
Teach Me How To Adult
Adulting isn't easy, but we got you. Teach Me How To Adult is a smart, unfiltered podcast on everything you never learned growing up, because let’s be honest, no one prepared us for this. Between landing your dream job, crushing your love life, learning to invest, mastering your mindset and figuring out how to be happy along the way, there’s a lot to navigate.
Join host Gillian Berner every week for expert interviews and game-changing advice on how we can all live our best lives. There’s more than one way to adult, and it is not always linear. So follow along as we figure it out together.
Latest episodes

Jul 31, 2023 • 5min
ICYMI: Want Secure Attachments? Take Accountability For Your Triggers and Self-Regulate Your Nervous System Responses, with Jessica Baum
Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. If you’re on a journey to have a secure attachment style in your relationships (same) this is the #1 quick hit you need to get started. We’re throwing it back to our attachment styles episode with expert Jessica Baum, who unpacks how to deal with your emotions when you’re “triggered”, taking accountability for your reactions, and how to self-regulate and manage your nervous system responses when you’re activated. Jessica is a psychotherapist and couples counselor, founder of The Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, and the founder of Be Self-full®, a company that provides counseling, group coaching and courses for couples and individuals. Listen to our full episode with Jess here.Take Jessica’s quiz to find out what your attachment style is!Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Jessica:@jessicabaumlmhcBeselffull.comBuy Jessica’s book Anxiously Attached: Becoming More Secure in Life and Love
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Jul 26, 2023 • 54min
Teach Me How To Manage Anxiety, Challenge My Fears, And Heal The Gut-Brain Connection, with Dr. Lauren Cook
If you experience feelings of overwhelming anxiety, existential dread, panic sweats and heart palpitations… welcome to the anxious girlies club. But seriously, we’re finally learning that while occasional stress and worry is normal, if those feelings start to impact our day-to-day lives, it’s time to take a closer look at our brains and bodies. Millennials and Gen-Zs have been dubbed the most anxious generations in history, and it’s no surprise considering the increasingly globalized age of social media, 24/7 bad news cycles, and economic issues we face. So what can we do about it?We called in licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Lauren Cook, to give us some easy, actionable steps to help positively navigate our anxiety, rather than ignoring or fighting against it. From identifying the impacts and triggers of anxiety to breaking down the gut-brain connection, Lauren lays out the real, evidence-backed ways to manage our chaotic minds.Dr. Lauren Cook is a therapist, consultant, speaker, author and founder of Heartship Psychological Services. Specializing in anxiety, she helps individuals and couples work through generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, OCD, and more. She has a podcast called The Boardroom Brain, and has written three books, including the forthcoming “Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Staying Afloat in an Uncertain World”. You might’ve seen her on TikTok where she spreads approachable mental health advice to her hundreds of thousands of followers, or in her features on The New York Times, Forbes, NBC, and Psychology Today. Tune in as we chat about:What’s causing the increased rates of anxiety in Millennials and Gen-Z’sThe hidden impacts of anxiety in our relationships, jobs, and interactionsThe most prevalent categories of anxiety and the rise of social anxiety The gut-brain connection and how nutrition impacts mental healthHow to cope with and communicate anxiety triggersHow to self-soothe when we’re spiralling The best ways to show up for loved ones struggling with their mental healthIs anxiety and control to blame for our procrastination and isolation?The importance of “empowered acceptance”Healthy ways to challenge our fearsWe hope this episode helps you manage your anxiety and work with your body and mind to feel your best.And if you’ve been toying with the idea of launching a podcast but aren’t sure where to start or how to grow, check our consulting services at teachmehowtoadult.ca/howtopodcast. We can’t wait to work with you!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Dr. Lauren:@dr.laurencookDrlaurencook.comPre-Order Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide to Staying Afloat in an Uncertain World
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Jul 24, 2023 • 7min
ICYMI: The Easy Digital Detox You Need To Reconnect With Yourself, with Nina Purewal
Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. If you find yourself checking your phone first thing in the AM, mindlessly doom-scrolling through TikTok at night, or overwhelmed by the constant influx of notifications, it may be time to consider a digital detox. Today, we’re throwing it back to our episode with mindfulness expert, Nina Purewalm, for some simple and practical tips on how we can all unplug from the digital distractions in our lives and reconnect with the things that matter most.Nina has been studying mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. She's the co-author of the bestselling book, Let That Sh*t Go, and the owner of Pure Minds, a company that runs mindfulness workshops for the public and corporate sectors. So sit back, unplug, and get ready to let that sh*t go!Listen to our full episode with Nina here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Nina:pureminds.ca/@nina.pure.minds
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Jul 19, 2023 • 25min
The Quickie: How to Ask for Help When You Need It (It's Okay To Not Be Okay!)
Life can be complicated AF and everyone needs support along the way…so why is it so hard to ask for it? For most of us, the tendency to keep things bottled in and not ask for help has been reinforced over time, especially in cultures that value independence and “success”. Spoiler alert: it isn’t doing us any good. On the plus side, vulnerability and asking for help are two skills that can be learned, and class is now in session! Giving and receiving emotional support is essential for us to thrive, and it’s okay to not be okay! So this week we’re getting personal about our own struggles and share some helpful tips on how we can all channel our inner Brené Brown. Join us as we chat about:Cailyn’s struggle with feeling disconnected and overwhelmedWhat holds us back from admitting when we’re not okWhy validation is so importantGoing to the right person for helpHow vulnerability strengthens connectionsBeing direct about what you needWhy admitting that you’re not okay isn’t a burden to othersLetting your friends and family show up for youEmphasizing validation over problem-solvingHow self-acceptance can free youWe hope this episode inspires you to ask for help when you need it and show up better for the people who might need you!If you’ve been toying with the idea of launching a podcast but aren’t sure where to start or how to grow, check our consulting services at teachmehowtoadult.ca/howtopodcast. We can’t wait to work with you!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaan
Sign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Jul 17, 2023 • 4min
ICYMI: The Difference Between Constructive Complaining and Toxic Complaining, with psychotherapist Whitney Goodman
Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. Everybody likes a good venting session, but nobody likes a complainer. So when is it okay to complain? Can complaining be healthy, or is it always a negative thing? Today’s expert, Whitney Goodman, gives us the quick and dirty scoop on why casual complaining is a normal communal exchange, and what to watch out for if it crosses into the dreaded “draining complaining” that can keep us stuck in a negative loop. Whitney Goodman is a psychotherapist, author of the book Toxic Positivity, a columnist for Psychology Today and appears regularly in publications like The New York Times and Teen Vogue.Listen to our full episode with Whitney here!Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Whitney:sitwithwhit.com@sitwithwhitToxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy
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Jul 12, 2023 • 23min
Asking For A Friend: How Can I Be A Digital Nomad?
For all the sh*t we’ve been through since 2020, there was at least one positive societal change: we entered our remote work era. Not being tied down to an office 5 days a week has afforded us newfound freedom in prioritizing our work-life balance — it’s time to make the most of it.We’ve all dreamed of being able to work and live wherever we want, so let this be the year you shoot your shot. This week we have our resident world traveler, Gill, in the hot seat and she’s finally coming clean on how she’s getting away with all this travel while still killing it in the corporate world. Grab a seat, book a plane ticket and buckle in because we’re about to become digital nomads!Join us as we chat about:The rise of workcations and why you should take oneHow to choose your travel destinationsNavigating work in different timezonesBudgeting for your time working abroad Setting expectations and communicating at workAll the logistics you didn’t know you neededHow to make the most of balancing work and travelWe hope this episode helps you make your travel dreams a reality!And if you’ve been toying with the idea of launching a podcast but aren’t sure where to start or how to grow, check our consulting services at teachmehowtoadult.ca/howtopodcast. We can’t wait to work with you!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaan
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Jul 10, 2023 • 5min
ICYMI: Wedding Etiquette 101, From Gift-Giving To Dress Codes, with Myka Meier
Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. Wedding season is officially in full swing, and if most of your friend group is getting ready to tie the knot, it can feel like a lot navigating all the do’s and don’ts, from bridal showers and wedding gift-giving, to dress codes and what to wear at different kinds of weddings. Luckily for us, etiquette expert Myka Meier has the answers. Myka has been coined the “Marie Kondo of etiquette,” is the author of two best-selling etiquette books and even trained in London under a member of The Royal Household of the Queen. She started Beaumont Etiquette which offers courses on etiquette that are super relevant to society today and also co-founded The Plaza Hotel’s Finishing Program. She brings a fresh and modern perspective to manners, breaking down the stereotype that etiquette is stuffy or outdated. Listen to our full episode, #53, with Myka here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia instagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/Follow Myka:@mykameierBuy her books: Modern Etiquette Made Easy: A Five-Step Method to Mastering EtiquetteBusiness Etiquette Made Easy: The Essential Guide to Professional Success
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Jul 5, 2023 • 39min
Teach Me How To Decorate A Beautiful Home On A Budget, with Design Expert and YouTuber Alexandra Gater
The highest level of adulting might just be creating a space that feels welcoming and reflects your personal style. But let’s be honest, that’s easier said than done, especially with the limitations of budgets and rental units. Our homes should be a source of comfort and inspiration — after all, our spaces have a real impact on our wellbeing. We’re on a mission to create our own personal oasis without breaking the bank, so we called in our friend, and the budget-friendly decor guru herself, Alexandra Gater. Alexandra is a stylist and home decor expert who specializes in accessible home decor advice for renters and anyone working with a smaller budget. She started her design career as the home editor for Chatelaine Magazine, where she launched the popular YouTube series, The Home Primp. She’s since hosted the HGTV series Buy or DIY, and her work has appeared in brands like Apartment Therapy, Domino Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Rachel Ray Show, and the Global Morning Show. She just launched her STUNNING book Own Your Space, which offers room-by-room decorating tips for renters and homeowners. Join us as we chat about:Alexandra’s journey to becoming a design legendThe easiest, most budget-friendly ways to make a big impactHow to figure out your personal design aestheticAlexandra’s go-to products to spruce up a spaceAdvice for renters on making big changes and navigating landlordsEasy and temporary DIYs to tryChoosing unique and affordable artDealing with differing design styles with your partnerWe hope this episode inspires you to make your home your own, because you deserve the space of your dreams!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Alexandra:youtube.com/@AlexandraGater@alexandragaterBuy Alexandra's book: Own Your SpaceMentioned in this episode:Ikea Couch CoversPeel & Stick Floor TilePeel & Stick Backsplash Subway TilePeel & Stick Backsplash Hexagon Tile
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Jul 3, 2023 • 5min
ICYMI: Change Your Life With This Mindset Shift For Confidence And Self-Compassion, with Roxy Earle
Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. Summer is in full swing, friends! And while we love ourselves a cottage moment like the next girlie, we recognize that these warmer months can also be a very triggering time for many of us when it comes to body image and insecurities. So this week we're throwing it back to our inspiring chat with Roxy Earle where she shares the ultimate mindset shift to banish negative self-talk and start positively developing the single most important relationship we’ll ever have — the relationship with ourselves. Because at the end of the day, the only person holding you back from being your true confident self is you!Roxy is a former marketing professional turned model, entrepreneur, body positivity activist and a star on Real Housewives of Toronto. She started the #MySizeRox movement, which advocates that confidence comes in all shapes and sizes. She’s worked with brands like Knix, H&M, Le Chateau and Joe Fresh to bring more inclusive sizing and styles to their stores. Roxy is also the co-founder of the Ana App, a tool that helps to build happiness, health and confidence by balancing your mental wellness with the unique cycles of your body.Listen to our full episode with Roxy here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Roxy:@luxuriousroxyGet the Ana App: https://www.anahealth.com/
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Jun 28, 2023 • 1h 7min
Teach Me How to Make Friends As An Adult, with Psychologist and Friendship Expert Dr. Miriam Kirmayer
There’s a new epidemic in town: Loneliness. And while making friends is intimidating at any age, it feels especially daunting as adults. As we hit our 30s, our groups of friends are getting smaller and smaller (fun fact: We replace half our friend group every seven years as adults!). Life gets busy, people move away, and milestones come at different times. Even though this seems to be universal, it can still feel like something is wrong with us. If we’ve learned anything along our adulting journey, it’s that friendships are crucial to our mental and physical wellbeing. So this week, we’re learning how to prioritize the most underrated of our relationships, how to make new ones, and why it’s so damn hard to maintain friends as an adult. We’re not the experts, so we called in Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. Having spent over a decade researching the science of friendship and helping people live more connected lives, Dr. Miriam is a clinical psychologist, writer, speaker, and leading expert on friendship and social connection. She’s appeared on some of our favourite media outlets, from Call Her Daddy to Vogue and The New York Times.She sits on the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, a media company co-founded by Selena Gomez, and is a member of The GenWell Project, a human connection movement. She also has a private practice and is one of the first and only licensed clinical psychologists to specialize in friendship therapy!Join us as we chat about:Why our friendships dwindle as we ageDr. Miriam’s best tips for making new friendsOvercoming the fear of rejection How many hours it actually takes to establish a true friendshipHow our attachment styles affect our friendshipsAdapting to new life stages and navigating changing relationshipsWhy one friend can’t check every boxHow to prioritize friendships (and why it’s good for your health!)Advice on letting go of friendships that have run their courseWe hope this episode helps you feel less alone and inspires you to get back into the friendship market. Remember, you’ve always got a friend in us!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Dr. Miriam:miriamkirmayer.com@miriamkirmayer
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