Épisodes

  • The New World of Weather Forecasting & Interesting Ways the Human Body Adapts
    Jun 30 2025
    Everyone is bound to make a typo in an email. What’s interesting though is the reader will often see that typo and alter the way they interpret your message – sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way. Listen to discover how this works. https://www.businessinsider.com/typos-in-emails-2015-5 The science of weather forecasting has come a long way in the last few decades. Interestingly, forecasters are not only improving their accuracy but also how they communicate the information to you and me. With more and more extreme weather (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, high winds/fires etc.), this becomes more important for everyone. Here to explain how and why is Thomas Weber, former executive editor of TIME who has taught journalism and publishing at Columbia University, New York University and Princeton. He is author of the book Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos―and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting (https://amzn.to/4edBLsY). While we are all human, there are interesting differences between us. Some of those differences, such as height, weight, skin color, even the size of your spleen, are dictated by where you live and where your ancestors came from. Listen as I discuss these amazing ways the human body adapts to its environment with Herman Pontzer. He is a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University whose work has been reported in the New York Times, the BBC, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Scientific American. He is author of the book Adaptable: How Your Unique Body Really Works and Why Our Biology Unites Us (https://amzn.to/4nucZsX). If you are keeping a secret right now (even if it is a good secret), it could be a bigger burden on you than you imagine. Listen as I explain why and offer a suggestion on what to do with that secret. https://now.tufts.edu/2012/06/12/how-burdensome-are-secrets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 min
  • What Is Funny? & The Past, Present and Future of Water - SYSK Choice
    Jun 28 2025
    How do spiders find their way into your house? This episode starts by revealing how it happens and some ways to make your home less appealing to spiders, so they stay outside. https://www.prevention.com/life/a32332424/how-to-get-rid-of-spiders/ Unless you are some sort of grouch, you probably laugh at something almost every day. Have you ever thought about what makes something funny? Do humor and laughter influence you in some way? Is it true that laughter is the best medicine? Why do we seek out comedy in movies, TV shows or in clubs? Researchers have studied the role humor and laughter play in our lives and what they find is fascinating. Here for a discussion on this is Caleb Warren, an assistant professor at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, former assistant professor at Texas A&M University. He is the lead author of a study titled, What Makes Things Funny (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1088868320961909). It's interesting that water is everywhere, yet it is a precious resource. Without water, we wouldn’t be here. The amount of water on earth remains constant but the population has grown so much that it puts a strain on the water supply. Extreme weather, pollution and contamination are also threats. So, why can’t we take the salt out of ocean water and solve all the water problems forever? And what about the water you drink? Is tap water safe or should you drink bottled water? Here to discuss all this is Peter Gleick ,co-founder, president-emeritus, and Senior Fellow of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security in Oakland, California and author of the book The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future (https://amzn.to/431foQo). People debate the question of when is the best time to exercise – morning, afternoon or evening? Before you can answer that, there are factors you must consider like the type of exercise and the kind of person you are. Listen as I explain it. https://www.livestrong.com/article/447879-morning-vs-evening-cardio/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 min
  • Learn Less to Find Success & How to Use Game Theory, Risk, and Luck to Your Advantage
    Jun 26 2025
    People sometimes cheat on their partner. Not everyone – but some do. This episode begins with some insight into one big reason that causes infidelity in a marriage or relationship. https://www.thoughtco.com/why-people-cheat-on-their-partners-3026688 We are surrounded by information on every topic you can imagine. The problem is that if you want to learn how to do something, you could spend an eternity learning and never get to the doing – because there is always more to learn. The solution to this is to learn less according to Pat Flynn. He is a leading serial entrepreneurs, online marketer and podcaster who has mastered the art of "lean learning" – to learn just enough. Pat joins me to explain how it works. Pat is author of the book Lean Learning: How to Achieve More by Learning Less (https://amzn.to/4jTHGol) and host of the podcast Smart Passive Income (https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/spi/). The world of economics may sound a bit academic but your whole life and the decisions you make are all about economics. And once you understand that, you can learn how things like game theory, uncertainty, overthinking and other economic principles can help you navigate life. Here to explain how to do that is Daryl Fairweather. She is chief economist at Redfin, where she analyzes US housing markets and consumer behavior as well as a member of the academic advisory council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and a former senior economist at Amazon. Daryl is author of the book, Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work (https://amzn.to/3ZyDbs0). Some people prefer to go barefoot – particularly in the summer. But there is a belief that it is illegal to go barefoot in certain public places or even to drive a car barefoot. Is it? Listen and discover the legal truth about going barefoot. http://www.thebarefootalliance.org/lawsregulations/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 min
  • How to Quickly Change What Matters & What Happens Inside Your Imagination
    Jun 23 2025
    Summer brings ice cream, popsicles and other frozen treats – all of which can cause painful brain freeze. Why does that happen, and can you stop it? Listen as I explain what brain freeze is and a really good remedy for it. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brain-freeze-why-does-ice-cream-give-you-headaches/ To make changes in your thoughts, personality and behavior takes a lot of work over a long period of time. Well, maybe for some things. However, there are some quick and simple strategies to tackle some more common psychological problems. Here to explain many of them is Richard Wiseman. He is a professor of psychology and the autor of several books including, 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change A Lot (https://amzn.to/4jWvNh7) You spend a lot of your time living in your imagination. Daydreaming, mind wandering, reminiscing, anticipating – all happen in your imagination and those things can take up to half of your day. Joining me to take a look into how your imagination works is Adam Zeman. He is Honorary Fellow, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and author of the book The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination (https://amzn.to/3Tfu3VH) Are you absolutely sure your car is not currently under a recall? Surprisingly many people don’t take their cars in for recall repairs. Consequently, many cars on the road are under a recall and the driver has no idea. Listen and I will tell you how to find out if your car is currently under a recall. And it will take less than a minute. https://www.autoblog.com/maintenance/consumers-dont-care-about-recalls Here is the website I mention in the story: www.SaferCar.gov PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 min
  • Surprising Backstories of Everyday Expressions & The Benefits of Connecting With Your Future Self - SYSK Choice
    Jun 21 2025
    Being sure to get enough sleep is one of the suggestions for people trying to lose or control their body weight. What’s the connection? How does sleep affect weight loss? This episode begins with an explanation. https://www.webmd.com/obesity/features/cant-shed-those-pounds The English language is full of weird little phrases like: “Cut to the chase.” “Made from scratch.” Close but no cigar.” Where do these strange sayings come from? That’s just one of the topics about our language I discuss with Erin McCarthy, VP/Editor-in-Chief of MentalFloss.com and author of the book Mental Floss: The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words (https://amzn.to/443Ihfz). In our discussion she also discusses words people hate the most – but use anyway, and she tells the story of how McDonalds (the burger place) went to war with the dictionary. Ever wonder what you will be like in the future? How will you be different 10 years or 20 years from now? To help you understand who your future self will likely be and what you can do now that will help your future self later is Hal Hershfield. He is professor of marketing, behavioral decision making and psychology at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and author of the book Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today (https://amzn.to/42Y2G4V) Honey has been used for centuries to treat burns and wounds. Is it effective for that? Well, it turns out to be more complicated than you might think. I’ll explain why. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/medical-grade-honey-is-viable-tool-in-wound-care# PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 min
  • Futurology: The Forces That Shape Your Future & Where's the 4-Day Workweek?
