Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together.
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Investing can feel daunting, but this episode with financial journalist Mary Childs breaks down essential concepts. It explains different retirement accounts like 401ks and IRAs, details various investment funds including index funds and ETFs, and emphasizes the role of diversification with bonds. Listeners will also learn about adjusting investment strategies based on age and short-term financial goals, alongside the tax implications and benefits of various investment vehicles.
There can be a lot of stress when it comes to the holidays: figuring out travel plans, preparing the perfect meal, spending time with the whole family for days on end. There can also be a lot pressure to do everything perfectly, but psychotherapist and author of All Is Calmish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays, Niro Feliciano, says that letting go of the need for perfection can actually make your holiday less stressful. This episode, Feliciano shares tips for keeping...
Martinus Evans, author of Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run , explains why anyone who wants to run can run. He shares tips on gear, training programs and what he calls "sexy pace." This episode originally aired on June 22, 2023. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at lifekit@npr.org Support the show and listen to it sponsor-free by signing up for Life Kit+ at plus.npr.org/...
Navigate the holiday shopping season wisely by understanding common marketing ploys. This episode reveals how retailers use urgency, false scarcity, and deceptive pricing strategies like anchoring to influence purchases. Learn to identify real deals, compare prices effectively, and make strategic choices that align with your actual needs and budget, ensuring you're happy with your purchases.
Psychologist Kari Leibowitz shares insights from her research in places with extreme winters, revealing how a change in mindset and simple adaptations can transform our experience of the colder months. Learn how to prepare your home and mind, embrace nature's call to slow down, find joy in outdoor activities, and cultivate inner warmth through coziness and creativity, turning winter into a time of reflection and renewal.
Many women experience hair loss, which can be emotionally devastating. This episode from NPR's Shortwave delves into the science behind hair growth and different types of hair loss, including temporary shedding, pattern hair loss, and autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata. It highlights the challenges of obtaining an accurate diagnosis, explores various treatment options from new drugs to traditional remedies, and offers insights on finding support and redefining beauty.
This episode provides actionable strategies to manage common social anxiety, differentiating it from social anxiety disorder and explaining when to seek professional help. It covers how to build social courage through small, consistent efforts, prepare effectively for social events, and engage more authentically during interactions. Learn to embrace awkwardness, shift focus from self-consciousness, and debrief post-event for continuous growth and connection.
This episode features Brett McKay of The Art of Manliness discussing vital men's health topics, from rethinking physical identity beyond traditional athleticism to understanding the importance of muscle power as we age. He delves into testosterone levels, emphasizing lifestyle interventions, and explores how depression can uniquely manifest in men, offering practical, research-backed management strategies. The conversation concludes with the surprising 'good stress' of socializing and its long-term benefits for well-being.
This episode tackles listener questions about handling unsolicited advice, from judgmental in-laws to strangers commenting on appearance, and societal pressure regarding relationship milestones. Experts share strategies for setting boundaries, communicating effectively, and prioritizing personal well-being when faced with unwanted opinions and expectations. It emphasizes self-worth and discerning whose advice to value.
Discover how "good posture" isn't about sitting up straight but about dynamic movement and varied body shapes. This episode explores how repetitive static positions lead to pain and injury, guiding listeners to identify their own "body constellations" and counter unwanted habits. Learn practical strategies for integrating movement breaks, optimizing your environment, and embracing natural fidgeting to achieve better alignment and reduce discomfort.
This episode features Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook, who shares practical advice for navigating food insecurity. He discusses how to access free meals and groceries through hotlines, food pantries, and community programs. Kevin also provides strategies for maximizing grocery budgets, including finding deals and utilizing apps, alongside his unique batch cooking methods for affordable, healthy meals.
This episode outlines a comprehensive five-step process for couples to mend conflicts and strengthen their bond. It emphasizes the critical first step of self-regulation before engaging, followed by structured communication where partners take turns sharing their subjective experiences. Key takeaways include active, empathetic listening, understanding when to seek professional support for deeper issues, and recognizing that effective repair is an ongoing practice essential for secure, lasting relationships.
In this episode, architectural and interior designer Vern Yip offers practical advice for creating meaningful home spaces. He emphasizes defining a room's purpose and emotional goal, gathering personal inspiration, and making compromises with housemates. Yip also provides strategies for choosing paint colors effectively and decorating on a budget by prioritizing quality and allowing rooms to evolve over time rather than striving for instant perfection.
Prescription drug prices can be shockingly high, leading to difficult choices or even tragic consequences. This episode offers a comprehensive checklist for finding discounts and managing costs, starting with checking for errors and exploring online coupons like GoodRx. It also advises on working with your doctor for alternative medications or samples, utilizing patient assistance programs, and strategically reviewing insurance formularies during open enrollment to plan for future medication costs.
Discover how introverts and extroverts can bridge their personality gaps to foster healthier friendships. Expert Jennifer Kahnweiler and host Yo-Wei Shaw share insights on understanding individual traits, avoiding judgment, and communicating needs effectively. Learn practical "hacks" for better interactions and why appreciating each other's unique gifts strengthens bonds.
