The Upgrade by Lifehacker

A Message for Listeners

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're taking a brief hiatus, but please don't leave us! We'll be back soon!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

How to Find Your Voice, With Vocal Coach Denise Woods (RECAST)

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're fine-tuning our instruments with help from Hollywood vocal coach, Denise Woods. Denise has been a professional vocal and dialect coach...

How to Tame Your Inner Critic, With Psychologist Ethan Kross (RECAST)

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ever find yourself in an anxiety spiral, ruminating over things that stress you out? If so, you're in luck because this week we're learning how to bet...

How to Pay Better Attention, With Neuroscientist Dr. Amishi Jha

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to better focus and pay attention with help from neuroscientist Dr. Amishi Jha. Dr. Jha is a professor of psychology at t...

Introducing Gadgettes!

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The team at Gizmodo has a brand new podcast womansplaining the latest technology. Each week hosts Florence Ion and Caitlin McGarry sit down to talk ab...

How to Be a Tourist Without Being an Asshole, With Travel Journalist Sara Clemence

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to be better, more conscientious travelers with help from travel journalist Sara Clemence. Listen to hear Sara's advice o...

How to Talk to Kids About Religion When You Don’t Know What to Say, With Wendy Thomas Russell

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking with award-winning author Wendy Thomas Russell about tackling the tricky topic of religion with kids—whether you're religiou...

How to Be a Better Reader, With Librarian Margaret H. Willison (RECAST)

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to be a better reader with help from librarian and podcaster Margaret H. Willison. Listen to hear Margaret break down how...

How to Not Die Alone, With Dating Coach Logan Ury (RECAST)

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to tackle the notorious challenge of dating with help from Logan Ury—Director of Relationship Science at Hinge and auth...

How to Take Care of Your Skin Microbiome, With Physician James Hamblin (RECAST)

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to better care for our skin with help from physician and Atlantic staff writer James Hamblin. Listen to hear James explai...

How to Be a Successful Culture Critic, With William Evans and Omar Holmon

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to become successful, effective critics of popular culture with help from Black Nerd Problems co-founders William Evans a...

How to Survive a Disaster, With Crisis Reporter Judith Matloff (RECAST)

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to survive all sorts of disasters—from hurricanes to earthquakes to war zones and beyond with crisis reporter Judith Ma...

How to Lovehack Your Marriage, With Psychologist Eli Finkel

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to strengthen the health of our marriages with help from psychologist Eli Finkel. Eli is a professor at Northwestern Univ...

How to Be Happy Right Now, With Dr. Laurie Santos (RECAST)

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It goes without saying that this pandemic has had a huge impact on our mental health. So this week, we sit down with The Happiness Lab's Dr. Laur...

How to Get a New Job in 2021, With Ramit Sethi (RECAST)

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to land a new job in a challenging economy, with personal finance expert (and friend of The Upgrade) Ramit Sethi. Listen ...

How to Change Your Mindset to Get Better at Anything, With Eduardo Briceño

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to shift our mindsets with help from growth mindset expert, Eduardo Briceño. Eduardo is the most booked keynote speaker ...

How to Not Go Broke When You Need Healthcare, With Journalist Dan Weissmann

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to navigate our impossible healthcare system and avoid huge medical expenses with help from award-winning journalist, Dan...

How to Negotiate Absolutely Anything, With Negotiation Expert Victoria Medvec

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to negotiate effectively with help from negotiation expert, Dr. Victoria Medvec. Vicki is a Professor at the Kellogg Scho...

How to Change Your Life Through the Power of Suggestion, With Science Journalist Erik Vance (RECAST)

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning about hypnosis, the placebo effect, and the ways we can use the power of suggestion to our advantage with help from science j...

How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes, With Melinda Wenner Moyer

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're tackling the trickiest parenting questions and dilemmas with help from science journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer. Melinda is an award-w...

How to Have Deeper Conversations, With Ximena Vengoechea

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're chatting with writer and user researcher Ximena Vengoechea about how to improve on our listening skills and have better, deeper conver...

How to Never Miss a Deadline, With Journalist Christopher Cox

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to get better with deadlines with help from journalist Christopher Cox. Christopher is the former chief editor of Harper’...

How to Be an Adult, With Julie Lythcott-Haims

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to grow up with help from writer Julie Lythcott-Haims. Julie is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise An ...

How to Fight Burnout, With Writer Anne Helen Petersen (RECAST)

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to fight the burnout we might not even realize we're suffering from with help from journalist Anne Helen Petersen. Tune i...

How to Time Your Life Perfectly, With Author Daniel Pink (RECAST)

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to nail perfect timing with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink. Hear Daniel explain why certain hour...

