Daniel seems to be the whole package. He's smart, social, and has lots of friends. He even organizes a beach volleyball league in Berlin. But he can't seem to land a date despite his best efforts. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Andrea Silenzi , dating aficionado and host of the acclaimed dating podcast Why Oh Why . She knows what it's like to put a ton of effort into dating and not land the relationship she wants. Now married, she shares how she broke through a decade of bad dates and h...
May 24, 2022•31 min
After experiencing multiple instances of sexual assault, Julia often feels sexually disconnected from her own body. She wants to be aware of her boundaries and find pleasure in new relationships going forward. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Jamila Dawson , licensed marriage and family therapist, and August McLaughlin , health and sexuality journalist and host of Girl Boner Radio. Together they wrote With Pleasure: Managing Trauma Triggers for More Vibrant Sex and Relationships . They sh...
May 17, 2022•33 min
When Samantha and her husband moved from a condo to a fairly large house, they knew they'd have a lot of updating and upkeep to do. But they had no idea how much time their new chores would gobble up. Or even what chores to do. (If only there was a guide to adulting!) Even when they weren't holding themselves to picture-perfect standards, it still felt like they were barely keeping their heads above water. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Kendra Adachi , she's a best-selling author , podc...
May 10, 2022•30 min
When Betsy joined her last workplace, she thought it was a perfect fit. It was on a list of Best Places to Work and she got to be creative while helping people. But as the startup rapidly grew, the company culture changed and Betsy started to lose herself amid the stress. Then she got laid off. Honestly, Betsy was relieved, but now she's gotta figure out what's next. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Altucher, author , podcaster , and all-around interesting person . He's both created...
May 03, 2022•29 min
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August, the Female Tactical Platoon, a unit of elite Afghan soldiers, knew they had to evacuate. "If they were captured, they would be killed," according to a Green Beret who worked alongside them because they were "an affront to everything the Taliban stood for." Ellie , a U.S. Army Captain, moved earth and heaven to get them to America. But navigating the U.S. refugee resettlement system proved much more difficult than they expected. On this episode of...
Apr 26, 2022•31 min
The town of Dartmouth, Massachusetts is in the middle of a mascot debate that's escalated quickly. Our listener Keith grew up there and his kids attend the high school in question. He's been vocal about his support for changing the school's Indian warrior logo but is wondering if there's a better way to solve this issue than trading barbs with the opposition. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Maulian Dana , Penobscot Nation tribal ambassador, one of the four federally recognized indigenous...
Apr 19, 2022•29 min
When Mike was wracked with a series of unexplained headaches in 2017, he initially chalked it up to being a stressed out grad student. But the pain became debilitating and his symptoms only multiplied from there. His doctors are stumped and Mike doesn't know where to turn next. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Meghan O'Rourke, author of The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness. Meghan has been on her own medical journey for years and has some extremely helpful advice for finding...
Apr 12, 2022•29 min
You've probably heard about the importance of journaling, putting thoughts on paper to help process the daily vicissitudes of life. But it's easy to stall once you see a blank page or get self conscious about what exactly you're writing. On this episode of How To!, we bring together Anna Quindlen , bestselling novelist and author of the new book Write For Your Life , and John Dickerson , co-host of Slate's Political Gabfest, CBS News reporter, author and veteran journaler. They share their wit a...
Apr 05, 2022•33 min
If you were to pop by Mary Ann's PhD discussion group, you'd most likely find her quietly, but intently, listening to the debate going on around her. But when it comes time to actually throw in her two cents, she comes up short. She feels nervous. Her mind goes blank. And she leaves the session feeling frustrated that she didn't voice her thoughts. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Amy Cuddy, author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenge . Amy has done a great de...
Mar 29, 2022•29 min
When a fellow employee started bullying Christy at her workplace she took the situation to her supervisor, Human Resources, and even filed grievances with her union. But the situation never improved. In fact, it got worse to the point where Christy had no choice but to walk away from her job of over 30 years. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Megan Hunter – co-founder and CEO of High Conflict Institute and author of BIFF at Work: Your Guide to Difficult Workplace Communication . She offers...
