The Lazy Genius Podcast

Kendra, The Lazy Genius

Part systems expert, part permission giver, Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius, is here to help you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't.

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519 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes519

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April 13 · 1 hr
#464 - How to Create Healthy Phone Habits
Today, we’re going to talk about how to create healthy phone habits. Healthy habits are personal. What’s healthy or unhealthy for me might not be for you, so this isn’t a judgmental episode. Instead, we’re going to examine what healthy means, what parts of our phone experience need some attention, and figure out how to create some better practices that align with what matters. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. My profile on Spotify I mentioned looking for a folder on my profile of podcast playlists, but after recording, I realized you can’t see it publicly. Here are those podcast playlists: Planning, Margin, Work, Change, Chores, Cooking, Kids, Office Hours, Summer Sanity, Holiday Sanity, Starter Pack, and Guests Gonna Try to Run playlist Calling for Spring playlist Road Ready app New York Times Cooking and New York Times Games Merlin Bird ID app 5 Calls app Kindle app Libby app Chirp app Audible app
April 9 · 17 min
How to Lazy Genius Kids’ Screentime (Rerun)
We like to rerun old episodes that still feel relevant and maybe even needed during this season, so today we want to share with you Episode 210: How to Lazy Genius Kids Screentime. A lot has changed in the landscape of screen time in the last five years, but I do think this episode is still relevant. In this episode, you’ll be reminded that there’s no singular way to do this, I’ll encourage you to use screen time to fill your own bucket, and you’ll hear a handful of ideas for House Rules you could use for kids’ screen time to make it easier in your home. Overall, it’s a deep breath of an episode and will help you feel like you’re not reinventing the wheel every day. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Here’s the episode on chores for kids from a few years ago. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haid Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
April 6 · 58 min
#463 - Office Hours
We love Office Hours. Once a quarter, folks send in their problems they want to Lazy Genius, and I answer them in this episode. We get questions that run the gamut, and it’s always encouraging to hear the normal problems and normal solutions of normal people. Solve what matters, put your energy into those things in small ways, be lazy about what doesn’t matter as much, and do it all while being kind to yourself. It’s truly The Lazy Genius way which I love so much. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Mrs. Christie and the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman Sign up to get The Book List, my monthly book review email Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 30 · 49 min
#462 - The Lazy Genius Guide to Planning a Trip
I’ve done a handful of travel-related episodes on the podcast over the years, but I realized I’ve never done an episode about planning an actual trip. Since we’re coming up on the summer holidays, a time when folks sometimes take trips, it seems like a great time to Lazy Genius this thing that’s fun but also a little stressful. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode 411: 10 Things to Do Before Taking a Trip Episode 165: The Lazy Genius Packs for a Trip Episode 269: How to Be a Tourist in Your Own Town Episode 371: How to Lazy Genius a Day Trip A bonus episode about how I personally Lazy Genius air travel Travel Playbook My Maps from Google Go Now Travel Company Quince Italian Leather Sling Bag Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen orThe Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 23 · 51 min
#461 - The Overlooked Secret to Loving Your Home
A few weeks ago, I followed my boys as they walked into the house, and one of them said, “Man, I love home.” And the other said, “Me, too. Home is pretty great.” I tried to play it cool and thankfully didn’t cry because that would have embarrassed them so much. But it got me thinking - why do they love home? Why do any of us love being home? I was able to identify a couple of things that surprised me, and I’m excited to share those thoughts with you today. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Myquillyn Smith, aka The Nester, is the Lazy Genius of making your home feel like you. Virtually everything I know about decorating a home is from her. House Rules by Myquillyn Smith 5 Calls app Counterweights by Shannan Martin Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius KitchenorThe Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 16 · 47 min
#460 - How to Better Channel Your Big Black Trash Bag Energy
You know that feeling of wanting to burn everything to the ground and start over? I like to call that Big Black Trash Bag Energy, and today, I want to share three small steps to help you identify what that energy is really saying. Then we’ll talk about a little framework to figure out what problems that energy wants you to solve. This episode is chock-full of personal examples of what this looks like in my own life, and tiny problems I’ve solved recently with my Big Black Trash Bag Energy (but without throwing anything beloved away). Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. The Lazy Genius Kitchen Ep. 4 - The Freezer Fix with Annie F. Downs Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 9 · 48 min
#459 - How to Easily Feed Your People
I could talk about meals my entire life and never run out of things to say. There are so many decisions, and things like seasons, budgets, and dietary restrictions impact those decisions. It just never ends. You’ll be feeding yourself and maybe others forever. So today, I’m sharing twelve ways to easily feed your people. They work in any season for any family grouping - single to many - and for any cooking level. These are the most dependable meal tools out there, and I’m pumped we’re going to have a whole episode of them. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #97: One Simple Step That Changes Meal Planning Forever Fearless Chicken Tikka Masala recipe Erin Moon’s episode of The Lazy Genius Kitchen video series (making regular dinners on a regular basis) Watch the whole series here The New York Times Food app The Cook’s Book by Bri McKoy Cookish by Milk Street and Christopher Kimball I Dream of Dinner by Ali Slagle (I talked to Ali on the podcast a few years ago, by the way!) Sweet Enough by Alison Roman Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 5 · 28 min
The Seven Kinds of Rest and How to Know Which One You Need (Rerun)
Today is a bonus episode where we’re resurrecting an old episode that feels like a good thing to listen to right now. The Seven Kinds of Rest and How to Know Which One You Need is one of those episodes we didn’t expect to become a classic, but it kind of has. It helps differentiate different kinds of rest and what you might actually need. It’s why when people, even people like me, tell you to take a nap and it doesn’t help, it might be because you’re looking for a different kind of rest than what napping offers. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #458: Simple and Meaningful Ways to Rest Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
March 2 · 56 min
#458 - Simple and Meaningful Ways to Rest
Daily rest is the sustainable driving force of living whole, present lives. We wrongly think that rest comes from big, sweeping things, like vacations or long weekends away. Those are great, but we all need ways to rest and feel like ourselves every single day. So today, we’re going to hear from you. Over a hundred of you shared ideas of how you get simple, meaningful rest, and we have curated a list of ideas and experiences to share. You might hear your own idea or voice on this episode, but more than that I hope you hear yourself, your own experience, that you hear solidarity and a simple, meaningful idea that can help you rest in a sustainable, reasonable, do-it-right-now way. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Counterweights by Shannan Martin What Should I Read Next, a podcast hosted by Anne Bogel Shelf Respect, a new podcast by The Popcast Media Group Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Get The Book List! Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
February 23 · 45 min
#457 - How to Get Better at Projects
Life is full of projects. Some are fun, like my album project of 2026, and some are less fun, like cleaning out a garage. But we all have them, will continue to have them, and you can probably think of one that needs doing right now. It’s nice to have some tools to lean on that help you get better at projects, to start projects you’ll finish, and finish projects that matter to you. So today I’ll share ten ways to get better at projects. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. The Project Playbook Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
February 16 · 23 min
The Lazy Genius Makes Soup (Rerun)
Well, friends, my voice has officially left the building. She’s been gone for a week now, and despite my best efforts (and an unreasonable amount of tea), she has not returned. So today, we’re doing something a little different. A very special guest is introducing the show, and because she so generously stepped in, I let her choose her favorite episode for us to revisit! So break out your ladles as we head back in time to March 2018, when we first talked about making soup on the show. I can’t wait to be back next week with a brand new episode. Thanks for understanding, y’all! Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Listen to The Office Ladies Podcast (Thank you, Jenna!) How to Tell If a Recipe Is Any Good Aromatics Infograph from Cooksmarts The Lazy Genius Loses Weight Watch me make soup. Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
February 9 · 49 min
#456 - What's Saving My Life
We do these episodes once a quarter where I share the things - big, small, and varied - that are saving my life right now. It’s a beloved practice, one we’ve been doing for a long time together. Barbara Brown Taylor was the person originally credited for this phrase, and many of us on the Internet really love the simplicity and breadth it offers. So today I’m going to share my list. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. In the month of February, 10% of our revenue from Playbook sales will go to World Central Kitchen! Episode #160: Wear Makeup Like a Lazy Genius Elta MD Tinted Sunscreen Merit Beauty Foundation Stick RMS Powdered Bronzer RMS Powdered Luminizer Glossier Cloud Paint in Burst Kosas Eyebrow Pencil Bobbi Brown Longwear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick in Nude Beach Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Waterproof Eyeliner Stick in Panther Merit Beauty Clean Lash Sign up for our every-other-week podcast re ...
February 5 · 21 min
How to Get Stuff Done When You Don’t Feel Like It (Rerun)
Today we’re running an old episode that I think you’ll appreciate hearing now. It’s Episode 238: How to Get Stuff Done When You Don’t Feel Like It. This happens every day, and I hope these tools help you get your stuff done a little more easily. At the end of the episode, I’ll share a short list of personal reminders that help me get stuff done when I don’t feel like it, too. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #91: The Lazy Genius Organizes Paper Episode #403: How I Get Stuff Done When I Don’t Feel Like It Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
February 2 · 54 min
#455 - Office Hours
I’m always so excited when this episode comes around. Either through voice memo, email, or Instagram, you guys share the challenges of your everyday lives, and we try and Lazy Genius them together, finding compassionate solutions that match the season of life. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. In the month of February, 10% of our revenue from Playbook sales will go to World Central Kitchen! The Instagram post where we collected today’s Office Hours questions. Episode #235: When You Disagree on What Matters Episode #325: Dealing with Differences on How Something Is Done Episode #337: How to Lazy Genius Division of Labor Episode #298: How to Keep Up with Household Habits Episode Three of The Lazy Genius Kitchen video series (making regular dinners on a regular basis) Watch the whole series here Episode #333: 7 Ways to Always Know What to Wear Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler (out April 7) House Rules by Myquillyn Smith (aka The Nester) Episode #332: How to Enjoy Your Evening Hours The Next Right Thing podcast by Emily P. Freeman Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
January 26 · 51 min
#454 - Chores for Normals: Make 20 Minutes Enough
When it comes to normals like us, people are just trying to live our lives with kindness and contentment, we don’t need to get all up in a twist about housecleaning. Let’s be wise about our homes, what matters in them, and find a way to make twenty minutes enough. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Podcast Playlists on my Spotify profile Episode #21: The Lazy Genius Does Laundry Episode #113: The Lazy Genius Does Laundry Updated! Episode #427: When You’re Overwhelmed by the World Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
January 19 · 53 min
#453 - 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 2
Life has many problems and learning to navigate them with kindness while practically solving them is such a valuable skill to learn. It’s kind of the whole vibe of what we do here. We’re learning to be better problem solvers in all kinds of situations, and these 12 tools are essential to solving problems like a Lazy Genius. Last week, we covered the first five ways, so if you didn’t catch that episode yet, give it a listen before this one. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #452: How to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 1 My Absolute Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe “I Want Them Now” Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it or record your idea and share your voice on the show.
January 12 · 40 min
#452 - 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 1
Problems are everywhere. Shoes never get put away, you’re always out of spoons, your brakes are squeaking but you don’t know if it’s bad enough to matter, you miss your friend who lives four states away and feel like you don’t know how to connect anymore. This episode and next week’s are about those kinds of problems and how to solve them. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Bonus: A New Year Pep Talk with Gretchen Rubin Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it. Or if you want to leave an audio clip with your idea, use this link.
January 8 · 55 min
A New Year Pep Talk with Gretchen Rubin (Bonus)
January often arrives with a mix of motivation and overwhelm—fresh starts, lofty goals, and the pressure to do things differently. To explore this complicated season, I’m joined by Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and leading voice on habits, happiness, and human nature. Our conversation is a thoughtful look at how to approach the new year with intention, from embracing clean slates to making space for what matters most. If you're feeling the weight of January expectations, this episode offers both insight and encouragement. Helpful Companion Links Find Gretchen on Instagram and on her podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it.
January 5 · 32 min
#451 - Permission to Not Be Great
I’m all for setting goals, trying new things, and tracking what matters. Those are all good and worthy pursuits. But today, I want to offer you a little practical permission to not be great. I’ll even go first and share a few things I’m intentionally choosing to not be great at in this next season of life. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter or if you just want to see what I’ve been reading lately, sign up for The Book List. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it.
Dec 29, 2025 · 41 min
#450 - What to Do Before a Winter House Reset
I can feel it. This is the week. Or at least the week is coming where you look at the holiday decorations and extra presents and general detritus from the busy fall and get an organizational fire in your eyes. Big black trash bags are coming out. That energy is totally fine, but today, let’s talk about what to do before all that happens. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens. Sign up for my once-a-month newsletter, The Latest Lazy Letter. Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links) Download a transcript of this episode. Want to share your Lazy Genius of the Week idea with us? Use this form to tell us about it.

The Lazy Genius Podcast

#464 - How to Create Healthy Phone Habits

How to Lazy Genius Kids’ Screentime (Rerun)

#463 - Office Hours

#462 - The Lazy Genius Guide to Planning a Trip

#461 - The Overlooked Secret to Loving Your Home

#460 - How to Better Channel Your Big Black Trash Bag Energy

#459 - How to Easily Feed Your People

The Seven Kinds of Rest and How to Know Which One You Need (Rerun)

#458 - Simple and Meaningful Ways to Rest

#457 - How to Get Better at Projects

The Lazy Genius Makes Soup (Rerun)

#456 - What's Saving My Life

How to Get Stuff Done When You Don’t Feel Like It (Rerun)

#455 - Office Hours

#454 - Chores for Normals: Make 20 Minutes Enough

#453 - 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 2

#452 - 12 Ways to Be a Better Problem Solver, Part 1

A New Year Pep Talk with Gretchen Rubin (Bonus)

#451 - Permission to Not Be Great

#450 - What to Do Before a Winter House Reset