

Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult
iHeartPodcasts
Do your eyes glaze over when looking at a long list of annual health insurance enrollment options – or maybe while you’re trying to calculate how much you owe the IRS? You might be wondering the same thing we are: Where’s the guidebook for all of this grown-up stuff? Whether opening a bank account, refinancing student loans, or purchasing car insurance (...um, can we just roll the dice without it?), we’re just as confused as you are.
Enter: “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult” a podcast dedicated to explaining the complexities of adulting for which most of us are woefully under-prepared. In each episode, we seek out folks who can actually help us start to make sense of all the basic life skills required to be, well, a grown-up.
Enter: “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult” a podcast dedicated to explaining the complexities of adulting for which most of us are woefully under-prepared. In each episode, we seek out folks who can actually help us start to make sense of all the basic life skills required to be, well, a grown-up.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 37min
Meditation for Grown-Ups
You might not think it’s for you, but it turns out meditation is for everyone! This week hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo are joined by Kessonga Giscombe, a mindfulness and meditation teacher. He explains the very simple ways we all can incorporate meditation into our days, what it actually does to help your physical and mental body, and how it’s even changing lives in elementary schools. You and follow Kessonga and reach out to him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kessongagiscombe/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 16, 2025 • 38min
Becoming Sober Curious for Grown-Ups
Is drinking just not giving you the same buzz as before? When it comes to alcohol, are you thinking about cutting back, or cutting out entirely? We’ll you’re not alone, and hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo are here to help you navigate being sober curious. We’re breaking down what it means to explore mindful drinking, the steps you can take to incorporate this into your lifestyle, and the benefits to your mind, body, and wallet. Our guest this week is Derek Brown, a hospitality consultant, a wellness coach, mindful drinking advocate, and the author of the National Academy of Sports Medicine Mindful Drinking Course, as well as two cocktail books, "Spirit Sugar Water Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World" and "Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No and Low Alcohol Cocktails". Also check out mindfulfrinkingfest.com. (Smoky) Ginger Old Fashioned Recipe Yield: One Serving/12-14 oz. Double Rocks Glass Ingredients: 2 ¼ oz. Kentucky 74 or Lapsang Souchong Tea ¼ oz. Ginger Syrup (purchase or use recipe below) 3 Dashes All the Bitters Aromatic Bitters Citrus Peel, lemon, or orange both work Instructions: Combine in a double rocks glass and add ice. Stir until chilled. Ginger Syrup Ingredients: 2 tbsp. Grated ginger root (with skin)* 1 cup water 1 cup white sugar Dash lemon juice (Optional: a few dashes of ginger juice**) Instructions: Boil sugar and water until sugar granules dissolve. Remove from heat and add grated ginger. Allow to cool. Add lemon juice and strain. *Pro-tip: Freeze the ginger root for easier grating. **For an extra kick, add some fresh ginger juice before straining.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 2, 2025 • 45min
Nutrition for Grown-Ups
We all know about eating fruits and vegetables, right? But what about fiber and protein and other vitamins we need? Registered Dietician Nutritionist Melissa Joy Dobbins joins hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo for a conversation about how we can eat healthier and feel better, just with a little bit of mindfulness. You can check out her free “Do More with Dinner” resource at www.SoundBitesRD.com as well as information about Melissa’s favorite cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, supplements and episodes of her podcast, “Sound Bites.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 48min
Advocating At Work for Grown-Ups
How do I negotiate for more money? How do I speak up for better opportunities? How do I advance in my career if I’m an introvert? If you’re wondering how to advocate for yourself at work, hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo spoke with Jessica Chen, a speaker, communications expert and author of the book, “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reasons.” She offers tons of tips for communicating in meetings, over email, and even via body language, and how you can not only navigate but get ahead in the corporate world at any stage of your career. For more from Jessica, check out her podcast, Communicating Confidently.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 45min
Minimizing Screen Time for Grown-Ups
In this engaging discussion, Catherine Price, a health and science journalist and author known for her insights on technology's impact on our lives, shares her strategies for breaking free from smartphone dependency. She explores the psychological manipulation behind our attachment to screens and offers a practical 30-day breakup plan. Price emphasizes the importance of boredom and offline hobbies in fostering creativity and growth. Listeners will discover how managing notifications and social media can lead to a more fulfilling, balanced life.

May 13, 2025 • 41min
Favorite Grown-Up Moments from Season 3
Taxes, Voting, Recycling—oh my! After navigating this jungle of grown-up responsibilities together, we're taking a quick summer breather to recharge our adulting batteries. But before we temporarily hang up our responsible pants, join us for this special episode packed with our favorite kernels of wisdom from the season so far AND get an exclusive preview of the fresh adulting adventures awaiting you when Grown-Up Stuff returns in late summer! Think of this episode as your adulting victory lap—complete with confetti and zero paperwork required!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 29, 2025 • 43min
Recycling for Grown-Ups
In honor of Earth Month, this episode of Grown-Up Stuff celebrates all things recycling with guest Kara Napolitano, the Education and Outreach Manager at Circular Services. Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo learn about all the ways (and items) we can reduce, reuse, and recycle in our everyday lives, and the impact it has on our local and global communities. For more information you can check out CircularServices.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram @BalconesBK, and check your local municipalities to learn more about recycling in your area.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 15, 2025 • 29min
Car Maintenance with Shell Pennzoil for Grown-Ups
You know you need to get your oil changed… but what even happens during that process? Sean Nguyen, a Pennzoil Lubricant Technical Specialist at Shell Lubricant, stopped by Grown-Up Stuff to tell hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo all about why your car needs an oil change, and how to ensure you’re taking the best care of your vehicle to get the maximum miles out of it while staying safe on the road.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 1, 2025 • 46min
Voting for Grown-Ups
Voting is an incredibly important part of being an American — not just every four years, and not just for the sticker! In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff, hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with Joshua A. Douglas, a professor of law at the University of Kentucky, as well as an author and podcaster, who explains the way voting works in the US, from the polling booth to the country’s capitol, and what we can do as citizens to ensure we’re getting involved and staying involved in democracy for all. To learn more about Josh, visit https://joshuaadouglas.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 18, 2025 • 43min
Morning Routine for Grown-Ups
Can you turn yourself into a morning person? With the help of author and podcaster Laura Vanderkam, you sure can! Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with the author of “What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--and Life” and host of the “Before Breakfast” podcast to find out why your morning routine starts long before that dreaded alarm goes off, and the small changes you can make to have a big impact on your day, right when its getting started. For more information, visit https://lauravanderkam.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.