How do you learn to tell the perfect joke? In this episode of How To! A pastor from Oklahoma wants to spice up his sermons from the pulpit. So we introduce him to <a href= "http://www.garygulman.com/">Gary Gulman</a>, a New York standup comedian who makes jokes about his clinical depression in the new HBO comedy special <a href= "https://www.hbo.com/specials/gary-gulman-the-great-depresh">The Great Depresh</a>. The lesson? "Man plans, and God laughs." But only if you nail the delivery. (This episode first aired on July 30, 2019) Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. <a href= "https://my.slate.com/plus?utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=plus_pod&utm_content=How_To&utm_source=show_notes"> Sign up</a> now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href= "https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

How To Put Down Your Phone

You've got questions. We find answers.

We all need advice, but it's not always clear who to ask. Each week, Mike Pesca invites a listener on the show to tackle a real problem, like protecting our elderly loved ones from scammers, emigrating as a throuple, and speaking without saying "um" - all with help from world-class experts: attorneys, doctors, entrepreneurs, authors, researchers - who actually know what they're talking about. Think of it as eavesdropping on someone else's therapy session, without the co-pay or awkward silence.