This week we’re talking about impostor syndrome—the psychological phenomenon wherein people question their successes and have an internalized fear of being discovered as a fraud. We’ll hear from Lifehacker’s staff writer, Nick Douglas, who explains why he keeps something called a “brag file.” We’ll also chat with clinical psychologist Dr. Jessamy Hibberd, author of the book The Impostor Cure. And our producer takes to the streets to find out how people deal with their own feelings of inadequacy....
May 10, 2021•25 min
This week we're learning how to pare down our belongings and embrace the freeing feeling of a minimalist lifestyle with help from author and advocate Christine Platt (aka The Afrominimalist ). Listen to hear Christine's brilliant tips on how to start decluttering without overwhelming yourself, how to parent with a minimalist lifestyle, and why the first step to becoming a minimalist is not what you might think. Christine's new book, The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living With Less comes out on Jun...
May 03, 2021•51 min
This week we’re learning about the ins and outs of negotiation. We’ll find out how to get someone to “yes” when they’re all about “no”; when and how the robots are going to negotiate for us; and what to do to get the raise you deserve. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...
Apr 26, 2021•34 min
In this episode we’re talking about the lost art of conversation-making. Joining us is podcaster and raconteur Ken Plume, who has conducted extensive interviews with the likes of Mel Brooks and John Cleese. We discuss how Ken got his start feeling comfortable talking to just about anyone, how he handles the awkwardness of a cocktail party (hint: it involves a fern)—and then we invent an acronym that will help you handle any conversational challenge. (Sort of.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19...
Apr 19, 2021•32 min
This week we chat with productivity legend David Allen about GTD, his gold-standard time management philosophy. Lifehacker staffers share their productivity secrets as well. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 12, 2021•38 min
This week we're improving on our marketing skills with help from entrepreneur and marketing expert Seth Godin. Listen to hear Seth's insightful tips on the mentality we should have when it comes to our marketing strategy, finding your audience, and the common mistakes to avoid when starting to market your business. Seth is the bestselling author of 20 books including The Dip , Tribes , The Practice , and This Is Marketing . He’s also the host of the Akimbo podcast and author of his very pop...
Apr 05, 2021•28 min
This week we're solving our boundary issues with help from therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab. Nedra is the New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself , and she joins us this week to talk about how we can learn to recognize when our own boundaries have been crossed, and how to approach setting healthy boundaries with loved ones. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.co...
Mar 29, 2021•42 min
Ever find yourself in an anxiety spiral, ruminating over things that stress you out? If so, you're in luck because this week we're learning how to better control that voice in our heads with help from psychologist Ethan Kross. Ethan is a professor at the University of Michigan’s Psychology Department and Ross School of Business, and is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. His book is called Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It . H...
Mar 22, 2021•38 min
On this episode of The Upgrade, we're tackling debt. Crippling, anxiety-inducing debt. It can be hard to know where to start when facing such a heavy burden. Fortunately, we got some help. First, hear Lifehacker staff writer Lisa Rowan answer Upgrade listener and Lifehacker reader-submitted questions about credit cards. Then, we're joined once again by personal finance expert Farnoosh Torabi, who coaches us on how to start to get a handle on debt. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 34...
Mar 15, 2021•45 min
This week we're learning how to embrace being a beginner again (and why we should) with help from journalist Tom Vanderbilt. Tom is the best-selling author of Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) , and You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice , and his latest book is Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning . Listen to hear Tom describe how becoming a beginner again can change your perspective and offer multiple cognitive benefits, a...
Mar 08, 2021•38 min
Michael Pollan has been writing about the intersection of nature and culture for over 30 years. He may be best known as the guy who summed up his principles for eating thusly: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." He is the author of several books, including In Defense of Food , The Omnivore’s Dilemma , and The Botany of Desire . His latest book is How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence . Se...
Mar 01, 2021•41 min
This week we're speaking with the ever-inspiring Anne Lamott—progressive political activist, writer, and bestselling author of such books as Bird by Bird , Traveling Mercies , and Operating Instructions . Anne's latest book is called Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage , and she joins us this week to talk about how we can find hope, even in the most challenging times. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgra...
Feb 22, 2021•33 min
This week we're fine-tuning our instruments with help from Hollywood vocal coach, Denise Woods. Denise has been a professional vocal and dialect coach for over 20 years and has worked with stars like Will Smith, Halle Berry, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Chastain, and Mahershala Ali. Listen to hear Denise gives tips on how to nix the bad habits of the “ums,” “ahs,” and “likes,” figure out your unique voice print, and learn to harness the power of your breath when speaking. Denise's new book is called Th...
Feb 15, 2021•41 min
This week we're learning how to tackle the notorious challenge of dating with help from Logan Ury—Director of Relationship Science at Hinge and author of the new book, How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love . Listen to hear Logan talk about what we so often get wrong about what makes someone a good match, how we're sabotaging ourselves when setting up our dating profiles, and what we can do to increase our odds of finding that special someone. Have an idea for ...
Feb 08, 2021•47 min
It goes without saying that this pandemic has had a huge impact on our mental health. So this week, we sit down with The Happiness Lab 's Dr. Laurie Santos to learn some of the science-backed strategies we can use to help us cope, and even find some happiness. Dr. Santos is a Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. She is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 an...
