Whether you’re dealing with a bad boss or disgruntled employees (or a great boss and enthusiastic employees) you’ve got an opinion on the employer/employee dynamic. This week we heard from the Lifehacker audience about their worst bosses. Then Lifehacker’s managing editor Virginia Smith talks to Ask a Manager’s Alison Green about what your manager wants you to know. Finally, Alice and Melissa talk about the out-of-office auto-reply: does anyone really need it?

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It’s that time of year again! Time for our annual roundup of our very favorite Upgrade moments of 2019. And we’ve had so many—from touring a fecal transplant lab to improving our memorization muscles, this year has been chock-full of life-enhancing upgrades. Prepare for 2020 by hearing this collection of advice on how to be a better conversationalist, how to make or break a habit, how to negotiate like a pro, and more! 

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As we prepare to head into 2020, we thought we’d replay our annual Best of The Upgrade from last year for you. We’ll be bringing you our Best of The Upgrade 2019 next week!

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Ever dreamed of making a podcast of your own? Of being the next Teri Gross or Joe Rogan? This week we’re learning how with the help of Lifehacker’s own video producer Abu Zafar. Abu recently produced a 3-part video series for Lifehacker called How to Start a Podcast and he joins us this week to talk about some of the podcasting basics he’s learned from experts like Josh Clarke (Stuff You Should Know), Misha Euceph (Tell Them I Am), and Roman Mars (99% Invisible). When Abu isn’t busy crafting snappy how-to videos for Lifehacker he moonlights as a host and producer of his very own podcast network, Lore Party. 

One week left to fill out our super-short listener feedback survey! Please let us know how we can upgrade The Upgrade.

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!

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Josh Gondelman, a.k.a. “The Nicest Guy in Comedy,” joins us this week to talk about what being nice really is, when it’s a quality that is NOT helpful, and the difference between “nice-ness” and “goodness”. Josh is Peabody- and Emmy-winning comedy writer who has worked on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and is currently the senior staff writer and producer for the Showtime series Desus & Mero. He also has a stand up album out called “Dancing on a Weeknight” and new book called, “Nice Try: Stories of Best Intentions and Mixed Results”.

ATTENTION LISTENERS: Please take a moment to fill out our short survey! We want to hear from YOU about what you like about the show, what you don't like about it, and how we can improve. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete. 

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!

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We're tackling tough friendship scenarios this week with psychologist Miriam Kirmayer, who explains why it's so hard to navigate the norms of friendship and how to peacefully end those connections that are no longer working. Afterward, Dr. Kirmayer answers Upgrade listener- and Lifehacker reader-submitted friendship questions.

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How can we interpret body language and physical cues to better understand what others are really thinking? In this week's episode, Alice and Melissa are joined by Swedish mentalist Henrik Fexeus, who explains what mind-reading really is, and how we can use it to our advantage. Later, Alice and Melissa try out a mind-reading trick on a couple of Lifehacker team members.

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How do we even begin to find true love in a messy world of online dating, ghosting, and benching? Matchmaker Dr. Frankie Bashan tells us why people are using real-live intermediaries like herself to get dates. Etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning takes on the intricacies of Tinder etiquette. And Lifehacker’s food editor Claire Lower mixes up a very sexy three-ingredient cocktail.

If you love this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts because our love language is “service” and we need you to do things for us before we truly feel the depth of your ardor.

Like the show? Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!

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Ramit Sethi, author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” and professional financial smart person, joins us to talk about how to reframe your approach to spending, the best ways to invest your savings, and how normal people can find a way to take a six-week honeymoon.

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Jumping to an entirely new line of work, a new industry, a new identity, is extremely daunting. That’s why this week we’re diving right into the how-tos of making the big career switch. First we chat with consultant, speaker, and podcaster Joseph Liu, who has helped numerous people make big mid-career transitions over the years. Then we hear a personal career change story from Julieta Benavides, who leapt from her high-paying career in restaurant management into the world of therapeutic massage.

Like the show? Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!

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