Shows / Life Kit
Life Kit
Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together.
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Episodes
Life KitThis acronym will help you give the perfect toast
It's the wild card of every big event — the toast. Done well, it can be a memorable highlight. Done badly, it can be a total cringefest. Here's a helpful way…
Life KitHow to help someone at risk of suicide
If you know someone struggling with despair, depression or thoughts of suicide, you may be wondering how to help. Psychologists and researchers explain how to…
Life KitHow to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics
This guide — which comes with a fun brochure you can download and print at home — offers advice on how to pick a film, get outside your comfort zone and deepen…
Life KitHow to cut down your alcohol intake
Want to skip the champagne and cocktails this holiday season? Here's how to take a break from drinking alcohol — including in social settings — and start…
Life KitCan therapy save their friendship?
Would you ever consider going to therapy with a friend? In this episode from NPR Invisibilia, two best friends — who are so close they call themselves brothers…
Life KitDear LK: We bought a dog instead of rescuing one. It cost me a friend
An ideological difference over adopting versus shopping for a pet causes a rift between friends. Tania Israel, a professor of psychology, shares advice about…
Life KitHow to support people with long COVID
One in five Americans who have had COVID have experienced symptoms lasting three months or more. How can patients navigate this chronic illness? And how can…
Life KitBuild a healthy relationship with your in-laws
Creating a relationship with your partner's family can be hard work. Experts share how to navigate 5 tricky situations, including dealing with in-laws who…
Life KitHow to start new traditions that feel right to you
Traditions can foster a sense of unity with the people we love and help pass down cultural values. But what happens when these events no longer make sense in…
Life KitPiece together your family tree
If you're interested in learning more about your family history, genealogist Mica Anders says to get creative. Look through newspaper archives, census data…
Life KitStressed about talking about finances with a new partner? This framework can help
It can be awkward to discuss money when you're in a new relationship. Financial therapist Amanda Clayman suggests following what she calls the "five components…
Life KitDear LK: My folks guilt-trip me into spending the holidays with them
Between long-held traditions, unfair expectations and clashing personalities, the holidays can be a perfect storm for conflict. Therapist John Kim helps…
Life KitHow to apply the rules of improv to everyday life
Improv comedy is about more than making people laugh. It can help performers be more creative and self-assured — and combat anxiety, both on and off stage. See…
Life KitTransform the way you deal with dread
Worried about deadlines, errands or your holiday to-do list? Reframe your relationship with dread with these simple exercises, from drawing the things that…
Life KitHow much money do you need to become a parent? An episode from This Is Uncomfortable
A couple clashes about how much money they need to save before having children. This episode is from our friends This Is Uncomfortable's podcast series on…
Life KitHow to set boundaries with family
Maintaining healthy boundaries is a way of taking care of your closest relationships, but setting those boundaries can be hard. The process starts with asking…
Life KitMake holiday travel less stressful
There will probably be long lines, delays and overbooked flights, says aviation journalist Benét Wilson. So take steps to prepare for these situations and make…
Life KitGet better at being grateful
Being thankful doesn't have to happen just once a year. Here are two meaningful ways to show gratitude all year long, a practice that can improve your mental…
Life KitDear LK: My boyfriend is too close with his former coworker
My partner is constantly texting his former coworker and even spent the night at her house. He says they're just friends, but I don't like it. How can I trust…
Life KitMichelle Obama's philosophy on relationships
In her new memoir, 'The Light We Carry,' the former first lady shares her philosophy on the relationships we have with our partner, our family and ourselves…
Life KitHow to deepen your connection with your ancestors
Your ancestors don't have to feel like a distant memory. Spiritual practitioners share cross-cultural guidance on how to set up a ritual and an altar to honor…
Life KitHow to rethink the way you spend your time — and life
Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just 4,000 weeks to live. While that may come as a brutal dose of reality, it's also an opportunity to think about how…
Life KitLife Kit answers your pressing questions about inflation
The prices of goods and services have gone up. How much of that is due to Ukraine or the pandemic? What can our elected officials do to lower prices? And how…
Life KitCredit card points are for everyone. Here's how to get into them
Credit card rewards programs can offer big perks like airline miles and hotel upgrades. Finance journalist Katherine Fan explains how to choose the right card…
Life KitDear LK: My son is upset his brother didn't make him best man. Should I intervene?
