all of your holiday decorations! Learn more at twistandseal.com.

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with Lou's Cool Products Show! As always, he gives great advice for homeowners, and special guests, information on new products, and more!

Katya Sobol with Gloves in a Bottle joins HouseSmarts Radio for Lou's Cool Products Show to share a different hand lotion product that helps shield and protect your skin. To learn more about this amazing product, visit glovesinabottle.com.

Daryl Bernard, Founder of Genesis + HOCL, joins Housesmarts Radio for Lou’s Cool Products Show to talk about their fogger and how their natural air and surface cleaners benefit your home. To learn more about what Genesis + HOCL can do for you, visit wgncleanair.com.

Ali Graeme, Owner of Sweet Ali's Gluten Free Bakery, joins HouseSmarts Radio for Lou's Cool Products Show to share all the delicious options they offer that include sweet and savory dishes, and how non-gluten items can benefit your diet. Visit Sweet Ali's in Hinsdale or online at sweetalis.com.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. With the early November snow, Lou offers some tips to winterize your home. What should we do once the snow clears? And as always, Lou answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN […]

Lou Manfredini, A.K.A. Mr. Fix-It is back with great advice for homeowners, special guests, information on new products, and more!

This week's New to Lou Too feature is the Identify Switch! Switch covers that provide a solution to the common issue of unlabeled or unconventionally labeled switches. For more info, visit the YouTube HouseSmarts Channel.

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent for Lou's To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

What did you do during the COVID-19 social distancing era? Some of us learned to make sourdough, some of us perfected a viral whipped coffee, plenty of us did a whole lot of nothing- but this NYC subculture was busy taking notes.Anna Bounds, a Professor of Sociology at Queens College, has felt called to teach, write, and tell stories for a long time. She's particularly passionate about urban policies that make cities better, stronger and more vibrant.As a sociologist–but also as a New Yorker–she began attending meetings of NYC's "prepper" community: a group of people dedicated to preparing for disasters the government may not be equipped to help with, whether it's a pandemic, terrorist attack or natural disaster.Anna clarifies: they aren't preparing for the end of the world- just whatever kind of day tomorrow might be. She's spent years (including before the pandemic) researching these groups while also learning countless skills for emergency preparation and response."All sorts of interesting people [were] coming together to figure out how to help each other in crisis- and it paid off."So forget viral food trends! This episode pairs best with assembling your emergency kit (and yes, Anna has suggestions for it).Anna's Haiku* ("A Love Letter to the City"):Smoke clings to the skyHands meet through sirens and headlinesLove that doesn't flinch(*With special thanks to Anna's 7th grade teacher)Links:Anna's book, Urban Preppers and the Pandemic in New York City: Class, Resilience, and Sheltering in Place: https://www.annamariabounds.org/urban-preppersAnna's first book, Bracing for the Apocalypse: An Ethnographic Study of New York City's Urban Prepper Subculture: https://www.annamariabounds.org/book/apocalypse

On this Wednesday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid covers a series of significant events in New York City and the broader political scene: escalations on Canal Street where federal agents and street vendors clashed over counterfeit goods leading to arrests; the ongoing migrant challenge faced by New Yorkers; coverage of the 21st day of the government shutdown with President Trump and Senate Republicans trying to pass a funding bill while facing criticism from Democrats; and the fierce competition in the New York City mayoral race where candidates aim to sway voters in their final debate. Curtis Sliwa, John Catsimatidis, Maud Maron, Scott LoBaido & Tony Carbonetti join Sid on this hump day Tunnel to Towers installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices