Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult

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.

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.

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.

We’re all addicted to our phones — but it turns out it’s not our fault! Author, journalist, and speaker Catherine Price joins hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo to walk us through why we’re so glued to our social media accounts, and what we can do to slowly put down the smartphone and get more out of life. From tips about nixing those notifications to taking up non-phone hobbies, we’ll have you relying on your phone less and less by the minute with this episode. You can read more about Catherine’s plan to get us off our phones and out into the world in her book, “How to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you know there are over 33 million small business owners in the US? If you’re one of them, or considering becoming one, we’re breaking down the basics of filing small business taxes with TurboTax spokesperson and CPA, Lisa Greene-Lewis. You can almost hear it clicking for hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo as Lisa walks us through all we need to know about the different types of small businesses, the deductions you need to know, and much more. Learn more about TurboTax Business support at TurboTax.com/BusinessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Tax Season! We’re celebrating Season 3 of Grown-Up Stuff by filling you in on how to file your taxes. Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo speak with Rus Garofalo of Brass Taxes about how you can save time, money, and your sanity as you tackle your taxes this year. From basic tax terms to loopholes and laws, Rus explains it all to have you feeling confident about your cash this year.  For more information, visit BrassTaxes.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to be a human, especially a grown-up one. But we’re here to make it a little bit easier, and also fun! Hosts Lea Palmieri and Matt Stillo bring you “Grown-Up Stuff” Season 3, where we’ll tackle taxes, make over your morning routine, and get your engines revving for the ultimate way to take care of your car. Your favorite podcast about the adventures of adulthood is back and here to help you be the best human you can be!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been watching a lot of “The Bear” and are inspired to create all the delicious and mind-blowing meals. . . . but first, we must learn to chop before we sauteé.   It’s the Season Two finale, and Molly and Matt are hitting the kitchen with a special guest, the James Beard award-winning J. Kenji López Alt. Yes, chef!  Learn which cooking tools are must-haves, the best ways to defrost meat, and the most common mistakes made in the kitchen. We’re going to help you foster a love for cooking, even if you’re a takeout stan. Cited Sources:  “28% of Americans Can't Cook” - Tufts University, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy - Health & Nutrition Letter  “How Eating Out Contributes to Our Diets” - NESTA “2023 Report: Shifting Consumer Eating Habits and Grocery Shopping Habits” - National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello Grown-ups! We’re taking a quick summer break before our season two finale, but while we’re gone we wanted to reshare one of our favorite episodes from Season 1 of “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult.” It’s a great companion episode to our previous episode about budgeting. So sit back, grill up some hot dogs, watch the fireworks and revisit planning and saving for retirement with our guest, CPA and Asset and Wealth Management Assurance Senior Manager, Jonah Batista from Episode 1 of Season 1 of the podcast.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money can be such a stressful topic, and many of us can feel like we’re always playing catch-up when it comes to our personal finances. Your income never feels substantial enough to get ahead, and budgeting feels intimidating and intense.  With the help of special guests Jannese Torres (“Yo Quiero Dinero” podcast and author of “Financially Lit!”) and Austin Hankwitz (“Rich Habits” podcast and “Rate of Return” Newsletter), Matt and Molly try to make money a little less scary and lean into the importance of financial awareness and tracking.  Learn tips for building a budget and discover which accounts will help you grow your money. Now if only Molly could stop sweating when she looks at a spreadsheet. Do you have a topic or question you want to learn about on the podcast? Send us a note or voice memo to GrownUpStuffPod@gmail.com and we may feature your message on an upcoming episode. Cited Sources:  “Survey: The average American feels they’d need over $200K a year to be financially comfortable” - Bankrate  “Income in the United States: 2022” - US Census Bureau “Bankrate’s 2024 annual emergency savings report” - Bankrate “Lifestyle Creep: How To Avoid the Trap and Save More” - MarketWatch “82% of Americans don’t use this kind of savings account that earns over 5% a year — here’s how much money you may be missing out on” - CNBC Select “American Savings By Generation: How Balances And Goals Vary By Age” - Forbes Advisor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plants are truly incredible. House plants in particular provide so many benefits. They clean the air, increase humidity, and boost moods. They also make our homes look super grown-up. And some of us can use all the help we can get to elevate our apartment decor. But We have to remember that plants are living things that require TLC, but not too much.  In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult, Molly and Matt are learning about the many benefits of indoor plants and how to keep them alive and thriving. Instagram’s Plant Kween, Christopher Griffin shares their knowledge on all things plant parenthood, from finding the best plant for your home to propagation and everything in between. With Christopher’s help, Molly might just stand a chance at keeping a snake plant alive!  Do you have a topic or question you want to learn about on the podcast? Send us a note or voice memo to GrownUpStuffPod@gmail.com and we may feature your message on an upcoming episode.  Cited Sources:  “Effects of Indoor Plants on Human Functions: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses” - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement” - NASA “Interaction with Indoor Plants May Reduce Psychological and Physiological Stress by Suppressing Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Young Adults: a Randomized Crossover Study” - Journal of Physiological Anthropology “Real Foliage Plants as Visual Stimuli to Improve Concentration and Attention in Elementary Students” - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laundry is one of those core adulting skills we should all know how to do. And perhaps, you may be thinking “I’m good, I know how to do laundry.” Trust us; this episode of “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult” is still going to shock and surprise you when it comes to laundry.  Molly and Matt are learning all about common laundry mistakes and helpful hacks from guest experts Kyshawn Lane (The Weekly Home Check on Instagram) and Patric Richardson A.K.A “The Laundry Evangelist” (Host of the TV show “The Laundry Guy,” and author of “Laundry Love”).  Kyshawn and Patric share insights on the importance of properly maintaining washing machines and dryers, using the right amount of detergent, avoiding fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and staying present and not panicking about stains. Do you have a topic or question you want to learn about on the podcast? Send us a note or voice memo to GrownUpStuffPod@gmail.com and we may feature your message on an upcoming episode.  Cited Sources:  “Loads of Fun? Survey Finds Laundry Tops List of America’s Favorite Cleaning Tasks” - The American Cleaning Institute “SWASH: Laundry Time” - OnePoll “CDC —Phthalates Factsheet - b1” HHS and CDC “Phthalates Fact Sheet” - Biomonitoring California “This Chemical Can Impair Fertility, but It’s Hard to Avoid” - The New York Times “How Often You Really Need to Wash Clothes to Keep Them Clean” - Real Simple See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you ready to take on all the grown-up responsibilities of dog ownership? One of the best things about being an adult is you get to make all the decisions for yourself, like eating ice cream for dinner, staying up late to watch a scary movie and finally getting a puppy. But each of these decisions comes with responsibilities and consequences; the biggest of which is becoming a puppy parent. They’re cute and fluffy, loving and loyal, but they require your time, energy, attention and money.  Matt and Molly are joined by certified professional dog trainer and dog behavior consultant Irith Bloom. Figure out just how much of your time, money, and home you should set aside for your new furry best friend. And learn some of the most important lessons to teach your dog.  Cited Sources:  “Industry Trends and Stats” - American Pet Products Association “About Half of U.S. Owers Say Their Pets Are as Much a part of Their Family as a Human Member” - Pew Research Center “The Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2024” - The Dog People Powered by Rover.com “Cost of Dog Ownership Statistics 2024” - USA Today  “81% of Pet Owners with Pet Insurance Report It’s Worth It” - Marketwatch “Setting Schedules and Developing a Routine for Your New Puppy” - American Kennel Club “Puppy Socialization: Why, When, and How to Do it Right” - American Kennel Club “Visual Communication: How Different Breeds Seek Eye Contact” - American Kennel Club Do you have grown-up stuff that you want to figure out and learn more about? Send us an email or voice memo with your ideas and questions to grownupstuffpod@gmail.com You may hear your question on an upcoming episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tipping, it’s complicated. With so many more tip jars and digital tipping options available, it can often be confusing to figure out what goods or services you should always be tipping on and how much. Well, turns out tipping culture is pretty complex and spoiler alert, there isn’t always one set of straightforward rules to follow.  With the help of special guest Stacey Vanek Smith (Bloomberg Audio, NPR’s “Planet Money” and “The Indicator,” APM’s “Marketplace,” and author of the book “Machiavelli for Women: Defend Your Worth, Grow Your Ambition, and Win the Workplace”), Matt and Molly explore the nuances of tipping and some of the signs to look for and consider when that screen turns in their direction. Plus, learn about what a subminimum wage is, the origins of tipping, and how to embrace the custom tip option.  Cited Sources:  “Tipping Culture in America: Public Sees a Changed Landscape” - Pew Research Center “Do You Tip More or Less Often Than the Average American?” - Pew Research Center “Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees” - U.S. Department of Labor “Did COVID-19 Pandemic Dampen Americans’ Tipping for Food Services? Insights from Two Studies” - Compensation & Benefits Review “Technology May Turn You Into A Bigger Tipper” - NPR’s “Morning Edition” Do you have grown-up stuff that you want to figure out and learn more about? Send us an email or voice memo with your ideas and questions to grownupstuffpod@gmail.com You may hear your question on an upcoming episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So your friends are getting married, and they’ve asked you to stand up at their wedding. . . in some ways, this can be a rite of passage for many grown-ups. It can feel like an honor. But it can also be a lot to take on, too. What are the actual expectations of a wedding attendant (i.e. bridesmaid, groomsman, MOH, or best man)?  Lizzie Post from the Emily Post Institute returns to the podcast to teach Molly and Matt about the roles and responsibilities of a wedding party: Who’s included, what to budget for, and which events you actually need to attend.    Cited Sources:  “21 Surprising Historical Duties of the Wedding Party” - Mental Floss “Couples Spend an Average of $33,391 on Weddings, Incorporating Cultural, Religious and Personalized Elements, According to The Knot 2017 Real Weddings Study” The Knot World Wide Do you have grown-up stuff that you want to figure out and learn more about? Send us an email or voice memo with your ideas and questions to grownupstuffpod@gmail.com You may hear your question on an upcoming episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.