Dying To Ask

Dr. Jenni Pottebaum On Why Sleeping Your Way Through COVID-19 Is A Legit Strategy

How are you sleeping right now? Yeah, me too. We are all living under extraordinary stress because of the impact of COVID-19 on every part of our lives. Dr. Jenni Pottebaum says our greatest weapon in fighting coronavirus, next to social distancing, could be sleep.

Dr Jenni has a bachelor’s in psychology and a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She’s also certified in personal training, health coaching and fitness and sports nutrition. As a former pro athlete, she believes strongly in taking care of mind and body through sleep.

But, let’s be honest. That’s easier said than done these days.

On this Dying to Ask:

• The science behind how sleep restores mind and body
• How to offset your stress through breathing and exercise
• Why we all need to get fresh air, even in the age of social distancing
• And, how to get a good night’s sleep when the world feels so overwhelming

Brent Goff On Why We Should Be More German In Our Approach To Coronavirus

The interesting thing about the spread of coronavirus is that scientists can see it coming to an area. We all saw it in Wuhan. Then Italy. Now, Germany is in the middle of its crisis.

And, that means one of my oldest friends is in the thick of it. Brent Goff is the chief anchor of “The Day” on Deutsche Welle News, based in Berlin, Germany. He’s a long way from his roots having grown up in rural North Carolina. Brent and I met at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and were next-door neighbors, too.

Twenty years later, we’re still tight. He joins me in this episode for a frank conversation about what it’s like living and working in Europe right now. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently predicted seven out of 10 Germans would be infected with COVID-19.

On this Dying to Ask:

• Why Americans need to pay close attention to what’s happening in Europe
• Why German culture may be a secret weapon against coronavirus
• And, you know, a college buddy is going to throw me under the bus, and Brent goes there -- big time.

How To Work From Home And Actually Get Stuff Done With Siobhan Fitzpatrick

This episode is for anyone who has ever said: “I wish I could work from home.” Or, “if I just had a week at home where I never left the house.”

Well, here we are. Millions of Americans have been ordered to work remotely at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak. On the one hand, it’s great if you have kids who’ve been sent home from school. On the other hand, if you’ve never worked from home, it can feel a little overwhelming.

My sister, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, is back with tips on how to work at home successfully. Siobhan is a lawyer and mom of four girls, which led to her being known at The Law Mother. She’s done legal work from home for the last 10 years. And, she writes the popular mom blog, The Law Mom.

You may have heard her recent episode about her viral article about why most of our stuff is worthless and why we should get rid of everything. Well, hopefully, you didn’t take your old desk to Goodwill, because you may need it to set up a home office.

From how to structure your day to why it’s worth getting dressed and doing your hair, learn tricks to stay productive while you’re out of the office. And, find out how to communicate effectively with your boss while you’re not seeing each other on a daily basis. Don’t have a job that translates easily to working remotely? She even has some tips on that.

Gabe And Lauren Gardner On How COVID-19 Is Affecting Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Will the 2020 Summer Olympics happen given the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. However, we do know the impact the coronavirus threat is having on Olympic hopefuls around the world and especially those hoping to qualify for Team USA.

Gabe Gardner is a 2008 gold medalist in volleyball. His wife, Lauren Gardner, won bronze in synchronized swimming at the 2004 Games in Athens. The Gardners are still highly involved with their sports, offering mentoring to Olympic hopefuls.

In this "Dying to Ask," the Gardners explain how devastating the virus threat, self-quarantines and anxiety are to athletes who find their entire careers in a holding pattern. We talk about what athletes typically would be doing at this point in the Olympic qualification cycle. And, I ask them to place a bet on whether the International Olympic Committee will pull the plug on staging an Olympics this summer. Let’s just say the Gardners don’t agree on everything.

Oh, and Gabe issues an Olympic challenge to me and Domi, and I’m 100% in.

Living In A Coronavirus World With Fitz

What has happened? A few months ago, we were ringing in 2020 with chants of the “roaring '20s” heading our way.

Three months later, the world is on a lockdown of sorts and social distancing is a thing. I know we were supposed to be kicking off our ALL OLYMPIC season, but, seriously, what I need now is answers. How do I work from home? What am I supposed to do with my kids now that schools are closed? How can I work out without leaving my house? And, what do I do if I catch this darn virus?

We’re going to use the "Dying to Ask" podcast as a way to hack through life during this, say it with me, unsettling time.

Have an idea for an episode? Email me at dfitzpatrick@hearst.com.

Message me on social media:
Instagram: @runreadsip
Facebook: @kcradeirdre

How Michael Mackie Survived Going Sugar-Free For An Entire Year

Could you give up sugar for a solid year? This week's guest did just that for a magazine assignment, and the changes in his weight, mental health and virtually every other aspect of his life are staggering.

