The Wirecutter Show

While "digital detoxing" is a trending topic online, actually cutting back on screen time can be surprisingly difficult. If you feel constantly distracted by notifications popping up on your phone, or you can’t stop mindlessly scrolling, some simple strategies can help.

This episode, Wirecutter tech writer Brenda Stolyar discusses how to reset your relationship with your phone and reclaim your attention. Brenda walks us through how to perform a screen time audit, how to better manage notifications, and how built-in iOS and Android features can make your device less addictive without forcing you to switch to an impractical dumb phone.

Plus, Brenda shares how gamified focus apps and physical blocking devices like the Brick create friction and build healthier digital habits.

This episode covers:
Auditing your screen time: How to check your daily device usage, app breakdowns, pick-up counts, and notification totals using Apple’s Screen Time or Android's Digital Wellbeing settings.
Reducing notification overload: Switch lock screen notifications to "count" view or set up scheduled notification summaries to prevent constant interruptions.
Why a dumb phone isn’t always the answer: It may sound nice to switch to a basic phone, but you won’t be able to access things like QR codes or digital tickets. Optimizing your current smartphone's built-in tools is often a better approach.
How to make your phone less appealing: Switch to grayscale mode (black-and-white display) or use iOS assistive access to strip your homescreen down to essential apps.
Creating physical friction: Physical app-blocking tools like The Brick force a mindful pause before opening distracting apps like Instagram, TikTok, or mobile browsers.


Products we recommend:
A device that blocks your most distracting apps: Brick
Apps that Brenda recommends: Focus Friend, Forest, Focus Keeper

Additional reading:
Your Screen Time Is Horrifyingly High. It’s Time to Make Your Smartphone Dumb.
Your Phone’s Notifications Are Out of Control. Here Are 6 Tips to Fix Them for Good.
So Your Phone Storage Is Full. Here’s How to Free Up Space.
Brick Phone Lock Review: My Brain Feels Much Better
The Gadget That Fixed My Screen-Time Habit


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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. 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

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Many parents and caregivers struggle to manage their kids’ use of technology. Whether it’s an elementary schooler binging YouTube shorts or a teen dealing with social media-induced anxiety, the struggles are real. In a recent Wirecutter reader survey, only 9% of parents said they felt confident managing their kids' tech use, and many felt overwhelmed by screen addiction and "brain rot" content.

This week, Wirecutter writers Signe Brewster and Ellen Lee walk us through their comprehensive guide on how and when to introduce different types of technology across every age. They discuss why tech addiction is often a broader societal issue (rather than an individual parenting failure), how to establish healthy digital habits early on, the pros and cons of location tracking, and practical tools to help older kids self-regulate before heading off on their own.

This episode covers:
Early tech for young kids: Experts recommend minimizing screens before age 2. When introducing media, stick to high-quality content and apps that have "walled gardens" where kids can safely make their own choices.
Avoiding "dark patterns": How to spot predatory app designs that manipulate young kids into playing longer.
How to approach location tracking: While tracking devices like AirTags and smartwatches offer peace of mind, they can inadvertently signal to kids that the world is unsafe or normalize constant surveillance. Experts suggest using tracking during transitional periods or as a temporary safety tool.
Determining phone readiness: There is no single "magic age" for a first smartphone. Readiness depends on your child's maturity, independence, and specific daily needs.
Social media and self-regulation: Navigating algorithmic feeds and FOMO can be a real challenge for teens. But tools exist for helping manage screen time, including self-regulation apps like Clearspace and physical focus devices like The Brick.

Products we recommend:
A device that blocks your most distracting apps: Brick
PBS Kids Apps (for curated, high-quality preschool content)
Common Sense Media (for age-appropriateness ratings and reviews).
Signe loves: NÜDL bike helmets
Ellen loves: Trader Joe’s Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

Additional reading:
A Step-by-Step Tech Guide for Parents Who Live in the Real World
10 Tips for Managing (and Reducing) Your Kid’s Screen Time
The Best Ways to Track Your Kid (And Why You Might Not Want To)
6 Parents on How They Handle Tech
“I Don’t Want to Spend Time Scrolling”: 7 Kids on How They Use Tech
The 3 Best Parental-Control Apps to Manage Screen Time (and Keep Your Kid Safer Online) of 2026


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. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Applying mascara or eyeliner can be difficult even when you don't have a disability. For people with arthritis, tremors, low vision, or other mobility issues, beauty routines can feel nearly impossible.

This episode, Wirecutter beauty writer Ayanna Redwood-Crawford explains how accessible makeup tools can make those routines easier for everyone. She shares what makes a makeup tool genuinely accessible, why universal design benefits more than just the people it was created for, and how some brands have made products easier to use without sacrificing their formulas or affordability.

