Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

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Welcome to Advice to My Younger SELF! Join SELF’s editor-in-chief, Rachel Miller, as she interviews SELF’s cover stars about the life lessons they wish they’d learned earlier.

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Top 10 Advice to My Younger Self | SELF Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Advice to My Younger Self | SELF episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Advice to My Younger Self | SELF for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Advice to My Younger Self | SELF episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Thanksgiving Special: Dinner SOS

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

11/22/22 • 38 min

A last-minute party with no menu inspiration. A kitchen with no space. A toddler who will only eat buttered pasta. Name your dinner emergency—Bon Appétit is here to help. Dinner SOS is the podcast where we answer desperate home cooks' cries for help. In every episode, food director Chris Morocco and a rotating cast of cooking experts tackle a highly specific conundrum and present two solutions. The caller will pick one, cook through it, and let us know if we successfully helped rescue dinner. Call in with your own dinner emergencies—no problem is too big or too small! For the recipes featured in Dinner SOS and more, head to bonappetit.com or the new Epicurious App. Just search Epicurious in the Apple App Store and download today. You can find episodes of our previous podcast, Food People, here.

Dinner SOS is available now via this link or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Introducing: Women Who Travel

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

10/03/22 • 10 min

Though travel and adventure have historically been publicly claimed by men, women have always been part of those narratives, too. Each week, host and Condé Nast Traveler editor Lale Arikoglu shines a light on some of those stories, interviewing female-identifying guests about their most unique travel tales—from going off-grid in the Danish wilderness to country-hopping solo—sharing her own experiences traveling around the globe, and tapping listeners to contribute their own memorable stories. This is a podcast for anyone who is curious about the world—and excited to explore places both near and far from home.

Listen and follow Women Who Travel.

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The (New) Rules of Dating

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

05/10/21 • 25 min

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Loree, who is unsure about how to navigate dating right now. Online dating could be difficult even before the pandemic. Now, trust is even trickier to establish when it comes to things like vaccination status, caution levels, and boundaries. Not to mention how daunting dating again can be after so much social isolation. To help Loree figure it all out, Zahra first consults SELF senior health editor Patia Braithwaite about what she’s noticed in her coverage of dating life since the pandemic began. Then Zahra chats with Traci Medeiros-Bagan, L.M.F.T., a relationship therapist based out of California. They give advice on how to have these tricky conversations with someone you’re interested in, and how to figure out your own boundaries during this time.

You can read Patia’s work at SELF here, and follow her on Twitter @PdorBRaithw8.

You can learn more about Traci’s work on their website: http://compassionaterevolt.com/

Check out these SELF articles about dating during this time and the many questions it brings up:

Pandemic Dating Is Hard--But Hasn’t It Always Been Difficult? (https://www.self.com/story/dating-during-pandemic)

9 Ways Non-Monogamous People Are Dealing With the Pandemic (https://www.self.com/story/non-monogamous-pandemic-dating)

How To Deal If Being Single Has You Worried About “Biological Clocks” and Timelines (https://www.self.com/story/being-single-stress-about-the-future)

16 Quarantine Date Ideas That Are Actually Really Great

(https://www.self.com/story/quarantine-date-ideas)

I Book Club with Bumble Matches--Here’s What I’ve Learned

(https://www.self.com/story/bumble-book-club)

Road Test: I Tried Hinge’s Virtual Date Night Kit

(https://www.self.com/story/hinge-virtual-date-kit)

Is Your Rebound Relationship Actually Harmful?

(https://www.self.com/story/rebound-relationship)

Yes, Your Situationship Breakup Is Real

(https://www.self.com/story/situationship-breakup)

16 Intriguing Dating Apps To Try If You Want To Meet Someone New

(https://www.self.com/story/16-dating-apps)

Everything Isn’t A Red Flag--Here’s How to Tell the Difference

(dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

What Is 'Healthy Eating', Anyway?

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

01/18/21 • 24 min

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Robert, a listener whose doctor has told him that he should lose weight in order to bring down his high blood pressure. Robert’s loved ones also frequently make hurtful comments about his body size. He wants to know: Is weight loss the best or only option for him? To find out, Carolyn consults with Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, registered dietitians, SELF columnists, and hosts of the podcast Food Heaven. Wendy and Jess explain why focusing on weight loss can often do more harm than good. They also discuss alternative approaches such as intuitive eating and health at every size (HAES), as well as tips for navigating fatphobia from healthcare providers and loved ones.

