The Upgrade by Lifehacker

How to Deal With Work Stress, With Ask A Manager's Alison Green (RECAST)

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Best of The Upgrade 2019

30 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 fec...

The Best of The Upgrade 2018 (RECAST)

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 T...

How to Start a Podcast, With Abu Zafar

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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’...

How to Be Nice, With Comedian Josh Gondelman

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

How to End a Friendship, With Psychologist Miriam Kirmayer

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're tackling tough friendship scenarios this week with psychologist Miriam Kirmayer, who explains why it's so hard to navigate the norms of friendsh...

How to Read Minds, With Mentalist Henrik Fexeus

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

How to Find Love, With Matchmaker Dr. Frankie Bashan (RECAST)

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ar...

How to Get Rich, With Personal Finance Expert Ramit Sethi

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How to Switch Careers, With Career Guru Joseph Liu

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

How to Live Forever, With Bulletproof Exec Dave Asprey

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What can we do to live longer, healthier lives? Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey joins us on The Upgrade to talk about the practices he’s adop...

How to Ace Public Speaking, With Carmine Gallo

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re improving our public speaking skills with the help of expert Carmine Gallo, author of “Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secret...

How to Stop Caring What People Think, With Mark Manson

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever find yourself spending way too much time worrying about what people think of you? Are you ready to let those needless concerns go to focus...

How to Take Care of Your Gut

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're talking fecal transplants, probiotics, gut flora and more this week. Do bacteria in your GI tract affect your moods? How does your microbiome af...

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

30 Sep 2019

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 Get Things Done, With Productivity Expert David Allen

23 Sep 2019

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 Be a Better Decision-Maker, With Neuroscientist David Redish

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever found yourself totally immobilized in the face of a decision? Why is deciding on something so difficult, whether it’s deciding what to...

How to Get Better at Small Talk

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this smaller episode we’re diving into the topic of small talk. Is it there real value in shooting the breeze, or is it just inane jibber-jabber?...

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

19 Aug 2019

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 Do Nothing, WIth Artist and Educator Jenny Odell

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We all think we’re experts at “doing nothing,” but there’s a difference between numbing out by staring at Facebook and truly letting your mind...

How to Improve Your Memory, With USA Memory Champion Nelson Dellis

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Memory is a strange thing. What is a “memory,” anyway? Where does it live? And where did we put our keys? We’re unlocking the secrets of memory ...

How to Find Out People's Secrets, With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (RECAST)

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re living in a time of secrets. Whether it’s the health-care bill, Russia’s secret connection with our recent election, or the lies we all te...

How to Travel Alone, With ‘52 Places’ Reporter Sebastian Modak

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about solo travel, from the best destinations to how to make friends once you’re there. We’ve got packing secrets, veter...

How to Get to Sleep, With Sleep Doctor Janet Kennedy

10 Jun 2019

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 Make or Break a Habit, With 'Atomic Habits'' James Clear

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Does it really take 21 days to create a habit? Is it possible to quit smoking when all your friends are smokers? Why can’t you ever get up early and...

How to Be a Better Conversationalist, With Journalist Celeste Headlee

13 May 2019

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 Negotiate Like a Pro, With Personal Finance Expert Farnoosh Torabi

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back! 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 ab...

The Upgrade Returns Next Week!

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Where on earth have we been?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...

How to Have a Better Sex Life, with Cleo Stiller (RECAST)

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week Cleo Stiller, host of Fusion TV's "Sex Right Now," joins us to talk about how porn is affecting our sex lives, what happens when men get men...

How to Be a Good Boss, With Basecamp’s David Heinemeier Hansson and Columnist Rob Walker

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

All too frequently, people who are good at making a thing get promoted to be the supervisors of the people making the thing—without any training as ...

How to Tell if You're Dying, With Cardiologists Chris Kelly and Marc Eisenberg

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We spend a lot of time worrying about death: our own, and the deaths of those we love. This week we look at our deeply held fears and assumptions abou...

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

21 Jan 2019

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 Kick Ass, With Mel Robbins (RECAST)

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mel Robbins is a motivational speaker and the author of "The 5 Second Rule." She’s also the host of the new Audible series “Kick Ass with Mel Robb...

How to Hack Your Mornings, With My Morning Routine’s Benjamin Spall (RECAST)

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mornings. Many of us hate them; some of us love them; all of us want to make the best of them. But how exactly do we do that? First we ask Benjamin Sp...

The Best of The Upgrade 2017 (RECAST)

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did you enjoy last week’s Best of The Upgrade 2018? Looking for even more great Upgrade moments? Check out our Best of The Upgrade 2017! Join us as ...

The Best of The Upgrade 2018

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Another year in life hacks come and gone! We're celebrating our favorite moments, hacks, guests and episodes of 2018 with this, our annual Best of The...

How to Buy the Perfect Present

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Buying presents can be a stressful activity. It's often hard to know what to buy for that film buff friend, or for the brother-in-law who's really int...

How to Find Love, With Matchmaker Dr. Frankie Bashan

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ar...

How to Fail, With Comedians Chris Gethard and Akilah Hughes

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s our first live recording of The Upgrade, performed in front of an audience at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. Joining us are comedians Chris Ge...

How to Calm Down, With ASMR University Founder Craig Richard

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe you need to bring your heart rate down after a couple of heated Thanksgiving debates, or perhaps you’re generally feeling a little anxious bec...

How to Talk to People You Don’t Agree With, With Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s almost Thanksgiving, which means that many of us will find ourselves elbow to elbow with family members, some of whom may have wildly differing...

How to Tell the Truth, With MSNBC Host Lawrence O’Donnell

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about how to tell the truth—and how to know when the people around you are being less than truthful.  We’ll be he...

How to Not Be a Dick

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many different ways to be a dick: from being a schoolyard bully, to not mowing your lawn, to using plastic straws, to being a dick on the...

Anne Lamott Upgrades Our Lives

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Lamott is a progressive political activist and writer, the bestselling  author of such books as Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, Operating Instr...

How to Get Smart About Microdosing, With Ayelet Waldman & Paul Austin (RECAST)

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking about microdosing: the use of relatively low doses of psychedelics, like LSD and psilocybin mushroom,  to improve mood, focus...

How to Become Financially Independent and Retire Early, With Vicki Robin (RECAST)

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Vicki Robin is the co-author of the bestseller YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE and the godmother of a financial movement that’s becoming increasingly popula...

How to Change Your Perspective, With CBT Pioneer David Burns, MD

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. David Burns joins us in this episode to talk about how to change your perspective. Dr. Burns is a pioneer in the field of cognitive-behavioral the...

How to Be Tougher, With Survivorman's Les Stroud

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we chat with Les Stroud, the creator and star of the hit TV series Survivorman. Alice and staff writer Nick Douglas talk with Les about just...

How to Be a Happier Parent, With Author KJ Dell’Antonia

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

KJ Dell’Antonia—journalist and author of How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute—joins Off...

How to Conquer Your Fears, With Author Dean Sluyter

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re digging into the things you're terrified of--the concrete stuff like fear of spiders and heights, as well as the more conceptual, e...

How to Hack Your Mornings, With My Morning Routine’s Benjamin Spall

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mornings. Many of us hate them; some of us love them; all of us want to make the best of them. But how exactly do we do that? First we ask Benjamin Sp...

How to Deal With Work Stress, With Ask a Manager’s Alison Green

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Tell Us Your Horrible Boss Stories!

28 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Upgrade listeners! We want to hear your horrible boss stories, and how you solved the situation, if you were indeed able to solve it. Leave us a m...

How to Reinvent Yourself With Coss Marte and Lawrence O'Donnell

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Want to totally change your life? Coss Marte tells us how he went from drug kingpin to fitness entrepreneur using a regimen he developed in prison, an...

