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Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show)

Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show)

724 episodes — Page 1 of 15

How to Savor Your Summer Trip

Jun 24, 202612 min

Get Your Tickets for Weirdly Helpful Live on July 29th in Berkley, Michigan!

Jun 19, 20261 min

Two Prospective Parents Wander in the Desert, Debating the Future

Jun 17, 202619 min

Try This Delightful Dinner Party Maneuver with Dan Heath

Jun 10, 202617 min

Why Asking Weirder Questions is an Exercise in Accessing Dignity with Megan Saxelby

Jun 3, 202614 min

How To Make Friends and Find Your People

May 27, 202620 min

Visit the Most Primal, Teenage Part of Yourself with Maggie Lyons

May 20, 202614 min

Bless the Phone with Ross Simonini

May 13, 202620 min

Introducing: No Such Thing

May 6, 202613 min

Navigating Domestic Administration with Clarity and Kindness

May 6, 202611 min

Farting for Relief and Walking for Peace in Our Fragmented World

Apr 29, 202617 min

How Understanding Your Brain Chemistry Can Change Your Life

Apr 22, 202620 min

How to Make it Work as a Young Artist

Apr 15, 202620 min

Inventing Play & Three Ideas to Curb Self-Mutilation with Laura Hawley

Apr 8, 202615 min

Play the Tape All the Way Through with Eric Zimmer + The Battle of Night Guy Vs Morning Guy with Jerry Seinfeld

Eric Zimmer is an author, teacher, speaker, and the creator of The One You Feed podcast—an award-winning show with over 50 million downloads across 800+ conversations exploring meaningful living. His new book is How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life. --- Billy Oppenheimer is a writer and research assistant to Ryan Holiday based in Austin, TX. Every Sunday at 6 AM (CT) Billy sends out an email with SIX things he's learned, thought were interesting, or found useful. SUBSCRIBE HERE. --- COMEDIAN - A look at the work of two stand-up comics, Jerry Seinfeld and a lesser-known newcomer, detailing the effort and frustration behind putting together a successful act and career while living a life on the road. --- Hasan Minaj on the Gary Vee Audio Experience --- Listen to WH ad-free by becoming a patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 202619 min

The Transcendental Power of Wiggling with Toogie Barcelo

On today's episode, Toogie Barcelo shares her unique approach to movement, creativity, and emotional well-being through the power of wiggling! Toogie is a ⁠dancer⁠, ⁠choreographer⁠, ⁠movement director⁠, ⁠certified breath & meditation coach⁠, ⁠educator⁠, and emerging ⁠director for film⁠ and ⁠immersive performance⁠. Go to the ⁠Wiggle Room⁠ if you're in LA! -Watch an Impala Wiggle --- Related from the Weirdly Helpful archive: Let Your Voice Break with Abigail Bengson --- Become a Weirdly Helpful patron and access the show ad-free today @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 202623 min

99 Ways to Die (and how to avoid them⁠) with Dr. Ashley Alker

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Discover practical tips and surprising truths that can help you and your loved ones stay safe and informed with Dr. Ashely Alker, author of ⁠99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them⁠ and an emergency medicine physician on a mission to improve public health. --- Pooping with Dr. Kira Newman --- Support Weirdly Helpful and listen to the show ad-free by becoming a Patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 202618 min

Why I'm Not Using the Word "Crazy" Anymore (and Why You Should Just Say What You Actually Mean) with Dessa Cosma

Dessa Cosma is executive director of Detroit Disability Power. Today she schools Zak on the importance of pride-forward language, especially around disability and shares practical tips on self-correction, evolving language, and fostering respect for disability identity. --- SUPPORT WEIRDLY HELPFUL and listen to the show without ads by becoming a Patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 202621 min

This is How to Aura Farm Without Being Overly Cringe

Natalie and Jacob are sibling youths from Texas. --- SUPPORT WEIRDLY HELPFUL and listen to the show without ads by becoming a Patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 202614 min

Become a Receiving Station for Overwhelming Transmissions with Dr. Ramzi Fawaz

Ramzi Fawaz is an award-winning queer cultural critic, educator, podcaster, and public speaker. He is a Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and host of the podcast Nerd from the Future which introduces you to the best ideas and insights from the nation's leading humanities professors. In June, Ramzi is leading a 5-day workshop at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California callled The Thrill of Groundlessness: Flowing Through Life Without Absolutes. ENROLL HERE! --- Listen to Weirdly Helpful ad-free by becoming a patron today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 202614 min

Stop Feeling Guilty About Your Guilty Pleasures with Fabiola Lara

Fabiola Lara is a Chilean-born, Florida-raised artist! She lives in flux of feeling simultaneously too American to be Chilean and too Chilean to be American, and is constantly navigating her identity as a white Latinx and recent US-citizen. This episode originally aired in 2022. SUPPORT WEIRDLY HELPFUL AND LISTEN TO THE SHOW AD-FREE BY BECOMING A PATRON RIGHT @ VERY MOMENT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 202610 min

This Insight WILL CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP FOREVER! (For real for real).