How to Reenter Society Post-Pandemic, With Therapist Chamin Ajjan

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to reacclimate ourselves with the "return to normal" with help from therapist Chamin Ajjan. Chamin brings her 20+ years o...

How to Transform Your Life Through Leisure, With Writers John Fitch and Max Frenzel (RECAST)

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how time off can actually help us be more productive, with help from writers John Fitch and Max Frenzel. Listen to hear how t...

How to Live a Greener Life Without Losing Your Mind, With Laurie David and Heather Reisman

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to start being a little friendlier to the earth without completely overhauling our lives with help from activists Laurie ...

How to Learn to Like Running, With Strength Running's Jason Fitzgerald

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're kicking our butts into gear and learning how to actually enjoy the act of running with help from Strength Running founder, Jason Fitzg...

How to Beat Your Junk Food Addiction, With Michael Moss

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're tackling our cravings for processed food with help from journalist Michael Moss. Michael is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Salt ...

How to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor, With Psychologist Dr. Jessamy Hibberd (RECAST)

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about impostor syndrome—the psychological phenomenon wherein people question their successes and have an internalized fear...

How to Embrace Minimalism, With Christine Platt

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to pare down our belongings and embrace the freeing feeling of a minimalist lifestyle with help from author and advocate ...

How to Negotiate Like a Pro, With Personal Finance Expert Farnoosh Torabi (RECAST)

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re learning about the ins and outs of negotiation. We’ll find out how to get someone to “yes” when they’re all about “no”; ...

How to Talk to Anyone, With Podcaster Ken Plume (RECAST)

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about the lost art of conversation-making. Joining us is podcaster and raconteur Ken Plume, who has conducted extensiv...

How to Get Things Done, With Productivity Expert David Allen (RECAST)

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we chat with productivity legend David Allen about GTD, his gold-standard time management philosophy. Lifehacker staffers share their produc...

How to Get Better at Marketing, With Seth Godin

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're improving on our marketing skills with help from entrepreneur and marketing expert Seth Godin. Listen to hear Seth's insightful tips o...

How to Set Healthy Boundaries, With Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're solving our boundary issues with help from therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab. Nedra is the New York Times bestselling author of Set Bounda...

How to Tame Your Inner Critic, With Psychologist Ethan Kross

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ever find yourself in an anxiety spiral, ruminating over things that stress you out? If so, you're in luck because this week we're learning how to bet...

How to Get Out of Debt, With Personal Finance Expert Farnoosh Torabi (RECAST)

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Upgrade, we're tackling debt. Crippling, anxiety-inducing debt. It can be hard to know where to start when facing such a heavy ...

How to Be a Beginner, With Journalist Tom Vanderbilt

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to embrace being a beginner again (and why we should) with help from journalist Tom Vanderbilt. Tom is the best-selling a...

How Psychedelics Can Expand Your Consciousness, With Michael Pollan (RECAST)

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Pollan has been writing about the intersection of nature and culture for over 30 years. He may be best known as the guy who summed up his prin...

How to Be More Hopeful, With Anne Lamott

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're speaking with the ever-inspiring Anne Lamott—progressive political activist, writer, and bestselling author of such books as Bi...

How to Find Your Voice, With Vocal Coach Denise Woods

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're fine-tuning our instruments with help from Hollywood vocal coach, Denise Woods. Denise has been a professional vocal and dialect coach...

How to Not Die Alone, With Dating Coach Logan Ury

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to tackle the notorious challenge of dating with help from Logan Ury—Director of Relationship Science at Hinge and auth...

How to Be Happy Right Now, With Dr. Laurie Santos

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It goes without saying that this pandemic has had a huge impact on our mental health. So this week, we sit down with The Happiness Lab's Dr. Laurie Sa...

How to Get a New Job in 2021, With Ramit Sethi

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to land a new job in a challenging economy, with personal finance expert (and friend of The Upgrade) Ramit Sethi. Listen ...

How to Upgrade 2021, With Cool Tools’ Mark Frauenfelder and Kevin Kelly

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning about the tools and tech we need to upgrade our lives in 2021. Helping us are Mark Frauenfelder and Kevin Kelly—hosts of th...

How to Change Your Life Through the Power of Suggestion, With Science Journalist Erik Vance

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning about hypnosis, the placebo effect, and the ways we can use the power of suggestion to our advantage with help from science j...

How to Hack Happiness With Gretchen Rubin (RECAST)

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gretchen Rubin practically invented the concept of hacking your happiness. She's the author of The Happiness Project, host of the podcast Happier with...

How to Get Over Yourself, With Mark Epstein (RECAST)

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Author and psychiatrist Mark Epstein's books include Thoughts Without a Thinker, and Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart. His latest book, Advi...