A mother debates whether she should talk to the groom about the issue. Catherine Newman, an etiquette columnist for Real Simple magazine, gives her advice. See…
Life KitMexican cooking 101
Want to start making authentic Mexican cuisine at home? Here's what you'll need in your pantry and your fridge to get started, according to two Mexican chefs…
Life KitHow to stay safe during a night out
Safety experts explain how to prevent harm in nightlife settings like bars and clubs. That includes how to project an air of confidence with your body language…
Life KitHow to throw a clever theme party
Party planning experts say to send out invites at least 6 weeks in advance. That can give guests ample time to mark their social calendars — and prepare for…
Life KitHow to wake up early, even if you're a night owl
Waking up at dawn with the bakers and the baristas may not be for everyone — especially night owls. Whether you have to wake up early or you'd like to become…
Life KitStudent loan forgiveness Q&A
Life Kit teams up with NPR Education to answer some common questions about student loan relief, including: What's the application process like? What loans…
Life KitDear LK: I cared for our dad. Now my greedy siblings want the inheritance
She cared for her stepdad through illness and death. Now she's disheartened that her siblings only seem to care about the inheritance. Financial therapist…
Life KitBraving the 'quarterlife' crisis
Stuck between two conflicting desires and can't seem to move forward? Psychotherapist Satya Doyle Byock shares an exercise called "My Two Conflicting Selves"…
Life KitThe 5-minute daily playtime ritual that can get your kids to listen better
Called "special time," the strategy is widely recommended by children's health professionals to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. Here's a guide…
- Life Kit
How to use music to express your authentic self
For R&B darling Omar Apollo, music has been a powerful way to showcase his Mexican American culture and queer identity. In an episode with NPR's Alt.Latino, he…
Life KitWhy rest is an act of resistance
Known to her fans as the 'nap bishop,' Tricia Hersey, author of the new book 'Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,' explains why relaxation and leisure are a human…
Life KitTips for finding relief from IBS
More than 25 million Americans have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While IBS symptoms present in the gut, it turns out that stress and anxiety can actually…
Life KitHow to recreate a beloved family recipe
Step 1? Throw your expectations out the window, says NPR's Noor Wazwaz. Your dish won't be the same as the one you grew up eating — and that's OK. Here's how…
Life KitDear LK: Should I give my boyfriend an ultimatum?
Pop musician and reality dating series host Betty Who gives advice to a letter writer who asks if she should give her boyfriend an ultimatum because she's…
Life KitProtect yourself from election disinformation
It's almost time to vote. NPR's Miles Parks explains what research can tell us about how to combat fake political news — and why it's so tricky to separate…
Life KitHow to start professional networking (and feel good about it)
Networking expert Robbie Samuels explains why adapting the attitude of a croissant is more likely to create meaningful job connections — and shares ways to…
Life KitThe markets are down. Here's how to handle your investments
The markets have fallen lately. Your knee-jerk reaction might be to sell. Here's why that's not a good idea. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our…
Life KitDear LK: My dad's wife died and he won't leave the house
Psychotherapist David Defoe offers advice to a letter writer who is concerned about how to help their grieving father. See pcm.adswizz.com for information…
Life KitWhat to do when driving during flood conditions
Hurricane Ian is rapidly intensifying, and with that there are predicted storm surges of up to 18 feet. We'll walk you through how you can to stay safe during…
Life KitWhen something feels personal, here's how to cope
Being offended by something that someone did or said can be upsetting — but it doesn't have to eat away at us. Mental health experts share how to slow down and…
Life KitWhen it comes to parenting, lead with connection
It all starts with the assumption that your kids have good intentions and want to do the right thing, says Becky Kennedy, a psychologist and host of the Good…
Life KitDear LK: My parents ran a background check on my boyfriend
A daughter tries to rebuild trust with her parents after they secretly ran a background check on her boyfriend. Therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab shares…
Life KitHow much water does your body really need?
Do you really need to drink eight glasses of water a day? Can drinking water help you lose weight? Does coffee dehydrate you? Experts explain the science of…
Life KitStuck doing all the household chores? This practical guide can help
In four steps, experts Eve Rodsky and Jacqueline Misla explain how to fairly split domestic work with a partner or roommate. Don't forget to print out the…
Life KitHow to start a new job
Life Kit host Marielle Segarra asks friends and family for advice on how to overcome her new-job jitters, meet new colleagues at NPR — and stay confident. See…
Life KitDear LK: Do I have to read the book my husband wrote?
What's more, the letter writer hates her husband's writing style. Should she bite the bullet and read his novel? Or can she pass? Family therapist Kiaundra…
Life KitHow to counteract common thinking traps
Humans have a tendency to make snap judgments and assumptions due to our cognitive biases, says Woo-kyoung Ahn in her book 'Thinking 101.' So how do we fight…
Life KitA friendship expert shares the science of making and keeping friends
Psychologist Marisa Franco, author of a new book on the science of making and keeping friends, shares how to deepen the bonds in our platonic relationships…
Life KitThe omicron boosters are here. What you should know about them
They target the original coronavirus strain and the omicron subvariants causing most of the current infections. And they're available at pharmacies, clinics…
Life KitDear LK: I uninvited my sister-in-law from our wedding
The bride said she was "pissed" because her future sister-in-law was bringing two unauthorized guests. Rachel Wilkerson Miller, editor-in-chief of Self…
Life KitHow to gamify your exercise routine
Exercising doesn't have to feel like a chore if you approach it like a video game, say fitness gamification researchers Dr. Mitesh Patel and Elizabeth Lyons…
Life Kit3 tips for talking to your Latinx parents about mental health
Shame and stigma play a huge role in discouraging folks in the Latinx community from seeking mental health care — and talking about it with their families…
Life KitSimplify dinner (and cleanup) with these clever one-pan meals
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to food writer Melissa Clark about her new book, "Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals" — and gets tips on how to cook…
Life KitDear LK: My co-worker posted a terrible review about me!
A secretary asks if she should tattle-tale on a colleague who wrote an anonymous negative review about her. Career coach and HR professional Shanita Williams…
Life KitLearning a new skill can be easy — if you have the right mindset
Mastering a new hobby, like bowling or baking, can be a frustrating process. But experts say it doesn't have to be that way. If you set yourself up for success…
Life KitThe sex ed most queer students never got
School health classes in the U.S. rarely include instruction about sex for LGBTQ students. Here's what it could look like if they did. (This episode originally…