Feb 01, 2021•41 min
This week we're learning how to land a new job in a challenging economy, with personal finance expert (and friend of The Upgrade) Ramit Sethi. Listen to hear Ramit's tips on writing a great resume and cover letter, how to get clear on what your dream job actually is, and how to negotiate even when you don't think you have leverage. Ramit is the author of the New York Times bestseller, I Will Teach You To Be Rich , and his website, www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com is now offering a new Dream Job cou...
Jan 25, 2021•39 min
This week we're learning about the tools and tech we need to upgrade our lives in 2021. Helping us are Mark Frauenfelder and Kevin Kelly—hosts of the Cool Tools podcast and the Cool Tools blog . Listen to hear Mark and Kevin's recommendations for what to get for the best work from home experience, their favorite new tech from 2020, and what they expect the future of work to look like post-pandemic. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us a...
Jan 18, 2021•27 min
This week we're learning about hypnosis, the placebo effect, and the ways we can use the power of suggestion to our advantage with help from science journalist Erik Vance. Listen to hear Erik discuss how the placebo effect works, the ways in which we may be able to use hypnosis to help us with various ailments and issues, and why the power of suggestion is a uniquely understudied area of research. Erik is a staff editor for the New York Times' Well section, and is the author of the book Suggesti...
Jan 11, 2021•46 min
Gretchen Rubin practically invented the concept of hacking your happiness. She's the author of The Happiness Project, host of the podcast Happier with Grethen Rubin, and for years has been exploring the good habits that bring joy to everyday life. She's here to chat about how we can get happy and stay that way. You can find the show notes and all episodes at http://lifehacker.com/theshow See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr
Author and psychiatrist Mark Epstein's books include Thoughts Without a Thinker, and Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart. His latest book, Advice Not Given, uses Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path as a roadmap for spiritual and psychological growth. According to Mark, Buddhism and psychotherapy arrive at the same conclusion: when we give the ego free rein, we suffer, but when the ego learns to let go, we are free. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicema...
Dec 28, 2020•39 min
This week we're tackling the challenge of getting your kids more invested in books with comedian and social entrepreneur Alvin Irby. Listen to hear Alvin's advice on how to get your kids more interested in reading without rewards or punishment based on his own experience as a former teacher as well as through his work in his non-profit literacy project Barbershop Books . Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We...
Dec 21, 2020•46 min
This week we're getting advice on how to make our New Year's resolutions stick with help from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg. Listen to hear Charles share multiple science-backed strategies we can use to enhance habit formation, and how mental models can help us achieve our goals. Charles is the author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business , and Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity , and is also the host of the podcast ...
Dec 14, 2020•46 min
Financial journalist Felix Salmon joins us this week to talk about making money while doing good in the world, "Badass" author Jen Sincero tells us how she went from no money to a lot of money by changing her mindset, and we all end up rich. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...
Dec 07, 2020•42 min
This week we're preparing for our 2021 reading goals with help from The Root 's Danielle Belton and Maiysha Kai. Listen to hear Danielle and Maiysha share their tips for finding time to read, how to diversify your reading list, and the best ways to find books you'll love. Danielle and Maiysha are the hosts of The Root Presents: It's Lit! —a new podcast from the team at The Root discussing all things literature, literally. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voi...
Nov 30, 2020•40 min
This week we're learning about disability rights and how to be a better ally to the disabled, with activist and consultant Alice Wong. Listen to hear Alice talk about the unique perspectives that disabled people bring to the conversation, what non-disabled people can do to promote and protect equality, and why Crip Camp is essential viewing. In addition to being the Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project , she is also the host of the Disability Visibility podcast , and recentl...
Nov 23, 2020•38 min
This week Emmy and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern stops by The Upgrade to talk about how to do Thanksgiving this year...if you choose to do it at all. Listen as Andrew gets into the ways to cook a pared-down Thanksgiving meal for a smaller group, the safest ways to host an outdoor feast, and why you should consider skipping the holiday altogether this year. Andrew's previous shows include Bizarre Foods and The Zimmern List , and his latest series is called Wh...
Nov 16, 2020•46 min
In this episode we’re talking about meditation and the lasting effects it can have on our minds and bodies. Joining us is Daniel Goleman, co-author of the book “Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body.” Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and science journalist known for his numerous books on emotional intelligence, including the bestselling book “Emotional Intelligence.” In the book “Altered Traits,” he and his co-author Richard Davidson waded through...
Nov 09, 2020•43 min
This week we're learning how to better care for our skin with help from physician and Atlantic staff writer James Hamblin. Listen to hear James explain why using less soap might actually be better for your skin's microbiome and how we should be re-thinking what "good hygiene" really is. James is the author of If Our Bodies Could Talk: Operating and Maintaining a Human Body , and his latest book is Clean: The New Science of Skin . Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and lea...
Nov 02, 2020•45 min
This week we're learning how to crank out that book you've been meaning to write in a mere 30 days, with author Grant Faulkner. Grant is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) and author of the book, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo . Listen to hear Grant talk with Jordan and Alice about the unexpected benefits of NaNoWriMo's community, the process of writing without editing, and why writer's block is a myth. Have an idea ...
Oct 26, 2020•43 min
This week we're improving our work-from-home setups with help from Gizmodo editors Alex Cranz and Brian Kahn. Listen to hear tips on how to increase your internet speed, make your space more comfortable, and dampen the annoying noise of your neighborhood. Alex and Brian are also hosts of Gizmodo's new podcast, System Reboot, which dives into the systems that are failing us and explores realistic opportunities to create something better. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 ...
Oct 19, 2020•45 min
