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 KitOmicron variant, COVID booster shots — and how to stay safe during the holidays
The holiday season is well underway, and with it, a fresh batch of worries over the latest COVID-19 variant, omicron. For those planning end-of-year…
Life KitHow to talk about money with friends, from planning a hangout to splitting the bill
Even among the closest of friends, conversations about money and privilege can be awkward. In this episode from Life Kit and The Cut, author Otegha Uwagba…
Life KitHow to stop being late
People are late for lots of reasons — being overly optimistic, not accurately gauging how much time it takes to actually get somewhere, even being afraid of…
Life KitCoping with grief during the holidays
As we inch toward the holidays, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith shares how she's processing grief, a subject at the center of much of her work…
Life KitHow to be a kinder, more caring neighbor
What does it mean to be a kinder, more caring neighbor? From Daniel Tiger's world of make-believe to Winnipeg, here's how to plug into your community, practice…
Life KitHow to decide if freezing your eggs is right for you — and where to get started
Freezing your eggs can open doors for your fertility. It's also emotional, time-consuming and expensive. Here are some things to think about before you decide…
Life KitHow to give good advice by less fixing, more listening
When someone comes to you for advice, where do you start? This episode explores how to give good advice to the people you care about. Hint: It's not always…
Life KitHow To Have Meaningful Conversations At Holiday Gatherings
Having good conversations is an art form. To help you out at end-of-year gatherings, NPR's Sam Sanders tapped longtime radio host and podcaster Celeste Headlee…
Life KitHow To Make Tastier, Prettier Pies, According To A Self-taught Pie Artist
Just in time for Thanksgiving, self-taught baker Lauren Ko shares her tips for making tastier — and more beautiful — pies. See pcm.adswizz.com for information…
Life KitThis Thanksgiving, You Can Carry On Family Recipes In Your Own Way
Making a family recipe for the first time can be daunting. Will it turn out just like you remembered? For those cooking for the holidays, podcaster Noor Wazwaz…
Life KitHow To Document Family Stories
Learning stories about our loved ones helps us understand their lives and make sense of our own story. Here are five tips to guide you as you document your…
Life KitRemembering Petra Mayer: Everyone's a 'real writer.' Here's how to write that book
Beloved books editor Petra Mayer believed that all you have to do to be a 'real writer' is to write. We're re-running this episode in honor of Petra who died…
Life KitHow to simplify your Thanksgiving menu
Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family. New York Times food writer Eric Kim shares easy recipes for salt-and-pepper roast turkey breast and a…
Life KitSuleika Jaouad On Working Through Isolation And Life's Interruptions
Writer Suleika Jaouad has made a career out of covering folks living in the 'in between' spaces — starting with herself. Diagnosed with leukemia at 22, she…
Life Kit5 Tips For Transferring Colleges
Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. The process can be complicated and confusing and differ from state to state and institution to institution…
Life KitHow To Build A Sleep Routine For You And Your Children
Getting enough sleep helps you focus, retain information and helps to fortify your immune system. For parents and caretakers struggling to get their little…
Life KitHow To Wake Up Early, Even If You're Not A Morning Person
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 KitWhat To Do When There's A Flash Flood Warning While You're Driving
What should you do when there's a flash flood warning? In this episode, we'll walk you through why we're seeing an increase in flood events, what you should…
Life KitHow To Start A Budget. (And Why You Might Actually Enjoy It)
Whether you're paying down credit cards or saving for daily necessities, the best place to start is with a budget. Some simple tools can help. (This episode…
Life KitFrom Family Planning To Recycling: Your Climate Questions Answered
Ahead of the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow this weekend, we're sharing this episode from our friends at It's Been A Minute with Sam Sanders. In this episode…
Life KitYour guide to a simple skin care routine
Your skin is your largest organ. If you want to care for it without getting sucked into a wormhole of pharmacological-sounding jargon, this guide to building a…
Life KitHow To Learn A New Skill
It can be incredibly gratifying to harness mastery of a skill. But why is learning new things so hard? In this episode, we'll explore that question and give…
Life KitClimate Anxiety Is Real. Here's How To Address It
The climate crisis is here, and if you feel climate anxiety, that's a totally normal response. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or numb when you start thinking…
Life KitInbox Zero Isn't The Goal Anymore. Try Inbox Infinity
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…
Life KitFinding agency with a birth plan
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…
Life KitHow To Choose A Health Insurance Plan
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…
Life KitHow To Rethink What You Spend Your Time — And Life — Doing
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…
Life Kit5 Tips For Getting Started With Strength Training
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…
Life KitHow You Can Honor Your Heritage — And Improve Your Health — Through Food
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…
Life KitGet Your Pantry Organized With These Tips From Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman
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…
Life KitThe Case For A 4-Day Workweek
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…
Life KitHow To Reframe Jealousy In Relationships
Rage, fear, possessiveness, sadness or all of the above — we all experience romantic jealousy differently, but the common denominator is the feeling of that…
Life KitIt's FAFSA Time! Here's How To Apply For College Financial Aid
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…
Life KitHow You Can Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide
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…
Life KitHow Reading Aloud Can Help You Bond With Your Kids
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…
Life KitIs It Laziness, Or A Sign You Need To Slow Down?
