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)

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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.