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Sylvie Douglis

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Monday

Tackle your medical debt with Life Kit
Shannon Wright/Shannon Wright for NPR

Planet Money

Tackle your medical debt with Life Kit

There's an estimated $195 billion of medical debt in America. But just because a medical bill comes in the mail doesn't mean you have to pay that exact price. In this special episode from our friends at Life Kit, you'll learn how to eliminate, reduce or negotiate a medical bill.

Tackle your medical debt with Life Kit

Listen · 17:49
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Tuesday

A big misconception about debt — and how to tackle it
Angela Hsieh/NPR

Life Kit

A big misconception about debt — and how to tackle it

Life happens, and so does debt. Unexpected car trouble, the high price of food, a family emergency — there is no shortage of reasons why debt can pile up. In this episode, we offer shame-free solutions for digging out of debt.

A big misconception about debt — and how to tackle it

Listen · 14:12
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Monday

4 tips for saying goodbye to someone you love
PM Images/Getty Images

Life Kit

4 tips for saying goodbye to someone you love

Saying goodbye can be tough, especially if you're parting ways for good. But grief counselor and patient advocate Isabel Stenzel Byrnes says the art of saying goodbye to loved ones can be learned and practiced.

4 tips for saying goodbye to someone you love

Listen · 19:24
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Tuesday

Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here's how to negotiate them
Shannon Wright for NPR

Life Kit

Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here's how to negotiate them

There's an estimated $195 billion of medical debt in America. But just because a medical bill comes in the mail doesn't mean you have to pay that exact price. Here's how to eliminate, reduce or negotiate a medical bill.

Medical bills can cause a financial crisis. Here's how to negotiate them

Listen · 17:15
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Monday

'Do I really need to floss?' and other common questions about dental care
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

'Do I really need to floss?' and other common questions about dental care

We asked experts to answer five questions about how to properly care for your teeth. Here's what they said about finding a dentist, whitening your teeth at home, and whether daily flossing is necessary.

'Do I really need to floss?' and other common questions about dental care

Listen · 21:14
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Monday

4 pieces of advice for caregivers, from caregivers
FG Trade/Getty Images

Life Kit

4 pieces of advice for caregivers, from caregivers

1 in 5 Americans are acting as unpaid caregivers. The work can be meaningful but also stressful. Caregivers give advice about how to approach the job, find support and make time for yourself.

4 pieces of advice for caregivers, from caregivers

Listen · 19:48
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Life Kit: Help save the North American bird population

A cedar waxwing bird, photographed through binoculars. Audrey Nguyen/NPR hide caption

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Audrey Nguyen/NPR

Short Wave

Life Kit: Help save the North American bird population

Many of us are off today for President's Day. In the meantime, we want to share this episode from our friends at NPR's Life Kit podcast. In it, they discuss the importance of birds as an "indicator species" – their health helps us understand the health of our environment. Plus, they collect expert tips on how we can help birds survive, and thrive.

Life Kit: Help save the North American bird population

Listen · 18:44
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Sunday

Thursday

How to be a better movie watcher
Malaka Gharib/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

How to be a better movie watcher

Our pal and Culture Desk reporter Andrew Limbong teamed up with NPR's Life Kit to get advice on how to be a better movie watcher – how to pick a film, get outside your comfort zone, and deepen your enjoyment of a movie.

How to be a better movie watcher

Listen · 21:24
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Tuesday

How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)
Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Life Kit

How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)

This guide — which comes with a fun brochure you can download and print at home — offers advice on how to pick a film, get outside your comfort zone and deepen your enjoyment of movies.

How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)

Listen · 20:59
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Thursday

The key to hosting a successful theme party? Start planning early
South_agency/Getty Images

Perspective

Life Kit

The key to hosting a successful theme party? Start planning early

Party planning experts say to send out invites at least 6 weeks in advance. That can give guests ample time to mark their social calendars — and prepare for the big bash. Read on for more tips.

The key to hosting a successful theme party? Start planning early

Listen · 21:38
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Tuesday

How to make networking events less awkward: Be a croissant, not a bagel
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Perspective

Life Kit

How to make networking events less awkward: Be a croissant, not a bagel

Networking expert Robbie Samuels explains why adapting the attitude of a croissant is more likely to create meaningful job connections — and shares ways to make networking feel more natural.

How to make networking events less awkward: Be a croissant, not a bagel

Listen · 18:50
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Monday

How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast
Tilda Rose for NPR

Perspective

Life Kit

How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast

It all starts with the assumption that your kids have good intentions and want to do the right thing, says Becky Kennedy, a psychologist and host of the Good Inside parenting podcast.