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…
Life KitHow To Stop Getting Interrupted At Work
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…
Life KitIn 'We're Not Broken,' Author Eric Garcia Takes On Myths About Autism
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…
Life KitDating over 50: It's OK to be nervous, but don't let that stop you
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…
Life KitThere's More To Getting In Shape Than How You Look
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…
Life KitHow To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy
Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and…
Life KitHow To Tap Into The Good Anxiety In Your Life
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…
Life KitHow to thrive while working in a hybrid setup
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…
Life Kit7 Tips To Help You Get Out Of Debt
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…
Life KitHow To Receive Feedback
Receiving feedback doesn't necessarily have to be terrifying, according to Shanita Williams, a feedback coach, professor and author of Feedback Mentality. In…
Life KitHow To Rent Smarter
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…
Life KitHow To Keep Your Kids Safe From The Delta Variant
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…
Life KitSci-Fi And Fantasy Recommendations For Your Summer Reading
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'Can I Ask That?' Tips For Navigating Questions About Booster Shots And More
People are making up for time lost during the pandemic. Weddings are happening again. People are hosting cookouts, and going on vacation. Some people are…
Life KitHow To Give Good Feedback
Massella Dukuly understands that the simple act of giving somebody feedback can be terrifying. But her job as director of learning and development at LifeLabs…
Life Kit5 Tips For Becoming A Stepparent
Becoming a parent is challenging, and the same is true for those becoming stepparents. In this episode, we talk to experts — some of whom are stepparents…
Life Kit5 Ways To Rethink Money In Your Relationship
Talking about money can feel intimidating, even taboo. But it's also the key to fostering a closer connection with your partner. In this episode, financial…
Life KitDo's And Don'ts For Parents Whose Kids Have Gained Weight In The Pandemic
If you've noticed that your kid put on some weight during the pandemic and you're not sure what — if anything — to do about it, you're not alone. Weight is an…
Life KitLife Kit Presents: CNN's Chasing Life
Hi Life Kit listeners! We want to share an episode from another podcast we think you'll really enjoy. It comes from our friends at CNN's Chasing Life. It's…
Life KitHow To Navigate The World Of Dating Apps
The idea behind dating apps is to make finding a connection easier — but that's not always the case. These expert tips will help you make the experience less…
Life KitLetter Writing 101: Tips From A Hallmark Card Writer
Be it snail mail, a text message, a work email or a birthday card to grandma: good personal writing can foster authentic connection, boost your creativity and…
Life KitA Business-Minded Way To Make Tough Family Decisions
Having elementary-aged kids at home can mean a maze of tough decisions about how to run your family and what's right for your small children. Economist Emily…
Life KitThe Process Of Becoming A Mother Has A Name: Matrescence
Becoming a mother is a huge, complicated life transition that can rock every fiber of a person's being. The process even has its own name: matrescence. That…
Life KitMoney Talks: How To Teach Kids About Finance
Money can feel like a taboo topic in a lot of households, but talking about it regularly can take the awkwardness out of it. Kids see and do everything that we…
Life KitHere's How Relationship Contracts Can Help Couples
Despite its legal-sounding moniker, a relationship contract isn't a binding agreement. Rather, it's a tool for couples to express their needs and work together…