Mar 22, 2022•28 min
After Zach heard our " How To Make Friends as an Adult " episode, which coincidentally featured all women, he and a few other male listeners wrote in questioning how useful it was for men. He wondered if we could address the unique challenges men face when it comes to making new friends. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Slate staff writers Dan Kois , author of How to Be a Family , and Aymann Ismail , former host of the podcast Man Up , to coach Zach through a few easy tips. "You just gott...
Mar 15, 2022•30 min
Courtenay has more than a few regrets, starting with her career. Despite her accomplishments as an opera singer, she wishes she'd prioritized her professional goals, become more proficient on the piano and with foreign languages. Then there are the personal regrets, like the elderly friend Courteney lost touch with — who then passed away. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Daniel H. Pink , author of The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward , to coach Courtenay through recl...
Mar 08, 2022•30 min
Janey is the very definition of a woman trying to "have it all." She's an occupational therapist by day, a ghost writer for influencers by night and in between co-hosts a podcast . On top of that, she has two sons who play travel sports and a husband who works long hours. It's left Janey wondering if she'll ever catch her breath. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Amy Westervelt, who's no slouch herself. She's a journalist , host of the award-winning podcast Drilled , a busy mom and author ...
Mar 01, 2022•32 min
Winning the Olympics is everything Steve Mesler ever wanted. So when he and his U.S. bobsled teammates stood atop the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, his life seemed golden in every way. But soon after his triumph, Steve began to experience a period of extended mourning. Even though he won a gold medal, he lost his identity and sense of purpose. And he wasn't the only one. On this episode of How To!, the former Olympian, co-founder of Classroom Champions , and current United States Olympic a...
Feb 22, 2022•31 min
It's been two decades since Maggie's mom has gone to the doctor and her health is incredibly….shaky. Maggie's mom has severe asthma and allergies which has basically isolated her from the world. With isolation has come anger and bitterness. Maggie is at a loss. She's tried everything she can think of yet her mother refuses to get help. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Elizabeth Berg , a nurse-turned-bestselling novelist who has penned some 30 books, many focusing on family drama. Her late...
Feb 15, 2022•27 min
Susan was concerned when she first learned that someone was impersonating her on Facebook, but that soon turned to anger when she realized the imposter had sent inappropriate photos to her real life friends. Susan tried and failed to get the account taken down. Then came the extortion letter...and now she's freaking out a bit. On this episode of How To!, Jack Rhysider, host of Darknet Diaries and cybersecurity veteran, talks about the time he was stalked on the internet. Jack no longer shares mu...
Feb 08, 2022•30 min
Last week we learned about using the four different styles of humor to your advantage, and who makes a good target for a joke. But what if you read the room wrong and absolutely bomb? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, we resume our conversation with Naomi Bagdonas , co-author of Humor, Seriously! , and Michael Terry, the most hilarious hedge fund guy we've ever met. They swap stories about office jokes that fell flat, how to navigate a suddenly tense situation and what...
Feb 01, 2022•30 min
Did you know that we, as a society, have fallen off a comedy cliff? No joke. Studies have shown that we largely stop laughing when we enter our mid-twenties, which is a shame because delighting in humor has a ton of health benefits. Plus, being perceived as funny can actually make people think you're more intelligent, more competent, and even better looking! So on this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series, we bring on Naomi Bagdonas , co-author of Humor, Seriously! , and Michael Te...
Jan 25, 2022•31 min
Have you ever had to make an impossible decision? One that doesn't have an obvious "right" answer. One that someone will inevitably hate. John knows this feeling all too well. He's the superintendent for a mid-size school district in California. To say the last school year was difficult is a major understatement… John tried to ensure the safety of his students, teachers, and faculty while balancing the reality of students struggling in their virtual classes. Throughout the school year, John's re...
Jan 18, 2022•32 min
Every year, around the same time, Peter's apartment comes alive. The shadows begin to scuttle and the pipes creak with creepy crawlies. At least that's how it feels. Peter is freaked out by Israel's large flying cockroaches. Logically, he knows they don't pose a threat. But he can't control his visceral disgust at encountering one and his panicked vigilance in the days that follow. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. Elizabeth McMahon , a clinical psychologist who has been treating phobi...
