Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You

Free audiobooks and ebooks get a lot easier when a local library card unlocks Libby. The conversation breaks down how Libby works for audiobooks, books, and even some articles, plus what “waitlists” really feel like in practice. It also makes the case that libraries and library checkouts support authors.

This episode first aired on May 28, 2024.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Hotel wifi and airplane wifi sometimes connect, but the login page never loads, so the internet stays blocked. Try typing 192.168.1.1 into a browser to force the guest portal to pop up (it hits about 20 to 30 percent of the time). This tip can bail out anyone stuck on public WiFi with a captive portal that will not show.

This tip is a re-run from of our November 5, 2025 episode.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Wilting houseplants and dry indoor air can make even a long-owned pothos look done. One fix to try is adding a humidifier and seeing how the leaves respond, especially in a dry apartment.

This episode was first shared on January 13, 2025.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Listening to an album front to back changes how the songs hit, especially when playlists and shuffle are the default. Ned Donovan argues for the full album experience, paying attention to sequencing, flow, and the ebb of the tracklist.

This episode first aired on June 27, 2024

Handling thank you moments can get awkward fast, especially when the reflex is to minimize what was done. This quick etiquette and gratitude tip helps keep the exchange clean by swapping “no problem” for “you’re welcome” and letting appreciation land. This episode was first shared on December 5, 2023.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

WHO'S READY FOR SUMMER BREAK?! We are.

No really, this is the 697th episode Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You without a break and boy howdy do we need one. We're going to be dropping old episodes for the next couple of months while we figure out some adjustments to this show!

In the meantime! KEEP SENDING US YOUR TIPS! Please. And if you dig the show? Tell a friend or five. Or, you know, us. We love hearing from the Tippendales :)

Okay, that's all for now. SEE YOU SOON!

~Arielle and Ned

Press passes are a smart way to get into pricey conferences, festivals, and events without buying a full ticket. If a newsletter, podcast, or social platform can legitimately cover the event, ask if press passes are available. The pass also creates a built-in networking job, talk to attendees, take notes, and report back afterward.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Sticky TV remotes get nasty fast, especially when gunk gets into the buttons and crevices. A silicone remote cover keeps the mess on the outside, so the remote is easier to wipe down and less gross to hold. It also makes it possible to add an AirTag-style tracker if the remote is always disappearing between couch cushions.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Google is getting rid of, you know, googling. Ned is here with a replacement recommendation. Kagi is a paid search engine that drops sponsored results and the pay-to-rank game, so the results feel like early-2000s Google again. It also has an Orion browser for Mac and iPhone that pairs with the search, but the core sell is paying money instead of paying with your personal data.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Guest Tipper Zak Rosen shares a simple “segregated dishwasher method”, grouping forks with forks, spoons with spoons, and knives with knives to make unloading ridiculously fast.

Zak Rosen is the host and creator of Weirdly Helpful. He also co-hosts Slate's parenting show, Care and Feeding and he co-created and produces Pregnant Pause and How To Survive the End of the World. A veteran public radio producer and reporter (Michigan Public! Detroit Public Radio! State of the Re:Union!), he facilitates workshops and consults with museums, high schools, universities, and community organizations on various story-based projects. He's a counselor at Radio Campfire, a live listening event series and a coach at the Detroit Writing Room.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.