How to Get Your Kids Into Reading, With Alvin Irby

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're tackling the challenge of getting your kids more invested in books with comedian and social entrepreneur Alvin Irby. Listen to hear Al...

How to Start 2021 Off Right, With Charles Duhigg

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're getting advice on how to make our New Year's resolutions stick with help from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg. Listen...

How to Be Good With Money, With Felix Salmon & Jen Sincero (RECAST)

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Financial journalist Felix Salmon joins us this week to talk about making money while doing good in the world, "Badass" author Jen Sincero tells us ho...

How to Read More in 2021, With The Root’s Danielle Belton and Maiysha Kai

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're preparing for our 2021 reading goals with help from The Root's Danielle Belton and Maiysha Kai. Listen to hear Danielle and Maiysha sh...

How to Be a Better Ally, With Disability Advocate Alice Wong

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning about disability rights and how to be a better ally to the disabled, with activist and consultant Alice Wong. Listen to hear ...

How to Do Thanksgiving This Year, With Andrew Zimmern

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Emmy and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern stops by The Upgrade to talk about how to do Thanksgiving this ...

How to Change Your Brain With Mindfulness, With Daniel Goleman (RECAST)

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about meditation and the lasting effects it can have on our minds and bodies. Joining us is Daniel Goleman, co-author ...

How to Take Care of Your Skin Microbiome, With Physician James Hamblin

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to better care for our skin with help from physician and Atlantic staff writer James Hamblin. Listen to hear James explai...

How to Write a Book in 30 Days, With Author Grant Faulkner

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to crank out that book you've been meaning to write in a mere 30 days, with author Grant Faulkner. Grant is the Executive...

How to Upgrade Your Home Office, With Gizmodo's Alex Cranz and Brian Kahn

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're improving our work-from-home setups with help from Gizmodo editors Alex Cranz and Brian Kahn. Listen to hear tips on how to increase y...

How to Handle Your Pandemic Anxiety, With Psychologist Dr. Elena Welsh and Psychiatrist Dr. David Burns

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're learning how to take our anxiety down a notch this week with help from cognitive behavioral experts Dr. Elena Welsh and Dr. David Burns. Listen ...

How to Free Yourself From Your Mental Prisons, With Psychologist Dr. Edith Eger

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're breaking free from our mental prisons of victimhood, fear, and hopelessness with help from psychologist and Holocaust survivor Dr. Edi...

How to Transform Your Life Through Leisure, With Writers John Fitch and Max Frenzel

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how time off can actually help us be more productive, with help from writers John Fitch and Max Frenzel. Listen to hear how t...

How to Pursue a Side Hustle, With Chris Guillebeau (RECAST)

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about side hustles: those projects you pursue after work—at night or on weekends—to supplement your income or fulfill a ...

How to Survive a Disaster, With Crisis Reporter Judith Matloff

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to survive all sorts of disasters—from hurricanes to earthquakes to war zones and beyond with crisis reporter Judith Ma...

How to Time Your Life Perfectly, With Author Daniel Pink

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to nail perfect timing with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink. Hear Daniel explain why certain hours of the d...

How to Deal With Rude People, With Danny Wallace (RECAST)

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Danny Wallace is a comedian, radio host, and author of the book F You Very Much: Understanding the Culture of Rudeness—And What We Can Do About It. ...

How to Be a Better Conversationalist, With Journalist Celeste Headlee (RECAST)

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We could all get better at conversing with our fellow humans. It’s just so easy these days to hide behind our screens, and when we’re finally face...

How to Fight Burnout, With Writer Anne Helen Petersen

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to fight the burnout we might not even realize we're suffering from with help from journalist Anne Helen Petersen. Tune ...

How to Be a Better Reader, With Librarian Margaret H. Willison

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're learning how to be a better reader with help from librarian and podcaster Margaret H. Willison. Listen to hear Margaret break down how...

How to Get Real About Time Management, With CEO Tiffany Dufu

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're learning how to improve on our time management skills with help from Tiffany Dufu, Founder and CEO of The Cru and author of the book ...

How to Use Breathing to Improve Your Health, With Journalist James Nestor

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re learning how to breathe better and how that can vastly improve our overall health with help from journalist James Nestor. James is t...

How to Teach Your Kids to Be People, With Author Catherine Newman

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Parenting is a wild and confusing trip—to put it mildly. So this week we’re learning how to teach our kids the ins and outs of how to be decent, r...

How to Get Your Point Across Online, With Linguist Gretchen McCulloch

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever spun out over why your friend ended that text with a period? Or missed the subtle sarcasm in an unpunctuated email? We’re clearing up ...

How to Make Your Pet Happy, With Animal Behavior Expert Zazie Todd

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why your cat bites you after just three pets, or how to get your dog to chill out and stop barking? We’re uncovering the myst...

How to Laugh at Depression, With Humorist John Moe

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re finding the humor in our woes with help from John Moe, host of The Hilarious World of Depression podcast. John helps us understand ...

How to See a Doctor During the Pandemic, With Cardiologists Marc Eisenberg and Chris Kelly

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve seen a rise in preventable deaths since the start of the pandemic, largely because people are too afraid to go to the doctor. So we want to ch...

How to Protest, With Activists L.A. Kauffman and Charlene Carruthers

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What are our rights when it comes to protesting? How do we protest safely and effectively during a pandemic? We answer these questions and more this w...

In Support of Black Lives Matter

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To respect and support the movement for black lives, we at The Upgrade wanted to share some important resources and charities to donate to right now:O...

How to Pandemic-Proof Your Relationship, With Divorce Lawyer James J. Sexton

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Being trapped with your significant other 24/7 is not a recipe for relationship success. That’s why this week we’re talking with divorce attorney ...

How to Protect Your Money, With Ramit Sethi

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it, the economy feels a little doom and gloom right now. So we’re learning how to protect ourselves financially this week with the help...

How to Be Present, With Sharon Salzberg

18 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re learning how to be more present this week with meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. Hear her talk with Alice and Melissa about the ways that th...

How to Make Dinner, With Melissa Clark and Dave Arnold (RECAST)

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about dinner: what you should make, how you should make it, and why the idea of “dinner” is fraught for so many of...

How to Quarantine, With Samantha Irby

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian and author Samantha Irby joins us this week on The Upgrade to talk about how to make yourself comfortable with self-quarantine. This includes...

How to Be Creative Right Now, With Jerry Saltz

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Does social distancing have you feeling the blahs? We’re reviving our creative instincts this week with help from Jerry Saltz, New York Magazine’s...

How to Do Less, With Journalist Celeste Headlee

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling burnt out? Do you find yourself working MORE, not less, even while working from home? Award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee joins u...

How to Be Happy at Home With Gretchen Rubin

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gretchen Rubin joins us this week to talk about how she and her family are staying happy in their home during the pandemic—and how we can, too. Hear...

How to Stop Touching Your Face, With 'Atomic Habits'' James Clear

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times bestselling author James Clear joins us on The Upgrade this week to help us form some important habits during this panic-stricken ...

How We're Coping With the Pandemic

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone at Lifehacker—along with the rest of the world—is now hunkered down at home, trying to make sense of this new (temporary) normal. So this...

How to Be Resilient With Psychologist Rick Hanson (RECAST)

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Upgrade we’re talking about resilience. You know how some people seem to have some kind of inner strength that helps them bou...

How to Eat, With Mark Bittman and Dr. David L. Katz

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Forget paleo, keto, and intermittent fasting—we’re getting to the truth of how you really should be eating this week with Mark Bittman and Dr. Dav...

How to Prevent Your Mind From Being Hacked, With Robert Lustig (RECAST)

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Robert Lustig joins us in the studio to talk about his new book, “The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of...

How to Stop Procrastinating, With Behavior Scientist BJ Fogg

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you put things off ‘til the last minute? Are you one of the millions who tend to delay getting to your to-do list? Then you’re in luck—behavi...

How to Get to Sleep, With Sleep Doctor Janet Kennedy (RECAST)

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Calling all insomniacs, tossers, turners, blanket hogs, disco nappers and snooze button pushers! This week we are talking to the experts about how to ...

How to Hack Your Life, With Tim Ferriss (RECAST)

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking with Tim Ferriss, author, podcaster, investor, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed "human guinea pig." He's the author of severa...

How to Talk About Art, With Jerry Saltz

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ever felt at a loss for words when staring at a Jackson Pollock? New York Magazine’s Senior Art Critic, Jerry Saltz, joins us this week to help the ...

How to Cut Down on Sugar, With Dr. Yoni Freedhoff

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Trying to lower your sugar intake? We’re learning how this week with the help of two experts. First, Kathleen DesMaisons, addictive nutrition guru a...

How to Love Yourself, With Tara Brach

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’re learning how to practice true self-compassion this week with renowned psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher Tara Brach. Tara is the ...

The All-Upgrades Episode

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alice and Melissa revisit their Upgrades of the Week from past episodes and see how they’ve held up. There’s a little bit of pride, a little bit o...

How to Get a Divorce, With Divorce Lawyer Jacqueline Newman

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

January is unofficially “Divorce Month” in the legal world, and to celebrate this not-so-joyous occasion, we’re bringing you an episode breaking...