Michael Mackie is a writer for In Kansas City Magazine. He's also a longtime friend and former colleague. Michael and I met more than 20 years ago working at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.

I never in a million years thought Michael would survive going sugar-free for a year. Two reasons. One, he has an addictive personality and sugar was one of his biggest vices. And two, sugar is in EVERYTHING!

UC San Francisco researchers just released the bitter results of a study about sweets. The average American consumes an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. The recommendation? No more than 6 added teaspoons for women and 9 for men.

One year after going sugar-free, Michael is down 50 pounds and says he'll never go back to his mindless sugary ways.

On this Dying to Ask:

• The near immediate physical changes in his skin, hair and even libido Michael noticed when he eliminated sugar from his diet
• The foods and drinks that contain the most hidden sugars. Love Starbucks drinks? You might not after listening to this episode!
• And find out what happened when Michael went on a two-week sugar binge after he completed his year-long experiment for the magazine. It got ugly.

Eat This, Not That In 2020 With Jonny Bowden

What's that saying? You are what you eat? More like you are what you THINK you're eating.

Get ready for a food reality check with Dr. Jonny Bowden. He's known as the "nutrition myth buster," and he's going to change how you look at food in 2020.

Dr. Jonny is a nationally known nutrition expert and psychologist. He's written 15 books and has appeared in publications such as "O, The Oprah Magazine" and "GQ."

But he wasn't always so healthy and he wasn't always a doctor. His career started on the road as a musician where he lived what he describes as, "100% the rock 'n' roll lifestyle." That life was great until it wasn't. And that's when Dr. Jonny discovered that working out and eating well have their merits. He's been singing that song to anyone who will listen ever since.

On this Dying to Ask:

• Why if your 2020 resolution was to cut out (fill in the blank food,) you've probably failed already
• The good and the bad of popular lifestyles like Keto and plant-based eating
• Three foods you should stop eating now and what SHOULD be in your fridge
• And, what is the nutrition myth buster's guilty pleasure?

Why Mastering Modern Etiquette Can Make You Successful

Want to make more money? Want to be better liked? Want to climb the corporate ladder? Of course, you do, and that's why you must master modern etiquette.

Diane Gottsman is the founder of The Protocol School of Texas. Her insight into how our social interactions affect our professional and personal lives has made her a national expert in her field. She makes frequent appearances on the "Today" show and has written articles for publications like Forbes and The Wall Street Journal.

Modern manners go beyond saying "please" and "thank you." Knowing how to navigate negative people and decline invitations that don't interest you is an art. Diane walks us through some everyday situations that can get complicated quickly.

On this Dying to Ask:

• Why we all need to take a hard look at how we conduct ourselves with our friends, family and work colleagues
• Why etiquette is about building relationships, not sticking your finger out when drinking tea
• How Diane became a national expert in modern manners and etiquette

Get The ‘Write’ Idea About Thank-You Cards With Edie Lambert

Write a thank-you card. Change a life. Seriously, it's that easy.

New research has proved that sending someone a thank-you note generates an ecstatic response in the recipient. Did you catch that? Ecstatic! It gets better. Writing the note creates a positive response in the sender, too.

On this Dying to Ask:

• I chat with KCRA 3's Edie Lambert, a fellow devotee of the thank-you card, about why we're addicted to putting a stamp on saying thank you.
• We pay homage to Princess Diana, one of the most prolific thank-you card writers in history.
• We break down how two psychologists studied the "thank-you card effect" and why even the psychologists were floored by what they found.
• We share when we send expressions of gratitude and how we make it easy to pull off, even for our kids.
• And, we invite you to join our "thank you card challenge" in 2020.

This Is Why Most Of Your Stuff Is Worthless

Most of what you own is worthless. I'm not being judgmental. It's a fact.

A recent viral article with the headline "Most of What You Own is Worthless: 3 Things You Should Be Doing to Reduce What You Own" explains why a lot of what we hold dear isn't worth the box you're storing it in.

The author of that article? My sister, Siobhan Fitzpatrick Kratovil.

Siobhan is a lawyer and mom of four who writes a legal blog called "The Law Mother."

She wrote this article after she and her husband had to clear her late mother-in-law's home to sell it. The experience radically changed how she looks at all the stuff in her own home. As a mom of four girls, she's got a lot of stuff -- most of it pink. As a lawyer who does a lot of estate planning, she's now advocating for families to look at what they really leave behind when they die.

On this Dying to Ask:

• How little (financially) your family heirlooms are worth
• Why things like china and so-called brown furniture aren't worth much at estate sales
• How to be VICIOUSLY THOUGHTFUL about what things you allow into your house. Wait until you hear how she handles kids' artwork!
• And I give my younger sister one shot to publicly hold me accountable for one transgression from our youth. You won't believe what she's been hanging onto for decades. #getoverit