Life Kit

Join Eric Kim, a New York Times food writer and cookbook author, as he shares his passion for Korean American cooking. He dives into his personal journey during the pandemic, highlighting the nostalgia that food can bring. Discover essential pantry ingredients like doenjang and gochujang, and learn how to balance flavors in your dishes. Eric emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage through food, encouraging everyone to embrace Korean flavors in their everyday cooking while fostering community through shared meals.

Kimberly Washington, a savvy CPA and tax analyst, dives deep into the intricacies of tax season. She offers expert tips on maximizing your refund and highlights crucial deductions that often slip under the radar. The conversation addresses the impact of pandemic-related payments, ensuring families can benefit from the child tax credit, and strategies to navigate common tax challenges. Additionally, Kimberly shares essential filing tips to safeguard against tax fraud, helping listeners approach this taxing time with confidence.

Daisy Dowling, an executive coach and expert on working parenthood, shares her wisdom on time management for busy parents. She emphasizes the need to redefine success and set boundaries to balance work and family life. Dowling introduces practical tips like calendar auditing and the innovative technique of timeboxing to help families regain control over their schedules. With valuable advice on self-care and efficiency in daily tasks, she empowers parents to find joy amidst the chaos.

Daniel H. Pink, author of 'The Power of Regret', reveals that rather than shunning regret, we should embrace it for personal growth. He discusses four common categories of regret, emphasizing how reflections on inaction can lead to deeper insights. Pink showcases how taking bold actions can alleviate future regrets, advocating for a proactive approach in life and relationships. He introduces a three-step system to transform regret into self-compassion and growth, highlighting the potential of negative emotions as catalysts for change.

Elizabeth Emmons, a Columbia law professor and author of a book on 'Life Admin,' dives into the often-ignored responsibilities of adulthood. She discusses strategies for conquering overwhelming tasks like paperwork and appointments, likening them to homework. Emmons categorizes personalities based on organizational styles, highlighting the emotional impacts and the power of community in tackling life admin. She shares tips for productivity, encouraging listeners to partner with friends to master their responsibilities and reclaim their time.

Craig dos Santos, a negotiation consultant specializing in customer service resolutions, shares invaluable insights on bridging the gap between customers and representatives. He emphasizes that asking for a manager often backfires and suggests viewing reps as allies. The discussion highlights the power of empathy, active listening, and 'caretaking statements' to create a collaborative atmosphere. By fostering rapport and understanding the emotional dynamics at play, listeners can transform stressful interactions into productive conversations and achieve their desired outcomes.

Long-distance friendships can be challenging but rewarding. The discussion includes creative strategies like themed postcards and playful communication to keep connections alive. Personal anecdotes highlight the power of vulnerability and effective communication in nurturing these bonds. Intentionality is key, as is navigating conflicts with empathy. Listeners learn that with commitment and a bit of creativity, maintaining deep connections across distances is possible.

Reflecting on the past two years, the discussion highlights lessons of resilience and optimism born from the pandemic. Exploring joy in vulnerability, a poet reminds listeners to find beauty in everyday moments. The significance of small joys in tough times is emphasized through shared journaling. A call for a balanced life urges fulfillment over financial gain in work, while rediscovering creativity and self-worth enhances community connections. Practical tips for moving forward and a listener's life hack round out the insights.

Whether it's depression, anxiety, burnout or something else, if you're struggling with your mental health at work, it can be hard to know what your options are and how to seek help. Here's a look at the stigma around mental health at work, how to spot an issue and what to do about it.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Explore the common struggle of indecision that plagues daily life. Learn about the psychological triggers behind analysis paralysis and how perfectionism complicates choice-making. Discover techniques to simplify decisions, like 'satisficing,' and the importance of clarity in personal values. Plus, get practical tips for a cleaner kitchen, making chores easier and more manageable. This engaging discussion offers insights and strategies to help you navigate the complexities of everyday choices.