Life Kit

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together. Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. You'll support the show and unlock exclusive curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit

Episodes

How parents can be screentime role models

October 23, 2025 • 24 mins

There's a lot of talk about how to monitor screentime for kids. But for kids to have healthy relationships with technology and smartphones, parents need to model good habits. Life Kit reporter Andee Tagle talks with experts and offers practical tips so parents can set the tone for positive technology use that benefits the whole family.

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Frustrated by a relationship? Questions to ask yourself to move forward

October 21, 2025 • 19 mins

If you feel overwhelmed or stuck in a close relationship, therapist KC Davis, author of Who Deserves Your Love, has a list of questions to help you decide whether you should continue to engage. Davis provides guidance on how to create boundaries you feel good about without cutting people out of your life.

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How to take a refreshing nap (without ending up more tired)

October 20, 2025 • 21 mins

Naps can offer significant benefits, from emotional regulation to improving memory and athletic performance. But there are right and wrong ways to snooze. A sleep psychologist and a sleep physician explain the factors of the perfect nap and the importance of daytime rest. This episode originally published Feb. 26, 2024.

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Roy Choi's tips for healthy and flavorful meals

October 16, 2025 • 21 mins

James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Choi's new cookbook The Choi of Cooking is all about cooking nutritious meals without sacrificing flavor. Roy shares standout shortcut ingredients to level up your meal-prep game and some of his favorite recipes from the book.

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Coming up with a business idea that takes off

October 14, 2025 • 22 mins

Ready to take that big idea and turn it into a thriving business? Rachel Rodgers, author of Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable, shares the ingredients of a successful business venture. The best part? You don't necessarily need a lot of money to get started.

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How the local library can save you money

October 13, 2025 • 16 mins

Libraries provide so much more than books. This episode, get acquainted with the free or discounted resources of your local library, like free museum tickets, SAT tutors, language classes and more. This episode originally published Oct. 16, 2023.

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Dear Life Kit: I'm at my breaking point

October 9, 2025 • 18 mins

Family and marriage expert Moraya Seeger DeGeare weighs in on questions from listeners who have reached a breaking point in their relationships with the people around them.

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How to support a loved one through cancer treatment

October 7, 2025 • 21 mins

If you have a friend or family member diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, all you want to do is help. But where do you start? What if you say the wrong thing or don't show up in the right ways? In this episode, we go over different ways to offer support. No matter what your strengths are, we have ideas to get you started.

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In credit card debt? There’s a path out

October 6, 2025 • 17 mins

Credit card debt can make you feel stressed, ashamed and lonely. But there are proven strategies to free yourself from this burden. In this episode, five tips to help you get out from under credit card debt. And to sign up for our newsletter series with step-by-step plans to pay down your debt, go to npr.org/creditcarddebt.

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How to talk toddler

October 2, 2025 • 27 mins

Toddlerhood is a big and beautiful period of self-discovery. Kids are picking up new cognitive and motor skills and learning language a mile a minute. But there are some behaviors in this age range that can be confusing, frustrating or spirit-breaking for parents, like tantrums, hitting, stealing toys and more. This episode, Life Kit reporter Andee Tagle helps you decode your toddler's behavior and address it more strategically.

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Can you afford to make a big life change?

September 30, 2025 • 19 mins

Longing to quit your job and follow your passion? Or perhaps take a break to travel? Or move to a new place? First, you'll need to look at your finances. In this episode, Jill Schlesinger, a certified financial planner and business analyst for CBS News, walks through her five steps for assessing your financial situation before a possible life change. This episode originally published Feb. 28, 2023.

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It's soup season! Get cooking with these tips from Sohla El-Waylly

September 29, 2025 • 18 mins

Soup can be a flexible, cozy meal that allows you to experiment in the kitchen. But to make a delicious one you need to get some fundamentals down first. Chef Sohla El-Waylly offers her best tips on everything from creating a yummy broth to ensuring you get your cook time right. This episode originally published Oct. 30, 2023.

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A smarter way to pick the right college

September 25, 2025 • 19 mins

When deciding between colleges, it can be tempting to let prestige guide your choice. But so many factors go into finding the right fit: research opportunities, campus extracurriculars, social life, specific classes or programs, and of course, very real financial considerations. This episode, higher education journalist Jeffrey Selingo, author of Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You, outlines what students and par...

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Why anxiety is a superpower

September 23, 2025 • 19 mins

As bad as it feels, anxiety is essential, says psychotherapist Britt Frank, author of The Science of Stuck. It can be a helpful warning signal that something is off, or even dangerous. But when anxiety hits, it's hard to remember its importance. In this episode, Frank explains what we can do to feel more centered when we anxiety makes us feel overwhelmed -- so we can listen to what it's telling us. This episode was originally publi...

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How to maintain a healthy interracial relationship

September 22, 2025 • 24 mins

If you're in an interracial relationship, there can be additional concerns even with lots of love and care: cultural misunderstandings, family members who say hurtful things, disagreements over values or communication styles and larger power imbalances at play. This episode, writer Davon Loeb shares advice on navigating racial differences in your relationship and creating a stronger connection with your partner.

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What to do when your health insurance denies coverage

September 18, 2025 • 22 mins

What happens when you get a medical bill for something your insurance should have covered? KFF Health News reporter Jackie Fortiér outlines who talk to, what to say and how to appeal a denial from your insurance company.

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Overcoming romantic obsession

September 16, 2025 • 22 mins

When a crush turns into a harmful obsession, you might experience limerence, romantic infatuation characterized by extreme emotional highs and lows, intrusive thoughts and idealization. In this episode, we talk to neuroscientist Tom Bellamy, author of the book Smitten, about how limerence works in the brain, what you can do to stop it, and how to replace limerence with healthier interests.

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Debunking sleep myths

September 15, 2025 • 16 mins

There are a lot of misconceptions about sleep. Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins and her colleagues looked into common myths about sleep to help everyone get a better night's rest. This episode originally published Janaury 9, 2024.

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Samin Nosrat's recipe for gathering with friends

September 11, 2025 • 21 mins

For chef Samin Nosrat, one of the most valuable parts of life is sharing food with the people you love. Samin joins Life Kit to discuss her new cookbook, offers advice for ritualizing ongoing gatherings with friends and shares her recipe for the ultimate garlic bread.

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Budgeting for college students

September 9, 2025 • 25 mins

A new semester has begun, which means college students across the country are taking on debt, opening credit cards and navigating meal plans and housing on their own. Budgeting and managing money, especially as a first-year college student, can be daunting. In this episode, we cover how to plan for student loans, look for scholarships, get part time work and more.

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Life Kit

Episodes

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.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Frustrated by a relationship? Questions to ask yourself to move forward

How to take a refreshing nap (without ending up more tired)

Roy Choi's tips for healthy and flavorful meals

Coming up with a business idea that takes off

How the local library can save you money

Dear Life Kit: I'm at my breaking point

How to support a loved one through cancer treatment

In credit card debt? There’s a path out

How to talk toddler

Can you afford to make a big life change?

It's soup season! Get cooking with these tips from Sohla El-Waylly

A smarter way to pick the right college

Why anxiety is a superpower

How to maintain a healthy interracial relationship

What to do when your health insurance denies coverage

Overcoming romantic obsession

Debunking sleep myths

Samin Nosrat's recipe for gathering with friends

Budgeting for college students

Popular Podcasts

How parents can be screentime role models

Frustrated by a relationship? Questions to ask yourself to move forward