Dedeker Winston is a co-host of Mulitamory, relationship coach, writer, and advocate for polyamory and non-traditional relationships. She is the author ofThe Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory: Everything You Need to Know about Open Relationships, Non-Monogamy, and Alternative Love, published by Skyhorse Press. This episode originally ran in 2023. Shira Heisler is a prolific and longtime contributor to the show. She was last on to share about talking through grief. Her advice from today's episode is from 2020. ---Wanna help Zak continue making this show? Become a Weird Helpful right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 202611 min

Young Butt Cut Zak Confronts His Childhood Creative Monster with ⁠Lauren LoGrasso

Lauren LoGrasso is a multi-passionate creative with experience as a keynote speaker, creative coach and musician. She's the creator and host of Unleash Your Inner Creative. --- Become a Weirdly Helpful Patron and access the show ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 4, 202615 min

Is Whistling Protected By First Amendment Rights? + An Incantation for Restoring Democracy

Audio from pt. 1 of today's episode comes from this YouTube live event presented by No Kings called Eyes on ICE: Document and Record. You can watch the whole thing here. --- No Kings Welcome to the Adopt a Day Labor Corner Campaign We The People Activist Toolkit --- M. Cristina Marras is an audio producer and sound artist living in Sardinia, Italy. She authored the Incantation for Restoring Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 202614 min

How Much Capacity Do You Have Today? with Bridget Thoreson

Bridget Thoreson is an award-winning journalist, executive, and creator of the Career River framework. Check out her Weirdly Helpful episode about floating down the career river. --- Listen to WH ad-free by becoming a Patron today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 202613 min

Step Into the Slipstream of History and Get Jacked with Dr. Conor Heffernan

Conor Heffernan is Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Ulster University, UK, and Chair of the British Society of Sports History. His new book is When Fitness Went Global: The Rise of Physical Culture in the 19th Century. Conor has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles and runs a history of fitness website @Physical Culture Study. Find him on Bluesky @PhysCstudy --- The Quest to Pick Up the Lost Lifting Stones of Ireland in GQ --- LISTEN TO WEIRDLY HELPFUL AD-FREE BY BECOMING A PATRON TODAY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 202612 min

"Hey Buddy!" Let's Talk About Why You Feel Doomed with Andy J. Pizza

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Andy J. Pizza is a New York Times Bestselling author-illustrator of many books for children and adults such as "Invisible Things" and "A Pizza with Everything On It". Pizza is also the creator of the popular podcast Creative Pep Talk. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and three kids. He was last on the show talking about getting high on your own supply. --- LISTEN TO WEIRDLY HELPFUL AD-FREE BY BECOMING A PATRON TODAY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 202611 min

Resolutions Smesolutions! Ta Ta 2025.

Happiest and healthiest of New Years to you and yours! Thank you for listening. Love, z ⁠SUPPORT WEIRDLY HELPFUL BY BECOMING A PATRON RIGHT NOW. Todays episode features morsels from the following Weirdly Helpers... Compare Yourself to Yourself with Billie Lundt You Don't Need to Feel Good to Get Going with Brad Stalburg Do The Hard Thing First with Tiffany Paulsen Drive-By Huggers with Brian Passell Meditation with Jen Kimchiano Shower Belly with Lauren Passell Morning Joy Practice with Brandi Stanley Don't Wish Your Life Away with Lilly Turmelle --- This episode is supported by Schedule 35. Get 15% off all orders with code BESTADVICE at Schedule35.co - That’s 15% off at Schedule35.co and use code BESTADVICE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 202522 min

How to Take Control of your News Diet with Rekha Murthy (PLUS: How much does Zak earn from Weirdly Helpful?)

Rekha Murthy is a podcast strategist with more than 25 years of experience in podcasting, public radio, and other digital media. SOURCES MENTIONED: -On Tyranny by Tim Snyder -You Need a Manifesto: How to Craft Your Convictions and Put Them to Work by Charlotte Burgress-Auburn -The.Ink by Anand Giridharadas -Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson --- Support Weirdly Helpful by coming a patron today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 24, 202517 min

Friendship Conflict, Grief Practices, Family Cookbooks, Guilt-Free Gift Giving and more with Zak on Michigan Public!

Zak went on Michigan Public's daily show Stateside to share some weirdly helpful end of year rituals and practices. He shares that segment today. Stateside covers what you need (and want) to know about Michigan. You hear stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids. Tune in every day for in-depth conversations that matter to Michigan. Stateside is hosted by April Baer and produced by Mike Blank and Ronia Cabansag Subscribe to Stateside on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a station. LISTEN TO WEIRDLY HELPFUL AD-FREE BY BECOMING A PATRON TODAY. GET A WH MUG THERE TOO! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 202519 min

A Fun Alternative for Surviving Our Disastrous Times with Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon is a writer who draws. He’s the bestselling author of Steal Like An Artist and other books - Austin's essay on Meeker's work, The Comedy of Survival. Ann Friedman (@AnnFreidman) is the co-author Big Friendship and creator of the excellent The Ann Freidman Weekly newsletter. Sign up here. For an ad-free Weirdly Helpful listening experience become a helpful weirdo @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 202510 min

Let's Meet at the Corner of Mindfulness and Playfulness

Zak's Weirdly Helpful guru, Laura Hawley, returns to the show to share a transcendent and fun gift-giving practice. Hear Laura on howling and bus art. BECOME A WEIRD HELPER and GET AD-FREE EPISODES @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 3, 202513 min

The Weirdly Helpful Gratitude Hour

Weirdly Helpful advice on today's episode comes from Lainey, Margo, Rabbi Yoni and Zak! --- If you have a response to Morty's voice memo, send me something at [email protected] or call the hotline @ 844-935-2378 --- Become at Weirdly Helpful Supporter @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful --- This episode is brought to you with support from Uncommon Goods. To get 15% off your next gift, go to www.uncommongoods.com/podcast/bestadvice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 202513 min

Make a List of Your Enemies to Articulate Who You're Not! with Emma Martin

Emma Martin is a painter and workshop facilitator from Chicago. Check out her work! She was last on the show dishing on indecision. Become a WEIRDLY HELPFUL Patron @ https://www.patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful --- Past episodes referenced in today's episode... Try These Witchy, Water-based Maneuvers to Improve Your Life with Dr. MLE Manifesting Someone To Watch Over You with Cassandra Jenkins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 20257 min

What's the Deal with Handshaking in 2025?

Lizzie Post is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and author of Emily Post's Etiquette - The Centennial Edition, and Higher Etiquette, as well as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette 6th edition, and The Etiquette Advantage in Business 3rd edition. She is a co-president of the Emily Post Institute focusing on publishing and business development. Lizzie and her cousin Daniel co-host the Awesome Etiquette podcast, a weekly Q&A show that explores the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect, and honesty. Daniel Post Senning is the great-great grandson of Emily Post and a co-author of ⁠Emily Post’s Etiquette - The Centennial Edition⁠ and ⁠Emily Post's Business Etiquette⁠. He is also the author of ⁠Manners in a Digital World: Living Well Online⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 202513 min

A weirdly helpful way to deal with the negative voice in your head with Dr. Ellen Hendriksen

DR. ELLEN HENDRIKSEN (she/her) is a clinical psychologist who will help you calm your anxiety and be your authentic self. She serves on the faculty at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) and is the author of HOW TO BE ENOUGH: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists. Tell Zak what YOU ARE FINDING WEIRDLY HELPFUL @ 844 935 2378 Listen to this show ad free by becoming a supporter @ patreon.com/weirdlyhelpful This episode is brought to you with support from Uncommon Goods. Toget 15% off your next gift, go to www.uncommongoods.com/podcast/bestadvice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 202512 min

The Best Advice Show is Dead. This is Weirdly Helpful!

Zak is excited to present Weirdly Helpful, the spiritual successor to The Best Advice Show. On this first episode, Zak talks to artist and therapist, Laura Hawley whose advice from 2020 inspired the new show title. --- This episode is brought to you with support from Uncommon Goods. To get 15% off your next gift, go to www.uncommongoods.com/podcast/bestadvice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 202512 min

This is WEIRDLY HELPFUL!

trailer

Welcome to Weirdly Helpful. It's like The Best Advice show just weirder. In each episode a different contributor offers an odd experiment, a silly ritual, a curious practice that you’ll find weirdly helpful. Stuff like howling when you're despondent, eating oranges in the shower and metaphorically flushing your adversary down the toilet! What are you finding weirdly helpful during these trying times? CALL ZAK ON THE WEIRDLY HELPLINE and spill your guts @ 844-935-2378 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 20254 min