How to Be a Successful Artist, With Keiko Agena and Ottessa Mosfegh

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back from summer vacation with writer Ottessa Mosfegh, Gilmore Girls’ Keiko Agena, a new format, new segments and a ton of new hacks. See P...

How to Have Great Sex in a Long-Term Relationship, With Therapist Stephen Snyder (RECAST)

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we talk to Stephen Snyder, a sex and couples therapist, and the author of Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a L...

How to Be Bored and Brilliant, With Manoush Zomorodi (RECAST)

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we talk to Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s Note to Self and author of “Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most ...

How to Identify a Cult, With Rick Alan Ross (RECAST)

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about cults: how they operate, how you identify one, what it’s like to be in one, and how to get out. To that end, w...

How to Tell a Story, with Alan Alda and The Moth’s Catherine Burns (RECAST)

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alan Alda and The Moth’s Catherine Burns join us to talk about storytelling. What makes a good story? What makes a good storyteller? How ...

How to Tell If You're Dating a Psychopath with Jen Waite & Michael Stone (RECAST)

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking about psychopaths: what exactly is a psychopath, how to identify them and what to do if you suspect you might be dating one. W...

How to Not Give a Shit with Comedian Samantha Irby (RECAST)

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we chatted with Samantha Irby, comedian, writer, the mastermind behind the blog “Bitches Gotta Eat” and the author of the new collection...

How Psychedelics Can Expand Your Consciousness, With Michael Pollan

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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

How to Deal With Rude People, With Danny Wallace

25 Jun 2018

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 Smart About Pregnancy and Early Motherhood, With Angela Garbes

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Angela Garbes, author of the book “Like a Mother,” talks to us about the science and culture of pregnancy and motherhood, and why it’s so challe...

How to Be Resilient With Psychologist Rick Hanson

11 Jun 2018

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 Win at Bitcoin

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with journalists Jay Caspian Kang and Aaron Lammer, co-hosts of the podcast Coin Ta...

The Upgrade Presents: The Gateway

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Upgrade would like to share with you a podcast our colleagues at Gizmodo have been working on called The Gateway. It's a six-part series about Tea...

How Should a Man Be? With Esther Perel, James J. Sexton, and Donald Shorter, Jr.

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're live with Esther Perel, James J. Sexton, and Donald Shorter, Jr.  discussing modern masculinity in the first installment of LIVEHACKER, recorde...

How to Find Your Career Path With Mike Steib

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Author of The Career Manifesto Mike Steib talks about figuring out your purpose, taking calculated risks and finding a fulfilling career. See Privacy...

How to Kick Ass, With Mel Robbins

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mel Robbins is a motivational speaker and the author of "The 5 Second Rule." She’s also the host of the new Audible series “Kick Ass with Mel Robb...

How to Break Into Comedy, With Nell Scovell

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nell Scovell is a comedy writer and the author of JUST THE FUNNY PARTS: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boy’s Club. Nell’s...

How to Become Financially Independent and Retire Early, With Vicki Robin

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Vicki Robin is the co-author of the bestseller YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE and the godmother of a financial movement that’s becoming increasingly popula...

How to Think Like a Cat, With Author Stephane Garnier

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Stephane Garnier is a French author whose book, HOW TO THINK LIKE A CAT, extols the many virtues of adopting a feline mindset. Obviously, when we saw ...

How to Save Your Relationship, With Divorce Lawyer James J. Sexton

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

James J. Sexton is a divorce lawyer who has spent his career working with couples whose marriages are dissolving. He’s learned a lot throughout the ...

How to Have an Epic Game Night, With Brian Lewis and Seth Scott

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Guests Brian Lewis and Seth Scott join us this week to talk about games. Game nights, it seems, are having a moment. We’ll find out why, and get som...

How to Have Great Sex in a Long-Term Relationship, With Therapist Stephen Snyder

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we talk to Stephen Snyder, a sex and couples therapist, and the author of Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a L...

