Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lighthearted experiment show promotes curiosity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hack My Life
What's the Story?
In HACK MY LIFE, hosts Kevin Pereira and Brooke van Poppelen test out a series of "life hacks": theories using everyday objects to save time and money. Whether it's going head-to-head in a cleaning challenge testing a flip-flop against a squeegee, enlisting the help of volunteers to see whether potato chips, nachos, or marshmallows make the best barbecue fuel, or learning to open a bottle of wine with a bicycle pump, the pair use experiments, and a little scientific knowledge, to find out if the shortcuts are "hack or whack."
Is It Any Good?
Approached in a comical, episodic style, the show is delivered in bite-sized chunks, offering up as many spectacular failures as it does impressive successes. Both hosts of Hack My Life are likable, and there's a strong camaraderie between them when they embark on the messier challenges, like covering themselves in waterproofs to see whether tapping a shaken beer can stop it spraying.
Some of the discoveries are legitimately surprising and potentially useful, like using a sink plunger to get a dent out of a car door. Others -- like using tube socks to warm a toilet seat or a banana to shine shoes -- not so much. The snippets of scientific explanation are just enough to shed some light, without getting too academic. The use of gimmicky sections and phrases -- "Undercover Hack," "Reen-Hackment," "Hacked or Fiction" -- can feel a little much at times, though they do keep the energy up, and the pace fast, making the episodes fly by. The show is not reinventing the wheel, but it could probably find an amusing way to replace one with household objects.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Hack My Life encourages curiosity. Why is curiosity such an important character strength? Can you think of a time when you have shown curiosity in something? How can families use media to foster kids' curiosity?
What are some of the ways the hosts show that they are taking safety seriously, and why is that so important when experimenting?
Discuss some of the different techniques the show uses to keep viewers entertained. How has modern technology affected the way information is presented and digested?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 6, 2015
- Cast : Kevin Pereira , Brooke van Poppelen
- Networks : truTV , Max
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate