As we turn the page to a new year, we’re excited to release this episode as a special gift to help you start 2025 on the right foot. Let’s face it—after the chaos and unpredictability of the past few years, many of us are craving positive change and looking for guidance on how to make it stick. Self-help has surged in popularity, but not all resources are created equal. That’s why we’re bringing back a conversation with Katy Milkman, author of How to Change, to cut through the noise and share strategies backed by science.

In this compassionate and inspiring episode, Katy and Jill dive into actionable tools to help you create lasting change, whether it’s breaking old habits or starting fresh. Katy’s expertise has guided organizations like Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Walmart, and now she’s sharing her wisdom with you.

Tune in to learn why making New Year’s resolutions isn’t just tradition—it can actually be a powerful tool for transformation when done right. Together, let’s set the stage for a brighter, more intentional year ahead.

Listen and Learn:

• Jill and Yael’s personal experiences with self-help books—what’s worked and what hasn’t
• Katy’s advice on which behaviors to focus on first for meaningful change
• Practical tips to help you tackle impulsive behaviors today
• How Katy’s book inspired real change in Jill’s daily life (her gums are a fan!)
• Why one-size-fits-all solutions fail and how to find the strategies that work for you
• The science behind readiness for change and why timing matters
• A fresh take on New Year’s resolutions and how to make them stick

Resources:

• Grab a copy of Katy’s book, How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
• Sign up for Katy’s newsletter here

About Katy Milkman:

Katy Milkman is the James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, host of Charles Schwab’s popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and the former president of the international Society for Judgment and Decision Making. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative, a research center with the mission of advancing the science of lasting behavior change whose work is being chronicled by Freakonomics Radio. Over the course of her career, she has worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart and Morningstar. An award-winning scholar and teacher, Katy writes frequently about behavioral science for major media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, and Scientific American. Her bestselling book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be is now available. She earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University (summa cum laude), where she studied Operations Research and American Studies and her PhD from Harvard University where, she studied Computer Science and Business.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 200. Growing Grit with Angela Duckworth 
• Episode 43. Willpower With Kelly McGonigal
• Episode 132. The Joy Of Movement With Kelly McGonigal
• Episode 34. Strengths, Goal Setting, and Grit with Alexis Karris Bachik 

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