How To! with Charles Duhigg

Latest Episodes:

How To Lead Your Local Nonprofit Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Heather recently joined the board of her local library, a beloved institution from her childhood. While continuing to balance her day job, she is excited to be an active and engaged member of this community-led organization. But she's also grappling with time management and effective communication with her fellow board members. How can she express her ideas and opinions without overstepping boundaries? In this episode of How To!, host Courtney Martin welcomes nonprofit consultant Malini Sridharan who offers expert advice on navigating the challenges of community leadership and the intricacies of board dynamics.

If you liked this episode check out: How To Build Trust With Co-Workers

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson and Kevin Bendis.

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How To Face Your Fear of Dying (Encore) Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Katie is terrified of dying. As the youngest in a big family, she can't stop thinking about the fact that all her loved ones may die before she does. Katie is a comedy writer who knows how to get laughs, but her obsession with death is real, and getting in the way of living. In this episode of How To!, we bring on Rachel Menzies, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Sydney and author of Tales from the Valley of Death, to share what she's learned about death anxiety. Exposure therapy is often the most effective way to overcome your fears, but how do you expose yourself to death? Rachel has some unusual ideas for Katie—and all of us—to take control of these intrusive thoughts, starting with lying in a body bag. Focusing deliberately on death, Rachel says, can actually help us appreciate life.

If you liked this episode, check out "How To Not Be Scared."

Are you afraid of something? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.

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How To Cope With Forever Parenting Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

As the parent of five kids, Sadie is no stranger to feeling overwhelmed. Most of her kids have left the nest, but one adult daughter has severe autism and can't live or work on her own. Facing the end of school-based support services, Sadie has to figure out what comes next for her daughter—and for herself. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Sarah Wayland, the founder of Guiding Exceptional Parents, to talk about parenting two autistic young adults and how to ask for help.

Links mentioned:

If you liked this episode check out: How To Hack Any Bureaucracy, How To Date With a Disability, or How To Fill an Empty Nest.

How To!'s executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrea.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Be Less Judgy Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

Erica judges other people by default. Whether they are acquaintances, co-workers, or new arrivals in a club, her first impression is often negative. "I would like to learn how to quash that part of myself," she says, because those judgments might be ruling out potential friendships. On this episode of How To!, Courtney Martin brings on Dr. Terri Apter, psychologist and author of Passing Judgment: The Power of Praise & Blame in Everyday Life. Terri explains that Erica's initial reactions are more useful than she thinks—and can help her better understand herself.

If you liked this episode check out: How To Say What You're Thinking

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrea.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quick Fix: Pick the Perfect Plant Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

Quick Fix is How To!'s new monthly exclusive for Slate Plus members where we dive deeper into our latest episode. (Not a member? Here's how to join!) Today: Carvell Wallace continues his conversation with Growing Joy author and podcaster Maria Failla. They do a not-so-rapid-fire round of "plant superlatives" to help you select the plant that's right for you.

Take the plant personality quiz that Maria mentioned in the show.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Save the Planet, Starting With Your Yard and How To Restore Nature in the Heart of a City.

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. This episode was produced by Sara McCrea and Rosemary Belson.

This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock this episode—you'll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Visit slate.com/howtoplus to get access wherever you listen.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Stop Killing Your Plants Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

At a new job, Jenna was put in charge of some beautiful plants that are imbued with deep significance to their co-workers. But despite Jenna's best efforts, the plants aren't doing so hot. Can the browning leaves, flopping stems, and dry soil be nursed back to health before it's too late? On this episode, Carvell Wallace brings on Maria Failla, host of the Growing Joy podcast and author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants). Maria addresses Jenna and other listeners' questions on the How To! hotline, breaking down plant care basics and offering up practical tips to make growing houseplants fun!

If you liked this episode check out: How To Save the Planet, Starting With Your Yard and How To Restore Nature in the Heart of a City.

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. This episode was produced by Sara McCrea and Rosemary Belson.

Correction, Oct. 9, 2024: This episode originally called Duotone Audio Group a podcast studio. Duotone is a music and sound production company.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Care for an Aging Parent Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

The How To! hosts love helping listeners find the answers they need. But sometimes a host needs help, too. On this episode, Courtney Martin and her brother, Chris, open up about how their father's dementia has led them to upend their own lives in order to become his caregivers. To help Courtney and Chris talk through what comes next, Carvell Wallace welcomes Dr. Allison Applebaum, whose book Stand by Me chronicles her own caregiving journey and her work at Memorial Sloan Kettering's Caregivers Clinic.

If you liked this episode check out: How To Help a Loved One With Dementia and How To Make Aging Easier for Everyone

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrae.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Grow Your Podcast Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Ari always dreamed of starting his own podcast. When he started interviewing fellow academics for the Taylor Swift class he's teaching, Ari suddenly had the perfect opportunity to turn those conversations into something called ¿What Are Taylor Swift Studies Anyways? Now he just needs to find an audience. On this meta episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings on Lauren Passell, founder of Tink Media and author of Podcast the Newsletter. Lauren shares creative ways to find new listeners and connect with your audience; tips that apply to all kinds of passion projects.

Resources Mentioned:

If you liked this episode check out: How To Succeed at Social Media

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrae.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How To Rethink Screen Time Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

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 Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education and ASCD. He's also the author of Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World. He shares his refreshingly practical approach to tech, screen time, and social media.

Resources Mentioned:

Guide to create healthy conditions in schools

If you liked this episode check out: How To Face the A.I. Revolution and How To Help Teachers Thrive

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson and Sara McCrae.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quick Fix: Building Trust in an Emergency Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Quick Fix is How To!'s new monthly exclusive for Slate Plus members where we dive deeper into our latest episode. (Not a member? Here's how to join!) Today: Courtney Martin continues her conversation with journalist (and former How To! host) Amanda Ripley about her newly revised book, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why. They discuss a key component to emergency response: trust. When disasters strike communities with low trust in government agencies and officials, it's up to leaders to respond in ways that build trust, as well as serve and protect. Amanda reveals how some officials got it right.

If you missed the main episode, listen here: How To Survive a Disaster

If you liked this episode check out: How To Stop a Fight Before It Starts, How To Keep Cool in a Crisis, and How To Cope With Climate Anxiety.

How To's executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrae.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.