Jan 11, 2022•28 min
Every January nearly 75 percent of Americans resolve to make their lives better by losing weight. But this year we're breaking free from the cycle of restrictive eating and spiraling shame. Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith, host and author of Burnt Toast and The Eating Instinct , has some eye-opening tips for our listener Tori that will help her ditch the scale, become more comfortable with her body, and even learn to control sugar cravings—by eating as many sweets as she wants. If you liked this ...
Jan 04, 2022•34 min
James is head over heels in love with his wife. But there's one thing that keeps getting in between them … the glow of her smartphone. His wife is constantly scrolling social media or staging photo ops with James and their kids to create a picture perfect life online. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Dr. David Greenfield, the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction , to help James understand why it's so hard for his wife to log off. He has some fascinating advice for h...
Dec 28, 2021•30 min
One night a few months ago Elaine got a phone call out of the blue from a co-worker. She and her 12-year old daughter had checked herself into a hotel after she was beaten by husband. Elaine took her co-worker to the hospital and encouraged her to leave her husband, but a couple weeks later she was back at home. Now Elaine can't stop worrying about her friend and wondering if (and how) she should help. On this episode of How To!, we're joined by Suzanne Dubus, advocate, survivor and CEO of the J...
Dec 21, 2021•30 min
Here at How To! headquarters, we give and receive a lot of good advice. This year we ran faster , kept cool in a crisis , had the best sex of our lives , stopped snoring , and even won the Olympics . The How To! team, including former host David Epstein, gathers 'round the mic to round up our favorite advice of the year. We talk about how we applied that advice to our own lives, share some surprising updates from folks who were on the show, and give a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast is...
Dec 14, 2021•27 min
Deciding to give up your dog is not something we talk about much, especially now when our pets are more like family members. But what do you do when your dog has behavioral problems that threaten the safety of others? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series on difficult dogs, we hear more from renowned trainer Denise Fenzi and inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz . They open up about their traumatic experiences with previous dogs and how they eventually had to give them up des...
Dec 07, 2021•29 min
Approximately 23 million families in the US got a pet during the pandemic, many of them puppies. At their best, dogs truly are "man's best friend," providing real comfort and companionship. But it can be tough when your new dog isn't adapting as well as you'd hoped. Whether it's excessive barking, aggression towards strangers or just not getting along with family members—a difficult dog can rock your confidence and make you feel resentful. On this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part seri...
Nov 30, 2021•30 min
Jackie is newly engaged, but thoughts about her big day fill her with dread, not excitement. Jackie and her fiance want to have only vaccinated people at their wedding to protect some vulnerable family members from COVID-19. However, requiring vaccination means Jackie's parents and sister likely won't attend, which would break Jackie's heart. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Nwandi Lawson, a former journalist who now runs a communications firm specializing in difficult conversations. She'...
Nov 23, 2021•30 min
For nearly a decade, Jono devoted all his time and energy to creating and running a customized shoe company. But, unfortunately, his start-up didn't survive the pandemic. Now Jono is in the tricky position of transitioning from CEO to working for someone else. He's wondering how to brand his non-linear career path and transform himself into an ideal job candidate. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Joseph Liu , a consultant who has made a career out of changing careers, and host of the podc...
Nov 16, 2021•29 min
Shanimarie has a story in her heart, one she believes the world needs to hear. It's a story of immigration, sacrifice and a mother's love that this first-grade teacher wishes she had read as a young girl who moved from Jamaica to the U.S. Shanimarie has been working on the idea for a couple of years now. She's submitted a manuscript to several publishers, but is making the rookie mistakes that most aspiring authors make. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Denene Millner , a New York Times b...
Nov 09, 2021•29 min
This episode is supported by Work Check , an original podcast from Atlassian. Bethany was ecstatic when her husband Travis got a promotion. They've been co-workers for over a decade and Bethany really valued being on equal footing. But that power balance has since gone topsy turvy. Travis is now her boss (technically her boss's boss) and things are suddenly not equal at home or at work. Her coworkers are treating her differently, and she feels like her career identity is being overshadowed. On t...
Nov 02, 2021•31 min