If Ambition Is Making You Unhappy with Courtney Daniels

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This is an episode of a new podcast I really like called Gen X at Midlife. The show was created by TBAS contributor, Courtney Daniels. In this episode she talks to her longtime friend Tess Hawes about her experience of midlife crisis, Courtney's self-rejecting ambition, Tess' divorce and career pivot, and how to get out of depression. They touch on the book "Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life" by James Hollis, "Mind Your Body" by Nicole Sachs, and Courtney's therapist, Lisa Chen, whom she highly recommends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 202534 min

The True Meaning of Discipline with John Cage and Mason Currey

Today's episode is based on Mason Currey's piece, John Cage on the true meaning of discipline. You should subscribe to Mason's essential newsletter, Subtle Maneuvers. And here's his piece about totally insane, unhinged, helpful strategies. Mason's book, Making Art and Making a Living is available for pre-order here. The John Cage interview excerpts come from The Internet Archive. Hear the whole thing @John Cage interviewed by Jack Hirschman in Los Angeles, 1963. Mason was last on TBAS talking about procrastinating properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 202516 min

Dogs and Berries Are Miracles. Why Not Combine Them?

Leora is a doctor and dog lover and berry lover. This advice originally aired back in August of 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 20254 min

You Don't Need To Remember Everything with Susannah Goodman

Susannah Goodman is an artist and potter and community organizer in Detroit. --- Leftovering with Susannah Goodman Noticing with Susannah Goodman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 1, 20257 min

Zak interviews his hero Jonathan Goldstein

I originally interviewed Jonathan Goldstein, creator and host of the greatest podcast of all time, Heavyweight, back in 2017 for Transom.org. I'm playing it here to celebrate Heavyweight's grand return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 202528 min

This Experiment Will Help You Move From Procrastinating to Creating with Malaka Gharib

Malaka Gharib is a writer, journalist, and cartoonist. She is the author of I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir, winner of an Arab American Book Award and named one of the best books of the year by NPR, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, and the New York Public Library. By day, she works on NPR’s science desk, covering the topic of global health and development. Her comics, zines, and writing have been published in NPR, Catapult, The Seventh Wave Magazine, The Nib, The Believer, and The New Yorker. --- Mason Currey's Daily Rituals: How Artists Work --- Brad Stulburg on not needing to feel good to get going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 20257 min

Don't Wish Your Life Away with Lilly Turmelle

Lilly Turmelle is a Maine-based creative and lifelong explorer. After calling many different countries home, she now lives on the Maine coast with her partner and their two-year-old son, embracing a simple life by the sea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 10, 20257 min

Tweenage Advice on Fear, Boredom, Crushes, Stress, Grief and Soup Dumplings

Naja, Sebastian, Asia, Jessica, Lenzia and Zora were just finishing 8th grade when this episode aired in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 3, 202511 min

It's About How You Listen, How You Interpret, How You Care with Jay Allison and Erica Heilman

This is a conversation from the divine podcast, Rumble Strip. It features Jay Allison about the recent attack on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Recently, Congress passed a rescission bill that eliminates $9 billion in previously allocated funding, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which effectively defunds public media, which includes NPR, PBS and member stations around the country. This is a conversation about what that means and what we stand to lose. Jay Allison has been working in and around public radio since it’s beginnings a half century ago. He's been an independent public radio producer, journalist, and teacher since the 1970s. He is the founder of Transom, where I learned to make radio, and 25 years ago he founded WCAI, a public radio station in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Jay's work has won most of the major broadcasting awards, including six Peabodys. He produces The Moth Radio Hour and was the curator of This I Believe on NPR. Links Adopt a Station: Where you can donate to your local public radio station or find stations to support Transom: The place where good radio begins Information on Transom story trainings Recent New York Times interview with Bill Siemering about the fate of public radio Rumble Strip episode w Jay called Fishing with Jay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 27, 202527 min

When There Might Not Be a Solution with Dr. Chioke I'Anson⁠

Dr. Chioke I'Anson is the visionary force behind the establishment of the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, an innovative collaboration between Virginia Public Media and the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU. He's also the founder of RESONATE Podcast Festival Congress has voted to rescind public media's funding. Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 20, 202514 min

How To Plant a Garden with Limited Space and Time with Alice Bagley

Alice Bagley is a farmer, biker and time banker based in Detroit. She was last on the show. Don't miss her episode from 5 years ago on the joyus virtues of throwing seeds! Courtney Daniels is a filmamker and author based in LA. Her new podcast is called Gen X at Midlife, where she talks to people about their experience of life after 50. Subscribe wherever you listen to TBAS! She was last on the show discussing the importance of a good cry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 13, 20258 min

Begin Your Day with Discomfort

Teresa Gretsen and Naomi Kreitman are friends based in Amsterdam who love to swim. READ THIS COLD WATER SWIMMING GUIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 6, 20258 min