Slate Advice

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.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus to help support our work.

On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp is joined by Jamie Grayson, who you may know as ‘the baby gear guy.’ As we’re in the midst of summer road trip season, it’s time to revisit car seat safety. Luckily, Jamie is here to cut through the confusion while actually making safety fun. He explains how to pick the right seat for you, when to move from a carseat to a booster to the front seat, and even when it’s time to trade in your old seat. 

Recommendations: 

Elizabeth: LOL 101: A Kid's Guide to Writing Jokes

Zak: CYB (Choose Your Battles) 

Jamilah: Dave

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. 

Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.

In this episode, Meredith Goldstein (advice columnist and features writer for The Boston Globe) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer readers’ dilemmas about commitment, wedding locations, and whether you’re allowed to make demands about your partner’s facial hair. 

If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. 

Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.

On this episode: Elizabeth, Zak and Jamilah help a listener who’s planning to take the whole family abroad for a year — but their 8-year-old won’t stop raining on the parade.

They also revisit some triumphs and fails from the archives — and then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, we debate whether everyone is secretly co-sleeping with babies, and not sharing stories in fear of getting yelled at.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. 

Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by comedian Hari Kondabolu. They talk about Hari’s new standup special, Vacation Baby. They also answer a listener question about vacation. The letter writer’s mother requested a trip with her and her kids. No spouses or children. Is it a selfish ask? 

Recommendations: 

Hari: Vacation Baby and I’m a Virgo

Elizabeth: Em & Friends: A Box of Friendship and this printable for kids 

Jamilah: Dave 

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. 

Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.

In this episode, Candice Lim (co-host of Slate’s ICYMI) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about whether to reject invitations from friends with filthy homes, how to cope when everyone at the office thinks you're a cheater, and what to do when you suspect your ambitious partner is about to burn out…and you’re kind of happy about it.

If you want more Dear Prudence, join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. 

Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix and Emily Charash.

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by comedian Hari Kondabolu. They share their parenting triumphs and fails, including a tooth shot out by a Nerf gun, a toddler with very cool music taste, and a pottery painting catastrophe. They also advise a listener who has her heart set on a big family. Her husband wants two kids, max. Then, if you’re sticking around for Slate Plus, they dish on the the kids books that look a little… different after revisiting as an adult. 

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. 

Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie.

The last few years have been overwhelming for Tracy. Her career was demanding and she experienced multiple deaths in her family. Recently, she changed jobs and is in a better place with her mental health, but something is still missing from her life. She’s just not sure what. On this episode of How To!, co-host Carvell Wallace brings on Samantha Clarke, happiness consultant, speaker, and author of Love it Or Leave It: How To Be Happy At Work. Samantha will help Tracy (and all of us) design a plan to find fulfillment. 

If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Style Your Home Like a Pro.”

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.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on How To!. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus to help support our work.

On this episode: Jamilah Lemieux, Zak Rosen, and Elizabeth Newcamp are joined by award-winning author and journalist, Desiree Cooper. At 62, Desiree started her second round of parenting when she took in her three grandkids. She wrote about her experience for the New York Times in a piece called What if I Hadn’t Been There to Catch Them?. 

Recommendations: 

Elizabeth: Sketch Pals Doodle Board from Boogie Board 

Des: CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora by Kahran Bethencourt and Regis Bethencourt. 

Zak: Bring a comfy chair to the park! 

Jamilah: Ginny & Georgia on Netflix. 

Bonus: Nothing Special by Desiree Cooper

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Mom and Dad are Fighting. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to help support our work.

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. 

Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson, Maura Currie, and Tori Dominguez.

In this episode, Alisha Wainwright (actor and host of the new podcast series, When Science Finds A Way) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer your letters from readers about friends who don’t call you when they’re in your town, the pros and cons of dating divorced men, and what to do when you’ve pressured your friend to break up with someone who… ends up being a great husband to someone else.

If you want more Dear Prudence, you should join Slate Plus, Slate’s membership program. Jenée answers an extra question every week, just for members. Go to Slate.com/prudieplus to sign up. It’s just $15 for your first three months. 

Podcast production by Se’era Spragley Ricks and Daisy Rosario, with help from Brandon Nix.