HAVE YOU HEARD?
How To Be Fine: A show about feeling better, not perfect
Have You Heard? is where the Pod Bible team meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard, but we think you should have. How To Be Fine is a weekly podcast which is half an advice show and half a cultural critique. Hosted by podcast besties Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, they dissect the inner workings of the betterment industry – and offer up some advice along the way. We caught up with Kristen and Jolenta to learn more about their podcast…
Who are you and what’s your podcast about?
We’re Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, and together we host How To Be Fine, a show about feeling better, not perfect. All this season, we’re tackling the sometimes thorny subject of friendship – from how to make friends and how to maintain long-distance friendships, to how to deal with conflict and even how to break up with BFFs. On some episodes we talk with experts. And in alternate episodes we serve as the show’s friendship guinea pigs, trying out the advice of our experts while recording ourselves.
What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?
It was probably This American Life for both of us!
Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?
Jolenta is a comedian who wanted to make her own content and tell her own stories so podcasting seemed like a natural fit. Meanwhile, Kristen got thrust into it 15+ years ago. She was working as culture producer at a public radio show and was asked to start hosting a podcast. A few years later, when they were each between podcasts, Jolenta invited Kristen to start hosting a show with her, and they’ve been doing it ever since.
Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?
We love any podcasts where the hosts have smart takes on what otherwise may seem like dumb subjects – reality TV, tabloid news, celebrity memoirs, and so on. We believe that those “dumb subjects” tell us a lot about what we value as a society. They’re also fun!
Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?
Definitely Dolly Parton. We adore everything about her! Her creativity, her entrepreneurial spirit, her altruism, her joy, her vulnerability, and her work ethic. She truly makes the world a better place.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?
We don’t have to be perfect. In fact, our listeners tend to like us best when we’re being vulnerable, stumbling, and learning along with them.
Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?
The first episode of our series on the Loneliness Epidemic is a great place to start.
Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?
You can follow us on Instagram at @howtobefinepod. You can also listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite shows.
Listen to How To Be Fine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>