Buying a vibrator can be tricky without a great recommendation. This week, we discuss why vibrators are still so taboo—and how to pick one you’ll love.

Guest: Wirecutter writer Bianca Alba

Additional Reading:

• The Best Vibrators
• The 6 Best Personal Lubricants of 2024
• How to Clean Sex Toys

Products We Recommend:

• The Classic Wand style: Magic Wand Rechargeable
• The Classic Wand style, but corded: Magic Wand Plus
• Affordable and versatile: Satisfyer Purple Pleasure
• For suction and vibration: Dame Aer
• For precise stimulation: Lelo Dot
• Bianca Recommends: Beast Blender for single serve smoothies

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

This week, we discuss microplastics (the small pieces of plastic that shed off many products), how they may impact your health, and how to mitigate exposure.

Guest: Wirecutter's sustainability editor, Katie Okamoto

Additional Reading:

• Microplastics Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Avoid Eating Them.
• The Best Water Filter Pitcher and Dispenser
• The Best Under-Sink Water Filter

Products We Recommend:

• Pitcher Filter: Brita Standard Everyday Pitcher
• Under Sink Filter: Aquasana AQ-5300+ Max Flow
• Glass Food Containers: Pyrex Simply Store 9-Pack Mixed Sized Glass Food Storage Set
• Katie Recommends: Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

A natural disaster can happen to anyone, at any time. Are you prepared? Here’s our best advice on what to have on hand.

Guest: Wirecutter senior editor Harry Sawyers

Additional Reading:

• The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies
• How to Clean a Flooded Basement
• Everything I Did to Flood-Proof My Old House
• The Best Hurricane Preparedness Supplies and Strategies for 2024
• The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag

Products We Recommend:

• Best rigid water container: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon
• Best flashlight: ThruNite Archer 2A V3
• Best floating solar lantern: LuminAid Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern
• Best weather radio: Midland ER310
• Best portable solar charger: BigBlue 28W USB Solar Charger
• Best multi-tool: Leatherman Skeletool CX
• Folding saws Harry likes: Silky Pocketboy 130 mm Folding Saw Medium Teeth 340-13, Silky Professional BIGBOY Folding Saw 360mm Large Teeth (354-36), Silky Zubat Curved Hand Saw 270mm Large Teeth (270-27)
• Harry’s favorite recent purchase: Aquatabs

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

We’re getting nerdy about sheets–why you might be unhappy with your current set, how to pick ones you’ll actually love, and the marketing scams to avoid.

Guest: Wirecutter senior staff writer Jackie Reeve

Additional Reading:

• The Best Sheets
• The Best Cotton Sheets
• The Joy (and Anxiety) of Sleeping on $2,000 Sheets
• Best Linen Sheets
• Best Flannel Sheets
• What Is the Best Thread Count for Sheets?
• Should You Spring For Egyptian Cotton Sheets?

Products we recommend:

• 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets
• JCPenney's Wrinkle Guard’s 400 Thread Count Sateen Sheets
• L.L.Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
• Jackie Recommends: Swoveralls

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

What you need to know before giving your kid a phone, plus the Wirecutter-tested trackers, smartwatches, and phones to consider.

Guests: Wirecutter senior staff writer Ellen Lee & Dr. Devorah Heitner

Additional Reading:

• The Best First Phones for Kids
• The Best Smartwatches for Kids
• The Best Parental Control Apps to Manage Screen Time (and Keep Your Kid Safer Online)
• Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Dr. Devorah Heitner
• Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World by Dr. Devorah Heitner

Products we recommend:

• Apple AirTag
• Tile Mate
• Bark Phone
• Pinwheel
• Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation, 128 GB)
• Verizon Gizmo Watch 3
• Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular

Check out more NYT podcast coverage about the recent push to ban phones in schools from The Daily and Hard Fork.

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

Expert tips to waste less food — and save on your grocery bill — from Wirecutter kitchen editor Marilyn Ong and New York Times Cooking deputy editor Genevieve Ko.

Additional Reading

• Best Food Storage Containers
• Best Dry Food Storage Containers
• The Best Vacuum Sealer
• Kitchen Compost Bins We Love

Products We Recommend

• Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Food Storage Containers
• Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
• Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

Our best-in-class advice to breathing a little easier.

Guest: Wirecutter Senior staff writer Tim Heffernan

Additional Reading

• The Best Air Purifier
• The $650 LifeStraw Max Water Filter Can Save You From Contaminated Water
• How Can I Clear My Air of Wildfire Smoke?
• How to DIY An Air Purifier

Products We Recommend

• Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty
• LifeStraw Max
• Knipex Carpenters’ End Cut Pliers

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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

We’re going deep on laundry—what you’re probably doing wrong, how to actually pretreat stains, and the tips and tricks to make it all easier.

Guest: Wirecutter Staff Writer, Andrea Barnes

Additional Reading

• The Best Laundry Detergent
• So You Stained Your Shirt? Now What
• The Best Stain Removers
• The Best Detergent for Hand-Washing Clothes
• This Steamy Grill Brush Makes Me Excited to Clean My Grill

Products We Recommend

• Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
• Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent
• Amodex Ink & Stain Remover
• Restoration Fabric Cleaner

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Follow us on instagram @wirecutter

Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.