    Jun 19 2025
    It makes sense that if you want to cut down on the amount of spam email you get, just unsubscribe from those emails. WAIT! That could make things worse. There is a better way to handle spam emails, and I begin this episode by explaining how. https://www.yahoo.com/news/warning-hitting-unsubscribe-unwanted-emails-115900557.html Predicting the future is a losing game most of the time. Still, a lot of influential people spend a lot of time and money trying to do it. People forecast where the stock market is going, they predict trends in fashion, technology and everything else. It makes you wonder if all that effort and money trying to predict the future actually helps to make it happen. So why is the future so unpredictable? What forces do shape the future? Joining me to discuss this is Glenn Adamson, former director of the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. He has held appointments as Senior Scholar at the Yale Center for British Art and he is the author of the book, A Century of Tomorrows: How Imagining the Future Shapes the Present (https://amzn.to/442HOfb). People have been floating the idea of a 4-day workweek for over 60 years. Yet it is still not the norm. Why hasn’t it caught on? Is it a good idea? Will it ever be a real thing? Here with some interesting insight into the 4-day workweek is Juliet Schor. She is an economist, and professor of sociology at Boston College. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, People and 60 Minutes. She is also the author of a book called Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter (https://amzn.to/4jQSvr0). There are a lot of weight loss programs and strategies available for people. But what if there was one simple, common sense, easy to do tactic that is proven to help people lose weight effectively? There is. It so simple. And I will tell you exactly how to do it. https://www.ornish.com/zine/proven-benefits-keeping-food-journal/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 min
  • AI: Blessing or Curse? & What Our Noisy World Does to You
    Jun 16 2025
    Can drinking tea make you happy – or do happy people just like to drink tea? There is definitely a connection between tea and mental health, and this episode begins with an explanation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25657295/ Artificial Intelligence is either the next big thing that will transform our lives or the worst thing ever that will curse humanity. So, what is the truth? Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Gary Rivlan has taken a hard look at AI and joins me to discuss the good and the bad and reveals how AI will affect us all. Gary has been writing about technology since the mid-1990s, he is author of 9 books and his latest is called AI Valley: Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion-Dollar Race to Cash In on Artificial Intelligence (https://amzn.to/4dXcfIl). You have likely noticed that the world is pretty noisy. The big concern is that noise has a big impact on our health. It’s not just hearing loss that is the problem. Noise is connected to heart disease, premature death and other health issues that we all need to be aware of. Here to explain how noise affects you and what we can all do about it is Chris Berdik. He is a journalist who has investigated the dangers of noise in our world and he is the author of a book called Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World - and How We Can Take It Back (https://amzn.to/45cyYhe). There is something that women can do with their voice that can make them seem more attractive to men. What’s interesting is that if men try to do it, it has the opposite effect. Listen as I explain what that is. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140411153320.htm PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 min
  • How to Say No Without Guilt & The Secrets to Satisfaction - SYSK Choice
    Jun 14 2025
    Where is the best place to take a nap? Anyone who has napped in a hammock knows how great it can be. This episode begins by explaining why naps are better in a hammock and why your next nap should be in one. https://www.livescience.com/14680-hammock-rocking-improves-sleep.html It can be hard to say no. After all, you don’t want to let people down or have them think you are not a team player. But think about all the times you have said yes and wish you hadn’t. If you find saying no to be hard, you will be interested in some interesting research that says HOW you do it is what really matters. You can say no to almost anybody and people will generally accept it. Here to explain how you can say no and feel good about it is Professor Vanessa Patrick from the University of Houston and author of the book The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No That Puts You in Charge of Your Life (https://amzn.to/3MUs6KE). There is a lot of emphasis today on finding happiness. Yet about 40% of people say they are unhappy. Perhaps chasing happiness is the wrong goal. After all, no one is happy all the time. Happiness comes and goes. Maybe instead of a happy life we should be seeking a life of satisfaction. Here to reveal the important distinction between happiness and satisfaction and why a satisfied life is a better goal is Dr Jennifer Guttman. She is psychologist in private practice and author of the book Beyond Happiness: The 6 Secrets of Life Satisfaction (https://amzn.to/43mzyoB). We all know that maintaining eye contact is important when talking with someone. Listen as I discuss how one simple eye contact technique triggers just the right hormones that will make you more intriguing to the person you are looking at. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26704066 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://MintMobile.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It’s not just an AI computer, it’s a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at⁠⁠ https://Dell.com/ai-pc⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 min