• by Sara Guaglione , July 30, 2019

Slate is producing a new podcast that aims to help listeners with their problems.

Called “How To! With Charles Duhigg,” the podcast is hosted by Pulitzer-prize winning reporter and author of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better,” Charles Duhigg. 

The idea behind the podcast series: “What if Dear Abby was an investigative journalist?”

“Service journalism is some of the most important work reporters do, and we want to bring the tools of investigative reporting to a new realm: Your problems,” stated Duhigg. 

Each week, the podcast will take questions from a listener and “elevate them with the same dignity and care our colleagues apply to the presidency, or foreign affairs, or other ‘hard news,’” he noted.

A range of experts will be on the show to help find answers for listeners’ questions. There are calls to action in the show and on Slate's site to urge listeners to submit questions. Duhigg has also sent questions.

Issues range from how to cook a perfect meal to how to run an ultramarathon.

The first four episodes are available for download and tackle how to be funny, rob a bank, withstand pain and give your mom a kidney. Each episode runs about 30 minutes.

Audible is the launch sponsor.

Slate says the show has “garnered interest” from brands in financial services, consumer goods, technology and other industries. 

Slate’s podcasts were downloaded more than 180 million times in 2018.