Navigating holiday travel can be stressful, but this episode provides actionable advice to minimize disruptions. Travel expert Scott Keyes shares strategies like booking early morning, nonstop flights and avoiding peak travel days. Learn about your federal rights to cash refunds for canceled flights, how to manage delays at the airport using apps and international hotlines, and what protections your credit card might offer. Plus, discover when travel insurance is truly beneficial and essential items for a more comfortable journey.
Collagen supplements have been widely promoted on social media, with claims that they'll strengthen hair and nails, lessen wrinkles and even ease joint pain. But are there studies backing these claims? NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy dives into the research and shares science-backed tips for better skin that are more effective. Fill out our survey at npr.org/lifekitsurvey. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share...
This episode emphasizes that parents are primary role models for their children's technology use, highlighting the negative impacts of parental distraction and the importance of conscious engagement. It offers practical strategies for parents to manage their own device habits, including self-assessment questions and the crucial rule of keeping all electronics out of bedrooms overnight. The discussion also covers setting parental controls, guiding children's media consumption based on age, and exploring differing expert opinions on when children should get smartphones, ultimately encouraging families to make personalized decisions aligned with their values.
If you feel overwhelmed or stuck in a close relationship, therapist KC Davis, author of Who Deserves Your Love , has a list of questions to help you decide whether you should continue to engage. Davis provides guidance on how to create boundaries you feel good about without cutting people out of your life. Take our survey at npr.org/lifekitsurvey Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at lifekit@npr.org Su...
Naps can offer significant benefits, from emotional regulation to improving memory and athletic performance. But there are right and wrong ways to snooze. A sleep psychologist and a sleep physician explain the factors of the perfect nap and the importance of daytime rest. This episode originally published Feb. 26, 2024. Take our survey at npr.org/lifekitsurvey . Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at li...
In this episode, James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Choi shares his philosophy for making nutritious meals bursting with flavor. He provides practical tips on effective meal prep, choosing essential pantry staples like aromatics, oils, salts, and versatile ingredients like MSG and gochujang. Roy also discusses specific recipes from his cookbook, "The Choi of Cooking," and emphasizes the importance of tasting and adjusting while cooking to elevate every dish.
Rachel Rodgers, author of Future Millionaire, guides aspiring entrepreneurs on developing a thriving business idea. She outlines four essential qualities for a successful offer: providing a clear transformation, meeting market demand, being enjoyable for the founder, and scalability. Rodgers also emphasizes starting lean, leveraging existing skills, and how a side hustle can open doors to new opportunities.
Libraries are more than just books; they are community hubs offering vast free and discounted resources. This episode explores how to get a library card, discover unexpected borrowable items like museum passes and tools, and access essential services such as tutoring, legal aid, and maker labs. It also highlights engaging events, digital media access, and tips for being a supportive library patron, ultimately helping you save money.
In this "Dear Life Kit" episode, licensed therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare addresses anonymous listener questions about various relationship dilemmas. Topics include supporting a friend who returns to an abusive ex, a couple's emotional struggles and differing paths after multiple failed IVF attempts, managing marital tension due to conflicting work-from-home habits, and establishing boundaries with a partner's mentally ill ex. DeGeare provides empathetic guidance on communication, grief, self-worth, and defining love.
When a loved one faces cancer, knowing how to help can be challenging. This episode guides listeners on providing support, from leveraging individual strengths for practical tasks like accompanying them to appointments or organizing meals, to understanding their unique needs and taking initiative with thoughtful gestures. It also stresses the importance of mindful communication, focusing on listening and presence rather than imposing feelings or offering unsolicited advice, ultimately aiming to be a "hearing heart" for those in need.
This episode provides essential strategies for managing and eliminating credit card debt, a common financial burden. Learn how to leverage credit cards effectively, build a crucial emergency fund, and choose the right debt repayment method like avalanche or snowball. It also covers negotiating with card issuers for better terms and understanding your legal rights if debt enters collections, offering a clear path to financial freedom.
Toddlerhood is a big and beautiful period of self-discovery. Kids are picking up new cognitive and motor skills and learning language a mile a minute. But there are some behaviors in this age range that can be confusing, frustrating or spirit-breaking for parents, like tantrums, hitting, stealing toys and more. This episode, Life Kit reporter Andee Tagle helps you decode your toddler's behavior and address it more strategically. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here...
Financial expert Jill Schlesinger presents her "Fabulous Five" steps to evaluate your finances for major life shifts like career changes or relocation. The framework guides you through calculating assets, liabilities, housing considerations, and spending habits, culminating in understanding external obligations and creating best, middle, and worst-case scenarios for your desired future. This structured approach helps determine feasibility and build a practical path forward.
Chef Sohla El-Waylly demystifies soup making, highlighting its flexibility and comforting appeal. The episode covers the essential role of a flavorful broth, fundamental cooking techniques like sweating aromatics, and safety tips for blending hot liquids. Listeners will discover key ingredients for enhancing flavor, creative topping ideas, and practical advice on storing and reheating delicious homemade soups.
Higher education journalist Jeffrey Selingo discusses why college admissions has become overly focused on prestige, leading many students to apply to numerous top-tier schools that may not be the right fit. He shares essential factors beyond rankings, such as supportive first-year experiences, strong mentorship connections, real job experience opportunities, and a college's financial health. Ultimately, the episode encourages a broader perspective on what defines a "dream school," emphasizing thriving and meaningful connections over a prestigious name.
