How To! with Charles Duhigg

Niky just isn't jibing with Spanish. She's tried courses, podcasts, apps, and even private tutors in order to make a connection with Spanish speakers around Toronto, at her job, and while traveling. But years into her language-learning journey, she's not even close to being fluent. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace introduces Niky to Luca Lampariello. A speaker of 14 languages, Luca is a teacher and the founder of the Smart Language Learning Academy. He offers up tons of insight into why we learn the way we do, making what we learn actually stick, and how to have fun along the way.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Remember Everything

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001. We might invite you on the show! Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Derek John, Joel Meyer, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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Katie was ready to graduate from college when the pandemic interrupted everything. Unceremoniously cut-off from her group of friends, she's now in a new chapter of her life but struggling more than ever to find her people. Katie's friendships at work feel surface-level and she's anxious about opening up too much for fear of rejection. On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings in friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson. Don't worry about finding your next BFF, Jackson says. Instead if we focus on making deeper, more lasting human connections with those around us, genuine friendships will naturally occur.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Make Friends as an Adult

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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It's a family joke that Dave and his 13 year-old son are the same person. So when his son found out he is autistic, Dave realized that he, too, is on the autism spectrum. The label is a comfort—a reassurance that his personality "quirks" have an explanation. But, at the same time, it's led to all of these questions like should he tell people? What does this change, if anything? And how does he learn to navigate a neurotypical world? On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace brings in journalist and podcast host, Lauren Ober. Lauren documented her own autism journey on The Loudest Girl In the World. She has lots of advice for living life as a newly diagnosed neurodivergent person.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Love Your Face

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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

Susan never really got over saying goodbye to her eldest daughter, who left for college four years ago. She knew it would be sad, but she didn't expect to be nauseous. Now her youngest is applying to college, and she's already dreading drop-off next fall which makes her feel like a "pathetic loser." What can Susan do to prep herself for more heartbreak and a completely empty nest? On this episode of How To!, Amanda Ripley brings on Kelly Corrigan, best-selling author and host of the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders. She recently dropped her youngest daughter off at college, which she wrote about in an essay for the New York Times called "How to Let Go of Your Irreplaceable, Unstoppable Daughter." She shares some hard-earned wisdom about how to handle major life transitions with grace.

If you liked this episode, check out: "How To Get Your Kid to Finally Grow Up"

Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.

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Have you ever wanted to move to a new country? Picking up and starting over internationally can be rewarding, but also nerve-wracking. Our listener Sara has lived overseas for more than a decade, but she recently moved to Switzerland and is struggling to fit in. On this episode of How To!, founding host Charles Duhigg brings in Dr. Nassim Assefi who, amongst all of her interesting professional accomplishments, is a self-identified "global nomad." She's lived in over 10 countries and draws on her extensive personal experience to help Sara—and anyone thinking about moving abroad—make a smooth transition.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Uproot Your Life

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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

As the massive Caldor fire blazed towards South Lake Tahoe in 2021, Joyce knew she had to get out. "The sky was red. It was like hell on earth," she remembers. Her family got to safety and her house was miraculously spared. But, even now, it can be jarring to remember the fire. Climate-related extreme weather events are on the rise and another disaster is seemingly right around the corner. Especially with freakish flash floods, a scorching heatwave and wildfire smoke blanketing much of the country. On this episode of How To!, guest-host Cheyna Roth brings on Dr. Britt Wray, author of Generation Dread: Finding Purpose In an Age of Climate Crisis. Dr. Wray explains why we need to treat climate anxiety differently and how we can create resilience both internally and within our communities as we face climate change, together.

Resources Mentioned:

Climate Psychology Alliance

Climate Psychiatry Alliance

Good Grief Network

Climate Awakening

Gen Dread Substack

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Save the Planet (And Still Use a Plastic Straw)

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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When Gwendolyn found out her friend was diagnosed with cancer, she knew she wanted to help. She just didn't know how. Her friend lives hundreds of miles away. How can she help in a way that's more meaningful than sending a meal and a few encouraging texts? On this episode of How To!, guest-host Courtney Martin brings on Mia Birdsong, author of the book How We Show Up. Mia went through her own cancer journey and figured out structures of support that not only helped her but made supporting easier for her friends.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Solve Your Own Medical Mystery

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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

Every year J. and her parents fly thousands of miles, meeting in the middle for their family vacation. A vacation that often leads to shouting and tears. J. and her father have a rocky relationship. Little disagreements often lead to her dad yelling and dredging up the past. It would be easy, in theory, to cut off the relationship before it got even more toxic. But J. wants to make it work. The question is, how? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings on Nibarna Kannathasan, a psychotherapist who has helped people navigate tricky intergenerational conflict, especially when factoring migration and differing cultural expectations. She helps J. parse what she really wants from her father and figure out a way to start down that road while protecting herself along the way.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Walk Away From an Impossible Parent.

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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Caregivers provide an estimated 600 billion dollars in free labor each year, according to the AARP. This week's listener, Dani is one such caregiver. She and her partner found themselves navigating the confusing world of Medicare and Medicaid, estate planning, powers of attorney, etc. All in the hope of helping their loved ones stay healthy and comfortable until they need an end-of-life plan. This experience has her worried—who is going to look after her when the time comes? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace brings on Amy Goyer, AARP's family and caregiving expert and has quite a bit of personal experience. She cuts through the confusion on how to caregive, how to care for caregivers, and how to prepare to be cared for yourself. Because we're all going to need it, sooner or later.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fight With Your Parents, which is about parenting your parents.

Resources mentioned:

Caregiving Guides

Livable Communities

Local Resource Connections

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Five Wishes Document

Aging Life Care Association

Do you have a question we can help you solve? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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

When Gwen applied for unemployment during the early days of the pandemic, she never thought she'd still be waiting for her benefits years later. Despite hours on the phone, countless emails and even a court appearance, Gwen is haunted by her inability to get the money she was approved for. On this episode of How To!, co-host Amanda Ripley brings in Marina Nitze, author of Hack Your Bureaucracy. Not only does Marina help Gwen find shortcuts in her state's unemployment system, but she has useful advice for untangling any bureaucratic nightmare.

If you liked this episode, check out: How To Fight Outrageous Medical Bills.

Do you have a problem that's keeping you up at night? Send us a note at [email protected] 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.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rosemary Belson, Kevin Bendis, and Jabari Butler.

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