The Upgrade by Lifehacker Lifehacker

This week we're talking with Tim Ferriss, author, podcaster, investor, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed "human guinea pig." He's the author of several books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Four-Hour Workweek and The Four-Hour Body and his latest, Tribe of Mentors. We talked with Tim about his most worthwhile investments and his biggest failures, his most valuable purchases under $100 and over $10,000, and what beliefs and behaviors have most improved his life.

Ever felt at a loss for words when staring at a Jackson Pollock? New York Magazine’s Senior Art Critic, Jerry Saltz, joins us this week to help the less-cultured of us learn the art of discussing fine art. Saltz has won a Pulitzer and two National Magazine Awards for his art criticism, and his latest book, “How to Be an Artist,” comes out in March. 

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you!

Trying to lower your sugar intake? We’re learning how this week with the help of two experts. First, Kathleen DesMaisons, addictive nutrition guru and author of Potatoes Not Prozac: Simple Solutions for Sugar Addiction, walks us through her practical and effective approach to gradually cutting sugar out of your diet. Then we speak with Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, author of The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work, about why we should avoid diet fads and what habits we should focus on instead.

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you!

We’re learning how to practice true self-compassion this week with renowned psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher Tara Brach. Tara is the author of Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN and her podcast receives over 1.5 million downloads per month.  In this episode, Tara breaks down the practice of RAIN and how it can help us curtail our self-criticism and increase our sense of worthiness.

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you!

Alice and Melissa revisit their Upgrades of the Week from past episodes and see how they’ve held up. There’s a little bit of pride, a little bit of shame, and a whole lot of improvement. You’ll be so perfect by the end of this episode you won’t know what to work on next!

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you!

January is unofficially “Divorce Month” in the legal world, and to celebrate this not-so-joyous occasion, we’re bringing you an episode breaking down the complicated world of divorce. To help us understand the legal nitty-gritty we’re joined by Jacqueline Newman, a New York-based matrimonial attorney and author of the book “The New Rules of Divorce: Twelve Secrets to Protecting Your Wealth, Health, and Happiness.” As we found in our interview, divorce is a fascinating topic even if you’re not planning to split anytime soon. 

Have an idea for a future episode? Call us at 347-687-8109 and leave a voicemail, or write to us at upgrade@lifehacker.com. We want to hear from you!