This episode covers:
Why accessible makeup is useful for everyone. Products designed for people with arthritis, tremors, or low vision can also help beginners, parents with their hands full, or anyone who finds makeup tools difficult to use. Testers appreciated products that were easier to grip and control, and many of them also had great formulas and finishes.
What makes a makeup tool genuinely accessible. It’s not enough for a product to be labeled adaptive. Look for tools that address specific challenges, like gripping a mascara tube, controlling a brush, or applying makeup with limited hand movement.
Why makeup doesn’t always have to be perfectly precise. Look for products that simplify tricky steps, like eyeliners with built-in wing stamps or buildable multisticks for color control and flexibility.

Products we recommend:
Affordable grips that fit most makeup and tools: Lyforx Foam Grip Tubing
A multiuse circular brush with a contoured handle: Kohl Kreatives Medium Circle
An easy-to-hold eyeshadow brush: Guide Beauty Blend & Crease Brush
An ergonomic, flattering mascara: Tilt Lashscape Mascara
A handy eyeliner that’s easier to apply: SheGlam Get Foxy Eye Stamp & Liner Pen
A user-friendly tinted lip balm: Tilt Grip Stick Hydrating Lip Treatment
A versatile 3-in-1 makeup stick: E.L.F. Cosmetics Monochromatic Multi Stick
A lighted makeup mirror for people with low vision: Fancii Vera Vanity with 10x Lara Mirror

Additional reading:
The Best Accessible Beauty Tools and Makeup


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. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all know we should eat more veggies, but sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe you're too busy for endless chopping, stumped by an unfamiliar root vegetable, or juggling guests or family members with conflicting dietary restrictions.

This episode, Tanya Sichynsky, editor for the Food and Cooking sections at The New York Times, and author of The Veggie newsletter and YouTube show, discusses her new cookbook, Veg Everything. She shares her approachable, plant-forward philosophy on cooking vegetables—not as a punishment or boring side dish, but as a versatile, flavor-packed centerpiece.

Tanya walks us through the essential pantry staples that make veggie-centric meals fast and effortless, how to make seasonal swaps in recipes, and clever ways to reinvent leftover veggies into frittatas, pasta sauces, or savory pancakes.

This episode covers:
Stocking a flavor-boosting pantry: Certain ingredients can instantly transform a single fresh vegetable into a complete, satisfying meal. Tanya keeps canned lentils, beans, tahini, dates, Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, and pre-crisped garlic or shallots in her pantry.
Veggies for breakfast: It’s easier to get enough vegetables in your day if you start in the morning. Stack your first meal with plenty of plants with smoothies, frittata and more.
RSVP-worthy showstoppers: How to make impressive, centerpiece vegetarian dishes for entertaining.
The leftover framework: Think about integrating veggie leftovers into different “formats” like pancakes, toasts, pastas, and more.

Products we recommend:
Tanya loves her ripstop cargo pants from Kapital

Additional reading:
The Veggie's Editor Dishes on Her Favorite Kitchen Tools
Packable Beach and Picnic Recipes
10 Best Veggie Burgers of 2026



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. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pickles are a polarizing subject. Some people want a cold, crunchy dill straight from the fridge, while others swear by a sour pickle or a sweet, spicy relish. And if you've ever wondered whether you can make better pickles at home, there's a whole world of canning and fermentation to explore.

In this episode recorded live at the Minnesota State Fair, Wirecutter kitchen writer Maki Yazawa starts by explaining how Wirecutter’s team tested 47 store-bought pickles and what they were looking for. Then, Minnesota State Fair pickle judge Mary Bartz, and last year’s overall canning winner Teresa Craig, talk about what makes a prize-winning pickle. They discuss how to safely can and ferment pickles at home, and the resources Mary recommends for getting started, including the National Center for Food Preservation and the book So Easy to Preserve. Plus, they tell us some of the most unusual pickled creations they’ve ever encountered.

This episode covers:
How to choose the right pickle for what you're eating. The shape and style matter: Maki recommends crinkle-cut chips for burgers, slender pickles for subs, and sour pickles for snacking on a hot day.
Why fresh produce is the key to crunchy homemade pickles. Teresa says the fresher your cucumbers and other vegetables are, the better the texture of the finished product.
How to safely make pickles at home. Mary explains why acidity, processing time and temperature, proper headspace, clean jars, and a reliable seal all matter for preventing dangerous bacterial growth.
The difference between water-bath and pressure canning. Water-bath canning works for acidic foods like pickles, while pressure canning is necessary for lower-acid foods such as corn and green beans because it reaches a higher temperature.

Products we recommend:
Teresa likes: The Ball Electric Water-Bath Canner and Easy Fermenter Lids

Additional reading:
The Best Pickles
You Had Thoughts About Our Pickle Picks. So We Tasted More Pickles.



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. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.