How To Host With Ease

How To Host With Ease

Author: Peach Fish Projects September 2, 2025 Duration: 39:24

Krystina used to host gatherings all the time. Then came kids and the pandemic, and the parties ground to a halt. She's feeling a renewed urge to bring people together—specifically her inspiring, badass female friends—but every time she starts to plan something meaningful, she balks. On this episode: How To!'s Courtney Martin connects Krystina with Katherine Goldstein of the Substack and podcast The Double Shift. Katherine shares what she's learned from her new project, The How To Find Your People Club, including a guiding principle: Don't overthink it.

More from The How to Find Your People Club: 8 Ways to Embrace "Deep Casual Hosting" (So You'll Actually Do It)

More Advice for the "Deep Casual" Hosting Movement!

A Research-Backed Method to Ramp Up Our Social Skills

A Nitty-Gritty Guide to Finding a Community That's Right for You

If you liked this episode, check out How To Throw a Party They'll Remember and How To Find Friends in Unexpected Places.

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sophie Summergrad. Our technical director is Merritt Jacob and our supervising producer is Joel Meyer.

This episode is for Slate Plus members. Join now to unlock it—plus other exclusive How To! bonus episodes and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the How To! show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/howtoplus for access wherever you listen.


How To! with Mike Pesca is a podcast that operates on a simple, powerful premise: everyday people have complex, real-world problems that need solving. Each episode begins with a listener's specific dilemma, whether it's navigating a unique family dynamic, improving a personal skill, or protecting vulnerable loved ones from modern threats. Host Mike Pesca then connects that individual with genuine authorities-practicing attorneys, medical doctors, seasoned entrepreneurs, published researchers, and other accomplished experts-to provide actionable, credible advice. The conversations are structured yet organic, moving from the personal story of the problem to a practical exploration of solutions. You'll hear the caller's situation unfold, the expert's breakdown of the issue, and a collaborative path forward. This isn't abstract self-help; it's a direct application of specialized knowledge to tangible human challenges. The podcast thrives on specificity, tackling questions you might not even know how to ask, let alone who to ask. By focusing on one person's story, it uncovers insights and strategies that resonate far beyond the individual case, making expert guidance accessible and relatable. The tone is curious, empathetic, and grounded, prioritizing depth and utility over generic inspiration. Listening feels like being part of a focused, productive consultation where real questions meet real answers.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How To! with Mike Pesca
Podcast Episodes
How To Protect The Elderly From Scammers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:42
Getting older brings new vulnerabilities, especially when navigating the sophisticated, ever-evolving world of financial scams targeting seniors. Today on How To!, Mike Pesca is joined by journalist Nancy Rommelmann, who…
How To Make A How To Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:33
Mike Pesca has built a long career as a news analyst and podcaster, but taking over the How To! franchise presents a very different challenge: learning the ropes of the advice show genre. He knows how to dissect complex…
How To Ghostbust The Old Fashioned Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:26
Enid Baxter Ryce has built a fascinating career as an artist and university professor, but her unique living situation presents a very different challenge: navigating life on a massive, decommissioned, and potentially ha…
How to Emigrate as a Throuple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:03
Dan Savage has built a legendary career giving sex and relationship advice, but as the U.S. political climate shifts, he's yearning to chase a very different dream: relocating his polyamorous family to Europe. He knows h…
How To Be a DJ, Not a Playlist with Tom Nash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
Stewart has built a respectable career as a lawyer in Montreal, but he's yearning to chase a very different dream: becoming a club DJ. He knows how to curate a killer playlist, but the leap to commanding a live room feel…
Announcing: How To! with Mike Pesca [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:56
How To! has a new host - veteran journalist and podcaster Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, Not Even Mad, and Funny You Should Mention podcasts. It's the same great Ambie Award nominated show, covering new topics, with new e…
How To Start Writing (w/ Anna Quindlen & John Dickerson) Encore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:36
You've probably heard about the importance of journaling, putting thoughts on paper to help process the daily vicissitudes of life. But it's easy to stall once you see a blank page or get self conscious about what exactl…
Now Is the Time to Escape Your Bad Relationship. Here's How. (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Dating is always tough, but during a pandemic it can feel downright impossible. "I'm incredibly lonely, and it's impossible to meet anybody my age right now," our listener Sarah said. Feeling isolated, Sarah has clung to…
How To Rob a Bank (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
Joe Loya robbed over 30 banks during an 18-month span before going to jail. In this episode of How To! Charles wants to rob one bank on a Saturday afternoon, and get away scot-free. Can Joe teach Charles the tricks of th…