The Wirecutter Show

8h ago

It happens every year: the season sneaks up, the calendar fills, and suddenly it’s gift-giving time… and you’ve bought nothing. To help you avoid the panic-buy spiral (and the regrettable “kitchen TV”-style gifts that follow), we brought in Samantha Schoech, senior staff writer on Wirecutter’s gifting team. Sam spends all year researching, testing, and vetting gift ideas—so she knows exactly what still delivers when you’re short on time, short on ideas, or short on shipping days. In this episode, Sam shares the most common last-minute pitfalls, the places she trusts for reliable gifts in a crunch, and the affordable, thoughtful picks she returns to again and again. She also talks through subscription gifts that still “arrive” instantly, the universally-loved standbys you can grab at a grocery store, and the standout items from Wirecutter’s gift guides that ship fast and feel special. If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift ! This episode covers: Why last-minute gifts go wrong . Sam says that the final hour encourages overspending on gifts that aren’t exactly a good fit. How to avoid panicking when you’re rushed. You don’t have to spend a ton of money just because you’re late. There are still budget-friendly, easy-to-find options like olive oil or fancy chocolate or spices that you can pick up in person the day of and still manage to make it feel like a thoughtful gift. Presentation matters. Even if you’re running behind, don’t underestimate the power of a beautiful wrapping job! The gifts that will always “arrive” instantly. Sam says that she will always love a subscription gift because they can be specific and special and you can send them out instantly. She often will gift credits to an audiobook service, or a vinyl subscription service. Where to shop in a true time crunch. There are plenty of reliable options that will still be open last-minute, like big box stores, grocery stores, drug stores, and some smaller mom-and-pop shops. Plus, Sam says that Amazon has saved a lot of procrastinators, as long as you give yourself at least two days for shipping. When it’s officially too late. Sam doesn’t really believe that there’s anything as too last minute…but there is such a thing as too late. Even if it’s the day of, she believes you can still find a perfect gift. But, if the holiday has passed, then you’re too late. Products we recommend: Our favorite olive oil: Graza Sizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil Our favorite audiobook service: Libro.fm Credit Bundle Our favorite vinyl subscription service: Vinyl Me Please Records of the Month Our favorite candle: Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Candle Our favorite watercolor set: Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors 48-Color Set Our favorite teapot: Hario ChaCha Kyusu Maru Teapot Our favorite slippers: Glerups Slip-On With Leather Sole Our favorite pocket knife: CRKT Drifter Our favorite umbrella: Davek Solo Additional reading: The 33 Best Last-Minute Christmas Gifts of 2025 Gifts You Can Get at the Grocery Store in 2025 7 Book Subscription Services We Love in 2025 30 Days With These Japanese Watercolors Turned Me Into a Painter (Sort Of) These Durable and Cozy Slip-Ons Are Probably the Last Slippers You'll Ever Buy We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

2d ago

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the way people use the internet, gather information, shop online, and interact with products at home. If you’ve ever wondered what chatbots (like Gemini or Claude) are truly good for and how to use them smartly, this episode is essential. Our guest Kevin Roose, a New York Times tech columnist and co-host of the NYT podcast Hard Fork , has spent years reporting on AI and constantly uses these tools. Kevin shares strategies to make chatbots work better for you and reveals which tools he finds best for different purposes. We also discuss how average people use AI today, what to watch out for regarding kids and AI, and how companies are gaming the system to rank higher in AI search results. This episode covers: Optimizing your chatbot experience with custom instructions: By default, chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT can be prone to excessive flattery. To fix this, access your chatbot’s settings and instruct how you want the model to address you. Kevin shares this example of custom instructions he gave Claude: "Claude should talk to me informally like a wise and trusted friend. I don't like preamble, just get to the point. I appreciate honest feedback and don't like sycophancy, but I also appreciate praise when warranted. I am not always right, but neither is Claude. I value Claude's perspective and appreciate being pushed to consider views I may not have considered. Don't end every response with a follow-up question." AI productivity tools to try: Kevin uses NotebookLM to collect research for the book he’s writing. He relies on Cora to summarize personal emails and draft responses for important messages. And he uses Super Whisper to dictate emails and writing. How to use different chatbots for different tasks: Kevin turns to Claude for creative work, coding, and “matters of the heart” when he needs advice. He prefers Google’s Gemini for research and Perplexity Comet as an AI-powered browser. He uses ChatGPT less frequently (mostly for reporting), because the New York Times company is suing OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright violations. Products we mention: Matic robot vacuum ( read our first impressions here ) The best robot vacuum: Roborock Q7 M5+ The best pre-lit artificial Christmas tree: National Tree Company 7.5-foot Feel Real Downswept Douglas Fir Additional reading: The Matic Is a Whole Different Kind of Robot Vacuum I Got Early Access to Amazon’s New Gen AI Alexa+ I Think We Can Safely Call Google’s Gemini for Home a Fiasco I Tested 9 AI-Powered Scheduling Assistants. My Favorite Is the One With the Least AI. More Kevin: Hard Fork Kevin’s website Kevin’s Instagram We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Dec 12

