Try This

In the second class in our series about how the electoral college works, host Cristina Quinn talks to historian Alex Keyssar about the compromises that drove the Founding Fathers to land on a complex, winner-takes-all system rather than a straightforward popular vote.

Become a better-informed citizen through this course on how Americans elect their presidents. The first class takes listeners through the details of the electoral college system. You’ll learn how it works, including the complicated way electoral votes are assigned and awarded, plus what happens between Election Day and Inauguration Day.

With the election just weeks away, the team at The Washington Post’s daily news podcast, “Post Reports,” explains how public opinion polling works and how to be a savvy poll reader.

Humans have a tendency toward confirmation bias — or interpreting information and experiences to support our existing beliefs. Host Cristina Quinn learns how you can change long-held beliefs by using confirmation bias in your favor and take action toward your goals.

Affirmations — statements or phrases steeped in our personal beliefs — can help us remain steady when negative experiences threaten our sense of self. Host Cristina Quinn digs into what kinds of affirmations are most effective and the science of how they work.

We’re wrapping up this cooking course by bringing together some leftover ingredients and tips to make cooking feel less daunting.

How to think of cooking as less of an item on your to-do list and more of an act for you.

It turns out, making the same kinds of things over and over again is not only okay, but a useful way to take the drudgery out of cooking and build up your kitchen confidence. Learn how to identify recipes that resonate with you, master them and make them your own.

Learn how to enjoy cooking by identifying parts of your personality outside the kitchen that will set you up for success in the kitchen.

In the third and final class of our course on how to make the most of your friendships, we offer guidance for what to do when things go wrong.

In class two of our course on friendship, you’ll learn how to get out of your comfort zone when it comes to fostering new friendships or resuscitating old ones.

In the first class of our course on making the most of your friendships, host Cristina Quinn learns what it means to be socially fit — and why it’s never too late to start getting those reps in.

In class 5 of our course on how to get better sleep: the melatonin factor. Learn what experts say about whether the supplement could be something to work into your nighttime routine.

In class 4 of our course on how to get better sleep, learn about the concept of sleep drive, and how getting it right might be the solution to falling asleep faster and getting a better night’s rest.

In class 3 of our course on how to get better sleep, we focus on what to do if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep.

In class 2 of our course about how to sleep better, learn why trying to suppress your difficult feelings from popping up at night might be counterproductive. Sleep expert Lisa Strauss explains a technique for identifying and changing negative thought patterns.

In the first class of our course on how to sleep better, learn why worrying about not falling asleep can make things worse. There are steps you can take during the day that can help lessen the anxiety at night.

“Try This” is a series of audio courses from The Washington Post full of smart, snackable solutions for life’s everyday challenges.