How to Increase Your Endurance, With Author Alex Hutchinson

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week is Outside magazine columnist Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance...

How to Talk to Anyone, With Podcaster Ken Plume

19 Mar 2018

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 Make Sense of the Media, With Jill Abramson

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Upgrade, we spoke in front of a live audience at On Air Fest with journalist Jill Abramson, the first female executive editor of the ...

How to Get Over Yourself, With Mark Epstein

05 Mar 2018

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, Advice ...

How to Conquer Reddit, With 'Endless Thread' Host Ben Brock Johnson

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Brock Johnson, host of the Reddit podcast ‘Endless Thread,’ gives us secrets and tips for fully experiencing all of the agony and ecstasy of t...

How to Find Your Purpose, With Authors Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re talking to Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild, the authors of The Two Most Important Days: How to Find Your Purpose—and Live a Hap...

How Our Minds Are Being Hacked, And What We Can Do About It (RECAST)

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Due to some technical difficulties, we are recasting the episode where Dr. Robert Lustig joins us in the studio to talk about his new book, “The Hac...

How to Fix a Broken Heart, With Guy Winch

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about heartbreak. How do you know when your heart is broken? What can you do about it? And how do you help t...

How to Drink Less, With Author Annie Grace

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a new year (and a new you?) and we’re all trying to clean up our acts. This week we’re taking a closer look at alcohol—why we drink, what...

How to Be a Clean Person, with Jolie Kerr (RECAST)

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're talking about personal hygiene with professional clean person Jolie Kerr. Jolie’s been a cleaning expert for Esquire, Deadspin and The Hairpin...

How to Be Less Stupid About Money, With Felix Salmon (RECAST)

25 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Since we're sure you're like us and have spent far too much money this holiday season, we're recasting our episode featuring Felix Salmon, senior edit...

The Best of The Upgrade 2017

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about (and listen to) our favorite moments from the past year’s episodes. In 2017, we learned how to turn our awkwardness i...

How to Bike in the City, With the Bike Snob and Brooklyn Spoke

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re tackling the topic of urban cycling. Our guests include Eben Weiss, author of "The Ultimate Bicycle Owner’s Manual: The Universal ...

How to Hack Your Life, With Tim Ferriss

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking with Tim Ferriss, author, podcaster,  investor, entrepreneur, and  self-proclaimed “human guinea pig.” He’s the auth...

How to Have Good Taste in Wine, With Marissa Ross (RECAST)

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Marissa Ross, the official wine columnist for Bon Appétit and author of the book “Wine. All the Time: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking,” jo...

How to Write a Novel, With Author Mira Jacob

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mira Jacob, author of the novel “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing,” joins Alice in the studio to talk about how her novel took her ten years t...

How to Bust Myths, With MythBuster Hosts Brian Louden and Jon Lung

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s interview is with Brian Louden and Jon Lung, the new hosts of Discovery's Mythbusters. Mythbusters, as you probably know, is the popular...

How to Pursue a Side Hustle, With Chris Guillebeau

06 Nov 2017

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 Be Bored and Brilliant, With Manoush Zomorodi

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we talk to Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s Note to Self and author of “Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most ...

How to Win at Dinner, With Melissa Clark and Dave Arnold

23 Oct 2017

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 Identify a Cult, With Rick Alan Ross

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re talking about cults: how they operate, how you identify one, what it’s like to be in one, and how to get out. To that end, w...

How to Change Your Brain With Mindfulness, With Daniel Goleman

09 Oct 2017

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 Fight Hackers, With Former Black-Hat Hacker Hector Monsegur

04 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Equifax hack has made one thing clear: all of us are vulnerable to these kinds of attacks. But how can you keep your information (and money) safe?...

How to Figure Out Your Personality Type, With Gretchen Rubin

25 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking about personality tests. You know: those tests that ask you personal questions about your philosophy of life or your behavior ...