The holidays are here, and that means it's time to tackle the hardest shopping challenge of all: finding the perfect gift(s) for the children in your life. In this episode, we skip the parental guessing games and go straight to the experts! Rosie sits down with three brutally honest critics—Dior (8), Robinson (11), and Chloe (6)—to get the definitive, unfiltered word on what kids really want this year. Listen as they enthusiastically share their current wish lists and, more importantly, evaluate a handful of Wirecutter's tried-and-true, age-appropriate recommendations. Their hilarious, insightful, and sometimes merciless critiques will help you cut through the noise, avoid the toys that will be forgotten by New Year's, and confidently pick a gift that will be a genuine hit. If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift ! Dior, Age 8 Items on Dior's Personal Wishlist: A nail kit Nike shoes Dog toys and dog-themed toys Reborn baby doll Wirecutter gift guide picks discussed: Wacom Intuos S drawing tablet Vans Classic Slip-Ons Cuisinart ICE-21P1 ice cream maker Lava Lamp Original Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment Warmies Capybara stuffy toy Robinson, Age 11 Items on Robinson's Personal Wishlist: Pokemon video games and cards LEGOs Dungeons & Dragons merch and items Manga (specifically Shonen) Books Wirecutter gift guide picks discussed: Bearaby Nappling weighted blanket Brother CS7000X sewing machine Lego Traditional Chess Set 40719 Arteza Acrylic Paint (Set of 24) Planet (board game) Lego Creator 3in1 Birdhouse 31143 Chloe, Age 6 Items on Chloe's Personal Wishlist: Remote control snake Sleeping bag (unicorn theme!) Barbie doll house Panda toy that comes with a baby bottle, toilet, and diaper Wirecutter gift guide picks discussed: L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube Razor RipRider 360 tricycle (or consider a two-wheeled bicycle ) Magna-Tiles Downhill Duo 40-Piece Set Kikkerland Postcard Paint Book Lego Animal Crossing Isabelle’s House Visit 77049 Additional reading: 43 Best Holiday Gifts for 6-Year-Olds of 2025 46 Best Gifts for 8-Year-Olds of 2025 31 Best Gifts for 9-Year-Olds of 2025 34 Best Gifts for 10-Year-Olds of 2025 The 42 Best Holiday Gifts for Tweens The 59 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids in 2025 The 4 Best Kids Craft Subscription Boxes for 2025 11 Best Lego Sets for Kids of 2025 We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Dec 10

When the holidays roll around, many of us romanticize the idea of a cozy game night—only to remember the part where someone has to read the rules, explain them, and keep the vibes going while everyone tries not to flip a table. If you’ve ever sighed at the sight of a board game box (or struggled through a four-hour strategy game you didn’t sign up for), this episode is for you. James Austin, Wirecutter’s staff writer covering games and hobbies, shares how to host a game night that actually stays fun, how to pick games that match your group’s vibe, and which games work best for kids, adults, mixed-age families, multilingual gatherings, or friends who are already a few drinks in. If you crosswords and other NYT games, check out Puzzle Mania! from The New York Times Games editor Joel Fagliano. James’s favorite resources to learn new games: If you don’t want to read the rules, Watch It Played and Good Time Society have videos explaining how to play many board games BoardGameGeek can tell you how to play a game your interested in Board Game Arena is a great resource for playing digital versions of board games Pagat.com explains the rules to every card game Games for kids Rhino Hero (age 5+) and Rhino Hero: Super Battle (age 5+) First Orchard (age 2+) Games for mixed-age groups or families A Fake Artist Goes to New York - especially good for avoiding awkward conversations The Gang - cooperative but silent play The Crew - no talking! Sushi Go! - adorable and easy to play Monikers - great for big groups Anomia - a great starter game Dixit - a visual game without reading, good for kids and non-english speakers Carcassonne - interactive and easy to understand Coup - quick to play Party Games for adults (including boozy groups) Codenames - match words by meaning Wavelength - opinion-based fun Anomia - lots of shouting! Strategy games Catan - the original “Euro” style game Bohnanza - if you like the interactive trading of Catan Brass: Birmingham - if you want a complex strategy game with a lot going on Games you can play with just a deck of cards Oh Hell! - James’ family-favorite, trick-taking game Two-player favorites Splendor - can be played with more than two as well Star Realms - build decks of cards that become more powerful as you play Games for solo play Final Girl - a horror-movie themed game Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - solve challenging mysteries just like a famous detective James loves: The Stormlight Ring by Thorum (his wedding ring) Additional reading: 18 Best Board Games of 2025 Board Games We Love for Kids and Families The 8 Best Two-Player Board Games of 2025 The 4 Best Solo Board Games of 2025 The 5 Best Party Games of 2025 The 6 Best Card Games of 2025 We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Dec 5