How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast

Listen · 18:27
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Tuesday

How to show your friends you love them, according to a friendship expert
Malaka Gharib/NPR

Life Kit

How to show your friends you love them, according to a friendship expert

Psychologist Marisa Franco, author of a new book on the science of making and keeping friends, shares how to deepen the bonds in our platonic relationships.

How to show your friends you love them, according to a friendship expert

Listen · 20:25
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Tuesday

You can choose a new name for yourself. Here's how

Before you commit to a new name, take it for a test drive. For example, use that name for your next coffee order. Then pay attention to how you feel when you hear it called out. Jasjyot Singh Hans for NPR hide caption

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Jasjyot Singh Hans for NPR

Life Kit

You can choose a new name for yourself. Here's how

Many trans and nonbinary people choose new names during their transition. Here's advice if you're considering adopting a new name — from brainstorming name ideas to navigating the paperwork to change your name legally.

You can choose a new name for yourself. Here's how

Listen · 20:17
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Monday

How to know when you spend too much time online and need to log off
Valeriy Kachaev/Spruce Books

Life Kit

How to know when you spend too much time online and need to log off

Author Sammy Nickalls guides readers through the practice of digital minimalism which helps strike a balance between being extremely online and extremely offline.

How to know when you spend too much time online and need to log off

Listen · 15:45
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Tuesday

Have a pesky crush? What to do in 4 common scenarios
Anja Slibar for NPR

Life Kit

Have a pesky crush? What to do in 4 common scenarios

Having a crush is natural - they're a part of human biology. Sometimes, acting on it is a great, healthy step — or it can create a lot more trouble than it needs to. Certified dating coach Damona Hoffman walks us through how to handle a crush in several common scenarios.

Have a pesky crush? What to do in 4 common scenarios

Listen · 19:54
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Tuesday

Simple DIY maintenance tasks that will keep your car running smoothly — and save money
Suriyo Hmun Kaew/EyeEm/Getty Images

Life Kit

Simple DIY maintenance tasks that will keep your car running smoothly — and save money

Car ownership can be intimidating — and expensive — especially when it comes to upkeep. Auto educator and journalist Chaya Milchtein shares tips to help you maintain essential safety features in a car, how to find the right mechanic for you and when it's time for a new car.

Simple DIY maintenance tasks that will keep your car running smoothly — and save money

Listen · 19:06
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Thursday

How to save for different financial goals
zf L/Getty Images

Life Kit

How to save for different financial goals

Whether you want to save for a vacation or retirement, build generational wealth for your kids or figure out how to split expenses with a partner, Life Kit answers your personal finance questions.

How to save for different financial goals

Listen · 20:27
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Tuesday

How to overcome FOMO
Photos by Simon Haven/Getty and Correia Patrice/Getty; Collage by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

How to overcome FOMO

The fear of missing out isn't confined to our social lives; worrying about whether we're missing out on new experiences, content, trends and even investments can create an existential crisis. Psychologist Aarti Gupta explains how FOMO shows up in our lives and how to battle it.

How to overcome FOMO

Listen · 16:38
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Tuesday

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering
Simone Martin-Newberry for NPR

Life Kit

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

Raising kids is among the most essential work humans do, and yet it's rarely valued as skilled labor. Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change, guides us through a shift in mindset to help give mothering the value it deserves.

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

Listen · 19:38
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Thursday

8 simple ways you can help our native birds this spring

A cedar waxwing, photographed through binoculars. Audrey Nguyen/NPR hide caption

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Audrey Nguyen/NPR

Life Kit

8 simple ways you can help our native birds this spring

Bird migration season is starting. But across North America, their populations are in trouble. We asked experts for 8 everyday steps you can take to lend them a hand.

8 simple ways you can help our native birds this spring

Listen · 18:24
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Friday

How to build a connection with your friends living with depression
Merlin Quiggle/TEDx

TED Radio Hour

How to build a connection with your friends living with depression

Sometimes, we tiptoe around people experiencing depression because we don't know what to say. Bill Bernat suggests that instead of waiting for them to feel better, we can meet them where they are.

How to build a connection with your friends living with depression

Listen · 6:39
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Friday

How can soil's superpowers help us fight climate change?
Bret Hartman / TED

TED Radio Hour

How can soil's superpowers help us fight climate change?

Earth's soil can store vast amounts of carbon. Biogeochemist Asmeret Asefaw Berhe says soil could be a powerful tool for fighting climate change - if only we stopped treating it like dirt.

How can soil's superpowers help us fight climate change?

Listen · 14:22
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