Life Kit

Unread emails can be a source of anxiety for a lot of people. So instead of trying to read, filter or delete everything in your inbox, what if you just ignored it? In this episode, New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz shares how spending less time on email and changing the way she thought about online communication has increased her productivity and given her back hours of time. See pc...

For expectant parents, navigating pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum can raise a range of emotions. There are so many things to think about and prepare for, and knowing where to start can feel daunting. But a birth plan can help! In this episode, Martina Abrahams Ilunga and Gabrielle Horton of NATAL, offer guidance on creating a birth plan that works for you, and makes it simple for your support...

Open enrollment is back again and with it, its confusing health insurance jargon. Here are some of those terms defined to help you choose the best plan for you. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

You've only got 4,000 weeks to live — give or take. While that may come as a brutal dose of reality, it's also an opportunity to think about how you're spending that time. In this episode, we talk to Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about the idea of time management, why none of us will ever be in control, and how we can better decide what we spend time...

Strength training is a great way to exercise efficiently while preventing injury. But it can be nerve-wracking if you're worried about what other people think of you at the gym. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Food is more than just fuel for your body. Food is a connection to the stories of your ancestors and the stories of your descendants. In this episode of Life Kit, Michael W. Twitty, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar , and professor Devon Mihesuah share their advice on how to strengthen the ties to your food traditions. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

Do you feel like you're not an organized person? Deb Perelman of the blog and cookbook Smitten Kitchen says she can relate. But when it comes to the kitchen, she's got a system that works for her. In this episode, she shares her tips for home-cooks working in small spaces with Shereen Marisol Meraji about it. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for spo...

The five-day workweek can feel as preordained as the number of minutes in an hour, but it hasn't always been the norm. Workers fought for a Monday-to-Friday schedule before it became standard in the U.S. in the 1930s. Since then, the nature of work has changed a lot, and now, workers are once again fighting for better conditions, says U.K.-based researcher Will Stronge. In this episode, Stronge, w...

Rage, fear, possessiveness, sadness or all of the above — we all experience romantic jealousy differently, but the common denominator is the feeling of that inner alarm bell going off telling you you're going to lose your special someone. When mishandled, feelings of jealousy can lead to anything from internal strife to actual violence. But cultivated correctly, it can also be a "beautiful opportu...

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens to potential college students to fill out on Oct. 1 for the 2022-2023 school year. Here's how to fill out the form to get money for college — and why you should apply now instead of waiting. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Priv...

Research shows that suicide is preventable. And while surveys have shown that Americans know this, they might not know how to help someone who may be at risk. It's National Suicide Prevention Month, and we're looking at ways you can help if you know someone who is struggling. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcas...

Reading at school is one thing, but reading at home is important too. Though with busy schedules filled with after school activities, homework and lots of tech at kids' fingertips, it's not always easy to convince kids that reading isn't a chore. In this episode, Diana Opong helps us discover that there is so much joy — and value — to be found in reading aloud as a family. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

We don't question whether our pets, friends or family have earned their right to exist, so why do we sometimes think about our own lives in those terms? What we learn about the value of productivity and the negative connotation of "laziness" is part of the problem, says social psychologist Devon Price. In this episode, Price, author of Laziness Does Not Exist, shares tips for rethinking the concep...

Getting interrupted. Getting ideas stolen. Being talked over and ignored in meetings. This happens to women, people of color and marginalized workers a LOT. So what should you do when you get interrupted or talked over or have an idea stolen in a meeting? In this episode, Stacey Vanek Smith, author of the new book Machiavelli For Women , goes over four ways to be heard in the workplace. See pcm.ad...

Whether you know it or not, you know somebody who is autistic. So if you think autism doesn't affect you, you're wrong, says Eric Garcia. In this episode, Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, talks about myths surrounding autism, how to talk about it and how to help your autistic loved one live their most fulfilling life. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

Contemplating dating when you're 50 or older can feel daunting. But to find love, you usually have to date. In this episode, relationship experts give their best tips for figuring out what you want in a new relationship and getting back into the dating scene. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship pre...

Exercise is important, but balancing exercise with mental health and your own body confidence can be a tricky thing to pull off. In this episode, we talk to experts about how to keep comfortable in your body as it changes, and how to find that balance while exercising. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast spons...

Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health for transgender people. But, it can be hard to know exactly how to get started. In this episode of NPR's Short Wave, reporter James Factora explains where to start, common misconceptions about HRT, and the importance of finding comm...

Anxiety can feel like the enemy, and it's easy to want to obliterate those feelings. But that might not be the best approach, according to Wendy Suzuki. In this episode, Suzuki, author of Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion , outlines strategies to turn that sinking feeling into something productive. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

More companies are offering hybrid work schedules, allowing office workers to split their time between the office and home. A hybrid setup has plenty of benefits but can be challenging to navigate. These tips can help you and your team ease into it. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences....

It's easy to get into debt, but harder to get out of it — especially if you don't have a plan. This episode offers strategies to help you pay off debt. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Receiving feedback doesn't necessarily have to be terrifying, according to Shanita Williams, a feedback coach, professor and author of Feedback Mentality. In this episode, Williams and Stacy-Marie Ishmael, a writer and editor, provide five tips to make receiving feedback a little less scary and something that's just part of doing the work. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a...

Whether it's an apartment or a house, finding a place to rent can be taxing. It takes research, a disciplined budget and a strong sense of your priorities to find a place where you can feel like yourself. In this episode, we're giving you the ultimate checklist of things to consider as you're looking for your next place to live, including a detailed list of questions to ask the property manager. S...

Returning to in-person schooling is both a relief — and a source of great anxiety — for a lot of parents this year. The pandemic is still happening. The Delta variant is surging. And millions of children are too young to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The news changes fast — updates on vaccine trials and breakthrough infections seem to roll in every day — but there's still a lot the whole family can do t...

If you want to dip a toe in the starry seas of fantasy and science fiction, but you just don't know where to start, Pop Culture Happy Hour is teaming up with Life Kit for a handy beginner's guide. What's the difference between sci-fi and fantasy? Is there one at all? We'll cover all that and throw in some reading recommendations to get you going. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...