Episodes

  • Free yourself from 'information overload'
    Jul 30 2026
    Do you check your phone to set a reminder, then get sidetracked by every targeted social media ad? Or plan to spend your day in focus mode only to be derailed by your TV? We encounter dozens of screens everyday, each of them with an abundance of information calling for our attention. But there is a way to set better boundaries with your tech. This episode, Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour and author of Body Electric, explains how to free yourself from "information overload."

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    24 mins
  • How to have better conversations
    Jul 28 2026
    Called 'supercommunicators,' these people have the exceptional ability of creating authentic connections with others — just by listening and talking. This episode originally ran on Februrary 20, 2024

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    20 mins
  • Savings strategies that actually work
    Jul 27 2026
    You know you want to save for that vacation, those new tires and more generally, the future. But what savings approach actually works? Certified financial planner Tania P. Brown recommends trying savings buckets. By creating separate categories — or buckets — for your savings, you can prioritize your goals, plan ahead and set rules for when you'll tap into each fund. In this episode, Brown shares tips on building sinking funds and emergency funds, as well as other types of savings accounts, so you can stay motivated and on track with your financial goals.

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    22 mins
  • What to do when you're too upset to think straight
    Jul 23 2026
    Stressed, anxious, or angry? Distress tolerance tools — from dunking your head in a bowl of ice water to imagining yourself in a calm setting — can help. In this episode, clinical psychologist Shireen Rizvi shares dialectical behavior therapy skills from the recent book she co-authored, Real Skills for Real Life. These physical and mental exercises can help you care for yourself, so you can think more clearly, problem solve and make it through life's painful and frustrating moments.

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    23 mins
  • A decision coach's approach to making hard decisions
    Jul 21 2026
    In this episode, decision coach Nell Wulfhart shares exercises to make speedier decisions, when to ask others for guidance and how to deal with any regret. This episode originally published June 2, 2025.

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    22 mins
  • Before you fibermaxx, know these tips
    Jul 20 2026
    Fiber is a dietary superhero. It lowers cholesterol, helps regulate blood sugar levels and keeps your hunger in check. But chances are, you're not getting enough of it. NPR health correspondent (and fiber fanatic) Maria Godoy shares easy ways to up your fiber intake. Plus, the science of what fiber does in your body and how having more in your diet could help you. This episode was originally published Sept. 19, 2023.

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    15 mins
  • When your best friend tells you to stop texting her
    Jul 16 2026
    Advice inbound. In this edition of Dear Life Kit, we're pulling wisdom from the Life Kit archives to help you:

    -Support a friend who is imposing distance
    -Escape your kids' exhausting schedule
    -Handle a tricky conversation about money with your family
    -Call out some bad energy in your friend's marriage

    Have a question for the Life Kit team? Write us or send a recording to lifekit@npr.org. Questions about money, health, home and family life, staying organized, sticky social situations — we want them all. We may answer your question in a future episode.

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    17 mins
  • Summer fun that doesn't break the budget
    Jul 14 2026
    Wondering how to have fun this summer without spending a fortune? All you need is a little creativity. Go on a "penny date." Throw a movie marathon party. Swap houses with a friend. With a little imagination, you can bring delight and joy — at a low cost — to your sunny days ahead. This episode originally aired Aug. 1, 2023.

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    12 mins