To connect with Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, you can follow them @foodheaven, read their columns for SELF here and here, or listen to their podcast, Food Heaven.

SELF also has lots of information about Intuitive Eating, including debunking myths about what intuitive eating can actually do, and a personal essay from someone who’s tried it.

You can also read work from self-proclaimed “anti-diet dietitian,” Christy Harrison here, or listen to her podcast, Food Psych.

Lindo Bacon, who Wendy and Jess mention during the podcast, is the author of Health at Every Size, and is an intersectional body liberation advocate. Follow them here.

Writer Aubrey Gordon, who, at the time of this podcast recording, was identified only by her pseudonym Your Fat Friend, writes a column for SELF here. You can follow her @yourfatfriend, read more about why she decided to go public with her name, or check out her book, What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, for support, information, and treatment options, contact the National Eating Disorders Association helpline. For crisis situations, text “NEDA” to 741741 to be connected with a trained volunteer at Crisis Text Line.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple

Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify

Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Bonus: Get Grounded: Tips and Techniques for Staying More Relaxed

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

07/12/21 • 31 min

In this bonus episode, Dr. Mariel Buquè is back, sitting down with Zahra to talk about how to stay more relaxed throughout our workdays. Dr. Buquè talks about why reducing stress can be such a challenge, offering tips and techniques for staying grounded. She then takes us through a guided mindfulness exercise.

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Bonus: Busting Myths About COVID-19 Vaccines and Black and Latinx Communities

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

07/05/21 • 47 min

In this bonus episode, we’re continuing our coverage of the COVID-19 vaccines. We revisit a panel that Zahra hosted with David Kaufman, digital director at Architectural Digest, about myths and myth-busting around the vaccines and Black and Latinx communities. Along with experts Dr. Leon McDougle, Dr. Gbenga Ogedegbe, and registered nurse Sandra Lindsay, they discuss how to address inequitable vaccine access, the valid questions many people may have about these vaccines, and much more.

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Becoming Your Own Advocate

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

05/17/21 • 30 min

In our last episode of the season, we hear from Victoria, an archivist who was forced to find answers on her own about her endometriosis. Like many others diagnosed with a chronic illness, she’s faced multiple hurdles while navigating the medical system. Even though she’s learned a lot along the way, she wants to know how to continue to advocate for herself to her doctor—and how she can advocate for others in similar positions as well. Zahra consults Lauren Selfridge, L.M.F.T., a psychotherapist with multiple sclerosis and the host of This Is Not What I Ordered, a podcast about “full-hearted” living with chronic illness. Lauren shares her experience with multiple sclerosis, and how to find empathetic medical professionals who take you seriously, and the power of a good second opinion.

You can learn more about Lauren’s work at her website (https://laurenselfridge.com) and you can follow her on Instagram @laurenselfridgeofficical (https://www.instagram.com/laurenselfridgeofficial/?hl=en).

You can listen to her podcast This Is Not What I Ordered wherever you get your podcasts.

Here are some SELF resources and articles about navigating life when you have a chronic illness:

Opening Up About Your Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/checking-in-podcast-multiple-sclerosis)

Writing A Chronic Illness Elevator Pitch Has Made My Doctor’s Appointments So Much Easier

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-elevator-pitch)

Let’s Talk About Dating and Relationships When You Have a Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/checking-in-podcast-sex-love-sleep-apnea)

For People with Chronic Illness, Social Isolation Is Nothing New

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-social-isolation-coronavirus)

I’m Furious That It Took Almost a Decade to Diagnose My Chronic Pain

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-pain-ankylosing-spondylitis)

If It Isn’t Chronic Lyme, What Is It?

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-lyme)

How to Support a Friend Who’s Just Been Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/support-friend-chronic-illness)

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple

Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify

Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/chec... Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Healing Powers of Gratitude and Joy, featuring Kristen Bell

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

05/03/21 • 32 min

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Jenna, a listener who has a question many of us feel deep down during this time: How can we help ourselves feel better when the world is basically a dumpster fire? Sometimes, adding even just one more thing to your to-do list feels insurmountable. Zahra consults Mariel Buqué, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and holistic mental health expert based in NYC. She’s been helping her clients adjust to pandemic life stressors, particularly by emphasizing the connection between mind, body, and soul. Dr. Buqué offers some practical tips for incorporating gratitude and joy into your life so that you actually feel better—without veering into toxic positivity. After that, Zahra chats with actor and mental health advocate Kristen Bell, who is also SELF’s May digital cover star. They discuss how to set up a personal toolkit to deal with life in an overwhelming world, why Bell is a big fan of gratitude lists, and how she tries to find contentment in her day-to-day life.

You can learn more about Mariel Buqué’s work here, and you can follow her on Instagram @dr.marielbuque.

You can follow Kristen Bell on Instagram @kristenanniebell and on Twitter @KristenBell. And here’s SELF’s May digital cover, featuring Bell discussing everything from parenting in a pandemic to how her husband, Dax Shepard, helps her cope with anxiety and depression.

For some helpful tips on how to begin a gratitude practice and how to try to find joy even when the world feels pretty awful, check out these articles:

The Healing Powers of Gratitude

4 Small Ways to Practice Gratitude Every Day

Please Celebrate Yourself—Even During a Pandemic

Black Joy Isn’t Frivolous--It’s Necessary

In Praise of Black People Laughing

What Is Resilience, and Can It Help Us Bounce Back From This?

13 Small but Impactful Ways to Cultivate Resilience

And here are some of the resources we mentioned for navigating really tough feelings in a way that goes beyond gratitude and joy:

7 Ways to Find an Actually Affordable Therapist

10 Online Support Groups for Anyone Struggling to Get Through 2020

41 Mental Health Apps That Will Make Life a Little Easier

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple

Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify

Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it here.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How to Actually Start Meditating

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

04/19/21 • 30 min

In this episode we hear from Nan, a young woman who is trying to figure out if meditation is right for her. Zahra consults with SELF’s health editor, Carolyn Todd, who has reported extensively on what meditation can and can’t do for your health. Then Zahra speaks with a mindfulness meditation teacher, Kriste Peoples, who walks us through what starting a meditation practice can look like and talks about her work facilitating meditation for people of color.

You can follow Carolyn @CarolynLTodd on Twitter, and read more of her work here: https://www.self.com/contributor/carolyn-todd

You can learn more about Kriste’s many roles on her website: https://kristepeoples.com. And you can follow her on Instagram @kristepeoples.

Here are some meditation apps:

Liberate is a subscription-based meditation app that includes practices and talks designed for the Black community. According to their website, they have curated content from 40+ teachers of color with a diverse background in lineage, perspective, and approach, so that everyone can find a practice in their voice.

Headspace is a subscription-based meditation app with a friendly interface. It helps guide you through meditations, both single mediations and dozens of courses that address anxiety, loneliness, gratitude, and much more.

10 Percent Happier is dedicated to skeptics. You can even connect to a coach that will answer all your questions, and the app has also spun off into a podcast and book you may find helpful.

Here are some SELF articles full of information, tips, and resources:

How to Meditate When You Have No Idea When to Start

The Has Never Been A Better Time to Start Meditating

The 15 Best Meditation Apps, According to People Who Actually Meditate

What Meditation Can -- and Can’t -- Do For Your Health

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple

Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify

Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it here.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How to Have the Best Birth Experience Possible—Even in a Pandemic

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

04/26/21 • 32 min

In this episode we hear from Stasia, a pregnant Black woman who wants to know how to prepare for birth and how to advocate for herself along the way. Zahra chats with Kameelah Phillips, M.D., an ob-gyn and women’s health advocate based in NYC. One of her core interests is health care disparities—and how to help prevent them. Zahra also consults with Latham Thomas, a doula and the founder of Mama Glow who focuses on care along the childbearing continuum. They discuss how to navigate the system as a Black pregnant person and how giving birth looks different during the pandemic.

You can learn more about Dr. Phillips’ work or seek care at www.callawomenshealth.com, and follow her on Instagram @dr.kameelahsays.

You can learn more about Mama Glow and its supportive community at www.mamaglow.com, and follow Latham Thomas on Instagram @glowmaven.

For resources, information, and a variety of articles on Black maternal mortality, visit SELF’s extensive series on the issue. For other related articles, check out:

What It’s Like to Be a Doula Working With Black Pregnant People Right Now

There Are Joyful Black Birth Stories--This New Podcast Is Highlighting Them

I Got the COVID-19 Vaccine While Pregnant—Here's Why

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe for Pregnant and Breastfeeding People, According to New Study

Pregnant And Worried About Coronavirus? You’re Not Alone

Some People Are Disclosing Their Pregnancies ‘Early’ Because of the Coronavirus

The Deep Loneliness of Having a Baby in a Pandemic

What It’s Like to Pause Fertility Treatments Because of Coronavirus

How Years of Infertility Prepared Me for Pregnancy During the Coronavirus Crisis

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple

Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify