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!

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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!

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Your epidermis is showing! So give it a good wash with a gentle cleanser, moisturize and slather on the sunscreen cause Matt and Molly are back for Season 2 and learning all about skincare. No matter what your gender, age or location, listen up because your skin needs attention, love and protection. Jennifer Sullivan, beauty columnist for The Cut at New York Magazine and co-host of the podcast “Fat Mascara” talks pimples, exfoliants, oils and skin checks. Plus, find out how often you should be changing the washcloth you wash your face with and why you might want to think twice about washing your face in the shower.

Cited Sources:

• “10 Surprising Things About Your Skin” - Skin Cancer Foundation
• Skin Conditions - Acne - Yale Medicine
• “Moisturizers: The Slippery Road” - Indian Journal of Dermatology
• “The Beauty Market in 20203: A Special State of Fashion Report” - McKinsey & Company
• “Skincare Products Market is Expected to Reach US$ 213,363.09 million by 2028” - The Insight Partners

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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The work of a grown-up is never done. There’s always something we’ve got to figure out, navigate, or just straight-up accomplish. And thankfully, your favorite podcast about how to win adulthood is back. “Grown-Up Stuff: How To Adult” returns for Season Two on March 26th with even more life lessons! Join Matt and Molly as they learn about everything from the importance a good skincare routine to understanding rules around tipping. Come for the information, but stay for the glow-up.

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It’s our Season One Finale and we’re going out with a budget-friendly banger! We’re going to figure out how to grocery shop like heroes, and we’re not talking about the sandwich.

With the help of consumer and food trends expert and “Supermarket Guru” Phil Lempert, Molly and Matt learn how to reign in impulse buying, find the best deals and discounts, and change their shopping habits to avoid food waste.

Also, learn why you should buy frozen fish in the freezer section instead of the “fresh” stuff at the seafood counter and re-examine those water misters in the produce section.

Sources Cited:

• • The Food Industry Association (FMI) - “The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023”
  • “The Paradox of Choice - Barry Schwartz
  • US Food and Drug Administration - “Are You Storing Your Food Safely?”

• Real Simple - “The Ultimate Guide to Storing Every Type of Food in the Refridgerator for Long-Lasting Freshness”

• The Environmental Working Group - “EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™”
• Mayo Clinic - “Organic Foods: Are they Safer? More Nutritious?
• Consumer Reports - “Cage-Free vs. Free Range –and Other Egg Carton Labels–Explained”

Additional References:

• NPR - “California Becomes the First State to Ban 4 Food Additives Linked to Disease”
• Yuka App
• How Good App

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Do you know how often you should rotate the tires on your car? What about when it comes to checking your oil? And do you know what it means when your “check engine” light appears? Not only does it feel grown-up to know how to maintain your car, but with winter coming (and winter IS coming), car maintenance is a very real necessity when it comes to keeping it running smoothly.

In this episode of “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult,” Matt and Molly are joined once again by CarTalk’s Jamie Page Deaton as they discuss the dos and dont’s of car maintenance. Learn how and how often you should wash your car in the winter, what type of gas your car actually needs, and the one thing about electric vehicle maintenance that dealerships don’t want you to know.

Sources Cited:

• 2021 US Census Data
• U.S. Department of Transportation: Bureau of Transportation Statistics "Automobile Profile,"
• “How Much Routine Car Mainten ance Costs” - Nerd Wallet
• “Can You Wash Your Car in Winter?” - AAA
• “Here’s How Much the Average Car Repair Costs Now” - Kelly Blue Book
• National Average Gas Prices - AAA

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