Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

Time isn’t just this tangible thing that you can parcel out and have it behave in predictable ways. So let’s stop trying to make it our b-i-t-c-h, whaddya say?  The thing is, when you are feeling good and in a groove, mentally, physically, and spiritually, you cut through tasks like a hot knife through butter. It’s better, then, to stop trying to manage your time, and focus instead of managing you...

We’ve all been there–you had the whole day open to do as you pleased, and you had all these things you wanted to get done, but by the time 5 o'clock rolls around, you haven’t done squat.  Today’s episode is about how to avoid frittering away the day. This episode sponsored by:  AirDoctor – Use promo code BETTER to save up to 39% or $300  HelloFresh – Use promo code 50BETTERPERSON to save 50% and g...

Today I’m talking with Dr. Cassie Holmes, professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, social psychologist who researches the intersection of time and happiness, and who teaches a wildly popular MBA class on how to change the way you think about time in order to boost happiness. She generously shares her evidence-based strategies for changing your approach to time and making more space for t...

The dumb little things you have to do repeatedly can eat up your time and drag your energy down. Since this week is all about ways to take better care of the intersection of time, energy, and happiness, finding solutions for these minor aggravations is the subject of today’s episode.  I don’t know about you, but I find teeny little changes ridiculously exciting, which means I’m ridiculously excite...

Today, I'm interviewing planning expert Sarah Hart-Unger, host of the Best Laid Plans podcast. A self-described "compulsive list maker and life planner," Sarah's planning prowess has been honed through experience. In addition to Best Laid Plans, Sarah is also the co-host of the Best of Both Worlds podcast, with Laura Vanderkam; is a pediatric endocrinologist; has three kids; and is a daily blogger...

This week I’m sharing ways to make planning less stressful and more happy-making.  Today’s big idea is that there’s a type of planning that most of us don’t even think to make room for on our calendars, but that can help us do our best thinking and ensure that we pay good attention to the things that matter most (and that tend to get drowned out in a typical day). It’s called the Shultz Hour–liste...

A big reason we make plans is to stave off stress–if you know what’s happening when it gives you a feeling of control and helps you know that you’re doing the things that you need and want to do. And there’s a certain type of planning that can also make you significantly happier, and not the kind of satisfaction that comes from having all your ducks in a row, but actual happiness that recharges yo...

When you think about getting older, or the elderly in general, what words come to mind?  The answer to that question can have a big impact on your health–from how long you live to how high your risk of developing dementia is (even if it runs in your family!).  I’m sharing some fabulous news about getting older all this week on the podcast. This is stuff that was pretty new information for me so I...

This week on the podcast I'm taking a look at aging, and the simple but powerful things we can do to make our getting older experience better on many levels. And today I'm talking with someone who is a leading voice for women to re-think their attitudes toward aging, and to embrace some new tools and strategies to make aging just a new phase of life--and not something to dread. My guest today is T...

We have to actively try to counter the ideas about aging that we’ve been swimming in for years and years in order to truly get on board with the idea that getting older is something to not just make peace with, but also to actively celebrate.  To help you do that, I’m sharing 3 major, huge, fricking fantastic benefits of getting older. It’s time to get pumped! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

I’ve been talking to friends and hearing from listeners that a lot of you are pondering life changes–maybe it’s because the kids are grown, or just because it’s time to switch things up. Or maybe your hand is being forced because you’re dealing with some kind of health thing. The common theme I’ve detected is that it’s happening at midlife.  It has also been a time that has been shown time and tim...

Today I’m talking to Meagan Francis, host of the podcast Mother of Reinvention, mom of 5 kids (who range in age from 13 - 25), somewhat recently divorced, self-employed since she was 25 years old, and no stranger to pivoting. I asked Meagan about how motherhood–and women’s identities–change as kids get older, how to pick up the pieces when it feels like the chessboard of your life gets completely...

Midlife is basically puberty in reverse. Huge hormonal shifts. The dawn of a new phase of life. A body you may or may not recognize. As the mother of a now 15-year-old daughter, I can see the similarities between us and you know what? A lot of it is awesome. Come find out why. This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more AirDoctor – Use prom...

Since 1970, North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds. 3 billion!! This is a problem because birds do so many important things – they eat pests, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and protect ecosystems. They’re also direct descendants of the dinosaurs–they are living proof of life’s resilience and if they are dying in droves, it really doesn’t bode well for the rest of us. So let’s talk about...

For Jodi Helmer, it all started by adopting a rescue dog. That led to fostering other dogs in order to help them get adopted. That led to a move to the country in order to have more space. That led to taking in one very naughty donkey who was running out of a time at a kill shelter. And now, Jodi and her husband Jerry are caring for 48 rescued animals and are running a non-profit animal sanctuary....

Why am I talking about animals on a show about being a better person? Animals can really bring out our better instincts and give us an opportunity to get out of our own heads, thinking about our own problems. Plus, they're cute. I originally aired this episode in late winter, thinking it was the perfect time for a little cute infusion when our spirits could go for some lifting. But now that we’re...

We can’t talk about how to get better and making more of your own food without also talking about getting better about grocery shopping. After all, you can’t cook what you don’t have. This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who embrace leftovers, and those who turn their nose up at them. By the end of this episode, I hope you’ll be firmly in the embrace ‘em camp, if you’re not there already. This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While you definitely don’t need any formal training to be a great home cook, having a couple of techniques up your sleeve can make things a lot easier. So today I’m sharing three cooking strategies that, over the years, have saved me weeks of time. I did learn them from a pro, but not in a class or culinary school. This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your or...

Let’s face it: Adulting can be a real slog. The list of things to do and take care of can feel relentless. However, that does not mean that doing the things you need to do has to be boring, or tedious. You CAN use fun to goad yourself into doing those things you have to do, and enjoy yourself while you’re doing it This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your ord...

In order to invite more fun into your life, it helps to give some thought to what you consider to be fun, and what you’ve been doing for fun lately, and objectively assess whether you might need to prioritize fun a little more. I think of it as doing a fun inventory. That may sound like a clinical approach to playfulness, but what you inspect, you respect. C’mon, it’ll be fun! This episode sponsor...

If you want something in your life to change, you’re craving more meaning, a great place to start is by looking at fun.  I get that fun can feel frivolous, and that it’s easy to think that we should wait until things calm down before we even consider doing something just for the fun of it. But fun is not just enjoyable, but also it’s vital to our wellbeing and even to our very purpose for being on...

You probably are already aware of parfaits as a breakfast option. But did you know that you can pack them to go??? I’ve got a story, plus how to make them delicious without being a total sugar bomb, as, let’s face it, most parfaits are.  This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40 or more Aqua Tru – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off any water p...

One criteria I had for this week’s grab-and-go breakfasts is that they do not involve dirtying a pan during the morning hustle. Which rules out eggs, right? Wrong. This is a cooking method for ‘fried’ eggs popularized by Mark Bittman that is going to crack breakfast wide open (I could not resist the pun). This episode sponsored by:  NextEVO – Use promo code BETTER to save 20% off your order of $40...

OK, I know: Chia pudding sounds like something your hippy aunt made in the 70s. But trust me, it’s really flipping good.  I admit I discovered chia pudding when I was on the ketogenic diet a few years ago and needed something to fill the dessert void. But chia pudding also makes an awesome breakfast, tastes kind of like rice pudding (and if you’re not into that texture, I’ve got a fix for you), pr...