Gift giving can be challenging when you're shopping for people who seem to already have everything they need (or who are just super hard to please). Hannah Morrill, Wirecutter’s gift editor, walks us through how to approach selecting presents for these trickiest recipients. Hannah also answers listener questions with dozens of specific gift recommendations. If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift ! Products we recommend: For a professional sailor who loves to travel: MyDaVinci Custom House Portraits Cadence Capsules Cotopaxi Cubo Packing Travel Bundle Del Día For a sister who loves crafted and personalized things AnnMariaJewelry Hammered Handwriting Cuff custom Funko Pop figurines An upgrade to an everyday staple that anyone would love: Zojirushi SM-KHE Heritage Brand items for a couple who can afford the best Pendleton Block Plaid Organic Cotton Fringed Throw Falcon Enamelware 3-Pint Jug L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Shaker-Style Parlor Broom by Larry Antonuk Faribault Mill Monhegan Cotton Throw (formerly known as the Brahms Mount Monhegan throw) For co-workers you want to impress without breaking the bank Standard Baggu Bag Baggu Go Pouch Set Stanley The IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler (20 ounces) TravelCard Plus travel charger Tusk Siam Passport Cover Luxardo Original Maraschino Cherries Fallot Dijon Mustard Pail Peregrino Anchovy Stuffed Olives Hannah’s favorite new gift items Block Design Reversible Glass Vase Sakura Cray-Pas 16 colors Tiny Vinyl Additional reading: 54 Gifts for People Who Have Everything 2025 My 16 Favorite Gifts for the Hard-to-Please You Asked, We Answered: 19 Gift Ideas for Older Adults 34 Best Gifts for Co-Workers of 2025 The 61 Best Gifts Under $100 for 2025 The Wirecutter Show: Gifts for the Hard to Please We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Dec 3

Holiday baking season is here, and nobody knows how to bake a delicious cookie better than Vaughn Vreeland, host of NYT Cooking’s Bake Time and author of the book, Cookies . In this episode, Vaughn breaks down the gear you actually need, and shares clever fixes for common cookie problems—from his best advice to using browned butter in a recipe to reducing sugar without sacrificing flavor. He also walks us through his best tricks for better texture, picture-perfect tops, and the surprising savory ingredients that make sweet cookies even better. This episode covers: The essential gear every baker needs. Vaughn recommends a strong silicone spatula (“spoonula”), a cookie scoop, a rimmed baking sheet, a kitchen scale, and a cooling rack that fits inside the sheet pan are all key tools to make the baking process easier. Nice-to-have upgrades that actually make a difference . Vaughn says that offset spatulas, ring molds for perfectly round cookies, and oven thermometers improve consistency and confidence. How to troubleshoot flat or spreading cookies. Chilling the dough (always after scooping), adjusting sugar ratios, refreshing your baking soda/powder, and avoiding overcrowded pans can help with this common problem. How to reduce sugar without ruining texture. According to Vaughn, water is the secret ingredient in cookies. If you’re going to reduce the sugar, and possibly some of the fat, a splash of water can help rebalance the dough. Savory ingredients that level up cookies. Miso, olive oil, gochujang caramel, and other surprising add-ins create depth, balance sweetness, and make flavors pop. Lightning-round fixes for common cookie issues . Hard? Overbaked. Cakey? Too much flour. Burning on the bottom? Your oven might run hot. The best advice for any cookie baker. Mistakes happen—but baking should stay fun. And if all else fails, at least you’ll have a cookie at the end of the day. Wirecutter picks for baking cookies: Our favorite silicone baking mat: Silpat Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat Our favorite spatula: GIR Mini Flip Silicone Spatula Our favorite cookie scoops: Norpro Grip-EZ 2-Tablespoon Stainless Scoop Our favorite kitchen scale: Escali Primo Digital Scale Our favorite baking sheet: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet Our favorite offset spatula: Ateco 4.5-Inch Offset Spatula 1385 Our favorite cooling rack: Sur La Table Stainless Steel Cooling Grid Our favorite hand mixer: KitchenAid 7-Speed Hand Mixer Other products Vaughn recommends: Cookie ring molds: Cookie Cutter Set An oven thermometer NYT Cooking Cookie Recipes Vaughn mentioned: Cookie Week 2025 Recipes (including Mortadella Cookies ) Eggnog Snickerdoodles Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies Gingerbread Latte Cookies Chewy Brownie Cookies Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies Gochujang Caramel Cookies Additional reading: The 11 Best Spatulas of 2025 The Best Holiday Cookie Baking Gear for 2025 The 4 Best Kitchen Scales of 2025 The 3 Best Baking Sheets of 2025 The 11 Best Spatulas of 2025 The 7 Best Butters of 2025 More Vaughn Vaugn’s new book: Cookies: The Best Recipes for a Perfect, Anytime Treat Bake Time Newsletter from NYT Cooking NYT Cooking on YouTube Vaughn’s Instagram Vaughn's Facebook We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Nov 28

