How To!

Solving life’s problems, one question at a time.

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About the Show

What if Dear Abby were an investigative reporter? Each week, David Epstein (bestselling author of Range and The Sports Gene) takes on listeners’ toughest problems and, with the help of experts, finds the answers to questions you’ve always wanted to ask but couldn’t. Until now.

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Have you found the advice on our podcast helpful? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might play it on the air.

Hosts

David Epstein is a science writer and the host of How To! He is the author of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World and of the bestseller The Sports Gene. He was previously an investigative reporter at ProPublica and senior writer at Sports Illustrated.

Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and the host emeritus of How To! He is also the author of bestsellers The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, and writes for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, and other publications.

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I’m ready to retire but scared of what’s next.

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I stopped believing, and now my family barely talks to me.

How To Steal Back Your Identity

My fiancé lied to me for years. Can I ever trust anyone again?

How To Be a Badass on and off the Court

My aversion to competition is holding back my tennis game—and my career.

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Words of wisdom for an especially difficult year.

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I’m feeling tired and uninspired in the kitchen.

How To Get Your Dog to Stop Eating Your Daughters’ Underwear With Jenny Slate

My dog—and my kids—are both to blame for this embarrassing habit.

How To Get Out of Debt Faster Than You Think

From student loans to credit cards, I’m drowning in debt. How do I stay afloat?

How To Face Your Fear of Dying

I’m a comedy writer who can’t stop imagining my own death.

How To Save Your Marriage

Amid a pregnancy, a lost job and a pandemic, we’re at a breaking point.

How To Rescue Someone From a Conspiracy Theory

My dad believes some pretty wild stuff. How do I talk him off the ledge?

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My girlfriend wants to sleep with other people. I’m not sure I’m okay with that.

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I watched the movie starring Julia Roberts. Now how do I actually change things?

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My boyfriend says I’m turning into my overly dramatic mom. Is it too late?

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I’m a political volunteer. How do I convince people to actually cast a ballot?

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The former U.S. Representative is still battling the fallout from her scandal.

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My parents are die-hard Trump fans. I can’t stand him. How do we make this work?