Hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines pull back the covers on how the $585 billion global "sleep economy" is selling the dream of a good night's rest. Featuring exclusive deals for CR members and tips from sleep specialist Dr. Christopher J. Allen.

00:00:00 Intros

00:02:43 Use It or Snooze It?

00:06:25 The Big 3: Mattress, Pillow, Bedding

00:14:01 CR Exclusive Deals

00:18:08 Tips from Sleep Dr. Chris

00:27:00 Sleep Products Worth Buying Under $50

In this podcast episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines are helping to conquer chaos by giving you the tools to start the new year with a clean house. Beyond the ritual of the Saturday morning cleaning session, the conversation tackles the annual tradition of the year-end clean reset. Whether you believe a deep clean rids the house of negative energy to make way for good vibes, or just want to save time and money on cleaning, we've got you covered.

Consumer Reports experts—home & trend writer Jodhaira Rodriguez and laundry expert Rich Handel—drop serious insight on keeping it clean in every room with surprising facts to elevate your cleaning game from a chore to a triumph. Is bleach really the best all-purpose surface cleaner and just how much laundry detergent does it take to get your clothes clean? The experts answer those questions and share CR's top picks in cleaning products.

Whether you're looking for the best tool to get streak-free glass or want to understand the economics of your favorite detergent, this episode delivers practical tips and money-saving insights.

Best Cleaning Products From Our Tests and Evaluations

Your Guide to Really Clean Clothes

Get Your CR Membership Today

#TalkingCarts #CleanSweep #HomeCleaning #NewYearClean #DeepClean #SaturdayMorningCleaning #CleaningHacks #TidyTips #LaundryExpert #MoneySavingTips #CleanHouse #BestCleaningProducts #LaundryDetergent #Bleach #StreakFreeGlass

00:00:00 Intros

00:01:26 Saturday Morning Cleaning

00:03:40 Cleaning Expert Jodhaira Rodriguez

00:06:04 The Dirtiest Place In Your Home

00:07:54 Cleaning for the New Year

00:11:27 Jodhaira's Cleaning Arsenal

00:12:30 Annual Cleaning Product Budget

00:14:24 Laundry Expert Rich Handel

00:17:21 Common Laundry Mistakes

00:19:52 Do We Still Need to Separate?

00:21:26 Cold Vs. Hot Water

00:23:12 Detergent Vs. Machine

00:25:38 The Right Amount of Detergent

00:28:50 Outlook for the New Year

Inside the investigation into the online marketplace that could be driving up your grocery bill

In this podcast episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines look at a surprising reason your grocery bills may be going up. A recent CR investigation — put together with two other non-profits, Groundwork Collaborative and More Perfect Union — found that Instacart is conducting artificial intelligence-enabled price experiments on its customers. These "algorithmic pricing" experiments involve giving different prices to different customers for the same goods at the same store at the same time. Sometimes the prices differ by as much as 23% per item.

The co-hosts are joined by CR Investigative reporter Derek Kravitz, who explains what Instacart is up to, and why consumer advocates say the company seems to be creeping closer and closer to an even more problematic practice known as "surveillance pricing."

The conversation goes beyond Instacart, exploring how technology is transforming the supermarket landscape for all consumers, from loyalty programs that use demographic data to parcel out deals, to the potential of electronic shelf labels changing prices in real time. We also discuss the current lack of federal regulation of AI-enabled pricing and gives tips on how to navigate the new, algorithm-enabled grocery store.

#Instacart #AIPricing #PriceDiscrimination #GroceryShopping #Investigation #Inflation #ConsumerRights #TalkingCarts #AlgorithmicPricing #GroceryBill

At the cash register this holiday season, you have more options than ever to pay—cash, credit, or a "buy now, pay later" loan. But be warned: your choice could end up costing you more in the long run.

In this episode of the Talking Carts podcast, hosts Tanya Christian (Senior Home and Appliances Writer) and Brian Vines (Marketplace Equity Reporter) are joined by Investigative Reporter Lisa Gill. They help listeners navigate the complex landscape of payment options, including popular pay-in-four installment loans like Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm, and provide guidance on when a traditional credit card is the better choice. We also delve into interest rates, buyer protections, and those "apply now" credit offers at the register.

Plus, did you get a head start on your holiday haul? We run down the holiday return deadlines for major retailers, from Nordstrom to Costco and beyond.

In this episode of Talking Carts: Entertain With Ease, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines serve up the ultimate recipe for stress-free holiday hosting! @royaleeats : Social media's king of the kitchen drops in to chop it up on his debut cookbook, shares his definitive soul food side dishes (yes, we're talking about that mac & cheese!), and gives his top tips for timing all the moving parts of your feast just right. James Rogers, PhD, CR's Director of Product & Food Testing, drops essential knowledge on keeping food prep, presentation, and leftover storage safe and sanitary. Hear why our expert says not to wash your turkey and why that old "take-out tupperware" needs to go!

Plus, we dish on CR recommended food storage containers and uncover retailers offering turkey-day family meal plans for as low as $4 per person! Get your best on the table without doing the absolute most.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Foodborne Illness Prevention

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/keep-food-poisoning-off-the-menu-a1017881198/

Best Food Storage Containers

https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/food-storage/best-food-storage-containers-of-the-year-a7678521903/

Royale Eats

https://royaleeats.com/

#Thanksgiving #HolidayHosting #FoodSafety #RoyaleEats #ConsumerReports #TalkingCarts #MealDeals #GrocerySavings #Turkey #MacAndCheese

Consumer Reports' "Talking Carts" is your guide to navigating the holiday shopping season and maximizing your budget. This podcast packs the smart tips and practical tricks you need to save money and shop with complete confidence.

Hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines, joined by CR Deals Editor Samantha B. Gordon, dive into your biggest shopping questions, including how much shoppers plan to spend, are those doorbuster and other holiday sales really good deals, and just when is the best time to snag those new Apple AirPods.

Saving you time and money is a year-round pursuit at Consumer Reports. Tap-in to stay updated on everything shop worthy.

Amazon's Best Early Black Friday Deals:

https://www.consumerreports.org/money/sales-promotions/best-amazon-black-friday-deals-a3838431416/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Walmart's Best Black Friday Deals:

https://www.consumerreports.org/money/discounts-rebates/walmart-black-friday-deals-a1567966266/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

33 Holiday Gifts For Every Budget

https://www.consumerreports.org/money/gift-giving/holiday-gift-ideas-for-every-budget-a1018953600/

How to Get the Best Deals During Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2025

https://www.consumerreports.org/money/sales-promotions/how-to-get-the-best-amazon-prime-day-deals-a7887972313/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT