The Wirecutter Show

You don’t need to settle for sad sandwiches and wilted salads for lunch. This episode, Wirecutter kitchen editor Gabriella Gershenson explains how the right lunch box can help you pack a midday meal that you or your kids will actually be happy to tuck into.

We discuss how to choose between bentos, insulated totes, salad containers, and thermoses for both kids and adults. Some boxes are better for upcycling leftover odds and ends, while others do a better job keeping your food at a safe temperature throughout the day.

Plus, Gabriella shares her favorite ideas and resources for adding more joy to the lunch box—from DIY tinned fish hand rolls to sweet hand-written notes.

This episode covers:
Why the vessel dictates the lunch: Compartmentalized bento boxes can help you turn bits of leftovers into an appealing meal, salad bowls will keep the greens crisp, while insulated thermoses open up a world of hot lunches–no microwave needed!
Keeping foods at safe temps: If you don’t have access to a refrigerator during the day, you may want to get an insulated tote and use freezer packs.
Fun packing ideas: Inspiration from Molly Yeh's bento hacks (like date "snickers" with nut butter and sprinkles) and Ali Slagle's DIY tinned fish hand rolls.

Products we recommend:
A sturdy, spacious plastic bento box: Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box
A chic stackable bento: Takenaka Bento Bite Dual
A great stainless-steel bento: Ecozoi Stainless Steel Leak-Proof Bento Lunch Box 3 Compartment
The best food thermos: Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar
The best food thermos for kids: ThermoFlask Food Jar
A simple and stylish bag: Baggu Puffy Lunch Bag
A sturdy and roomy bag: Carhartt Insulated 12 Can Two Compartment Lunch Cooler
A sleek and stylish lunch bowl: W&P Porter Bowl
A stainless-steel salad bowl: S’well Salad Bowl Kit
Great for packing cold and hot lunches for kids: OmieBox
A book for inspiration: Love Japan: Everyday Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook, , co-authored by Gabriella Gershenson

Additional reading:
The Best Kids Lunch Boxes
The 8 Best Lunch Boxes of 2026
This Pricey Kids Lunch Box Is Worth Every Penny
The 5 Best Cottage Cheeses of 2026


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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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Do you have something that you always fight about with your spouse, partner, or housemate? Maybe you’re convinced you know the right way to load the dishwasher… or brighten laundry… but your partner disagrees? The Wirecutter Show wants to hear about your household skirmishes. Cleaning… cooking… laundry… bathroom habits… lighting and decor! All of it. Tell us what your household disagrees on and our team of experts will help settle the score, once and for all.

Send us an email – or a voice memo – to thewirecuttershow@wirecutter.com. Tell us your name, who you bicker with, and what keeps you two at odds. If you can manage it, you might even record a note together.

We can’t wait to wade into the battle! Thanks.

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Wirecutter Social and Website
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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

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The right pillow can make the difference between waking up refreshed and waking up with a sore neck. But given you usually can’t try before you buy, it can be surprisingly difficult to figure out which pillow will actually work for you.

Wirecutter sleep writer Shaena Montanari explains how to choose a pillow based on your sleep position, what makes a pillow supportive, and how to tell when yours has reached the end of its life. She also breaks down the major pillow materials, what to look for before you buy, and why it’s probably time to wash your current pillows.

This episode covers:
Your sleep position should guide your pillow choice. Side-, back-, and stomach-sleepers need different amounts of height and support, so start by figuring out how you actually sleep before shopping.
The goal is spinal alignment. The right pillow should keep your head and neck aligned with the rest of your body while you sleep.
A pillow that’s too soft may not stay supportive. Pillows compress over the course of the night, and many people end up needing more firmness or height than they initially expect.
Pillows don’t last forever. Synthetic fills such as memory foam and down alternative generally start breaking down after a few years, while materials like down and latex can last longer with proper care. Shaena recommends replacing your pillows every three years.

Products we recommend:
Cloud-like down for all sleep positions: Garnet Hill Signature White Down Pillow (firm)
Best single-piece memory-foam pillow: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProHi Pillow
An inexpensive single-piece foam pillow, with ample support: Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Fluffy-yet-supportive down alternative: Boll and Branch Down Alternative Pillow
Best adjustable memory-foam pillow: Coop Original Adjustable Pillow
Structured down alternative perfect for side sleepers: Hotel Collection Luxe Down Alternative Firm Density Pillow
Firmer adjustable shredded memory foam, but pricier: Brooklyn Bedding Premium Shredded Foam Pillow
Shaena loves: Her Baggu Bag

Additional reading:
The Best Bed Pillows
The Best Memory Foam Pillows
The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
How to Wash Bed Pillows


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.

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


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.

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.