Slate Advice

On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Lucy help a listener who left us a voicemail about their little athlete who’s just not great at baseball… and he also gets upset when the game doesn’t go his way. If this kid were an adult, it’d be time to have an honest conversation about knowing your strengths. But how does that conversation work with a kid? And after that conversation, of course, we’ll also d...

Nearly half of healthcare workers are at a breaking point, describing that they often or very often feel burnt out on the job. Most of us have heard the phrase “Put on your oxygen mask before helping others,” but rarely does that happen especially for those who work as caregivers. Psychiatrist Dr. Jessi Gold knows this firsthand when her mental overload caused her to make an unthinkable mistake wi...

Ben has two sons in the fourth grade. Like a lot of kids, they love YouTube videos, gaming, movies, and other online entertainment. Before his sons begin using social media, Ben wants to ensure they develop a good relationship with tech—and he’s ready to recruit other families at their school to agree upon some rules of engagement. On this episode of How To!, Courtney Martin brings in Richard Cula...

On this episode: Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Jennifer Freed to talk about how astrology can help us parent… even if you’re a skeptic about the whole star sign thing. It’s all about figuring out how to communicate with people who see the world differently than you do, right? We also check in on what’s happening in Elizabeth, Zak, and Jamilah’s lives right now. And then, if you’re joining us for th...

Today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from October 2023 with Ashley C. Ford, author of the bestselling memoir Somebody’s Daughter, and one of our guest Prudies, while our regular Prudie, Jenée Desmond-Harris, will be on parental leave. In this episode, Ashley C. Ford joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about whether conflicting ideas about children sho...

On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah are joined by Allison Price of the Care & Feeding text column to talk through one of her most recent columns. This dad lets his wife lean into her Type A tendencies… and as a result, he’s been pushed out of parenting decisions. Who’s to blame here? And why was Allison worried about commenter clapbacks? And after that, of course, we’ll also debrief on our...

After a tree destroyed Tucker’s roof during a tornado, he felt lucky to be alive—and underprepared for the next disaster his family might face. On this episode, Courtney Martin welcomes back author and former How To! host Amanda Ripley to discuss emergency preparedness and how regular citizens can react smarter during a devastating event. Amanda’s newly updated book is The Unthinkable: Who Survive...

On this episode: helping a little guy with some big changes. A member of our Slate Parenting Facebook Group is getting ready to move with a three-year-old (and another kid on the way) — and between the disruption, the feelings, and the impending newness, this parent wants to know how to help smooth things out for her kid. Luckily, Elizabeth and Zak are seasoned experts. We also check in on what’s...

In this episode, Lizzie O’Leary (the host of Slate’s What Next: TBD) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when your mother backed out of pre-arranged babysitting duties to go on a cruise, whether or not you’re being emotionally unfaithful to your partner, and what to do with a friend who’s great one-on-one but not-so-great in groups. Want more Dear Pr...

On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak debrief on your reactions to last week’s special episode about Gus Walz — and we’ll touch on some elements of this story that our audience thinks we might’ve missed the first time around.  And, of course, we also debrief on our week in parenting with a round of triumphs and fails.  Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new ques...

Drag is one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment, and has been making its way into the mainstream in recent years. On this week’s episode of Well, Now, we are joined by drag queen, actress, and trans activist, Miss Peppermint. She provides insight on self-advocacy, and how to navigate the healthcare system despite society’s tendencies to overlook transgender health. If you liked this epis...

With takeout prices on the rise, Josh wants to sharpen his home-cooking chops so he can whip up delicious dinners for himself and his wife. But this empty nester doesn’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. On this episode of How To!, co-host Courtney Martin consults award-winning chef, food writer, and New York Times Cooking pro Sohla El-Waylly for advice on meal prep, next-level seasoning, and...

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Andy J. Pizza, an illustrator and creator of children’s books who’s also the host of the Creative Pep Talk podcast. In the interview, Andy explains what it’s like to be a working artist with ADHD, and he shares some strategies that have helped him channel his attention, accomplish tasks, and evolve in his career.  After the interview, Ronald and co-host Ju...

In this episode, Nadira Goffe (Slate culture writer) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when your girlfriend refuses to return library books in the name of self-love, whether it’s worth admitting to your partner that you sometimes break your not-so-strict vegan diet for convenience sake, if you need to tell your dad that you caught your mom on a BDS...

On this episode: Elizabeth, Lucy, and guest host Maribel Quezada-Smith circle up to talk about the viral moment surrounding Gus Walz’s appearance at the DNC last week — and what it meant to us, and our community, as parents of neurodivergent kids, and especially of boys.  We’ll also tackle a round of Triumphs & Fails — including a story about a very special language lesson.  Join us on Facebook an...

Health at Every Size is an approach that shifts the focus from dieting and weight loss and instead promotes healthy eating and exercise patterns, regardless of body size and weight. On this week’s episode of Well, Now, Shana Spence, registered dietitian and nutritionist, provides insight on how to foster a healthy relationship with food.  If you liked this episode, check out: How Your Food Can Fig...

This week, Jules and Bryan are joined by dating coach and host of the KCRW podcast How’s Your Sex Life, Myisha Battle. Myisha covers dating friends, understanding your own desire, and making connections in the real world. 

Several months ago, Sarah told her best friend John she’s in love with him—but he doesn’t love her back. Now Sarah can’t get John out of her head, especially because they still talk all the time. How can Sarah move on from John? On this episode of How To!, we bring on Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and the author of Anatomy of Love, to help Sarah train her heart—and her brain—to fall ou...

On this episode: Elizabeth, Lucy and Zak offer tips for a kid who’s really, really good at losing library books and incurring the dreaded fees. How can parents help keep track of library books… and, more broadly, do communal school supplies mean we don’t have to worry about labeling anymore? We also check in on what’s happening in the hosts’ lives right now. And then, if you’re joining us for the...

In this episode, Samantha Bee (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and Choice Words with Samantha Bee) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when your relationship with an older man is compromising your living situation, how to respond when your children’s disagreements are threatening your relationship with a close neighbor, and whether it’s fair to move i...

On this episode: Lucy sits down with actress and author Mandy Gonzalez for a wide-ranging conversation about parenting, building a creative mom group, and enduring cancer treatment with your head held high. Mandy also answers questions from our own budding Broadway stars. Then: Lucy, Zak, and Elizabeth debrief with a round of parenting Triumphs & Fails — including an update on the Rosen family’s m...

Every year, millions of Americans experience a stroke. Though the focus is often on prevention and immediate care, many patients are left with long-term effects for years –or even a lifetime– afterward. On this week’s episode of Well, Now, we dive into new approaches to overcome the cognitive and physical disabilities that often follow a stroke. Dr. Rajiv Ratan, executive director at Burke Neurolo...

Kate’s entire family loves to go on intense, day-long hikes. Kate does not. It’s just one of many differences that makes her feel like a black sheep. But Kate desperately wants to be close to her family—without disregarding her own desires or compromising on parts of her life. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Dr. Lucy Blake, author of No Family Is Perfect: A Guide to Embracing...

On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dillon Michael White help a listener whose kid is struggling hard to enjoy the summer break… and complaining about everything in the process. How can this parent nip the negativity in the bud and prevent a bad attitude from ruining everyone’s break? We also check in on what’s happening in the hosts’ lives right now. And then, if you’re joining us for the Pl...

In this episode, Rod and Karen Morrow (co-hosts of the podcast The Black Guy Who Tips) join Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when your fiance asks you to open up your relationship but becomes obsessed with identifying your hook-up partners, how to support your friend’s widow when you’re still grieving their death, and whether it’s worth taking your ex-h...