Life Kit from NPR

June 21, 20199:00 AM ET

Money Health Parenting Travel Get Updates

Welcome to Life Kit, NPR's family of audio guides for navigating your life — everything from your finances to sleep to exercise to raising your kids.

Each guide covers the basics to more complex questions over the span of a few episodes, to help you no matter where you're starting from. Listen to an individual guide, subscribe to a topic you're interested in to get each new guide on that subject, or subscribe to Life Kit: All Guides for all episodes, all in one place.

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Money

How To Pay For College

College is expensive, but there are ways to make it more affordable. We talk to experts to find out how to save before you even apply for school, how to survive and thrive in college when you're paying your own way, and how to navigate an affordable path to wipe out student loan debt after you graduate.

How To Buy A House

It's likely to be the biggest purchase of your life, and there are so many ways it all can go sideways. Our experts will help you find a home you'll love.

Get Out Of Debt

Being in debt is like being buried underground; digging out is like emerging into the sunlight. This guide gives you the tools to get there, with proven approaches to paying off debt and tips to stay motivated, plus the best strategies for dealing with medical debt.

Find Money You Didn't Know You Had

Don't let your money disappear into a whirlpool of bank fees, takeout orders, and lattes! We'll learn how to free up more money so you can spend it on — and save it for — the things you value most.

Secrets Of Saving And Investing

Saving money and investing like a pro is a lot easier than most people realize. In this podcast, we learn the secrets of success from some of the world's best investors, behavioral economists and other experts.

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Health

Be A Powerful Patient

Going to the doctor can make you feel frustrated and vulnerable. Our hosts — two doctors — share insider tips from the medical world to help you take control of your health care.

Rethinking Weight Loss

For better or worse, people think about their weight. We explain the science of weight and weight loss to help put you on a road to body acceptance — and better health.

Sleep Better With Help From Science

Wouldn't it be nice if falling asleep was as simple as getting into your PJs, turning off the light and closing your eyes? Sleeping is more complicated than that. This guide explains the science behind sleep and gives you the tools and techniques that will help you drift off into dreamland.

Eat Your Way To A Healthier Life

We'll help you cut through all the nutrition noise and figure out how to eat healthy — without having to think about it too much.

Exercise: Learn To Love (Or At Least Like) It

You know you need to do it, but there are always a million excuses not to. In this podcast, we give you the science behind getting up and moving, making exercise a habit that sticks and getting the most from your workout.

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Parenting

Parenting: Screen Time And Your Family

Need a reset on your family's relationship with screens? We talk to doctors and experts and get their science-backed advice on how to use screens to connect instead of control — plus some sobering words on our own use of screens.

Parenting: Raising Awesome Kids

What do math, kindness, and self-regulation have in common? They're ingredients to raising an awesome kid. In partnership with Sesame Workshop, Life Kit talks to parenting experts for tips and tricks to empower kids to be compassionate, embrace math without fear and cultivate self-control.

Parenting: Difficult Conversations

Is Santa Claus real? What happened to the cat? Why is that kid's skin color different? Raising children means facing tough questions. Sesame Workshop's child development experts have 50 years of experience with giving answers. They help us handle three sensitive subjects: magic, race, and death.

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Travel

Your Travel Checklist For A Great Trip

Planning a trip? This travel guide features tips from road warriors around the world on packing, managing group travel and finding joy in your journey.