M's friend says things that really bother M. Racist and homophobic things. He wants to know how to talk to his good friend about the offensive stuff he says, but he doesn't really know how. We find some lessons in the story of Steven Hassan, a former Moonies cult member, and how he developed a way to get people out of cults. We share Steven's lessons with M to see if he can get through to his friend.

The Talk

How can learning the secrets of competitive breath holding help a woman fix an online shopping habit? What can a recovering alcoholic learn from a Domino's Pizza marketing campaign? Charles Duhigg, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of “The Power of Habit,” hosts this podcast that turns obstacles into opportunities. We unearth surprising stories from science and business to offer solutions to people's problems. Will the solutions work? We stick around to find out.

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Problem? Solution. Well, maybe. A new limited-run series from The New York Times.

Introducing: Change Agent

Ashley shops online. A lot. Sends stuff to places all over the city. Hides her packages when they arrive. She wants to go a month without buying anything online. So, we turn to the world's best breath holders for answers.

Self-Control

Beth is an alcoholic in recovery with a four and a half-year blank spot on her resume. She's sober now and ready to go on job interviews, but she's not sure how to talk about her alcoholism to potential employers. Enter Domino's Pizza. The early 2000s version of the company, when the pizza was rated among the worst in the country. We'll hear how their strategy to kickstart their business offers lessons for Beth as she goes on a mock interview.

Telling the Truth

Every time it rains, Marisa stays up all night wondering if anyone will show up to work the next day. She runs a bike messenger company, but no one wants to ride a bike when it's pouring outside. It's bad for business. We tell her the story of a high school girl and the program that turned her from a classic no-show to a student with near-perfect attendance. But will a high school leadership program work for adults? Marisa is determined to find out.

The Talk

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