The Upgrade by Lifehacker

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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 for over 20 years and has worked with stars like Will Smith, Halle Berry, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Chastain, and Mahershala Ali. Listen to hear Denise gives tips on how to nix the bad habits of the “ums,” “ahs,” and “likes,” figure out your unique voice print, and learn to harness the power of your breath when speaking. Denise's new book is called The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 better control that voice in our heads with help from psychologist Ethan Kross. Ethan is a professor at the University of Michigan’s Psychology Department and Ross School of Business, and is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. His book is called Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 the University of Miami and the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative. She's also the author of Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day. Listen to hear Dr. Jha explain why our minds wander the way that they do, and how we can start to better harness our attention. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 about the latest gadgets and the biggest headlines in tech. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 on how to find destinations that aren't experiencing "overtourism," and what research to do and choices to make that have a more positive impact on the local economy on the places you're visiting. Sara is a travel writer and former travel editor for The Wall Street Journal, and news director at Travel + Leisure. She’s also the author of the book Away & Aware: A Field Guide to Mindful Travel. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're talking with award-winning author Wendy Thomas Russell about tackling the tricky topic of religion with kids—whether you're religious yourself or not. Listen to hear Wendy's advice on how to talk about the religions that are embedded in our culture and answer tricky questions about God in a neutral and educational way. Wendy is the author of Relax, It’s Just God: How and Why to Talk to Your Kids About Religion When You’re Not Religious, and the co-author of ParentShift: Ten Universal Truths That Will Change the Way You Raise Your Kids. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 we should re-think our definitions of "good" or "well-read" readers, and the tactics we can use to improve our reading game. After our conversation with Margaret, we get tips from librarian and author Nancy Pearl on how to find a book you'll love. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 author of the new book, How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love. Listen to hear Logan talk about what we so often get wrong about what makes someone a good match, how we're sabotaging ourselves when setting up our dating profiles, and what we can do to increase our odds of finding that special someone. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 explain why using less soap might actually be better for your skin's microbiome and how we should be re-thinking what "good hygiene" really is. James is the author of If Our Bodies Could Talk: Operating and Maintaining a Human Body, and his latest book is Clean: The New Science of Skin. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're learning how to become successful, effective critics of popular culture with help from Black Nerd Problems co-founders William Evans and Omar Holmon. Listen to hear William and Omar explain how to find your lane as a critic, grow your audience, and develop that ever-necessary thick skin. Also check out William and Omar's new book, Black Nerd Problems: Essays. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Matloff. Listen to hear her best tips for surviving a wide range of scary situations, as well as how to prepare yourself for the unexpected both physically and psychologically. Judith's latest book is called How to Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need: Survival Tricks for Hacking, Hurricanes, and Hazards Life Might Throw at You. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 University and the author of the bestselling book The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work. Listen to hear Eli's tips on why marriage today is such a challenging (and potentially rewarding) endeavor, how to reframe your thinking in an argument with a partner, and why "lovehacks" are a great first step in trying to improve your marriage. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Santos to learn some of the science-backed strategies we can use to help us cope, and even find some happiness. Dr. Santos is a Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. She is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 to hear Ramit's tips on writing a great resume and cover letter, how to get clear on what your dream job actually is, and how to negotiate even when you don't think you have leverage. Ramit is the author of the New York Times bestseller, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, and his website, www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com is now offering a new Dream Job course. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 on growth mindset and the co-founder of Mindset Works, which he created alongside Stanford professor Carol Dweck. Listen to hear Eduardo give tips on how to change your mindset from a fixed one to a growth-oriented one, how to encourage a growth mindset in others, and how to know when a growth mindset is best for a given challenge. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're learning how to navigate our impossible healthcare system and avoid huge medical expenses with help from award-winning journalist, Dan Weissman. Dan has worked as a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago’s WBEZ, and is now the host of the podcast An Arm and a Leg which investigates the cost of healthcare and explores how to avoid it. Listen to hear Dan's tips on using the "magic words" to protect yourself when signing hospital paperwork, how to ask for an itemized bill following a procedure, and what approach to take when calling your health insurance company. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're learning how to negotiate effectively with help from negotiation expert, Dr. Victoria Medvec. Vicki is a Professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, as well as a co-founder and the Executive Director of the Center for Executive Women at the Kellogg School. She's also the CEO of Medvec and Associates, which works with big companies like GE, Pfizer, Goldman Sachs, McDonalds, and Microsoft. Listen to hear Vicki discuss the best ways for negotiating with anyone—from your boss to a car salesman to even your very own kids—with strategies like making a negotiation about multiple issues rather than just one, and figuring out the point at which you're willing to walk away. Vicki’s new book is called Negotiate Without Fear: Strategies and Tools to Maximize Your Outcomes. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 journalist Erik Vance. Listen to hear Erik discuss how the placebo effect works, the ways in which we may be able to use hypnosis to help us with various ailments and issues, and why the power of suggestion is a uniquely understudied area of research. Erik is a staff editor for the New York Times' Well section, and is the author of the book Suggestible You: The Curious Science of Your Brain's Ability o Deceive, Transform, and Heal. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're tackling the trickiest parenting questions and dilemmas with help from science journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer. Melinda is an award-winning journalist who writes about science, parenting, and medicine, and she’s a contributing editor at Scientific American, The New York Times, Washington Post, and other national outlets. Melinda's new book is called, How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting—from Tots to Teens. Listen to hear Melinda talk about some of the research she uncovered on the best way to approach issues like bullying, racism, and selfishness with your kids. It's a fascinating listen. Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.