Wirecutter’s staff tests thousands of products every year, and of that mountain of items a few always stick out as the best of the best. To close out 2025, we asked our experts to share the things they loved most–and what they think would make great holiday gifts. Whether you’re still finishing up your holiday shopping or you’re just here to soak up some end-of-year delight, this roundup is full of recommendations straight from the people who test stuff for a living. If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift ! Products we reccommend: Annemarie Conte enjoys the Yummi 12” Handcrafted Taper Candles Jackie Reeve used The Company Store Company Cotton Voile Quilt to keep cozy after surgery James Austin gave his groomsmen gemstone dice as a personalized gamer gift Amy Kravetz gave her kid the Swatch Flik Flak Watch for a dose of nostalgia Trey French takes the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System on every hike Brent Butterworth loves the Sangean WR-15 tabletop radio with a bluetooth receiver for everyday, ad-free audio at his desk Jennifer Hunter says the TWP Next Morning Shirt is a splurge-worthy wardrobe upgrade Jon Chase added an Amazon Echo Dot to his child’s room for on-demand music and hasn’t looked back Rachel Cericola thinks every nature lover deserves the Birdbuddy Pro bird feeder Catherine Kast enjoys the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Scraper & Chopper for making everyday kitchen tasks a little easier Thom Dunn’s kitchen renovation was postponed by loving the Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven Ellen Lee loves the OMY Hair Chalk for a fun dash of color in anyone’s hair Liam McCabe has found numerous uses for the handy Calculated Industries AirShim Inflatable Pry Bar & Leveling Tool Nicola Fumo says Prada lip balm in a metal tube is instantly giveable (and refillable!) Kaitlyn Wells uses the dracula-themed Ototo Gracula Garlic Crusher to help chop garlic without pain Mel Plaut is sharpening all their knives (utility & kitchen) with the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker Kathleen Squires keeps every holiday roast perfectly cooked with the ThermoPro TP971 TempSpike Plus Additional Reading: This Tiny Airbag Has the Power to Lift an Entire Fridge These Candles Made Me a Candle Person. Now I Eat My Cheerios by Candlelight. The Best 53 Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List I Test Kitchen Tools for a Living. This $12 Staple Is the One Item I’ll Never Give Up. We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Nov 26

At Wirecutter, we have tons of advice about the practical side of the holiday season: giving gifts, preparing meals, hosting friends and family. But the emotional side of holiday gatherings can be even tougher. So, we invited Mel Robbins, host of The Mel Robbins Podcast , and author of The Let Them Theory , to walk us through her tools for keeping your cool through heated, holiday moments. With the holidays approaching, we ask Mel to help us navigate the harder parts of the season: tricky family dynamics, lingering childhood patterns, fraught conversations, and the pressure that comes with hosting and showing up for everyone else. Mel walks us through how to stay grounded, protect your energy, and hold firm to your boundaries—even when you’re sitting across the table from the people who test them most. This episode covers: Breaking down The Let Them Theory . Mel walks through “let them” as a very literal tool—letting people have their opinions, their judgments, their disappointment, their expectations—and how the “let me” half shifts you back into control of your own reactions. Managing holiday expectations. She talks about how the holidays are about enjoying yourself and showing up as you are, not who you’re going to impress. Why family dynamics are hard to change—and why accepting that lowers your stress . She explains that people change when they are ready, and that wishing someone were different can entrench them further. What to do when someone crosses a line or won’t back down. Mel says that the best way to exit an escalating conflict is to become the most boring person in the world, or “gray rock”. Don’t fuel the fire, don’t become part of the scene that’s being caused. The difference between acceptance and enabling harmful behavior. Mel explains when “let them” no longer applies—specifically when someone’s views deny your identity or safety—and how boundaries shift accordingly. Mel Loves: Her custom belt buckle with a photo of her children. You can see it in this photo of her for Time Magazine . She recommends finding a seller you like on etsy ! Additional reading: The 3 Best Meditation Apps of 2025 5 Cheap(ish) Things to Improve Your Self-Care Routine The Best Personalized Photo Gifts Samin Nosrat’s Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Dinner Party More Mel: Instagram TikTok YouTube Website Podcast The Let Them Theory We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and Website Instagram: /wirecutter Threads: /@wirecutter Twitter: /wirecutter Facebook: /thewirecutter TikTok: /wirecutter LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset. Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast