Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult

You probably have a pretty specific picture in your head when you hear the words “home break-in.” Maybe it involves someone kicking down the front door in the middle of the night. But according to our guest, that’s not usually how it works. And that might change the way you think about home security. In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, Matt and Lea talk with Aaron Miller, Vice Pre...

Few things say “welcome to adulthood” quite like opening a medical bill and realizing you have absolutely no idea what you're looking at. There are billing codes, insurance adjustments, deductibles, coinsurance, and somehow a procedure that costs one amount on one line costs something completely different on another. In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, Matt and Lea tackle the confusing...

Investing can feel like one of those grown-up things everyone else understands, but the truth is, most people are figuring it out as they go. In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, Matt and Lea are joined by Haley Sachs, Financial Expert, host of  Financial Tea  podcast and NYT bestselling author of  Future Rich Person,  to break down the basics of investing in plain English. Toget...

Moving sounds exciting... until you remember you actually have to move. Between surprise utility setup fees, security deposits, Wi-Fi appointments that never seem to happen on time, and somehow ending up with a dozen boxes labeled "miscellaneous," moving can quickly become one of life's most stressful experiences. So how do you make it a little easier and a lot less expensive? This week, Matt and...

International travel is magical... until you're standing in the airport realizing your passport expires next month, your phone doesn't work, and you have no idea whether you should pay in dollars or the local currency. This week on Grown Up Stuff , Matt and Lea are joined by full-time traveler Jordan Tually to answer all the questions you don't think to ask until it's way too late. They cover pass...

Getting laid off is one of those life events that can really throw you for a loop. It can leave you feeling blindsided, stressed, and wondering what you're supposed to do next. In this episode of  Grown Up Stuff: How to Adult , Matt and Lea sit down with employment attorney Paige Sparks to answer all the questions that start racing through your head after a job loss: Do I get severance? Can I...

Your home is supposed to be your safe place, but beware that many of the biggest safety risks are hiding in plain sight. In this episode of Grown Up Stuff , Matt and Lea sit down with home inspector and safety expert Joe Mazza, who you might know from his HGTV shows. He talks about the risks most of us don't think about until something goes wrong. From smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to electr...

Growing up doesn’t come with instructions, so we made a podcast about figuring it out together. Season 4 of Grown Up Stuff tackles the life skills, decisions, and responsibilities that suddenly become very real in adulthood. From bringing home a newborn for the first time to navigating international travel, buying the right smoke detectors, moving apartments, understanding investing, and pro...

From breaking up with your phone to breaking into better habits, our back-half S3 recap episode brings together the most practical, powerful, and personal moments from recent episodes of Grown-Up Stuff . Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo revisit highlights on phone addiction , advocating for yourself at work , nutrition , sober curiosity , meditation , and life insurance —all the stuff that...

You’ve heard of life insurance, but do you know what it actually is? And do you really need it? Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo are joined by Life Insurance Advisor Dennis Carlson who explains the purpose of life insurance, how you can find the best agent and policy for you, and so much more.  You can connect with Dennis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denniscarlson/ See omn...

You might not think it’s for you, but it turns out meditation is for everyone! This week hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo are joined by Kessonga Giscombe, a mindfulness and meditation teacher. He explains the very simple ways we all can incorporate meditation into our days, what it actually does to help your physical and mental body, and how it’s even changing lives in elementary sch...

Is drinking just not giving you the same buzz as before? When it comes to alcohol, are you thinking about cutting back, or cutting out entirely? We’ll you’re not alone, and hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo are here to help you navigate being sober curious. We’re breaking down what it means to explore mindful drinking, the steps you can take to incorporate this into your lifesty...

We all know about eating fruits and vegetables, right? But what about fiber and protein and other vitamins we need? Registered Dietician Nutritionist Melissa Joy Dobbins joins hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo for a conversation about how we can eat healthier and feel better, just with a little bit of mindfulness. You can check out her free “Do More with Dinner” resource at www. Sound...

How do I negotiate for more money? How do I speak up for better opportunities? How do I advance in my career if I’m an introvert? If you’re wondering how to advocate for yourself at work, hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo spoke with Jessica Chen, a speaker, communications expert and author of the book, “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reasons .&rdqu...

We’re all addicted to our phones — but it turns out it’s not our fault! Author, journalist, and speaker Catherine Price joins hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo to walk us through why we’re so glued to our social media accounts, and what we can do to slowly put down the smartphone and get more out of life. From tips about nixing those notifications to taking up non-phone ho...

Taxes, Voting, Recycling—oh my! After navigating this jungle of grown-up responsibilities together, we're taking a quick summer breather to recharge our adulting batteries. But before we temporarily hang up our responsible pants, join us for this special episode packed with our favorite kernels of wisdom from the season so far AND get an exclusive preview of the fresh adulting adventures awa...

In honor of Earth Month, this episode of Grown-Up Stuff celebrates all things recycling with guest Kara Napolitano, the Education and Outreach Manager at Circular Services. Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo learn about all the ways (and items) we can reduce, reuse, and recycle in our everyday lives, and the impact it has on our local and global communities. For more information you can check out...

You know you need to get your oil changed… but what even happens during that process? Sean Nguyen, a Pennzoil Lubricant Technical Specialist at Shell Lubricant, stopped by Grown-Up Stuff to tell hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo all about why your car needs an oil change, and how to ensure you’re taking the best care of your vehicle to get the maximum miles out of it while staying sa...

Voting is an incredibly important part of being an American — not just every four years, and not just for the sticker! In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with Joshua A. Douglas, a professor of law at the University of Kentucky, as well as an author and podcaster, who explains the way voting works in the US, from the polling booth to the country’...

Can you turn yourself into a morning person? With the help of author and podcaster Laura Vanderkam, you sure can! Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with the author of “What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--and Life” and host of the “Before Breakfast” podcast to find out why your morning routine starts long be...

Did you know there are over 33 million small business owners in the US? If you’re one of them, or considering becoming one, we’re breaking down the basics of filing small business taxes with TurboTax spokesperson and CPA, Lisa Greene-Lewis. You can almost hear it clicking for hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo as Lisa walks us through all we need to know about the different types of sm...

Happy Tax Season! We’re celebrating Season 3 of Grown-Up Stuff by filling you in on how to file your taxes. Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with Rus Garofalo of Brass Taxes about how you can save time, money, and your sanity as you tackle your taxes this year. From basic tax terms to loopholes and laws, Rus explains it all to have you feeling confident about your cash this year.&nbs...

It’s hard to be a human, especially a grown-up one. But we’re here to make it a little bit easier, and also fun! Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo bring you “Grown-Up Stuff” Season 3, where we’ll tackle taxes, make over your morning routine, and get your engines revving for the ultimate way to take care of your car. Your favorite podcast about the adventures of adult...

We’ve been watching a lot of “The Bear” and are inspired to create all the delicious and mind-blowing meals. . . . but first, we must learn to chop before we sauteé.   It’s the Season Two finale, and Molly and Matt are hitting the kitchen with a special guest, the James Beard award-winning  J. Kenji López Alt . Yes, chef!  Learn which cooking tools are must-haves, the best ways to defrost meat, an...

Hello Grown-ups! We’re taking a quick summer break before our season two finale, but while we’re gone we wanted to reshare one of our favorite episodes from Season 1 of “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult.” It’s a great companion episode to our previous episode about budgeting. So sit back, grill up some hot dogs, watch the fireworks and revisit planning and saving for retirement with our guest, CPA and...